The Crossland Shootout

"The grave that they dug him had flowers,
"Gathered from the hillsides in bright summer colors,
"And the brown earth bleached white at the edge of his gravestone,
"He's gone...
"But eternity knows him, and it knows what we've done."
(From "The Grave," by Don McLean, in the album "American Pie.")

Cast Of Characters (In order of appearance)
John Jay Barton Jr., freelance photojournalist, author
Frank Daniels, State Editor, The Charlotte Star
James Parker, manager, Tozzi's Pizza, Lowland, N.C.
Cathy Short, employee, Tozzi's Pizza, Lowland
Lemuel T. "Slats" Thomas, alleged perpetrator
E.W. "Eddie" Marks, Lowland Police Chief
Darrell Farley, Richland County emergency dispatcher
Deputy Max Mabe, Richland County Sheriff's Department
Frank Ray, State Bureau of Investigation district supervisor
U.S. Army M/Sgt. (Ret.) Robert Allenby, survival expert
U.S. Army Col. James "Nick" Rowe, Vietnam War hero
U.S. Navy 2nd Class Petty Officer Ronnie Bruton
Hale Bruton of Crossland, Ronnie's brother
Jim whoeverhewas, Green Beret killer, photojournalist hater
John Jay Barton Sr., author's daddy, deceased
Jeff Hardy, home builder, Crossland Hosiery owner
Suzy Barton, college student, author's daughter
John Jay "J.J." Barton III, golf course worker, author's son
Morgan County Sheriff's Department Major Jimmy Worley
Morgan County Sheriff Frank Murphy
Tom Golden, big city police officer, pistol instructor
Hector Cruz, dope dealer, all-around bad guy
Mr. Cruz, Hector Cruz' cousin, associate dope dealer
Midland Police Officer Bob Brown
Assistant District Attorney Mike Mitchell
Rev. Ralph Franklin, pastor, Crossland Baptist Church
Morgan County Sheriff's Deputy Jeff T. Brown
Midland Police Officer Chris Newton

Author's note: One of the above characters is a real person, U.S. Army Special Forces Col. James "Nick" Rowe. The rest of the characters are fictitious, though based on real persons or composites of real persons the author has known. Some of the events depicted are also real and based on real stories written by the author, including the hostage-shootout story which begins the novel and the first Crossland shootout. However, names and details of some of these events have been changed and at least 50 percent of this novel is manufactured from the whole cloth of the author's imagination. Any resemblance to real persons or events is fully intended, and to those persons who recognize themselves, please take comfort in this true saying: Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.

Prologue
Police Kill Gunman, Rescue 2 Hostages

Chapter 1
The Story Leading To The Story Behind The Story,
Or, The Shootout Before The Crossland Shootout

Chapter 2
The Auto AK Search Leads Down the Vietnam War Trail,
or, Nam War Stories of Nick Rowe and Ronnie Bruton

Chapter 3
Off To Meet Jim Whoeverhewas, Green Beret Assassin,
or, How to Interview a Man Who Hates Photojournalists

Chapter 4
The Yellow Brick Road Leads Home To Crossland,
or, The Search Begins For Hector Cruz, Bad Guy

Chapter 5
A Front Row Seat at the Crossland Shootout, Act I,
or, 'Don't Take Your Gun To Town, Jay, Stay Home'

Chapter 6
Can Your Home Fort Be Defended If Attacked?
or, 'Praise The Lord And Pass The Ammunition'

Chapter 7
"My Bonnie Lies Over The Ocean," or,
Hector Cruz, You Are One Mean Man

Chapter 8
Waiting For Hector Cruz To Arrive, or,
Hurry Up, Hector, Before I Kill Myself

Chapter 9
The Crossland Shootout, Act II, or,
Hector And His Auto AK Rides Again

Epilogue
The End Of Hector Cruz, Bad Man, Maybe,
or, Keep Your Powder Dry, Just In Case