by Leena Clover
“You want to let him eat first?”
“Let him have his last supper,” Adam quipped.
Adam Hopkins sat at a table near Ira Brown, enjoying his own omelet. He stood up as soon as he saw Ira push his plate aside.
Jenny watched from the counter as Adam spoke to the man. Ira shook his head from side to side and waved his arms in the air. Finally, his head dropped as he seemed to give in. Adam took him by the arm and ushered him outside.
The phone in the kitchen rang ten minutes later.
“You want to sit in on this?” Adam asked.
Jenny almost ran the two blocks to the police station. Nora, the desk clerk, waved her through. Ira sat in a small room, tapping his fingers on the desk. Adam came out and spoke to Jenny.
“He admits being a volunteer at the July 4th event. He says he attended the awards ceremony.”
“Then why isn’t he in any of the photos?”
“He was backstage.”
“That’s a lie!”
Adam shrugged.
“I have nothing to hold him here, really. Is there anything you want to ask him?”
“Adam Hopkins!” Jenny exclaimed. “Are you actually allowing me to question a suspect? Isn’t that part of police business?”
“Just this once, Jenny,” Adam warned. “Don’t get used to it.”
Jenny entered the room and sat down next to Adam. Ira Brown was surprised to see her.
“What are you doing here?”
Jenny didn’t beat around the bush.
“You lied to me about David Gold.”
“David who?”
Jenny pulled out her phone and began dialing David.
Ira held up a hand.
“I know him, okay. So what?”
“Why are you here in Pelican Cove?”
“I’m here for the birds. I am writing a book on birds of the Delmarva.”
“So you are a bird professor? What do they call them, ornithologist?”
Ira Brown leaned back in his chair before he answered.
“I teach a lot of things. Let’s say the birds are a hobby.”
“You are a professor of Jewish Studies, aren’t you?” Jenny challenged.
Ira shrugged.
“Why did you volunteer for the July 4th parade?”
“I like to keep busy. The long weekend can get kind of lonely for a single person like me. It was a way to be around people.”
“Oh?” Jenny said. “Have you made any friends in town?”
“I met a few people,” Ira said.
“Was Asher Cohen one of them?”
“You mean that 100 year old guy? He was a bit hoity toity.”
Jenny wrote something on a piece of paper and handed it to Adam. Adam read it, nodded, and stepped out.
Jenny waited until he came back.
“Are you writing a book about the Holocaust?” she resumed a few minutes later.
“Who told you that?” Ira asked. “I’m just getting started.”
“What kind of research are you doing for it?”
“How is that relevant?” Ira demanded. “Why am I here, anyway?” He pointed a finger at Adam. “You can’t just keep me here and ask these nonsensical questions.”
“You saw the old photos that David Gold has, didn’t you?” Jenny pushed on. “You saw the photo of a man called Asher Cohen.”
Ira said nothing.
“You saw an opportunity to blackmail an old man. You asked him for money. When he didn’t agree, you killed him in a fit of rage.”
Ira laughed.
“You’re crazy. Most of those photos are faded. And they are from before the war.”
“And they show Jewish people living in luxury,” Jenny snapped. “You couldn’t take that, could you? You came here and saw another Jew living a life of luxury. You couldn’t tolerate that. So you killed him.”
“You have it all wrong,” Ira Brown said.
“I know I’m right, Mr. Brown. You are an antisemite. That’s why you killed Asher Cohen.”
Ira Brown’s eyes bulged in disbelief.
“Me? An antisemite? My grandfather was at Auschwitz. I grew up hearing stories of Nazi brutality. Do you understand? And I am Jewish myself. Have you forgotten that? How can I be an antisemite?”
There was a knock on the door. Someone handed a note over to Adam. Adam’s face changed as he read it. He looked at Ira with a sneer.
“You went fishing with Asher Cohen. You knew him well. We have a witness who saw you talking to him after the parade.”
