Rausch & Donlon - Can Be Murder 03 - Writing Can Be Murder (28 page)

Turners Bend

May

S
PRING
APPEARED TO HAVE FINALLY
come to the middle of Iowa. While Chip
was reveling in the thawing snow and fresh breezes, a few pessimistic townies
kept telling him to wait for the last shoe of winter to drop…a May snowfall. He
vowed to think positively, to enjoy the exhilaration he felt at publishing
Head Shot
and heading his writing career
in a new direction.

Jane
was in a full-scale party planning mode. Ingrid would be graduating from high
school in May and Baba would finish vet school soon. Jane had enlisted Lance
Williams to help her stage a gigantic celebration. On two other occasions Lance
had proven to be a highly successful party planner. Chip laughed to think that
he was once jealous of Lance’s attention to Jane. Now he was grateful he could
step out of the way of the frenzied party preparations and let Lance take over.

Lance
and Lucinda had made a trip to world-famous IVF treatment center. Lucinda
bought a case of pregnancy test kits, which she used sometimes more than twice
a day, reporting to Chip after each test, despite his protests that it was
TMI…too much information for his tastes. His literary agent continued to
prepare for a pregnancy while waiting for the blue plus sign, spending a small
fortune on clothing, equipment and toys, and giving her agent duties short
shift.

Chip
still was following the case of Finnegan’s murder and the trial of the two gang
members, but there was no progress being reported. He switched his concerns to
Finnegan’s family. He periodically called Maureen to check on her welfare. With
a substantial contribution from his father, he set up trusts for Finnegan’s two
children, Sean and Abby. He dedicated
Head
Shot
to Finnegan and found peace in doing so.

Giving
up on trying for a hip ringtone, Chip had changed his to a favorite John Denver
song. He grabbed his cell when he heard the strains of “Country Roads.” It was
Baba on the other end with bad news, news that set his household tumbling into
turmoil.

“Sir,
I have news from Afra. My father is very ill and near the end of his life. I
must return to care for him and accept my place as the head of our village. It
is my duty,” said Baba in a voice laced with brave resolve.

The
ramifications began to reel through Chip’s head. “But you’re only one month
from graduation. Surely you can wait. We’ve been trying to get your status
changed with Homeland Security, but it still appears if you leave, you will not
be able to return. Please, don’t do anything rash. Let’s explore all the
options.”

“I
appreciate all your efforts, Sir, but I must go as soon as possible. This is my
fate; my destiny has been written for generations.”

***

Despite
many phone calls to Homeland Security, Citizenship and Immigration Services and
Iowa’s two senators, nothing could be done. Through Jane’s efforts the
veterinary school had graciously granted Baba an early diploma. His return
flight to Ethiopia via New York City and Rome was scheduled.

Ingrid
was devastated. “I somehow thought he would be able to stay, that the
government would come to its senses and see what a harmless, wonderful person
he is. And that he would want to stay here, maybe be mom’s assistant. This
sucks, this sucks big time. Do something, Dad, don’t let this happen.”

“Ingrid,
your mother and I have tried everything we could think of, but the reality is
he is determined to return to his home. We’ll keep in contact with him. He’ll
always be part of us.”

The
day arrived. Sven come down from Minneapolis and the whole family drove Baba to
the Des Moines airport. Chip felt like he was driving a hearse. Sadness shrouded
the car and few words were spoken. There had been well wishes and tears at the
Bun that morning, and Bernice made a batch of injera for the occasion. Iver
tried to give a little speech but got too choked up to continue.

Chip
sought special permission to go to the gate area with Baba, but airport
security denied his request. Their farewell would have to be outside of the
security check point.

Baba
handed each of them an envelope. “Please do not read these until you get home.
Have S’Mores and hot chocolate and remember all the wonderful times we have
had.” With those words, he turned from them and passed through the metal
detector. They watched as the TSA agent pulled him aside and led him to another
area. His name was on the watch list. Even though Agent Masterson had tried to
smooth the way for his exit from the country, it would be not be easy for him.
Not easy for any of them.

