“Okay, you’re set then? Alright, good-bye.”
Heinz had already added Brown’s name to his list.
“What was that about?” the detective asked.
Woods replied, “That was Judy Kroll. She’s having a meeting tomorrow with a guy we did a sting on last year. She wanted to use Leroy to be her driver and act as bodyguard. The meeting’s supposed to be about collecting business information, but actually she wants the guy to identify a picture. Strange, don’t you think? They’re going to pay him money, too.”
“Where and when?” Heinz was already considering the logistics of the stakeout.
“Tomorrow morning at ten o’clock at the Marriott,” the Woods woman answered.
Heinz now added Judy Kroll to his list of names. “What is the guy’s name?” Heinz asked.
“Colton Banyon” was the reply.
***
After he had recovered from the unexpected twist, Heinz asked, “How is the Altar of the Creator church connected to all of this?”
“I don’t know much, but I do know that this all has to do with some big meeting tonight at the church. I know they’re scheduled to go to Long Island on Sunday. We’re supposed to drive them to the airport. Michael’s made all the arrangements. We’re just the maid and butler, you know.”
“Do you know what the meeting is about?”
“Only that several deacons from around the state and some other white supremacy leaders from around the country will be there. Some big announcement, I think.”
Heinz had already filled his notebook with potential crimes and suspects and asked Loni if she had a notebook. Loni produced a new one from somewhere on her tiny body and handed the warm notebook to the puzzled detective.
Ula spoke again. “So here it was 1988, and Michael was coming home. I was thrilled but frightened. What would happen to me? Would we finally settle down, or would some new event keep us apart?
“One night, I let myself into his house through the backdoor and found myself in the kitchen. It was spotless with a sprinkling of dust. Walking down the hallway, I found the house was set up identical to my own. The difference was the furniture was very dark, and made of heavy wood. Everything was well-worn; it all reeked of tobacco. Upstairs was more of the same. Then I noticed a picture on the wall. There were several boys in a camp setting. Men with guns were in the background, and to my horror, a Nazi flag was flying in the picture. A signature at the bottom read “Frank Collins — Fuehrer.” I suddenly remembered that when we were in high school in the late 70s, the American Nazi party was creating a huge uproar because they wanted to hold a rally in Skokie. Skokie was heavily Jewish, with many concentration camp survivors living there. Frank Collins was the leader of the movement. That was when I finally realized Michael was one of them. He was a modern day Nazi.
“I was stunned and decided to leave. In locking the door, I noticed the other key on the key ring. Then I remembered, Michael had told me his parents had a locked room in the basement where Manny and Cora ‘played.’ I couldn’t get down the stairs fast enough. At the bottom of the stairs on the right was a door. I stuck the key in and turned the lock.
“The room was dark and musty. I managed to locate a light switch. The lights were dull. The walls were painted to look like a dungeon and there were hooks on one wall with various ropes, chains, whips, and other torture devices. I was horrified and yet intrigued. I didn’t know at that time that this would be my dungeon too. When Michael returned home, he introduced me to the devices down there.”
“But couldn’t you just say no?” asked Loni.
“You don’t understand,” Ula shot back vehemently. Her whole body shook. “He threatened me. He had worked on his plan for a long time. He said he had evidence which proved I had murdered my own father. His friends would all swear to it. He was also going to be a policeman in Streamwood. He even threatened to have Leroy arrested on a trumped-up charge. I had to protect Leroy. He was too young to protect himself.”
“So he blackmailed you into doing criminal things, right?” Loni recapped.
“Yes,” she replied and hung her head sadly. “I had little choice, being black, a woman, and saddled with raising my brother. I needed to do whatever it took to survive.”
“Please continue,” Detective Heinz requested.
“It took three more months to totally destroy my will. Michael said I was a slow learner. But I learned to be exactly on time, to anticipate his moods, and to even predict when he wanted sex, which was usually rough. It became clear to me that whenever he was challenged or got frustrated, he would want rough sex.”
“In other words, he had made you into a perfect slave,” Agent Chen pointed out with what appeared to be a measure of sympathy.
“I just wanted a good man, but what I got was a monster.”
Chapter Thirty-One
“What do you know about the Altar of the Creator church Ula?” Detective Heinz asked as he tried to move the interview further along. He glanced at his watch and realized the day was passing quickly.
“I first heard about the church when Michael had one of his monthly meetings at his home. I was the entertainment and waitress. I served them, and they groped me. He had just started the meeting. I remember his exact words.
“‘I have good news,’ he said. ‘A friend of mine has returned to Illinois and has started a church. We’re going to be a chapter of the church.’ They all started to laugh and acted as if it was a joke. Michael was turning red.
“‘Listen, you idiots, this is the best thing to happen to the cause in several decades. I worked with Joe Kroll when we were in the army. Kroll is a lawyer now. He’s smart and knows how to get things done for the cause. By starting a church, it prevents the government from looking too closely at us. The base church will be in Peoria, but we will have our own chapter here in Chicago. What can be wrong with that?’
