A Choice of Love

By Dean Robbins

Murder and Revenge Rock a Sleepy Minnesota Community

Average people get entangled in web of crime and love in new book

When a troubled young mother is violently murdered, everyone becomes a suspect in A Choice of Love (published by iUniverse), the debut novel by Dean Robbins.

Philip Cellars lives a quiet life in the sleepy town of Eagleview, a suburb to Minnesotas Twin Cities. Harsh winters and an introverted nature keep Philip mostly to himself, but the one constant in his life is Kelly Worth, his neighbor, friend and coworker. Each morning, the two ride together to work and enjoy a pleasant companionship.

When Philip pulls up in front of Kellys mobile home one frigid November morning, he senses that something is amiss when shes not outside waiting for him. When he goes in to check on her, Philip is stunned to discover Kellys lifeless body surrounded by blood and covered in stab wounds.

Detective Mike Silverton is assigned to the case and immediately begins an investigation. Ostensibly, the main suspect is Gerri, Kellys ex-husband and the father to their one-year-old daughter, Stephanie. Detective Silverton arranges for the childs babysitter, Jill Watkins, to care for the child while the investigation gets underway.

As Philip and Jill get to know one another and bond over their grief in losing Kelly, Det. Silvertons investigation reveals that Kelly had told friends she had a boyfriend in the days leading up to her death. Philip finds himself one of several additional suspects, and the plot further thickens when Jill shoots and kills Gerri in self-defense.

Falling madly in love and eager to get custody of the now-orphaned Stephanie, Jill and Philip spontaneously decide to get married. Jill becomes distant following a miscarriage at the wedding and Liz, a lawyer whos been advising Philip throughout the whole ordeal, has fallen in love with him. When the newlyweds home is burned down, and the brakes are cut on Lizs car, its clear that someone still has a score to settle. Will the truth come to light before its too late, or will the killer finally exact revenge? Find out in the mesmerizing pages of A Choice of Love, a novel that skillfully blends romance and suspense until its surprising end.

• Language: English
• Publisher: iUniverse
• Release date: Apr 25, 2001
• ISBN: 9781469770499

Dean Robbins

Dean Robbins is the author of Margaret and the Moon: How Margaret Hamilton Saved the First Lunar Landing, Miss Paul and the President: The Creative Campaign for Women's Right to Vote, and Two Friends: Susan B. Anthony and Frederick Douglass. A lifelong student of jazz, he lives in Madison, Wisconsin.

Book preview

I

That morning had begun like any other morning. I dragged myself out of bed after hitting the snooze button on my alarm clock a few times. I prepared for work with plenty of time left over. I drove out of my driveway, and down the next block, parking in front of my friend and coworker’s mobile home. I parked the car and waited.

One minute, two minutes, five minutes, ten minutes passed. There was no sign of life from the place. The porch light was dark, though she sometimes forgot to turn it on. That was the signal that she was awake and getting ready. I had been a little early, though. Now I thought it was time to do something. I wasn’t only her friend and coworker after all. I was sometimes Kelly’s alarm clock as well.

I walked up to the door, and knocked because I wasn’t sure if the doorbell would wake the baby. I waited a few minutes, but there was no sound from inside. I knocked louder, but there was still no reply.

The door was unlocked, I discovered, so I cautiously entered. I didn’t like to enter someone’s house uninvited, but I didn’t like to be late for work either. It struck me as odd, that she would leave her front door unsecured.

Kelly! I called out. I didn’t hear the baby crying, but I did hear the sound of a radio coming from the far end of the trailer, where Kelly’s bedroom was.

I called out again, as I walked to the baby’s room. It only took a few minutes to notice that all the baby’s things were missing, as was the child. It was most likely that the father, Kelly’s recent ex-husband, had the little girl. It saved Kelly a fortune in day care.

It was strange that the radio alarm was still going. I had been driving my neighbor to work for the last two years. She always told me that she would turn the alarm off and go back to bed, on those occasions when she was running late. She never mentioned sleeping through.

I felt very awkward as I walked toward her bedroom. I felt like I was invading her privacy, but I was worried about her. There was no note, she didn’t answer my calls, and the door was open.

