Pumpkins in Paradise (Tj Jensen Paradise Lake Mystery Book 1) by Kathi Daley

Brittany included, were contenders for the national team. Inclusion on the national team would earn them sponsors and the ability to pursue a professional career.
    “Ready to talk about it?” Jenna asked after Tj had given their order to the waitress.
    “I don’t know . Maybe.”
    “I didn’t know Zachary well, bu t I know you cared about him,” Jenna offered.
    “I know he was an ornery cuss, but he got to me in a strange sort of way . When I first met him, he’d curse and complain about pretty much everything, but he’d set up these games I could tell he’d spent hours and hours coming up with. As time went on, I began to see something different in his eyes—a glimmer of laughter and merriment that I know he tried to hide from the world. I think underneath the gruff exterior he was a good man who’d lived a painful life. I’m really going to miss him.”
    “I’m sorry. ” Jenna grabbed her hand across the table. “I know it hurts to lose a friend. Is there anything I can do?”
    Tj thought about Jenna’s question . She didn’t suppose there was anything Jenna could do, but for some reason she felt like she should be doing something. One of her dearest friends was dead and she was sitting in a restaurant, eating pizza. Maybe she should call the coroner, or set up an appointment with Pastor Dan to talk about the funeral. Zachary didn’t have any family or close friends to deal with the various details that needed tending to when a loved one passed on. The thought made her sad. He’d lived his life alone and he’d died alone.
    “I met the new deputy.” Tj decided to change the subject. “He was one of the deputies who responded today. Did your mom ever get the rest of the story?”
    “Of course. ” Jenna’s eyes sparkled as they locked with Tj’s. “His name is Dylan Caine, he’s thirty-two years old, a widower, no children, and a former member of the Chicago Police Department.”
    “Widower? ”
    “Eight months ago . Someone broke into his apartment, shot him five times, and then killed his wife right in front of his eyes.”
    “Oh, my God . Who would do such a thing?”
    “A gang member out to seek revenge for the death of a fellow gang member the previous week . According to Mom’s source, Dylan was the target, but his wife got caught in the crossfire and died instantly.”
    “God, how awful. ”
    “Yeah, and it gets worse . After he was released to go back to work, they put him on desk duty. Of course, he was more interested in finding his wife’s killer than filing paperwork, so when they wouldn’t assign him to the case, he quit and went after the guy on his own.”
    “And?”
    “It took a few months . The guy, who turned out to be little more than a kid, managed to evade him for a while, but eventually Deputy Caine tracked him down. I guess he’s dead now.”
    “He killed him? ”
    “Not intentionally,” Jenna explained . “After months of following dead ends and useless leads, he finally caught a break and managed to track the guy down in an abandoned apartment building. The guy fled before he could be apprehended. Dylan went after him and they ended up taking the chase out into an alley, where they cornered themselves in one of those standoffs you see on TV, where they’ve each got a gun on the other.” Jenna’s face grew animated as she shared her tale. “The two men exchanged gunfire, arguing all the while about who should be the one giving up. For a while it looked like they’d be trapped in an endless stalemate until someone took a chance and made a move. And then” —Tj waited as Jenna paused for dramatic effect—“this kid, who heard the arguing, wandered into the alley.” Tj cringed as she correctly interpreted the outcome. “The gang member grabbed the kid and told Dylan he’d shoot the boy if Dylan didn’t drop his gun. At first Dylan hesitated, but the man pointed the gun at the child’s head, so Dylan gave up and tossed his gun to the