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Vote for Murder
Vote for Murder
Vote for Murder
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Vote for Murder

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Doris masterly weaves a tale of suspense and intrigue in her novel Vote for Murder! Travel with her down a path of betrayal and madness. However, don’t forget to leave the lights on, or you might just hear the sound of bees buzzing.
LanguageEnglish
PublisherBookBaby
Release dateNov 17, 2017
ISBN9781947825963
Vote for Murder

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    Vote for Murder - Doris Lafrenz

    Shade

    Prologue

    Julia

    A lone bee buzzed the ceiling above him.

    Senator Kyle Withers ended the call and walked back into the conference room. That was the driver. He’s waiting for Julia at the airport. Her plane is on time. When she lands, he’ll bring her to the hotel.

    Did you hear? She’s coming!

    He brushed his hand against his ear. Not so loud! Go away!

    Excellent! It’s important that Julia be here with you to show a unity of purpose, a united front. We want you both in Iowa next month and that’s only the beginning. Julia is a beautiful woman, and beautiful women are always an asset to a presidential candidate. The money men want to see her on your arm and a family picture of you with Julia and baby Kevin on your campaign posters. Family values still sell, and after eight years of this current administration, yours is just the wholesome family image the country wants to see.

    The voice belonged to a major party donor backing Kyle’s candidacy, a big barrel chested man not much inclined to be concerned about the wants and needs of the women politicians married. As far as he was concerned, marriage and kiddies served only to enhance the candidate’s look and help sell him to the voting public.

    Kyle sat down and looked at the six men seated beside him at the round conference table. Like the Knights of the Round Table, Kyle thought to himself, and we’re building another Camelot.

    Is she willing?

    Kyle had been lost in his thoughts. He blinked. Willing? What do you mean?

    We need to know she is a willing partner in your campaign. There have been rumors that she doesn’t want you to run.

    Well, don’t listen to the rumors. Kyle addressed his remarks back to the barrel chested man. Don’t worry about Julia. She will do what I tell her to do. She will not disappoint you.

    I’m glad to hear that, Kyle, the man said. It’s up to you to keep her under control. Can you do that?

    I told you not to worry. Julia will not be a problem.

    Good. Make sure this doesn’t happen again.

    Excuse me?

    This can’t happen again; Julia flying all the way across the country alone, arriving the day after you do. From now on you and Julia must always be seen traveling together. What if the press had shown up yesterday at the airport and seen you coming in alone? That would have been on the front page of every newspaper and gossip fodder for all the talk shows. After tonight every move you and Julia make will be front page news, believe me. We managed to keep it quiet this time but from now on let’s not give the talk shows any reason to believe that you and Julia are not a team. Are we clear?

    We’re clear.

    Good, then I’ll see you tonight at dinner.

    See how much he needs you? It’s a good thing he has you. You are the only one who can help him.

    No one around the table noticed as Michael Thornton gave a slight nod of his head. I know he needs me. Don’t worry! I’ll take care of it.

    Chairs rolled across the carpet as the men pushed back from the table, stood up and prepared to leave the room, men bound together by one common goal, to put their candidate in the White House. The room quickly emptied.

    Kyle was still putting papers in his briefcase when Gus Bryant walked over to him. "Can I talk to you a minute Kyle?

    Sure, what is it Gus?

    Don’t let that old windbag scare you and don’t let him intimidate you. He’s old school politics. If he had his way the wives of politicians would walk five steps behind their husbands.

    I need his support, Gus. I can’t win the election without him. Julia knows that and we have an understanding. I just want her to hold up her end. She knows what’s expected.

    Look, Kyle, I don’t want to pry into your personal business, but I’ve seen this happen before. As a matter of fact, I lived it. That’s how I lost my marriage. When a wife hates what her husband does for a living it puts a terrible strain on a marriage. The more I tried to involve Marjorie in my politics, the more she resisted. She divorced me because I wouldn’t listen to her. She took the kids clear across the country and now I rarely see them. Marjorie married again last year. Another guy is raising my kids. Don’t let that happen to you, Kyle.