“‘What we need to do is to start collecting money to finance our movement. Joe thinks we can get twenty chapters up and running by the end of next year and we might also be able take over a couple of other white supremacy churches, by force if need be.’ The boys liked that statement. They were always up for a fight, especially if they ambushed the victim and outnumbered him three or four to one.
“‘Mark my words,’ Michael said. ‘Someday we’ll have a huge membership, lots of money, and we’ll be the leaders of the Aryan cause. Don’t you want to be part of that?’
“No one was laughing then,” Ula said.
““Now here is what we are going to do. Teddy, you and Harry are going to the Peoria church to meet with Joe. He’ll fill out and give you all the finished paperwork we’ll need to declare ourselves a church. Do it tomorrow.’
‘“What are you going to do?’ One of the men asked.
‘“I’m going to set up an operation which will get us some money so we can recruit other members. All agreed?’ They all nodded their heads.
‘“One more thing, I want each of you to read this book,’ Michael said. As held up a small book.
“‘What for?’ blurted Harry. ‘I haven’t read a book since high school.’
“‘Well you are going to read this one. It’s called the Turner Diaries, and it’s about the violent overthrow of the U.S. government. It was written by a former assistant to George Lincoln Rockwell. He used the penname of Andrew MacDonald. Rockwell was the first leader of the American Nazi Party you know. Believe me, the Aryans win. It also tells how to make plans for revolution and even make real bombs. Joe Kroll thinks that it’s a blueprint to achieve our goals, so read it. Is everyone in agreement?’”
***
Heinz told Mrs. Woods she needed stop for a few minutes. He was seeing red before his eyes. Every law officer in America knew about the Turner Diaries. Timothy McVeigh, the Oklahoma City bomber, had been an avid reader of the book. He had also been an enthusiastic promoter of the story at many gun shows. The actual bomb he exploded at the Murrah Federal Building had remarkable similari
ties to the bombings of the FBI building in the book. The Turner Diaries was first published in 1978, and the Oklahoma bombing took place in 1995. In between those years, a lot of white supremacists read and believed in the book. Apparently so did Michael Dean. Detective Heinz was now more determined to nail Dean and his “church.” He was having trouble calming down and decided he had better take a break or he would miss some of the facts. He got up and left the room. When he reached the porch he took several long breaths to center himself. I lost a sister in the bombing of the building in Oklahoma.
***
When he returned to the spacious kitchen, his face was drawn and pale.
Loni gave him a questioning look. “Is something else wrong? You don’t look too good.” she asked with concern.
“I’m okay Loni,” he said with a wave of his hand. “Mrs. Woods are you ready to continue with your story?”
“Michael’s great plan was simple extortion. He figured it was time to tax those he felt were inferior. This included most people, especially minorities. He used his church members to collect the taxes, and when there were any problems, he was called in to arbitrate as the police. The plan was simple. Michael was careful to not be too obvious. He made periodic arrests of Blacks and Hispanics, often planting evidence to ensure convictions. The arrested people almost always had previous records.
“Didn’t anybody notice,” Loni quickly added.
“Some of the men on the force are involved,” she replied. “And the Streamwood police captain was not a problem. He was an old-time city cop who had passed his prime but was friends with the mayor. He had less than twelve years until retirement. Michael was always ready to take care of anything that came up and was so gung-ho Captain Miles didn’t worry about the department. He went fishing.
“And I followed in his footsteps,” Heinz lamented as he shook his head.
“By 1992, Michael’s operation was netting about six thousand dollars per week. One of my chores was to keep the records. Michael sent most of the money to the Peoria church, although he kept two thousand for himself and a thousand for me each week. By then, he had made me quit the part-time job at the hospital I had taken to survive financially. My job now was to serve the church and his friends.
“One day a report came in to the police department. A woman’s car had been stolen. I don’t remember her name. Anyway, Michael knew where to look for the car. He found the car in half a day. The woman was so happy she offered Michael a reward. He took it and decided it was a good way to make more money. He decided he could also utilize Leroy and his gangbanger friend Billy Brown as well to make thefts of cars and the return them for a reward.
“A systematic plan was introduced which converted my brother Leroy into a criminal. The scheme started to net Michael another thousand a week. I got a hundred dollars and Leroy got four hundred, which he had to split with Billy. The group also developed contacts in other towns and then traded information on cars to steal with gangs in the area.
“According to the records, there does seem to be a disproportionate number of car thefts in this area of Chicago,” Loni pointed out.
“Anyway, the church grew to only thirty members, far less than Michael had promised, yet all were making lots of money. Michael purchased the title of deacon of the church. Teddy, Harry, and Gary, his friends, were also big shots for the church. One of them, I don’t know which one, had the title of sergeant of arms, strange for a church, huh.
“They had all gotten tattoos at Timmy’s parlor as a sign of leadership. Michael’s was a huge swastika on his back, with the word Aryan below it. He apparently never took his shirt off at the station, so no one knew about it but us.
“The main chapter of the Altar of the Creator church was flourishing as well, but Michael wanted his own building. They had always met at Michael’s house and he was paranoid that the feds were taping them. They eventually moved to a storefront in Aurora. That is where they hold their meetings now.”
