by C. Meyer
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As Chief Kong and Chang walked toward the party, both were surprised that none of the police seemed to take notice of their chief. The merry-making was in no way abated as the pair drew closer.
First stop was the chair where Karl Dulop was seated. One of the medics amazingly seemed to be giving him a manicure while the other massaged his neck. But bigger surprises awaited.
“Hi guys, great you could come.” smiled Dulop waving his free hand in greeting. “Excuse me if I don’t get up. Some palooka gave me quite a tumble, ya know.”
“So I’ve heard” returned Kong. “You sound pretty chipper. Will you be willing to answer some questions in a few minutes?”
“Sure, sure. Anything I can do to help.” replied Dulop.
“Most grateful Karl” said Chang bowing deeply to discretely check the dilation of Dulop’s eyes.
The tall, thin, Jerry Stone approached the two officers carrying a tray of snacks and soft drinks.
“Hey, I know you guys from Boca if you know what I mean. Have some smoked brie and organic cranberry biscuits and a Coke. Made them myself. Join the party.”
Kong couldn’t help but involuntary shake his head to be sure he was awake and really hearing what Jerry had just said.
“Yea,” invoked Dulop “You guys remember Jerry, of course, from that unpleasantness in Boca. Got to bring him along with me as part of the deal Marsha got for me.”
“Did not realize human bondage was enforced by Boca courts”, comment Chang dryly.
“Oh, it ain’t nothing like that, Charlie. Ask Jerry, he’ll tell ya.”
Chang turned to do just that but Jerry and his refreshments had already moved on to other partyers.
“Sorry ya missed him. Hey, why don’t you guys pull up some chairs, and we can have that talk you mentioned. You must know Ina and Nina right?”
“Officer Stark. Officer Richmond.”, returned Kong dipping his head in mock greeting.
“Hey, King” smiled Ina in return. “Where does a ship go when it’s sick?”
Neither Chang nor Kong replied.
“To a ship doc, of course”, giggled Nina. Ina has the best jokes.”
“We have fun,” smiled Dulop.
Again neither Kong nor Chang said anything. There was nothing to say. They nodded and excused themselves.
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When they were alone, it was Chang who spoke first.
“Most strange”
“Most strange?” returned Kong “More like fucking weird to the fifth power. This is far more than any kind of problem with discipline or morale like that wiseass remark out front. It’s almost as if that whole bunch is bewitched. They seem to all have lost touch with reality.”
“There seems some time distortion too. It can’t be much more than forty minutes since the first call to police yet they act like they’ve been friends and partying forever.” offered Chang.
“Could it be us? Is this all some hallucination – some bad dream?” – speculated Kong half seriously.
Before Chang could share Confucius’s take on that thought, Betty and Dana arrived and saved the two men from further introspection.
“That whole group is way weird, Pop” said Betty without ado.
“Yeppers, the cops, writers, and other diners seem in a world of their own. I didn’t hear one word about the crime, sports, or current events. They all seem happy to share silly jokes, sing oldies and laugh their asses off over nothing.” said Dana in support.
Doctor Lytle had joined them. “Perhaps some group psychosis brought on by stress... but effectively instantaneous and present in your officers too? Certainly, they must be used to stress.”
“Then there is that group over by the dead woman.” offered Kong “They are serious enough. In fact, my geniuses may have scored a federal agent and a reporter though that may be understandable given the circumstances. After all, he apparently really did knock out, Dulop and the reporter did kick the unconscious Dulop to boot.”
“None of your men seems to be looking. Perhaps our most charming lady deputies de jour should check for any physical evidence of death as well as this strange personality disturbance before we call Ghost Busters.”
“Right, Charlie” seconded Kong. And let us start our conversations with the sober folks who might be able to give us some answers before we tackle that group in LaLa land.
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Karen Christian, the new group leader was the first person invited to join the detectives at a table well removed from both groups of witnesses. There was little chance of being overheard particularly as the group with all the cops and their new friends had started singing oldies again. The noise was annoying but tolerable.
Karen was a small, slender woman with her gray hair pulled back in a short ponytail. She was clearly shaken up but managed to be both friendly and articulate when it came to telling the story of the night’s events.
“…so, Roxanne suddenly tried to rise calling out “No, no, not me” then slumped down dead with her forehead sizzling.”
“Most strange. Most horrible.” ventured Chang.
“Yes, Inspector”, returned Karen, “I must tell you I’m still a bit shaken. We were all wordless. I had barely thought of calling 911 when that Dulop, the manager, is already at our table saying he’d called the police and offering us some of the special refreshments he’d told us about earlier. Police sirens started as he spoke.”
“About how long was this after the incident, please?”
“I can’t be sure but maybe a minute. Certainly less than two. Lee and Father Brazil each said something sarcastic about how fast he’d arrived. Can’t remember just what. Then Trey was on his feet and floored Dulop with a kick and a chop screaming something profane about Roxanne only being a young girl. Matilda was soon up kicking Dulop and screaming too. That’s when the police arrived.”
“Why, please, were they doing this?”
