Nathan March Investigations - Book 1: Jaded Justice - episode 6
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Episode Six
Since this was the entire team’s last night in Manchester, Massachusetts, John, George and Sam were seated at their own table in the Inn’s dining room discussing how happy they were to be heading back to Nathan’s manor house in Vermont.
One table away, Felicia Nixon was one happy lady as she sat poised and graceful in the company of Nathan and Mickey as well as Judge Sheridan, Evelyn and Tyrone.
“I don’t want you to think I’m anxious or anything your honor, but I’ve already lined up an interview at the City Hospital in Concord,” said Felicia with her gorgeous brown eyes dancing with joy.
“Nathan and I have some great friends there who will be happy to know a wonderful candidate for Nurse Practitioner is coming their way,” said Elliot.
Evelyn Dunn was a bit quiet during dinner and it was Nathan March who bumped into her as they both exited their respective restrooms during the meal.
“Speak to me Evie, I know when something’s bothering you,” said Nathan.
“Oh Nathan, God knows I’ll be happy to get back home to Concord and my quarters there, but all that’s happened has taken so much joy away from the judge and he still has a long way to resolve his dealings with Mrs. Sheridan,” said Evelyn.
“Evie I have a feeling that very soon the judge will have a reason to smile again. He just needs to get back to work and concentrate on something other than the horrible sadness he’s been living with, these last few weeks,” said Nathan.
“You’re right of course Nathan, I’m just being silly but I can’t seem to drive this heavy feeling away. It’s worse than the day they found the judge’s sister. I just know that something’s amiss and I want you and your men to be careful too,” said Evie placing a soft kiss on his cheek, that made Nathan feel like a kid again.
When Sunday morning arrived the moving van was packed before 6:00AM and the last vehicle rode off the Manchester property by 8:00AM. The entire group gathered at a predetermined spot on the highway for a breakfast together after an hour‘s ride. When John and George led the way and Tyrone came in as the last one behind them all, heads turned noticing the very large men with their eyes darting in every direction.
After another twenty minutes on the highway, the group would arrive at the exit for Concord New Hampshire and separate with Mickey and Nathan in one car and George and John each driving their own vehicles on to Guilford, Vermont only an additional hour away.
Elliot had seen to it that his four permanent security guards in Concord would be on hand to meet Tyrone their new boss, and help empty the moving van. With Tyrone driving and the three talking about Felicia and her move to New Hampshire in three weeks after finishing up at the hospital in Manchester, the atmosphere in the car became more jubilant with each mile they put behind them.
Outside the mansion in Manchester a very upset Lincoln Aubrey also known as Lawrence Godfrey sat in his car watching the woman who had fixed a huge “For Sale” sign on the rod-iron gate with a real estate company’s logo and phone number on it. She bid goodbye to the guard in the shack outside the gate, and then headed for her car which was parked across the street.
Taking a chance he stepped outside his car and approached her. In answer to his questions she asked if he’d like to make an appointment to see the property the following week. Without making an appointment he learned that the owners had suffered a death in the family, and had decided to sell. She had no other information but the asking price for him.
When the guard in the guard shack came outside looking across the street to be sure all was alright with the female realtor, Lawrence Godfrey took his leave feeling as if the rug had been pulled out from under him. In more ways than one, he was absolutely right.
At State Police headquarters in Manchester, Detective Moynihan watched the diamond in his hand fit snugly into the gold setting that Mickey Stone had brought to him after pointing out the proof that the diamond was lost in the room at the time of Tina‘s death. The detective was intending to call the coroner’s office again about Tina Bach’s autopsy, when his computer notified him that he had an email with an attachment from the Coroner’s office. Once he finished reading the autopsy, he would forward a copy to NMI, after which his debt to Nathan March for all his help, was paid in full,.
Sam Weiss continued hacking any databases with information about Godfrey’s background without success. This morning out of the blue he decided to try the surname Anderson thinking many felons used their spouses surnames as their own. When he hit a photo with arrest information from both New Jersey, and Maryland, Sam printed it out, not positive it was the same guy as he had no photos of him to compare. If it was him, he was no one to fool with as the information Sam read, clearly indicated.
