An even more vexing question is what happens when the life of a man like Eddie Delaney intersects with the life of a Warren?
The result might be like the reaction that ensues when baking soda and vinegar are mixed --- a boiling cauldron that is impossible to contain.
Then there are men like Hector Corazon. What is it that hardens such a man, enabling him to murder and disfigure?
As police officers, we come in contact on a daily basis with the worst of the worst.
When that happens, we sometimes begin to lose faith in our fellow man and begin to question whether what we do is really worth risking our lives.
When such doubts creep into my mind, I often pay a visit to my old friend, Pastor Bob. He has a way of putting things in perspective.
I paid him such a visit after the shoot-out with the drug cartel.
After hearing my story, he went to his kitchen and brought back two apples. One was red, ripe and juicy and looked delicious. The other was bruised, wrinkled and most unappealing.
“People are a lot like apples,” he said. “Somehow, somewhere along the way, something happens to some apples that makes them turn bad. Just because there are a few bad apples, we don’t cast all apples aside. We choose the good apples and enjoy their nourishment. The good ones are worth keeping and saving.
“Yes, there are people like Hector Corazon, but there are also people like your three friends from Whispering Hills.”
He picked up his worn Bible. “Let me read you something from the fifteenth chapter of John. ‘Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.’
“Frank Pollard was willing to lay down his life to save his two friends. Had he not done that, Father O’Brian and Ernie would not have been around to lay down their lives for you and Ox, and we wouldn’t be having this conversation today.
“I’m sure you know the story contained in this excerpt from James Foley’s famous poem, Drop a Pebble.
Drop a pebble in the water: just a splash, and it is gone;
But there's half-a-hundred ripples circling on and on and on.
Spreading, spreading from the center, flowing on out to the sea.
And there is no way of telling where the end is going to be.
Drop a pebble in the water: in a minute you forget,
But there's little waves a-flowing, and there's ripples circling yet,
And those little waves a-flowing to a great big wave have grown;
You've disturbed a mighty river just by dropping in a stone.
“Frank Pollard’s sacrifice was the dropping of that stone. The first ripple was Ernie and Father O’Brian giving their lives for you and Ox. That allowed you to save the life of the girl. How many more lives will be touched because you and Ox are still on the job. There’s a half-a-hundred ripples circling on and on and on, and there’s no telling where the end is going to be. That’s up to you.”
As usual, Pastor Bob had helped me get my head on straight.
As I drove home, the words from St. John kept echoing in my mind.
‘Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.’
If these good men had been willing to lay down their lives, I wasn’t about to let the ripples stop with me.
I plan on keeping those ripples flowing.
There will always be both good men and bad, and Lady Justice will always be looking for good men to help keep the scales of life in balance.
My name is Walter Williams and that’s why I’m a cop!
The headstone marking the final resting place of the Beta Club tree, struck down in its infancy by hooligans. A nefarious act indeed!
(Actual photo from author’s yearbook.)
The author as a Powder Puff Cheerleader,
Class of 1961.
The author, as a 69-year-old Elvis, making his appearance at his wife’s 50th Class Reunion, October, 2012.
What woman wouldn’t want to receive a scarf from the King of Rock-N-Roll?
Jailhouse Rock
Heartbreak Hotel
To see a video of the performance, go to
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ludb2sTutSA&feature=player_detailpage#t=464s
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Award-winning author, Robert Thornhill, began writing at the age of sixty-six and in four short years has penned fifteen novels in the Lady Justice mystery/comedy series, the seven volume Rainbow Road series of chapter books for children, a cookbook and a mini-autobiography.
Lady Justice and the Sting, Lady Justice and Dr. Death, Lady Justice and the Vigilante, Lady Justice and the Candidate, Lady Justice and the Book Club Murders and Lady Justice and the Cruise Ship Murders won the Pinnacle Award for the best new mystery novels of Fall 2011, Winter 2012, Summer 2012, Fall 2012, Spring of 2013 and Summer 2013 from the National Association of Book Entrepreneurs.
Many of Walt’s adventures in the Lady Justice series are anecdotal and based on Robert’s real life.
Although Robert holds a master’s in psychology, he has never taken a course in writing and has never learned to type. All 26 of his published books were typed with one finger and a thumb!
His wit and insight come from his varied occupations, including thirty-three years as a real estate broker. He lives with his wife, Peg, in Independence, Missouri.
Visit him on the Web at: http://BooksByBob.com
LADY JUSTICE TAKES A C.R.A.P.
City Retiree Action Patrol
Third Edition
This is where it all began.
See how sixty-five year old Walt Williams became a cop and started the City Retiree Action Patrol.
Meet Maggie, Willie, Mary and the Professor, Walt’s sidekicks in all of the Lady Justice novels.