    That won’t happen to me Gus. Kyle closed the briefcase. Gus, can I ask you a question?

    Sure, what is it?

    You lost your marriage and your kids because of your political ambition and yet you’re still here. Why?

    My divorce ruined any chances I might have had to be where you are now, but to answer your question; I am still here because this is all I have left. Politics is all I know. Do you know what Marjorie’s new husband does for a living? He’s a Pharmacist and that’s probably all he will ever be, but he’s home every night with my wife and my kids.

    Look, Gus, I’m sorry about your divorce, but I don’t know what all this has to do with me and my marriage. Julia knew I was a Senator when she married me. She didn’t want to come on this trip but she’s here, isn’t she? She’ll come around. Just wait and see. She’ll be fine. Kyle picked up his briefcase off the table and let it dangle at his side. Don’t worry Gus. I know what I’m doing. Now I have to go. Kyle turned and walked out of the room.

    Michael had been listening to the conversation between Gus and Kyle. He fell into step beside him as Kyle started down the hallway toward the elevators. I have my own plan for Julia and with her coming to Los Angeles after all; this is a good time to make it happen.

    The bee buzzed its warning.

    He swatted it away. The bee flew toward the ceiling, then turned and followed the two men into the elevator.

    Julia shifted in her seat.

    Are you alright, dear?

    Julia turned her head to the woman sitting next to her. I hate to fly. I guess it shows.

    Well, we should be there soon. Is Los Angeles your home?

    No I live in Washington D.C. I’m on my way to Los Angeles to meet my husband.

    Is you husband in Los Angeles on business?

    Yes, sort of, I guess. My husband is Senator Kyle Withers. There’s a fundraising dinner for him tonight and I need to be there.

    Oh yes, I’ve heard of Senator Withers. Tell me, does he really intend to run for President?

    It looks that way.

    Well, I wish him luck and you too, of course. The woman turned her face away, leaned her head against the headrest and closed her eyes.

    Julia turned her eyes toward the small window, and gazed into the endless blue of the sky. She glanced down at her watch. Her plane would land on time. She was tired but it was still early. She might be able to catch a nap before she dressed for dinner.

    Julia felt the plane gently dropping, beginning its long descent to the Los Angeles airport. She leaned her head against the headrest and closed her eyes. The takings off and landing were the hardest times for her. She rode the plane down and opened her eyes just in time to look out the small window to see the ground come up to meet the plane. The plane lurched; the tires hit the runway with a small bounce and then smoothed out as the plane raced down the tarmac toward the terminal.

    The plane bumped up against the Jetway and the flight attendants opened the door. Julia leaned down and picked up her purse and her briefcase stowed beneath the seat in front of her. Her seatmate was already standing in the aisle gathering her things from the overhead bin.

    Those standing in the aisles began to move forward.

    Well, good luck to you, dear, the woman said to Julia. She smiled and moved down the aisle with the crowd.

    Thanks, Julia replied but the woman had moved too far ahead to hear her. Julia slipped her purse over her shoulder, clutched her briefcase in her hand and took her place in the back of the line. She moved through the aisle and up the covered ramp. The air in the Jet-way was stifling. Julia hurried the short distance until she entered the welcome cool air of the terminal.

    She headed toward the baggage claim area.

    Kyle had sent a car to pick her up and the driver should be waiting for her.

    Chapter 1

    Empty nest

    Life is full of change. That’s what my mother always said. Life is full of change, Sandra, and change is what keeps us in the game. We are born, we grow up, we work, one day we marry, we have children, we grow old and then we die and those we leave behind take over. That’s the cycle of the generations. Life is full of change and there is nothing we can do about it. That’s what Mother always said and Mother was always right.

    I sighed. We are born, we grow up, we work, we have children and then we die. With that happy thought I poured milk into Darla’s cereal.

