The End of Emerald Woods — David J. Walker

John Michael Hurley, an unscrupulous commercial real estate developer, wants to turn pristine Emerald Woods, in Miracle City south of Chicago, into a megamall. Eudora Ragsdale, a former public housing resident in Chicago, joins with others in Miracle City to form CREW (Committee to Rescue Emerald Woods). As CREW's treasurer, Eudora finds herself in big trouble when someone steals cash raised to benefit CREW from her home. Alerted to the theft, husband-and-wife team Dugan and Kirsten of the Wild Onion private investigative firm head for Miracle City on what they think will be a routine case. The local cops, Chief Frawley and Officer Galboa, don't welcome them with open arms, but at least they don't escort Kirsten and Dugan out of town. Instead, they direct the duo to the house of Mama Dee, Eudora's best friend and probably the wisest woman in Kankakee County. There, Kirsten and Dugan are almost burned to death after discovering a dead body.