Clearwater Spring Break

By Al Rennie

It's Spring Break; the beaches are packed with college kids; Mrs. F has been called away; CHIPs is in trouble but still trusted to help the local cops; June Franklin 'hires' Joe to check out a 'strange development' at Children Services; Mia has to get away; Joe rescues a woman and her son from a pounding; Billy plays golf with a purpose and gets assaulted; lots of crazy happening in paradise.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Al Rennie
• Release date: Jun 13, 2018
• ISBN: 9780463375839

Al Rennie

I was born and raised in Toronto. I attended Upper Canada College before taking a degree at Queen's University. I have worked as a lifeguard for the Toronto Harbour Police, a youth worker for the Toronto YMCA, and an English teacher in Lakefield. I am married with two great daughters and an extended foster family. My interests include Maple Leaf hockey - this is our year - New England Patriot football and writing.

Book preview

Clearwater Spring Break

By

Al Rennie

Dedication

For my wife

Marsha

And to all the kind and supportive readers of the Clearwater Series.

Copyright © 2018 by Al Rennie

All Rights Reserved.

Cover Credit: Rita Toews – probably the most caring, patient and inventive cover creator ever!

Cover Image Credit: Creative Commons CCO 1.0 Universal

Formatting Credit: Lucinda K. Campbell – as always, just great … thank you!

Table of Contents

Prologue

Chapter 1 Monday, March 12th, 2018 – Spring Break!

Chapter 2 Tuesday, March 13th, 2018 - An Interesting Proposition!

Chapter 3 Wednesday, March 14th, 2018 – You Don’t Say

Chapter 4 Thursday, March 15th, 2018 – We sort things out!

Chapter 5 Friday, March 16th, 2018 – Things take a turn …

Epilogue

Note to Readers

Note to Joe and Mia fans

In today’s glutted writing environment, reader ratings and reviews can make a huge difference in the success of an indie author such as me If, as a reader, you have enjoyed any particular book, please take a few moments of your time to give it a favorable rating, and if you are so inclined, a short positive review. Your affirming assessment will mean a great deal to the author and to his or her chances of survival in the current literary marketplace.

Acknowledgements

Thank you Gerry Pielsticker, Sue Ross and Nancy Fox who, once again, supplied a few jokes that left me laughing so hard, I just had to find a place for a few of them.

Due to a long distance move and job change for a primary editor, Annmarie, and an ugly artistic dispute with another one, my wife, I had been reduced to having only three excellent editors on my team. It might be difficult for anyone to believe that, as a former English teacher, I would even need three editors. The news gets better for you. Sue and Amy have joined the editing team. So now there are five … How will I survive? In any case, the three remaining editors, Gail, Ben and Donna, aided and abetted by Sue and Amy, have returned to make my life miserable for a few weeks, but to make your reading experience that much better. I’d like to thank them for their masterful work in editing yet another episode of The Clearwater Series. The Tim Horton or Starbucks gift cards are in the mail … hold on, what Gift Cards?

Nancy’s Amendment to Annie’s Amendment – she’s blonde!

This is the Clearwater Series in the sequence that the titles were written.

1) Clearwater Journals

2) Clearwater Diaries

3) Clearwater Ambush

4) Clearwater Abduction

5) Clearwater Heat

6) Clearwater Kiss Off

7) Clearwater Showdown

8) Clearwater Magic

9) Clearwater Intrigue

10) Clearwater Danger

11) Clearwater Predator

12) Clearwater Extortion

13) Clearwater Killer

14) Clearwater Oops!

15) Clearwater Crazy

16) Clearwater Undercover

17) Clearwater Hunter

18) Clearwater Justice

19) Clearwater Skip Trace

20) Clearwater Assault

21) Clearwater Folly

22) Clearwater Homesick

23) Clearwater Hustle

24) Clearwater Stakeout

25) Clearwater Fit

26) Clearwater Double Cross

27) Clearwater Vice

28) Clearwater Escape

29) Clearwater Bubba

30) Clearwater Betrayal

31) Clearwater Penalty

32) Clearwater Deception

33) Clearwater Confession

34) Clearwater Promises

35) Clearwater Nemesis

36) Clearwater Glitz

37) Clearwater Mirage

38) Clearwater Witness

39) Clearwater Cowboy

40) Clearwater Retirement

41) Clearwater Spring Break

A very few Reader Responses to the Clearwater Series:

On the advice of the critics, editors and Ellen, I have limited the number of reader responses to a few of the more recent ones. The suggestion was that no one reads them anyway. I know that I do. Apologies go out to those critics who didn’t make the cut.

