by J. T. Lewis
At least he had been, until he had gotten greedy and started skimming money out of the company.
Bill had been livid, deciding to make him his first victim in retribution. Unfortunately, a state audit had discovered Barry’s transgressions before Bill could carry out his plan, forcing him to put the whole plan on hold until Barry’s release from prison.
But he had gotten it done eventually, the same way he got all of them done, with cunning and precision.
None of that seemed to matter to him now though, as the fear of discovery heightened his stress level beyond belief. He needed to find out just who these people were that were looking into his clients. Unfortunately, their names were not required to obtain the records that they had obtained, and they had paid with cash so he couldn’t track them that way.
He had one more “friend” to check with in Indiana; maybe she would know who was looking into his customers. He knew he could get in touch with her on Monday, but he wasn’t sure if he could wait that long. If he could only remember her last name, he could probably find her at home and get her to go out with him; she had always been sweet on him.
Jessica…what?
It was driving him crazy!
Maybe he could do some kind of reverse search on the internet, or maybe her department had a website.
Finally feeling some hope, he headed quickly into his office. Anything that would keep his mind busy would help, he thought to himself as he made his way into the house.
“Let’s find out who this is Billy boy, so that we can give Hector a new target!”
Chapter 35
September 19, 1999
After cleaning up from lunch, we settled in to discuss some business. Abby and May had only gotten about halfway through the first pass of Raven’s binder so far.
“I haven’t been able to put my finger on it yet,” May started, “But there is something different about how this trust has been set up. I’m no expert on them mind you, but there seems to be some very confusing language surrounding the Trustee of this ILIT.”
I was confused, “ILIT?”
“Irrevocable Life Insurance Trust,” May said while putting on her glasses and looking at a large book she had brought with her. “It’s an estate planning device that can be used so that any life insurance policies that are owned by and paid to the trust will avoid estate taxes upon the death of the insured.”
Looking up, she smiled, “I have to read the definition to get it all right, the whole thing is plenty complicated.”
“Sounds like it, what about the language surrounding the Trustee is confusing you?”
“Well, to start with, I haven’t been able to pin down the name of the Trustee yet. But like I said, I’m only about half way through Raven’s, and I haven’t started on mine yet. Not only that, there is no contact information anywhere in here. As far as I can see, there is no way listed to be able to get in touch with the people involved in making this.”
“If you don’t mind me asking Miss May,” Preacher questioned cautiously, “How did you get in touch with them when your husband died?”
“I didn’t,” she said removing her glasses in thought, “A cashier’s check arrived in the mail about a week after I learned of his death. In fact, the check arrived even before the body had made it back from Egypt.”
We were all silent as we thought about what May had just revealed.
“I would have to say, I think we are definitely on the right track,” Preacher broke the silence, “With no way to contact them, and yet the check arrives before the body? It would seem they knew of the death before anyone else.”
“Agreed,” I acknowledged, his thoughts matching mine. “How else would they know Tom had died before anyone else, unless they were involved? I believe we’ve definitely hit on a thread in these murders.”
Abby took May’s hand in hers when she noticed that she was getting a little teary eyed. It instantly reminded me of another time, when the same girl that I hardly knew at the time got me through a rough time with just the clasp of her hand on mine. (1)
An interesting thought came to me then. “May, were you involved when Tom set this up?”
Pulling a tissue out of her pocket, she wiped her eyes before responding. “No, I was actually down here at the time. My dad was having health problems, and had spent the week in the hospital. When I returned home, Tom merely pointed it out to me, saying it was a trust that he had set up. His dying was the farthest thing from my mind, and I’m afraid I didn’t pay a lot of attention to it.”
I would need to ask Raven the same question of course, but I determined to do it over the phone instead of in person. I wasn’t sure I was up for another personal visit yet.
“I may have stumbled across something else as well,” Preacher interjected, “although it may be nothing.”
Sitting up, I gave him my full attention.
“What’d you find Preacher?”
“While looking into Barry Hamilton, I found out that he was arrested due to an audit by a state regulatory agency, The Kentucky Department of Insurance. It seems they found out about his skimming of funds before his own company did.”
“That seems strange,” I added thoughtfully, “Looks like they would have an office full of accountants that would have caught something like that.”
“My thoughts exactly, so I dug a little deeper. It appears that he was one of the owners of the company. Bluegrass Mutual was relatively new, and still small, although they had a massive amount of money in their coffers at the time. After Mr. Hamilton was convicted however, the company folded real quick. They sent everyone back all of the premiums that they had collected, and then disappeared off the face of the earth.”
My mind was in high gear as I processed all of this information. Barry Hamilton got away with skimming the money because the company was small, and probably didn’t have a large office staff yet. He probably hadn’t counted on the state auditing his accounts so quickly.
