by Gene Epstein
“Wow! That's really coincidental because that's why I left a message asking you about getting together. Sure. Where would you like to go and what time?”
“How about Arthur's steakhouse let's say seven-thirty to eight o’clock ?”
Robert replied, “I'll be waiting for you at the bar at 7:30.”
***
‘You Should Never Change a Classic’ read the sign displayed on the brick façade outside of Arthur's steakhouse at 1512 Walnut Street. Inside, the aroma of pan-seared steaks permeated the room. The rich dark walnut-stained wood panels enhanced the atmosphere. At the bar with its raised wood panels and a brass toe rail, the smell of cigar smoking overtook the smell of the steaks.
“I'll have a kamikaze and in a few minutes probably a glass of a rich oaky-tasting Chardonnay for a friend that I'm meeting for dinner,” Robert informed the bartender. He was halfway through sipping his drink while he waited for Amanda and at 7:45 she tapped him on his shoulder.
“Hi. I hope I didn't keep you waiting. I'll have one of those also,” she instructed the bartender.
“I was wrong. I thought you were going to order the Chardonnay from the Russian River Valley that you enjoyed so much and so did I.” Robert reached for her hand to hold momentarily. It wasn't long before they both were ordering a second round. Before they could even start, the maître d’ approached Robert to inform him that their table for two was ready and he'll send their drinks over to their table.
***
Amanda had serious conflicting feelings about Robert. She certainly enjoyed his company when she made dinner for him the comfort of him by lying by her side through the night. On the other hand, knowing what Detective Harrison told her that Robert did not divulge upset her significantly. She wanted to clear the air and was waiting for the proper time to approach the subject. The second drink made it easier.
“And what would your pleasure be tonight? The prime ribs? A sirloin strip?” The waiter asked.
“Everything is wonderful here,” she informed Robert.
His eyes scanned the menu choices and he thought that his newfound wealth could afford this meal; however, this may be the last one that he could afford after paying his taxes.
The waiter confirmed the orders. “That's one New York sirloin strip Pittsburgh rare and one fillet mignon medium- rare. Mashed potatoes and creamed spinach and house salads for both of you.”
“Robert, I have to ask why didn’t you tell me that you were the sole beneficiary of Mrs. JP Moore's estate?” Amanda bluntly asked, since the second kamikaze made it easier for her.
He sat there with his mouth open both shocked and relieved since he wanted to get it off his chest and never knew when the right time might be. He told her exactly that.
“I felt so embarrassed seeing how successful you have been and what a failure I have been by chasing my dreams of being a famous actor. I’ve had butterflies in my stomach since that night we spent together. I had no idea that I was the sole beneficiary until after she was murdered. I did not lie to you when I told you that I cared so much for her. She treated me better than a good mother would treat her son. I worried about her every day knowing that she had a tumor in her brain but hoped that she would live forever. After I was with her about six months, there was a slight remission. She and her doctor both were amazed never thinking it would happen, but it did. I worked with her doing physical therapy and taking her out to dinner and kept seeing her improve—just a little bit—but she had been improving. The physical therapy that I gave her four days a week helped her significantly. She started walking better and didn’t need her walker, only occasionally using her cane. I called up Detective Harrison at Upper Kellington Township, who is handling the case, and told him then I was in fact the sole beneficiary.”
Before Robert could continue Amanda broke in. “Robert. You told Detective Harrison that you were the sole beneficiary?”
“Yes. I don't remember exactly what day it was but first I asked him if anything was happening yet with their investigation, which I had asked him several times prior. All he would say was that it is ongoing and he could not comment and then I told him,” Robert emphatically stated.
Amanda was totally taken aback. Detective Harrison never told her that the only reason he knew that Robert was the sole beneficiary was strictly because Robert voluntarily had told him. It had nothing to do with the detective’s investigative prowess. Harrison made it appear that it was information that he dug up and that Robert held back. She was very much relieved even though upset with Harrison. She believed Robert and was glad that she told him what was on her mind.
Enjoying their meals and cocktails they both felt better having had the discussion. Amanda started seeing her feelings towards Robert grow but as an experienced assistant district attorney she wanted to first verify with the Detective and confront him. She was ready to ask Robert to stay over at her penthouse again but another part of her mind told her to hold off.
Then out of the clear blue she asked Robert, “What’s your agent and lawyer’s name?”
To which Robert replied, “William Spaulding.”
“Calhoun, Spaulding and Fiengold’s Bill Spaulding?” she asked since she knew the firm as being one of the more prominent ones in the metropolitan Philadelphia area.
“That's him. The one and only I assume,” Robert confirmed.
Chapter 13
“Detective Harrison, please. This is Amanda Dillington from the Philadelphia district attorney’s office,” she requested of the telephone operator.
“Harrison here, can I help you?”
“Yes, Detective Harrison. This is Amanda Dillington. We spoke last week in reference to the homicide of Mrs. JP Moore and you informed me that you discovered that Robert Snyder turned out to be the sole beneficiary of Mrs. Moore's estate indicating to me that he was your prime suspect. Am I correct?”