Al Rennie is still rocking in the world according to Doc!!! I eagerly await each new book and I am not disappointed. This one has another current storyline which lets you know that the author is on his toes and doing his homework. I am very glad that the youngest little fellow is finally being brought into the house....good move. Keep on writing Al Rennie and we will keep on buying, reading and enjoying. I have read many stand alone books and many series and this series rates right up there in the top two. Al Rennie rocks!!! M.M.S.

Al Rennie's Clearwater series always gets a 5 star rating from me. This series never gets old (even after the 32nd book), and the stories are clever and funny with mystery, thrills, and sometimes even a little sadness thrown in and romance the Joe and Mia way. Start at the beginning and read it, you won’t be able to put it down. Sharon R.

I love all of the Clearwater series books. Al you have created another great book that I will be thinking about for quite some time. I love that you brought out bullying, a lot of that going on. My sister's granddaughter was just bullied at school this past week. She nipped it in the bud. Lol All the jokes we're great, love each and every character in the book. If we all were more like Joe Holliday, this world would be a better place as he always wants to give everyone a fair chance. You bring each character in to grab our attention from the first chapter Until the End. Great read, can't wait for the next book. Bonnie W.

Oh Wow. Clearwater Confessions is awesome. I have read every book in the Clearwater series and they are absolutely my favorite books to read. Mr. Rennie is such an amazing writer and scores another hit with Clearwater Confessions. This story keeps you on the edge of your seat from beginning to end. Joe and his guys search for a missing girl, stop an incident in a Starbucks, find a meth lab, along with lots of other adventures that make you laugh, hold your breath, and not be able to stop reading till the end. Mr. Rennie gives us characters we love with Joe and his chips crew, his great family along with his brother Frank. Thanks Mr. Rennie, I can't wait for the next story. Merle

I love this series. The stories make me laugh, cry, and dream of adventures. I am always excited for the next one.

I am always so excited to pre-order my books from you, Clearwater Confessions did not disappoint! I have to tell you that this series is the only series that I can read the book in a day and a half because it is so hard to put down. I have to force myself to slow down and savor every word. My husband says, ‘lets take a trip to Canada, eh"? I love the storyline of how Joe and Mia build their little, or should I say big family. The storyline of Mrs. F and Ken Jackson had me on edge, but I love the riding in and shooting Joe’s way in to rescue them. I will be impatiently waiting for your next installment of Joe and Mia.

Thanks Bubba and my B&N card is ready for the next pre-order. I will be watching for it!

I wish to thank Mr. Al Rennie for the complete Valentine gift package. I am just waiting for the T. V. Series to come along. I have seen television series without this much so together. The writing and the plot (plots) are exciting and oh no, what could possibly go wrong. Ha, ha, ha. The character development has reached a point that we know each and every one of them, and love them, even the bad guys. I love bad guys. Every red blooded woman wants a bad guy, even if he is really just a bad boy. I will not give a spoiler, but, the whole book is an exciting read. The editing is professional and outstanding. The plot flows seamlessly and makes one wish there was a bag of popcorn and soda handy. One drawback, the next one is not out. I look forward to seeing what my Clearwater and their extended family is up to and what is the next speed bump they will have to hop over. Only Doc would call a dire situation a speed bump. Please, Mr. Rennie, keep writing. The suspense is killing your audience. Next stop, ladies and gentlemen, The New York Times Best Seller List!

I have enjoyed and waited in anticipation of every adventure with Joe and Mia and Max and Frank and Fred and Jeremy and all CHIPs fellow cohorts in the Clearwater series. I have read Best Sellers and Mainline authors in the Publishing world, but these books are the ones that make me laugh, cry, hold my breath, and surprise me. I would be extremely unhappy if they stopped coming anytime soon. Please wait a little longer before you retire them and become a jockey, race car driver or whatever. Anything other writing these books would totally bore you to death!!

Cindy B

Clearwater Nemesis is the 35th addition to Mr. Rennie's Clearwater Series. I would highly recommend this series. First Mr. Rennie is one great storyteller. All 35 books of the Clearwater Series are easy reading, action packed, populated with memorable characters, loaded with humor and filled with clever twists. I look forward to each new addition. Keep them coming Al, if possible write faster! You are becoming the Mark Twain of Canadian writers! E.J.

