OLD MAN MALONE RETURNS

by Marianne Spitzer

  “It’s unanimous, you’re hired,” Kellie lifted her hands palms up.

  Claude’s grin spread from ear to ear. “Oh, thank you. I could start today, if you need me.”

  “I think you should take whatever time you need to grieve. I’m sure there will be a funeral for Austern.”

  “Cremation and a simple Memorial service is all he ever wanted. We have a very small family,” Claude’s eyes dropped to the floor.

  “He was part of our family. We’ll attend if that’s acceptable.” Kellie looked around the room and the others nodded again.

  “Of course. I will let you know the details when they are final.” He looked directly at Kellie, a tear betrayed him again.

  Kellie fought back tears and tried to smile to ease Claude’s tension.

  “Do you plan to live in?”

  “Yes, if that’s acceptable.” Claude’s smile returned.

  “Austern’s apartment hasn’t been cleaned out. I wasn’t sure what to do with his things. I could box them up and get it ready for you.” Kellie ran her hands over her knees as she spoke.

  “Please, it would be my honor to go through my cousin’s things.”

  “Sure, if you would like.” Drew showed him to Austern’s room. When he returned to the parlor, he saw Kellie on the phone.

  She placed her elbow on the arm of the sofa. Her long blonde hair fell into her face. “Hi, Uncle Mike, are you at work? Are you able to check someone out for me? Austern’s cousin, Claude Austern. He stopped by today asking to take Austern’s place and work for me. He seems nice, and I’d like to hire him. Could you run a background check and if it comes back clean I’ll be less apprehensive. Okay, I’ll talk to you then.”

  She looked up, brushed her hair out of her eyes, and said, “He’ll check him out and call back shortly.”

  Chapter Twenty-four

  Kellie and Drew were chatting when Claude returned to the parlor and addressed Kellie, “Excuse me, miss, but I’m needed at the police station to answer some questions concerning Austern’s death. I am not sure when I will be able to return.”

  She stood and took Claude’s hand. “I’m sure discussing this situation with the police will be stressful. You go home and rest after your interview and come back tomorrow or when you feel up to it.”

  “Thank you for understanding. I will finish Austern’s room when I return. I will call you when I am able.” He bowed slightly and left.

  “That’s weird, why would your Uncle Mike want to see him now when he’s running background checks on him. Maybe he found something strange,” Drew said raising her eyebrows.

  “It could be another officer that called him. Uncle Mike doesn’t do all the work.” She pulled her cell from her jeans pocket and dialed her Uncle Mike’s phone.

  “Uncle Mike, why are you interviewing Claude? We all like him. I hope he isn’t a criminal.”

  “Kellie, we interview everyone who knew the victim. You and all your friends will be interviewed. My investigation is in its early stages. I don’t have any negative information that will affect your hiring him, but I need to interview him concerning the death of Austern.”

  “You said victim? Wasn’t it an accident?” Kellie pressed her index finger into her lower lip.

  “The coroner is gathering facts. I don’t have any news for you. I need to get back to work.”

  “Okay, Uncle Mike. Sorry. I love you.”

  “You, too.” He hung up and Kellie sat on the sofa and pouted.

  “Oh dear, did he scold you? I know that look,” said Taylor.

  “He said interviewing Claude was normal police work. He made me feel as if I was intruding.”

  Drew said, “Maybe you are. If Austern was pushed, maybe it was Claude.”

  “Really, you think it was Claude?” Kellie lifted her eyebrows at Drew’s suggestion.

  “Working here would be better than waiting tables. Maybe…”

  “You’re serious. You think he killed him for a job? Let’s wait to see what Uncle Mike has to say. If he thinks Austern was pushed, he’ll check out Claude’s alibi.”

  “If he has one,” he raised one eye brow and looked at Kellie.

  She glared back at him.

  “We never did go shopping.”

  “Yeah, but let’s go back to Coopers for a late lunch, and we can order pizza later. I’m too tired to shop,” Drew complained.

