Cast

Chicago Cast

Bryant Hawkins —

Former Chicago Police detective

Jan Elliot — Former Chicago Police detective

Angel Jimenez — Bryant's teenaged neighbor

Dave Jimenez — Bryant's neighbor

Maria Jimenez — Bryant's neighbor

Emerald Cove Cast

Steve Curtis — City council president

Leona Curtis — Steve's wife

Linda Roberts — City council administrator

Bill Roberts — Linda's husband

Chuck O'Bannon — Pub owner and former Boston police officer

Jonah Attenborough — City prosecutor

Allyson Granger — Assistant city prosecutor

Lou Granger — Allyson's father

Charmaine Granger — Allyson's mother

The Victim and Her Family

Mary Beth Brockleman — College student murdered in Emerald Cove

Susan Brockleman — Mary Beth's mother

The Gallia Five

Jonathan Mayfield — College student in Cincinnati, Ohio

Richard Currence — College student in Huntington, W.Va.

Trevor Adams — College student in Columbus, Ohio

Joey Straight — College student in Marietta, Ohio

Mark Shrekengost — Laborer in Bedford, Pa.

Outside Police Officers

Holly Garvin — Huntington, W.Va., Police detective

Barry Chumley — Gallia County, Ohio, Sheriff's deputy sergeant

Ed Strelzcyzk — Cincinnati Police detective

Mike Mitchell — Ohio State Patrolman

South Carolina State Police

Ron Wilson — Captain of the local barracks

Bea Harrison — Crime scene and forensic tech

Emerald Cove Police

Regina Post — Detective First Grade

Jim Andrews — Detective Third Grade

Aaron Marks — Detective Third Grade

Mickey Garrett — Detective Third Grade

Carlos Morales — Detective Second Grade, forensic tech

Scott Lewis — Community and media relations liaison

Adele Coleman — Duty sergeant

Stan Williams — Duty sergeant

Others from Emerald Cove

Anna Kozlov — Angel's best friend

Erik Kozlov — Anna's father

Beth Kozlov — Anna's daughter

Rosa Delgado — Cook at O'Bannon's Pub

Mira Delgado — Rosa's granddaughter

Cassidy Bell — Teenage theft suspect

Herman Tallmadge — Convicted sex offender

Ohio Cast

Ryan Lucas — America First Posse member

Derek Parsons — America First Posse hitman

Kelley Lucas — Lucas' wife

Caroline Lucas — Lucas' daughter

Ronnie Lucas — Lucas' son

Sanford, S.C., Cast

Melinda Pahl — Suspected sex offender

Victor Yoxley — Suspected sex offender

Danielle Pahl — Melinda's daughter

Ashlynn Pahl — Melinda's daughter

Author's Note

As my writing has grown more ambitious, moving from short stories of about 20 chapters to novel-length offerings, I've discovered the necessity to have two stories going at the same time.

That allows me not only to move away from a story to flesh out sections that have proven troublesome, it keeps me from getting bored with the characters in either effort. I believe it was boredom that forced me to cut short many of my earlier efforts before I took the characters all the places I could have.

"Death and a Life in Emerald Cove" began as a sidelight to "A Flawed Diamond." I continued to work on it after I started posting "Diamond" and as I worked on the next novel-length story I'll post at Stories Online in a few months.

"Emerald Cove" is different from anything I've written. I am certain some of my more devoted readers will be disappointed with certain aspects of the subject matter. The story doesn't revolve around a happy group of friends. It doesn't have a light and funny romance. It has very little levity.

Chapter 1 »