Blaze of Glory by Jeff Struecker, Alton Gansky Read Free Book Online Page A

wherever justice was allowed to languish. There were still many moments when her thoughts did battle, but at the end of each mental war, she remained convinced that she was saving lives by providing information to generals and senators.
    It was during a briefing at Fort Jackson six months ago that she met J. J. The series of meetings required her to spend the weekend in Columbia, South Carolina. Sunday she attended services led by Army chaplain Paul Bartley. After the service Bartley stood by the door greeting worshippers as they left the chapel. Standing next to him was a good-looking man about the same age as the chaplain.
    Bartley smiled as she shook his hand. “Is this your first time here?”
    “Yes, I live in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. I’m down here for a few meetings.”
    Neither man asked what kind of meetings.
    “Carlisle?” The other man studied her. “Carlisle as in Army War College?”
    “Yes.”
    Chaplain Bartley said, “This is my nosey brother, J. J.”
    They exchanged pleasantries.
    “Listen, some of us go out for lunch after service. Since you’re from out of town, maybe you’d like to join us. It’s nothing fancy, just five or six people sitting around a sandwich shop telling lies and jokes.”
    Tess grinned at the chaplain. “Lies? Are chaplains allowed to tell lies?”
    “When a chaplain does it, it’s called a sermon illustration.” His smile was broad. “Come on and join us. It beats sitting alone in a hotel room watching television.”
    Tess agreed and J. J. offered to drive. Three hours and one tuna on rye later, Tess began to fall in love.
    Prior to that moment, Tess had only her aging parents to worry about; now she had one more. J. J. captured her with his wit, his intelligence, his commitment, but most of all his faith. Tess spent her days surrounded by rugged, good-looking men, but she needed more. She needed someone with spiritual depth. J. J. had that by the truckload.
    Over the months he spoke of his admiration for his teammates and team leader Eric Moyer. They were rough, crude, and often insensitive, but they were also brave, loyal, and committed to making their country safe and the world a little more evil free.
    Two months into their courting, J. J. told her how the team lost a member on their last major mission. He left out many details such as the man’s name, where he died, and why they were there. The details didn’t matter; she saw the sorrow in his eyes and felt the pain in his soul.
    Tess pushed back the covers, unfolded her legs, slipped on her robe, and walked to the sliding glass door that overlooked the hotel’s courtyard three stories down. An alabaster moon hung in a cloudless sky. In the distance a siren wailed. The rumble and roar of eighteen-wheelers traveling nearby making early morning deliveries rode a gentle breeze.
    Tess sat in a balcony chair and gazed at the moon. It looked peaceful in its orbit 240,000 miles away. It also looked lifeless.
    A moment later Tess began to pray.

CHAPTER 7
    THE ALARM NEXT TO Jerry Zinsser’s head came to life, blaring a heavy-metal tune that threatened to liquefy his brain. The sudden noise activated his instinct and he pushed off the bed, fists clenched, and arms ready for a fight. It took five seconds for him to realize he was in his own bedroom. He quieted the alarm and stood in the dark. The numbers on the clock told him it was 0300, just as he had set it.
    His head pounded; his stomach churned like a pan of acid over a blazing stove. He glanced at the bed. The covers had not been pulled back. He had no memory of how he got on the bed. He smacked his lips and grimaced at the taste of scotch residue.
    Moving to the bathroom, he stepped to the toilet and vomited. It was a horrible feeling but better than the dreams he’d been having. After his stomach settled, he rinsed his mouth, then stared in the mirror. “You are one lousy piece of work, Zinsser. Someone should flush you.”
    His eyes drifted to the old