Dark Jealousy is the second Sheriff Dawson Mystery. The first Guilty Deceptions is available for purchase on Amazon.
This scene is from Chapter Two of Dark Jealousy. (Now this is only the 2nd draft so things can change) In the scene Sheriff Dawson and his wife Becky are having dinner with his sister Annie, and her three boys. Annie wants to hear about the case, and it's still early in the investigation. Sheriff Dawson is debating on suspects who may or may not be the murderer.
So here is the excerpt:
“So, tell me more about this case,” Annie said. “Is it open and shut or will their be an investigation?”
“It appears to be open and shut,” I said. “But, if I have learned anything from the past year it’s that things always aren’t what they seem to be. Therefore there will be an investigation.”
“Is there a suspect yet?” she asked, and I nodded.
“Right now we are looking into the farmhand, Daniel Roberts,” I said, and she nodded.
“I know him,” she said. “Let me correct myself, I know of him. He did work around the house for one of my friends. She actually recommended him to me, but with John gone, we can’t afford it.”
“Daniel is in my opinion the prime suspect, as of now. He wears a size ten and-”
“He owned the axe,” Becky said, finishing my thought.
“But, you don’t think it was him, Stephen, do you?” Annie asked, and I nodded.
“He wasn’t the only one on the property. I can’t say for sure it was him until I’ve interviewed everyone.” I said, my sister’s face had grown uncomfortable. “Of course, we shouldn’t be discussing this at dinner.” Annie shook her head.
“After what I’ve been through in the past year, a little murder talk at dinner isn’t going to bother me,” she said, and I nodded.
“Of course not,” I said. “But for the sake of the children, I don’t think it should be discussed. At least not in so many details.” Annie nodded, and took a bite of food. She chewed thoughtfully, and after swallowing she glanced at me.
“What are the chances,” she said, curiously. “Of this investigation going to court at all? I don’t mean to be rude or anything but where this murder is in the black community would our court system even care enough to have a trial?” I swallowed.
“I’m not so sure,” I said, and then frowned. “But, probably not. The courts have never been in favour of the black community. They will likely collect all my evidence and convict without a trial.”
“That doesn’t seem fair,” Annie said. “What if, the person was innocent of the crime? They’d be executed for murder.” I winced.
“It isn’t fair, and I’ll do everything in my power to try and convince them of bringing this to trial. Yet, the likelihood, of that outcome is low.” I said, and she nodded.
“That poor man,” Annie said. “He might not get a fair trial at all.”
“Or woman,” I corrected. “There is evidence that suggests that a woman might be the killer.”
“A woman killer?” Annie asked. “Is there such a thing?”
“There have been a number of women killers in history,” I said. “Catherine Monvoisin from France for example. She claimed a thousand to two thousand and five hundred lives before they caught her. She of course was deemed a witch as all of her victims were babies for sacrificial rituals. Yet, she did try to kill King Louis the fourteenth. Then there was Dorcas Kelly of Ireland. She was a Dublin Brothel owner who murdered her clients in cold blood. She was hung and burned at the stake.” I said, and Annie nodded.
“Yeah, but have there been any in the last century?” she asked, and I nodded.
“There was Delphine LaLaurie of New Orleans, US. She was a socialite who tortured and maimed slaves. Then there was Sarah Dazley of the UK. She was hung for the murder of her second husband whom she poisoned with arsenic. They believed she also killed her first husband and child. There was also Catherine Wilson of the UK. She was a nurse who poisoned her husband and seven patients with colchicum. There was also a failed attempt using sulphuric acid. She was the last woman hung in London.” I said.
“Most of the women you mentioned used poison as a means of killing. It’s not as violent as trying to decapitate someone with an axe,” Annie pointed out. “The idea of one woman killing another in such a brutal manner is preposterous!” she sighed. “I’m sure you’ll find that a man was responsible – it’s always a man.” Perhaps, she was right. The idea of a woman killing in such a violent manner was unheard of. Now, a man, they would kill violently without a problem. That helped narrow down my investigation a little. I had three men I needed to look into – three men, one of which was the murderer but which one?
End of Excerpt.
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