Hovering Above a Homicide

Who killed Tim Whalen? And why? Was it because of the North Fork real-estate agent's rumored infidelities? Or those of his wife? Was it because he was a "helicopter parent" who micro-managed his short-tempered basketball-star son? Perhaps he was murdered because he somehow got on the wrong side of the shadow network of sports hangers-on who brokered big-money deals to deliver talented young athletes into big-time sports programs. Ernie Creekmore, real estate agent and semi-retired coach, is asked to help by his fishing buddy, Skagit County sheriff's detective Harvey Johnston, when the investigation goes cold. But Ernie doesn't like the idea that he's apparently being asked to set up the cops' top suspect: Trent Whalen, the troubled but talented son of the victim. Besides, Ernie's got a full plate as it is. He's scouting prospects for a regional all-star basketball team as a way of easing back into coaching. He's trying to cultivate sales prospects at work—and keep his irascible boss off his back. And then there's hot-to-trot Margie McGovern, who's trying to maneuver Ernie into a commitment faster than you can say "find the open man!" The more Ernie pokes around, the more he's disturbed to find out just how deeply corrupted the once snow-white world of high school sports has become. How fast the money runs. And how far someone might go to protect his— or her— secrets. Tom Kelly, who introduced Ernie Creekmore in COLD CROSSOVER, is back with another engrossing tale of hoops, home sales and homicide.