Chain of Violence Author:Lesley Egan "Well, the way I told the cops last night," said Linda Miller, "he wasn't here long, it was all pretty fast, and I was scared." — "You can't describe him at all?" asked Detective Delia Riordan. "And you said he apologized to you?" — "Yes, it was weird, real weird. As soon as he'd - you know, done it - he said I'm real sorry I had to do this, you... more »'re a nice girl. And he jsut went out. Well, he had kind of a round face, he was young, maybe in his twenties, and he had blond hair, kind of long. He was just sort of ordinary." She twisted her fingers together, looking down at the floor. "I tried to keep my head, I called the police, but I don't suppose there is any way that you can find out who he is - Oh, I'm positive I'd never laid eyes on him before. And like I told the other cops last night, I was worried about my mother - that was why I opened the door when he said telegram. I should have known that if anything was wrong Dad would have phoned, but I didn't think... And I just can't tell them about this, they'd have a fit and want me to come right home, and I'd never get as good a job up there. Well, one thing I will say, I'll never open my door again to someone I don't know!"« less
female protagonist, police detective - adventures, misadventures, lives with a mouthy parrot named Henry. Written under a psudonym by a writer of more than 50 mystery/thriller novels. Fast paced, wonderful plot, characterization.