by JB Bonds
“Not again! More police?” Kody said, as he peeped out the window.
Kody was right. Two detectives were at the front door. They showed us their credentials and we invited them in.
“Good morning, ma’am. I’m Detective Ricardo and this is my partner, Detective Higgins. Can we ask you a few questions about your neighbors, Virgil and Flo Hammond?”
Chapter 47
The Jig is Up
We spent about an hour relaying all the information we knew about the Hammonds, including everything Joe had learned over the past few weeks. They had already talked with Joe so they knew his involvement in the case. More tests were going to be run on the Caliente Honey. We assumed the Hammonds were in jail somewhere. Later that morning, after Kendall and Kody had walked to the pool, Joe came by the house.
“How’s Burton?” Joe asked as he sat down at our kitchen table.
“He’s holding his own. Burton was a lucky man last night. He came very close to not making it,” Roz said.
“He has you and Herb to thank, in a big way, for playing a major role in saving him. I saw the whole thing from the audience. Roz, where did you learn CPR?” Joe asked.
“I’ve always stayed current with CPR. You never know when someone is going to need your help. I’m just thankful I was able to do something for Burton.”
“Joe, have you heard anything about the Hammonds?” I asked.
“Let’s just say Bill Levine and Karen Montgomery are in a world of hurt right now. One of the detectives told me you wouldn’t believe the stuff they took out of that house last night. They found cocaine residue, some kind of cheap honey, red food dye, and the boxes in the car had bags of cocaine in them. It looks like Bill and Karen are the ring leaders in a scam to get seniors in retirement communities hooked on their concoction. Enough cocaine was put in each bottle to produce positive effects that keeps users coming back for more. Unfortunately, if too much of the elixir is ingested, some very serious side effects can happen, like with Burton. They think Bill was getting the drugs from someone who works for the cruise lines. They would come ashore, meet Bill, and do the exchange. The drugs were probably picked up by the carrier in a Mexican port during the cruise. Once Bill had the cocaine, he simply dissolved it in the honey, which had been watered down and had red food dye added to make it look like a red berry was in the elixir. They also found boxes of the elixir ready for shipment, with shipping labels, so it looks like there are several of these scams being run at the same time and Bill and Karen are the suppliers. I’d venture to say that day we saw Bill in the speed boat, he was getting the elixir to other accomplices in a boat off the coast.”
Roz and I just sat silently and took in the information. In all our lives, living all around the United States, we’d never so much as been in a police department. Now, we were talking to them on a daily basis.
“Joe, there’s something I don’t understand. How did the Hammonds get tipped off we were on to them?” Roz asked.
“You know, I’ve been thinking about that and the only thing I’ve come up with is yesterday when I got the report from the research lab with the results of the drug tests on the Caliente, I noticed the envelope looked like it had already been opened. I mentioned this to the police, and they’re questioning the people at the post office. I think Virgil had someone there working for him as well, and when the postal worker read the results, he called Virgil.”
“Wouldn’t that be something!” I said in amazement.
“I’ll keep you posted on anything I learn from the police. I understand the Hammonds are talking and giving out names in hopes of getting a lighter sentence,” Joe said as he walked to the door.
After saying good-bye to Joe, we went through the house making sure Kendall and Kody had packed all of their belongings, then went to the pool to bring them home so we could take them to lunch at a great little local restaurant. Kendall had developed a taste for conch chowder and Kody wanted more coconut shrimp. We dropped by McGhee and Ida’s on our way home from the restaurant so the kids could say good-bye. It was 2:00 p.m. and we needed to go into Key West for the flights. Kody took Max out for one last walk and returned the bike to Herb so he could thank him for letting him borrow it during his visit. Kendall called the hospital to talk to Burton, but he couldn’t talk, so she wrote a note to him and asked that we give it to him when we saw him next.