“So why did you kill a fellow Jew?” Jenny asked.
Ira Brown banged his fist on the table. His ears had turned red.
“He wasn’t a Jew,” he thundered.
Then he sang like a canary.
Chapter 22
Linda Cohen sat on a couch with her youngest daughter Dawn by her side. The other Cohen clan sat on chairs and couches around the big parlor. Emma and Heidi huddled close together and Walt had an arm around his wife’s shoulders. Luke Stone leaned against a table.
Jenny took a deep breath before she spoke. Jason patted her on the shoulder, giving her an encouraging look.
“Hello everyone,” Jenny began. “Thanks for coming.”
“Why is she calling a meeting?” Heidi grumbled. “Haven’t we suffered enough?”
“Be quiet, Heidi,” Walt ordered. “None of this would have come to light without her help. We owe her.”
“Owe her what? A lifetime of disgrace?” Heidi muttered.
“That’s enough, Heidi,” Linda said. “Go on, Jenny.”
“Ira Brown killed your father,” Jenny told Walt. “He gave a full confession.”
“And he did it because our father was a Nazi?” Emma asked.
“It appears so,” Jenny said.
“Can you tell us the whole story?” Linda requested. “Please?”
“I can tell you what I pieced together,” Jenny said. “There may still be some missing elements.”
A heavy silence settled around the room as Jenny began her story.
“Let’s refer to your father as Asher for the sake of simplicity,” Jenny started.
“Apparently, Asher was an officer in Hitler’s army. He used the name of Asher Cohen to escape to Switzerland and later come to America. He spent his whole life under that name. As you all know, he had a family, a business, a normal life. He never spoke much about his past. He didn’t have any obvious religious affiliations, preferring to immerse himself in his work.”
“Where does Ira Brown come in?” Heidi asked.
“Ira Brown is the son of Jewish immigrants. His grandfather was a Holocaust survivor. Ira grew up listening to tales of Nazi brutality. He chose Jewish Studies as his subject and did more research on that period in history. We can say he was completely immersed in it.”
“So he hated Nazis with a vengeance,” Walt nodded.
“I suppose we can say that,” Jenny agreed. “Some of what Ira Brown told us was true. He rented a cottage here on the island for the summer. He wanted a break from his usual life. He is an avid bird watcher. He had planned to spend the summer studying the birds of the region. He was looking forward to a quiet summer.”
“How did he meet my Asher?” Linda asked.
Jenny looked at Jason and shrugged.
“We don’t know that for sure. He might have run into him somewhere in town.”
“That’s right,” Luke Stone spoke up. “Asher met him at the bait and tackle shop. They got talking about fishing.”
“I guess Asher invited him to fish in our creek?” Linda asked sadly.
“Yes,” Luke said. “They met a few times. Asher told him about the centennial and even invited him to the party at our house.”
“It’s all pretty straightforward so far,” Walt said. “What went wrong?”
“Ira Brown knew this man called David Gold. David’s grandfather was also a Holocaust survivor. His family escaped before the war. They had plenty of keepsakes in
the form of journals and old photographs. David played an active part in some Jewish association. They brought those photos out during the meetings. People liked to see the photos and talk about the good old days, days when their ancestors were rich and famous and led lavish lives in Germany. Ira attended these meetings.”
“He saw those photos?” Heidi asked, now drawn into the story.
Jenny nodded. “We can only guess.”
“And you think my Asher was in one of them?” Linda asked.
“I have seen those photos,” Jenny told the assembled people. “They are old and faded but you wouldn’t believe the life they depict. Extravagant parties, ladies decked in jewels, men in dinner suits and uniforms – all kinds of people congregated at these functions. One of the men appeared in a few photos. The writing at the back labeled him as Asher Cohen.”
“But he wasn’t our father?” Walt burst out.
“No, he wasn’t,” Jenny said, shaking her head. “That was the first clue I got.”
