by Gene Epstein
“We are currently even having a difficult time selling houses in developments that are priced at two hundred thousand,” the broker commented. “Unless you are willing to give it away, be prepared to hold onto it for some time.”
***
The next day Bill Spaulding called. “Robert, how do you intend to pay me my one third per our agreement?”
Robert was shocked. “How can I pay you anything when I don’t have more than the savings in my account since I have worked here?”
“Sell the home. Everything cleared probate so it is yours and uncontested. According to our agreement, that means you owe me the money now. It stated within 30 days. I am sending you a notice of demand. I’m only doing it as a formality. Hopefully, you will find a buyer quickly. Just remember that the clock is running.”
Robert called the broker and asked if anyone had replied from their small display advertisement in the Philadelphia Inquirer. “None,” the broker told him. “According to real estate practices I am required to present any offers no matter what the price may be and I have only one. I am reluctant to present it because it is so low and the property has just been listed.”
“Well. What is their offer?” Robert asked and was shocked when the broker replied. “$750,000 with everything in it as it was shown. That means they want an inventory but they will close as soon as they get a clear title search.”
“That is insane. I don’t know real estate values but that just cannot be,” Robert painfully continued. “Over a year ago the neighbor down the street sold their property for over one million and that was a piece of junk that was in disrepair. Besides, the cars were promised to someone else and cannot be part of any sale so forget about it.”
“Mr. Snyder, I realize how traumatic something like this is. I am just reporting as I am required to do. I am certain that the buyer would still go through with the offer without the cars however I would have to verify that. In the meantime let’s hope that I can find some interested potential buyers. Just be patient.”
Robert could not afford to be patient. He called Bill the following morning after preparing his coffee. “That son of a bitch agent brought some thief here to buy the property with everything, including the cars, and made an offer that is ridiculous.” Robert’s voice was extremely elevated.
“Slow down, Robert. It sounds like you have consumed too much caffeine,” responded Bill. “You know that this is the wrong time to sell real estate. Things are simply not selling. At least you say that you have an offer. Am I correct?”
“The real estate broker said that he had an offer for $750,000 and that included all the furnishings and the automobiles. The potential buyer was a relative of a neighbor who knew the property. Supposedly he would settle immediately,” replied Robert.
“Well, look at it this way. If you cannot get more from the buyer and there are no other buyers, then $750,000 may be too cheap to sell it for, but what else can you do? I'd rather you get 2 million for it since I would get 1/3 of that. Tell me Robert, would you want to have nearly $500,000 in cash? You know that you could live a good life with that!” Bill continued, “I really would love to see you get $2 million and if it wasn't that I made a very bad investment need the money, I would want you to wait until the market changes, whether it's in a year or two years or more, but I cannot wait.”
With that, the proverbial ball was in Robert’s court.
“Robert, do yourself a favor and call the broker to see if they will buy it without the cars and then grab it,” Bill strongly suggested.
This was something that was totally out of Robert’s comprehension. Here he has to make a quick decision to sell or keep it and not be able to pay the bills. He could not afford to hold on. $750,000 was beyond any amount of money he could have ever dreamed about. Even after giving one third to Bill for everything that he had done for him in the past. Robert felt that Bill deserved it since it was his help that got him the job of a lifetime. Before Robert questioned himself any more he found himself calling the broker. “If they will make the deal without the cars then I will agree,” he told Seth the agent handling it.
“I will let the broker know. I am hopeful that you will have a deal but one never knows anything for certain dealing with real estate,” Seth informed Robert.
***
The following day Robert received a phone call from agent Seth informing him that the buyer’s representative presented a $50,000 deposit with settlement to be held within 30 days or less without any conditions except clear title. Before Robert would sign anything though he needed his attorney to take a look at the papers. The agent agreed to bring it to Bill Spaulding's office first for his approval.
“Robert, it looks like you have yourself a deal. Congratulations,” said Bill upon reviewing the contract of sale.
***
Less than three weeks later on December 19th settlement took place at Calhoun, Spaulding, and Fiengold. The sale price was $750,000.From that total the settlement sheet showed title transfer fees, real estate taxes, deed preparation fees, attorney fees, and special loan advancement due William Spaulding of $250,000. Then the Pennsylvania Inheritance Tax of $112,500 was subtracted which was 15% for non-related inheritance recipients. The title company clerk issued Robert the check in the amount of $332,500 and he was excited, temporarily forgetting that he was the beneficiary of Mrs. Moore’s death.
Before leaving the settlement office Bill had Robert come into his private office and sign the titles over to him. Bill told Robert, “My gift to you is this the title to the Buick sedan since I don’t want you to have to use that money to buy a new car.”
Robert thanked him for everything.
