Nathan March Investigations - Book 2: Murder, After the Fact - episode 10
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episode five
episode six
episode seven
episode eight
episode nine
Episode Ten
The strange look on the faces of George, Sam and Naomi led Nathan to turn around and when he did he saw that security was leading a colorfully-robed and striking looking gentleman toward Nathan, as he sat in the library with the others.
“Mr. March, this gentleman is named Madhav Swaartha and he’s asked to speak with you. He volunteered to be searched and he has no weapons sir,” said the young security officer.
Nathan stood and offered his hand and the smile on Madhav Swaartha’s face was so genuine, that Nathan couldn’t keep from smiling back at the Sufi.
“Ah you do have a wonderful aura Nathan March, it is a crisp blue color and I feel honored to be with you, sir,” said Madhav.
“Why don’t we move into the dining room so that we can enjoy some refreshments and a light dinner together,” said Nathan.
“Obviously you heard the rumble of my stomach, and I would be grateful for a small repast,” said Madhav.
Mickey Stone arrived back at the estate joining all five in the dining room with Martin, Reggie and Lena, serving the wonderful Italian dinner.
“May I offer a brief prayer,” said Madhav whose dark eyes sparkled with a knowledge that totally commanded respect, as all heads were bowed.
“Our bodies, our minds, our souls are yours Divine One as we are happy to be together sharing the now with each other. We thank you for the nourishment in front of us, as it restores health and strength to our bodies. We ask that you bless our speech with truth, and our minds with mercy and understanding, and our hearts with love freeing us to be all you call us to be. Allahu Akbar” said Madhav.
The dining room filled with the sounds of forks against plates as bowls of cheese ravioli and large meatballs were passed from one to the other along with ziti and fresh Italian bread.
For over ninety minutes light conversation and a spirit of gratitude for each other’s company filled the room until it was almost emotionally overwhelming. There was no mocking or foolish banter, simply joy at time spent satisfying their physical hunger and their spiritual need for togetherness as a group.
“Madhav, I believe your company has brought us the most delightful evening in this room any of us has spent, since we arrived,” said Nathan.
“Thank you my host. I would ask you to let me know when it is proper for me to share my story with you, and my reason for coming here to this wonderful place again,” said Madhav.
When more wine was poured, after gulping all of his water, Madhav sat quietly.
“Will you do us the honor of sharing now, Madhav,” said Nathan.
“I will, most certainly,” said Madhav.
The immediate tears that began shocked everyone in the room, as Madhav simply used his napkin to blot them.
“I miss my Eileen very much and she tells me that she misses me. Telling our story is difficult because in my birth country it is not allowed for a Muslim to love a non-Muslim, especially a white non-Muslim American. I met her two years after I lost the mother of my two eldest sons. She was not impressed with my being a Sufi or with the wealth at my disposal, and I was not impressed with her skills as a writer of great renown or her outstanding education.
“We began together with passion and we have not lost one ounce of that passion in the last ten years. Unwisely, I did not even try hard to end our relationship because I could not face life without her and I knew it. Instead I fathered one child and we expect another in four weeks. My older sons have been wonderful, and Eileen insists that all I possess go to them and all that she has earned is what should go to our children.
“Six years ago I met Collette at a dinner party hosted by a dear childhood friend who was here in America for a month, and had really been helped by Collette. Reading her aura, I was very honest and told Collette that unless she balanced out her conflicts, she would become gravely ill and perish.
“At Collette’s request I began counseling her and helping her to balance her energies by meeting with her in the early morning hours for several months, as a favor. She told me about her relationship with a younger man who she knew was not faithful. I comforted her and told her that I believed that faithfulness was absolutely necessary to build a life between two people and that all of us deserved the gift of trust in life.
“In a moment of compassion I shared my relationship with Eileen and the fact that if in my country knew of our relationship, I would be disgraced as would my entire family. I told her because I wanted to illustrate the sacrifices one gladly endures, when they really are in love.
“Within two weeks she notified me that she would reveal everything we discussed about Eileen, if she was not paid $10,000.00 each month. She then mailed me a copy of the tape of our discussion so that I would know she was serious. All I could do was pay for the sake of my boys and my Eileen,” said Madhav.