“You are correct,” he responded feeling a twinge in his stomach that there was something else.
“Well I spoke with Robert Snyder just yesterday and he told me that he voluntarily told you that he was the sole beneficiary of the estate, yet you certainly implied to me that it was your investigative work that turned this up.” She was blunt.
“I was pissed off. And I apologize for giving you that impression. I should've told you that it was in fact Snyder that informed me and not anything that either I or Detective Simpson discovered during our investigation,” Harrison sheepishly answered. “But the good news for your friend is that we are working on a lead that looks like it may be productive.”
“I'm glad that you cleared that up because I was very upset thinking that you were misleading me. I wasn't trying to meddle into your case. I certainly have more than enough on my plate to take care of. May I ask what your new lead is?” Amanda queried.
“The physical therapist. We did a background check on her and discovered that she had been arrested twice and subsequently released with no charges. That stems from her association and live-in boyfriend, Tony Galloni, a known drug dealer. She’s supposed to be in my office this afternoon since I have many questions for her. If you want, I'll be in touch with you or you can contact me periodically. Again, I'm sorry it was just a bad day for me and I felt that you were interfering but now I realize that you were just checking out things for a friend.” Harrison was sincere in his apology.
“Thank you, Detective Harrison. My number is 215-676-7676. Just ask for Dillington. They will find me immediately. Again, detective, thank you for the update.”
Amanda was relieved that Detective Harrison and his associate Detective Simpson had a person of interest other than Robert Snyder. It’s not that he ruled out any possibility that Robert Snyder did it, but why would Robert ever tell the detective that he was the sole beneficiary if he was trying to hide anything? She made a decision to call Harrison at least once a week to see what progress if any he was making and was there anything that she could possibly do as an assistant district attorney in Philadelphi
a to help.
With everything going through her mind almost every third thought was about Robert and her personal feelings for him that have gone back many, many years. She used to enjoy being around him on a daily basis at Temple University whether they attended the same class or just passed each other for a brief embrace between classes. She certainly enjoyed their sexual relations and knew that Robert also did. Had it not been for several circumstances that happened shortly after she graduated, would they have been a couple all through the years?
It made no difference, for shortly after they parted ways the year after graduation she met Clarkson and was infatuated with him. She never was certain that she absolutely and totally loved him since on occasions, even when they were first married, she thought passionately about Robert. She remembered a loving uncle of hers had once told her “Make the most of what you have and then you will realize that's pretty good.” That stuck in her mind and although the years with Clarkson were pretty good, she felt that still was something missing. Was she missing her former relationship with Robert from years prior? These random thoughts ran in and out of her mind.
She was concerned that Robert would be upset that the prosecutor in her checking out everything he told her but she let it pass. It went with the job. “I should have had Robert stay over last night,” she said to herself. Amanda decided to call him; however, there was no answer. She left a message for Robert on his answering machine, inviting him to share another bottle of Burgess Chardonnay with her. Then she regretted leaving that message when she should have just said “Hi. It's Amanda. Give me a buzz.”
***
Back at Upper Kellington Township police department, while Detective Harrison was writing down a series of questions for the physical therapist, he was interrupted by Detective Simpson.
“Hey, Theo. Something just happened that might be a break. A squad car was following a Ford sedan on Monk Road that had a license plate which was falling off. He did a trace while following the car and discovered that the license plate was reported stolen. He approached the car with his flashers on and the driver slowed down and pulled over. Both the driver and the passenger were in their early 30s and Caucasian. There was no resistance. The officer asked for identification and registration for the vehicle. The passenger started to open the glove compartment; however, the officer already being aware that the tag was stolen, went back to his car and called for assistance. He instructed both the driver and passenger to not move and not get out of the car.”
“Well?” asked Harrison and Simpson continued. “This is where it gets interesting. The second squad car came up quickly since he was patrolling in the area less than a mile away. At that point, the driver was instructed to get out of the car and put his hands on the roof. The second officer stood next to the passenger’s door and told the passenger to slowly pull the keys out of the ignition and hand them to him. The passenger complied.”
At this point Detective Harrison was starting to get upset. “Will you tell the story already?”
Detective Simpson gathered his breath. “The first officer asked the passenger to open up the trunk. He did. They found plenty of antiques but one stuck out in his mind. It was a golf tournament trophy presented to Mr. Rodney Moore, Mrs. J.P. Moore’s deceased husband.”
“Simpson. You just made up for screwing everything up.” That was Harrison’s way of congratulating someone. “Where are they now?”
“In the holding tank,” responded detective Simpson with a smile on his face. “There is also a warrant for the driver’s arrest in Philadelphia for a burglary. He's being processed now while the car is being dusted for fingerprints, especially everything in the trunk.”
“Finally, we are making some headway. At least I'll have something to tell that Dillington in the DA’s office.”