Laugh out loud as Walt and his band of Senior Scrappers capture the Realtor Rapist and take down the Russian Mob.
http://amzn.to/16lfjnY
LADY JUSTICE AND THE LOST TAPES
In Lady Justice and the Lost Tapes, Walt and his band of scrappy seniors continue their battle against the forces of evil.
When an entire eastside Kansas City neighborhood is terrorized by the mob, Walt must go undercover to solve the case.
Later, the amazing discovery of a previously unknown recording session of a deceased rock ‘n’ roll idol stuns the music industry.
http://amzn.to/1cDeiMK
LADY JUSTICE GETS LEI’D
In Lady Justice Gets Lei’d, Walt and Maggie plan a romantic honeymoon on the beautiful Hawaiian Islands, but ancient artifacts discovered in a cave in a dormant volcano and a surprising revelation about Maggie’s past, lead our lovers into the hands of Hawaiian zealots.
http://amzn.to/15P6bLg
LADY JUSTICE AND THE
AVENGING ANGELS
Lady Justice has unwittingly entered a religious war.
Who better to fight for her than Walt Williams?
The Avenging Angels believe that it’s their job to rain fire and brimstone on Kansas City, their Sodom and Gomorrah.
In this compelling addition to the Lady Justice series, Robert Thornhill brings back all the characters readers have come to love for more hilarity and higher stakes.
You’ll laugh and be on the edge of your seat until the big finish.
Don’t miss Lady Justice and the Avenging Angels!
http://amzn.to/1i2yFDz
LADY JUSTICE AND THE STING
BEST NEW MYSTERY NOVEL ---WINTER 2012
National Association of Book Entrepreneurs
In Lady Justice and the Sting, a holistic physician is murdered and Walt becomes entangled in the high-powered world of pharmaceutical giants and corrupt politicians.
Maggie, Ox Willie, Mary and all your favorite characters are back to help Walt bring the criminals to justice in the most unorthodox ways.
A dead-serious mystery with hilarious twists!
http://amzn.to/1gS4JMA
LADY JUSTICE AND DR. DEATH
BEST NEW MYSTERY NOVEL --
- FALL 2011
National Association of Book Entrepreneurs
In Lady Justice and Dr. Death, a series of terminally ill patients are found dead under circumstances that point to a new Dr. Death practicing euthanasia in the Kansas City area.
Walt and his entourage of scrappy seniors are dragged into the ‘right-to-die-with-dignity’ controversy.
The mystery provides a light-hearted look at this explosive topic and death in general.
You may see end-of-life issues in a whole new light after reading Lady Justice and Dr. Death!
http://amzn.to/H20Erx
LADY JUSTICE AND THE VIGILANTE
BEST NEW MYSTERY NOVEL – SUMMER 2012
National Association of Book Entrepreneurs
A vigilante is stalking the streets of Kansas City administering his own brand of justice when the justice system fails.
Criminals are being executed right under the noses of the police department.
A new recruit to the City Retiree Action Patrol steps up to help Walt and Ox bring an end to his reign of terror.
But not everyone wants the vigilante stopped. His bold reprisals against the criminal element have inspired the average citizen to take up arms and defend themselves.
As the body count mounts, public opinion is split.
Is it justice or is it murder?
A moral dilemma that will leave you laughing and weeping!
http://amzn.to/1d3FLK6
LADY JUSTICE AND THE WATCHERS
Suzanne Collins wrote The Hunger Games, Aldous Huxley wrote Brave New World and George Orwell wrote 1984.
All three novels were about dystopian societies of the future.
In Lady Justice and the Watchers, Walt sees the world we live in today through the eyes of a group who call themselves ‘The Watchers’.
Oscar Levant said that there’s a fine line between genius and insanity.
After reading Lady Justice and the Watchers, you may realize as Walt did that there’s also a fine line separating the life of freedom that we enjoy today and the totalitarian society envisioned in these classic novels.
Quietly and without fanfare, powerful interests have instituted policies that have eroded our privacy, health and individual freedoms.
Is the dystopian society still a thing of the distant future or is it with us now disguised as a wolf in sheep’s clothing?
http://amzn.to/15P5LEE
LADY JUSTICE AND THE CANDIDATE
BEST NEW MYSTERY NOVEL – FALL 2012
National Association of Book Entrepreneurs
Will American politics always be dominated by the two major political parties or are voters longing for an Independent candidate to challenge the establishment?
Everyone thought that the slate of candidates for the presidential election had been set until Benjamin Franklin Foster came on the scene capturing the hearts of American voters with his message of change and reform.
Powerful interests intent on preserving the status quo with their bought-and-paid-for politicians were determined to take Ben Foster out of the race.
The Secret Service comes up with a quirky plan to protect the Candidate and strike a blow for Lady Justice.
Join Walt on the campaign trail for an adventure full of surprises, mystery, intrigue and laughs!
http://amzn.to/19f3XVZ
LADY JUSTICE
AND THE
BOOK CLUB MURDERS
BEST NEW MYSTERY NOVEL – Spring 2013
National Association of Book Entrepreneurs
Members of the Midtown Book Club are found murdered.
