Private Investigator, Tom Casey, better known as Hawkman, took on a fifteen year old cold case presented to him by Becky Simpson. Her father had just passed away without ever revealing why her mother deserted the family or why they never heard from her again.
Hawkman thought the case sounded like a challenge, but little did he realize the twists and turns this investigation would take. As he delved into the lives of Al and Carole Simpson, he found many people reluctant to talk, who only gave surface answers. When he searched for relatives of the nanny, Carmella Jones, who’d taken care of Becky and her younger brother, Cory, a new lead surfaced through the woman’s stepbrother, Ed Barnett. The more Hawkman dug, threatening phone calls and notes came to Becky and himself. This indicated he was getting very close to something.
After talking with a longtime neighbor, Mavis Watkins, Hawkman decided to dig up the rose garden at the Simpson house. He came upon a startling discovery, which brought in the police. With the information Hawkman had collected and the help of his friend, Detective Williams, they brought the killer to the front.
Becky Simpson stood by her father’s grave in the rain and felt strangely alone. Even though her brother stood nearby, he had a wife, and a baby on the way. Her father had died without revealing why her mother had left them fifteen years ago.
Tom Casey, private investigator, better known as Hawkman, listened to Miss Simpson’s story and decided to take on the task of finding this long lost mother. In his silent thoughts, he figured he’d never find her alive. Little did he realize the bizarre twist this cold case would take.
The investigation began with Hawkman questioning Becky, and acquiring a list of people who knew Al and Carole Ann Simpson before Carole disappeared. Once he contacted the names, it baffled him to hear the stories about the couple’s happiness. A rumor developed that Carole Simpson had left her husband because she’d discovered he had a lover. But no one knew who she was, and no one had ever seen Mr. Simpson with another woman.
Becky discovered many papers hidden in a safe declaring she and her brother were owners of several rental properties, and passbooks showing hefty bank accounts in each of their names. She also found her mother’s valid signature on documents signing these rental properties over to her father a month after she’d disappeared. These findings baffled Hawkman.
Henry Harris, the gardener for the Simpson household for as long as Becky could remember, had been employed by Mr. Simpson with a promise Harris would never go without a job because he owed him for saving his life. Yet, Hawkman couldn’t find out what act of bravery the gardener had done.
Robin Kregor, a young baby sitter the Simpsons hired often, still lived in the City and
had married Doug Shepard, a local bank executive. They appeared quite wealthy and when Hawkman interviewed Robin, she told conflicting stories about the Simpsons.
The death of the nanny who’d taken care of Becky and Cory Simpson after their mother’s disappearance, led Hawkman to her stepbrother. Ed Barnett had saved many revealing letters written by his sister before her death. Combined with these missives and the stories he’d heard from the next door neighbor, Mavis Watkins, Hawkman began putting the pieces of the puzzle together.
Many of the acquaintances believed Al Simpson had killed his wife and buried her in the rose garden. Hawkman decided to dig up the ground and find out for sure. What he found shocked him. He called in the Medical Examiners and they discovered two bodies buried in the garden. Forensic artist put faces to the skulls and one of the skeletons belonged to Carole Simpson, the other a male, John Doe. With this discovery, the police were now deeply involved.
As Hawkman explored deeper into the lives of the surrounding neighbors, he and Becky received threatening letters and phone calls. When Henry Harris got shot outside his office, it lifted Hawkman’s suspicion of the gardener being a murderer. Feeling near something evil, he decided to close in and with the help of Detective Williams broke the case in a shocking conclusion.
Excerpt
CHAPTER ONE
Becky Simpson stood at the edge of the open grave. Long strands of soggy hair clung to her face as tears slid down her cheeks. Her lightweight jacket dripped water as the rain pelted against her slim body. Thunder rumbled in the distance while the coffin slowly descended into the gapping hole. Cory sidled up next to her and placed an arm around her waist.
“Come on, Sis. You’re getting soaked. It’s time to go. ”
He gently led her toward the big black limousine, helped her into the seat, then scooted in beside her.
“What am I going to do without him?” She said, her voice quivering as she took the handkerchief he offered, and dabbed the water from her face.
“You’ll be fine. Now you can do the things you always wanted to do.”
“Do you realize without Dad, I’m all alone. You’ve at least got a wife and a child on the way. I’ve got no one.”
He gave her a squeeze. “Hey, you’re still young. You have plenty of time to find the right man.”
She glanced at her brother. “You know what I’d really like to do?”
He shook his head. “No, what?”
