Fatal Connections -- Chapter 13

Erica Jensen Mystery #2

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Over the next fifteen minutes, I got a short history on Troy Fairchild. His parents were both losers. His dad spent half his time in jail, the rest eking out a living as a petty criminal. His mother was usually drunk before Troy woke up. His parents having been less than attentive, the duties of raising a well-mannered child had often fallen to his aunt and uncle.

When Uncle Melvin noticed the boy’s tendency toward risky behavior as he approached his teens, he tried to guide Troy down a better path. But the older he got, the further Troy withdrew from the adults around him. Melvin’s hopes that the trip to LA would bring them closer were dashed when Troy made a midnight visit to the beach and stumbled across a bunch of kids drinking. Apparently, they were quite friendly and willing to share.

“And that’s how the drinking began,” Stubbs finished. “He’s only violent when he drinks.”

I nodded. “Yeah, I know the type.” A little too well.