by C. Meyer
“She didn’t hear anything significant, Kris”, comforted Kong never one forgetting to take an opportunity to kiss up.
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“Let’s have the Domingo woman,” suggested Kristian.
Martine was shortly escorted in and took a seat across from the detectives sobbing all the time.
“I can’t believe Margarita is gone”, she sobbed as she took her seat.
“So sorry for your loss,” returned Chang, “I hope you are up for a few questions which may help us understand her death.”
“Of course,” she replied meekly wiping the last tears from her eyes.
“I take it you were close to the Lopez woman?” ventured Inspector Kong.
“Yes, she was “mi amiga” for many years. Our families knew each other from our Cuba days. We saw a great deal of one another. In fact, we visited Havana together last year to see friends and family still there.”
“Did she have any enemies that you know of – in or out of the writing group?”
“None. She was a wonderful, joyous person. She was the kind that lights up the room wherever she goes…went. She was always kind and full of fun. Men loved her and women admired her.”
“You worked with her?”
“No. We both did translating, but worked with different companies. On rare occasion our work brought us together – not often.”
“Did she have a boyfriend?”
“Not for a good while. She and Rafael broke up sometime last year quite amicably and there hasn’t been anyone serious since.
“That would be Rafael?”
“Rafael Gomez. He is a commercial airline pilot and lives in Miami.”
“Are you aware of anyone who had a motive to harm her?”
“No,” replied Martine breaking into sobs and tears. “Everyone loved her.”
“I’m sorry Miss. Domingo. We can take a break though I will have some more questions for you later.”
Martine was lead out, and Debbie, a rather attractive dark-haired woman, was the next led in.
“Debbie, I seem to remember you from the Lopez case in Coral Springs last year,” queried Chang.
“Yes inspector. I was a newbie at The Write Stuff on that unfortunate night. I didn’t know any of the players. Same tonight.”
“Most curious. Have you been present at any other murder scenes in the interim?”
“Not a one. It’s just one of those strange coincidences, you know what I mean?”
Debbie Casina looked puzzled when Chang and Kristian couldn’t keep smiles off their faces. She looked from one to the other in confusion.
“What?”
“Sorry, Mrs. Casina, it’s not you or anything you said. Please excuse our inappropriate mirth,” offered Kristian.
“You said, “Same here”, stated Chang. “Does that mean this is your first meeting with this group and you know no-one in the group?”
“I know Maxine a bit from our conversations about the group on the phone, but otherwise, yes that’s what I meant.”
“Don’t you think that quite strange?” pursued Chang.
“Einstein said, “There are more coincidences than can be explained by the laws of probability.” Guess I’m one of them,” smiled Debbie perkily.
The three detectives weren’t willing to let that go at that. A great many questions followed but in the end they were no wiser about the murder for them.
The next witness in the hot seat was Willard Spangler. The officer who escorted him in also shared that a most insistent Marsha Evans
representing Mr. Dulop wanted it known she was present.
Willard was a scholarly looking man in his sixties with a trace of an accent he shared was Swiss. He confirmed Maxine Maxwell’s account of the evening. He added that Margarita seemed to be a lovely girl he’d have
been glad to have as a daughter but he only knew that from her cheerfulness in group and her wonderful uplifting poetry “I’ve been told some of your writing is rather salacious, Mr. Spangler.” began Chang.
“Can’t imagine who would say that”, chuckled Spangler. Perhaps my writing is a bit confusing to some of the less sophisticated in the group but certainly not salacious. I enjoy fantasizing and writing about the rather sedate upper crust. Perhaps whoever told you that was confusing me with Harry. Our accents are somewhat similar though our origins quite different. Harry is the one that writes about
the whores, lesbians, and free sex types. His
writing is very funny though most here seem rather uncomfortable with it.
Willard proved a quite relaxed, diplomatic, older man. He aroused no suspicions
“Suppose we should bring back Dulop now that his attorney is here,” suggested Kong.
“Nah, I know her. She is one big pain in the butt.” returned Chief Kristian La Blonde. “Let her cool her butt for a while. I’m more interested in hearing from my mother’s tenant, the cook. Maybe he has something new we should hear about Dulop before we speak with Dulop himself.”