“Find out what happened to our mother.”
Cory straightened and removed his arm from around her shoulders. “Why do you want to go digging into the past trying to find the whereabouts of Mom? She left years ago and never made contact with either of us.”
A slight smile curled the corners of Becky’s lips. “I’ve dreamed of her many times. I can still see her cleaning the house and humming a cheerful tune. She always seemed so happy.” Clasping her hands in her lap, Becky stared longingly out the rain streaked window. “There’s bound to be a reason she left. I know she loved us. Why would she just disappear without a word?”
Cory bowed his head and dusted off his wet pants. “Have you ever thought she might be dead?”
Becky jerked her head around and glared at him. But before she could answer, the big car came to a stop in front of the church. Cory hopped out and ran around to open her door. He took her arm, and they hurried up the steps just as a bolt of lightening streaked across the sky, followed by another rumble of thunder. Dashing into the building, Susan, Cory’s wife, met them inside the vestibule. She gave her husband a hug and took Becky’s hand.
“I think you two need to get into dry clothes.”
Becky nodded. “You’re right. I’m getting chilled.”
“We’ll go by and pick up something to eat,” Cory said. “See you in about thirty minutes.”
“Okay. Meet you at the house.”
As Becky drove home, many thoughts crowded her mind. She wondered why there were so few people at her father’s service. Surely he had more friends. Of course, the weather may have played a role and kept many away. Not good for older people to drive in cold and stormy conditions. Maybe she should have offered to have a wake with food and drink. “Sorry, Dad,” she muttered aloud. “I was just too upset.”
When she reached the house, she ran upstairs and changed clothes, then brought in a big log from the covered back porch. Placing it on the paper she’d stacked on the grill, she set it afire. By the time Cory and Susan arrived with the food, the house felt cozy and warm.
After they finished the meal, eight months pregnant Susan groaned as she rose from the table. “It’s been a tiring day and we have a long drive tomorrow. I think I’ll go to bed.” She turned to her husband. “Honey, could you help your sis clean up?”
Becky waved a hand. “You two go ahead, it won’t take me a minute to get everything put away.”
“Are you sure?” Cory said, picking up a couple of the plates.
“Yes.” She gestured for him to leave the dirty dishes. “You go take care of Susan.”
***
The next morning, Becky walked her brother and wife to their car. “Susan, are you okay?”
“Yes.” She laughed. “Just big and fat. Believe you me, I’m ready to have this baby.”
“Be sure and let me know as soon as the big event happens.”
“Don’t worry. You’ll probably be the first we call.”
Becky bent down and gave her a hug. “I pray everything goes well.” She stepped back as her brother closed the car door.
He put his arms around Becky and gave her a squeeze. “Sis, stay in touch.” Glancing up at the sky, he dashed around the front of the car. “We’d better get on the road. Hopefully, we can beat this next storm.”
“Call me when you get home. Drive carefully.” They waved as she watched the car turn the corner and disappear. Climbing the steps to the front porch, she rubbed the sides of her arms as the goose bumps rose from the chilly breeze.
The minute she moved inside, silence engulfed her. She leaned against the door and stared into quiet room space. Normally, Dad would have the news blaring on the television, regardless of the hour. She already missed his voice, calling for her to come and watch the latest storm alert or to tell her about an incident at the grocery store.
She wiped a hand across her face. It surprised her when she discovered her cheeks wet and warm with tears. Suddenly, a clap of thunder jolted her out of the intense thoughts. Running fingers through her long brown hair, she pushed the loose strands behind her ears and moved toward the hallway.
Becky hesitated outside the closed door of her father’s office, bit her lower lip, then turned the handle. She moved cautiously across the room to the large oak desk in front of the window. Tracing her fingers across the worn smooth wood, she felt a guilty sensation flow through her, as though she’d intruded into an area where she didn’t belong. She took a deep breath and slid into his desk chair. So many questions left unanswered. Her eyes welled with tears again as she thought about all the wonderful times she’d had with her dad. Now, all the kin she had left in the world was her younger brother.
Only two years separated their ages, but Cory had married soon after he finished college, moved to another town, and now had a baby on the way. Five years ago, due to the woeful pleading of her father, Becky had returned home. He said the big house seemed so empty and lonely after his children had gone off for school. Maybe all the chatter of a growing family might not be present, but if she’d come back he knew it would lift his spirits. He promised not to put a damper on her life, and she could stay as long as she wished. No love had entered Becky’s life, so the decision hadn’t been hard to make. Once she’d settled in, she had no desire to find a place of her own.