“My older sons were determined to destroy her by hiring an assassin to get rid of her, and destroy all her property. When I got word of this I told Collette to please stop the blackmail or she would be hurt seriously. Her response was an increase in my payments of $10,000 to $35,000.00 per month. Sadly I learned that my friend who had introduced us had died. When I asked her family what had happened to my beloved friend, they said she had surrendered all her assets, to an American witch named Collette Dickenson.”
“I fasted and prayed to release the anger and rage I felt and finally after weeks, it passed, and I could meditate again and live in harmony with all.
“One evening not too long ago, I dreamt of Collette, who was calling my name and asking for my forgiveness. In the dream I did forgive her and she seemed to know that I had. Then I saw her reclined on a bed and she was dead. The next I heard, the dream had come true. I was invited to attend her services, where I met her young man and felt his darkness.
“I was contacted a few weeks ago to begin paying once again. I presumed that it was her young man or a family member, who had access to Collette’s information and once again, I paid.
“Now Eileen and my boys tell me they do not care what happens or what is said, I must not reward the blackmailer any more.
“I came today to break this darkness and end the pain of the betrayal Collette began, and now someone else darker than she ever was needs to be stopped. My family name is of enormous importance to my precious father and mother who are still alive and enjoy the respect of all who live in their community. My sons have families too, and don’t deserve to be scorned or outcast because their father loves someone with all his heart, who has given him the joy of more children,” said Madhav.
Reggie’s eyes glistened with tears as she said “Madhav, I will gladly return every dime my mother took from you,” she stated.
“No dear child, no. This is not necessary. Each member of my family has money beyond what they will ever be able to spend in a lifetime. I do not believe what Eileen and I have together is wrong, and I will marry her before the birth of our second child and live here in America permanently, once I convince her to be my wife. I want all darkness removed so we can begin bright and new and above all, free from fear of reprisals against my family,” said Madhav.
“I give you my solemn word, you will not hear about any more threats to the reputation of your family,” said Nathan.
“You can believe his promise for sure, said Mickey.
“Thank you both. I believe what you say is true, Mr. March,” said Madhav who seemed to pause and after closing his eyes, had a message for Nathan.
“My generous host, now I promise you something. Seven weeks will pass from your first night in this house, and after five more days, you will leave here having set all things right,” said Madhav.
“That’s just over two weeks away,” said Mickey.
“Please believe that from the non-physical realm it will be brought to pass,” said Madhav.
“Madhav, I do believe you and I hope you will share any other messages with us. I thank you for your visit here,” said Nathan.
“Sufi Swaartha, this place needs a happiness cleansing. Do you think you could do one for me, so that what happens on these grounds brings goodness and harmony to everyone who visits or stays here from now on?” asked Reggie.
The Sufi paused in silence for a brief moment and then Madhav spoke.
“One day a child will be conceived here and because of the strength of the love that makes that child, these grounds will have been cleansed, I promise you,” said Madhav smiling in the direction of Reggie.
“We could walk the grounds and say a prayer of thanksgiving at the four points, if you’d like Ms. Dickenson,” said Madhav.
“Oh yes, I would love that,” said Reggie beaming at the Sufi.
“Then you will excuse us so that we may take advantage of the setting sun before it is too dark,” said Madhav to the others.
Taking the arm of the Sufi, Reggie seemed to glow and as they left for their walk, Nathan could sense her transformation from a victim of shame and guilt to a young woman beginning to live a life of gratitude.
Each remaining member of the household was lost in their own thoughts about the conversation they’d just shared. George Lopez took Naomi’s arm as he led her out to the gazebo with his hand covering hers. The gold and red of the sunset lit up his eyes as he made her sit on the bench inside and he knelt down on one knee.
“Naomi, it’s my wish to be your husband as soon as possible. I love you Naomi and you know that I do. I realized earlier today when you pushed me away that you wanted what is between us to be real and not driven by our sexual needs. I’m not telling you I haven’t walked away from other women who felt the same way, but with you everything is different, everything feels right. Working with you I’ve gotten to know you from the inside out and I like what I’ve learned about you very much. So please say you will marry me and trust that everything will work out alright.” said George.
“If Nathan’s call had come even one hour later, I would not have been available for this case. Now here I sit as the man I have longed for over two years, asks me to be his wife. It’s too wonderful, and yes I want to marry you more than anything in this world,” said Naomi.