Kody was personally carrying a shell bracelet for his mom and a Key West money clip for his dad. He didn’t want to lose them. Kendall had gotten her mom and dad a seafood cookbook because she wanted them to make some of the seafood dishes she’d enjoyed when she got home. After lots of hugs and kisses, the airline official came to Security to walk Kody out to the airplane and make sure he was safely buckled in and ready to go. He had a direct flight back to Charlotte, where his mom and dad would be waiting for him. Kendall was on her own and looking very grown up with a beautiful tan as she walked out onto the tarmac to board her jet. She was a seasoned traveler and actually had to make a connection in Ft. Lauderdale that went directly to Chicago. I think Roz was more nervous than Kendall about her flying, but the airline attendant on the plane was watching over Kendall, as well. Our days would be a little empty without them, but we all had our lives and activities to carry on.
On our way home, we went by the hospital to see Burton. He was awake and able to talk to us.
“Hi, girls. Are your grandbabies gone now?” Burton asked.
“We just put them on their flights, so we’re feeling kind of blue.” Roz said.
“Those two are very special children. I know you’re both so proud of them.”
“Thanks, yes, we are very proud of both of them. We’ve got so much news to tell you, Burton, you wouldn’t believe it,” I said.
“Go ahead, tell me. You know I love juicy gossip.”
“This isn’t gossip, it’s all completely true. For starters, I doubt you were aware that Kody and a little friend actually caught Rainbow’s burglar.”
“No way! How come I didn’t know this?”
“It all happened so fast. Here’s today’s newspaper that will catch you up. Also, look at the story below the burglar apprehension,” Roz said.
“Hand me my glasses, would you, Joanie? Thank you. Oh, my Lord! Tell me this isn’t true about the Hammonds.”
“Every word of it. They’re jailbirds now.
“Couldn’t happen to a nicer couple!” Burton said as he grinned from ear to ear.
“I talked to the doctor this morning, and he and I both agree. I need to go into rehab to help with this addiction. I guess that was a part of my life story I didn’t share. I was a total cocaine addict at one time. I went through rehab about twenty years ago and kicked the habit. I still have a little mixed drink every once in awhile, but no drugs, ever. So unbeknownst to me, it was introduced back into my system with the Caliente Honey. I was hooked almost instantly. The Hammonds need to be strung up somewhere. My heart took a beating this time, I’m afraid.”
“We’ll be with you every step of the way, Burton. Herb said something about setting up some kind of counseling at Rainbow for residents who feel they need to talk to someone. I thought that was a fantastic idea. He’s having a community meeting this evening to talk about everything that’s happened lately. Our little safe haven doesn’t seem as safe anymore, does it?” I said.
“When are you coming home?” Roz asked.
“The doctor says by Wednesday of this week. I’m recovering very well from my surgery. They’re giving me some treatments for the cocaine withdrawal, so I’ll need to continue with that. It’s all old hat to me. I know the drill. And something else, dear sisters, I’ve made the decision I’m going to sell my RV and build a permanent house on my lots. I know now this is where I want to stay and where my dearest friends are.”
“That’s the best news I’ve heard in a long time, Burton. Knowing you’ll
be here to share in all the fun is music to my ears. We’ll be here Wednesday to pick you up, and we’ll also make sure everything is ready for you at home,” I said.
“You girls are too good to me. I love you two dearly, you know.”
“We know,” Roz said.
We left the hospital and drove home, feeling a little lost without the grandchildren in the car, but we looked forward to seeing Max when we got home. We parked the car and went in to let him out of his kennel. We put on our hats and sunglasses and were just about to go out the front door when someone knocked. It was Morty and Lois.
“What in the Sam Hill is going on here?” Morty asked.
“Do you mean next door?” Roz asked.
“You bet. We missed all the action last night. Where are the Hammonds?” Lois asked.
“Why don’t you two come in and we’ll tell you all about it. Looks like we’ll be getting some new neighbors,” I said.
“You don’t say,” Lois said.
“Let’s hope they’re the “borrow a cup of sugar” variety this time,” Roz said with a smile.
