Who Killed Donny Brinkman? — Lee Wardlow

Severe, Ohio is like any other small town. It has its secrets. Men, like the small town of Severe have their secrets too. Secrets that can destroy lives. Break up marriages and get people killed. Six years ago, at Marty Hanson's house, Greer Baird Steward was nearly raped by several men in the bedroom at the top of the stairs. A lot of things happened that night and a lot of things didn't happen but everyone thought it did. As far as Greer remembered, Donny Brinkman was all she knew of the men in that room. It was dark. He straddled her body blocking her view of the others and she was drunk. Six of the Steward brothers rescued her. Everything happened so fast most of them didn't even pay attention as to who exactly was in that room except Brodie Steward. He knew each of their faces. Once a long time ago, he had been friends with them. He threatened to kill them if they ever told a soul what happened that night. He was trying to protect Greer. He repeated that threat to Donny Brinkman last, New Year's Eve when he approached Greer to apologize to her. On a cold, winter night, six years later, Donny is shot in the back and left in the snow, to die alone. As he stared up at the starry night, possibly contemplating his short life, was he filled with regrets? His best friend, Benny finds him the next morning and implicates Brodie. Secrets begin to unravel many lives as the men in that room plus the Stewards are all brought in for questioning. One man's murder affects everyone's life in many, unusual ways. Greer Baird Steward, Pete Garett, Benny Jones, Brodie Steward, Hank Johnson and Marty Hanson each find out things about Donny Brinkman they never knew while one man will deny any culpability. They learn about the games Donny liked to play. How he played with their emotions and now they must come to terms with what happened six years ago. They either take control of their lives or Donny wins from the grave. Not intended for anyone under the age of 18. Some sexual content. Some violence.