by K. J. Cazel
"Yes."
"That's all they questions I have for Mr. Smith. Your honor."
The news reports were keying in on their iPads. It was obvious to them that there were reasonable doubts about the validity of the fingerprints.
Michael glanced back and could see that the effects of the last question had an impact on them and probably the judge as well. Now, was the time for his last request. He stood up and faced the judge. Sarah was unaware of what action he was about to take.
"Your honor, the plaintiff request that the body buried in Sarah Williams grave be exhumed."
Rodney's attorney immediately stood up. "I object to this exhumation. This would put extreme stress on my client and a desecration of his wife's grave."
The news reporters were again keying into their iPads. The case was now becoming sensationalizing and would be on the evening news. Cameramen and reporters left the courtroom to get ready for the exodus of the participants leaving the room.
Michael looked at the judge to see if he could read his face. He could tell that this was no longer a case of proving someone legally alive but possible fraud and homicide.
"Gentlemen, I would like to review the transcript of the proceedings. We will resume at 2:00 p.m. You are dismissed until then."
***
When the judge entered at the 2:00 p.m. Everyone stood up anxiously awaiting for the judges decision. Michael had never before requested an exhumation. He knew that it required a lot of documentations and could prove to be costly. And, the outcome may not be favorable. He looked back at Carole in the visitors’ gallery. She smiled and nodded her head in reassurance that he did the right thing.
The judge looked at the courtroom. Every eye was on him. He was either going to enhance his career or ruin it.
"It has been decided by this court that the body in the Sarah Williams grave will be exhumed and examined based on the dental records provided." He struck his wood mallet and got up and left the courtroom.
CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
Rodney didn't speak to his attorney as he left the courtroom. He rushed past reporters as they tried to question him about the court preceding. Once outside, he flagged down a cab
"Where to?" the cabbie asked.
"City bank on Wabash."
When the arrived, Rodney directed the cabbie to wait while he conducted his business. He entered the bank and waited for the first available teller. When he approached the teller he presented his identification and account information.
"I would like to withdraw $7,000.00 from my account." Rodney knew that the account had more than sufficient funds. As long as he stays under $10,000.00, there should be no problems.
"This will take a few minutes."
The teller took the identification and withdrawal form to the head cashier. The head cashier reviewed the information and looked over at Rodney. She recognized him from previous transaction. She looked over to the teller’s station to verify the photo identification. She handed the documents back to the teller and walked over to a safe. After a few minutes she returned and handed the teller the money. The teller took the money and documents and returned to her station. The teller returned Rodney's identification and counted out the money, laying the one hundred dollar bills on the counter. Rodney opened his briefcase and neatly stacked the bills inside his case. Without a comment he left the bank and returned to the waiting cab,
"Where to?"
"O'Hare."
On the drive to the expressway to O'Hare, Rodney leaned back as he searched his pocket for his iPhone. He flipped his iPhone open and contacted the airline. He was able to make a direct flight for Vegas at 5:00 p.m. After that was accomplished he found a familiar number.
"Sergio?"
"Yes, Mr. Smith."
"I'll be arriving around 8:00 p.m. Please have my friend ready for me at the hotel."
"Are you sure you want her? I am available."
"Just do as I say. You're paid well to follow directions."
Being a repeat customer, Rodney had no problem booking a suite at the Palace Hotel.
As the clerk gave the key card to Rodney's suite, Sergio came up to him, Ginny tagging along behind. The three took the elevator to the room. Once inside Rodney opened his briefcase and took out $1,000.00 giving it to Sergio. Sergio silently took the cash and left the room leaving Ginny behind. Rodney locked the door.
Ginny started taking off her clothes. Rodney turned from the door and approached Ginny. He grabbed her by the wrist and pushed her against the wall. His weight held her there.
“I've had it with you! You were always being held up to me as that perfect child." He started repeated punching her in the stomach. Her arms tried to push him away to avoid his assault. Tears ran down her face her eyes as she begged Rodney to stop.
"I haven't done anything to you."
"You and everyone like you." He slapped her hard across the face. Tears flowed freely down Ginny's checks. Rodney stepped back and Ginny fell to the floor. She started crawling toward the door. Before she could reach it, Rodney lifted his foot and gave Ginny another hit to the stomach. She fell flat to the floor. Rodney watched and smiled as Ginny tried to get up by grabbing the table leg. The movement caused the lamp to shatter as it crashed to the floor. Rodney grabbed Ginny by the back of her hair pulling her to a sitting position.
Ginny cried in pain. "Stop, you're hurting me. I wanna go."
"You're not leaving. I'm not through with you."
Ginny kicked and was able to pull away. In a bent over position, clutching her stomach with one hand, she tried to reach the side table to put it in between her and Rodney. Rodney's long arm reached out and threw the table to the side hitting the television.
Ginny called out, "Sergio Help me!"
"He's not going to help you. I've paid for you to do what I want to do. Right now you are going to pay for that bitch."
