Murder in San Francisco

by Dianne Harman

  “You might not be quite so willing once you hear what it is.”

  “I’ll bite. Try me.”

  “You told me the day we had lunch at Gertie’s Diner that you had been involved in the attempt to solve several murders, and that you’d been successful. I know this isn’t a murder investigation yet, and believe me, no one hopes more than me that it doesn’t become one, but if it’s determined that it is, I want to be prepared. I guess that’s the wrong way to put it. After Walter called this morning, I made a list of people I thought might be considered suspects if Bernie was murdered. It seems to me if you could find a little something out about them before Bernie’s body is exhumed, and I’m possibly charged with murder, we would be way ahead of the police. Please, Liz, can you help me by doing that?”

  Liz looked over at Roger who made the smallest of nods with his head indicating that it was all right with him. She turned and looked at Michelle. “I’d be happy to help you if I can. I won’t promise anything, and I’m not a professional, but I’ve been lucky in the past, and if it comes to that, maybe I’ll get lucky again.”

  CHAPTER 14

  After agreeing to help Michelle, Liz said, “Let me see the list of suspects you’ve prepared.”

  “These three names are just people that Bernie and I talked about over the years,” Michelle said, showing her the piece of paper she’d written the names on. “There may be a lot of others, and who knows, it could have been a random thing, although from what the police told me and from what I saw, nothing was taken from either Bernie or his condo, and he had a lot of things that were quite valuable. He always wore a large diamond ring and his one luxury in life, as he called it, was to buy a new Rolex watch each year. Both of those were on him when I discovered his body.”

  “Maybe before we get to the suspects, we should talk about some of the valuable things in his home,” Walter said. “I know he collected wine. What about art, things of that nature?”

  Michelle nodded at Walter. “He had a man who advised him regarding his wine collection. As you know, Walter, he bought a condominium on the floor below his penthouse so he could store his wines in different rooms at the perfect temperature required for each type of wine. I’ve not been in his wine collection area since he died, so I have no idea if it’s still intact.”

  “Liz, since you’re going to be doing the legwork on this part of Michelle’s problem, let me give you the key to his condominium,” Walter said. “I think Roger’s time should be spent working up a legal defense if it’s needed, and I’m going to be involved doing the work up to petition the court for an increased family allowance and trying to make sure that Michelle’s life is as stress free as possible.” He gazed affectionately at Michelle, who responded with a radiant smile.

  If I were a gambling person, I’d bet everything I own that Walter has far more than a business interest in Michelle, and from the way she’s looking at him, I think the feeling is mutual. What a strange turn of events, Liz thought.

  “Bernie had a lot of art, and I mean really good expensive art in his condo, but it was all there the night he died,” Michelle continued. “I was familiar with what was on the walls and displayed on various different tables, and I don’t remember seeing anything that was missing, but then again, I was in a pretty emotional state of mind, so I could have missed something.”

  Liz interjected, “Michelle, I hate to ask this of you, but are you up to taking a look at his condo to see if something is missing? Maybe it was a jealous collector, or an art dealer who resented his collection. I know I’m reaching for straws here, but we have to start somewhere.”

  “I think that’s a good idea,” Walter added. “Since the police haven’t ruled that Bernie’s death was a murder, I doubt that anyone has gone through his things. Actually, Liz, forget about the key. I told the attorney for the estate that I’d get Michelle’s key to the condo back from her and give it to him tomorrow, so I think we need to go there tonight. Would that be all right with all of you?” He looked at them and each of them nodded.

  “I only have a couple of names on my list, but here goes,” Michelle said. “The first one is Larry Spitzer. I’ve told Liz about him and here’s the little I know about him as related to me by Bernie,” she said as she told them what she’d told Liz earlier that morning. “The second one on the list is his daughter, Joni. Again, I’ve never met her, and I don’t know all that much about her, but here’s what I do know.” She proceeded to tell the other three what she knew about Bernie’s younger child.

