Sunflower Murders

By Barbara Bodnar

Faith Good wakes up with a feeling something bad will happen that day. Little does she know her husband, Dan will find the body of a woman dumped in one of his thousand-acre sunflower fields. Another body is found days later in someone else's fields. When the case is solved, human trafficking is involved.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Barbara Bodnar
• Release date: Oct 6, 2020
• ISBN: 9781393361817

Barbara Bodnar

Barbara Bodnar lives in Northwest Ohio with her husband and three dogs. Writing has always been in her blood, but started writing seriously after retirement.

Book preview

THE SUNFLOWER MURDERS

PROLOGUE

Susan Sims  Monday a week ago

I am so scared to go talk to my birth father. What if he is mean and denies what is on my birth certificate? What will I do then? Guess I’m going to find out.

She talked to herself as she walked to the fire department. She wasn’t even sure the William H. Smith on her birth certificate was Bill Smith, the Fire Chief of their town, but she had to find out.

Susan walked in and asked the dispatcher if she could talk to the chief. When the lady asked her business, Susan said, It’s personal. Tell him it’s important.

The dispatcher called the chief, and when he walked out of his office, Susan saw him swallow hard and his face lost color. He motioned her into his office and asked her why she was there.

Bingo, that’s him. He is afraid. Susan pulled out a copy of her birth certificate and handed it to him. I want to know if your name, but I see your nameplate and it is. So, you are my birth father. Why did you leave my mother and pretend I don’t exist?

Bill Smith shut the door and told the dispatcher to hold his calls. He sat in his desk chair and turned to her. "It is me and yes, I am your birth father. I need to explain why I’m not in your life. Your mother and I had not married, but I had given her an engagement ring.

When I asked her to stop entertaining men, she said No, and broke off the engagement. She said if I ever tried to be in your life, she threatened to swear I’d raped her and forced her to have sex. I have always paid child support and much more. She black-mailed me and made threats to disappear with you, and I could not let that happen.

I’ve made sure she hasn’t abused you and you had things you needed. My attorney has advised me for years to wait until you were eighteen and then tell you the complete story. Your birthday is the day you graduate, and I intended to be there and tell you afterward, no matter what your Mom said. I..."

Susan interrupted him and asked, Are you afraid of my mom?

No, he replied, But I am afraid of her father. He is being investigated for human trafficking and I’m afraid you are a target. The police have been watching you for several years. Your mother knows what he does, but ignores it; he pays her off to keep quiet. I am so sorry to tell you this, but you need to know.

I’ve always known about Mom’s men and when I ask about grandparents, she says they disowned her. And... I’ve always wondered where she got money-I knew about the men, but she always has a lot of money. What am I going to do now?

I think you are safe until you graduate. Isn’t this a school day?

Teacher work day. No school. Do I tell Mom any of this?

Try to pretend you don’t know. I will talk to my lawyer and get her take on it. And I need to talk to the FBI who are investigating your grandfather and find out what they want to do. Don’t tell anyone you talked to me and keep in touch. Do you have a cell phone?

No, she won’t let me have one. Says we can’t afford it.

Where does your mother think you are right now?

She sleeps most of the day. I told her last night my best friend, and I were going to the city to shop. She said don’t bother her when I get home. We never talk. I stay by myself most nights and she is always asleep when I get home.

Okay, here’s what we are going to do. We are going to the city to get you a cell phone so you can call me whenever you want to or need to. I am going to hire someone to watch your house at night. Were you going to the city with your friend?

No, I planned to spend most of the day in the library to work on a paper due next week. I work at the café from three to six today and Jeri lets me eat dinner before I go home. Patty gets off at the same time and will take me home. They won’t let me walk after dark.

CHAPTER ONE

SATURDAY MORNING

Why do I think something horrible will happen soon? It’s a beautiful day and the sunflower fields still are still gorgeous, even though harvest begins today. You could always depend on Faith Good to be upbeat and take life as it comes. She did not understand why she felt so shaky and depressed. They’d had a splendid summer; they’d even gotten away for a few days. School was in its third week and her third-grade kids were so fun, so why was she depressed? She did not know and tried to shake off the feeling when her husband Dan entered the kitchen.

Hey, Babe, it’s going to be a great harvest this year. No hail this year. I am pumped to get the combines started. Well, after breakfast. I’m starving. Dan said as he hugged his wife.

When she turned, it startled him he frowned and acting nervous. Babe, what’s wrong? You look funny.

Oh, northing. I just got a bad feeling something is going to happen. Must not have slept well. It will pass. Hey, sit, your breakfast is ready. Biscuits and gravy, just as you requested. Kids aren’t up let. It’s early.

"Yeah, early for