“Is that all?” Linda asked. “My husband could have used the name for any reason. Why did this Ira Brown murder him?”
“Call it fate or coincidence,” Jenny explained, “but Ira Brown got to know our Asher pretty well. He spotted him in the old photos, wearing a uniform. The enemy’s uniform, as he called it. He just saw red after that. He assumed our Asher killed or tortured the real Asher Cohen and hid out here. As far as Ira Brown is concerned, our Asher was a war criminal and deserved to be punished.”
“Why didn’t he turn him over to the police?” Walt asked.
“Who knows?” Jenny shrugged. “He had strong feelings on the subject. He said he wanted justice. He wanted to avenge the life of every poor Jew who ever suffered under the hands of the Nazis.”
Linda dabbed her eyes with a lace handkerchief.
“Did he plan it all?”
“He tried to. He got more desperate as the centennial drew close. He volunteered for the July 4th event, hoping he wouldn’t be noticed if he was dressed like the locals. He was right in a way.”
Luke Stone stood behind Linda and placed his hands on her shoulders.
“Are you sure you want to hear about this?”
“Yes,” Linda said bravely. “I want to know about my Asher’s last moments.”
Jenny cleared her throat.
“It’s not pretty,” she warned. “Ira said he wanted the man to suffer just like all those folks who were killed back in Germany. He sought Asher out during the awards ceremony and led him to his car. He had already rigged the car up so it became a gas chamber. He held Asher at gunpoint, forcing him to stay in the car and inhale all that smoke.”
Jenny stopped talking after that. Linda let out a sob.
“I wasn’t too crazy about the old man,” Walt said soberly. “But surely nobody deserves that?”
“What if he did?” Heidi exclaimed. “What if he was responsible for killing innocent people all those years ago?”
“We’ll never know about that,” Emma whispered.
“I don’t know who my husband was before he came to this country,” Linda said strongly. “But I know who he was here. He loved his family. He built up a business that supported hundreds of other families in the region. He led an honorable life. You will talk about him with respect.”
“Isn’t that too much to ask?” Heidi protested.
“Actually, it isn’t,” Jason spoke up. “I have something for you.”
He held up an envelope and waved it in front of the assembled group.
“You know I was Asher’s lawyer. He left a letter for all of you. I was supposed to reveal its existence only under certain conditions. I think those conditions have been met.”
“Have you read it?” Jenny asked him, wide eyed.
“I have,” Jason nodded. “I’m sorry Jenny, it’s addressed to the family.”
“Let her read it,” Linda said, looking around the room.
“Sure,” Walt said.
Heidi grunted her assent.
“Why don’t you tell us what it says, Jason?” Linda suggested.
“Is he innocent or isn’t he?” Heidi interrupted.
“Hold on, Heidi,” Walt said.
He looked at Jason and gave a nod. “Just tell us what’s in it.”
“I won’t read it word for word,” Jason started. “You can all do that later. I’m going to tell you the story at a high level. Our Asher was from Munich. He joined the army at a young age and later became a Major. The social environment before the war was different. Some Jews were in prominent positions. Wealthy Jewish families held parties where all kinds of people mingled with each other. Our guy was friendly with many of these people.”
“Does he say anything about his family?” Walt asked.
Jason nodded.
“He had a younger sister and mother. His father died when he was ten.”
“Go on,” Linda urged.
“Well, the atrocities started. Jewish businesses closed down. Some of them left the cities. Others escaped the country. Things got worse and it got more and more difficult to get away.”
“Our father continued to work for the army?” Walt asked.
“I don’t know how he managed it. But he hid a few people in his house. He writes about it in his letter. Six Jews lived in his basement for over a year. One of them was Asher Cohen, a good friend of your father. All this time, your father was trying to arrange papers for their escape.”
Heidi gasped but said nothing.