    Don’t dawdle, Darla, Grandma and Grandpa want to leave soon. Don’t forget to pack your toothbrush after you brush your teeth.

    I won’t forget Mamma. Are you going to be lonely all by yourself while I’m gone? Do you want me to stay home with you? I can stay home if you want me to, Mamma. I don’t mind.

    I looked into Darla’s little upturned face. I touched her little button nose with the tip of my finger, I’ll be fine, Sweetie. I don’t want you to stay home and miss all the fun! I want you and your brothers to have a good time on vacation with Grandma and Grandpa. Won’t you like being with Grandma and Grandpa?

    Yeah, Grandpa told me all the places we will see. I like the motor home too, Mamma. It’s like a whole house! Grandpa showed me my bed already, but I can’t sleep in it when Grandpa’s driving.

    You can’t?

    No, on account of my bed doesn’t have any seat belts. Grandpa told me I always have to wear my seat belt when the motor home is moving.

    Good idea, I said. Now finish your breakfast.

    Darla is kid number three for my husband, Lawrence and me. We were both born and raised in Iowa. After our marriage we moved to California leaving Lawrence’s parents behind. With the distance between us Grandma and Grandpa had not been able to see their grandchildren as much as they wanted to and last year they retired and decided to remedy that situation. They moved to California to be closer to their only son and his children.

    They bought a house only a few blocks from us. They did something else when they retired; they surprised us and bought a motor home to travel in and a cell phone to keep in touch with. This summer Grandma and Grandpa packed up the motor home and invited our three offspring, fourteen year old Junior, as in Lawrence Eversol Jr., eleven year old Bobby and nine year old Darla to join them on a two week motor trip. Their itinerary includes stops at the Grand Canyon, Mount Rushmore and Yellowstone National Park.

    I am Sandra Eversol, stay at home mom and general caretaker for our three offspring while Lawrence Eversol Sr. works for our living. Lawrence is a sales manager for a pharmaceutical company and is embarking on a particularly grueling but important two-week business trip himself this morning.

    This trip is one that someone in the sales department of his company has to make every year and every year it is difficult to find a salesman to volunteer for the trip. Since there is so little interest in making this particular yearly trip, the company decided to make it an appointment of sorts, on a rotation basis. This year it was Lawrence who drew the short straw, so to speak, so he would be the one taking the two week trip to some of the largest hospitals and clinics on the East coast.

    When Lawrence came home and told me that it was his turn this year, I had anticipated going with him. That was the original reason for sending the kids off with Grandma and Grandpa for two weeks.

    Every other year the company had allowed spouses to accompany the salesperson assigned to this trip. I had taken this trip with Lawrence before and I loved the fact that I could browse the shops and all the touristy places of the particular city we were in while Lawrence sweated it out meeting clients and working for our living, but this year the company had said no to spouses coming along.

    It seems that last year the salesman and his wife taking the trip had taken one of the company’s biggest clients to a posh restaurant and had used particularly bad judgment by embarking on personal argument in the presence of said client, embarrassing each other, the client and the company. The next day the client canceled the order.

    It took a lot of groveling and general buttering up the client to win back his business. Flattery, it seems, deserved or not, still makes good business sense. The order was reinstated.

    The offending salesman had not fared as well.

    Hearing me sigh again, Darla looked up at me. Are you sure you’re okay, Mamma?

    I smiled at my little munchkin. I’m fine, sweet stuff. Are you finished with breakfast?

    Darla picked up her bowl and spoon and put it in the kitchen sink. I’m done, Mamma.

    Alright then, brush your teeth and don’t forget to pack your toothbrush, I said to her back as she was skipping away from me. Didn’t I already say that? I was repeating myself, a bad habit I’m trying to break. It’s not going very well, but then there’s always tomorrow. I comforted myself with that thought; the sun will still come up tomorrow and I get another chance.

    Tomorrow, I’ll try harder.

    I rinsed Darla’s dishes and put them in the dishwasher.