Ginny fled toward the bathroom door, but couldn't reach it before Rodney caught her by the arm. He turned her around facing her.
"You should have been dead."
Ginny realized that Rodney was not talking to her but to someone else. In a blood curling voice she called out again for help.
Sergio was down the hallway when he heard the noise coming from the suite. He went to the door and pounded on the door trying to get Rodney's attention.
"Go away. This is personal business."
Sergio opened his phone and called down to his friend in security. He told him that his girl was in trouble and he needed access to the room. In a few minutes, the security guard arrived. From the cries within, they could tell that bad things where going on in the room. The security guard took out his master key. He and Sergio burst into the room. Ginny was lying on the floor curled up in a ball. Her face was bloodied and black and blue marks were already appearing on her face and body.
Before he could attend Ginny, Sergio approached Rodney and hit him in the eye.
"That's for Ginny. Don't ever call me again."
Sergio bent down and scooped her up in his arms. As he left the room with Ginny, he grabbed Rodney's briefcase.
Rodney struggled with Sergio to get his briefcase back, but was halted by the security guard. "I'd let them go if you don't want any charges against you."
"But that's my briefcase."
"I didn't see any briefcase. I'd advise you to leave now!"
***
Steve entered the precinct and went over to Tom's desk.
"I don't know were he’s been, but someone gave him a shiner.
CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
It was midmorning when the last official arrived at the gravesite of Sarah Williams. Michael Harrington stood next to Tom and Steve. The two detectives wanted to be with the cemetery official, along with the health department. The health department official instructed the workers as to the precautions that must be taken for the exhumation. Before completing their instructions, Rodney's attorney exited his Mercedes and ran to the site.
Tom turne
d to Steve shaking his head, “You'd think our man would want to witness this himself.”
“Yea, right. He'd want to protect the grave of his loving wife.” Steve said sardonically
Once the crane had lifted the casket to the side of the grave, the ambulance technicians brought a cart over to bring the casket to the medical examiner's office.
As the ambulance drove off, everyone departed each going in different directions.
***
Tom and Steve left the cemetery to return to the precinct. When they arrived a sergeant handed him a folder. Steve opened it and read the documents. He made no comment but gave the folder to Tom for his perusal. When he finished reading the document, he turned to Steve, “I think it's time we bring Mr. Rizzo in for some more questioning.”
A short time later they arrived at the offices of Robinson—Williams reception desk. They flashed their detective badges at the receptionist and requested to speak to Mr. Rizzo. The young receptionist hands shook as she made a call. She spoke in to the phone. She put the receiver down. In an unsure voice, she informed them that Mr. Rizzo would be right down. After nearly fifteen minutes the elevator bell dinged. The door opened and Michael Rizzo hesitantly approached the two detectives.
“Detectives, what can I do for you today?” he voice had a slight quiver to it.
“We'd like you to come down to the precinct to answer some more questions,” Tom stated in an authoritative tone.
“I've told you all I know. I can't think of anything I've left out.”
“We'd still like you come to the precinct.”
“Am I under arrest.”
“No. We just need answers to some questions.”
“Can't it be done here?”
“Humor us.”
“Okay, I’ll get my coat and let my staff know I'll be back after lunch. I will won't I?”
The detectives answered in unison, “Yes.”
***
Rodney sat at his desk in the library. His laptop was open. He was reviewing some of his recent photographs. When he got to the movie, he stopped and smiled. As he smiled, he felt a pain in his face from the encounter with Sergio. He picked up his phone placing a call to Mrs. Green. He told her that he wasn't feeling well and wouldn't be in for several days. Then he asked her to transfer the call to Paul Hendrix.
“Paul.”
“Yes, Rodney what can I do for you.”
“I just wanted to talk to you about Sarah.”
Paul took out a clean sheet of paper to document what Rodney had to say.
“What about Sarah.”
“Well, she certainly pulled the wool over our eyes. I can't believe she went to such length to discredit me. Even putting someone else's in her grave. Can you believe it?”
“What would she have to gain?”
“Well, she wanted to gain complete control of the company. In fact, she asked me several times to sign over my rights.”
“Really?” Paul jotted on his notepad Rodney’s fabrication.
“Yes, when I didn't sign, she disappeared. I certainly didn't expect she's go to such length. Her story was so unbelievable. Say that I attacked her. And, I can’t believe she had plastic surgery to reinforce the lies.”
“I'm sure the court will sort it all out.”
“I hope so. Listen, I'm not feeling well. I won't be in for a few days. We can talk more about this when I get in.” As usual, Rodney hung up without saying any more.
***
Steve and Tom escorted Rizzo to the integration room at the precinct. As Rizzo sat down he asked, “Am I going to need a lawyer?”
Tom and Steve sat across from Rizzo.
Tom replied, “No, what we'd like to know is what you know about Mr. Williams. We felt you would feel more at ease to answer here rather than in Mr. Williams’ domain.”
“Uh, okay.”
