The Driving Passion Murders

by Gene Epstein

  The narrow dirt trail meandered up the mountainside. As they got higher they were at eye level with the tops of the pine trees. That caused Robert to get icicles in his knees because he had a fear of heights even though he was on the inside and not looking to the right and down 75 or 100 feet as was Amanda. She was capable and having a wonderful conversation with Commander. By 11:30 that morning they reached a plateau and Amanda drove into the open field.

  They got out of the carriage and Amanda with Commander’s reins in her hands, walked up patted him on his neck, and rubbed between his ears. She placed his halter on and removed him from the harness and carriage. Holding the horse by the lead line attached to his halter, she and Robert took a walk through the grass field looking at mountains in the distance. She found a large chestnut tree and Robert decided to remove the blanket from the carriage and spread it on the ground while she attended the horse. The weather was beautiful. The sun was out with very few clouds and just a light breeze which was perfect for the spring jackets that they wore. Robert brought over the picnic box and tea set, which he opened. Removing a striker match he lit the alcohol heater and placed the already filled sterling silver teapot in the bracket over the flame. He then took out the packets of Earl Grey tea and placed them into a delicate China cups while waiting for the water to boil.

  They were certainly in no rush. How beautiful it was they agreed, looking over the world from such a quiet and tranquil place. From where they stood they could see that the trail circled the mountain going to Skytop. There was a seating area where one could see the gorgeous lake beneath them, forming its half-moon shape around the base of the mountain.

  Amanda took out one of the apples and cut it in half with utensils supplied in the lunchbox. She sat on the blanket with Robert while she still held on to the lead line. She then asked Commander if he wanted to taste the apple and he bent his head down to eat it out of her hand.

  The three of them were alone picnicking under the chestnut tree. No one could be seen in any direction. As the water came to a boil Roberts thoughts were of Amanda and making love to her right there. Amanda, without realizing what was on Robert's mind, secured the lead line to the chestnut tree. She sat down to pour the tea for both of them when Robert looked at her closely and she saw what was coming. He took the teapot from her hand before she poured out the hot water and returned it to its base. Leaning towards her, he pulled her to him and laid back with her on the ground.

  “What's on your mind? As if I don't know,” asked Amanda.

  Moments later, with her blouse unbuttoned and her jeans down, his kisses sought every part of her body. It was reminiscent of the ’50s movie Picnic with William Holden and Kim Novak. As the water boiled, over so did their sexual arousal all while Commander stood watch.

  When Commander started to whinny they both looked around and saw several people on horseback coming off the trail and heading towards them. Thankful for such a smart horse, they buttoned up as quickly as possible and reached for the sandwiches as if nothing was happening.

  At this point having company in close proximity, the mood was lost, so they finished eating their picnic lunch and organized everything, placing their ‘lookout’ Commander back in his harness and into the carriage after rewarding him with the remaining one and a half apples.

  They were back on the trail and heading to Skytop. As they came close to reaching the summit one couple driving a horse in a two-wheel natural wood cart approached from the opposite direction. Both Amanda and Robert looked a bit uptight as the opposing carriage approached. The other driver looked absolutely petrified. Something had to give.

  Amanda had her wits about her and told the driver, “Pull as far right as you can so that I can pass you.” Which she did, with no problem.

  A very short time later they reached Skytop and stopped the carriage but did not get out.

  “I think I've had enough sightseeing today how about you, Robert?”

  “Let's get back down and head to the bar. I could use a drink.”

  Less than one hour later, returning Commander to the stable and thanking him for a safe drive up and down the mountain Amanda handed the reins to Tony who had a fresh straw bed awaiting the horse’s arrival.

  Sitting at the bar both toasting on freshly made kamikazes they heard thunder in the distance. Amanda asked the bartender if there was a storm on way and he confirmed that the next three days the weather called for several inches of rain in the area with occasional bolts of lightning.

  “Well, it's been great here the past couple of days and we have thoroughly enjoyed being here and I particularly look forward to driving Commander once again,” Amanda said to the bartender.

  Robert agreed. “This is a difficult place to leave.”

  After two additional drinks each over the following hour, both of them were just thinking of closing their eyes and grabbing some sleep. When they got to the bedroom Amanda looked at Robert and said, “Please don't get upset but I want to check my answering machine at home.” She did without any objections from Robert.

  There were six messages left for her, including three from Detective Simpson requesting the whereabouts of Robert because they need him urgently to identify items that they believed to have been stolen from Mrs. Moore.

  Amanda informed Robert and even though he was ready to hit the sack at 4:30 that afternoon he placed a call to Simpson.

  Ironically Simpson was not to be found in the building. However, hearing his name paged detective Harrison picked up the phone.

  “This is Detective Harrison, Detective Simpson is unavailable at this time. Can I help you?”

  "Yes, Detective. This is Robert Snyder. I just received word that Detective Simpson may have items for me to identify that may have been stolen from Mrs. Moore’s estate.

