Deadline Murder - Chapter One (Part One)

"Please answer." Damon Duquesne gripped his cell phone so hard his knuckles seemed to turn white as he turned his silver Jeep Cherokee into the employees' parking area of Ford Field, Detroit's state-of-the-art football stadium. Parking, he tried the number once more. His stomach grumbled again with nervousness.

"Maria, please be there," he begged out loud. No answer. After three more futile attempts to reach her, he had to face the fact that she wasn't available.

The Lions, for the first time in 50 years, were in the division playoffs against the San Francisco 49ers. Kickoff was only six hours away. A win would send them to the Super Bowl in January. Damon Duquesne alias Double Dynamite, the Lions' star wide receiver, felt nothing like his nickname. The caramel color skin of his face had drained to an ashen gray. Once inside the stadium complex, he made his way to the exercise room. Not only did he need to quiet his usual pre-game jitters, he had to decide what to do about the alarming conversation he had overheard earlier that morning by the directors of one of the largest oil companies in the country.

That Sunday morning, he had stopped by his off-season employer, the Planet Oil Corporation of America (POCA), to deliver coveted tickets to that afternoon's game. It felt good to be able to help out his co-workers in the public relations department with some free tickets to the game. Using his photo-identification card, he had quietly gained access to the empty reception area next to the Board of Director's conference room and heard loud irritated voices. He recognized several of them as key executives of the company.

"How much longer do you think you can fool our investors? We are nowhere near discovering an authentic formula for synthetic oil," said the chairman, irritably. "We can't keep the lid on this much longer."

Then there was the sound of an additional chilly voice, which he immediately recognized as belonging to Raymond Shoemaker the CEO. "Let me worry about our stockholders. Our next quarterly report won't reflect anything negative. And who knows, by next year this time, that formula could become a reality. We want our stock to hit a new high this quarter. I'll do everything in my power to make it happen. Now just relax boys!"

Another voice stated flatly with a laugh. "Oh yeah. How about 15 or 20 points worth? That would make our stock options worth a pretty penny." There was general laughter around the table with some more discussions about the stock market.

Then the voices moved down the hall in Damon's direction. Horrified, yet mesmerized by their conversation, Damon hastily left the building thinking, the very thing that had attracted Wall Street, a synthetic oil formula, was nonexistent.

Driving away from the company parking lot, he called his best friend and all-pro Lions' quarterback Jeff Samuels. Shocked, Jeff suggested Damon call Maria Hamilton, their mutual friend and sportswriter for the Detroit Free Press. The three of them could meet on Monday, their day off, and decide what to do. And also think about if they should advise Damon's girlfriend, Liberty Johnson, of this information. She was a lieutenant detective with the Detroit Police Department, Special Investigations Unit. They were pretty sure that corporate fraud was still a local crime, but then again, she could tell them if it was a federal offense rather than a local crime. They'd just have to wait and see. Now they had a game to win and that's all they could think about.

Deadline Murder-portion of Chapter 41

By 9:30 a.m., a light rain was again falling as Jeff Samuels sat inside Starbucks waiting for Emmett Jones III to appear. As soon as he entered, Jeff motioned him over to the table located discreetly in the back of the coffee shop.

"Hope you haven't been waiting too long?" Emmett stated as he eased himself into a chair.

"Naw, man. I've just been updating myself on the March Madness college basketball tournament," Jeff said, folding the Detroit Free Press and placing it next to him on the table. "Which team looks good to you?"

"North Carolina, all the way, man. But, hey, we're two busy men so I'll come right to the point. Every year POCA has an internal audit and I'm appointed to this special auditing committee handpicked by Raymond Shoemaker. They liberally sprinkle my name around for credibility but the truth is, I never have paid the least bit of attention to the numbers being crunched around me. I was just too damn busy daydreaming about my latest female conquest or on my cell phone setting up a date for the evening. And actually, they counted on this type of lackadaisical behaviour from me this year too."

"So, that's what the meeting was about this morning?" Jeff asked.

"Yes. This was the first meeting. The internal audit begins next week. And we have the same players as last year. Except this time the game plan will be different. I plan to kick some butt and take a few names for reference also."

"What do you mean by that?"

"I think there's some extremely creative financing going on to benefit Raymond Shoemaker, and I plan to expose him."

"How are you planning to do that?" Jeff said, taking a sip of Starbucks House Blend.

"I plan to stay alert and focused and, to be involved in every aspect of the audit. This time I'm going to make copies of any suspicious transactions."

"And you'll share this with me?"

"You, the Detroit Police Department, the F.B.I., and the world. Raymond Shoemaker is going down. If we can't convict him for Damon's death, we will get him for fraud. Oh, and I've just recruited a new ally."

"Who is that?"

"Nannette Shoemaker."

"Whoa," the quarterback stated, almost choking on his coffee at the mention of Raymond's wife's name. Cautiously looking around the room, he leaned his head close to Emmett's. "Man, that's unbelievable. Are you sure she can be trusted? And have you thought about the danger you could be putting her in?"

"Do you want to catch him or not? Don't worry. I can handle Nannette."

"You're sleeping with her, aren't you?"

"No, not yet. But it's on my agenda."

Why I Love Me Some Sweet Sixteen(March Madness)

OK. So here are my picks for the Final Four. Cornell, Kansas, Kentucky and Kansas State.