I moved slowly, still calling out to her. I was torn between my worry and my sense of right and wrong.

I called out one more time before I peered around the door-frame. Kelly was lying in the bed, but my heart almost stopped when I saw why she wouldn’t wake up. Her sheets and blankets were soaked with blood, and her face was white.

Kelly was dead.

My head began to spin, but I forced myself not to get sick. I couldn’t move for several minutes, but I soon realized I had to do something. I stumbled back down the hall, trying to avoid touching anything more. I found the telephone, and dialed nine-one-one.

Is this an emergency? the female voice said.

Yes, I replied. There has been a murder.

‘Murder’ my mind rang back to me. I gave the address to the dispatcher, though I was sure they had it on a computer screen. I hung up, and sat down. Who would want to murder Kelly? She was nice to everyone as far as I knew. I couldn’t think of a single enemy she had, let alone someone who hated her enough to kill her.

That’s when the thought occurred to me. Her ex-husband Gerri was the most likely suspect. As soon as I thought of it, I dismissed it. Gerri was a liar, and a loser. He had abused her mentally and physically by Kelly’s reports. Did that make him a murderer? Wouldn’t he have realized immediately that he would be the prime suspect? Of all the terrible things Gerri was accused of, even those that I had solid proof were true, the last thing anyone thought was that he was stupid. In fact he seemed very intelligent, but a little lazy. I could say the same about many people; even myself at times.

Having dealt with the police in this town before, I knew that if Gerri wasn’t convicted of this crime, whether innocent or guilty, then no one would be. I still couldn’t decide if the movies were true, and only the cops that broke every rule in the book could accomplish anything. It was easier to believe that Eagleview’s police officers were stupid or lazy.

I was sitting in Kelly’s living room, when I heard the sirens. I wondered if they were going to think it was me. They might think I tried to make sexual advances on her, and when she rejected me I killed her. Wouldn’t they try to pin it on the person who was easiest to set up? If so, Gerri would be an easier target. He was prone to violent outbursts when he didn’t get his way. I decided that I wouldn’t be the one to implicate him.

The police came in with their weapons drawn. It didn’t help my condition to think they might just shoot me dead, then make accusations later.

I slowly raised my hands in the air, to show them I had no weapons.

Who are you? one of them asked.

My name is Philip Cellars. I work with Kelly Worth. I came to pick her up for work, and found her dead. I indicated that they should check the bedroom in the back.

I’m afraid you’re going to have to come to the station with us. We’re going to have you make a statement. He indicated the other officer should go have a look. He did.

There isn’t really anything else to say, I told him. There isn’t anything else to it that I know of.

There is one thing you might be able to tell us, the officer observed. That is who would want her dead? Obviously, you must have known her pretty well.

I don’t really know, I insisted. Everyone seemed to like her. She was nice to everyone, so I just don’t know who would want to kill her. I’ve been sitting here trying to figure that out myself.

We would still appreciate it, if you came downtown. We need to get your statement on tape, so we can have it typed up and you can sign it.

All right. Do you mind if I call my boss and let him know what’s going on? I wouldn’t want to get fired over this. They need to know that Kelly won’t be coming to work any more.

The policeman agreed that I could call, but he told me not to say anything about the murder, until Kelly’s next of kin could be notified. When I asked him what to say, he told me just to say that she wouldn’t be in. The other officer returned to confirm my claim that Kelly was dead, and then went out to his radio to give the details to the station.

I think it would be best if we left right away, the first officer said after I had made the call. I heard more sirens, and realized more emergency vehicles were arriving. I don’t think you want to see any more of what will go on here.

I appreciate that, I told him. I’m sure I’ve seen enough to give me nightmares for months.

I followed him out to his squad car, where he briefed the other officer. I watched the paramedics pull the stretcher out of the ambulance that had driven up. I saw the police photographers march inside to take the pictures that I would never forget. I saw other men with briefcases full of equipment follow the photographers in. They must have been with the forensics division. They would scour the house for every shred of evidence they could find. I hoped they could find the killer.

