What Lies Beyond the Fence

by L C Hayden

  During his lengthy stay in Alaska, Bronson visited what was once Eric’s Landing. Much to his disappointment, Chris and his daughter, Norma, and Roger had already left. The good news was that they had headed for Pennsylvania and hopefully, he would see them once again.

  On the day Bronson was scheduled to leave Alaska, he received an invitation to return to Eric’s Landing for the ribbon cutting ceremony. As much as he dreaded going, he told them he’d be there.

  On his way to Eric’s Landing—or Tranquility Haven, whatever—Bronson’s celled chirped. He looked at the caller I.D. Senator Eileen Garland.

  Bronson picked up. “Senator, I didn’t expect to hear from you.”

  “I have some wonderful news,” she said.

  Bronson carefully listened. He took out his pocket notebook and jotted down the important details. As he recorded the information, the grin on his face spread from ear to ear.

  Soon as he returned to his hotel, he called the airlines and made a flight schedule change. He’d be stopping in Arkansas before flying on to Pennsylvania.

  * * *

  Even though Bronson wasn’t one for parties, the reunion was great. As soon as Norma saw him, she ran to him. Bronson opened his arms and he hugged her. “See? I didn’t forget you, and just like I promised, I have been practicing my g’s.”

  Norma smiled. “That’s not really necessary,” but she hugged him tighter.

  When Bronson looked up, he saw Roger standing by them. Bronson raised his right arm and extended an invitation for Roger to join them in a group hug.

  Knowing that no further harm would come to Roger nor Norma filled Bronson’s life with music. It was as if he had found part of his estranged family. The three hugged tighter, and Bronson smiled when Norma wept.

  When the hugging stopped, Bronson stepped away from them and shook hands with Chris. “You have a great daughter. Take real good care of her.”

  “I will,” he said, “and thank you.”

  Next, Bronson shook hands with Joe Randig. “I’m so sorry," Joe said. "I didn’t know what I was asking you to do. If I’d known, I would have never asked. I was just so worried about my granddaughter, I was blind to the possibilities. Please accept my apologies.”

  Bronson shook his hand. “As the saying goes, all’s well that ends well.”

  Carol, Mike, and Ellen stood to the side, a smile plastered on their faces.

  “I have a surprise for you,” Bronson said, “Well, maybe more for Roger than anybody else.” Bronson nodded to Carol. She disengaged herself from the group and opened the door to Ellen’s guest bedroom.

  A five year old blond girl with a button nose hesitantly stepped out. For an eternity, it seemed, she and Roger locked gazes.

  Roger squatted. “Anne? Sissy?”

  She gasped and broke into a run and straight into Roger’s arms. “Oh, Anne, I never thought I’d see you again!” They hugged and kissed and held on to each other as if by letting go the reality would go away.

  Roger held on to his sister as he looked at Bronson. “I don’t know how to thank you. You gave me my sister back. I thought I was never going to see her again. Where did you find her? How? When?”

  Bronson raised his arms in surrender. “Don’t thank me. All I did was stop in Arkansas to pick her up. It’s Senator Eileen Garland who put the pressure on the police. Your father’s sentence was reduced in return for the information.”

  Roger frowned. “He’s no longer on death row?”

  Bronson shook his head. “But he will spend the rest of his life in prison. The police made sure there was no chance of parole attached to the condition.”

  For a moment Roger’s body sagged, but then he straightened up and smiled as he gazed into his sister’s loving eyes.

  Did you enjoy reading this book?

  Hopefully, the answer is Yes!

  If so, I’d appreciate it very much if you wrote an honest Amazon review. It doesn’t have to be anything long and complicated. Just a simple statement that you liked the book and what you found interesting about it—or for that matter, why you didn’t like the book.

  Here’s where you can go to post the review: tinyurl.com/LCHayden. That will take you to the list of my books. Click on What Lies Beyond the Fence. Scroll down until you find the section that says Write a Customer Review which appears after the posted reviews.