“They…. I should say we… all think he’d arrived too quickly. Poor Roxanne’s forehead was still smoking. Dulop was at the last murder here and that one in Boca, you know. Then he is instantly on the scene here cheerfully offering us refreshments. He must be a psychopath. He must be involved.”
“Anything else suspicious?” pursued Kong.
“I hate to speculate – especially since she seems so nice but Debbie knew who’d be killed before the meeting.”
“Please to elaborate” exclaimed Chang.
“I though it stupid when she said it, but Debbie said that in the murders she’d witnessed it was always the person seated next to her one seat removed from the group leader.”
“And that was the dead woman Roxanne Madison?”
“No, JoAnne was seated next to her at the time but moved to the end of the table when she heard what Debbie was telling me. That seat remained vacant till almost the close of our meeting. Poor Roxanne arrived while Debbie was reading. We were all so involved that no one thought to caution her. No more than five minutes later she was dead.”
“Do group members often arrive so late?”
“Rarely to never but Roxanne was a special case - poor dear. She was doing a favor for a relatively new member, Roger. He’d telephoned me perhaps a half hour before the meeting and said he’d be detained at his work. He said he was eager to get his work critiqued and asked if it would be all right if his girlfriend brought it in and read it for him. I had no problem with that.”
“Roger?”
“Yes, Roger Davidson. He joined us after his Boca group disbanded. He writes about dead presidents – rather dull actually.
The detectives exchanged significant glances despite their professional efforts not to react.
After a significant pause, Kong inquired, “Is Martine Domingo a name known to you, Karen?”
“Why no, Inspector. Don’t believe I’ve ever heard that name.
A somewhat stocky woman with blonde hair and glasses. A translator who is involved with spiritualism and astrology per
haps you know her by a different name.
“None of that rings any bells, Inspector Chang. Sorry.”
The detectives asked a few more questions, thanked Karen for her cooperation, and told her they would likely have a few more questions for her after speaking with other witnesses.
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Debbie Casina was the next witness invited to the detectives’ table.
“Good evening Debbie. I feel comfortable using your first name by now. We seem to always meet at these evening get-togethers.” started Chang facetiously.
Debbie had obviously been crying but still managed her familiar perky manner. “Good of you to join us again, Inspector Chang. Another of those crazy coincidences, you know. At least I’m not a newbie here tonight.”
“Just how often do you attend this group, Debbie?”
“Well I often wanted to come but my schedule …then they moved the group to Deerfield for a while…”
“How often, please.”
“Um, this is my second meeting.”
“I understand you predicted not only the death but the person who’d die.”
“No sir, that is far more than I said. I merely observed half seriously to Karen that in the two murders – how shall I say it – I attended, the person killed had sat next to me and I’d been sitting next to the group leader. Actually, JoAnne who was sitting next to me when I said that moved when she heard that. That seat remained vacant till near the end of the meeting.”
“Did you know the dead woman?”
“No, never met her. Actually, really didn’t notice her till she started crying out ‘no no not me’ then collapsed.”
“Did you warn her about your theory about that seat?”
“No. I’m so sorry. I was involved reading aloud my story to the group. As I just said, I only realized someone had sat down next to me when I heard her cries.”
“Please to tell me how you developed this most accurate hypothesis?”
“I’ve always been a fan of Sherlock Holmes, sir. He’s a famous fictional detective that is acutely observant and extremely logical. He makes amazingly relevant deductions from his observations. Surely you’ve heard of him, Inspector?”
“Yes, have heard name.” replied Chang curtly. “…but that is fiction. This is real life.”
“I’m really not sure, but I know I get a lot of practice.”
“Please?”
You know observing my husband and kids and trying to figure out where they’ve been and what they’ve been up to.”
“Couldn’t you just ask?”
“My experience is they don’t always tell the truth, sir, especially my hus…” she started to reply deadly serious.
Kindly, Chang mercifully held up his hand to stop her. He’d heard enough and couldn’t help but smile at her apparently hyper-sincere answers.
The remainder of the interview with Debbie was about as productive as the first part. Soon Debbie was replaced by Trey.
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“Good evening Inspectors Chang and Kong.”
“And good evening to you Agent Johnston. By the way that’s Chief Kong these days” replied Chang.
“Cool. Congratulations former Inspector Kong. They call you King Kong yet” responded Trey with an expectant smile.”
Kong said nothing but his lack of amusement showed.
“Oops, sorry chief. I meant that to be friendly.”
“Please to tell us, Trey” interjected Chang before Kong need respond. “Who are you trailing tonight? Roxanne Madison, perhaps?”
“No one, Inspector. This group has become my regular R&R when I can make it. I like the people, and they are a big help in my efforts to write.”
“Did you know Roxanne Madison?”
“Not really. She sat down across from me and I liked what I saw. But she was dead before I even could say more than ‘hi’. If that SOB Dulop didn’t kill her, I’d like to have said a lot more than that to her.”
“Did you see Dulop kill her?”