“You said that you were the bookkeeper. What does that mean?” Heinz asked.
“Basically, I watched the money. As bookkeeper, I wrote a check to the church every month from the checking account. It was listed as the Ary-Inn Corporation. Michael and I were the cosigners. Whenever anybody needed money, I wrote the check.”
“There will be a money trail,” Loni said happily.
“Continue,” Heinz prompted Ula.
“In 1994, we embarked on a new venture. On the way to stealing a car, Leroy and Billy were rear-ended at a light. They were not hurt but called Seith Paul from the car phone. Seith instructed them to moan and say they needed an ambulance. In a few minutes, Michael arrived with Seith right behind him. Michael knew Seith but had never used him in any of his schemes before. This one would make much more money for all of us.”
“Well, we finally got to the insurance scam,” Loni quipped.
“Yes,” Ula replied. “We staged fake accidents, and Seith would always show up in seconds, passing out his card and attending to the poor, defenseless, hurt victim, who was actually one of us. This worked a good number of times. Our average settlement was nine thousand dollars. But Michael was worried that some insurance company would put two and two together. So the final plan called for new and different people to get into accidents. I was told to obtain a foster-parent certification and to bring in young boys who would cooperate because they had been involved in juvenile crime. The problem is that I have become attached to them.”
“But you still have let them commit crimes,” Loni shouted at the cowering woman.
“I’ve really tried to keep them out of trouble,” She replied defensively. “I’ve been a good foster parent. They’re getting a good education and can be controlled.”
“But once a criminal, always a criminal,” Loni quipped sarcastically.
“That’s the whole story. I don’t care what you do to me. The last beating that Michael gave me has cleared my mind. I can’t do this anymore. Michael’s ruined my life, not to mention Leroy’s, several people he’s killed, and those poor boys’ in the other room.”
“What about Seith Paul, the lawyer?” Heinz asked.
“Seith is as bad as the rest of them and should be punished too. The man has no conscience.”
“We are going to have to arrest you now,” Heinz told her.
Suddenly sobs filled the room as Ula Woods came to terms with her future.
Chapter Thirty-Two
Detective Heinz tried to stop Ula from crying, and said he needed to ask a couple of more questions, but first he asked Loni to call the state police to come and transport all the suspects to the station. He also made a note to call Seith Paul and have him show up at the station at seven that evening. They had to wait several minutes as Ula continued to cry.
“So the Banyon accident last year was a setup?” Heinz asked.
“His was one of the hardest of the scams we ever pulled,” she replied between sobs. “We lost track of him, but we made a lot of money off of his insurance company when we were able to file a claim.”
“When did you get the tattoo?” he asked while reading from his notes.
“That was four years ago. I made the mistake of sitting on my porch, and talking to a black man, who was actually someone I met at the grocery store. He carried my groceries home, and we had tea on the porch. Michael or one of his friends drove by and saw us. That night he beat me badly, and told me he didn’t want me to give him AIDS from a nigger. Later, he dragged me over to Timmy’s place, and had him do the tattoo. Of course, his friends were there. Michael believed that any man seeing the tattoo would run. I never tried to find out.”
“You said that you kept the books for the operation — do you still keep them?”
“Yes, they’re on my computer,” she pointed to the machine in the corner of the room “I use a computer program to record all the money coming in and going out. The ledger has all the transactions since 1999. Before then, I used a handwritten ledger. It’s in the d
esk as well.”
Heinz said, “Loni will need to take the computer and the ledger.” Agent Chen took off like a shot to collect the evidence.
“Okay, you mentioned there were more accidents then we know. How many accidents are you talking about?”
“Before 1999 we didn’t really keep any records, but since then, I have recorded forty-eight. I don’t know who pays the additional extortion money though. I think Gary keeps that list.”
“And about how much money have you taken in since 1999?” Heinz asked.
“We’ve taken in a little over five million dollars,” she answered. Heinz eyebrows were once again raised.
“Do you know any other members of the church?”
“Since they moved to Aurora, I don’t see any of them. I think Michael likes it that way, as it keeps me from knowing who’s watching me.”
Heinz next asked, “Do you mind if we take a short break? I need to confer with Agent Chen. I could cuff you to the door,” he added.
“Don’t worry, I want to get this over with; we won’t run.” Then she turned and went to check on the boys.
Part Five
Connections
Chapter Thirty-Three
As soon as Ula Woods left the room, Heinz pulled Agent Chen near him. “This is getting too big for just us. We have too many leads and so little time. We can’t trust anyone in the Streamwood department. Got any ideas?”
Agent Chen suggested that because of the interstate members and the plans to go to New York, they might call in the FBI to do the surveillance on the church. “The FBI is the best at that. It would free up a lot of our time. I know who to call and could set it up. We have about three hours before the meeting starts. Time is short, but the FBI has a long list of issues with the Altar of Creator church; they will be there. I hate to let others in on our gold mine here. But I think it’s the right thing to do. What do you think?”
Colton Banyon Mysteries 1-3: Colton Banyon Mysteries (Colton Banyon Mystery Book 20) Page 13