The main characters in our story, Jay Allan Scripps and Rowena Moore, have connected after many years after a mysterious accident. He is hiding from his past, while she leads a reclusive existence. They are motivated by a perhaps misguided need to improve their world. Their unique use of guns forms helps save lives in a neglected area of the city.
"Baltimore Blue and Freddie Gray" is a work of fiction set in Baltimore during the eventful time of the demonstrations and riots after the funeral of Freddie Gray in April, 2015. The riots destroyed stores and buildings and other economic disasters affected tax revenues, increasing the pressure on the already strapped city budget.
Not surprisingly, the national and international coverage also affected the housing market in Baltimore, and perhaps more importantly, the city's reputation. Earlier that month, I had a conversation with a clerk in a shop in Belgrade, Serbia where he asked me where I was from and asked me about crime and violence in Baltimore. All he knew about Baltimore he learned from the television shows, Homicide and The Wire. Wonder what our conversation might be like if it took place now.
The riots also caused the downfall of a rising political star, Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, who later announced that she would not run for re-election. She was head of the national Council of Mayors and clearly headed for higher office.
The book also contains an account of the fascinating legal issues raised by the trials of six police officers and whether they can be forced to testify in each other's trials. Stay tuned for updates as the six interconnected trials progress.