“I’m a little bothered that the company folded,” I uttered, still deep in thought. “If they still had the funds to pay everyone back, it looks like they would have just stepped past the conviction and carried on as usual. Unless…”
“Was he the only owner,” Abby piped in, “Would that force them to close the doors?”
“But he wasn’t the only owner,” Preacher replied
“Maybe it just brought too much unwanted attention to the company,” I added.
“Exactly!” Preacher exclaimed. “At least that was my thought on the matter. If this was the beginning of a plan for these murders, whoever was left wouldn’t want the added interest of the state sniffing around their company, especially if it had already been deemed crooked.”
“Oh my God!” May cried out from across the table.
Looking over at her, I saw a look of dread on her face. “What’s the matter May?”
“You’re saying that whoever is doing the killings probably killed Mr. Hamilton in retribution for drawing attention to them?”
“You are probably right Miss May,” Preacher spoke with a caring voice. “They seem to take this mission of theirs very seriously.”
A new round of tears were trying to make their way out of May’s eyes as she excused herself and left the room quickly. The reality that we were dealing with very real killers had apparently shaken May, overwhelming her with emotions.
An uncomfortable silence filled the room for a few moments after May’s exit.
“Should I go check on her?” Abby asked with a concerned look on her face.
I immediately warmed to the idea, seeing it as the best solution available for my troubled friend.
Until I gave it some more thought.
“No, I’ll go. Let’s give her a minute though.”
Looking over at Preacher, I asked him the question that had been on my mind for a few minutes now. “Do you have the names of any other owners of Bluegrass Mutual?”
“Yessir,” He answered with satisfaction, tur
ning the pages of his notebook. “There is only one other owner listed in the State’s records for the company, but I haven’t had time to research anything about him yet.”
Finally finding the page he was looking for, his meaty finger made its way down the page.
“Ah, here it is.”
Seeming to read over the name a few times as if to memorize it, he finally looked up with the answer.
“His name is Martin Fonteyn!”
Chapter 36
September 19, 1999
“Martin Fonteyn?” Abby asked with a dejected look on her face.
“I was hoping for a name that had already appeared in the case. That’s a new one on me.”
“Like I said, I haven’t had time to look up his background or anything,” Preacher added.
“He may be using an alias now,” I added distractedly, “Or he was then.”
Even though my mouth was talking, my mind was on my friend’s sorrow, and my reluctance to go to her. Although it was definitely the right thing to do, dealing with an emotional woman was not one of my strong points.
I suddenly noticed the room was silent around me. Looking across the table, I saw an expectant look on Abby’s face. Glancing to my right, I saw the same look on Preacher’s mug too.
“Ok, I’m going,” I said as I pushed away from the table. Passing Abby, she grinned when I mumbled, “You do guilt well.”
Working my way through the house, I found May in the back hallway, looking out the window at the garden. Noticing my presence, she made an effort to wipe her tears before looking at me with a sad smile.
“I’m sorry,” she said while wiping her eyes once more. “I’m such a ninny.”
Walking up beside her, I gently placed my hand on her shoulder, before finding myself swept into her embrace.
“I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry,” she whispered into my chest. “Maybe I’m not cut out for this detective stuff after all.”
Looping my arms around her shoulders, I held her head to my chest with my hand.
“This is a very personal case to you May, I’d be more surprised if you didn’t show any emotion during it.”
Pulling her face away from my chest, she looked me in the eye, “I am very committed to helping you with this case Gabe. Please don’t ever doubt that.”
The tears were returning as she laid her face back against my chest again. “I just can’t believe how sad I get sometimes, and lonely. I really miss him Gabe.”
“I know you do May,” I cooed, “I know you do.”
More quiet sobbing followed then, “And here I am, getting all emotional in front of you, when you have your own loss to deal with.”
“Shhh, Shhh, Shhh,” I uttered as I tried to quiet her worry. “We all experience loss at times in our lives, part of being a friend is helping others through those times.”
She tightened her arms around me for a few seconds before pulling away and trying to dry her eyes again. “You are very good at it my friend,” she said with a sniff as she once again looked out the window.
“Oh, your yard is so beautiful!”
“Thank you,” I said with a little of my own sadness creeping into my thoughts. “It was Betty’s pride and joy. I’ve kept it exactly as she left it.”
“She sounds like she was a wonderful woman. I’m sorry I didn’t get to know her better.”
Putting my arm around her shoulder, “You would have liked her a lot.”
Looking down at her, “She would have liked you too May. You guys are, or, were a lot alike.”
Nodding absently, May suddenly turned to me, standing on her toes as she kissed my cheek.
“I know,” she whispered in my ear, “We both love you!”
With that she turned and walked over to the bathroom, closing the door behind her. The back of my neck was feeling hot again, but I hardly noticed it
See what I mean, I chided myself as I turned to make my way back to the kitchen, my hand rubbing my suddenly aching neck, Emotional women!
Chapter 37
September 19, 1999
“Like some more wine Jessica?” Bill asked sweetly.
