Everyone began leaving the room.
“Tom, I would like to speak to you.” Ross said.
Nolan stayed behind.
When it was just the two of them, Ross asked, “What exactly happened in that house?”
Nolan wanted to tell him everything in detail, but he knew it would be too gruesome for a father to hear. “Sir, I would tell you if I knew. But trust me, we are looking into it.”
Ross nodded. “Rudy Jr… he was the youngest of our three boys. As a child, he was bright and caring. He always tried to make everyone laugh. He was a good boy, Tom.” Ross’s eyes welled up. “I can’t say I was a very good father, though. I was too involved in my career and I was hard on the boys when they were young. I wanted the best for them, of course, but I was never there for them.” He looked away. “Somewhere along the line, Rudy Jr. got involved with the wrong crowd. He started doing drugs, skipping school. He even got in trouble with the law. I’m sure it couldn’t have been easy having a father on the force. But somehow he managed to change his life around. He was off the drugs, he was back in school, and he was even in a relationship… and then this happened.” He shook his head. He then looked Nolan directly in the eyes. “I’m ready to accept that my son was the one who committed this crime, but what I want to know is why.”
“Sir, I will get to the bottom of this,” Nolan said. “You have my word.”
TWENTY-ONE
Hyder was at his desk, searching the Internet on his laptop. He had already gone through the Franklin Police Department’s website, and so far he had not been able to match up the name. The officer list was comprehensive, but Hyder was certain he could find it.
“What if it’s someone who is no longer active on the force?” Felix suggested.
Hyder thought about it. “Could be, but still, it wouldn’t make sense not to disclose someone who was retired,” he replied.
“Maybe they are protecting them,” Felix mused.
Hyder’s eyes narrowed. “The only time the police department hesitates to release names, is when they feel doing so would jeopardize their case. Three young people were brutally murdered. How can knowing their names be of importance?”
“Maybe the victim is the son of someone high up,” Felix replied.
Hyder’s eyes widened. “Why didn’t I think of that?” He turned back to his laptop. “I’ve been searching in the wrong place,” he said. “The name did not match anyone on the front lines, but maybe it will match someone in upper management.” A few seconds later he exclaimed, “Got it!”
“Who?” Felix said.
“Captain Rudyard Ross,” Hyder said. A photo of Captain Ross in full uniform was on the screen. “I knew I remembered the name.”
“What do we do now?” Felix said. “Do we print the names?”
Hyder looked at his watch. “I have to go somewhere. First, you call the department and see if they are willing to release any more information on the murders. Let’s give them a chance first.”
TWENTY-TWO
They were seated in the corner, away from everyone. The coffee shop was half empty, so they didn’t have to worry about anyone eavesdropping.
Nolan sat by the wall with Earl Winton across from him. Winton wore a maroon colored turtleneck sweatshirt, black pants, and polished shoes. He had a white blazer on over the shirt.
Nolan found Winton’s attire bemusing, given that it was summer.
Earl Winton was Nolan’s AA sponsor. Nolan had now met Winton over a dozen times, and he had never once seen Winton dressed in anything but turtlenecks.
Regardless of what Winton wore, Nolan looked forward to his meetings with him.
Winton was much older than Nolan, but somehow he understood him.
“Tell me more about this feeling,” Winton said, taking a sip of his latte.
“It’s like… this hunger,” Nolan said. “It’s deep inside me. And it’s always there.”
Winton understood. “Some people can wake up one day, decide they no longer want to drink, and never go back to it. For others, though, the urge will be there for a very long time.”
“How long?” Nolan was eager to know.
“It could be forever.”
Nolan made a face. He didn’t like the answer.
“I haven’t had a drink in months and it’s killing me,” Nolan confessed. “I constantly think about it.”
“It’s quite normal. Even the most senior members go through those feelings.”
“I want it to go away,” Nolan said.
“Have you reconsidered going through the twelve steps?”
“I don’t have time,” Nolan said, dismissing it outright.
Winton gave Nolan a hard look. “You don’t have the time or you don’t want to do it? Those are two very different things.”
“Don’t our meetings count as one of the steps?” Nolan asked.
“They are a step in the right direction, but they don’t compare to the original twelve steps. Do you even know what they are?”
Nolan thought about it. “Be nice, believe in God, and don’t drink?”
Winton laughed. “Not quite, but you’ve caught the spirit of it. Now tell me about his lady friend of yours.”
Nolan shrugged. “I like her, I guess.”
“You guess?” Winton raised an eyebrow.
“You sound like a psychiatrist.”
“I’m not, but the reason I asked is that prior to your new relationship, you had no desire to quit drinking. But then romance blooms and you suddenly decide to give it up.”
“You make it sound bad,” Nolan said.
“Don’t get me wrong,” Winton said. “I think it’s admirable that you want to do this for your relationship, but shouldn’t you want to do this for yourself?”
Nolan twisted his neck. “The more you talk the more you sound like a shrink. You sure you’re not being paid by someone to talk to me?”
