Speed Trap
Page 19
I hope you enjoyed Speed Trap. I wanted to take a moment to thank many of the people who helped me research this story. First off, I’d like to thank Madelon and Lowell for making me so welcome when I visited the town of Council Grove, Kansas, my inspiration for Timber Wells. They treated me better than royalty—they treated me like family.
Council Grove is a wonderfully historic town overflowing with kind and generous people. If you’re ever traveling through Kansas, be sure to stop in. I’d also like to thank the sheriff and police chief who kindly allowed me to visit their offices and ask a million questions. Everyone on their staff was wonderful to me. I make no claims to procedural accuracy in Speed Trap. I’m a fiction writer, not a law enforcement professional. I’ve never even been arrested. Any mistakes in the story are my own.
By the way, the very sweet woman who works as a dispatcher there in no way influenced my choice of villains. I had that idea before I met her.
May the Lord bless and keep everyone in Council Grove and all those of you who are reading this letter.
Yours in Christ,
QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION
Mandy allowed previous experiences to color her perception of Garrett’s ability to be a parent. Was it fair of her to do so?
Garrett hid the emotional scars of his upbringing by keeping the closet locked. How do we hide our own emotional scars? How does our faith help us cope with a painful life?
How was Colin a catalyst for change in both Garrett’s and Mandy’s lives?
It is never fully explained why Judy didn’t tell Garrett he had a son. Why do you feel she kept silent?
Mandy was worried Social Services would not adequately investigate Garrett during the home visit. Was her concern justified?
The media often reports stories about the failure of child welfare organizations. What can we do to make sure children are protected?
Mandy felt her career in law enforcement had hindered her ability to be a spouse and a parent. Do you feel that is true of many law enforcement officials?
Why was it hard for Mandy to admit she was falling for Garrett?
Garrett found it hard to envision God as a loving father because his own father had been abusive. What changed his mind?
When Garrett and Mandy worked together to save a sick calf, how did that change their relationship?
Ina was portrayed as a crusty old rancher, but what was her real role in this story?
Garrett withdrew from Mandy when she discovered his painful secret. Why do you think he did so when he’d been on the verge of telling her himself?
When evidence pointed toward Garrett’s involvement in the drug ring, Mandy didn’t believe it. She had faith in his innocence. Have you or someone you know been put into a similar position? Was your faith in them justified?
Donna had been a trusted member of Mandy’s team for months, which made her betrayal of them all the more painful. Has someone you trusted betrayed that trust? How did you deal with the situation?
Ken’s younger brother had become involved with drugs. Drugs and alcohol abuse are epidemic in our society. How does our faith equip us to deal with these issues?
ISBN: 978-1-4268-3853-8
SPEED TRAP
Copyright © 2009 by Patricia MacDonald
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