Blessed are the Merciful by Al Lacy Page A

laid the envelope on the desk.
    “What’s this?” Bennett asked.
    “It’s a letter from the U.S. marshal’s office in Washington. I wrote and asked for an application form. I’m going to apply to become a deputy United States marshal. They sent me an encouraging reply and the application form. They’ve also enclosed papers for you to fill out. I have to have your recommendation in order to proceed with the application.”
    Bennett took the papers out of the envelope, gave them a quick once-over, and said, “I hate the idea of losing you, Seth, but I assure you, you’ll get the highest recommendation from me. But won’t you reconsider staying?”
    “I really need to get away from here, Chief. There’s more to it than you know.”
    “What do you mean?”
    “Well, I was about to ask the young lady I’ve been courting for some time to marry me. But—” Seth swallowed hard. “But when I went to jail she turned against me and wouldn’t believe me when I told her I was innocent. Nothing changed when I was acquitted. She still thinks I murdered Lawrence.”
    “I’m sorry about this. You’re still in love with her, aren’t you?”
    Seth nodded.
    “Well, it seems to me that if she loved you like you thought she did, she’d believe you.”
    “Yes, sir. I … I just need to get away from here, sir.”
    Bennett sighed. “I understand. Like I said, I hate to lose you, but I’ll fill out this report and send it to the U.S. marshal’s office right away.” As he spoke, he handed the envelope and its other contents back to Seth.
    Seth rose from his chair and reached across the desk to shake Bennett’s hand. “Thank you for understanding, sir. You’ve been very good to me.”
    Bennett gripped his hand firmly. “I’ll miss you, Officer Coleman.”
    “I’ll miss you too, sir. And please know that until I leave, I’ll strive to be the best officer you have on the force.”
    “I have no doubt of that.”
    Seth stepped out of the chief’s office and headed for the front door. Hank Moldow and Keith Dailey were just coming on duty, and when they drew abreast of him, they stopped.
    “Well, whattya know, Keith?” Moldow said. “Here’s Lawrence Sheldon’s old pal. I wonder if he misses him like we do.”
    “I doubt it,” Dailey said.
    “I don’t have time for this,” Seth said. “Kindly get out of my way.”
    Moldow sneered. “He wants us to be kindly toward him. You know … like he was toward Lawrence.”
    “I said I don’t have time for this.” Seth started to move past them.
    Dailey started to say something but stopped when four officers came through the front door. When they were out of earshot, he said, “So you don’t have time for this, eh? Lawrence’s time on earth was cut short, wasn’t it?”
    “Yes, it was,” Seth replied, “but not by me.”
    Moldow smiled. “Marvelous what a sharp lawyer can do with a jury, isn’t it?”
    “Get out of my way.”
    “Why don’t you make me?” Moldow said.
    Seth’s right fist connected solidly with Moldow’s jaw. Moldow was down on his back in a split second, dazed and wondering what had happened.
    Seth ducked Dailey’s fist and smashed a wicked uppercut to Dailey’s jaw. The blow lifted the man off his feet, and he joined his friend on the floor.
    “What’s going on here?” came a familiar voice from behind.
    Moldow rubbed his jaw and said, “Chief, I don’t know what got into Coleman. We were talking to him all friendly like, and he up and punches both of us, taking us by surprise.”
    “That’s right, Chief,” said Dailey, rising unsteadily to his feet.
    Bennett’s face flushed and his eyes narrowed. “Both of you are liars! I’ve been watching this scene from my office door since it started. I heard every word. And I saw exactly what happened. Moldow, Dailey, I want your badges and your guns right now. You two are on suspension until you face the internal affairs committee for what you did to Officer Coleman!”
    Dailey