“We need to tell your father,” said George.
“He’s going to go into shock,” said Naomi laughing out loud.
“And my parents will be even more thrilled because I’m the first to marry of their seven sons and the youngest,” said George.
“Oh George seven boys, how did they do it?” said Naomi.
“My father’s the seventh son in his family, and the youngest as well,” said George.
“That makes you the seventh son of a seventh son, I read somewhere that it means something special I think,” said Naomi.
The kiss they shared was the kind filled with hope, joy and a tenderness that would repeat itself over and over again in the days ahead.
Naomi knocked gently on the door to Nathan’s room and even in the happy state she was in, she began to shake a little.
“The door’s open, come on in Naomi,” said Nathan.
Seeing Mickey sitting at a desk making notes, she smiled.
“So Mickey any word on the lady friend of Brenda Mayhill?”
“Sam says everything about her is clean including her own business enterprise and her credit rating. No personal information sends up red flags. She keeps a low profile, has no police records and she had no connection to our investigation of Collette Dickenson,” said Mickey.
“Is there something you wanted to speak to me about Naomi,” said Nathan knowing full well there was.
“I said YES Nathan, I love him so much,” said Naomi.
“Yeah I know he’s in the same condition, in love I mean. Does he know you want to elope, instead of having a big family wedding?” he asked.
“I’m not going to ask how you know these things, because Dad says it’s all natural to you but to answer your question NO, I couldn’t tell him. Of course you being a man and all he’d listen to you explain that I just want to go back home his wife,” said Naomi.
“Wouldn’t that mean taking unfair advantage?” asked Nathan.
“Oh Nathan, I don’t need diamonds or a church wedding, I just want us to stand before God and witnesses, and take our vows.
“Who knows why but I’m not like my older sister I hate the limelight. Besides so many of my friends are on their second marriages after first weddings that made the magazines and society columns and ended a year or two later. That includes my sister who’s on her second divorce.
“George and I have a magic that I don’t want ruined by temper tantrums and other people’s opinion of how things are done. Please tell me you understand Nathan,” said Naomi.
“I want to say that you should give your relationship more time to be sure. I want to also say that a father dreams of his daughter in a wedding gown looking like a princess on her wedding day. I want to say leaving him out of such a special event will hurt him greatly. I want to say all of that, but in my spirit I know that George Lopez is right for you and you are perfect for him. You have the right to a wedding of your choosing, so long as George wants the same thing.
“If you do elope, wear white and wear flowers in your hair and take many pictures. Then the two of us will remind your father, that I was his best man when he and your mother ran away and got married after college graduation,” said Nathan.
“All those people in their wedding album, they weren’t their wedding guests?” asked Naomi.
“They were guests of the Holiday Inn where they were enjoying their dinners, while a freelance photographer posed your parents with them, and snapped photos that they put in an album for your grandmother to show her friends. Your Dad left for Vietnam two weeks later,” said Nathan.
“Oh Nathan, thanks for telling me. Maybe George will listen when I tell him,” said Naomi.
“I think he’d do just about anything for you, young lady,” said Nathan as he kissed her forehead and watched her head upstairs.
Cohen Funeral Home’s cosmetician did such a good job that Morty Schulman’s coffin was able to be opened at the viewing earlier.
He may have had a delayed funeral, but he would have had no complaints with the viewing whatsoever. The flowers were breathtaking, the three stretch limos followed by all the cars were impressive, and the heavy walnut coffin with brass handles and an identification plate of pure gold on its lid, was first class.
The four huge pallbearers John, Sam, George and Mickey drew the most attention effortlessly bearing the coffin with movements so identical it looked like they’d rehearsed.
Earlier John escorted Lena Phelps, dressed as Bessie with such care that she never felt better. Wearing a blonde wig, a black polyester pantsuit with sunglasses and a huge black hat that looked more like a sombrero with an attached veil, Lena was having the time of her life.
Playing her own role as Mitzi, Naomi wore a short black leather skirt, fishnet stockings and a skin-tight black turtleneck with cut outs.
At the grave-site the two women took their place in front of the casket with Morty’s three distant cousins totally ignoring them.