I climbed in the back seat of the car. We were silent all the way to the station. I tried to think of a way to avoid telling them about Gerri, because they would immediately close the case. I didn’t know how I could keep it from them, or convince them not to simply condemn him. Certainly it was possible that in a fit of anger he had killed his ex-wife. It was also possible that he had not. I believed that most policemen were closed-minded.

We arrived at the station, and I was brought to one of those private interrogation rooms that I had seen on television many times. The mirror must have been a two-way mirror, and there was probably a video camera taping my every move and facial expression. The officer left and soon a man in a suit entered.

My name is Detective Mike Silverton, and I’ll be working on this case. Here’s my card, he told me, as he handed it to me. Let me turn on this tape recorder and you can start making your statement. I’m sure you don’t want to hang around here all day.

I’ll do whatever I can to help, I insisted. The person who killed Kelly should be made to pay.

Okay. He turned the recorder on, and talked into it. Witness in the murder investigation of Kelly Worth. Statement made by Philip Cellars, who resides at Valley Spread Mobile Home Park in Eagleview. Go ahead, sir.

I stopped at Kelly’s mobile home this morning…

The date is Friday, November 12, 1993. I’m sorry sir, go on.

I knocked on her door and became worried when there was no answer. I tried the door and found it was unlocked, so I went in. She isn’t always on time, but the door being open worried me. I called out to her, hoping to wake her. Her alarm was going, which was stranger. If she was going to go back to sleep, she told me she turns off the alarm. I saw the baby wasn’t there, so I assumed her ex-husband had her. I walked cautiously to the back room, because it didn’t feel right being there, but I was worried. That’s when I found her dead. I raced out to the phone and called the police. That’s it.

You have no idea who did it? he asked.

No, sir, I answered.

Do you think it’s possible that the ex-husband could have killed her, because of some argument over the child?

I suppose it’s possible, but I don’t think so. As far as I know, he still loves…loved her. He’s also not stupid. He would have realized that he would be the most obvious suspect. I wouldn’t condemn him without reasonable proof.

We never make an arrest without proof, Mr. Cellars. he replied in a harsh tone. We’ll question Mr. Worth and make certain that the baby is safe. If you have nothing more to say, I’ll get this typed up.

That’s it, I said. He turned the tape off, so I said, I have a question for you. Am I a suspect?

At this point we don’t have enough evidence to suspect anyone, Mr. Cellars. All we want to do now is to gather as much pertinent information as we can.

Will you keep me informed? I asked.

We can’t discuss the case while it’s still active. Once an arrest is made, I’ll let you know. I’ll be back as soon as I can.

Thanks.

He left the room, and I sat wondering who might be watching me. What actions should I avoid so I wouldn’t look guilty? What could I do to convince them without a doubt that I was innocent? If I acted natural, that didn’t guarantee that the police would be convinced of my innocence.

I knew they were watching me, looking for a sign that I was a murderer. A quick conviction made them look good, and was easy on them. Would they bring me a typed confession, thinking that I wouldn’t read it? Anything could happen, like it always did on TV. The only good cops were lawbreakers who abused innocent and guilty citizens alike. I had to be careful, or they would try to pin it all on me.

For a moment I almost laughed aloud to myself. I was being paranoid! This Mike Silverton seemed like a reasonable man. Perhaps he was one of the few that actually tried to solve some cases. I had to give the man the benefit of the doubt, or I would be guilty of doing exactly the same thing I was complaining about in them. I would be passing judgment without proof. Of course, it didn’t hurt to stay alert. I had always been one to live my life defensively. If the murder was pinned on me, the real killer would go free. I couldn’t allow that to happen.

What control did I have over it? I could barely control my own life! What could I possibly do to insure the real guilty party came to justice? I was no detective, and I didn’t have access to all the clues like the police did. I was helpless.

Where was that cop anyway? Was he sitting behind that mirror passing judgment on me? Would he do anything to find the real killer? It seemed that in our legal system, the police needed a signed confession, or the criminal would weasel his way out of trouble. In the movies the bad guys always lost. In real life the bad guys either managed to get away with the help of a good lawyer, or committed suicide. The ones who were jailed were set free a few years later, when their names were no longer in the news, and they were free to commit the crime again.

