by C. M. Sutter
The house was filled with wall-to-wall flower arrangements, cards, and casseroles. Kate took care of phone calls, food, and flowers while Mom and I took care of Amber.
“Jade, it’s time to go,” Kate said as she peeked around my bedroom door.
I looked at Amber and tucked the strand of misplaced hair behind her ear. She couldn’t hide her misery—those swollen red eyes gave her away, and I’d carry that heartache forever.
Mom took both of our hands and led us to the waiting black cruiser that Billings drove.
The funeral home was standing room only. Amber, Mom, Bruce, and I sat in the front row as a family, and directly behind us sat all of our brothers and sisters in law enforcement. It seemed as if every person my dad had ever known from Wisconsin and California was in attendance. Minister Harland from St. John’s Church, the church we grew up in, conducted the service. Mayor Gleason, Lieutenant Clark, and Sheriff Matthew Link, from San Bernardino Sheriff’s Department where my dad was the captain, gave the eulogies.
At two o’clock, the funeral home emptied out to the sidewalk and parking lot. The sun peeked out from the clouds and lit the sky with beautiful rays. My dad was smiling down at us—I felt it, and I wanted to linger in that warm glow.
Hundreds of uniformed officers along with people from North Bend lined both sides of the street. My dad grew up with these families and protected them in his twenty-five years of service in North Bend. They were friends, neighbors, colleagues, and people Amber and I went to school with. They waved small American flags as they stood in reverence on the sidewalk.
The street to the cemetery was closed to through traffic. From the funeral home, it was a short five-block walk. Dad’s flag-draped casket was placed in the hearse, and then the car slowly pulled out onto the street. Amber, Mom, and Bruce walked behind the vehicle. I followed with my arms locked in solidarity with Lieutenant Clark, Jack, Clayton, Billings, Horbeck, and Jamison, all in dress uniforms. Officers from North Bend’s police and sheriff’s departments walked behind us, with hundreds of law enforcement officers from San Bernardino County and many other cities, counties, and states taking up the back of the procession.
St. John’s Cemetery was a large, tree-filled place of serenity with beautiful gardens dotting the landscape. The parklike setting gave me a certain sense of comfort—peace in a way. I knew I’d come often and sit with Dad. I always needed his advice, and just because he wasn’t here in the flesh anymore wouldn’t change that.
We followed the hearse to the Monroe family plot, where a spot had been prepared for Dad. Six pallbearers carried his casket to the site. Sheriff Link placed Dad’s service hat and badge on the casket then took a seat. Minister Harland said a few words about his friendship with Dad and led a final prayer, then several close friends shared their own amazing stories of our father. When it was time, the bagpiper played Amazing Grace, and the honor guards folded the American flag and handed it to me along with Dad’s service hat and badge. I passed them to Amber.
I wondered if Max Sims watched from a distance—if he was out in the crowd somewhere with a smile across his face. He had done his father proud. I squeezed my eyes tight and erased him from my mind. Thoughts of him didn’t belong in that place of reverence. He’d get what was due him soon enough.
I stood, along with my brothers and sisters in law enforcement, and saluted our fallen officer—my dad, the man that taught me everything I knew—while the bugler played Taps.
My tears flowed freely as I squeezed Jack’s hand and silently vowed to bring Max Sims to justice—even if it meant doing it my own way.
THE END
Thank you for reading Exposed, Book 5 and the final book in the Detective Jade Monroe Crime Thriller Series. I hope you enjoyed it!
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