Stories behind the story

where the cops came from

There are two major characters in The Book of Answers who are police officers.

As a “reluctant sleuth” with no official role, Tom would have no access to information about the progress of the investigation. He needed “unofficial” access, so he needed cop friends.

An earlier plan for the book only had one cop in it, the retired undercover officer who runs a sandwich shop, and is the chair of the property committee at Saint Mungo’s Church.

Michael Powers:

Michael is modeled, in terms of his speech patterns and physique, after a now retired police sergeant I came to know after I did his father's funeral. He joined my congregation, and I performed his wedding, and his mother's funeral.

Michael is named for the Archangel who some police officers see as their "patron" or guardian saint/angel. I remember seeing a police challenge coin from New Orleans that featured the Archangel Michael on the obverse.

When I realized I wanted Michael to be more mystical, and mysterious, and take the role of Tom's "guardian angel", I knew Tom needed another “cop friend”.

That’s when Lawrence came along.

Detective Sergeant Lawrence Kitchen:

His name is a quiet nod to Brother Lawrence, the 17th century French monk who famously said even washing pots in the kitchen could be prayer. His thoughts were collected in a book with the English title “The Practice of the Presence of God”.

I wrote Lawrence as a quiet, observant contemplative, and I want him to show up in more of the stories about Tom. I have to think about how to do that, since Lawrence works for the Halton Regional Police based in Oakville, and in the sequel I am working on, Tom has moved to another community. (It’s not uncommon for officers to be seconded to other police services, so there are possibilities.)

One reader told me this week she wasn’t sure if she was going to like Lawrence, partly because he’s introduced so “late” in the story, and ends up having a pivotal role. (Turns out she did.)

In terms of his physical appearance and manner, Lawrence is based on an old friend who was for many years a university chaplain, which allowed him to develop as an academic, as well as a pastor.

Lawrence is divorced, and rarely gets to see his daughter. His life loosely parallels Tom’s. Tom is a grieving widower whose daughter studies in another country.

Lawrence is not your typical homicide cop. He thinks like a psychologist, or maybe even a pastor. He tries to understand why people behave as they do. He was highly influenced by his history teacher, Jean Book, (Tom’s mother) who taught her students to dig for the story under the story.

(The Story Under the Story was an alternative name for the novel.)

Lawrence noticed that Tom is not your typical pastor, and remarked that he seems to have started thinking like a cop. That was the moment they moved towards the unofficial partnership these kind of mystery stories require. The reluctant sleuth and the official investigator need something deeper to bond them than the requirements of the current “case”.