Justice Denied: A novel by Sue Hibbard

By Sue Hibbard

Lynn Stark, a travel writer and local celebrity who went missing two years earlier without a trace within hours of her return to her hometown in Southern California, is found murdered. The case is assigned to Detective Sergeant Jamie Michaels and her partner. Jamie has doubts about solving the murder after so much time, but three likely suspects are identified. The re-opening of the case and Jamie’s relentless search for the murderer raise alarm bells for people close to the case and, as Jamie gets close to the truth, she becomes a liability that must be stopped.

While Jamie is conducting her investigation, her sister and brother-in-law continue their ongoing search for Mr. Right for her. After arranging a series of blind dates who turn out to be Mr. Wrongs, they are happy when Jamie finds someone special. Jamie has feelings for this man, but her preoccupation with finding out what happened to Lynn Stark leaves her little time for pursuing a relationship. She will have to make a choice between her all-consuming focus on her case and following her heart.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Aug 24, 2023
• ISBN: 9798823013505

Sue Hibbard

Sue Hibbard worked for twenty-eight years for a large Southern California law enforcement agency before retiring at the rank of lieutenant. One of her assignments was as a detective sergeant where she conducted scores of investigations which she found challenging and rewarding. She also obtained a master’s degree in human behavior While this book is fiction, she has incorporated her knowledge and experience of the criminal justice into the story.

Book preview

PROLOGUE

As he drives along in the darkness up the curving road toward the foothills of Rancho San Miguel, he makes sure he regularly monitors his speedometer. His adrenaline is pumping, and he knows he needs to focus so that he does not unconsciously press down too hard on the accelerator—the last thing he needs is to draw the attention of some traffic cop. He is headed to a dirt service road where there are a few seldom used trails, but mainly wilderness. There are no picnic tables or restrooms, so the area isn’t a family recreation destination. Day hikers sometimes go walking there, but there are better, more scenic, areas close by, so most people bypass the area where he is headed.

And now, as he leaves the paved highway, he needs to focus on the unfamiliar, narrow, twisting dirt road which seems particularly treacherous at night.

He thinks it’s the perfect place to hide something you never want to be found.

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CHAPTER 1

Lynn Stark always tried to get a window seat. Whenever the cloud cover permitted, she loved looking at the changing landscapes below. Flying was part of her job and she never tired of it. And this trip was special—she was coming home.

She leaned back in her first-class seat and recalled the conversation she’d had three days earlier. Mom, I’m disappointed, too, but it’s just a few extra days.

She had been sitting on the bed, with pillows propped up behind her, in the condo that Global Travel Publishing maintained for her in their building for whenever she was back in their office in New York. She’d flown in the day before from Sicily.

I just can’t believe that the one week your father and I are going to be gone is the week you’re coming home, she said almost petulantly.

Mom, you know I only found out six months ago that the company was opening an office in California and transferring me there, and I didn’t know exactly when I’d be going until a week ago. You and dad planned this trip almost a year ago. You’ve been talking about taking a cruise to Alaska for as long as I can remember. She had smiled and added, I know you and dad will have a wonderful time, and I’ll be there to pick you up at the airport when you get back. Then we’ll have plenty of time to visit. Lynn’s mother had reluctantly agreed and said, since they hadn’t seen Lynn in over a year, she guessed a few extra days wouldn’t matter.

Lynn’s dad took the phone. Sweetheart, I will make sure your mother enjoys herself. If it comes to it, I’ll even dance with her.

Lynn laughed and said, That’s saying something, dad!

Lynn’s mom took the phone back. "All right, Jim. You two are ganging up on me, so I promise I will try to focus on Alaska and will look forward to seeing you next week. You don’t need to worry about going shopping right away, dear. I’ve stocked the refrigerator, and there are some casseroles in the freezer. Your favorites.

When your father and I get home, we’re going to have a big welcome home party for you…Trisha and Alex, Martha, Eleanor, and everyone else you want to invite.

Just like my mom, Lynn thought, smiling. She was certainly blessed to have such great parents.

I can hardly wait to see Trisha and meet her new husband. I’ve been getting emails from her, and she sounds so happy. What’s he like?