An investigation in the couple Tom and Audrey Mason who Nathan recalled told him they were from Providence, Rhode Island, revealed they didn’t have some much as a traffic ticket between them. Yet if Tom Mason was Miriam’s nephew he had to know that the man visiting the mansion as Lincoln Aubrey at the same time as he and his wife was Uncle Larry, his aunt’s former husband.
Sam also had orders to upload any documented details about the body found at Doggin’s Lake just outside Manchester the same day Tina Bach died. Like Nathan, he thought he’d find a connection, as bodies didn‘t show up two at a time in that community, accept for accidents. Hearing his email notice sound Sam quickly opened his email and then the attached file to find it was a full copy of Tina’s autopsy report, photos and all.
When it came time for the judge’s car and the large moving van to take the exit for Concord, New Hampshire, a navy blue Bentley, just like the one parked outside the restaurant where they had stopped for breakfast, immediately pulled up behind Nathan’s car.
George Lopez’s hands-free cell phone rang inside his SUV as Mickey pulled up even with it.
“Stone man what’s shaking?” asked George who was then advised that Mickey needed a license plate number off the Bentley directly behind him. as well as the driver‘s description.
Slowing down George got it. “Here’s the number Amigo, 9-2-9 Alpha, Delta, Alpha, it‘s a 2014. Driver’s a big boy. He’s gringo, black hair, wearing sunglasses that cost him at least a week’s pay, and also looks like he uses the boss man’s tailor. Do you want me to run his plate for you?” asked George.
“It’s already in the works buddy, thank you,” said Mickey.
When Mickey swung his arm over the front seat, Nathan immediately responded by asking, “We‘ve got a problem Mickey?”
“It’s the Bentley behind us. That’s the same car I spotted at the restaurant and it seems the car is registered to Creighton Detective Agency, out of Concord,” said Mickey.
“Well let’s have a talk with our fellow gumshoe,” said Nathan.
Changing lanes from the middle lane to the furthest right hand lane Mickey informed George and John he needed their help. Both vehicles moved to the middle lane, blocking any chance for the driver of the Bentley to change his mind about following Mickey off the next exit. When they came to the exit as planned all four exited the highway. At the end of the ramp they once again blocked in the Bentley, forcing him into the parking lot at the next left.
Domenic Desoto hadn’t been picked off like this for a long time, but experience taught him it was best to confront the situation honestly, so he stepped from his vehicle into the presence of two men who were young enough and big enough to pulverize him. John Barry had his hand inside Domenic’s suit coat emptying Domenic’s underarm holster of its weapon before he could react. Next George’s hand found Desoto’s wallet and handed it to Nathan who was just now getting out of his car.
“Look gentlemen I don’t want any trouble,” said Domenic.
“Mr. Desoto we seem to have had the pleasure of your company for a while now,” said Nathan, “Can you explain that to me?” he added.
“My boss keeps telling me Domenic you have got to get computer savvy. Unfortunately if I were I would know who you are already, which I don’t by the way,” said Domenic.
“I’m Nathan March and this gentleman is Mickey Stone. These two young men are from the PTA,” said Nathan with a grin watching Domenic‘s forehead crinkle with disbelief.
“You’re Nathan March the detective, well that explains my getting bagged so easily. May I compliment you on the boys here, they could scare Goliath is he was alive,” said Domenic sheepishly.
“I’d like to know why a Creighton detective is following me,” said Nathan.
“I was at the morgue late yesterday to give a positive identification of a man called Wally Finch for his wife and family. Wally was a really good detective friend of mine and he’d gone missing for nearly two weeks. By the time they found him, they had to identify him using his dental charts so it took a while. The last place he was known to be headed was to Manchester, to see his client who he’d phoned well before they found him,” Desoto added.
“Tina Bach was the client, I presume,” said Nathan.
“Yeah, that’s the lady, I read about the Memorial service for her given by her brother,” said Domenic.
“So this Wally Finch is the gentleman who was found at Doggin’s Lake, and you think he may have died a week earlier?” asked Mickey.