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“Yes, I am Jerry Stone, if ya know what I mean.”
“How are you tonight Jerry?” asked Kristian familiarly.
“Is that you Kristian? I’ve never seen you in uniform. You look different, if you know what mean.”
“Yea it’s me, Jerry. You know anything about this murder?
“Someone was murdered here, huh? That’s
way out. Don’t know a thing. I’m just flipping burgers here a few shifts a week till I find
something better if you know what I mean.
I know Jerry. We’re friends. What can you tell me about your boss, this Dulop guy?
“Geez, Kris, he is the boss if you know what I mean.”
“Our conversations are confidential, Jerry,” returned Kristian with an involuntary glance at the door. “This is a murder investigation. Please answer.”
“Please don’t let him now I said this, but he’s a real SOB, Kris, if you know what I mean.”
“I don’t, Jerry. I need you to tell me.”
“Well, he’s always bitching about my work and threatening to fire me. And it’s not just me. I wouldn’t have my job if he didn’t fire several cooks before me. I knew one of them and I’m sure he was good if you know what I mean.”
“Anything else?”
“The scuttlebutt is he fired Mary Jane, a cashier because she wouldn’t go out with him, but I don’t know that for sure. She seemed okay to me if you know what I mean...
“Is he ever violent?”
“You don’t have to be violent to scare the hell out of people who need a job in this economy. Never heard about him hitting or threatening to hit anyone, but his yelling and threatening is pretty damned scary if you know what I mean.”
After a few more questions, Jerry was led out and the three detectives had a chat.
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“Please don’t tell us Confucius say that “a bird doesn’t Change his feathers, Charlie” smiled Kristian at his friend Chang.
“Okay,” smiled Chang in return, “but we should remember he said, “Once a rat always a rat.” Even my small Chinese nose can smell a rat in Dulop. Perhaps we should now hear what he has to say… or more likely - given an attorney - not say.”
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While the detectives discussed strategy Dana was trying to be nice in the ladies room.
“You must be Martine,” started Dana. “Charlie has told me so much about you. I see by your tears you’re very upset.”
“Yes, I am. Thank you. Margarita was a close friend.”
“Don’t be sad. I’m sure she’s gone to a better place. Time will heal your wounds. A loss is hardest in the beginning.”
“Yes, thank you. I know, but can’t help feeling responsible.”
“Don’t be silly. I’m sure you had nothing to do with her death. Charlie has told me you’re a very sensitive person and a healer. Things happened so fast. I’m sure there was nothing you could have done.”
<
br /> Dana’s words were hardly said when Martine broke out in a new more intense episode of sobs and tears.
Dana comforted her with a hug and tried to Change the subject.
“You are being too hard on yourself, Martine. That won’t do. Charlie tells me you’re a Shaman. That must be neat. Did you really have a conversation with Grandfather Asparagus? It must be wonderful to be so in touch with the spiritual world.
Dana’s words only intensified Martine’s upset for a bit. Finally, she calmed down somewhat.
“It’s been nice to meet you Dana, but I must go.”
With those last words, she left.
“Poor thing,” thought Dana. “She is a strange one. Why would my compliment upset her so?”
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“Kristian La Blonde, how could you? Intimidation, harassment and a few more things I could add. Am I to understand that you threatened to detain my client for not answering questions as is his constitutional
right? You damned well better have more reason than the fact that he was simply in the
same building where an unexplained death occurred? This is an outrageous. This is Boca Raton in the United States of America not Thug Town in some police state.”
“Nice to see you again too, Marsha. Be assured we have more reason for interest in some answers from Mr. Dulop than the one you mentioned and merely wanted to encourage him to get counsel as is his right before helping us with our inquiries. Now that you are here, let’s proceed without mutual recriminations. Fair enough?”
Marsha Evans just glared in return.
“Mr. Dulop,” continued Chief La Blonde. “Were you acquainted with the deceased woman, Margarita Lopez?
“I respectfully decline to answer on the advice of counsel,” replied Dulop without a moment’s hesitation.
Mr. Dulop, did you compliment Margarita Lopez on her appearance while visiting her table earlier this evening?”
“I respectively decline to answer on the advice of counsel.”
“Mr. Dulop, Will you answer any of my questions here tonight?”
