The Wallet

by Roger Rapel

  We entered the restaurant which for the time of day was busy. We waited to be seated; then a pretty young girl showed us to a table. Then another young girl came and introduced herself ‘hi you guys my names Nikki I will be your server, would you like some drinks before you order?’ We both ordered a beer which was duly delivered. We then ordered sirloin steaks to our liking.

  ‘Nice place Roseanne.’ ‘I eat here often, I like it.’ We chatted for a minute then I reached into my pocket and produce a piece of paper which I found in the folder with the name of a bank on it and a number. I explained that I had seen similar when I had been checking another issue some years ago, it looked like a safety deposit box number.

  Roseanne looked at me suspiciously as her eyes widened, but then smiled as she explained that she had found a strange looking key in her mother’s belongings, but never knew what it belonged to, although it made sense now. Then she said ‘first thing tomorrow morning say at 9 meet me outside of the Central Bank in town, it’s on the main street you can’t miss it.’ We carried on chatting about what could be inside the box if anything.

  Then the steaks arrived, with all the trimmings. Nikki enquired if we required any sauces then said ‘enjoy your meal.’ The steaks were tender and juicy and cooked to perfection. Nikki came back to ask if all was okay? We smiled confirming it; then ordered two more beers.

  We continued to chat about Roseanne’s mother and where she had been brought up. I then looked at her; she smiled as she cocked her head to one side and said ‘what?’ ‘Just wondering why you haven’t been snapped up by someone?’ ‘Not ready yet, I have had offers, but I want to set my career first. The Bugle is a stepping stone to bigger things I hope.’

  ‘What was your mom like?’ ‘Oh she was full of life she had that zest that influenced everyone. If you were in the same room you got contaminated by her outgoing contagious personality.’ ‘What about your father?’ ‘Oh him, he buggered off when I was young with some floozy from the next town, we never saw him again; he gave no help in bringing me up, my mom really struggled, but The Bugle was good to her. I think Tom snr the editor who you said you saw; really liked her and I’m not sure if they had a fling, as Tom snr certainly looked after her.’

  I smiled at her and rested my hand across the table as she put hers on top of mine, she smiled back at me. Then she said ‘you fancy a coffee back at mine?’ I smiled and said ‘That would be nice, but I have my reputation to think of.’ Roseanne laughed as she slapped my arm. I called for the bill and left a good tip for the young waitress, she was either at school or had just left; this was probably the only work in the area, so she would be grateful of anything extra to boost her income. The waitress smiled as she said ‘thank you sir that is very kind of you, please come back soon.’ I smiled at her and said ‘you are very good at your job.’

  I walked with Roseanne to the exit as the manager approached us and said ‘was everything okay?’ I said ‘very nice steaks and good service; Nikki is a credit to you.’ ‘Well thank you, please take one of these, it gives you 10% off your next meal with us.’ I shook his hand thanking him as we walked out. I said to Roseanne ‘no racing your horse.’ She smiled as she got into her gleaming red Mustang and started the engine, I could hear the burbling motor ticking over then she blipped the throttle which gave that throaty exhaust note, the one that says power under the hood.

  The journey was not too far, about 5 miles. We arrived at a nice house after negotiating a lengthy drive. When we arrived at the house automatic sensors clicked the outside lights on. I looked at Roseanne and said ‘this is some place.’ ‘Yep it was my mom’s, I think Tom had something to do with buying it, but I don’t know for sure as my mom would never talk about it.’

  Once inside it was nice and warm, the heating had kicked-in and felt good, I slipped off my Jacket and placed it over the banister then followed Roseanne into the kitchen. The units were all matching oak as was the island, all topped with granite work surfaces. There was a separate table also made of oak. The kitchen was bigger than most apartments. ‘You live here all alone?’ ‘Yep this is me.’ ‘This is some pad.’ Roseanne had clicked on the kettle and was placing coffee into the cups ‘it does me. You take sugar?’ ‘Milk only please.’