I knew I was really being cynical. The prisons were full of criminals. There were just way too many of them, and not enough good guys. That’s all. The small percentage that didn’t get away, was overcrowding the jails as it was. The world was going crazy.

The policeman came back at last, with a typed piece of paper in his hand. He gave it to me, and instructed me to read it over before I signed it. When I did, I noticed they had left out the part about Gerri. It was a sign to me that this policeman might really be one of the good guys.

I signed it, and gave it back to him.

Thank you for your help, Mr. Cellars, he said.

If there’s anything else I can do, I said, please let me know. I would do whatever I could to make sure that this killer is brought to justice.

I appreciate that, but that’s really my job. You must have cared a great deal about this girl, he guessed.

She was a good friend, I agreed. I just never knew anyone who was murdered before, let alone having to be the one to find the body. I know she didn’t deserve to die like that, and definitely not so soon. She was younger than me…, I faltered, so I decided it was time to end the conversation.

I’ll give you a ride home, he told me with understanding. I have to check on progress at the scene, and see if the neighbors saw anything. I’ll let you know everything I’m allowed to tell you.

I appreciate that, I replied. Thank you Detective Silverton.

Mike is fine, he commented.

We walked back out to his patrol car and climbed in. We were silent all the way back to my house. All I could think about was the picture in my head of Kelly. I couldn’t imagine hating anyone enough to kill them. I had never been a violent man. I had never been in a fight of any kind, even in school. I avoided arguments when I could. The violence it would take to kill a person was far beyond my understanding.

Are you going to be all right? Mike asked, as he stopped in front of my house.

I’ll be fine, I assured him. I’m going to go to work, to get my mind off all this.

Are you sure you’ll be able to work. You’ve just been through a horrible trauma…

If I stay here, all I’ll be able to do is think about it, I said. I would be completely crazy by the end of the day. Let me give you my office number and address, and you can call me if anything comes up. I want you to catch the guy who did this, Mike. I don’t like the thought of a murderer this close to home. You never think it can happen in your own neighborhood, let alone to someone you know.

I know, but it does. You take it easy. I have to go catch a murderer.

I watched him go, and then I went inside my house and splashed water on my face. Luckily I didn’t look as bad as I felt. I decided that I was as ready as I would ever be, so I went back outside. I crossed the yards to take a short cut to Kelly’s house where I had left my car. Things had quieted down again there. Mike and another officer were the only ones left, and Mike was talking to a young woman in front of Kelly’s front door. I was very curious, so I thought up an excuse to go up to them.

I’m sorry to interrupt. I said. The girl was very pretty. She had shoulder length dark hair, and brown eyes. She was a little shorter than I was. She was the kind of woman I had always pictured myself with. I just wanted to make sure I could take my car. I gestured toward it, feeling like an idiot.

Of course. Philip, do you know Jill Watkins? She was Kelly’s baby sitter.

Kelly mentioned her once or twice, but we’ve never met, I confessed. Nice to meet you, I said to her, holding out a hand. She took it and forced a vague smile. Obviously she was in a daze about what had happened here.

Philip is the one who found the body, Mike told her.

Where is Stephanie? she asked me, with heavy panic in her voice. It was like the thought of the child had brought her back to life.

I don’t know, I insisted. I assume that Kelly’s ex-husband has the child. The diaper bag is missing too.

Is it odd for him to have the child during the week? Mike asked us.

Not really, Jill replied. He’s usually already here when I get here, so I don’t know when he has had her overnight. He should be here with her right now.

From what I know of Gerri, I offered, he’s not always where he’s supposed to be on time.

He is when it comes to his daughter, Jill replied.

If he has her, he would have nothing to be worried about. That would explain why he wasn’t here when I arrived. Usually he’s here to take care of Stephanie between the time Kelly leaves for work, and the time the baby sitter arrives.

So it is unusual that he’s not here, Mike said.

Not really, I replied, trying to soften the conclusion this implied. He’s just the kind of person that would keep a daycare provider waiting. Then he would insist that he shouldn’t have to pay for the time she waited. After all, she wasn’t taking care of the child.