“Yeah, since that’s the last time we heard from him. I stayed with the body until a funeral home collected him last night, and it was too late to go to the mansion and speak with Judge Sheridan. Instead I headed over this morning just as you all were pulling out. So I followed. I lost the caravan for a while and I was thinking of giving up, when I saw the moving van from the highway and got off and waited by it at the restaurant.
Once it got back on the highway I followed the van until a teenager cut me off so I couldn’t exit with it at the Concord exit. I was waiting for my office to identify the owner of your very expensive vehicle, when you guys forced me off the next exit. I’ve told you everything I swear,” said Domenic.
“Well that’s three corpses who were all connected, said Mickey.
“Three, how did we get to three, said Domenic looking puzzled.
“Domenic since we are about an hour away from my home in Guilford, and we have sufficiently intimidated the bejeepers out of you, won‘t you accept an invitation to be my guest while we verify everything you’ve told us. I promise once we have, I’ll fill you in on what we know so far,” said Nathan.
“You bet Mr. March,” said Domenic grateful for the invitation.
Dina Perry had prepared plenty for the crew with Sam Weiss’ help. It was great to have a full table and lots of talk going back and forth, as the food disappeared off everyone’s plate.
“So you figure whoever killed this Chet Simpson probably killed Wally too?” asked Domenic.
“It’s more than possible, said Nathan.
“Look Mr. March I know I flubbed up some, but I was shaken about losing a good friend. Give me a second chance and let me work on this with you. You’ve already verified that I was a cop for thirty years, with a gold shield for fifteen of them. Wally went with me when I signed on with Creighton after taking my pension. We used to say we’d go out in blaze of glory, well the man I saw on that table in the morgue was so surprised, he couldn’t even put up a decent fight,” said Domenic.
“Well then let’s finish up here and let Sam dazzle us with all that he’s learned since we last talked,” said Nathan.
Once they descended on the den, Sam began distributing copies of all he had printed out or received by fax.
“As you can see Nathan, the autopsy on Tina revealed that she had Vicodin and some alcohol in her system in a sufficient quantity to take away any inhibitions so she could take her life, which is pretty standard for suicides I might add,” said Sam.
“The CSI team says there were no signs of foul play and the only prints that were on the gun were Tina’s and the judge’s,” said Mickey.
Taking the photo from him Nathan looked at it closely once again and then handed it to Mickey who then handed it to John and then to George.
“These autopsy photos are gruesome but the quality’s excellent. I was just wondering if she put the gun in her mouth and blew off a portion of the top and back of her head why is there evidence of the gun barrel or something round here on the right side of what remains of her face?” asked Domenic Desoto.
“Man that does looks like an indent in her skin,” said George.
“I wonder how it got there,” said John.
“It could be a cut from a ring,” said George.
“George, you are right! It’s the mark of an empty ring setting where a round diamond should have been. It means Miriam struck Tina in her face as the ladies fought sometime before Tina died,” said Nathan.
“Miriam must have struck her hand on the wall or on a piece of furniture and the diamond popped out and when she swung again the empty setting cut Ms. Bach’s face there leaving the shape of a jagged circle just like that one,” said John.
“Happily our veteran police detective saw what we all missed seeing, when we looked at the photo,” said Nathan.
“Glad to be of help,” said Domenic meaning it sincerely.
“So according to Sam here, Miriam’s maiden name was Anderson and she was married to a Lawrence Godfrey and Godfrey played the role of Lincoln Aubrey a relative of George and Cynthia Aubrey. The guy has to be a real conniver to convince the two of them he was a family member,” said Nathan.
“Here’s what Lawrence Godfrey looks like but he’s identified as Lawrence Anderson in this picture and he did time under that name for assault with a deadly weapon,” said Mickey looking at the information from Maryland with his police photo attached.
“It’s the guy who also played Lincoln Aubrey alright,” said Nathan.
“Why did he chose to come here and play a relative of the Aubrey’s?” asked George.
“That’s easy he wanted to stick close to his ex-wife for some reason, maybe to renew their relationship without the judge knowing. She is a good looking lady,” said Mickey.
Well from this information from Maryland and New Jersey the guy did some beating on his wife regularly so why would Miriam want him around. Seriously look at how many domestic abuse calls came in,” said John Barry.
