M J Campbell

The Jeweled Bones M J Campbell

The Jeweled Bones is a 55,000 word story about Glenna Maxwell, a cold case detective, only whose father was shot in the line of duty and is wheelchair bound. She has dedicated her life to following in his footsteps so she can finish his dream of making a difference in their small city. Detective Braydon Orzachowski, assigned to the coroner, is single and has a chip on his shoulder. He wants to be respected and feels he has never measured up. His parents are deceased and he was raised by an aunt and uncle. He has gone through several partners, and can't get along with anyone. He trusts no one. The story opens with the two detectives being assigned by their boss to solve the cold case the news media dubbed the jeweled bones. Both want to be in charge of the case and neither want a partner, preferring to be a lone wolf. Their boss hints to each that he wants promoted to Police Commissioner and someone will need to replace him. Both want the position, and are determined to be the one to solve the case. As the two work together, they each learn the other is smart and honest. As they try to out work each other, the working of the case enables them to get to know the other, and it also reveals family secrets from the past that shake each to the core. Glenna learns both of her grandmothers were killed, one a police officer, the other a bank teller, during the same bank robbery during a festival many years ago. Upset she was never told, the cold case eventually becomes linked to her grandmothers and her father's grandfather on his mother's side, who was a jeweler. Braydon learns his father was murdered and he realizes a conversation he heard his parents have when he was five, shared what happened to his mother's grandfather. He learns his mother was from a mafia family. He struggles with the truth of what his relatives have done. Now he thinks he will be less thought of. The more cases they work, the more opposition they are receiving from Coroner Harry Hyde. Knowing a coroner has control of the scene before it is released to law enforcement, they begin to wonder what the man knows. He also has a hatred for both Glenna and Braydon. Both of the two grow to respect and understand the other. Glenna wants to help Braydon solve his father's murder and he wants to help her solve the murder of her grandmothers. As they work the case, which has many twists and turns, they realize their priorities have changed. Glenna's grandmothers were on a softball team and members have been iced, one by one. One of the players admits to putting the bones with jewels glued on them in the woods. She passes and shares as she is passing that the coroner murdered her. Soon the coroner is found murdered. Deciding the best way to get everyone from the case under one roof, Glenna and Braydon schedule a wedding, which should bring all of this to a head. When Braydon asks Glenna's father for permission to marry her, Braydon shares he is secretly in love with Glenna and wants to marry her. At the wedding, several people are arrested. Braydon tries to shield her, telling her he will die for her. She tells him she loves him and will die for him but she wants both of them to live. Looking at Braydon, he sees her love, escorts her back to the front of the church and they are married. Both have accepted they are not to judge, to walk in love and to forgive others. They learn they cannot live their lives trying to fulfill the dreams of others. They also realize they let other people's words, not God's become flesh. The story ends with Glenna being sworn in as Mayor. Braydon is in line to replace his boss, and they have a family. They both have healed and now love and understand their families.