Well actually these were President Obama's picks, and unlike last year, he wasn't right on the money. Not even close.

The Final Four are Michigan State, Butler, West Virginia and Duke. I don't know much about most of the teams that made the Sweet Sixteen bracket, but I do know two. My homegrown Oakland Grizzlies lost early on to the Pitt Panthers. The Grizzlies must be applauded for their Herculean efforts.

And let's talk about the Michigan State Spartans. This is their second consecutive trip to the Final Four despite collective doubt from basketball seers and debilitating injuries and they have participated in March Madness six times over the last 13 seasons.

Point guard Kalin Lucas tore his Achilles tendon and cannot participate in the final games. He has passed the baton to Korie Lucious.

Instead of adopting a "Woe is me" attitude, Tom Izzo's team is out to prove they have the fortitude and talent to win it all.

The Spartan games have been entertaining nail-biters. Stadiums that hosted the March Madness games were filled with fans transfixed by joy. Their faces held such a radiance, they appeared years younger. And their bodies were so energized it took them on a natural high.

You know what. Just for four quarters, I would like to look years younger and be on a natural high.

GO SPARTANS

Synopsis of my novel Deadline Murder

Maria Hamilton feels lucky to have achieved her lifelong dream of becoming a sports reporter for a major big city newspaper. Now, life is even better. Jeff Samuels, the handsome quarterback of the Detroit Lions, has won her heart, after saving her from an extremely embarrassing moment in the team's locker room. Maria doesn't want to be categorized as just another adoring sports fan. While Jeff eagerly pursues her, she sets her own timetable of seduction, hoping to make herself unforgettable. She begins by coyly having him read to her as she relaxes in a perfumed bubble bath. A fascinated Jeff enthusiastically participates, hoping she will eventually invite him to join her in the tub. When Damon Duquesne, Jeff's best friend and team wide-receiver, is murdered the day of the division play-off game against the San Francisco 49ers; the days of fun and games had been left far behind. They were now replaced with genuine displays of love, support and comfort. To solve this unthinkable crime, Maria enlists the help of Liberty Johnson, Damon's Detroit police lieutenant girlfriend and Donato Benitez, vice-president of chemical research at the Planet Oil Corporation of America (POCA), where both athletes were employed in the off-season. Raymond Shoemaker, the corporation's CEO, is desperately trying to "Go Green." He ruthlessly searches for an elusive synthetic oil formula, to capitalize on the nation's gas crisis.

Detroit Lion coach Jim Schwartz nervously paced his Ford Field office waiting for his cell phone to ring. The shrill sound of the ring tone was music to his ears. He immediately sat down, hoping this was his highly anitipated and important call. A call which for all intents and purposes would change his life.

The voice on the other end had both the cadence of a Baptist preacher and the timbre of a Harvard professor.

"This is Barack Obama."

"Yes." Coach Schwartz tentatively acknowleged.

"I have just signed the NFL Stimulus Bill. It is effective tomorrow."

The Lion Coach's heart beat uncontrollaby. Now the possibilites were endless. The bill he had virtually single-handedly created and lobbied for was now a law. A bill created because of astute foresight and not desparation. The eight lowest ranking teams in the NFL National and American conferences would have a choice of drafting an outstanding Big 10 college athlete. The chosen player would participate in one game only.

Coach Schwartz knew he needed to move quickly to secure the athlete of his dreams. Even though the critics unanimously agreed the Lions lacked defense, he was going with a QB. Feeling a twinge of guilt as he remembered Matthew Stafford's herioc efforts against the Cleveland Browns, he forged ahead. The ultimate goal was to post another win this season. His choice was Terrelle Pryor of the Ohio State Buckeyes, who had a great passing and running game and whose team was going to the Rose Bowl(they won this game earlier this evening.) And Terrelle should feel a sense of loyalty since he had almost had Michigan ties.

"Mr. President, do the college coaches know the NFL Stimuls Bill will be in effect tomorrow?"

"They will know as soon as I end this call. They're next on my list. You're my first call because I'd really like to see the Lions win one more game this season."


Coach Schwartz listened intently for the excitement in Terrelle Pryor's voice as he relayed the astoundingly good news. Pryor would be the first college QB to lead a NFL team to victory.

There was silence on the other end. Was it profound joy or total shock?

"You are aware of the new NFL Stimulus Bill?"

"A.......yeah," the Buckeye QB hedged. "I just didn't think anyone would call so soon."

"I'll bet," the Lion's Coach thought. Pryor was probably holding out for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Not only were they his hometown team, they also had injury prone QB's in Ben Roethlisberger and one of Terrelle's mentors, Charlie Batch. "I have first choice and it's you. It's pretty much a done deal."


On game day, each time the Lion's newly acquired QB caught a glimpse of himself in his new uniform, he was startled. The monotony of the Lion's blue and silver could have the ability to lull him to sleep. In contrast, the red hot color of the Ohio State Buckeyes created a fire in his belly.

Because he was fiercely competitive and recognized he was the initial experiment in the newly legislated NFL Stimulus Bill, he would make both President Obama and Coach Schwartz proud.

On game day, Terrelle Pryor burst from the Ford Field tunnel and never looked back as he helped lead the Detroit Lions to a much needed victory.


This article was written approx. two weeks before the Super Bowl.

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