“Being a member of AA is entirely voluntary,” he said. “If I got paid for what I did, I’d open a practice tomorrow.” Winton added with a laugh.
Nolan laughed too. “And I’d be your best client,” he said.
TWENTY-THREE
Hotel Balmore was located in the heart of Franklin. It was the tallest structure in Franklin, reaching over seven hundred feet. The hotel consisted of over five-hundred rooms, with rooms going for hundreds of dollars per night.
If it wasn’t the five-star rating that made the hotel a luxury, it was the breathtaking view of the city that propelled it to new heights. Everything about the hotel reeked of money.
When Hyder entered the hotel, he found himself staring at every little thing. From the carpets to the ceilings to the furniture, to even the fixtures, it was more than anything he could ever afford.
He walked up to the reception desk and showed them the advertisement for Munn’s lecture. The woman on duty smiled and said, “Please take the elevators up to the eighteenth floor.”
Hyder watched as a hotel staff member escorted him into the elevator and then all the way up to his floor. When he got off, he wasn’t sure if it was appropriate to tip him. Instead, he thanked him and quickly walked away.
The meeting room was grand. Hyder estimated it could hold close to a thousand people. Even though he was early, it was almost full.
A woman in a suit came up and said, “Your invitation, please.”
“I wasn’t sure I needed one,” he said. “I actually came because of this.” Hyder held out the advertisement.
“That is the invitation,” she said with a smile. “Mr. Munn will be arriving shortly. If you haven’t done so yet, you can purchase his latest book over there.” She then leaned over and whispered, “I’ll tell you a little secret. The doctors had diagnosed me with breast cancer, but after reading Mr. Munn’s book and using holistic treatments instead of the chemo or drugs the doctors wanted me to, I am now in remission. Mr. Munn is a Godsend.”
Hyder wasn’t sure whether to believe her or call her crazy. How could s
omeone miraculously get rid of cancer?
He politely walked away.
Prior to coming here, Hyder had done some research on J. Robert Munn. His background was as mysterious as the man himself.
Ten years ago, Munn woke up enlightened one day. After his awakening Munn began a spiritual journey. He had since written a dozen books about love, life, happiness, loss, depression, and even success. Munn’s teachings revolved around the belief that the universe was a magical place that wanted nothing but health and wealth for everyone. It was just a matter of tapping into the bountiful resources of the universe and absorbing its benefits and gifts.
Hyder wasn’t sure if he believed a word of it, but he had to hand it to Munn. Munn had managed to create a million dollar empire out of nothing. From talks, to retreats, to books, to DVDs, to audio tapes, to tours, he had his hand in everything. He had even jumped into natural or holistic products, or as he loved to refer to them, “The universe’s remedies.”
Judging by the crowd that had gathered, it seemed to Hyder that whatever Munn was doing, it was working.
There was a buzz in the room, as if everyone was eagerly awaiting their savior. Hyder found himself feeling eager too. Why? He didn’t know. Maybe it was the anticipation of finding out more.
Did this man really have all the answers? Was he genuine or fake? Is the universe really looking out for our wellbeing? Hyder mused silently.
As a reporter, Hyder had learned to be a skeptic. It was what good journalism was about. You never believed what you were told, you went out and confirmed it. There was always a hidden agenda behind every action. It was what made humans different than animals. Humans did things because they wanted something in return. It didn’t have to be monetary, it could just be a positive feeling.
Right now, everyone in the crowd was willing to hand over their money in order for this man to make them feel better about their lives.
Munn looked no different than any other self-help spiritual guru out there. Hyder had interviewed a few and he had found nothing special about them.
Suddenly there was a hush. Hyder looked around to see what was going on, but then someone next to him whispered, “He’s coming.”
Everyone’s attention was focused on the door in the corner. A few minutes later, a man walked out.
He was flanked by men wearing suits. He was considerably shorter than the men. He was bald with signs of a beard underneath his chin. He wore round glasses and over his dress shirt he wore a vest.
He carefully made his way to the front of the room. He then motioned to everyone to have a seat.
For the next hour, J. Robert Munn gave a speech which sounded more like a sermon. He spoke about the universe, then about humans, and how everything was interconnected. He spoke about big businesses and how they had monetized everything in life. He spoke about the disconnect people were experiencing even with all the technology to connect us. He then spoke about prescription medicine, and how it was nothing but an abomination that caused more harm than good.
At the end, he answered a few questions, but Hyder felt the questions were carefully crafted by his handlers. They seemed too soft and safe, even though everything Munn had said was filled with controversy.
The last item on Munn’s agenda was to sign copies of his new book. Hyder didn’t have a copy, but he wanted to speak to the man. He got in line.
When his turn finally came, Hyder found himself staring at Munn. Up close, he looked much younger than the wise man he made himself out to be. He had not one wrinkle on his face.
Realizing he didn’t have much time, Hyder jumped in. “My name is Hyder Ali and I work for the Daily Times,” he said. “This advertisement belonged to a colleague of mine and it looked like she wanted to meet you about something. Her name was Francine Robeault. Do you know what it was about?”