  “Liz,” Roger said, “You and Sean, the firm’s private investigator, have a great relationship. I think you should call him first thing in the morning and see what he can find out. The first thing anyone involved in a homicide investigation looks at is who has the most to gain from the murder, and since Larry and Joni are his children and heirs to his estate, I would definitely start there. Given the fact that before Michelle became pregnant with the twins, their combined inheritance amounted to a whopping three hundred million dollars. I’d say they had a lot to gain by Bernie’s death.”

  “I will. Sean’s fabulous,” Liz said as she turned to Michelle. “I’ve never been able to figure out how he does it, but he finds out things no one could possibly know. I definitely want to talk to him.”

  With an uncomfortable look on her face, Michelle spoke up and said, “Roger, you said the first thing anyone looks at is who has the most to gain, so let’s not hide it. Now that I’m pregnant, my future born children, and indirectly me, have a lot to gain from Bernie’s death. That makes me think I would be looked at very closely, isn’t that right?”

  Roger looked directly at Michelle and said, “Yes, unfortunately, you will be looked at, and very closely. I was going to tell Liz later that she should also ask Sean to do some research on you, and here’s why. There is nothing worse for a criminal defense attorney than when his client withholds information from him. I’m not saying you have or would withhold anything from me, but I want to have the same information about you that the law enforcement authorities have. I hope you understand this is not personal, this is simply part of any defense attorney’s work-up on a case. Please don’t take offense.”

  “None taken, Roger. I understand, and believe me, no one wants my name cleared more than me.” Michelle jutted her chin out. “I will tell you that even though I’ve been married three times, was shifted from one foster home to another, and did a fair amount of defending my honor from overzealous foster fathers and uncles, as they liked to be called, there is nothing in my past that I’m ashamed of. You’ll find there’s no criminal record or anything else that’s negative about me. I’ve even managed to stay on good terms with my ex-husbands, which in this day and age, is something of a miracle,” she added with a laugh.

  “Okay, Bernie’s two children are probably at the top of the list of suspects, particularly given that each of them has had financial problems and been involved in some rather grey areas. Michelle, can you think of anyone else?” Liz asked.

  “There is man by the name of Jim Brown, who Bernie spoke of from time to time,” Michelle offered. “Evidently he and Bernie were partners and together they founded Spitzer Electronics. Bernie told me once that he had become the sole owner of the company when he found out Jim hadn’t applied for a patent for the product that was the main reason for their success. He told me when he made the discovery, he filed a patent application, and a patent was granted to Bernie in his sole name. Bernie took control of the company, paid Jim a lump sum of $100,000 as termination pay to buy him out, and told him he was no longer welcome at the company. From the way he talked about it, I think he wondered if what he had done was the right thing.”

  “Why do you say that?” Liz asked.

  “Bernie told me that from time to time Jim wrote him asking for money, since he was living on social security and barely able to make ends meet. I think there was some guilt involved on Bernie’s part because he was so wealthy, and the man who had been his par
tner was now destitute. Whenever Bernie mentioned it, he always laughed it off and said that was just the way things worked in the business world, but I always wondered if he was being honest. Bernie had a heart just like everyone else, but it was just hard to find sometimes.”

  “Do you know anything about Jim? Like where he lives?” Liz asked.

  Michelle shook her head. “No, the only thing I know is that his name is Jim Brown.”

  “I’ll ask Sean to see what he can find out about him, but Roger, something bothers me about him,” Liz said, turning to her husband.

  “What?” Roger asked.

  “If he was Bernie’s partner and he started the company with Bernie, he’d probably be somewhat elderly. I have trouble visualizing an elderly man committing murder,” Liz said.

  “That’s somewhat true.” Roger said, rubbing his chin. “The majority of homicides are committed by people who would be younger than him, but that still doesn’t rule him out. If he was harboring a grudge for a number of years, he might have felt that at his advanced age he really didn’t have much to lose by murdering Bernie. He might know how impacted the criminal court system is here in California and figured he’d be dead before he was ever convicted, and with some attorney filing one motion after another for new trials, etc., he’d probably be right.”

