The Redemption

“Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.”

Bentleyville is a small town in the oil country of West Texas. Jonathan Harris, known to his friends as J.P., is the retired police chief who is presently employed as a prison guard at the Bentleyville State Penitentiary. Jonathan is married to Rosie, a high school sweetheart. They have no children but their lives are not dull. They often argue over right and left politics. Rosie sees herself as the only "Hillary Clinton" liberal in Bentleyville, while Jonathan is one of right wing "good ol' boys." At the death of her mom, Rosie inherited a large sum of money, much is used to fund one of her pet projects of which her husband is totally unaware. The Rev. George Branford is the pastor at the Berean Baptism Church where the Harris's are members. Branford, a handsome man, is suspiciously unmarried but the rumor is that he has a girl friend living in Little Rock where Branford's father is a professor at a Baptist seminary. While the congregation pays their pastor a good salary, yet Pastor Branford always seems to be living at a poverty level and no one can figure out what he does with his money. Michelle Norman, the 25 year old daughter of the owner of the Wheel, a popular sport's bar and bowling establishment, tends bar and is the source of much of the town gossip. Jonathan Harris is one of the popular regulars at the Wheel, much to the chagrin of his fellow Baptists. Into the mix comes Jason Miles, a mysterious stranger from Oklahoma City. He is not who he claims to be. He had spent some time in prison in Oklahoma for fraud and is a prime suspect in an unsolved murder investigation of which the folks in Bentleyville are unaware. For some strange reason, Harris and Miles become very good friends which also remains a mystery since Miles is twenty-five years younger. There is much gossip. Miles has perfected a method whereby unsuspecting men are put in a compromising positon for the purpose of extracting blackmail. His efforts, for the purpose of wrecking havoc in this small town result in a double murder where the perpetrator frames another for the crime. Jack Gooding, a highly competent Private Investigator uncovers the truth. Police procedure, court room drama are all a part of this story leading to an incredibly emotional conclusion. .