Munn wasn’t offended by the direct question. He merely said, “You should ask your colleague, she might be able to tell you more than I could.”
“She’s dead.”
Munn wasn’t surprised, or if he was, he didn’t show it. “I’m sorry, but I don’t know a person by that name, and I don’t know what this is about.”
Hyder wanted to push further, but one of Munn’s handlers came over and said, “Sir, there are people waiting in line.”
Hyder looked at the crowd behind him. They were giving him dirty looks.
Hyder left. He didn’t want a mob of devotees after him.
TWENTY-FOUR
Hyder returned to the Daily Times and found Felix not at his desk. He decided to go see Lester.
Lester was staring intently at an odd device.
“What is it?” Hyder asked.
“I don’t know,” he replied. “It came in the mail and I have no idea what it does.”
Lester regularly received products from companies who wanted him to review them in his column. Lester always made sure to check out each product, and if any of them piqued his interest, he would write about them. Lester also made sure to be nice or somewhat positive, even if he didn’t fully appreciate the product.
In this case he was just flummoxed.
“It didn’t come with instructions?” Hyder asked.
“You would think it would, right? But it doesn’t. All I got with it was this.”
Lester handed him a piece of paper.
Hyder read it out loud. “The future is here. All your entertainment needs in one place. Coming soon.”
Lester took the object and dropped it in the waste basket. “I don’t care when it’s coming because I don’t want it.” He turned to Hyder. “What’s up, bro?”
“Have you seen Felix?” Hyder asked.
Lester shook his head. “I saw him earlier, but not recently.” His phone buzzed. He grabbed it, smiled.
“What’re you smiling about?” Hyder was curious.
“It’s my girlfriend.”
“Have you even met her yet?”
“Yep.”
“And?”
“We’re soul mates.”
Hyder rolled his eyes. “Be careful, Lester. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
Hyder had known Lester long enough to know that he knew very little about women. Hyder didn’t know that much either—maybe that was why they got along so well, but the last thing he wanted was for his friend’s heart to be broken.
“You want to meet her?” Lester asked.
“For real?”
“Yep, I’ve told her all about you and she’s excited to meet you.”
“Sure, why not,” Hyder shrugged. “But make sure you set it up around the time of Iftar. There’s no way I could watch you eat while I’m fasting.”
Hyder went back to his desk. Felix was waiting for him.
“Any updates from the police?” Hyder asked.
“They're still sticking to their original statements,” he said. “I couldn’t get them to confirm or deny the names the landlord gave us.”
“Oh well,” Hyder said. “It was worth a try.”
“But…” Felix paused.
“What?”
“While you were gone, there was a call on your desk phone. I wasn’t sure if I was supposed to answer it, but it kept ringing, so I picked it up.”
“Who was it?”
“The caller didn’t leave a name, but he was male, and his voice was deep and heavy. I had a feeling he was trying to conceal his identity.”
“What did he say?”
Felix pulled out his notepad. “I’ll read you his exact words: ‘The victims at Riverfield Street were all involved in a drug study by Devon Pharma.’ ”
“He didn’t say any more?”
“Nope. He hung up.”
Hyder checked and found the number had been blocked.
Over the years, he had received many anonymous tips. Some turned out to be true, while others were nothing more than a hoax.
Hyder had a feeling this might be in the former.
“What should we do?” Felix asked.
TWENTY-FIVE
Nolan sat in a booth at the far end of the bar. He avoided making eye contact with Damian.
Damian wasn’t sure why Nolan kept coming back when he was trying to stay sober. If it weren’t for Boris, Damian would have thrown him out by now.
Boris, meanwhile, gave Nolan the space he needed to work through his problems on his own.
To his relief, Nolan saw someone enter the bar and come straight to him.
“How are you, Hyder?” Nolan said.
Hyder sat down across from him.
“I’m doing well, Tom. How about you?”
Nolan shrugged. “I’m surviving.”
After the Monkey Murders, Hyder and Nolan had decided to meet as often as possible. Damian’s bar had become the go-to place because it provided them the privacy they needed.
“How’s the fasting going?” Nolan asked.
“It’s going,” Hyder replied. “The heat and humidity isn’t making it any easier, though.”
“I don’t know how you do it,” Nolan said. “I’m barely surviving not drinking.”
“We could have met somewhere else, you know.”
Nolan leaned closer. “Let me ask you this. You are constantly surrounded by food and drink, but does that make you break your fast?”
Hyder shook his head. “The temptation is there, but I won’t give into it.”
“Exactly,” Nolan exclaimed. “I like to think I’m stronger than the alcohol.”
Hyder didn’t look convinced. “How is Marina?” He asked. Hyder owed his life to Lopez, and when he had found out Nolan and Lopez were seeing each other, he was more than happy to give his approval.
“She’s fine. She always asks how you are doing,” Nolan replied. “How is your mom?”
“She wants me to invite you and Marina over for dinner one day.”
The Runaway Reporter (A Police Procedural Mystery Series of Crime and Suspense, Hyder Ali #3) Page 6