  “Great. So, we have Bernie’s children, his former business partner, and I hate to say this, and Michelle, as possible suspects,” Liz said. “I’ll call Sean in the morning and see what he can find out. If we’re through here, let’s all go to Bernie’s condominium and see if we can find anything there.”

  “Michelle, I’ll take you in my car,” Walter said. “Roger, Liz, we’ll meet you there,” Walter said.

  CHAPTER 15

  “Good evening, Ms. D’Amato, pleasure to see you,” the doorman at Bernie and Michelle’s condominium building said as he opened the door for them.

  “Thanks, Joe. Good to see you, too,” Michelle said as the four of them walked over to the elevators. “As you know, Bernie owns the penthouse, and there’s a special elevator for his unit. You need a key for it.” She turned to Walter. “I completely forgot that I had it. I’ll give it to you as well as the key to his penthouse.” She inserted it in the lock, and they stepped into the elevator.

  When the elevator doors opened and they reached the top of the building, the assembled group found themselves in a small reception area fronted by two large oak doors. Michelle inserted her key in the door lock and they walked into Bernie’s penthouse. For a moment Liz, Roger, and Walter simply looked out the floor-to-ceiling windows at the stupendous view of the city. They could see the cable cars far below as well as the lights of cars on the Golden Gate Bridge. Liz doubted that there were any views of the city more impressive and stunning than those from Bernie’s penthouse.

  “Walter,” Roger said, “why don’t you and Michelle take a walk through the rooms and Michelle, since you know what was here, see if anything’s missing? I’d like to go through his bedroom. People often keep important things close to them. To save time, Liz, why don’t you go through his desk? Look for anything that seems unusual. If anyone has a better idea, let me know.”

  “Sounds good. Let’s meet back here when we’re finished,” Walter said as he and Michelle began to walk around the living room. “See anything missing?” he asked.

  “So far, nothing,” she said.

  Roger went down the hall to the master bedroom and began to open the drawers in Bernie’s dresser and nightstands. He found what any well-dressed man would have in his drawers: socks, underwear, handkerchiefs, and things like that. He found a gun in the nightstand, but when he tried to open the chamber it was rusted shut from lack of use. He went into the closet and again, found nothing of interest other than a safe which was locked. He made a mental note to ask Michelle if she knew the combination, but other than that he found nothing that was unusual.

  He heard Liz calling him from Bernie’s office. “Roger, would you come here? I think I’ve found something.” He walked down the hall to the office and found Liz sitting at Bernie’s desk, an open file on the desk, and a piece of paper in her hand.

  “What did you find?” he asked, as he walked up behind her.

  “I found a file with a tab marked ‘Jim Brown’. When I opened it, this was on the top of the file. Everything else in the file is attached with fasteners, you know, the kind where you punch holes and then secure the item to the folder. It hadn’t been secured or even punched, which makes me think it’s the newest item in the file.”

  “If your spa goes under, you can probably give Sean a run for his money as a private investigator,” Roger said with a chuckle. “That’s pretty good sleuthing. Have you read it?”

  “Of course, and that’s why I called you. It’s a note with a signature by someone named Jim Brown. Actually, I think it’s a threat. Here, read it for yourself, and see what you think.”

  Roger quickly scanned the terse note which read, “Bernie, I’m old and I’ve been told I don’t have much longer to live because, the big C is in me. If I were you, I’d be very careful, because it’s time for me to do something I should have done long ago.”

  He put the note down and looked at Liz. “I agree with you. This definitely qualifies as a threat. I want to take it to our handwriting analysis expert and see if there’s a match with Jim’s handwriting and signature. As I recall, Walter became Bernie’s attorney because one of the partners at the law firm retired. When Bernie became the sole owner of the company and forced this Brown guy out, Brown probably had to sign some papers. Let me see what I can find out.” He pulled a clear plastic baggie out of his pocket and put the note in it.