    My in-law’s had arrived on our doorstep early this morning, just as the sky was streaking the colors of the impending dawn. Their motor home stood majestically in our driveway, gleaming in the sunlight at the ready to carry three eager children and two stalwart grandparents on a vacation adventure.

    Those two brave souls were now sitting at my kitchen table drinking their morning coffee. I picked up the coffee pot and carried it over to the table.

    Would you like another cup of coffee, Leonard?

    Don’t mind if I do, Sandra. He lifted his cup so I could fill it with the steaming hot brew. So what will you do for two weeks while everybody is out of your hair and you are here rattling around this house alone?

    I thought I would... I didn’t have time to finish my sentence before Lawrence, as in Lawrence Eversol Sr., husband to me and father of our brood, walked into the kitchen with, of course, a problem.

    Sandra, did you pick up my gray suit from the cleaners yesterday?

    Yes, I hung it in the closet. Didn’t you see it there?

    I’ll look again. He turned and left the room.

    So, you were saying? My father-in-law prompted me.

    I’ll keep busy, I’m sure. I thought I’d stop by the bookstore and buy that book I’ve been meaning to pick up. There’s a movie I want to see too. And, of course, I have my work at the homeless shelter to keep me busy.

    You’re still doing that? I worry about you down there in that part of town mingling with all those people. Who knows who you might run into down there? You could be mugged just going back and forth from your car.

    It’s really quite safe, Leonard. There is a volunteer security staff that patrols the shelter premises. Most of the people who come to us are just a little down on their luck and need a hot meal. They mean no harm.

    I suppose so, but please promise me you will be careful.

    I will. I poured coffee into my own cup and placed the coffee pot back in the coffee maker. I knew that Leonard was concerned about my work at the shelter, but I felt it was important work and I wanted to be a part of it. Our church had joined with other local churches to set up a community center and shelter to help people down on their luck with no place else to turn. The shelter was almost always full to capacity.

    The shelter not only serves three hot meals a day, but also provides an outreach to help people find jobs and even provides beds for those who need a place to sleep. Lately, with the economy so depressed, people were losing their jobs and their homes. Some families were living in their cars and coming to the shelter to feed their children. It’s heartbreaking to see young children coming through the

    food lines. That’s why I and so many others volunteer to help.

    Mamma, are you listening?

    Darla stood in front of me, her suitcase dangling in one hand while hugging her pillow with the other. I had been so lost in my own thoughts that I hadn’t even noticed her come into the room. I looked down at her. What is it sweetie?

    Can I take my pillow with me?

    Of course you can, Leonard answered her question. Put your suitcase and pillow by the door and I’ll take them out to the motor home.

    The boys joined Darla and stood in front of me. I looked at all three of them standing in a row so straight and strong. How Lawrence and I could produce such beautiful children is amazing to me. God took the best of Lawrence and the best of me and put them together with stunning results in our offspring.

    Can we watch cartoons until it’s time to leave, Mamma? That was Bobby, our stunningly handsome middle child, the one who can recite every television commercial ever made but can’t remember how to spell homework.

    I guess so, I said to the eager faces pointed my way. The amazing trio pounded past me. I heard the television volume blare through the house. Out of sheer habit, I called out, keep it down in there. The volume diminished to a dull roar.

    I sat down across from my mother-in-law. Are you sure, you’re up to this? I asked her.

    Don’t worry about us, Sandra. We’ll be fine. I’m looking forward to this trip. Grandchildren keep us young.

    In that case, by the time you get back you’ll be living your teenage years again!

    Joyce and Leonard Eversol are great in-laws. With retirement and their move to California, they had requested to take our children on a trip in the motor home as a way to get to know them better and although they seemed eager to spend two weeks in a motor home with three active children, I wondered if they understood what they were getting into.

    You will call, if you need me won’t you, like if anybody gets sick. I can always fly out to where you are and bring them back with me or if one of you is sick I can always help drive the motor home back. In case of a family emergency, Lawrence can cut his trip short and fly to wherever we are. When I’m worried, I tend to talk too much, my words tumbling all over each other in a most unattractive fashion; another bad habit I need to break.