  I sat at the table as the coffee was brought over. We sat and chatted, then she enquired ‘where you staying at the moment?’ ‘I’m not, I checked out this morning expecting my enquiries to finish after my visit this morning.’ ‘That’s okay I have a plenty of room upstairs you can stay here.’ I thanked her and accepted the offer.

  The coffee finished she said ‘let me show you your room.’ I collected my overnight bag from my car as I followed her upstairs. ‘Okay this is your room, there is an on-suite in there,’ as she point to another door. Then she showed me the rest of the upstairs including the family bathroom; then into the main bedroom which was hers, it had a king sized bed with a pink duvet matching the décor. ‘What a nice room.’ She stood beside me and linked her arm through mine. ‘You like it,’ as she smiled at me then our eyes met, she reached up and kissed me, our tongues met then lust took over as we began to caress each other undressing urgently then making love till the early morning; afterwards we crashed asleep.

  I was woken to the radio alarm buzzing; then it kicked into the local radio station with music and traffic updates interrupted by adverts for all kinds of goods. I felt for Roseanne, but the bed was empty then I heard the on-suit shower. I rested my head back down on the pillow reminiscing about the evening session; Roseanne had been a sexual animal.

  The door opened as Roseanne entered with a towel covering her hair in a turban, wearing a thick white towelling dressing gown. She smiled as she said ‘your turn tiger.’ I smiled as I got out of bed and kissed her passionately parting her gown and fondling her ample breasts thumbing over her nipples. She gave a sigh as she pushed me away ‘shower go on, a cold one.’ As she laughed then she looked at my half erection as she took hold of me and said ‘oh that’s a shame to waste that.’ She dropped to her knees and took me into her mouth keeping me there till I was about to explode, then teasingly said ‘that was nice now a cold shower for you.’ I smiled and said ‘oh now you don’t’ as I pushed her back on the bed and dropped between her knees and returned the experience, my hair was pulled and tugged in time with her pelvis as she rocked my head, then we changed into a 69 position and drank each other till dry. Then she said ‘cold shower you.’ I smiled as I smacked her bum causing her to laugh, ‘I like that, tonight perhaps, maybe?’ As she coyly smiled at me; as I nodded and smiled back.

  After my shower I changed my clothes and went downstairs where a fruit breakfast was waiting for me with coffee. Roseanne was on the phone as she put her finger to her lips. When she finished she said ‘no problem all quiet overnight.’

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  We arrived outside of the bank as Roseanne showed me the key; it had the initials of the bank on it. I produced the piece of paper with the banks name and box number. We then went inside, where we spoke to the manager in charge of the safety deposit boxes. He was a bit reluctant until Roseanne produced her press card with her name on and the death certificate of her mothers. He was then more compliant as we were shown down into the depths of the bank through a strong hold door. It looked like it would keep out a nuclear explosion never mind thieves. We went through yet another locked door, then into the box room. There were rows and rows of shiny boxes, hundreds of them all with double key slots.

  Rosanne was invited to sign the register; then she inserted the key she had into the bottom keyhole of the box indicated by a number; the same number I had found in the file. The manager then entered his key giving Roseanne instructions. Then he nodded as they both turned the keys at the same time. The door opened, I was sure I saw a misty cloud emanating from inside the open door. Then I felt a shiver, I could see Roseanne and the manager also shiver as they must have felt the same sensation as I had experienced.

  Roseanne held my a
rm as the long box was drawn out through the open door. I thanked the manager as he left and directed us to a side room. Roseanne looked at me as if to say I’m scared, scared of what’s inside. I said ‘you ready?’ She nodded, as I lifted the top of the box, the hinges at the rear kept the box-lid from falling off. I fully opened it and rested the lid in the fully open position. I could feel the anticipation of Roseanne as she grabbed my arm tighter.