“I’d enjoy a chat about the Dolphins or….”
A hard look from Marsha Evans cut this answer short.
Momentarily Dulop resumed speaking, “I respectively decline to answer on the advice of counsel.”
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While this conversation ground to a rather unsatisfactory ending, talk was cheap in the main dining room of the restaurant. Dana had
returned to the table she and her Charlie were sharing with the two younger Chang’s to find
the Changs deeply engrossed in a chat about Honolulu politics and Charlie looking bored as hell.
Charlie rose to greet her mouthing the words, “Save me”.
Dana gently embraced him and moved him a few steps from the table and the two Changs before whispering to him. ”Your friend Martine is certainly as strange bird. I ran into her crying her eyes out in the ladies room. Apparently, she was very close to the dead
girl. Somehow she feels responsible. I tried to console her with little effect then tried to Change the subject to her being a shaman and in touch with the spirits like Grandfather Asparagus. It was like I put gasoline on a fire. She broke out in even greater sobs and excused herself without another word. It’s not as if I didn’t know her. We had spoken on the phone several times. Was that Grandfather Asparagus stuff supposed to be some kind of secret?”
“Nah”, whispered Charlie in return, she was writing about that kind of stuff and sharing it with the group a year ago. She is either a bit eccentric or really gifted. I know for certain
she is ultra-sensitive and probably feels guilty about everything. I wouldn’t make much of anything out of it.”
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Chang ears are both curious and sensitive. The two younger Chang’s had paused their conversation and heard every word. They were not as convinced of innocent guilt as was Dana’s Charlie. As Dana and Charlie moved out of earshot continuing there “private” conversation, Tommy and Betty started some whispering of their own.”
“Did you hear that”, whispered Tommy.
“Sure did.”
“Remember what they were whispering about earlier?”
“You mean that 666 shaped bruise on the dead woman Dana overheard about?
‘“Exactly.”
“Come on, Tommy, there is no such thing as the devil. I admit her being a fu and that strange shaped mark could conceivably go together but….”
“And now she is feeling guilty too. Think about it, Betty. At the very least we should share
what we’ve overheard with Pop and let him be the judge.”
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Roger Davidson had already taken his place in the hot seat when a police sergeant approached Inspector Chang. “Your children would like a word with you, Inspector. They say it’s urgent.”
Charlie looked mildly annoyed as he rose a signaled his waiting children to meet him at
The now guarded door Dana had used earlier.
Once outside, “Hope most noble heirs have
solved case. No other reason for interruption of most serious interviews.”
“Don’t know about that, Pop,” replied Tommy “but let us tell you what we overheard…..”
When they were done sharing, Charlie stood silent a goodly while his finger stroking his goatee.
“Did we do good, pop?” inquired Betty seeking to be reassured.
“You were most impolite to ease drop on private conversation of good friends,” he started gruffly then softened his tone and
finished, “but most clever to put together product of your impoliteness and share with me. I shall have to think on this. You return. Say nothing but keep inquisitive ears open.”
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“Everything okay, Charlie?” inquired Kristian on Charlie’s return to their table.
“Please to not let me delay this interview further. Must let what I was told ruminate in aging brain.”
To the untrained eye, Charlie then proceeded to take a nap in his chair as Inspector Kong gathered some basic information about the
new witness before turning the conversation to the matter at hand.
“So, Mr. Davidson, did you know the deceased woman outside of this writing group?”
“We had some conversations before and after group over coffee a few times. I rather liked her. In fact, I asked her out for dinner before group this evening.”
“And?”
“At first she begged off, telling me Martine had a crush on me and they were best friends.”
Charlie opened an eye.
“Did that surprise you?” continued Kong.
“You mean the crush bit? No not at all. I had long realized that she did. A lot of woman do you know. I am an established, published writer you know while most of this group is a bunch of no talent wannabes. You’ve heard of my book, The Art of Writing, I’m sure.”
“Actually not, Mr. Davidson. I am a cop not an aspiring author. Though I heard earlier that you were working on a book about Dead Presidents. I like political stuff.
“Oh that. It’s on hold. Stupid publishers have no appreciation for quality story telling. Can you imagine, a couple even suggested it was dull? I’ll tell you what is dull. It’s that tripe…..”