***

Jane
insisted on following Baba’s request. She made S’Mores and hot chocolate and
the four of them sat at the kitchen table their envelopes from Baba in hand.

Each
opened their notes and read them aloud.

Dear
Doctor Jane,

I lost my mother so many years ago and now
I have found a new mother in you. I will honor you for the rest of my life and
try to make you proud of your son Baba.

Dear
Sir,

In my country a father is always to be
respected, obeyed and honored above all others. You now are my American father,
and I am humbled to be your son Baba.

Dear
Sven,

Brothers
to the end, Dude. Keep the faith and do good works.

Baba

Dear
Ingrid,

I will be in Afra, but my heart will
always be with you. Wherever you are, whatever you are doing, look to the stars
and know that I am thinking of you. Should the fates bless us, we will see each
other again.

With
love, Baba

Chip
Collingsworth and Jane Swanson are still living happily in Turners Bend with
Runt, Callie and their new puppy, a chocolate lab named Hershey. Chip finished
his crime series and is now working on his “Great American Novel,” a story
about life in a small Iowa town. He was recently elected mayor. He likes to say
he won hands down, which is technically true since he ran unopposed.

Ingrid
Swanson has finished her degree at Iowa State and is working for an
international hunger relief organization in Africa. She is in frequent contact
with Baba, who succeeded his father as tribal leader. Stay tuned for news on
their relationship.

Sven
Swanson has formed an independent documentary film company along with a fellow
MCAD alumnus. They aren’t making any money, but they sure are having a
wonderful time and making headway to their goal of having an entry in the
Sundance Film Festival.

After
a failed
in vitro
fertilization
procedure, Lucinda and Lance decided to adopt a special needs toddler. The
happy family now lives in Turners Bend full time, and Lucinda is a stay-at-home
mom (can you believe it?). Little Atticus is hearing-impaired and many of the
townies, including Bernice, are learning sign language.

Speaking
of Bernice, she won $25,000 in a national baking contest. She used the money to
open her own bakery, Bernice’s Main Street Bakery. Stop by when you’re in town
and try her rhubarb crispies…they are to die for.

Chief
Fredrickson retired. He likes to quip that he has “retired from a life of
crime.” He and Flora bought an RV and fly down south with the snowbirds every
winter. Iver also bought an RV (bigger than the Chief’s), and he and Mabel join
the Fredrickson’s in Sun City from January through March.

Mario
Franco is the now the police chief of Turners Bend. His son is the star guard
on the Prairie Dog’s basketball team…go Dogs!

Five
years later life is good in Turner Bend, and the Benders hope the same for you,
dear readers.

1. The mining of frac sand and the fracking of oil
are both highly controversial. What are the controversies? How do you feel
about his method of producing crude oil?

2. Are the women involved in sex trafficking victims
or criminals in the eyes of the law? In your eyes? What do you think can be
done to address this problem? Why is the incidence of sex trafficking high at
the time of national events such as, sports events or political conventions?

3. In this story Chip Collingsworth is struggling
with step-parenting. Share any of your own experiences with being a step-child
or a step-parent.

4. In
Head
Shot
Agent Schwann is struggling with career versus motherhood issues. How
can women be successful at both? Share your own experiences and compare them to
your mother’s experiences.

5. Tolla Dibaba (Baba) ends up on the terrorist
watch list even though he is not a terrorist. How effective do you think this
and other Homeland Security measures have been in reducing terrorist activities
in this country?

6. If you have read the previous books in this
trilogy, what do you think about the ending of each of the two stories?

The first two books in the Can Be
Murder Series by

Marilyn Rausch and Mary Donlon
are:

Headaches
Can Be Murder

and

Love
Can Be Murder

You can find out more about the
authors and their books at
www.rauschanddonlonauthors.com
or on the

Rausch and Donlon Facebook page.