She’d found a good paying job in town at a mall, where she became the buyer of women’s clothing at one of the well known department stores. This kept her wardrobe in the latest style and occasional travel kept her from boredom. Many people told her she had exquisite taste, and wearing the fashions she’d purchased, lured many people into the women’s area.
She remembered how her dad teased her about one of the slinky outfits she wore home. He told her a beautiful woman prancing around in that outfit would cause nothing but trouble to the married men in her office. His laughter rang through the house when he told her she’d leave them panting and the wives ready to kill.
Becky wiped the tears from her eyes, and blew her nose. Having the full responsibility of being executrix of her father’s will, she’d taken off a couple of weeks to get things in order. Cory would return to sign the final papers in the next few days. He had no problem with her keeping the house, as he had no interest in it. The estate would be divided so that he’d be covered for his half.
She pondered again how she’d approach him on the idea of finding their mother. Cory was only eight when she took off. No trace of her had ever been found. But Becky remembered her twinkling blue eyes, big smiles and wonderful hugs.
Dropping her pen on the desk top, she strolled to the window and peered out through the sheer curtains. The rain had quit and she smiled at the squirrel guarding his nest in the crook of the oak tree. He kept chattering and scolding a blue jay perched on a limb a few feet away. The bird flew at the sound of the gate as it rattled open and Henry Harris, the gardener, entered. He’d taken care of their yard for as long as she remembered. Becky had never liked him as a little girl. When she told her dad the man scared her, he just laughed, telling her Henry wouldn’t hurt a fly and he needed the job. Strange, she didn’t recall seeing him at the funeral, but it didn’t mean he wasn’t there. In her state of mind, she probably didn’t see anyone who wasn’t right in her face. He tended to be very shy and could very well have been in the background. Becky crossed the room and went down the stairs to the main floor.
Slipping on a jacket hanging on the hook near the back door, she went outside. “Good morning, Henry.”
“Mornin’,” he said, ducking his head as he reached down to pick up the rake. “Sorry about your pappy. Very sad to have him gone. I thought I’d run over and see what I could do between the storms.”
Before Becky could respond, he’d turned abruptly and headed around the corner of the house. She decided not to pursue him this morning. Her questions could wait until a less strained time.
Professional Reviews
Brenda Stewart (Indiana)
5 stars
Grave Web
By
Brenda Stewart (Indiana)
When Becky Simpson began clearing out her father's office after his sudden death from a heart attack, she found more questions than answers about her mother's disappearance almost fifteen years earlier.
Becky hired private investigator, Tom Casey, also known as Hawkman, to try to find out what happened to her mother. Infidelity, hidden compartments, anonymous threats, lies, deceit, and bones buried in a rose garden lead the reader through an array of gripping suspense elements right to the end.
Grave Web is an excellent mystery suspense novel. I couldn't put it down.
Margaret Marr "Published Author" (NC USA)
GRAVE WEB--Her best yet!, December 10, 2007-(5 stars)
ISBN: 1419681966
Reviewed By:
Margaret Marr "Published Author" (NC USA)
After Becky Simpson's father dies, she has a strong urge to find out what happened to her mother. Carole Ann Simpson has been missing for over fifteen years with no real explanation for her disappearance, and no one seemed to even care. Her brother warns her that she might not like what she finds after digging into old and forgotten family problems.
Becky hires Private Investigator Tom Casey, better known as Hawkman. It's a cold case, and more difficult to solve, but the case intrigues him so he takes her on as a client. As Hawkman questions the neighbors, he finds out Carole Ann wasn't much liked, and everyone prefers to keep their noses in their own business. Most people think she simply ran off because of her husband's affair with another woman. But why wouldn't she contact her children in all that time?
When both Hawkman & Becky start getting threatening messages, warning them to back off, Hawkman becomes certain something much more sinister happened to Carole Ann Simpson all those years ago.
Ms. La Pierre has outdone herself with #10 in the Hawkman Series. Grave Web is a complex web of secrets and lies, keeping you guessing right up to the shocking unveiling. I didn't have a clue how the mystery would be solved, so I was both surprised and delighted with the very plausible ending. Baffle me, and you go on my shelf of great mystery writers. Ms. La Pierre has won her place there with Grave Web.
The Reed’s faith, a mystery to some, will be tested like never before. Will it hold? Mark’s love for his wife and their intimate romance is shattered by Brandy, a barmaid.
