Kill Two Byrds

by Steven Lockett

Returning from an overseas assignment, Bernard Byrd finds two separate letters summoning him to the last place he wants to be - home. Due to a tradegy that occurred there, it’s been years since he’s shown his face and the idea of returning to South Florida doesn’t have him thinking about palm trees and sandy beaches. But while he isn't itching for a homecoming, these letters have him intrigued. The first is from a stranger named Kayla Chalmers claiming to be a friend of his late Uncle Marvin. The second letter is from a lawyer representing his uncle’s estate and calling on him and Kayla to come claim their inheritance. Besides having not spoken to his uncle in years, it was common knowledge that Marvin died disgraced and penniless. What could he possibly have to leave anybody? Bernard returns home to straighten out what he’s sure is a mistake, but keeps finding things that don’t make sense. A mysterious will, a cryptic message and a pile of money will pair him with a total stranger and send them on a most implausible quest. Over the next few days, Bernard will learn to question everything he thought he knew about his uncle. Maybe things were never as they seemed. Maybe Bernard’s demons and Marvin’s demons are intertwined somehow. But one thing seems clear; a dead man is trying to tell a secret, and dead men often have deadly secrets. If Bernard and his new friend Kayla aren’t careful, this might be a one way trip.

232 pages, Paperback

First published September 5, 2013