Pray For Us Sinners (eBook)

Paul E. Brown (Autor)

eBook Download: EPUB

2025 | 1. Auflage
400 Seiten
Bookbaby (Verlag)
979-8-3509-8155-1 (ISBN)

Infos

A new basketball prodigy from Jamaica, hailed as the next Jordan, is signed to play ball at LSU. A girl's mutilated body is found dumped in the Tiger cage on campus. Evidence leads the police to arrest the ballplayer. LSU's young assistant coach gets his lifelong friend, a troubled but brilliant attorney from the small city of Houma, Louisiana, to come to Baton Rouge to defend the young Jamaican. As he and his talented defense team fight for the young man's life, they are opposed by an equally determined prosecutor, who cares only about winning, and by a tough but shady detective. Is the defendant a courageous, charismatic, heroic figure, or simply a cold blooded killer? That is the question to be answered in 'Pray For Us Sinners.'

Paul E. Brown, a native of Lockport, Louisiana, is a graduate of Nicholls State University and of the LSU Law Center. He practiced law for 35 years in South Louisiana, becoming the Chief Counsel of the Terrebonne Parish Public Defender's Office in his 20s, and an Assistant District Attorney at 30. Then he practiced primarily as a Criminal Defense Lawyer, until he retired in 2019. During his entire career, he spent much of his spare time helping local athletes obtain college scholarships, mostly in basketball. He served on the local boards of the NAACP and Habitat for Humanity. For a number of years, he taught law courses at Nicholls State University, and more recently, he has taught high school History and American Government. This is his first book. He has five sons and 19 grandchildren. He lives in Houma, Louisiana.

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"e;Pray For Us Sinners"e; is a legal thriller, a courtroom drama, and a murder mystery. A new basketball prodigy from Jamaica, hailed as the next Jordan, is signed to play ball at LSU. A girl's mutilated body is found dumped in the Tiger cage on campus. Evidence leads the police to arrest the ballplayer. LSU's young assistant coach gets his lifelong friend, a troubled but brilliant attorney from the small city of Houma, Louisiana, to come to Baton Rouge to defend the young Jamaican. As he fights for the young man's life, the attorney struggles with his faith, with a possible addiction to pain medication, and with a tragedy in his past. On his legal team is a talented female associate whom he trusts with his life, an elderly law professor who is his mentor, his best friend who is the defendant's coach, a young investigator who played ball at LSU, and a Catholic Priest who inspires him. Trying to bring them down are a prosecutor who cares only about winning, a tough but shady detective, and the ugly existence of racism, which clouds the entire case. Is the defendant a courageous, charismatic, heroic figure, or simply a cold blooded killer? That is the question to be answered in "e;Pray For Us Sinners."e;"e;Recently, my longtime friend, Paul Brown, gave me a copy of a book he had just completed writing, and asked me to read it and to give him my opinion. At first I thought that reading this novel, which is nearly 400 pages long, would be a chore for me. It most certainly was not. I was shocked. It surprised me, because I could not put it down. I really enjoyed it, and I am sure so will Tiger fans, because it is centered around an LSU basketball star, and a murder trial. A great read!"e; DALE BROWN (former LSU basketball Coach and a 2014 inductee to the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame)"e;This story has great characters, I felt like I knew these people. It also includes some exciting courtroom action, and an interesting murder mystery involving a basketball superstar. It's the best book I've read in a long time. I really enjoyed it!"e; MARK A. DAVIS (former NBA and Euro League player, now the C.E.O. at "e;Mark's Tutoring Basketball Skillz Academy,"e; Atlanta, GA)"e;An absolute thrill ride! As a young man travels from the picturesque Caribbean to the bayous of Louisiana in search of a bright future, he finds himself inside a nightmare instead. Paul Brown tackles the complexities that await, not only for our young hero, but also for those installed to guide him along the way. "e;Pray For Us Sinners"e; dives into the depths of these characters, to find that our young basketball star is not the only one seeking guidance. Proud to have an amazing legal thriller written by a talented new author in my hands. Prouder to call him my uncle."e;WES BROWN (actor/singer)

