death is Deafening
a john holmes johnson mystery
by
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"So, Samantha," Carrie said over her coffee cup, "You like John Holmes?"
Samantha Louise swallowed the huge bite of pancake she had just deposited in her mouth and grinned at her cousin. "Indeed I do," she replied.
The cousins laughed happily.
There were only three adults at the table and three babies in high chairs. The Davis family had spent the night in Kansas City with Jack and Judy.
The laughter seemed to echo in the empty room and the table had an unreal quality about it. Places were set with water glasses and silverware wrapped in napkins but the chairs sat silent as ghosts. The coffee cups were upside down.
I found myself focusing on the pattern on the back of the chair, wondering why I had never noticed its resemblance to a face. I jumped when Margy appeared at my elbow to announce a phone call. Coffee splashed on the tablecloth.
"I am sorry, Mr. Overly."
"Not your fault at all, Margy. I was in deep contemplation on a dark philosophical subject." I chuckled as I stood.
"What was it dear?" asked my wife.
I patted her arm and kissed the top of her head. "Have you ever noticed the faces on the backs of chairs?" I left her staring quizzically at the intricately carved seat backs just as I had been doing.
"Thomas Warner, Patrick. I'm at the clinic."
I listened soberly.
When I returned the women were laughing. They watched me take my seat.
"What's wrong, Patrick?" asked my wife. She had Lori Marie cradled in her arms so I kissed both of them on their foreheads.
"Thomas just called. Myra's clinic has been vandalized and she is in the hospital. He has already called the residence. They will pick you up in fifteen minutes, Samantha."
"Right. Excuse me then. I need to make myself presentable."
I raised an eyebrow at my wife in a question. "Just exactly what does that mean? She looked fine to me."
Carrie Webb Overly laughed at my perplexity. Hudson and Sanford joined their mother and Lori Marie clapped her hands gleefully.
It was 9:50 when Malcolm pulled into the small parking lot at the clinic. Joel Anderson met them at the door. Inside were four uniformed officers and a photographer. An ambulance stood outside the door.
"Welcome," said Joel.
"Why are you here, Joel?" asked Samantha.
Holmes answered for him. "Someone was killed."
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About the Book
Violence strikes a cord with Holmes when his Physical Therapist is killed. Seemingly a random shooting, it gradually takes on a more sinister personality as the man's deaf wife and handicapped son are harassed and threatened by forces not immediately understood.
Nathan, a deaf, retired, Police officer teams up with the Holmes Detective Agency and puts his own life at risk to protect and interpret the sign language used by Cathy Ann Bantler.
The agency is also working on a second case, seemingly unrelated but proves otherwise. The case becomes more and more difficult, with twisted tentacles reaching far back into the past of the dead man and a mad man bent on revenge.
Holmes gets engaged and history seems determined to repeat itself. The gang of youthful hoods comes after the two of them for interfering in their business. Several other innocents die before the startling conclusion of this messy affair.
About the Author
The author graduated from the University of Kansas in Lawrence, Kansas with a B.A and an M.S. in Art Education. She has written poetry and short stories all her life as an avocation while the main focus of her life has been teaching art. She has taught all age levels from infants and toddlers to college, including home schoolers.
She raised two adopted boys and was the foster mother of 24 others and this interest in the welfare of children is reflected in her novels.
Thus far the author has written seventeen novels, which are the components of a series of mysteries. Published novels so far are death is Belligerent, death is Compulsive, and this book, death is Deafening.. The fourth book has recently been published. Is is death is Equestrian, and will be followed shortly by death is Always With Us: a look back to the past. This book will provide readers with insight into the character of John Holmes Johnson.
M. L Spurgeon is currently an Adjunct Professor at Davis College in New York.