“Amen to that, sister,” I said.
Chapter 48
Blossom Aquarius
Four months had passed since Burton’s heart attack and the Hammonds’ arrest. Joe has been our link for news about the bogus elixir and how the fraudulent ring of criminals had infiltrated five Florida retirement communities. The operation was quite large and included at least one couple at each community masquerading as married couples in their 60’s. So far, all five couples had been identified and were in their 50’s, the same as the Hammonds. There were also four people identified as cruise line employees who were buying the cocaine in Mexico and passing it along to Bill Levine, or Virgil. The cruise line employees had been apprehended and turned out to be the weak links, because they volunteered all they knew. Joe, Roz and I had to testify at the Hammonds’ trial for the prosecution. As it turned out, the Hammonds were convicted and would be in jail for at least fifteen years before their first probation hearing was scheduled. Burton had already decided, if he was still on this earth at that time, he would be at that hearing to convince their jailers to keep them locked up another fifteen years.
September arrived very quickly. Our summer had been extremely busy. Burton had been released from the hospital only a few days after his heart attack and surgery. The Rainbow’s End community had rallied around him, and showed great support in his time of need. We had stocked his refrigerator, cleaned his RV, and made sure there was no elixir available. Burton had already begun counseling and detox, and was doing quite well. By the end of August, he had contracted a local developer to build a new home on his two lots. One of the most generous things we’d ever seen Burton do was give his motor home to Lois and Morty as a wedding gift. He felt so badly about missing the nuptials and not being there for the couple when they married. He would turn over the motor home to them once his home was built.
Roz, Burton, and I had made a trip to New York City to join Roz’s daughter, Krista, and granddaughter Kendall in early September. An agent that Burton knew had agreed to audition Kendall as a favor. Both Roz and I were glad to hear the agent tell Kendall she had real promise and to come back when she finished high school and had more professional training. Kendall was disappointed, but Burton reassured her that this was only the beginning of a wonderful career. With his contacts and expertise, he promised her that he would be there when she was ready to go back to New York for more auditions.
One morning in mid-September, Roz and I had just stepped out on our front deck to take Max for a short walk when we saw a huge rental truck next door at the Hammonds’. We had a new neighbor. There had been rumors that the house had been rented for the coming year, so all the neighbors on Palm Street were anxious to see who would be joining us.
Max started growling as the front door of the Hammonds’ house opened and we saw a woman step out onto her deck. This was no ordinary woman. That was quite evident from first glance. She had short, spiky white hair that looked like it was coated with some kind of gel. She was quite heavy and had tattoos on every extremity, but the most alarming thing about this woman was the fact that she was buck naked except for some flip-flops on her feet. Her stomach hung down in a great roll and her boobs hung to her waist. When she saw us standing there with our mouths agape, she raised her hand and nonchalantly waved at us.
“Hey, yo! Mornin’ neighbors! My name is Blossom Aquarius, and as you can tell by my last name, that’s my zodiac sign. If either of you beautiful women is a Pisces or a Gemini, we’re going to have some rough times. I just don’t get along with that crowd,” Blossom said as she started down her steps.
Roz whispered to me as Blossom made her way toward us. “Holy moly, she’s coming our way!”
Keeping eye to eye contact with Blossom proved problematic. I found myself trying to figure out her tattoos. The one on her left arm was definitely Jerry Garcia’s face, granny glasses, beard and all, and on her right arm from her shoulder to her wrist in two inch bold black letters was ‘This is the dawning of the age of Aquarius’ with intricate scroll work interlaced. Her stomach area was covered in tattoos and from what I could see, they weren’t related other than the fact they were flowers. Or were those marijuana plants, butterflies, and angels? The angel’s faces were a little distorted now because Blossom’s belly hung so low. Even her legs were covered with musical notes and lyrics to a song I seemed to remember coming from the musical Hair. I was just getting a handle on the tattoos on her legs when she made her way over to us. Blossom now stood only six feet away in all her naked glory.