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Chapter 3

Usually, Sundays in Baton Rouge were very pleasant when the LSU football team won a Saturday night game in November, especially when the game had taken place in Tiger Stadium. “Death Valley” was often considered by many as the most hostile environment for visiting teams in college football. It was said to be the place “where dreams come to die.” LSU fans took their football seriously. The students also took their partying seriously, as LSU was annually listed among the nation’s top “Party Schools,” taking the top spot in the infamous “Princeton Review,” on a number of occasions. The Tiger faithful definitely knew how to party. In fact, almost everyone in town, not just those on LSU’s beautiful campus, was touched by a victory on the home field.

The Fighting Tigers had indeed won their game, yet, this Sunday was certainly unique, with the discovery of the dead girl, and Mike’s subsequent escape. The deceased had been positively identified as Rosemary Griffin, a sophomore student from Parkview Baptist High School in Baton Rouge, and one of the school’s cheerleaders. Rose, as she was known to her friends, had been a likable girl, cute, blonde, and full of energy, one of the most popular students on campus. Her death had left a noticeable veil of grief, not only over the campus, but also over the entire city and state as well. To make matters worse, the national media had descended upon the campus, and the murder had rightfully overshadowed the Tigers’ #1 ranking in the polls. Rumors were everywhere.

Luckily for heartbroken Jake, it didn’t take long for the coroner to determine that poor Mike the Tiger had been accused wrongly. The girl had clearly been sliced up with a sharp weapon of some kind, and then unceremoniously dumped into the Tiger Cage. No teeth marks, either man-made or Tiger, were to be found on Rose’s corpse. Her throat had been slashed, and she had bled to death. Numerous other slashing wounds had also been found on her body, but these, it was determined, were administered after her spirit had left her body. It appeared quite clear that someone had been awfully mad at poor little Rose.

In addition, besides the murder and their football team, the Tiger fans had something else on their minds that Sunday. Although football season was still going strong and the team was competing for another National Championship, the LSU basketball team was also revving up its engines. The annual Purple-Gold intra-squad scrimmage had been scheduled to take place on Sunday evening, following the football team’s Saturday night game. The scrimmage was to be the public’s first look at the start of a new era in LSU basketball. The previous coach who had been quite successful, had left the school for a job in the pros. Yet, he had left the nucleus of a very good team, and the fans were expecting great things from this squad. Some had even predicted that LSU would win National Championships in both football and basketball, in the same year. That feat had never been accomplished in the history of the NCAA.

The basketball Tigers were returning with two very talented seven footers, and a point guard, a true leader, who had led the nation in assists. All three were just Sophomores. In addition, the Athletic Director had persuaded the hottest young coach in the country to take over the program. Dylan Smith had been pursued by every major college program ready to make a coaching change. He had previously made a name for himself as an assistant coach in the pros, and then had experienced great success in taking over the collegiate program at nearby Southeastern Louisiana University in Hammond. In each year that he had been at Southeastern, his teams had led the nation in scoring, with an exciting brand of basketball. Smith, in his early 40s, had further delighted Tiger fans by announcing the hiring of a new chief assistant, Roderick Taylor. Taylor, a former point guard on one of LSU’s greatest teams, had been a fan favorite, and had recently completed a wonderful ten year pro career in Germany.

Taylor, a charismatic, well-known ladies man, with a soft voice and a baby face, had charmed the media at the press conference announcing his hiring, and had informed Tiger fans of some additional exciting news. On the very day that Roderick had joined the coaching staff, he had gotten a commitment from perhaps the most exciting newcomer to Division I basketball in the USA. He delighted Tiger fans by telling them that British Walker would also be joining the team in Baton Rouge.