“I saw her die and know damned well he couldn’t have called the police and then got out here from the kitchen, office, or where ever in time to invite us for snacks as fast if he did even if he could run a four second fifty yard dash. He had to know what was going down before it went down. That SOB hardly gave that girl a glance before he told us he’d called the police and was smiling and inviting us for special snacks. He’s a sicko. Likely a psychopath – no conscience or empathy whatsoever.”
“So you judged him and attempted to execute him?” interjected an enraged Kong.
“Judged maybe but attempted murder? Hell no. I had reasonable cause to think he might flee or perhaps had spiked these special snacks he offered us. I merely restrained him – put him to sleep you might say – so he’d be here for your questioning.”
Kong was only partially mollified by his answer. “And why didn’t you show your badge to my officers?”
“It’s locked away safely in my safe deposit box. I work undercover when I work.”
The two sparred a bit more both fired by male angst before the detectives moved on to their next witnesses.
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All but one believed Dulop had a role in Roxanne’s death because of his apparently near instantaneous response to the now dead woman’s cries. Most also cited the coincidence of Dulop’s proximity to three suspicious or more deaths. Debbie didn’t mention that fact. Matilda regretted her outburst of violence citing the pattern of misogynistic men abusing women as a factor. However, she felt as strongly as any that the time factor was proof. It was only a Nancy that had not convicted Dulop in her mind.
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“…Karl Dulop is a gentle man and a gentleman, officers.” said Nancy. He wouldn’t hurt a fly. I’ll admit he once had some seemingly rough edges, but in the time I’ve known him he has turned his attitude about life and people around.
“You have relationship with him then?” queried Chang.
“Yes, a friendship and a professional relationship to the degree those are compatible. There is no romantic relationship. We’re both married.”
“That has not been a problem for Mister Dulop in past. I have much sworn evidence to support that assertion.”
“Yes, I know, Inspector Chang. Karl has told me of his once wayward ways.”
“You are counselor then?”
“I prefer to call myself a “life coach” though suppose I’m a counselor of sorts in the common vernacular just not licensed as such.”
“And just how did you accomplish this miraculous Change you see in our Mr. Dulop?”
“I’d prefer that Karl tell you this himself. While I’m not bound by any oaths or other codified mores of confidentiality, I do ascribe to my own set of ethics regarding confidentiality. I’ll be more than happy to elaborate if you aren’t satisfied with what Karl will tell you.”
“Just tell me this, please. Are drugs involved in this coaching?”
“I know what you are getting at Inspector. None whatsoever – legal or illegal.”
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Both enlightened in part and a bit confused. The detectives and the doctor huddled.
“That time factor is hard to explain. All but one are convinced by it. Frankly, I don’t blame them.” started Kong.
Einstein say, “Time is relative.”
“I don’t follow, Charlie.”
“Most humble self either. Maybe there is something in the air.”
There was a long lull in their conversation.
“Actually you might have something there, Charlie Let’s go visit Dulop and see how the partyers are getting along.
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As soon as the broke their huddle and turned toward the back of the restaurant, the two detectives saw something doubly strange. Dulop – apparently healed – was standing on a table trying to lead the group in a chorus of “Louie Louie” but no one was taking up his lead. Indeed, the crowd in the rear had separated. The writers and other restaurant gues
ts were for the most part seated. The police were standing apart apparently doing their jobs.
Kong hailed the two nearest cops.
“Party over, boys?” asked Kong.
“Not sure what you mean, Chief.” returned one while the other looked on with lack of comprehension.
“The singing and feasting”
“Not on our beat, sir” smiled the verbal cop. “Just that big looney Dulop on the table over there but he’s harmless.”
“What the hell”, thought Kong as he moved Chang out of the cops’ earshot.
“I don’t think they are trying to put me on, Charlie. They don’t remember.”
“Most strange” returned Chang. “And no need for us to go to mountain. Let’s have Dulop brought to our most removed table instead.”
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“Nice of you guys to have invited me over to your table for a chat. I think we got off to a bad start those other times we met.”
“Most pleased you feel that way Mr. Dulop. Please to tell me why you were on table trying to lead group to sing “Louie Louie”.
“Love that song, don’t you, Charlie?” responded Dulop. “The group had been singing a good while then sort of stopped and split apart. Was just trying to get the party to start up again.”
“So you remember a party”
“Duh yea, don’t you Charlie? Thought it was great example of community policing but couldn’t go over and join them on account of still being a bit dizzy from that Karate chop.”
“Whatever”, interjected Kong impatiently “So why are all the group member so angry with you? Why did that big guy knock you out?”
“Damned if I know, Simon. It is Simon isn’t it? I just went over to tell them I’d called 911 shortly after I heard that woman shout ‘no no no’ followed by screams. Meant to be helpful and responsible, ya know. Then one shouts something about me being there too soon….”
“And just how soon did you get over there to help as you say”, asked Kong sharply.
“Hard to say, Simon. Had to go over to the phone. Then that 911 operator had a bunch of questions. Then I had to tell Jerry to get ready to serve the snacks I had asked him to prepare for after the meeting. Probably say five six minutes or a bit more ‘cause I really had to make a pit stop on the way.”