  There were lots of papers including 2 A4 pads which had been filled in on both sides with hand written notes which Roseanne confirmed was her mother’s handwriting. There was also a big jewel box. Roseanne picked up the jewel box and opened it, what she saw made her eyes light up, there were two ladies solid gold Rolex watches and numerous other expensive looking items including bracelet’s and necklace’s. She said ‘wow these must be worth a fortune!’ ‘Certainly looks like it.’ Then I said ‘that’s a bonus, but we’re here to find evidence of your mom’s investigation.

  I took out the Papers and the A4 pads as I started to read the content; Roseanne took the bundle of papers and did the same. But there was nothing startling in what I found. There certainly wasn’t an in depth investigation. We were both disappointed as there was nothing to indicate Camilla and the affairs of the Police Chief and the Mayor. I was just about to pack up, when the white veil of mist appeared again, I could hear in my head someone saying keep looking a page at a time. Then I went cold and shivered as did Roseanne. Then she said ‘well that’s it, nothing; I’m cold.’ ‘Just a minute let’s look one more time,’ but what was I looking for, I had no idea?

  Then I thought if Marsha had been clever she wouldn’t just leave the evidence for anyone to read. ‘Okay Roseanne something maybe hidden in the text let’s have another look’ as I began trying to find something hidden, but no matter where and how I looked it was beyond me. Then finally I twigged it, as if something had given me the key, how I found it I had no idea. I had slid by accident my finger down to the third line of the first page. There was quotation from the bible not a full quote, but part of a quote from the book of Revelations. ‘Let he who has understanding count.’

  ‘Okay there’s a riddle here Roseanne. The full quote as I remember is, let he who has understanding count the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man and that number is 666.’ We decided to take all the papers home, but leave the jewellery behind as it would be more secure in the safety box. I returned the box to the gap and slid it in as I did so I heard another sigh then a puff of white mist surrounded me and Roseanne then disappeared back in to the box. I shook my head thinking I was imagining things.

  Roseanne used the internal phone to confirm we had finished. The manager attended and did the same procedure in reverse. We thanked him as Roseanne confirmed she wished to retain the box in her name. She gave her card to him asking him to contact her when the paperwork was ready.

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  I decided to try and call Angela again to see if she had managed to track down Christopher. I was connected to her office phone by her secretary. ‘Oh high, yes I have managed to find where he was, but then the hospital said he had escaped. I don’t believe it for a minute, but no I haven’t seen him, I’m so sorry, I can’t spend any more time on this.’ Then the phone went dead.

  Once back at the office I spread the papers on the desk then sat and thought 666, what the fuck was the clue. I tried all combinations, 6th page 6th line etc. After hours and hours of deliberation and checking and rechecking I had to go to the toilet. I stood relieving my bladder I looked up at the ceiling feeling better having completed my task. I washed my hands then saw on the roller towel holder the phone number of the company, 1-8……That was it; I hurried back to my desk and checked to see if my thoughts were correct.

  I opened the A4 pads and counted, that was the key, I had it, 666 three sixes are eighteen one plus eight is nine. The ninth line down, the ninth letter in, would it give up the clue to who the murderer was. I got to the ninth page then the ninth line, then the ninth word in, but nothing; then I wrote down the first letter of the first nine words ‘Can’t Argue My Invoice Levels Lay Awkwardly.’

  C-a-m-i-l-l-a, it spelt out Camilla I had the key the first letter of each word in the sequence after the ninth word on the ninth line of the ninth page. I called in Roseanne she looked like she had seen a ghost. ‘What’s wrong?’ ‘I’ve just had a call from one of my colleagues from the Cincinnati paper, there has been another horrific murder, the half-eaten body of a woman called Angela has been found in a house and guess what, the house was owned by a man called Christopher who has disappeared from a mental hospital.’ I looked stunned as I thought oh my god; my first call to Angela has come true. The one where the woman told me Angela was dead half-eaten by a man.

  I couldn’t tell Roseanne that would send her over the top, so I just glossed over it as I showed her the key to the notes of Marsha I had found. Then we sat down and put together a long sentence which read ‘the Mayor’s wife was having an affair with the chief of police. The Mayor was having an affair with Camilla. I am on the verge of confronting the Mayor with the evidence. But I’m going to see Camilla first.’ That was it the trail stopped. Not conclusive evidence, but enough to go to the FBI with.