Walker, a Jamaican by birth, had been unknown until recently. Suddenly, during international competition in Miami, the summer after his junior year in high school, he stunned coaches and spectators with his athletic ability and polished game. He was small, only 5’9”, but he was extremely gifted. Jamaica had never been known for having strong basketball programs, nor was their International Team followed closely by television cameras or the media. Very few coaches had actually been able to see British play. However, word of mouth among coaches quickly built him into a prospect that everyone wanted to see. Devoted basketball fans everywhere were waiting anxiously to see if the hoopster could possibly be as good as his advanced reputation. They also wondered if he was coming to America, and where if anyplace, he would sign to play college ball. However, after his appearance in Miami, he seemed to have disappeared before his Senior year in high school. News about this new international star had dried up. Coaches who had been interested in him could not seem to locate him.

What no one knew, was that Roderick Taylor had met British two years prior to him being seen on the International stage. On a summer vacation, Roderick had encountered the youngster in a pick up game held in an old gymnasium in Montego Bay. His game was unpolished, and although British was small, Roderick was stunned by the youngster’s speed, jumping ability and athleticism. British explained that he was supposed to be a cousin of the world’s fastest man, Usain Bolt, the world record holder in the 100 yard dash and the most famous Jamaican on the planet. Roderick mused that if true, it would explain the unbelievable athleticism possessed by the kid.

Roderick befriended the quiet, shy, young man and had promised to get him into college in the United States. He had found a family in Baton Rouge, with no affiliation to LSU, who sponsored British and agreed to help him through his Senior year of high school. After the tournament in Miami, he had moved to Baton Rouge during the summer before his Senior year. He had graduated from high school with honors, and had made a 29 on his ACT. He was now eligible to sign and play for a Division I team immediately.

During his Senior year of high school, British had played ball at a small private school he had attended in Baton Rouge, mostly under the radar. The school participated in a small division, made up of Christian schools, and few in the basketball world knew that it existed. Much to Roderick’s delight, two things had occurred. One, British had not been located by the other college coaches pursuing him. And two, British had dramatically grown to be 6’5” in height. He was no longer just the great “little” player others had seen in Miami. He was now possibly the most gifted college basketball player since Michael Jordan or Len Bias. He was ready to take the college basketball world by storm, and Roderick couldn’t wait for everyone to seem him play.

When Roderick was hired at LSU, it was an easy decision for British to decide where he wanted to go to school. He would be an LSU Tiger. He signed a scholarship with LSU as soon as he was able to do so. The other schools throughout the country who were interested in British were stunned. They wondered how LSU had found the kid, and they were shocked at how tall he had grown. Roderick knew they’d be even more surprised when British exhibited his talent during the upcoming season. Not even the schools who had seen him in Miami were ready for this new, improved, and much taller version of British Walker.

Since his retirement from pro ball in Germany, at age 35, Roderick had spent the past few months in Baton Rouge, preparing himself for his new job and helping British to get adjusted. Roderick was excited by the prospect of British being added to an already talented group of returning players, and he felt himself lucky to be given the opportunity to be coaching this group of players.

The Basketball Tigers, with a new head coach, a former star as an assistant coach, a strong group of returning players, and the most exciting new prospect in the country, were now ready to get the season started. The LSU faithful had a great deal to be excited about. Although usually poorly attended, the Purple-Gold scrimmage was expected to be a sellout.

However, the murder had shaken everyone to their core. It seemed as though every person on campus knew beautiful little Rosemary Griffin, and the discovery Sunday morning made it clear that the game had to be postponed or cancelled. There was simply no way that the game could go on mere hours after a murdered student’s body was discovered in nearby Mike the Tiger’s enclosure. The campus and the entire city of Baton Rouge was still in a state of shock and disbelief. Nevertheless, the game could not be delayed for too long a period of time. School and its activities had to move forward. Thus, after much discussion, the Athletic Director and Coach Smith made the decision to reschedule the game in three days, on Wednesday evening.

Meanwhile, across town, Captain Williams, Captain Thompson, and Detective Thibodeaux, headed a Multi Departmental...

Produkt-Details

• Erscheint lt. Verlag: 23.1.2025
• Sprache: englisch
• Themenwelt: Literatur ► Krimi / Thriller / Horror
• ISBN-13: 979-8-3509-8155-1 / 9798350981551