“I don’t know Bill,” Jessica said with a lopsided smile, “I think you’re trying to get me drunk!”
Bill was quickly trying to work up a sincere sounding reply when Jessica said, “Ok!”
The night was working out nicely. Finally finding Jessica Jordan’s name on the courthouse website, he had quickly looked her up in the phonebook and gave her a call. She had been excited to hear from him, instantly agreeing to meet with him for dinner that night.
Plying her with alcohol to loosen her up had seemed a long shot when they had sat down together, but Jessica had surprised him with the ease of her taking to the drink. He was sure that she had always had a thing for him, and he was looking forward to getting more than just information out of her tonight.
“I heard through the grapevine that someone was looking into one of my past customers at the courthouse the other day Jessica,” Bill started, “Calvin Forester?”
Putting her hand to her chest with a sad look on her face, “I know! It was so sad how he died like that!”
A confused look then crossed her face, “Was somebody there?”
She seemed to be counting her fingers as she looked down at her hands, her fuzzy mind trying to fathom Bill’s question.
“Yes! I heard she was an Asian girl, cute with brownish hair?”
“Oh!” Jessica suddenly blurted out, “You mean Abby? That’s just Abby Tran, she’s Gabe Celtic’s daughter.”
“Gabe Celtic?” Bill asked.
Jessica seemed to be lost to the conversation for a few moments as she felt her nose with interest. Giggling, she pronounced, “My nose is numb!”
Laughing along with her, Bill was nevertheless anxious to push through the conversation. He needed the information before Jessica lost her momentum and fell headlong into a drunken stupor.
Indicating to the waiter that he was ready for the check, he also didn’t want to lose the opportunity to take her to bed before she lost all motor function. Her short skirt and partially unbuttoned blouse had been taunting him all evening.
“You mentioned Gabe Celtic?” Bill repeated.
Looking up finally with recognition in her eyes, “Duh, don’t you know anything?”
“Gabriel Celtic? He’s kinda famous around here you know, used to work as an investigator for the Prosecutor’s office.”
Her words slurred off at the last, and her head slowly dropped to her chest.
“Jessica!” Bill nearly shouted.
“Yes Bill, my handsome date?”
“What does Gabriel Celtic do now?” he asked slowly, concentrating on enunciating clearly.
Grinning, Jessica looked up again with unfocussed eyes.
“Why, everybody knows he’s a dick!”
Confused, Bill was afraid he was losing her completely. As much as he hated to admit it, if it came down to a choice of bedding the girl or finding the information, he needed to press her for the info before she passed out.
“What do you mean he’s a dick? Jessica?”
Snickering into her chest, she again slowly raised her head.
“I said dick!”
As she giggled some more, Bill was losing his patience.
“Jessica! Look at me please!”
Hearing the roughness in his voice, Jessica again looked across the table at her date.
“Yes Billy?”
Trying a different tact, “What does Gabe do?”
“Silly, everybody knows what Gabe does!” Jessica slurred happily, “He’s a private investigator…a private dick!”
Chapter 38
September 20, 1999
“What?” Hector spat into the phone. He had only been home for a couple of hours and the blaring phone had awakened him from a deep sleep.
“I need you,” Bill said matter-of-factly. “I have a new job, it’s important!”
Buryin
g his face into his pillow, Hector moaned.
Looking at the clock, “I just got in from Indonesia two hours ago man! I need some sleep!”
“This job is local Hector, it won’t take long. Besides, the girl is probably a pushover.”
Hector was wide awake then. “Listen man, you know that goes against the only two rules I have, nothing local, and no women!”
“I know, I know,” Bill interrupted quickly, “But this is important…she may be on to us. Probably have to do her dad too.”
“Now you want two locals? Are you nuts?”
“I’ll pay you double…for each!”
Fully awake now, Bill had gotten his complete attention. Doing the math in his head, it took him only moments to decide.
“Ok,” he stated, “How soon?”
“It needs to be done this week, no later!”
Nodding to himself, Hector quickly worked through what would need to be involved.
“I’ll have the info on the site in a couple of hours.” Bill continued. “Go ahead and get some more sleep, but I need you to get started on this…tonight!”
Hanging up the phone, Hector laid back in the bed, sleep all but forgotten. He was still mad at himself for caving on his rules, but the lure of the extra cash had overridden his caution.
He would need to work up something special though, maybe a new identity for these local kills; something a little less exotic maybe.
The excitement of the money and the speed involved in this job was already exciting him, the erection below the sheets giving testament to the fact. Sliding his hand beneath the covers, he started fondling himself with a smile.
Maybe this wasn’t such a bad thing after all!
Chapter 39
September 20, 1999
“Hey dad!”
I looked over my shoulder toward the sound of the greeting. Seeing Abby walking in the door, I turned back to finishing the batch of coffee I had started.
“Hmmm,” I answered in response, scooping in the last measure of the aromatic brown grind.
