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I pulled my car over and parked on the shoulder, took a deep breath, sighed, closed my eyes and rested my head on the steering wheel. I could generally divide cases into three categories, those where I was in control of all the information and had total leverage, those where I was in control of some of the information and had some leverage, and finally those uncomfortable cases where I knew that I was simply a tool of someone else’s agenda. I had been around along enough to know that the first best-case scenario was unlikely and that the middle scenarios were most likely – where there was some push and pull between me, the client and the principle players. I could live with that. In fact, that was frequently how a case became exciting, moving from a walk on part in the ongoing drama to the master manipulator. But I clearly knew that this case was getting out of my control and it felt uncomfortable being toyed with by Goddard and his father. It would take a monumental effort on my part to climb back into a seat of power – to get the leverage to corral Goddard and get Sam to give me a wider berth. Continue reading →

Prior chapters of the murder mystery are filed in the “murder mystery”category in the menu on the right.

We pulled into the expansive circular driveway in tandem. This time the driveway was vacant, and Sam had wisely decided to park the Cadillac Escalade elsewhere. I went over and gave Grimes our usual vertical handshake in a solidarity stance, then taking a half step towards each other to briefly pat each other on the back.  I saw Detective McNitt startle at this sign of familiarity. We didn’t even have a chance to exchange pleasantries when the large oak door opened and Sam Todd stepped out. Continue reading →

Prior chapters can be found in the category “Murder Mystery.”

Chapter 18

I started to make a pile of the green puzzle pieces that looked like the grass and trees, and I noticed that Goddard was doing the same with the sky and cloud pieces.  The puzzle was turning out to be a God send – we could both stare at the puzzle and continue talking without having to stare at each other and any uncomfortable silences could be absorbed by working on the puzzle.  “Well tell me about your mother,” I said softly.

“Yes, the beautiful and elegant Cymbaline Todd.  She might have been many things, but mother wouldn’t be one of them.  She was just not present in my life.  She hated CutterCity, and I can’t imagine why she moved there.  As far as I know, she had two loving and supportive parents, although my grandfather died when she was twelve.  I think that she had a few wild teenage years, but why she decamped to CutterCity is a mystery.  It is a far cry from the Murphy mansion on the beach.  I don’t even know how she met my father.  Have you ever been to CutterCity?  It is pretty grimy.” Continue reading →

Prior chapters of the Clean Plate Club murder mystery can be found in the Murder Mystery category listed on the right.

We walked into the café together with my shoulder propping Goddard up.  Fanny took one look at him and immediately started putting together another ice pack.  Goddard’s head wobbled as he looked up through the lank hair falling across his eyes.  I could feel him sucking it up as he tried to break loose of my support and stand on his own.  “Thank you Mr. Ralph and Ms. Fanny, I remember spending many pleasant hours here during my college days.  Mr. Ralph, as I recall you were my bridge partner, where taught me the Stayman convention and how to finesse.  I appreciate your continued hospitality.  As you can see, I am a bit down on my luck.”  This demonstration of cultured politeness totally sapped his energy and his full weight fell on my shoulder. Continue reading →

Prior chapters of the Clean Plate Club Murder Mystery are filed in the murder mystery category.

I was startled to see that it was already 4:30 PM.  I would have to hustle back to Goddard’s studio to make sure that I had time to find a parking space before our 5 PM appointment.  I pulled out of the parking space and into the traffic streaming out of the University heading down to town for a Saturday night.  The University had instituted very strict rules about underage drinking on campus, and the police blotter report in the local newspaper was always filled with reports of the campus police raiding a fraternity party.  As high minded as this approach was, the result was that students simply got into their cars and headed off campus for their weekend revelries, leaving the relative safety of the campus where students walked from party to party.  Now, overimbibed students would be weaving around town in cars, and the police blotter occasionally reflected the danger of this approach.  I lived at home during my college years, and was typically working weekends – cases with my father always seemed to break on a Saturday – so I missed those years of poor decision-making.   I stopped suddenly to let a bevy of students jay walk in front of my car – several girls draped over a couple of boys who sashayed down the street with beer in hand.  Continue reading →