Later Detective Harrison instructed Simpson to bring the suspect into the interrogation room. Once the suspect was seated, Harrison let him sit there for five minutes while a tape recorder hidden in the room was operating. After the five minutes, Harrison entered with a notepad and a pen. “I see you've been read your rights. I am going to be recording everything that we are discussing both my questions and your answers do you understand that?” Harrison asked.
“Yeah. I understand. I just don't know why I'm here. I didn't do nothing. You got me here simply because somebody gave me their car to use.” Acting sarcastic Billy Thompson responded.
Detective Harrison then proceeded. "How old are you Billy?”
“Thirty-one.”
“How did you come across all the antiques in your trunk when you were stopped by a patrol car?”
“That ain't my car. I got no idea who put that stuff in the trunk. It wasn't me,” Billy responded.
“Well, you were stopped while driving an automobile with a stolen tag and inside the trunk were lots of antiques. Now, how did you get that car?”
“I told you and I told the two other cops it ain't my car I don't know a thing about it.”
“Let's just quit the bullshit, Billy. Your fingerprints are on the items in the trunk. You've been arrested before and you know the routine. There is an open warrant for your arrest for burglary in Philly. The only possible way that you'll be leaving here will be after ten years to life in prison or just lay it out on the table and be truthful, but if you're bullshitting me you are in for a lifetime of problems.” He continued, “Now tell me when you stole those antiques?”
“We were just riding in that neighborhood and I seen this house with no lights on so I figured I'll see what I can get. Maybe in this rich neighborhood there's something that I could hock. Albie, the guy with me, didn't want any part doing it so I left him in the car and I walked around the house and didn't see nobody in it so I looked around looking to find a window or door unlocked and found a side window opened about one inch. I opened it up and I was in some kind a dining room. I took the dining room table cover and I just wrapped up everything I could and got out the back door. I don't know how you guys got me so quick.”
Detective Harrison fired back. “You say you got into the house through an opened window? You say you left through the back door why not the window that you came in? I told you Billy, no bullshit.”
“I am not yanking your chain. I tried the windows and found one that wasn’t locked. It was open about an inch. I didn’t break into anything. I had this big dining room tablecloth filled with everything silver that I could find and could not get out the window since there was something holding the window halfway. I just about squeezed through it to get in. I went to the back and got out that door.”
Detective Harrison picked up his yellow notepad and pen telling Billy Thompson that he'll be right back. Harrison was totally perplexed. Back in his office, he had Simpson come in and asked him to check if there any break-ins in that area recently. He thought that this petty burglar might just be a petty burglar but how is it that he had a trophy from the murder scene from months before?
Detective Simpson checked with the post board and there was no record of any break-ins in that area since the homicide of Mrs. Moore. That made things even more confusing. He knew that the trophy was obviously from the Hampton Court estate of Mrs. Moore. And he was getting upset since his gut feeling that Billy Thompson was confessing to a break-in was turning out to be wrong. With that, he walked back into the interrogation room.
“Billy, I told you, bullshit me and you're going to be serving plenty of time and it looks like that's how it's going to be. Tell me now what happened when you entered the Hampton Court estate and shot Mrs. Moore?”
“Oh no. No way, man. Don't give me that stuff. I don't carry a gun and I don't shoot nobody,” he adamantly answered.
“If that's how it's going to be, you got a long stay,” Harrison said as he was leaving the room but then stopped and turned around. “Why did you have that stuff in your trunk so long without pawning it?”
“Hey, Detective. You crazy? It wasn't 15 minutes later you cops pulled me over
. How could I hock it so quick? I ain't no magician.”
“Put him away and let him stew. Tomorrow call up Philadelphia and tell him we got him and see if they have any issues with his buddy Albie,” Harrison directed Simpson, then added. "Are you sure this Albie comes up clean?”
“Nothing on him at all Theo.”
“Simpson put a call into Robert Snyder. I want the inventory that was removed from Billy Thompson's car spread out, identified, and photographed. We need Snyder up here to identify these antiques. This guy Thompson could be trying to do a head job on us maybe because he realizes that he's a suspect in the Moore murder and by stating that he just stole these items that would throw us off the trail. When we were at the crime scene we saw no forcible entry but did anyone look to see if a window or door happened to be unlocked? Could've been left open on purpose? If so, who in the household would've left the window open? Maybe not someone that had the key but we have to check to see if anyone did work in the around the house who was not in Mrs. Moore’s employ. Simpson, if he broke into someone's house why didn’t they call the police to report it? Get Snyder in here as soon as possible.”
Chapter 14
Amanda placed a call and got through to Robert on the first ring. “Do you have time to meet me at my apartment? I'm leaving work now. I would like to relax and have a glass of wine. Will you join me at three?”
“No problem. I was waiting to hear back from my accountant about how much, if anything, I will have after paying my taxes on the income from the estate and wouldn’t mind never hearing from him. I’ll head over to your place shortly.”
This time it wasn't a surprise for Robert having a porter take his car and park it for him and the doorman acknowledging Robert’s presence by tipping his hat while opening the door to the apartment building.