  ########

  After unpacking the few things they picked up after lunch, Kellie called her Uncle Mike. She had been mulling over Drew’s suggestion that Claude was Austern’s killer. Tired of the constant mysteries, she needed answers. Detective Stellion’s cell went straight to voice mail. She sighed, “Hi Uncle Mike, I’m calling to see if you have any news about Austern. Hope to talk to you soon.” Kellie pushed her phone back into her jeans pocket.

  She turned to walk to the kitchen when the doorbell chimed. She thought; guess I’m the butler this time. Her Uncle Mike stood on the porch. “Uncle Mike, come on in. It’s really cold out there.” She hurried him into the parlor to warm up by the fire.

  “Is anything wrong? I didn’t expect you to stop by.”

  “I was on my way home, and thought I would bring you the news personally.”

  “News?”

  “Yes, about Austern. Is everyone home?”

  “Please sit down, and I’ll get them.” Kellie hurried through the house to let everyone know that her Uncle Mike was there. Within a few minutes, they had all gathered to hear his news.

  “The coroner can’t be certain if Austern’s death was intentional or not. Therefore, his has ruled it as ‘suspicious.’ There are some odd facts that led him to that decision. He said there isn’t any positive evidence that he was pushed although the cause of death is a broken neck. Dr. Webster said the bruising was more consistent with someone that was pushed from behind and flew forward missing the first few steps before hitting the staircase and tumbling down compared to someone falling from the top and trying to break their fall on the way down. However, he can’t be positive either way.”

  “Then we’ll never know the truth, Uncle Mike.”

  Mike stood, strode to the window and turned to face them. He dropped his arms to his side, flayed his fingers and raised his hands up again. Exhaling loudly, he inhaled and continued. “The thing is, there’s an odd fact Dr. Webster can’t explain. I understand, I think, but can’t tell him. He’d have me committed.”

  “Oh no, what is it?” Taylor’s eyes were wide in fear.

  “On Austern’s back, there are ten marks that would match a set of hands which could have pushed him.”

  “Then he was murdered?”

  “Wait, there’s more. Dr. Webster said the tissue around the wounds appears to have been burned and then healed. At first he was going to disregard them because they appear to have occurred a week or more ago. What he can’t explain is that they are healing and fading on his body. That doesn’t happen. What about your scar, Kellie? Is it fading?”

  Kellie pushed back the long sleeve of the shirt she wore intentionally so she didn’t have to look at the scar. Her eyes widened and her voice escaped her. She held out her arm. The scar was nearly gone.

  Mike looked at her arm and said, “That doesn’t happen either.”

  “Oh my God, Uncle Mike, the old man pushed Austern down the stairs. We all know it. He murdered him, but you can’t prove it. How can you accuse a dead man?” She dropped her head into her hands and cried.

  Drew said, “We all know the truth. What are you going to do?”

  “Let the coroner’s report stand. Claude Austern was in Florida visiting his sister when Austern was killed. He caught the first flight back when the authorities informed him of the death. He also has a clean record. I see no reason why he shouldn’t work for you.”

  “That’s a relief. Drew thought Claude might have killed him for his job.”

  Mike looked at Drew and shook his head. “You have a wild imagination. Before I can settle this
in my mind, I’d like to see this room you talked about.”

  Taylor refused to go near the room. Andrea stayed in the parlor huddled on the sofa. Hunter and Drew escorted Mike into the room. Kellie stood at the door watching.

  Mike commented, “It feels cold and uncomfortable in this room as if we shouldn’t be here.” He rubbed his arms with his hands.

  Kellie’s cell rang. “Hello, oh that’s great. Thanks, bye Claudia.”

  Drew scowled at her. “Don’t tell me she knows we’re in here and has the perfect potion to make this place feel less creepy.” He threw his hands up into the air.

  “That’s exactly right. She’s busy, but she’s sending a messenger with a potion that will clear this room and the entire house from any residual evil. Our lives can return to normal.”

  “That woman is spooky, maybe we should worry about her,” Drew mumbled.

  Mike said, “Let’s get out of here.” Returning to the parlor, they felt more comfortable.

  Mike left telling them to be careful even if it appears everyone associated with their problems and Ken Spencer’s murder is out of the picture.