“Nothing’s under his real name so I can’t think of why he was using his wife’s maiden name, as his last name” said Sam.
“Obviously he was carrying identification as Larry Anderson each time he was picked up and charged so he went with it each time, leaving his real name free from any criminal record.
“That leads back to Tina and the blackmail money she forced out of Miriam to keep quite. Originally she was blackmailing Miriam over the affairs that Miriam was having with the judge’s law clerks. She finally hired a private detective to check on Miriam further hoping he’d find something that would earn her one very large payment to get her back on her feet.
She knew she had scored when her detective learned that Lincoln Aubrey was Lawrence Godfrey, Miriam’s first husband so that Miriam could be divorced by the judge for still carrying on with Godfrey right under his nose. Add that to the court testimony from those law clerks she also cheated with, and it’s certain that the judge could be divorced without paying Miriam a cent in alimony,” said Sam.
“That’s why Wally got killed, he found out all that information and got it to the Bach woman didn’t he Mr. March?” asked Domenic Desoto.
“That was his plan I’m sure, but I’m thinking Wally Finch was waiting to meet with Tina out at Doggin’s Lake not knowing she and Miriam were in a fight. Whoever actually killed Wally took the proof and Tina’s suicide ended the threat of any of it coming out,” said Nathan.
“So it was Miriam who found out about Wally and killed him beforehand,” said Dominic.
“Or Lawrence Godfrey did, we just don’t know for sure yet,” said Nathan.
“For sure Miriam didn’t want our agency helping the judge in any way. Young Chet Simpson must have met Miriam while visiting his father at the judge’s summer home. Then she introduced him to her ex-husband who paid him to use his new job here at the Manor house to do the nasty things he did here to frighten us off the case,” said Mickey.
“So Lawrence Godfrey is responsible for all of it,” said Domenic.
“Maybe but he had nothing to do with Tina Bach’s death. She did kill herself, of that I’m sure.” said Nathan.
The body of Ursula Mills, recently employed as the companion of an elderly lady, was discovered in a field behind the home of her employer, by a jogger who at first thought she had fallen asleep on her side in the grass and only on turning her onto her back did he realize she had a bullet wound.
When Mickey Stone hung up the phone, anyone could tell he’d received some very bad news.
Nathan turned to his assistant as he asked, “What is it Mickey?” since he knew it was Moynihan who had called.
“Detective Moynihan is working another homicide, this time it’s young Ursula Mills. You remember she used to work for the Sheridans,” said Mickey trying to stay focused but unable to believe the mounting body count in this case.
With Detective Moynihan’s permission, Domenic Desoto, drove the hundred miles like a mad man to get back to Manchester, in order to observe the Mill’s crime scene. His input and suggestions to the CSIs were noted by the Medical Examiner, who had no doubt that this retired cop’s observations about the conditions at the crime scene and the caliber of the bullet used, would all be proven correct later.
Across town Ursula’s bedroom at her parent’s home was also being searched thoroughly by Moynihan’s people, looking for anything that would give them an idea of her activities over the last few days.
Mr. and Mrs. Mills were in no condition to add anything more to their interrogation. They simply sat in stunned silence, trying to make sense of what happened. Their daughter had been missing for under forty-eight hours and therefore they were not permitted to file a missing person’s report. Within minutes of returning home from the police station, the police arrived asking them if they could identify a photo taken at the scene. There was no doubt that it was their Ursula.
Detective Daniel Moynihan was inside the home of Ursula’s new employer an elderly lady who was beside herself at the loss of such a sweet companion, and seriously troubled by the fact that her murder took place so close by.
“Mrs. White did Ursula seem stressed or preoccupied the last day she came to be with you?” asked the detective.
“Well, let me see,” said Mrs. White. “You know she seemed very excited and asked if she could leave just a few minutes early, that night. She said she had a very important appointment. I was young once and understand young love so I told her that it would be fine, after all her being in my life for the last few weeks was like having my own ray of sunshine,” said Mrs. White blotting her tears with Kleenex, as she sat in her wheelchair.
“Is there anyone we should call for you?” asked the detective.