  I asked Roseanne if we could get-in on the press coverage in Cincinnati where the body of Angela had been found, it would make a good story for the paper. She nodded as she confirmed with Tom Jnr it was okay to go.

  We arrived at the press office where Roseanne shook hands with other reporters, one of the senior members of the office staff said ‘it has been confirmed that an escapee from a mental hospital named Christopher had been responsible. The victims surname was being withheld by the police at this time.’ I enquired about the injuries, he said ‘the killer was some wacko he had cut the victim up and had been eating her whilst she was still alive.’

  Roseanne looked at me as she said ‘we have to go public on this, Camilla or whoever she is, is a danger to women out there.’

  I took Roseanne to one side and said ‘look you have believed me so far, so listen to this.’ I pulled out Angela’s business card and handed it to her as I explained my meeting in Buffalo and the recommendation of Angela. Then my meeting with her and the phone calls. Roseanne looked at me as she said ‘you are some sick bastard,’ as she pulled away from me. I put my hands up in the air as I said ‘I just knew I shouldn’t have told you.’ I made my way out of the office. I enquired with one of the staff where the train station was.

  I got outside and started walking towards the station when Roseanne caught up with me. I kept walking then she stood in front of me. ‘Look I know something you don’t, this has been kept secret; Camilla had a love child who she also called Camilla as well.’ ‘That’s bullshit.’ I kept walking then she called out ‘and Camilla the daughter married a guy called Christopher Brown.’ I stopped in my tracks, I turned and looked at her, she nodded ‘please let me show you all the other evidence I have; it made no sense to me until you came along, now it makes real sense.’ I apologised for my outburst then we hugged as I squeezed her tight not wanting to let her go.

  We both laughed as I said ‘that was stupid of me, but I have been so frustrated by all of this, I just boiled over. I feel like my head is going around in circles.’ ‘No problems just come here.’ Then she kissed me saying ‘I have all of a sudden found the one I love; after one night I know it’s stupid, but you have struck my heart so deeply.’

  The Mustang roared into life as we headed back to the offices of the Bugle. Roseanne occasionally gunning it as the throaty sound roared from the exhaust; then with a sudden surge of acceleration sent my head back against the head rest. We chatted and sang along to the music on the radio. Roseanne was right, this felt so good, and it had only been a couple of days, but it was so right. I felt regenerated and to think I nearly threw it by walking away.

  We arrived full of the joys of spring back at the Bugle. Roseanne spoke with Tom Jnr as I went on looking at the pap
ers from the safety deposit box. Things started to make sense with the Police Chief allegedly having an affair with the Mayor’s wife and Mayor having an affair with Camilla and she having their love child. No wonder the Police Chief swept this under the carpet.

  Marsha had found out about the sordid love triangle and was either killed by Camilla; perhaps the Police Chief or the Mayor had silenced her. But there was still no direct evidence to link the suspicious disappearance of Marsha.

  My head was still swimming over the events and the way they had occurred; the meeting with Marsha and the editor at the old offices of the Bugle; that really sent shivers down my spine again as I thought about it.

  Then I thought about the meeting at Molly’s kitchen with Clive; then visiting 64, The Avenue and the feeling of evil, then the apparition that seemed to go inside me. All it required now was someone like Vincent Price to appear in some vampire costume to make the scene complete then I laughed at thought.

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  Roseanne and I spent days and weeks checking different registers and files trying to find Camilla Brown, but each new road we tried led to a dead end, Camilla had gone, disappeared off the face of the earth.

  Even with all of Roseanne’s contacts in various government agencies she was being met with the same brick wall. Even the normal social security and driving licence offices had nothing on Camilla Brown.

  In the meantime I had contacted the hospital seeking another visit with Christopher, only to be told no such person was resident there. I tried to explain that I had visited him before, only to have the phone put down on me. That negative response confirmed to me that he had indeed escaped.