Lynn’s mom thought for a moment and said, If I were to pick out the perfect husband for Trisha, Alex is the one I’d choose. They have so much in common. And, of course, the most important thing is that he adores her. You’ll see. I’m so happy for that sweet girl. She paused, and then said somewhat wistfully, It seems like just yesterday you two were little girls, like sisters and now, here you are, a world traveler and Trisha is married.

I know. A lot has happened, that’s for sure. Okay, mom. I’ll see you in just a little over a week.

Oh, before I forget, Brian has been asking about you.

Lynn took a deep breath and tried to control her anger. Really? What do you mean ‘asking about me’? Brian and Lynn had dated before she’d left for her job in New York. They had not parted on good terms.

Well, he stops by or calls every once in awhile, and I told him the happy news that you were coming home Sunday night. When Lynn didn’t say anything, her mother asked, That was all right, wasn’t it? Was I not supposed to tell him?

Lynn composed herself. She didn’t want her mother to worry. Sure, mom. It just took me by surprise. We were just friends, and I figured he was involved with someone by now—I’ve been gone quite awhile.

I know, but he was definitely smitten with you—and I think he still is. When Lynn didn’t reply, she changed the subject. Oh, and Eleanor has the house and car keys for you. Eleanor was their longtime neighbor who lived across the street who had babysat Lynn in years past and was like a member of the family.

"Thanks, mom. I’ll look forward to seeing Eleanor…and thanks for stocking the refrigerator—I have missed your home cooking. I’ll be thinking about you and dad flying out in the morning and sending good thoughts. Love you, mom."

We love you, too, sweetheart. Bye, bye.

Bye, mom.

The condo that her company maintained was comfortable. Lynn remembered how she’d looked around the room and thought most people who were moving from New York to California would be dealing with packing boxes. They had plates, silverware, bedding, towels, and all the things that normal people had in their homes. Lynn didn’t have a regular home, and she didn’t have any of those things. For the past two and a half years, she was almost always traveling for her job and, when she wasn’t, she stayed in the company’s furnished condo in New York. All her belongings were in two suitcases—clothing and toiletries—and in her briefcase where she had her laptop and papers. The draft of her current book, "Lynn Loves Sicily," was on the nightstand next to her. She was looking forward to going home. Craig Pratt, her boss, was already in the new California office and had told her that the plan was for her to stay put for the next six months to a year. Her Lynn Loves… books were bestsellers in the travel book world, and Craig told her he had some new ideas for capitalizing on their popularity.

As the plane flew over the Midwest, Lynn leaned her head back against the headrest and thought about her life. She’d decided she had officially started her travel writing career when she was ten years old. She’d written a story about Egypt as a class assignment and had gotten an A+. Another student offered her five cents for a copy. She was surprised and delighted and happily collected her nickel.

Lynn never took for granted how lucky she was. She got to do the two things she loved most in the world—traveling and writing—and got paid for doing them. She’d freelanced for a while with some mostly local papers and magazines, and then set her sights on Global Travel Publishing, a small travel magazine based in New York. She’d sent them copies of some of her articles and was surprised and happy when she received a call from them almost immediately. The office manager, Debbie Burke, told her how impressed the company was with her articles and was calling to arrange an internet interview with her and the boss, Craig Pratt. The interview went very well—Craig Pratt looked a little younger that Lynn’s father, quite distinguished looking, and was personable yet businesslike. The next day, she’d received another call from Debbie, this time offering her a job. She’d gotten to travel to many of the world’s cities and had created a Global Travel blog where she wrote about her adventures in a way that engaged her readers’ senses in the sights, sounds, and smells of foreign lands. Her readers looked forward to her blogs and wrote to the magazine saying how much they enjoyed them. Craig had taken her under his wing and mentored her—he was delighted with her work. He regularly met with her and came up with the idea that Lynn write some travel books that would describe the various cities in much greater detail. There would be photos of the various sights with Lynn—predominately candid. Instead of just a picture of the Eiffel tower, there would be a picture of Lynn next to the tower. The narrative would read as if she were with a friend who was traveling along with her, and Lynn was showing the person the sights. He had hired well-known photographer Kelly Ryan who would travel with her. Lynn thought it was a great idea, and soon, Global Travels’ book sales were rivaling, then surpassing, those of the magazine. Lynn Loves London was the first book followed by Lynn Loves Venice, "Lynn Loves Paris," Lynn Loves Rome, and Lynn Loves Sydney. The company grew, in large part because of the popularity of Lynn’s books, and they decided to open a second office in California. Lynn had enjoyed working in New York but missed California, so it was a win-win situation all the way around. Tonight, she thought, I’ll be at my parent’s house, sleeping in my own bed.