  Thanks! I really appreciate it!

  L. C. Hayden

  With deep gratitude

  In my novel, Roger Cobb Hallberg is a handsome, intelligent, and dedicated seventeen year old who has a strong sense of values. He, along with my series detective Harry Bronson, saves a lot of people from a horrible fate.

  However, in real life, S/Sgt. Roger Cobb Hallberg, US Army Special Forces, went missing on March 24, 1967. His family lost contact with this Green Beret who was serving in Viet Nam. Since then, the Hallberg’s lives have been shattered. The burden of not knowing what happened to a loved one is something no family should have to endure. “Both my brother and I will keep working diligently on finding

  information and will never give up on our brother,” said Anne Holt, Roger’s younger sister.

  By definition, MIA’s are people, mostly military, with whom contact is lost and whose whereabouts are not known, but whose death is not confirmed. If deceased, neither their remains nor grave have been positively identified.

  The idea of using Roger as a character came about when Elaine Palen from the National League of Families of the POW/MIA’s contacted me and asked me to donate a character for their annual fund raiser. Naturally, I agreed and the idea blossomed from there. The non-profit organization is comprised mostly of family members of MIA’s. For more information visit their website at www.pow-miafamilies.org.

  As expected, the MIA issue is a highly emotional one. It’s a known fact that in any war, people will disappear, bringing emotional turmoil to their loved ones whom they leave behind. It is with deep gratitude and great humility that I salute not just our MIA’s and POW’s (Prisoners of War,) but also their families and loved ones. May they find peace and a way to mend the ever growing hole in their hearts.

  According to the Defense Prisoner of War/Missing Personnel Office, the number of unaccounted U. S. Military and Civilian personnel as of December 2016 for the Viet Nam conflict is 1,618. Add to that the world wars, the recent Middle East conflicts, and all of the other wars, and that figure becomes a staggering statistic that explodes to 9,645 MIA/POW’s since World War II.

  May God be with our MIA’s, POW’s, and their families and loved ones.

  About the Author

  Highly acclaimed author L. C. Hayden is the creator of the popular Harry Bronson series. Her release prior to What Lies Beyond the Fence is When the Past Haunts You, a thriller that hit the Kindle Police Procedural #2 Best Seller List and was a finalist for the Watson Award for Best Characters. A previous Bronson release, Why Casey Had to Die, became an Agatha Award Finalist for Best Novel and a Pennsylvania Top 40 Pick.

  Besides the Bronson Series, Hayden has penned a new standalone thriller, Secrets of the Tunnels. Reviews are coming in, and everyone is raving about this book. Hayden has also introduced a new heroine to the mystery field. The Aimee Brent Series features Aimee, a determined young reporter for the local Tahoe newspaper. The first in the series was ILL Conceived, a Kindle Top 100 Best Seller. Both ILL Conceived and Vengeance in My Heart contain that edge of the seat suspense and unexpected twists Hayden is known for.

  Her non-mysteries include Angels and Miracles Abound, Angels Around Us, and When Angels Touch You. This series has risen to the Kindle Angels #1 Best Seller List and are international bestsellers. The books are spiritually uplifting books that deal with miracles and angels.

  Hayden’s other works include two children’s books, Puppy Dog and His Bone and What Am I? What Am I?, a children’s Kindle Top 50 Children picture book. Help! I Want to Write offers practical advice to inspiring authors. Bell Shaped Flowers is a young adult inspiratio
nal novelette along the lines of Hallmark Hall of Fame.

  Besides being an accomplished author, Hayden is a popular speaker who is often in demand. She has done workshop and school presentations, has spoken to clubs and organizations, and has worked at several major cruise lines speaking about writing while cruising all over the world. From October 2006 to October 2007, Hayden hosted Mystery Writers of America’s only talk show, Murder Must Air.

  Check out L. C. Hayden’s books at www.tinyurl.com/LCHayden, befriend her on Facebook, and visit her website at www.lchayden.com. She loves hearing from her readers.