It is just the beginning of a series of deaths that lead Walt and Ox into the twisted world of a serial killer.
In the late 1960's, the Zodiac Killer claimed to have killed 37 people and was never caught --- the perfect crime.
Oscar Roach, dreamed of being the next serial killer to commit the perfect crime.
He left a calling card with each of his victims --- a mystery novel, resting in their blood-soaked hands.
The media dubbed him 'The Librarian'.
Walt and the Kansas City Police are baffled by the cunning of this vicious killer and fear that he has indeed committed the perfect crime. Or did he?
Walt and his wacky senior cohorts prove, once again, that life goes on in spite of the carnage around them.
The perfect blend of murder, mayhem and merriment.
http://amzn.to/1aWGg3K
LADY JUSTICE
AND THE
CRUISE SHIP MURDERS
Best New Mystery Novel – Summer 2013
National Association of Book Entrepreneurs
Ox and Judy are off to Alaska on a honeymoon cruise and invite Walt and Maggie to tag along.
Their peaceful plans are soon shipwrecked by the murder of two fellow passengers.
The murders appear to be linked to a century-old legend involving a cache of gold stolen from a prospector and buried by two thieves.
Their seven-day cruise is spent hunting for the gold and eluding the modern day thieves intent on possessing it at any cost.
Another nail-biting mystery that will have you on the edge of your seat one minute and laughing out loud the next.
http://amzn.to/16VjURw
LADY JUSTICE AND THE ASSASSIN
Two radical groups have joined together for a common purpose --- to kill the President of the United States, and they're looking for the perfect person to do the job.
Not a cold-blooded killer or a vicious assassin, but a model citizen, far removed from the watchful eyes of Homeland Security.
When the president comes to Kansas City, the unlikely trio of Walt, Willie and Louie the Lip find themselves knee-deep in the planned assassination.
Join our heroes for another suspenseful mystery and lots of laughs!
http://amzn.to/1bDdrKJ
LADY JUSTICE AND THE LOTTERY
Two septuagenarians win the lottery's biggest prize, dragging Walt and Ox into the most bizarre cases of their career.
The two 'oldies' are determined to use their new found wealth to re-create the past but instead propel Walt into the future where he must use drones and Star Trek phasers to balance the scales of justice.
When an extortion plot turns into kidnapping, Walt must boldly go where no cop has gone before to save himself and the millionaire.
Come along for another hilarious ride with the world's oldest and most lovable cop!
http://amzn.to/1exhji6
LADY JUSTICE AND THE VET
Ben Singleton, a Marine veteran, had returned from a tour of duty in Afghanistan and was having difficulty adjusting to civilian life.
Fate, coincidence, or something else thrust him right into the heart of some of Walt and Ox’s most difficult cases.
Our heroes find themselves knee-deep in trouble as they go undercover in a nursing home to smoke out practitioners of Medicaid fraud, meanwhile, Islamic terrorists with ties to the Taliban are plotting to attack one of Kansas City’s most cherished institutions.
Join Walt and his band of senior sidekicks on another emotional roller coaster ride that will have you shedding tears of laughter one minute and sorrow the next.
http://amzn.to/17GyE3n
WOLVES IN SHEEP’S CLOTHING
In August of 2011, I completed the fifth novel in the Lady Justice mystery/comedy series, Lady Justice and the Sting.
As I always do, I sent copies of the completed manuscript to several friends and acquaintances for their feedback and comments before sending the manuscript to the publisher.
Since the plot involved a holistic physician, I sent a copy to Dr. Edward Pearson in Florida.
Dr. Pearson loved the premise of the book and the style of writing, particularly as it related to alternative healthcare, natural products and Walt's transformation into a healthier lifestyle.
In subsequent conversations, Dr. Pearson shared that he had been looking for a book that he could share with his patients, colleagues and peers that would
spread his message in a format that would capture their imagination and their hearts.
The Sting was very close to what he had been looking for and he made the suggestion that maybe we could work together to produce just the right book.
As I reflected on this idea, I realized that Walt's skirmishes with pharmaceutical companies, corrupt politicians, doctors, nurses, hospitals, bodily afflictions and a healthier lifestyle were not confined to just The Sting, but were scattered throughout all six of the Lady Justice mystery/comedy novels.
Using The Sting as the basis of the new book, I went through the manuscripts of the other five Lady Justice novels and pulled out chapters and vignettes that fleshed out the story of Walt's medical adventures.
Thus, Wolves In Sheep's Clothing was born.
Dr. Pearson is currently using Wolves in conjunction with his New Medicine Foundation to help spread the word about healthcare alternatives.
[Lady Justice 12] - Lady Justice and the Class Reunion Page 16
