by Terry McGhee
“Hey Jake, take a few deep breaths. It was a clear case of self-defense. You even have two witnesses.”
Jake shuffled over to the porch and sat down next to his friend. He removed his mobile and punched in Barb’s number. “Hi Babe, it’s me. The party’s over, and we are all OK. I’ve got Murph…he’s OK… and is just about to get a favorite treat and then a bath.” At the word ‘bath’ Murph’s ears shot up. Jake thought that this time Old Yellar would hold still.
Chapter 23 Two weeks later on the Vincent’s back deck
Sam Jenkins stood and said, “Everyone, this is my wife Emily. We are thankful for the Vincent’s graciousness in letting us bunk with them during our search for a house or home building site in your beautiful corner of the world. We are retiring soon, and the best news is that I will not be referred to as that ‘GMan, or ‘Feebi.’” Chuckles echoed all around.
Jake and Barbara were pouring wine for all their guests. Sam felt he had to utter that famous line. “But seriously folks, this occasion signals the end of a dangerous and trying time for you all.” Everyone raised their filled glasses waiting to hear what Sam Jenkins was about to say. “You are all to be congratulated on an outstanding job…well done! Jake, Barbara, Officer Meadows, Sarah, our own Agent Bill Deets, and especially your local Deputy Police Chief, Inspector Hannity. And, I don’t want to forget Murphee, who had to suffer some slings and arrows.” Murph stood and did big tail wags when the clapping started. Jake looked at his friend and thought the big guy must be wondering where the treats were.
Hannity sat up in his Adirondack Chair. “I can now announce that the two biker friends if the late Mr. Donnie Jerkovick were arrested in a Portland, Oregon bar. The two dimwits had no clue that we had the I.D. info on their car. Their car and the van left at the motel have been impounded, and hefty stashes of various drugs were found hidden behind an interior side panel in the van and taped under the rear seat in the old Toyota. A ledger was found with the names of customers. The idiots were selling drugs. These boys will be going away for a good spell.”
Everyone moved around clinking wine glasses and hugging each other.
Jake raised his glass. “Thanks Sam, you two will soon be part of our small town community, and it is our pleasure to share our home with you both. Now, what can you tell us about any progress from the French National Police in locating the killers of Clyde and Ella Couletti?”
“Well I can give you some news. Our collaborator, detective Louie Bernard and his partner Inspector Phillippe interrogated the waiter Kent Parker. It turns out that Parker did have a loose plan to somehow extract revenge against the Coulettis. He directly blamed them for preying on his father, which as we know, led to his parent’s marital problems, and ultimately his father’s suicide. Kent would not reveal the source of his information, but we believe that the Espositos in Dallas secretly clued him in about the Couletti’s planned Seine River cruise. Parker got the job on the cruise line, and believed he could put together a plan to kill them.
“He never got the chance. While he was on a shore break, he was grabbed and blindfolded from behind. His attackers convinced him he would not be harmed. They took him to a darkened room in a house and offered him a proposition. He never saw their faces, but there were 3 men. Kent told us that he was positive his captors were speaking Russian to each other. They advised him that the ‘Couletti Ponzi scam’ business would be taken care of, and that he was not to interfere. There was a hint of a threat Kent said. It sounds like the Russian Mob is mixed up in this business, and they didn’t want this young kid, acting on his own, to mess things up. It is also difficult to believe that the Espositos were not involved somehow. So far nothing can be proven.
That Mob hit, if that’s what it was, really saved that young man’s future. Louie says that Parker has decided to go back home to Dallas and work in his Mom’s business. She apparently has started a successful kitchen accessories distribution business. The Internet seems a perfect marketing source.
Jake held up a finger. “Did Kent have any idea how the murders were pulled off; especially that of Ella Couletti on a small ship on the water? I suppose it would have been easy to take a cup used by Ella Couletti from dinner, and swap it for the cyanide-laced cup.”
“He said he didn’t have a clue, but that this hit team was obviously very professional. It seems the snatch of Clyde Couletti would have been easy. The real trick was arranging his body in the middle of the night to burn him to death. It would have been so easy to just kill him in private, and then just leave the country the way they came in. It speaks of someone with a lot of money wanting extreme pay-back. It would have had to be one of the victims of the defrauding Ponzi scheme. We know some of the bilked contributors to the enterprise were very wealthy people. Many, however, were too embarrassed to want any publicity. Our investigation over here keeps pointing to the Espositos and their old Mob contacts. We have no proof of this. That’s about all I can reveal as we are still working with the French National Police on this open case. The newspaper Le Monde has published more information than the police are comfortable with. I doubt this mystery will ever be solved. It seems a classic case of karma, ‘What goes around comes around.’”
“Well,” said Jake. “I guess that wraps things up. All is once again quiet on this western front. My attorney tells me that I will be cleared of any unlawful use of a firearm. The record will show I acted in self-defense, as soon as I complete some paper work and a second interview with the county’s legal counsel.”
Jake and Barb sat back in their chairs watching folks moving about chit chatting and sipping their drinks. Barb held up her glass to her husband. “Here’s to a future of quiet repose next to my husband Sherlock. I love you Mr. Vincent.”
“And I you Mrs. Vincent.” The two leaned in for a smooch. Murph’s head came up as if saying ‘What about me?”
Jake said, “It’s a perfect evening following a traumatic day.” He got up and wandered into the kitchen with Murphee on his heels. Jake scrounged around in the fridge for Murph’s dinner, a bowl of cooked rice with carrots and chopped up roasted chicken. Three minutes in the microwave was about all Old Yellar could stand. The whimpering started soon to be followed by the annoying drool unless his friend would serve dinner quickly.
Murph dove into his ‘People Food.’ Jake gave him a double ear scratch. “NOW it’s a perfect evening, right buddy?”
Barb held up what looked like tickets to some sort of performance. “Look what our very generous City Council has given us: Two front row seats to a popular Shakespeare play in Southern Oregon. Jake and I need the break and we are extremely grateful to our town.”
Hannity asked, “When would you be going?”
“The date is for Saturday next.”
“That’s great; I have a favor to ask.” He handed Jake a piece of paper. “I owe this motel owner something. Could you stop on the way up and deliver it?”
“Happy to my friend, what is it?”
“This guy gave us the license number of the car Jerkovick and friends used to drive here. It gave us a heads up, and led to their arrest. Just tell him Hannity says thanks, and then lean over and give him a kiss.”
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Terry McGhee was born in San Francisco and grew up in Northern California. He received his BS and MBA degrees from California Universities.
Working in sales and marketing within the highly proprietary Security Electronics Industry, he traveled the world on business, logging almost two million air miles doing business in seventy seven foreign countries.
Terry and his wife retired to their dream home, which they designed and built in the mountains of Northern California. The author enjoys reading, writing, golf, music, and exploring local towns and attractions on his 2003 Vespa Motor Scooter.
If you enjoyed MYSTERY ON THE SEINE, you are invited to write a brief review on-line. All authors can take inspiration, or benefit from suggestions in a story review.
Thank you,<
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Terry McGhee
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
A special thanks to Maria Grimardi of UNIWORLD BOUTIQUE RIVER CRUISE COLLECTION for providing the beautiful photo of one of their cruise ships. Visit www.uniworld.com
To friends retired from the tough job of policing our cities and fighting for our freedom in faraway places. Your many inputs were very helpful. You all know who you are.