    Joyce reached over and patted my hand. Now stop fussing, Sandra. We’ll be fine. Don’t worry about us. You’re getting a little vacation too. Enjoy it!

    Thirty minutes later the motor home was packed and ready to go. Lawrence and I hugged the last kidlet and waved our last goodbye as the motor home pulled out and ambled down the block finally rounding the corner out of sight. Lawrence looked down into my face.

    Are you sure you’ll be alright by yourself while I’m gone?

    Everybody keeps asking me that. Don’t worry. I have plenty of things to do. I’ll be fine. Will you call me every day?

    Lawrence pulled me close, You bet I will. And the two weeks will go by like that. Lawrence snapped his fingers. I’ll be home before you know it.

    And then sweet Lawrence made me a proposition that I could not refuse. Come in the bedroom with me and help me finish my packing. Sweet Lawrence took my hand in his and we walked down the hall to our bedroom. Out of sheer habit, he closed the door.

    Later that morning I drove Lawrence to the airport, kissed him good-bye and drove home. The quiet of the house settled over me.

    Alone for two whole weeks! Whatever will I do for two whole weeks?

    Chapter 2

    Politics and Politicians

    I walked into the kitchen and looked at the remnants of breakfast scattered throughout the kitchen. I suppose I could start with the kitchen but instead I poured myself another cup of coffee, picked up the morning paper from the table and with the newspaper in one hand and my coffee in the other, I settled into my recliner.

    I opened the paper to the front page featuring a political story speculating whether this person or that person would announce his or her intentions to run in the next state primary elections to be the presidential nominee for his party. The primaries were still a few months away, but because of the current economic landscape, politics had become big news.

    Politics in this country is also big business. Lobbyists come out in droves hoping to find the candidate that is friendly to whatever point of view they happen to be peddling or to gain federal funding for their particular pet project. Cities contend with each other for the right to host the party conventions hoping to attract the delegates and the money they spend.

    I am not very political person, but many of my friends are. My email box is constantly inundated with all manner of political opinions on every side imaginable and not a day goes by that we don’t receive some type of political literature in the mail. When he comes home from work every night, Lawrence watches the political news on television and I can hear the commentary as I move around the kitchen preparing dinner.

    I don’t always pay attention to all the rhetoric, but what I lack in political fervor, I make up for by taking my civic duty very seriously. For instance, I always vote. I march myself up to my very own voting booth and cast my very own vote in every election, local, state or federal and I do try to vote intelligently, I really do.

    I study all the candidates and the issues and I am always sure that I am on the right side of every political debate, the side of the people, people like Lawrence and me, people who work for our living and raise more little taxpayers to take our place when we are gone.

    But for the last several years, the political scene in the country has been changing and I am not at all sure that I like where the politicians are leading us. There are a lot of things I think they are getting wrong for the families who make up this country.

    It was with these deep political convictions in mind that I sat in my recliner this morning, coffee cup by my side reading the political news reported by my local newspaper. The front page was full of news about tonight’s big fundraising dinner for Senator Kyle Withers in Los Angeles where he was expected to announce his intention to run in the next primary election.

    It’s about time, I silently mouthed the words. For months political pundits have speculated whether Senator Kyle Withers would become Candidate Withers and frankly I was sick of hearing all the hoopla. I can become very impatient with politicians and, for that matter, with the press. With Senator Withers announcing his candidacy maybe the poor trembling press would relax a little, but then again maybe not. I had a feeling that things in the political world were just beginning to heat up.

    The phone rang, interrupting my thoughts. Hello?

    So are they off? The cheery voice at the other end was my sister Cheryl.

    They left a little bit ago. I just dropped Lawrence at the airport and I’m sitting here with a cup of coffee and the morning paper.

    What are your plans for the next two weeks?

    "I intend to take each

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