  Claudia’s messenger arrived, and the friends placed the small jar she had sent into the secret room. A spicy aroma began to fill the air. The black soot that covered the walls and floor slowly began to disappear before their eyes. They instantly felt the room warm. None of them could sense any remnants of the evil that had inhabited the room.

  Hunter said, “That potion may work, but before we move back into the apartment, I’m getting some two by fours and drywall to make a solid wall. I’m sealing that secret door permanently.” Taylor agreed completely. Drew promised to help him the next evening after work. Kellie sighed, she was happy this mystery was behind her.

  Chapter Twenty-five

  Monday morning brought chaos to the mansion. Everyone was rushing to get ready and hurried downstairs only to find the dining room empty. The fact they had to fend for themselves hit them. Without a cook, there was no warm breakfast or hot coffee. Drew made a pot of coffee, Kellie and Taylor looked for cold cereal while Andrea found spoons and bowls. Mumbling he needed coffee to function, Hunter couldn’t find the milk.

  Kellie checked and said, “That’s because we’re out of milk.”

  Taylor placed the cold cereal back into the cabinet. They ate instant oatmeal made without added milk. Hunter despised oatmeal. He had toast with grape jelly.

  “This is good, like when I was a kid.” Taylor grabbed the jelly jar before he could empty the jar onto another piece of toast.

  “Maybe it tastes good, but I think you’ve had enough jelly for one day.”

  “Wives are worse than mothers,” Hunter mumbled as he ate his last bite of toast.

  Drew choked on his coffee as he began to laugh.

  Kellie said, “We should have gone shopping. Tonight when we’re all home, we’ll head out. If we divide the list, it won’t take that long.”

  The doorbell chimed as they were finishing breakfast. Drew answered and found Claude standing on the front porch. He invited him in and they walked to the kitchen.

  “Good morning, everyone,” said Claude giving each a broad smile.

  “I’m happy to see you,” Kellie said. “Are you coming to work for us, I hope?”

  “That’s why I stopped by. Detective Stellion told me I was cleared of any involvement in Austern’s death, and I hope that meant I could be employed here.”

  “Yes, you are as of this minute, if you want.”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  Kellie spotted the long grocery list on the refrigerator. “How are you at grocery shopping?”

  “I’m a pro. If you’ll allow me to tell Mrs. Krakowski that she has a job as cook, we’ll do the shopping. We’ll also have dinner prepared when you arrive home.”

  “I’ll take your word on Mrs. Krakowski and you might need this.” She wrote out a check to cover groceries and whatever he thought the house needed. “Do you have a vehicle? Austern’s is in the garage, if you need it. I’m sure he wouldn’t have minded.”

  “Thank you, I have my own vehicle, and we call Mrs. Krakowski, ‘Mrs. K.’”.

  “Okay, we’ll see you tonight.” They all waved as they left Claude in charge of the house. “Oh,” Kellie said as she pulled out a kitchen drawer, “Here’s a set of keys to the house and garage. You’ll need them.” She rushed to catch up with the others.

  The heated garage was a blessing on a cold morning. Kellie pulled out and let her car warm a bit more while she placed a call to her Uncle Mike. She left him a message asking if he thought it was safe to hire Mrs. K.

  ########

  Hunter was busy at his desk working on clients’ receipts and last minute charitable donations. He hated this time of year. Many of his accounting clients made last minute donations and purchases that affected their tax returns, and he had to go through them all before he could start their returns. He was hard at work when he heard a friendly, aged voice call his name. He turned to see the owner, Mr. Crownton, standing in the doorway of his office.

  “Good morning, sir. Please come in and have a seat. Can I offer you something?”

  “No, my boy, they have fussed over me before I came in here to hide.”

  Mr. Crownton was close to ninety and only came to the office a few times a year. His son and grandson ran the business, but he held the reins. He and Hunter got along well and he would always say he needed to hide in Hunter’s office for a bit of quiet. What he truly wanted to do was have a nice chat.

  “How’s that lovely bride of yours?” The elderly man ginned at Hunter.

