Austin Starr’s Bad Day
by Kay Kendall
The protagonist-turned-amateur-sleuth in my two mysteries is Austin Starr. Here she shares her thoughts about the problems she faces in my first book, DESOLATION ROW, and hints at ongoing issues that develop further in my second, RAINY DAY WOMEN.
This
year, 1968, looked so promising at first. I married my college boyfriend David.
He’s kind, smart, handsome…and taller than me. That’s a real plus.
year, 1968, looked so promising at first. I married my college boyfriend David.
He’s kind, smart, handsome…and taller than me. That’s a real plus.
Unfortunately,
today I can’t see him because he’s in jail. And if that’s not bad enough
already, he’s in jail in a foreign country.
today I can’t see him because he’s in jail. And if that’s not bad enough
already, he’s in jail in a foreign country.
OK, OK,
so we’ve only moved to Canada…but we Americans aren’t supposed to feel any
culture shock up here in Canada. Ha! Not true. I’ve got news for you. Canada is
not the 51st state.
so we’ve only moved to Canada…but we Americans aren’t supposed to feel any
culture shock up here in Canada. Ha! Not true. I’ve got news for you. Canada is
not the 51st state.
Now,
please, don’t get the wrong idea about me. Just because the man I married
became a draft resister, don’t think I’m a hippie, or anything like that.
Really, I’m just a good Texas girl from a small town who followed my mother’s
advice—to get married and settle down, do what your husband tells you. Mother
simply never dreamed I’d end up living in such a cold climate, in a strange
place. Canada.
please, don’t get the wrong idea about me. Just because the man I married
became a draft resister, don’t think I’m a hippie, or anything like that.
Really, I’m just a good Texas girl from a small town who followed my mother’s
advice—to get married and settle down, do what your husband tells you. Mother
simply never dreamed I’d end up living in such a cold climate, in a strange
place. Canada.
I’m so
homesick. I miss my family and friends back in Texas. And I’m scared. So very
scared. They say the Mounties always get their man…and the Mounties now have
got my husband.
homesick. I miss my family and friends back in Texas. And I’m scared. So very
scared. They say the Mounties always get their man…and the Mounties now have
got my husband.
They’re
sure David murdered another draft resister. But I know he didn’t do it. After
all, we came to Canada because David was against killing—against all
killing—even in the war in Vietnam.
sure David murdered another draft resister. But I know he didn’t do it. After
all, we came to Canada because David was against killing—against all
killing—even in the war in Vietnam.
Today
I’m setting out to prove my husband isn’t the killer. I’m nosey, curious, and
had some training from the CIA. My handler, “Mr. Smith,” was sorry to see me
leave the program. He warned I might not be happy and said he’d keep the door
open for me, in case I ever wanted to return. Smith says the Agency needs my
Russian language skills.
I’m setting out to prove my husband isn’t the killer. I’m nosey, curious, and
had some training from the CIA. My handler, “Mr. Smith,” was sorry to see me
leave the program. He warned I might not be happy and said he’d keep the door
open for me, in case I ever wanted to return. Smith says the Agency needs my
Russian language skills.
Shhh,
please don’t tell David. He doesn’t know about this part of my life. I don’t
think he would approve.
please don’t tell David. He doesn’t know about this part of my life. I don’t
think he would approve.
Here’s
the strangest thing about this murder case. I was the one who found the
body—literally fell over it, in a church basement. Yes, me. And it turns out
the corpse was the draft-resisting son of a United States Senator. That’s why
the Mounties moved so fast to jail my poor David. The senator called the prime
minister of Canada and demanded the killer be caught, fast.
the strangest thing about this murder case. I was the one who found the
body—literally fell over it, in a church basement. Yes, me. And it turns out
the corpse was the draft-resisting son of a United States Senator. That’s why
the Mounties moved so fast to jail my poor David. The senator called the prime
minister of Canada and demanded the killer be caught, fast.
Now
everyone is satisfied the murderer is in jail—everyone but me, that is.
everyone is satisfied the murderer is in jail—everyone but me, that is.
So now
I’m on a mission…even though I’m alone, homesick, scared…and only 22 years
old…I have to prove David’s innocence. I’m his only hope.
I’m on a mission…even though I’m alone, homesick, scared…and only 22 years
old…I have to prove David’s innocence. I’m his only hope.
I’m
Austin Starr, and I’m hunting for a brutal killer. Wish me luck.
Austin Starr, and I’m hunting for a brutal killer. Wish me luck.
~~~~~~~
Read the first 20
pages of Kay Kendall’s second mystery, RAINY
DAY WOMEN here! http://www.austinstarr.com/ Her book won 2 awards at Killer Nashville in 2016.
Her first novel about Austin Starr‘s sleuthing,
 |
| Kay Kendall & Wills AKA King William |
DESOLATION ROW, was a finalist for best mystery at Killer Nashville in 2014. Visit Kay on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/KayKendallAuthor