The flight attendant stopped by her seat and asked if she would like something to drink. Lynn smiled and asked for some orange juice. As she sipped her juice, she reached into her purse and read again the copy she’d made of an email she’d gotten from Trisha a little over a year ago.

Hi, Lynn,

I have exciting news. If you’re not already sitting down, you’ll need to. I got married! I know it seems as if it all happened so quickly—and it did—but my new husband, Alex, is everything I’ve ever dreamed of. I know it’s a cliché, but there really can be love at first sight. He’s handsome, sensitive, kind, and generous. You know I have had my share of men who pretended to be interested in me but were really interested in my money...well, my new husband has more money than I do. Lynn, he is wonderful and treats me like a queen. We have so many things in common—we like the same music, read the same authors, and we both believe in giving back. In fact, that’s how we met. You know that one of the causes I support is the American Cancer Society—well, he was at a fundraiser I’d coordinated. He made a hefty ($50,000) donation! I’d always heard the term chemistry but wasn’t quite sure what it was. Well, now I know because we had it from the moment we met.

I know you and I always said we would be one another’s bridesmaids—I hope you’re not angry with me for getting married without you by my side, but I know you’ll love him as much as I do. We talked a little about having a wedding, but he just couldn’t wait—and neither could I. And we both thought about how much good we could do with the money we would have spent on a big wedding.

At least for now, we will be living in my home. He’d been living in Europe to better oversee his businesses there, but now has hired a business manager over there. He missed the good old U.S.A. and had temporarily leased a home in Beverly Hills until he decided exactly where he wanted to live.

So, Lynn, that’s my news! I can hardly wait for you to meet him and him, you. I’ve told him all about you—don’t worry—not all our secret girlfriend stuff!!—and he wants to meet my famous travel book writer friend!

Let me know when you might be in the States again. I miss you!

Love,

Trisha

P.S., Oh, I’m now Mrs. Trisha Benson!

P.P.S., I have a surprise for you when you get here. Here are some hints: it’s in my former bedroom and has to do with our secret club. I can hardly wait to see you!

Lynn and Trisha had been friends since the third grade. They had both attended the exclusive Park Ridge Academy for Girls—that was where girls who lived in Rancho San Miguel went to school. Rancho San Miguel was often referred to as Beverly Hills South. The homes there could more appropriately be described as palatial estates or mansions.

Although Lynn and Trisha both came from affluent families, their home lives couldn’t have been more different. Lynn’s mother, Helen, worked from home. She was the prolific, and very successful, author—using the pen name Emma Bond—of twenty-five historical romance novels that flew off the shelves and internet into the hands of a loyal, and very large, following that found it hard to wait for the next book. Lynn’s father, Jim, was a geography and history buff and taught social studies at the local middle school. Lynn would joke and say how could I have become anything but a travel writer? Her father had a large study that was a huge map room, and, growing up, Lynn had spent hours there with him, looking at the map-filled walls and listening to her father vividly describe the various countries. On the walls without maps were shelves filled with books about the histories and cultures of pretty much every country in the world. Lynn’s favorite thing in the room was a large globe on a stand. Lynn liked to rotate the globe and was fascinated that one view seemed to be just ocean, and she also remembered how surprised she was the first time her father pointed out to her how the continents fit together like puzzle pieces. The globe was so much more interesting than the one-dimensional maps.

Lynn’s mother had her own large study as well that she referred to as her inspiration space where she went to write her books. It was a beautiful room decorated in earth tones with large windows that looked out over their beautifully landscaped yard. There was something about the room that was very peaceful, and Lynn’s mother would say how being there helped transport her and her imagination to the places and times that were the settings for her books. Lynn had read them all, of course, and especially liked one that took place during the Revolutionary War period.

Unlike most of the households in Rancho San Miguel, the Starks did not have any live-in help. They did have a cook come in from time to time, but Lynn’s mother loved to cook and, when they designed their home,