  “Taylor is doing well, sir, thanks for asking.”

  “She was a knockout at your wedding. You’re a lucky man.”

  “Thank you.” Hunter smiled at one of the nicest men he had ever known.

  They spoke about work for a while when an idea hit Hunter. “Sir, may I ask you a question?”

  “Certainly, my boy.”

  “My best friend, Drew, married Frederick Malone’s granddaughter. It has come to our attention that at some time Mr. Malone was in business with a Mr. Morgan. I thought perhaps you knew them. We don’t have many details about their business.” Hunter placed his hands on his desk and looked directly into Mr. Crownton’s eyes.

  Mr. Crownton interlaced his aged fingers, and looked at Hunter.

  “Those two were scoundrels, and everyone knew it. Both worked for their fathers in their family businesses, but they branched out on the side to form their own company. Morgan and Malone, Inc., I believe it was, but it was a front. Morgan was about ten years Malone’s senior, and needed a younger man without ties to do his dirty work. There was talk of a prostitution ring which brought in quite a bit of money. No one knew exactly where it was, but we all believed it must have been in a larger city. It’s too quiet around here, and they certainly couldn’t make much money. It was always suggested much of their money was filtered through the corporation which led to their increased wealth. One more thing, rumor had it they were involved in a larger illegal business, which brought in a great deal of money, but I never heard much about the details. Then Malone got married, and settled into his father’s business full-time. I think that was the end of Morgan and Malone.” The elderly gentleman took a deep breath and sat back.

  “Thank you, sir. That was more information than I expected.”

  “I hadn’t thought about them in years. Crooks, both of them.” He shook his finger at Hunter. “I’ve heard his granddaughter is a decent person.”

  “Yes, she is. My wife and I are living in a wing of her mansion while we make plans to buy a home.”

  “Smart move, son,” the elderly man nodded. “Saving money is always the best thing to do.” He smiled at Hunter.

  He lifted his aged frame out of the chair, and Hunter met him at the edge of his desk. They shook hands and Mr. Crownton slapped Hunter on the back. “Take care, son.”

  “You, too, sir. Nice to see you again.” He
smiled at Hunter as he walked out into the main office.

  Hunter quickly dialed Drew’s work number planning on leaving a message about his discussion with Mr. Crownton. Being between appointments, Drew answered. They discussed Mr. Crownton’s visit and Hunter explained what he had learned.

  “Another mystery. Kellie isn’t going to be happy at all. Once we settled Austern’s death, I was hoping things would quiet down. I’m getting sick of this.” Drew doubled his fist.

  “I would tell you not to tell her, but you know she’s going to investigate that logo on her arm and she’ll learn about Morgan and Malone. It might be better if she knows, and maybe she’ll be satisfied and leave it be.”

  “Are we talking about the same woman? She won’t be happy until she knows every little detail. I see another investigation in our future. I hope this one doesn’t involve the walking dead.”

  Hunter laughed and said, “Agreed. I’ll see you at dinner.”

  Drew slammed his desk phone into its cradle, dropped his head to his desk and prayed this wouldn’t become another frightful mystery. He felt a headache coming on when he heard a young voice, “Mr. Adamson, are you okay?” His appointment was there. “Sure am, Dylan, come on in.”

  ########

  Kellie hurried out of her last class and headed for her SUV. She checked her voice mail and heard her Uncle Mike’s voice. Mrs. K. was a widow and worked at the diner after working for the late Mrs. Morgan for years. Her record was clean. There was nothing to indicate a problem with her employment. Kellie sighed in relief.

  The aroma of chicken baking greeted Kellie when she walked into the house. Claude was there immediately to help her with her coat. He made the introductions between Mrs. K. and Kellie. Mrs. K. was tall and thin. Wisps of gray hair could be seen in her dark blonde hair pulled back neatly into a bun. Her smile was warm and her brown eyes lit up when Kellie welcomed her to the mansion.

  “One moment, Miss Kellie. I have something for you.” Claude handed Kellie a legal size envelope. “This was delivered via private messenger early this afternoon.”