The Heir Apparent
by
W. Shelley Viall
W. Shelley Viall
All rights reserved by Denlinger's Publishers, including the right to reproduce this electronic book, or portions thereof, in any form, except for the inclusion of brief quotations in a review.
This is a work of fiction. All characters and events portrayed in this book are fictional, and any resemblance to real people or incidents is purely coincidental.
W. Shelley Viall was born in Dayton, Ky.
He served in Army of United States, Dec. 1942 thru Dec. 1945.
He graduated, Aeronautical Engineer, U. of Cincinnati, 1949 and worked forty one years in the Aircraft Industry.
He retired 1988.
During his employment years, he authored papers in Engineering Journals of the S.A.E. and A.S.M.E technical societies and co-authored Patent Claims for his inventions. He wrote articles in a monthly Service News magazine published by his employer and sent to their customers. He authored sections of Research Documents submitted to the FAA and the U.S. Air Force by his former employer.
The body of Charlie Vail is found in the garbage dump behind the rural New England house in which he was temporarily living with the family of his Uncle, Morgan Cutler, Forest Manager for the Locke Paper Co. "Hideaway" house belongs to Mr. Locke.
Who wanted Charlie dead? Why was the body half-buried on the dump?
The four members of the Cutler household are Morgan, his wife Grace, and her children Lyman Shaw and Sarah Shaw.
Four months prior to his death, Charlie was employed by Morgan as a seasonal worker in the wood lots. The job was given as a favor to Charlie's Mother, Becky Vail, who is Morgan's Sister.
Charlie's job ended with the completion of the tree harvest. After receiving his final pay, he departed Hideaway on foot, carrying his suitcase, bound for the local bus terminal.
Bill Locke has found the body three days later, while out on his usual morning walk. Noticing an unfamiliar mound in the sand that is spread periodically over the dump, he steps part way up the mound, and kicks the toe of his boot into the sand. To his horror and disgust, he has uncovered a human hand.
The Coroner, John Goode, takes custody of the body and the autopsy reveals the cause of death is poison.
Local law officer Sheriff Pat Brazel begins investigating. The investigation slowly reveals there are many disagreements among the members of Morgan's Family. Animosity toward Charlie abounds so there is no scarcity of persons to suspect of committing a crime.
When the lawmen eventually discover evidence of how Charlie was poisoned, suspicion falls on Lyman and his friend Chip Huston.
How and by whom was the poison administered to Charlie? When and how did the disposal of his body take place?
After many exasperating interrogations of the family members by Pat's crew, the undoing of the murderer results from a casual slip of the lip made during routine questioning of a material witness not previously considered a suspect.
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