“Delilah” performed by Tom Jones
Part of the fun of writing Delilah: A Ronnie Lake Cold Case was the research, including spending plenty of time online watching Tom Jones perform his many hits. Some of the earliest clips reminded me what a remarkable voice he has, and what an amazing performer he has been from the moment he appeared on the scene in the 1960s. These days, he’s a slightly different kind of amazing. Check out his fabulous 2012 video on YouTube where he sings Leonard Cohen’s, “Tower of Song.” The decades have added a wonderful darkness and dimension to what was already so perfect. Like the proverbial good wine, Tom Jones has aged well—just the way many of us are striving to do. --Nikki Danforth
I met Danforth in 2017 with her book Searching for Gatsby Haven't got to Stunner, yet... So many TBR books, so little time...
The bloodied corpses lay dumped on each other as if they’ve been sorted for the trash. Even with blindfolds covering their eyes, their frozen faces show an unspeakable terror. Two of the teenaged victims appear to have their hands tied behind their backs. The third must have worked out of the rope that’s still twisted around one wrist, her other rubbed raw from the binding. Her arms reach around the two girls as if she’s pulling them close. Were they already friends before this final embrace? I click through the next photographs, close-ups of the girls’ battered bodies. Their clothes are filthy and ragged, as if they’ve been held captive for some time. Other pictures on my laptop reveal the surroundings, possibly a warehouse somewhere in a rundown industrial area. The bleak, abandoned space is light years away from my cozy, safe cottage in Willowbrook, New Jersey, where I complete homework for my "Intro to Criminal Justice class.
Warrior, my beloved German shepherd, stirs near my feet on the end of a comfy chaise in my bedroom. This has always been my first choice of where to hunker down with a great book, but at the moment it’s where I study these photos. Suddenly, not wanting to taint my refuge with this Russian mob-related case, I take off my drugstore glasses, sweep up the materials, and head downstairs to the kitchen. I continue reading about this tragic human trafficking case and contemplate whether I’m really cut out for this world of investigative work.
Warrior, my beloved German shepherd, stirs near my feet on the end of a comfy chaise in my bedroom. This has always been my first choice of where to hunker down with a great book, but at the moment it’s where I study these photos. Suddenly, not wanting to taint my refuge with this Russian mob-related case, I take off my drugstore glasses, sweep up the materials, and head downstairs to the kitchen. I continue reading about this tragic human trafficking case and contemplate whether I’m really cut out for this world of investigative work.
Unexpectedly, the wind picks up. Crack! I jump at the same moment the phone rings and grab it before it can ring again. “Hello? Who is it?” “Ronnie, it’s Will. Are you okay?” his calm voice asks. “You sound panicked.” “I’m fine, I’m fine. A huge noise outside startled me, like a gunshot, but it was probably just a limb that broke off.” I pour a glass of pinot noir. “What’s up?” “Do you want to assist me on a new case? I’m swamped—” “I’d love to, but is it more involved than the gofer work I did last time?” I take a drink. “Not that I don’t appreciate the opportunity—” “It’s a cold case in Parklawn, just west of Paterson. It’s not that far from you, and you’ll have a chance to help a lot in the field,” Will interjects. “We’ll find out more tomorrow when we talk to the client. Meet me at the diner at eight.” “You’re really going to put me in the field?” “With my close supervision,” Will says. “I don’t want to see a repetition of your—”
“See you there. Thanks!” I hang up. I grab my computer and run upstairs to turn in. The wind continues to howl outside, and I pull Warrior’s dog nest next to my bed before sliding under the covers. I look at the computer screen, determined to pick up where I left off with my assignment. Outside, the branches creak spookily. “Who are you trying to kid?” I turn off my laptop. “Enough of the Russian mob for one night.”
~~~~~
Ronnie, our main character, is over 50, living alone in the Carriage House on the family estate, which she is now renting out to a family with children--just like it had once been during her early years. She was quite happy to be able to now begin to enjoy the smaller space and not have those shadows following her through darkened areas where nobody ever entered... Yet, she has two children so didn't want to assume that one or both of them may be one day interested in returning...home...
It's difficult to decide what to do with the rest of your life when a major change has occurred. In an earlier book, she met Will and began considering a personal relationship, while also contemplating whether she was interested in working in his field--as a Private Investigator. She is now taking one course and while reading the grim details of a mock case, seeing what men have been doing to women for ages, and trying to decide whether she has the desire to go so deep into such horrendous acts of mankind, she has the chance to become involved on a new case. This one to include field work, since Will is tied up with another case...
Will is still not certain she can act on her own, and gets her to promise that she will let him know what she plans before she acts... Of course, when you go out in the field and find something out, you tend to go ahead and take that next step without seeking permission... On the other hand, Ronnie seems to have an intuitive and quick mind that, as she reviews all the case files for a Cold Case, in which a young woman had been murdered many years ago, she picks up key factors that she deems important and then starts building the normal "whatifs" that are explored as an investigation moves forward...
Checking out who and why the people at that time were interviewed, then deciding who to try to get in touch with--former boyfriends, girlfriends, officers in charge of the case... That is, if they are still alive. But first, they had to meet with the individual representing the family who were asking for their help. They were to meet with the deceased's cousin who had flown in from Pittsburgh. Doreen Lyla had been murdered in 1972:
“My aunt, Doreen Lyla, was murdered back in 1972, and they never got her killer. “So, why now?” Will asks. “It’s been more than forty years.” “My old man’s got cancer, and we don’t think he’ll make it.” “I’m sorry,” Will and I say almost in unison. “Pop’s dying wish is that his sister’s killer be brought to justice,” Steve says...
Will and Ronnie, after their client had left, continued to put together a plan of action, with agreement of what Ronnie would handle without first coming back to discuss with Will. And, she followed this guidance, at least as far as she felt she could handle without disturbing his busy schedule... And that's how she wound up in a local bar where the victim was known to visit... And, while she gathered pieces of memory from the owner, the crowd was getting noisier as the beginning of a nightly feature of the club was announced--Karaoke! Well, I've sung in public, but never spontaneously as would happen in a bar. And, it was obvious that this crowd included many active participants! All of a sudden a woman was singing loudly, and offkey, I will survive! And the crowd loved her... And, by the way, I've use the karaoke version so you can sing along! You're probably reading this alone, right, so what if you do sing offkey, nobody will hear you...
Ronnie spent the evening there, at least until the Karaoke stopped. (While the author was writing more, I added a few more songs just for the fun of it!) The owner had been younger in the 70s but still remembered everything that happened, and what he thought about it at the time. Once he learned that her brother wanted to know who had killed his sister before he died of cancer, he was all in... And after Ronnie left she spent time going through everything and arrived at who she thought might be guilty...
After talking to Will who said that the only way they could prove it, would be if he confessed... And Ronnie knew exactly how to make that happen... As long as Will was there as her backup! Even though I, too, had identified the guilty individual, I still was shocked at what happened at the confrontation! Perfect ending!
And, if you haven't tried to sing along, I'll share that I did! Especially Respect by Aretha Franklin and of course, Tom Jones' songs! Don't close this out until you've at least tried one! I admit I only did Ok with ones I really knew, like I Got You Babe! Ah Memories!
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