“Unfortunately there is no one to call,” said Mrs. White looking lonely and frightened.
“Thank you for all your help, Mrs. White and again I apologize if we frightened you in any way,” said the detective.
“Detective, there is something I almost forgot. Ursula left an envelope with me, she said for “safekeeping.” said Mrs. White as she produced a sealed manila envelope from a drawer in her kitchen and handed it to him.
“Would you give it to her parents for me, and extend my condolences?” asked Mrs. White.
“I most certainly will,” said Detective Moynihan, as he opened the door for Domenic Desoto who was carrying a chicken salad sandwich, and a strawberry shake both in Styrofoam containers.
“This is for the lady of the house, and I happen to know there’s a brownie in this bag, but it’s for desert, so no eating it first,” he said placing a gentle kiss, on Mrs. White’s forehead.
The smile on the old woman’s face was all Domenic needed against the very cold events that had harmed some very good people, during this very warm summer in Manchester.
Placing a straw in the strawberry milkshake Domenic settled Mrs. White at her kitchen table with silverware and a napkin within her reach, as he and Moynihan said goodbye.
Outside on the cement walkway they stood as Detective Moynihan opened the manila envelope left by Ursula Mills with Mrs. White for safekeeping. His expression made Domenic stop and look over the detective’s shoulder at the source of Moynihan’s puzzled look.
“That’s Wally’s handwriting on that note,” said Domenic Desoto, “I’d know it anywhere.”
“These documents look like they contain the same information Nathan‘s man located on the internet and emailed to me. You know about the Godfrey marriage and their divorce some years after Miriam began living with the judge. Why would Ursula Mills have these and what was she going to do with them?” pondered Detective Moynihan out loud.
“She left them here for safekeeping the day she went missing, according to Mrs. White. If she contacted Miriam Sheridan with a blackmail scheme of her own, and Miriam told her ex-husband, that could be the motive behind Ursula’s death and link everything back to Godfrey,” said Domenic Desoto.
“It most certainly would, because it would be urgent for him to retrieve the information before anyone else could use it,” said Detective Moynihan.
“I hate to say it out loud Moynihan, but when all the information is put together, you are going to have to admit you’ve got a homicidal manic loose in your city,” said Domenic Desoto to a very discouraged Detective Daniel Moynihan.
“Care to accompany me to the judge’s house in Concord?” asked Moynihan of his new sidekick.
“Your car or mine,” said Domenic with a grin.
“Let’s park yours at the station and I’ll drive,” said Detective Moynihan.
“Yeah, but first we need to call March, as he’s going to need to hear what we just discovered about Ursula having this information,” said Domenic.
“While you’re at it let’s see if Mr. March wants to confirm the news to the judge about Godfrey and the judge’s wife,” said Detective Moynihan.
“Good idea, meanwhile can we get someone to stay with Mrs. White, I’m worried Mr. Godfrey might decide to visit her to take a look around,” said Domenic.
“Damn, I never gave that a thought, let me get someone posted here at least for the night,” said Moynihan dialing the local police.
Dr. Rachel Martin had finished her hospital rounds and headed home for some leftovers and a long hot soak in her tub. Before she pulled out of the parking garage her cell phone rang and seeing the phone number she answered happily. “Dr. Rachel Martin here your honor,” she said smiling as she spoke.
“I intend to hold you in contempt of court young lady, if you don’t consent to keep company with a very discouraged soon to be divorced middle aged man,” said Elliot Sheridan sounding like a man in love.
“Will that include some kissing?” she asked.
“It will indeed,” said the judge.
“Will you settle for some tender hugs,” Rachel asked.
“If you insist,” answered the judge.
“In order for the both of us to know each other, I do insist,” she said.
“I understand” said the judge smiling at how young she made him feel right now.
“Can you tell me when to expect you,” Rachel asked with growing anticipation.
“In precisely two and one half hours, I intend to make a very lawful entry at your Concord address, said the judge.
“Oh your honor, you can’t know how much I’m looking forward to that,” said Rachel.
“See you at eight,” said Elliot Sheridan feeling more alive than he had since the last time he’d sat beside her sharing his life’s story.
“Take care darling,” said Rachel and then they both hung up.