Roz picked up Max because he was growling in earnest now. I found my voice, and said, “My name is Joanie O’Hara and this is my sister, Roz Powell. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Blossom. You do realize that Rainbow’s End is not a nudist community, right?”
“Oh, hell yeah, but it’s early and I thought I’d be safe slipping out to the truck for my coffee pot. I just can’t get into the habit of wearing clothes anymore. I’ve been a confirmed nudist since my hey days in the 60’s. It’s getting harder and harder to find places that will allow you to go naked. I found this house just by chance in one of those Key West real estate flyers. Next time you see me, I’ll have on my peasant blouse and denim skirt, I promise. You know what? I think I’m going to really love it here, and now that I know you two are next door, I know it’s going to be great. Neither one of you are a Gemini or Pisces, are you?”
“Unfortunately, Blossom, we are, in fact, a Pisces and a Gemini,” Roz said.
“Uh-oh, we’re going to definitely have to sit down and talk this out before we get too chummy. I’ll keep an open mind if you two will do the same. Let’s get together in a couple of days and talk about our zodiac predicament. I’ve got to unload my truck and get settled in. Now if you two will excuse me, I need to get my coffee pot out of the truck. Hey yo, Jo and Ro! Oh, by the way, I love those hats you two are wearing. I may have to get me one of those!”
With that, Blossom turned around and walked to the truck, got her coffee pot, and went back inside.
“And we thought the Hammonds were a problem,” Roz said.
“Hey yo, Jo and Ro?” I said as we started down the street with Max.
Rainbow’s End Recipes
Chilies – Egg Puff
10 Eggs
½ cup flour
1 tsp. baking powder
½ tsp. salt
1 – 16 oz. carton cottage cheese
1 lb. Monterey Jack cheese, shredded
1 stick butter/margarine, melted
2 cans (4 oz. each) chopped green chilies
Preheat oven to 350º. Beat eggs until light and lemon colored. Add flour, baking powder, salt, cottage cheese, Jack cheese, and butter. Blend until smooth. Stir in chilies. Pour mixture into well-buttered 9x13 baking pan. Bake for about 35 minutes or until top
is browned and center appears firm. Serve immediately.
Makes 12 servings
Deviled Eggs
6 – Boiled eggs
2 Tbs. mayonnaise
½ tsp. yellow mustard
½ tsp. apple cider vinegar
3 Tbs. sweet pickle relish
Curry powder – to your taste
Salt/Pepper
Boil eggs until hard, peel, cut in half lengthwise. Remove yolk and mix with all other ingredients. Spoon or pipe this mixture back into egg halves. Sprinkle top with Paprika.
Black-eyed Pea Casserole
1 lb. ground sausage (your choice mild, medium or hot)
1 onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1 stalk celery, chopped
½ cup bell pepper, chopped
2 cups cooked white rice
1 can black-eye peas, drained (your choice with or without jalapeno)
1 can Rotel diced tomatoes
2 cups shredded cheese (your choice, Cheddar, Monterey Jack)
Preheat oven to 350º.
Brown sausage, drain grease, set aside. Saute vegetables until tender. Remove from heat, stir in rice, black-eye peas, and Rotel tomatoes. Pour into large, greased casserole dish. Top with grated cheese. Bake at 350º for 25 to 30 minutes until cheese is melted and casserole is hot.
Cheese Straws
1 lb. sharp cheese, grated
2 cups flour
¼ lb. butter, softened
Red Pepper
Dash garlic salt
3-4 Tbs. water
Preheat oven to 350º.
Cream the cheese and butter. Add flour and water, blend. Add garlic salt and red pepper to flour mixture. Blend to make a soft dough. Roll dough onto lightly floured surface into rectangle. Cut dough into 2” long, ½” wide sticks. Place cheese sticks on greased cookie sheet and bake 15-20 minutes at 350º. After browned, take out of oven and sprinkle lightly with table salt.