That definitely sounds like Gerri, Jill agreed.

Do either of you know where he might be? Mike asked.

We both shook our heads.

All I know, I said, is that he’s staying with someone in the park. Sooner or later he’ll have to come here. Perhaps I should stay and wait for him instead of going to work today.

I don’t know if that’s such a good idea, Mike said. I have other cases to work on, too. I don’t have time to stay here and protect you. He paused to consider the idea. Perhaps if I stop back from time to time, it might be all right. Call the number on my card the minute he gets here, and I’ll be back here as soon as I can.

I’ll stay too, Jill told him; then she turned to me and said, If you don’t mind. I would rather not be alone right now, especially in that trailer. What if the murderer comes back? What if Gerri is the murderer?

I wish you both luck, Mike said. I’m afraid I have to get going. I’ll try to get back as soon as I can. I’ll see you both later.

Isn’t it a little too dangerous for Jill to be here? I asked. I had just met her, and I was already worried about her safety. I knew Gerri well enough that I didn’t want to take any chances.

Not any more dangerous than it is for you. Just don’t scare him. I don’t know what else we can do, unless neither of you stay here.

Someone has to take Stephanie away from him, Jill pointed out. If you’d rather I didn’t stay…, she said to me.

It’s not that, I replied quickly. Honestly, I just wouldn’t want to see you get hurt. We’ll be okay. Thanks, Mike, I told him.

I thought you were sure Gerri didn’t do it? he commented, with what I took to be an amused tone.

I’m not certain if he did it or not. I’ll wait for the evidence.

So will I. Thank you both for your help, and be careful, he insisted.

He walked to his police car. Jill and I went inside Kelly’s house.

This sure is spooky, she said. I can almost feel Kelly’s ghost hovering in the air.

Just don’t think about it, I advised her. You’re only scaring yourself more. Let’s do something to take our minds off of it.

As long as we’re in this mobile home, I won’t be able to think of anything else, she insisted.

At least you didn’t have to see the body. You have nothing to be afraid of. You can convince yourself it wasn’t real. I have this picture in my head that won’t go away.

She was still a friend of mine. I know it must be worse for you, but that doesn’t mean it’s not bad for me. Jill began to cry softly.

Don’t cry, I said. I’m sorry if I sounded cold. It’s just easier to handle things if you ignore the facts. At least that’s how I always deal with my problems. I forget about them, until it’s not as painful. Of course, then every once in a while a bad memory will come back.

Like what? she said.

What do you mean? I asked.

Tell me a bad memory that you try not to think about.

If I don’t want to think about it, why would I want to remember and tell you?

It will help me to know you better. It will help me to know if it’s better to face your problems until you’ve beaten them, or ignore them until they go away. Please tell me.

Okay, I said. "Why not? It will help us both get our minds off today. I was involved with a woman about two years ago. To justify to myself that what I was doing was all right, I convinced myself that I was in love with her. I don’t believe that any more, just as I don’t believe she ever loved me. We needed each other.

"One day she informed me that she was pregnant. She was very upset about it. I told her that I would marry her, but that just upset her more. Perhaps she knew that I didn’t really love her, though I thought I did. The more time passed, the more agitated she became. When I tried to see her, she became abusive. Verbally at first, then physically. She even kicked me where it counts once.

"The last time I saw her, she was much more calm. She told me that she had had an abortion. Her doctor recommended it, because of the stress she was under. She said she was going to have an operation in a couple of months to make sure she never conceived again. Then she said she didn’t want to have anything to do with me any more.

That was just as well. I would never have been able to forgive her for killing my child.

I see what you mean, she replied. That girlfriend of yours didn’t know what she had.

She had emotional problems that were far too severe for me to handle. It takes a while to realize that everything works out for the best. Until then the memories are usually very painful. I push those memories aside until I can see more clearly how things are better off.

Jill looked up into my eyes.

You need a woman who will appreciate you, she told me. While I was trying to decide what she meant by that, there was a banging at the door.

I walked over to the door. When I opened it,