Death In The Suburbs

Seven years ago, MARSHAL (Marsh) KEENE, lost both legs above the knee after a car accident that killed his parents and sister. A local man, ALLAN WRIGHT was charged with drunk driving, vehicular homicide and sentenced to ten years in jail. Marsh progressed from using a wheelchair to walking with prosthetics and canes, but was forced to leave his dream job as a member of the police force just weeks after graduation. Four years later, he's a journalist for a local newspaper, married to ANN YOUNG, a divorced Trinidadian head nurse at the local psychiatric hospital. Her society-parents, JUDGE BURTON YOUNG and EILEEN YOUNG think their well-educated daughter Ann could have chosen someone more worthy than Marsh — a legless junior journalist from a poor background. Marsh must cope not only with hostile in-laws, but must adapt to navigating in and around a not so ergonomic friendly Lakeville to do his job. At the time of the accident, years ago, Marsh, devastated by the death of his family, had threatened Wright in a fit of rage, after the trial. Now, Marsh is covering a crime scene for the local newspaper in Lakeville, in winer, in the suburbs. Nestled snugly on the shores of Lake Ontario, the suburban town of Lakeville, where these events unfold, police investigation will soon lead to a startling discovery that the body in the frozen, barren outskirts, is that of Allan Wright, the drunk driver who caused the accident that killed Marsh's family. Wright had just been released from jail. Naturally, Marsh becomes a prime suspect in the murder of Wright, what with his threats at the time of the trial, and his co-incidental appearance on the crime scene. But Marsh's troubles have only begun. He's being tailed by an unknown man in a Toyota. In a confrontation, he discovers the man is none other than STEVEN ANDERSON, Ann's abusive ex-husband recently returned from Trinidad to take up where he left off: harassing his ex-wife, blackmailing and extorting more money from her parents who had funded his return to Trinidad, to get him out of the way, in the first place. Anderson seems bent on re-engaging in criminal activity. Ann divulges that Anderson beat her years ago, causing a miscarriage, and also reveals that her patents knew about the abuse. At the time, Burton Young's judgeship was new and he paid Anderson to leave the country rather than face scandal and police investigation. Marsh and Ann are now expecting their first baby. They are frightened of Anderson and what he's capable of. Marsh must find a way, even with all eyes on him, to save his reputation and prove his innocence. Things don't get any easier for Marsh, however. An old cottage beside Young's residence burns. Marsh suspects a drug-related fire. Burton admits he bought the cottage property for his former colleague Frank Veale, who is in financial trouble with gambling debts. Frank planned to live there with his latest lover, NELL, after divorcing his third wife, JEANETTE. The morning after the fire, Frank is found murdered in his office and two hundred thousand dollars, supposedly to pay off a gambling debt, is missing from the safe. Marsh needs to find who killed Wright and Veale. Are the murders connected? A slew of suspects arise during his investigation. Is Anderson implicated? How about Gregory, son of Bill Lancaster, Burton Young's gardener—both suspected of being involved in peddling drugs? Is the widow Veale above reproach? How about Veale's current law partner: Gary Lund? Is Frank Veale's current lover, NELL beyond suspicion— she is Judge Young's sister-in-law? A Death In The Suburbs is how it all starts out.