Across from them, Nathan watched while George did his best to keep himself in check, as several male guests eyed Naomi and openly admired her fabulous pair of legs, including a good looking young chauffer, who kept moving closer to get a better view of her.
At Nathan’s side wearing matching designer sunglasses was Reggie Dickenson looking demure holding onto his arm. To her right were Detective Peter Ryan and his partner for the day officer Laurie Gibbs in a navy blue suit, wearing a wedding band.
Mini cameras were worn by Nathan’s people, on lapels, neckties even Naomi wore one attached to one of her huge silver hoop earrings.
There were over eighty people gathered at the grave-site and Naomi was glad she made reservations for one hundred guests, for the funeral compilation at the Bayside Restaurant.
Inside and around the large white canvas tent they gathered as Rabbi Eli Jacobson spoke a few words.
“Morton Schulman would be the first to tell you that he was not perfect. He’d tell you if he could, that he made lots of mistakes and regretted a lot of the things he did, believing he’d get a chance to redeem himself one day well before his death, anyway that‘s what he told me once a long time ago.
“His death when it came didn’t allow him a chance to do anything but regret its arrival far too early, and the pain it brought with it. Still there’s plenty he could teach us all about waiting too long to turn things around.
“I know if he could he would tell us to make amends while we have life in us. He’d tell us to straighten out the lies we’ve all told, confess the things we blamed on others, and to spend time with God so we’d correctly identify the ways we rob ourselves of a chance for happiness every day.
“I met Mitzi Hall when she requested I conduct these services, and the kindness I saw in her face tells me that she would have made Morty very happy in the later years of his life, had he lived,” said the Rabbi.
Nathan smiled thinking George would have had a lot to say about that, just as George finished thinking the same thing.
“Grief left Bessie Schulman too numb to handle these arrangements but it’s the only time she couldn’t find the strength to be of help to her former husband. Their devotion, their friendship and empathy, one for the other, continued well after their marriage ended.
“Among the attendees here today, there are those of you who had reason to love Morty, to be grateful that he was a part of your life, and those of you who will miss him for a long time to come. If you want to truly do justice to his memory, go home today and start over.
“Forgive yourself, forgive others and then begin again. Try to put any behavior you’re ashamed of behind you. Reach out for what you used to think was too difficult, or impossible to obtain, and trust that the more your desire something, the more you can believe God wants it for you too.
“And don’t forget Morty and how much he would have appreciated a second chance. Let him inspire your second chance today. Thank you all for coming,” said the Rabbi to a crowd of much moved attendees.
At the Bayside Restaurant’s Private Party Room tables began to fill up fast and lunch was underway in a spirit of reflection and warmth. The only reason for accommodating the gathering on such short notice, was the doubling of the menu’s prices, which Bessie Schulman’s last check from a bank in Atlanta would amply cover.
Detective Peter Ryan kept his glances short as he fed information to Laurie Gibbs on the identities of some organized crime members, and some business people who were more than a tad bit shady.
Talking earlier, the two had discussed that the trend had come back around, so that in print and on TV, the media spent its resources endeavoring to explain why people went wrong with the help of so called experts. They both agreed that this allowed many assailants to blame the victims themselves for their own misfortune. The police needed help from the public far more than ever, and despite the mistrust and suspicion between the public and the police, someone who was neither saint nor sinner, came forward in enough time to even things up.
One of the funeral guests was Eddie Pesky, a small time burglar whose five foot height and ninety-two pound weight, made him successful at getting in and out of places few others could. At forty years of age he was the “go to guy” when one knew where the money was, but couldn’t get to it by normal means. He might be asked to do a job where a husband in debt might need to steal jewelry that was real and replace it with a paste copy, so he could get even again. Or a young woman might want some recompense from her boyfriend by stealing furs and jewelry from his wife. When Eddie got a call he first assessed the danger and then priced his work.
The truth was that Morty Schulman’s jobs had paid for the home Eddie’s mother and sister shared with him. Morty got Eddie work even in the lean times when no one had a job. Sometimes Eddie had to wait to get paid but Morty made sure Eddie’s family ate, and there was fuel to keep his home warm. Eddie loved Morty and hurt plenty when he heard how his benefactor died.