“Those were hard times. They managed to get away. I won’t go into details of their journey. The letter skims over that. They encountered the German forces somewhere along the way. The Germans shot at them. Your father’s mother and sister were killed in the skirmish along with some of their group. Your father escaped with a young woman called Olga. They entered Switzerland as a couple. Your father had Asher Cohen’s papers with him. He just went with that name.”
“So our mother was really Jewish?” Walt asked.
“She was your father’s neighbor. Her family were one of the first to be rounded up in the area. Your grandmother took her in and hid her.”
“Why didn’t he resume his real identity when he came to America?” Heidi asked.
“He wanted to honor his old friend Asher. And he didn’t want to forget what happened.”
The family threw more questions at Jason and he answered all of them. Linda read the letter while they discussed its shocking contents. She handed it over to Walt. The mood in the room grew somber as everyone read the letter one by one.
“Poor Dad,” Emma sighed. “He was as strong as an ox. He would easily have lived many more years.”
“Curse the day Ira Brown ever came to Pelican Cove,” Luke Stone said.
Jenny sat back, barely listening to the siblings. The whole thing felt too bizarre for words. She had come to one conclusion. Life was fickle and you never knew what lay around the next corner. All you could do was grab it by the horns and live each moment like it was your last.
Epilogue
Jenny sat on the deck of the Boardwalk Café, staring at the ocean. Adam Hopkins sat in a chair beside her, holding her hand. Jason Stone stood behind her with his hands on her shoulders.
The Magnolias had decided to have a potluck at the café that weekend. Dozens of dishes were crammed on two tables, and a delicious aroma rose up in the air.
Star sat on the steps leading to the beach. Jimmy Parsons sat huddled next to her, one arm around her shoulders. The other hand fed her a roasted chicken leg. Both of them looked happy.
“Where did you say Heather was?” Betty Sue Morse called out, wiping barbecue sauce off her fingers. “I don’t know why she had to run errands today.”
Heather had gone on a date with Duster. Her grandmother was still in the dark about her recent exploits.
Molly and Chris sat at another table, trying to make small talk. Jenny had high hopes for them.
“What’s next for you, Jenny?” Adam asked.
“Luke and his men have started repairs on Seaview,” she told him. “I can’t wait to move in.”
“You’re not afraid?” Adam asked. “It’s supposed to be haunted.”
“Yeah, right!” Jenny laughed.
Jason got up to get them some pie.
“How about dinner tomorrow night?” Adam asked her.
Jenny’s face fell.
“Rain check?”
“Let me guess, you’re going out with Jason.”
“He asked first.”
***
Acknowledgements
A big thank you to all my beta readers and advanced readers for their invaluable feedback and support. This one was a bit harder to write and I couldn’t have done it without my friend Bob’s help. As always, my heartfelt thanks and gratitude to my ever loving family.
Coming up next – Sprinkles and Skeletons Book 4
Sprinkles and Skeletons – Pelican Cove Cozy Mystery Series Book 4
By Leena Clover
Chapter 1
Jenny King dipped a warm donut in strawberry glaze and swirled it around. She placed it on a wire rack and smiled to herself, thinking about her new home.
“Don’t forget the sprinkles,” Heather Morse, Jenny’s friend, reminded her as she entered the kitchen.
At forty four, Jenny had completely reinvented herself. Dumped by her husband of twenty years, she had grabbed her aunt’s invitation to come visit her like a lifeline. She had arrived in the small seaside town of Pelican Cove to lick her wounds. After letting her wallow for a few days, her aunt had coaxed her into helping out at the local café, just to keep busy. The rest, as they said, was history.
The Boardwalk Café had always been a landmark in Pelican Cove. Jenny’s presence added a Midas touch and kicked it up a few notches. Thanks to the Internet and social media, her fame had spread quickly. People were coming from far and wide to sample her food. Jenny didn’t disappoint them, churning out tasty recipes that used the abundant local seafood and fresh produce.
The strawberry glazed donuts were her latest creation and people couldn’t stop ordering them.