Sarah Willis, a teenager, was reported missing to the Medford, Oregon, police by her father. When Greg Willis decided the authorities were dragging their feet, he hired private investigator Tom Casey, better known as Hawkman, to find his daughter. Since Greg and Cathy Willis had been divorced for a year, Hawkman found it a bit difficult to combine the information and decided to have Sarah’s belongings brought to his office, much to the dismay of the mother.
When Hawkman began to dig into Sarah’s personal items, his wife, Jennifer, convinced him he didn’t understand the workings of a young girl’s mind, and needed her help. As they dug into the inner parts of Sarah’s computer, diary and notes, they discovered some disturbing facts which led them to a ranch in the Medford hills.
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.
When the answering machine boomed with an anonymous male voice asking for Jim Anderson, Jennifer stared at the phone in horror. Hawkman hadn’t used his birth name since he’d disappeared from the Agency years ago. A search ensued to find out who was leaving these threatening messages. After Hawkman’s old boss gave him the name of Jack Hargrove, he wracked his memory and realized he’d never had any association with a man by this name. The harassment escalated forcing Hawkman to confide in Ken and Peggy Bronson,the two local Sheriffs They immediately tightened the protection around Tom Casey’s home. When the reports came in about Rita Rawlings being forced off the road, Hawkman’s assalt, his home set afire and a stolen jeep, the whole Siskiyou County law enforcement became involved. They proceeded with a march into the hills. And what does a cat called Miss Marple have to do with this story?
A P.I., his wife, cancer, a missing mother and a little girl kidnapped. You’ll see a side of Hawkman never revealed in this powerful novel. Two stories entwined in such a way, you’ll find yourself crying and cringing at the same time. Your heart will go out to Hawkman as he struggles with his emotions and tries to concentrate on the case handed to him by a distraught father. Hawkman has reservations about a unique grandmother who reads strange books, and a butcher’s daughter who keeps him in turmoil. Romance, hate, frustration and many more emotions keep you turning the pages.
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