  “Roger, I’ve been through every file in every drawer, and this was the only thing I found. Unless someone else found something that needs our attention, why don’t we call it a night and drive home? I’m tired, and if I’m this worn out, I can imagine how Michelle must be feeling. Pregnancy tired is like no other kind of being tired, and that’s on top of finding out she may be a murder suspect, and that she’s carrying twins. That’s a lot for one day.”

  “I couldn’t agree more. Let’s go back to the living room and say our goodbyes. Fortunately, Michelle only has to go down two floors to be home, and I’m sure Walter will make sure she gets there safely.”

  Michelle and Walter were sitting in the living room, quietly talking. They looked up when Roger said, “We did find a note, so all is not lost.” He took it out of the plastic baggie he’d put it in and handed it to Walter to read while Michelle looked over his shoulder.

  “It doesn’t make him the murderer,” Walter said, raising an eyebrow, “but I think he’s a bona fide qualifier for the role of suspect, don’t you?” He handed the note back to Roger.

  “Absolutely,” Roger answered. “Walter, when Bernie became your client, what happened to his previous files?”

  “They’re in a file cabinet in my office. Why?”

  “I would think there would have been some paperwork regarding the company when Bernie forced this Brown guy to leave. If Bernie had been my client, I would have made sure that Brown signed something about not having any further rights to the company. Any chance you could get your secretary to see if she could find the documents involved in that transaction? If she can, would you have her bring it to my office? I want to have our handwriting analysis expert look at the papers and this note and see if the writing and the signatures match.”

  “I’ll have her do it as soon as she gets in the office tomorrow. You should have it no later than ten.” He looked over at Michelle, whose eyes were drooping. “Roger, Liz, I hope you don’t mind, but I think I better get my client home. Looks like the babies need a nap and for sure their mother does.”

  “Michelle, before you go, I have a question,” Roger said. “I found a safe in Bernie’s closet. Do you know anything about it?”

  “Only that it didn’t work. Bernie often said it was the biggest waste of money he’d
ever spent. He said he’d never been able to get it open, and he’d long ago forgotten the combination. He told me he’d never even gotten a chance to put anything in it.”

  “Sounds like that’s a dead end. Liz and I are ready to leave. Is that okay with you?” Roger asked.

  “It’s fine. I’ll use Michelle’s key to lock the door on our way out, and tomorrow I’ll courier the front door key and the elevator key over to Darren Michaels. Have a safe drive, and Roger, I’ll talk to you tomorrow. Liz, nice to meet you, but I would have preferred that it was under different circumstances,” Walter said, standing up and putting out his hand to help Michelle out of her chair.

  “Liz, thank you for everything,” Michelle said. “I really don’t think I could have gotten through today without your help. I guess the only thing I can do now is wait for one of you to call me.”

  Liz walked over to Michelle and gave her a big hug. “Try not to worry, Michelle. I know you have the best defense attorney available at your disposal and from what I’m seeing, I think you’re in very safe hands with Walter.”

  “Yes, I am,” Michelle said as she turned and smiled at Walter who had a silly grin on his face and looked like he’d just picked all the winning horses in the superfecta at Golden Gate Fields.

  CHAPTER 16

  “Well, Mr. Defense Attorney, what did you think about all of that?” Liz asked as they began the drive back to the Red Cedar Lodge and Spa. “Actually, hold the thought. I want to call Bertha and alert her that we’re going to be home tonight, so she won’t be alarmed when she sees lights on. I’m glad I had the house built on the property for her and her husband. As hard as she works, when it’s time to go home, now all she has to do is to take a couple of steps and she’s home. Of course, the bonus is that it frees us up, because she keeps Winston and Brandy Boy when we’re away from the lodge, and Winston loves to spend time with her. I have this feeling they let him up on their bed. I just hope he doesn’t get used to it.”