Chapter 8
Robert now had to be prudent with his newfound wealth since he was without a job and needed a place to live. Neither presented a problem at this time because there were many apartments available in close proximity to Center City without the high rents of the city. He had asked at settlement if could he stay another week but that was rejected. Bill Spaulding told him that it would be impossible because of liability and that they would have to construct a lease to protect the new owner for a week. Bill had given Robert the names of a few of his clients that owned residential apartment buildings for him to inspect. He even went as far as suggesting that he could come and stay at his house until he found a place to live permanently but Robert did not want to impose on Bill and his family and thanked him for the offer.
He drove the perimeter of the city from South Philadelphia to the Fairmount section finding and inspecting three furnished apartment units to choose from the list that Bill had recommended. He settled on second a floor apartment with the rental of $750 a month plus utilities on Fairmount Avenue.
Writing out a check for $2250.00 to the real estate agent later that afternoon was something he could not have done two years ago without his check bouncing.
Robert had to have all his belongings removed from the Hampton Court by noon the next day. Robert’s head was spinning. He had butterflies in his stomach all day. The woman that he cared about was murdered. Then he had to sell everything, rushing in every direction so quickly. Now, he just found a place to stay and signed a lease but he had left everything at Hampton Court, including his old junker that he occasionally started to keep the battery up.
He was barely able to sleep in his new surroundings, especially since this bed was not as comfortable as the one that he had slept on for nearly two years. Robert washed up and went out to get breakfast at a local sandwich shop. By 8 a.m. he took his Buick sedan and headed back for his last visit to Hampton Court in Gladwyne.
When he arrived it was not quite 9 o’clock. He used the remote and opened the gate and went straight to his apartment to remove all his clothing and odds and ends. He filled up his trunk and had a full suit bag lying on the rear seat. He did not go in the house, fearing that he would see images of Mrs. Moore when she was killed, even though the images that floated in and out of his mind were beyond hi
s control.
The phone in the Buick’s console was still activated and Robert wanted to know if anything was happening in the investigation. He took Detective Harrison's card out of his wallet and placed a call to him.
“Harrison,” the detective answered.
“Detective Harrison, this is Robert Snyder. I'm just calling to find out how you are progressing. Can you tell me anything?”
“We’re still checking out leads. We have a few things that we're working on however I really cannot reveal anything to you,” claimed Detective Harrison.
“I'm not going to be at Hampton Court anymore since I sold it. I just signed a lease for an apartment in Philadelphia, Robert informed the detective. “If you want, I can call you when I get a telephone line installed.”
“Mr. Snyder. I'm a bit confused. If I heard you correctly you said that you just sold Hampton Court?”
“Yes, Mrs. Moore left her estate to me, which was quite a surprise and I certainly can’t afford to keep it, so I took the first offer that was received. I'm looking for a job now so if you know anyone, I'd appreciate it if you could pass the number to me.”
Detective Harrison just had a jolt when Robert told him that he was the sole beneficiary of Mrs. Moore's estate. What a motive, he thought
***
After a couple of weeks Robert was feeling comfortable in his apartment. He now had a phone line and an answering machine hooked up. Robert left a message for Detective Harrison leaving him his address and his new telephone number. He contacted a newly formed organization that he read about in the newspapers called “Wheelz2Work” and made arrangements for them to inspect his Oldsmobile sedan so that he could donate it to a needy person or family. He told them the car does not look great but it does run well and it's dependable. Two days later they picked up the automobile and he gave them the title.
Robert followed every employment advertisement that he saw, hoping to get some kind of job. He realized that he had no career in acting but still sent out feelers when he heard about any auditions that may be available. He called a couple of neighbors asking if they knew of anyone who could use a property manager with no results.
His bank account was huge but he felt uncomfortable using the money to pay his bills; however, he had no choice not having found a job that he would qualify for. His days were becoming monotonous and very boring. He wanted to do something. He’d take almost any kind of job if it was offered.
Browsing that Sunday's paper he saw the advertisement for the Grand Philadelphia Antique and Classic auto show that was taking place that day alongside the art museum in Fairmount Park.
Chapter 9
As Amanda kept showing him various pieces of artwork in her beautiful penthouse, Robert didn’t know how to tell her that for close to two years he had been living in the lap of luxury. He was waiting for her to ask him what he's been doing with himself fearing that he may appear to be a gigolo in her eyes.
“I'm soaked throughout. How about you?” she asked.
“No problem; I'm fine thanks,” he responded.
“Give me a minute while I make a quick change,” she said as she headed into her bedroom.
Five minutes later she came out looking more gorgeous and sexier than she did when they both went to Temple. She had a beautiful classic look with her hair in a French braid and wearing a black lace dress with a deep the cut V-neck and a gold braided necklace. All this on a beautiful 5'5" slender build.
“Mandy. Honestly, you look more beautiful now than you did back at school and you were really a turn on.” Robert could not hold back telling her and she was embarrassed or at least appeared to be. She opened up a bottle of 1977 Chardonnay by Burgess Vineyards as Mandy enthusiastically described to him what it's like being an assistant district attorney then she abruptly stopped and asked Robert,” Florida pompano or sirloin strip? Your choice.”