Hi Mr. Rennie, Once again you nailed it with Clearwater Penalty. You have an amazing sense of timing and a creativity that can’t be topped. I read about 100 books a year and you are by far my favorite author. I am thrilled by your ability to keep me engrossed by every one of your books. I appreciate Grisham, Brown, Baldacci and many others; however, you are the guy that keeps me coming back as soon as you next book is released. You have an unbelievable gift and don’t let anything, or anyone, discourage you from entertaining your public. Thank you once again. Nancy

Love the books, can’t put them down and I even find myself slipping into some of the phrases!!! Not sure that will always be a good thing though! Carol

I found you first on Smashwords; after that, I kept hitting the buy button in iTunes. I laughed, cried, and told my patients how I almost went to You Tube to look for your video. I see patients in long term care facilities. I have shared your stories and with my patients living on the seawall in Galveston, Tx. You have brought life, love and a bit of silliness into the lives of my patients and have made me a better practitioner. I am forever in your debt. Katherine

Thanks Al for another chapter (Clearwater Hustle) in the lives of my favourite imaginary friends. I'll go and put some stars and comments on iBooks which is where I get my copies. Anthony Templeman

Double Cross is the most complex and surprising book yet. The plot lines completely surprised me, and I loved the twists and turns. His ability to describe scenes made me feel like I was right there in Florida! Best of all, his ability to create in-depth characters and make me care about them is a rare gift and makes his books so much more enjoyable.

If you love slightly wacky mysteries, this book - in fact the whole Clearwater series - is a must read for you.

Hi, I have been a big fan since I discovered Joe and his family a few years ago. When I first began I could just order the next book as soon as I had finished the one I was reading but now I have to wait until the next one is written, weeks and weeks! So, I have just spent the last fortnight (two weeks) rereading the entire series of 36 books back to back. Brilliant! I love the way Joe's family interact, and how he juggles all the elements of his life. Keep it up Mr. Rennie. I will just have to manage until the next book comes out in July. I am hoping for at least 36 more and don't you dare kill Joe or any of his nearest and dearest off. Jane

I have read the entire series more than once and it keeps getting better. Can’t wait for number forty… 5 Stars …Thanks again Al!

Loved it! Another great adventure in Paradise … Merle

Prologue

Paul Minter had used much of his time during the past four weekends and most of his after work hours during the previous two weeks looking for just the right combination of owner and house. Now, he believed that he had found exactly what he was looking for. The house was a, ‘For Sale by Owner’ bungalow with one, or possibly two bedrooms in a quiet, low traffic, neighbourhood with nobody living close enough to the home to bother him when he made his move. The icing on that cake was that it was only four point three miles north of his home in North Park and slightly less than three to his job selling shoes at ‘Lady Foot Locker’.

He had found the house with its hand painted ‘For Sale by Owner’ sign just over a week ago. From the time that he had identified his target, he had cruised around the area so that he would know all the ways of making a hasty escape and wouldn’t be seen parked for too long in any one place. He was supposed to be looking around for a house to buy. At least that was what he was pretending to be doing. In fact, his motive was darker and more nefarious by a long shot.

On one of his passes by the target home, he had been able to slow down and watch as a small, attractive dark-haired woman, likely in her early or mid thirties, had pulled away from her driveway in her eight year old white Honda Civic. A neatly dressed girl, probably her daughter, maybe ten or eleven and of small stature had been with the woman. They had been chatting away about something and laughing together. The daughter could pose a problem. He’d have to think about how to resolve that complication. Or, maybe the kid would be no problem at all. Maybe she would be an incentive … and a bonus.

On two more occasions Paul Minter had watched as the unsuspecting mom or daughter had entered or left their little house. He was getting more excited about what he knew he was going to do now. But he had to be careful. This was not a first for him. When he was seventeen years old, he had been sentenced to fourteen years for kidnapping and aggravated sexual assault. He had served five years and then been given probation. Considering the recent crimes, he knew that the police would try to watch him whenever they could afford the man power. But they had nothing on him … just suspicions and those counted for nothing. The time to strike would come and he would act just as he had planned that he would. But patience was needed for it to be the right time.

At four-forty-five on a sunny Sunday afternoon in January, Minter made his decision. He parked his car across the street from the bungalow and lifted his small packed backpack from the rear seat. He left the top flap open for easy access. When the moment was right, quick and easy access to what he had in the bag would be crucial. He slung it over one shoulder, took his first deep breath, and he was ready. As he walked up the short walkway to the front door, he took two more deep breaths to settle himself and then paused to scan the area for anyone who might be watching. Satisfied that there appeared to be no witnesses interested in him and what he was up to, he approached the plain wooden front door.

His heart was pounding. That never changed when he was getting ready to confront his victims. He took another deep breath before he rang the front door bell and followed with a set of three sharp knocks on the door. He didn’t have long to wait. The girl opened the door and asked him what he wanted.

"I’d like to talk