| In the small town of Bridgeville nothing really
exciting happened. Nothing until that Friday morning when Helen Lawson discovers the body
of Harley Baker sprawled on the ladies room floor. Bridgeville
is a quiet town where buildings and streets still had the quaint look they had from back
in the early 1880's. On this Friday morning Helen Lawson decided to take her time before
her hair appointment and stop at the Ice Cream Parlor. As she walked into the
establishment an eerie feeling came over her. She called out Harley's name and got no
answer. He first thought was he was in the back room as she ventured back she noticed a
liquid coming from the ladies room door. She called to Harley and still no answer, she
tired to open the door and after the third try it opened slightly to reveal a dead Harley
Baker sprawled on the floor surrounded by his blood.
Pete Nichols was on patrol that morning when he got the dispatch and
was told a body was found at the ice cream parlor. Pete was a good cop and spent a great
deal of time helping kids, especially those from the poor side of town. But even so,
Helen still didn't think he was the one she would have picked out for her only daughter
Maggie. But he was Maggie's husband and the father of Helen's grandchildren. When Pete
arrived Helen was outside making sure no one entered the building. Pete told her to stay
outside and proceeded into the building. When he found the body in the back he was not
prepared for the gruesome sight of the man whose throat had been cut completely across and
in a professional manner.
News traveled fast in the small town and soon the citizens were
demanding the person who did this. When it was noticed that one of the boys from Shanty
Town, Rodney Thickett was spending money like a drunken sailor the prime suspect was had,
or was he? The news had their murderer and it seems the case was solved. Yet Pete
and Helen still had their doubts.
The story weaves a number of suspects into the story line and all
were presented in an excellent way. Many of us arm chair detectives will enjoy trying to
solve this and will be totally pleased when the real murder is revealed. A very good
mystery well worth reading.
Reviewed by Louise Riveiro-Mitchell for The Road to Romance
November 12, 2003 |