Robert stopped to gather his thoughts. “Whichever you prefer. What’s pompano?”
“The best fish that you'll ever eat in your life. Not only that but I can prepare it and have it ready in ten minutes. When they are running, a fish purveyor in Vero Beach calls me and then I have them FedEx’d. These came in this morning.”
She took out two fillets from the refrigerator and rubbed them with olive oil and then she placed them on an aluminum foil pan with the skin side up under the broiler. Less than ten minutes later the skin was crisp and blistery and Robert admitted that he never tasted anything so good. While that was in the boiler she blanched some string beans and carrots.
Sitting down at the dining room table and enjoying their meal together everything seemed so tranquil and lovely.
Then the bombshell question came.
“Robert, you sat here listening to me for about a half -hour or more as I've gone into every detail about my work and I rattled off so much I never asked you to bring me up to date with all your adventures these past years. Please tell me.”
Robert felt it was time to lay it all out there. He told her that while he was in law school the urge to be an actor was overwhelming and he never went back for his second year. He explained that for years he had small bits in local theaters seldom making enough money to get by. If he wasn't being a waiter one night he’d be a bartender somewhere else and constantly kept dreaming about fame on Broadway which was never to be. Then he explained that he received a call from his agent and lawyer friend who claimed that he had a position for Robert.
“At first I was so excited I couldn’t wait to get to his office. That was about two years ago. It turned out it was not an acting job that he had for me in the theater which disappointed me but the reality was I could barely make ends meet and was hanging out at different places and I needed a steady job. Before Robert could continue Amanda asked, “What was the job?”
Robert continued telling her that it was a position managing an estate for an elderly woman who was widowed with no children. She was ill and needed someone to look over her property with several buildings and beautiful gardens. He was also to write checks for her, pay bills and hire contractors or subcontractors for any work that may be needed. He was given his own carriage house apartment and the use of a car. As he told her these things he was embarrassed and he told her that he was embarrassed.
“I have no idea where I would be now had I not married Clarkson. You had a dream to be a great actor, but Robert you were always a great person with character and caring. That means more than wealth.” She tried to comfort him then he continued.
“Several months back someone came into the house after we both returned from a dinner at Blue Bell Inn and had too many kamikazes. I fell asleep early after seeing that she had taken all her medications and was tucked in and first thing in the morning I heard the housekeeper screaming as I was walking towards the main house.” Robert got choked up and continued, “Whoever it was shot her in the head killing her. The house was all the disheveled; however, it did not look that anything was really missing. The police came and I was hysterical because I grew so fond of her. She was like a mother and better than the mother that I had.”
“Oh, I'm so sorry to hear that, Robert. That must've been terrible. I know working in the district attorney’s office we see homicides every day and it affects so many people. Did they ever find the assailant?”
“I've called the detective several times over the past couple of months and he keeps telling me he's following leads and could not provide any information,” Robert explained.
“Where did it happen? I mean the area—the township?” sounding like an investigator.
“In Gladwyne, Upper Kellington Township.” He left out that he was the sole beneficiary and also that the lawyer took one-third of the estate.
Before long the bottle of Chardonnay was finished and as she went to open up a second bottle when Robert put his hand on hers and said,” No. I don't want to have anything else to drink. Just talking to you feels good. “
The evening was a great relief for Robert. It wa
s wonderful being in Amanda's company and reminiscing of old times. It was also great for Amanda for she felt a personal warmth with Robert there. They sat back on the sofa together listening to Johnny Mathis’s songs until they looked into each other’s eyes, embraced and kissed.
The following morning Amanda had coffee perking for Robert and she was off to work at City Hall leaving Robert to sleep. Upon awakening, he realized that Amanda had left and could smell the aroma of Arabica coffee permeating the penthouse. Robert poured a cup and sipped his coffee while reading the newspaper and taking his time for the appointment with his accountant that wasn’t until 10 a.m.
Chapter 10
Walking into the offices of Boyle, Boyle, and Bernstein for his 10 o'clock appointment Robert was asked by the receptionist if he would like a ‘cuppa kafee’ since Mr. Boyle, not naming which one, would be finishing his meeting momentarily.
“Thank you. No. I've already had my cup of Java for the day.”
He sat reading one of the magazines in the waiting room.
***
On the other side of town in City Hall, assistant district attorney Amanda Dillington placed a call to the Upper Kellington Township police requesting to speak with the detective covering the murder of Mrs. Jacqueline Phyllis Moore. She waited patiently while the operator tried to track down who was handling that case.
“From what I see Detective Harrison is the one handling that homicide. Can he call you back in ten minutes since he's finishing a meeting?” the receptionist asked Amanda.
“Please. Ask him to call me as soon as he has time.” Amanda left her direct line with the receptionist.
Five minutes later Amanda's desk phone rang. It was Detective Harrison.