Jealousy, anger, and revenge rank among the top motives for murder, as does greed for money and power. In Dark Deeds, Book #4 in the Megan Scott/Michael Elliott Mystery series, several motives provide the catalysts that drive the plot.
In the story, Megan and Michael’s plans to spend a quiet vacation at their friends’ lakeside resort are thwarted when they learn about a resident’s untimely death. As the body count mounts, rumors fly. Is a serial killer on the loose?
When Michael makes a connection to a cold case, evidence points to an ex-convict looking for revenge. Here’s a brief excerpt from Dark Deeds where Megan learns how the ex-con masterminded a notorious robbery that took place in Montreal during the 1990s:
“Three men had tunneled through steel and concrete to break into the vault of a private investment company. From more than a thousand safety deposit boxes, they stole ten million dollars in gold bars and cash. The ringleader, Rusty Homer, then fatally shot a police officer who intercepted his escape. Rusty Homer’s two accomplices drove off with the bulk of the stolen goods, leaving him to face a jail term of twenty-five years. None of the stolen goods were ever recovered.”
As for Rusty Homer, revenge would be an appropriate motive for settling the score once he got out of jail. Decades behind bars had given him lots of time to plot a path of vengeance against two partners who had abandoned him at the scene of the crime. If he got lucky, Rusty might even find the gold bars they stashed away years ago.
We can easily add anger and greed to his growing list of motives for murder.
When the ex-con is rumored to be in the area, Megan and Michael increase their efforts to locate him. But despite a meticulous investigation, they soon realize they’re dealing with a formidable opponent who enjoys playing dangerous mind games with them. Moreover, they’re at a disadvantage: Rusty Homer has had reconstructive surgery. He could be anyone.
What could be creepier than that?!
To find out where you can get your copy of Dark Deeds, visit my Books page for links to major book retailers.