Tom opened the folder in front of him and gave Rizzo the impression that he was reviewing the contents for the first time.
“Tell me, Mike, I can call you Mike okay?”
“Yes.”
“Okay Mike when did you first meet Mr. Williams.”
Before answering Rizzo made a hard swallow, which both Tom and Steve noticed.
“Ah, I guess it was when we were freshman at Ridgeway Academy.”
“That would be the private boys school in Wisconsin?”
“Yes.”
“How did you meet him? Were you in classes together?” Tom knew the answer to these questions. It only took several phone calls for one of the sergeants to the Academy to get the information. He was testing Rizzo to see how forthcoming he was.
“Well, uh uh, we were roommates and we shared many classes.”
“Did you have any problems at school?”
“What do you mean?”
“Our investigators found that you left in December of your freshman year. Did you have a problem with anyone at school?
“Uh, I don't know where you're going with this. I don't wish to answer any more questions. Can I leave now?”
“Just a few more questions. It won’t take long. There was a scandal at the school would you like to tell us about it?”
“Not really. I only know what I heard.”
“Well, what did you hear?”
Rizzo started squirming in his chair. His eyes drifted to the door indicating that he wanted to leave. The conversation was going someplace with this questioning that he didn't wish to talk about.
“Mike?”
“Our house master was accused for having sex with some of the boys.”
“Were you and Williams involved?”
Tears stated to come down Rizzo's face.
“Lets move on. When was the next time you encountered Mr. Williams?”
“We both went to UW-Madison, but I didn't hang around him at UW.”
“But, you did meet up with him.”
“I ran into him at the Student Union my senior year.”
“And, what did you talk about?”
“He talked about his father's publishing company. He offered me a job when I graduated.”
“Your degree was in music. Wasn't that sort of a stretch?”
“The money was so good, I figured what the heck. So I took the job.”
“Did Williams want you to do something for you in return?”
Rizzo pushed his chair back making a scraping noise at the same time. He rose from his chair and started for the door. Steve got up from his chair and blocked his way.
Tom stood up and faced him at the doorway. “Mike during your senior year, Mr. Williams’ girlfriend disappeared. Her body was found in a lake in northern Wisconsin. Did he ever mention this to you?”
“I don't know anything. I'm leaving.”
“Before you leave, Mike I have one final question.”
Rizzo tried to move around Steve to get out of the room.
“Mike did Hailey Morgan tell you she was seeing Mr. Williams?”
Rizzo knew he had to answer the question. He couldn't protect his ex-lover any longer.
“Yes.”
“Thank you, Mike. That will be all.”
Steve stepped away from the door and let him leave the room.
“Steve, we have the connection. We just need the proof.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX
Tom and Steve sat at their desks reviewing their case files. Was there something there that they didn't see?
Steve looked up an asked: “When do you think the medical examiner will finish on the exhumed body?”
“Don’t know, but maybe that body will lead us to Williams.”
***
“It's been a week Carole. How long do I have to wait to get myself back?”
“You have to be patient. Michael said that this was going to take some time and money to get your identity back.”
***
Rodney greeted Mrs. Green as he stepped off the elevator on the tenth floor of Robinson—Williams.
“Mrs. Green, have Mike
Rizzo from the editorial staff come to my office. Just send him in when he arrives.”
“Yes Mr. Williams.”
Five minutes later Mike Rizzo stood at the doorway of Rodney's office.
“Come in Mike. Close the door behind you.”
Rizzo came in stopping at the front of Rodney's desk.
“Sit down Mike. We have to talk about your recent meeting with the police.”
Rizzo hesitated as he sat down. He knew he was at a disadvantage when he was in Rodney's presence. Not only was Rodney six inches taller than his 5'8” statue. He also outweighed him by 35 pounds of muscle.
“Mike, what did the police want?”
“They just asked about Hailey Morgan.”
Rodney forehead furrowed and his eyes narrowed. He could read Rizzo like a book. Their history went back to their youth. He could tell he wasn't telling all.
In a soft voice to disarm Rizzo he asked, “Come on Mike. You want to tell me everything.”
Rizzo shifted around on the chair. He glanced toward the door to see if someone would come in and stop this interrogation. No one came.
He took a deep breath and replied, “They asked me how we met. I told them we met at school.”
“And was there anything else?”
“They had a file that had all the stuff about the scandal at the Academy.”
“And what did you tell them?”
“Nothing, nothing more that was in the newspapers.”
“Fine, fine. Was there anything else?”
Rizzo knew he was in dangerous territory now. He knew what had happened at UW.
“They asked if I knew you at UW?”
“And, what did you say?”
“Just like we discussed. That you and I met and we caught up on old times and that's when you offered me a job at Robinson—Williams.”
Rodney replied in a harsher tone, “You better remember. You were part of disposing of the body. You are an accessory to the crime. You wouldn't do well in prison.”
“That was over ten years ago. Isn't that a cold case like TV?”
“And, like TV it can be opened again.”