In between huge sighs and lots of tears, Eddie’s eyes scanned the other guests, happy such a big group came together for his friend. Eventually he spotted Nathan March who he remembered from a talk show where some female guests were making fools of themselves, trying to get his attention. Eddie liked the way Nathan explained that given enough reason, enough pain and disappointment any of us were capable of bowing to our dark side, even going as far as murder. Eddie knew it was true, but while he may be capable of stealing the eye from anyone’s head, murder never made sense to him and he let everyone know that.
His friend Morty didn’t deserve what he got and Eddie didn‘t believe any of the gentlemen he knew from the two mob families, would have taken him out because Morty was good for it, whatever it was.
Nathan March stood and put out his hand to the tiny man who approached his table. Eddie Pesky knew immediately that this guy was alright.
“I’m Nathan March what can I do for you sir?” he asked.
“The name’s Eddie, Eddie Pesky and I’m not so sure you should be seen with me Mr. March but I do want to ask for your help,” said Eddie.
“Please join us Eddie and let me decide if I can help,” said Nathan.
“I feel like an old lady the way I keep breaking down but you see Morty was my friend. Whether I was wanted for questioning and needed a place to stay, or flush with cash he treated me the same, I was family to him.
Mr. March someone set him up to die and I’m hoping that you are here because someone else thinks so too. I’m carrying a thousand bucks in cash and I can get you another nine thousand, if you’ll drop everything and concentrate on finding out exactly who ordered his death,” said Eddie as Mickey listened attentively and Detective Peter Ryan and Laurie Gibbs pretended to be involved in their own conversation.
“Eddie, I’m on a case in which Morty is entangled and it may be that solving his murder will help me solve the homicide I came here to resolve. If that’s the case and I believe it is, you only need to wait it out while I and my associates do what we do quite well,” said Nathan.
“If you need any information, if there’s anything or anyone that you need me to help you with, I promise you I will sir,” said Eddie.
“Eddie, were you asked to move some assets from the Dickenson estates, in the recent past,” said Nathan.
“Yes sir, I was but that place was getting crowded with dead bodies so I told Morty that he needed to sit on all the stuff awhile longer and I could work out a way to get it out of there for him without any risk at all,” said Eddie.
“Thanks for your honesty Eddie,” said Nathan.
“Bishop and Bishop invited me to their law offices at 6:00PM. I’m in his will and I still can’t believe it. Maybe you and the lady should come too, you never know what’s going to be said,” added Eddie.
“If you’re inviting us, we would very much like to come,” said Nathan.
“Consider it done. They’re located on Garrison Avenue, Building 33 they call it. See you at six,” said Eddie.
“It took Nathan less than five minutes to catch Naomi’s eye and after traveling to the ladies room, she was out the back door where Nathan was waiting for her.
“Since there is no Mitzi Hall she wouldn’t be invited to the reading of Morty’s will tonight. “I’ll be going with Reggie due to an invite from Eddie Pesky,” said Nathan.
Inside the ladies room Naomi reapplied the wonderful theater makeup on Lena Phelps that truly transformed her into Bessie Schulman with the help of a hat so large it was nearly comical.
“Well at least I don’t have to go with guys to the lawyer’s office for the reading of his will,” said Naomi.
“They’ve scheduled that already?” asked Lena.
“Yeah, I heard his cousins talking about it,” said Naomi.
“So Bessie was even left out of the will,” said Lena who like Naomi thought that was strange.
“Poor Bessie maybe that’s the reason she decided to leave so fast. She was probably so devastated and after paying cash for his funeral and all, she no longer cared who murdered Morty,” said Naomi.
Not surprisingly at the table where the handsome pallbearers sat all together, there was a stream of ladies who were members of the restaurant’s regular lunch crowd, trying to get to know them better.
Naomi’s glances told George to ignore the stunning blonde who couldn’t stop herself from bending over to reveal a well-developed bosom.
Soon both George and Mickey excused themselves. The plan was to head over to the home of Vincent Bertrillo to discuss the tragic death of the Hart sisters with him. Nathan’s request that they accompany him to Bishop and Bishop later in the day meant canceling that appointment.
Mickey was surprised when he called Mr. Bertrillo and the man insisted on coming to the estate at 4:00PM to speak with Nathan personally. Mickey accepted his request for Nathan, knowing that he was going to enjoy hearing about that meeting immensely.