  "That is correct Mr. Snyder. How soon can you get here? We are holding two suspects on burglary charges and want to confirm the items which were stolen. Can you get here now?” he requested.

  “Detective Harrison, right now I am in upstate New York and will be returning tomorrow morning. Is that OK with you?”

  “I'm so glad to hear from you, Mr. Snyder. Please be here as early as you can tomorrow morning. Either Detective Simpson or myself will be here.”

  Taking Interstate 87 South at 9 a.m. the following morning, traffic was moving smoothly even though the rain was coming down quite heavily until they traveled about fifty miles when traffic came to a halt. The road was being cleared of a four-car collision while gawkers on the northbound lane slowed down to watch. Fifteen minutes later they were back on their way but a bit slower due to the weather.

  Amanda placed a call to her office to tell the DA that she cut her vacation time short but was feeling refreshed and would be in early in the afternoon. Robert used the car phone to call his answering machine at his apartment only to hear urgent calls from Detective Simpson and one from Boyle, Boyle, and Bernstein the accounting firm.

  She drove to her Center City apartment building and instructed the attendant to bring Robert’s car to him. Amanda realizing that Robert was in a hurry to get to the Upper Kellington police department to see the stolen article, reached over and kissed him.

  “I really do love you, Bobby. I hope that they really have Mrs. Moore’s killer. Please let me know what is happening. ” She then had her suitcase brought up to her Penthouse and changed clothes before heading to work.

  Chapter 17

  “I’m here to see Detective Harrison,” Robert told the young woman at the counter opposite the front entrance of the police department. “Please tell him that Robert Snyder is here.”

  A moment later, coming from a stairway to his far right, the door opened and a grateful Detective Harrison reached out in total sincerity to shake Robert’s hand.

  “Glad that you are here Mr. Snyder. We have been waiting anxiously for you for several days. Can you follow me?”.

  Harrison opened the stairway door and walked down one flight of stairs to his se
ction motioning to Robert to follow him. They walked down a hall passing numerous office cubicles to a small unattended evidence room. Harrison signed in and time-stamped a card with his name on it.

  On a long table covered in white paper to contrast with the items recovered in the stolen automobile driven by Billy Thompson, were about a dozen items. In the center was the golf trophy presented to Mr. Rodney Moore. Most of the items both left and right of the trophy were sterling silver antiques.

  Robert stood there looking but had no positive recollection. “I’m sorry Detective but I really can’t be sure. They may have been there, but I am not certain. Mrs. Moore had China cabinets that I assume were full of valuable items, but I never paid any attention to them since I had no interest.”

  “But Mr. Snyder, you had to notice this golf trophy. Did you read it?” a frustrated detective asked Snyder.

  “I see it was presented to Mr. Rodney Moore but perhaps it was in another room on a shelf? It obviously came from Hampton Court.”

  “Will you testify under oath that it came from Hampton Court, the home of the deceased Mrs. Jacqueline more.?”

  “Gladly, Detective,” Robert confirmed.

  Detective Harrison brought Robert up to date with recent developments. “A police car pulled over two people driving an automobile with a license plate that was hanging loose. While following the automobile the officer received confirmation that the license plate had been stolen. The officer called for assistance and subsequently pulled over the two suspects driving the car which also turned out to be stolen several months prior. The license plate was just recently reported stolen from another vehicle. The officer requested that one suspect open up the trunk of the automobile at which time the articles that we showed you were in the trunk. They both were arrested and fingerprinted.

  “The fingerprints of one of the suspects driving the vehicle matched all the articles. The interview was tape-recorded with the consent of the suspect, who subsequently admitted that he entered the house through an unlocked window on the first floor on Monk Road finding no one home and removed these articles. The second suspect we believe did not participate in the burglary however he remained in the automobile at all times according to both of them. When questioned about a 22-caliber pistol both suspects adamantly denied owning a gun.

  “When we looked at all the articles we saw the golf trophy that was awarded to Mr. Rodney Moore and that rang a bell. In addition, there was no reported burglaries in that area. We believe that Billy Thompson, the driver, disposed of the 22-caliber pistol. We needed you or someone else familiar with these items to identify them as being from Mrs. Jacqueline Moore’s home to charge them initially with burglary (18 Pa. Con. Stat. § 3502.) which Billy Thompson already admitted to.

  “There will be a preliminary arraignment tomorrow at 10 a.m. It will be held at the Magisterial District Court in Narberth on 707 Montgomery Avenue where the charges will be formally entered.

  “I request that you be present to at least identify the trophy as coming from the home of Mrs. Jacqueline Moore should they assign him a Public Defender. Otherwise, it is just a formality reading of the charges and the defendant’s response. It will be quick.

  “I know they will not be able to post bail so they will probably be held at the Montgomery County jail until the next hearing. At least that will give us more time to tie them to the murder.”

  ***

  Robert called Amanda but had to leave a message. “Hi, Amanda. I miss you. I really do. I met with Detective Harrison but only one of the items that they found in the thief’s car rings a bell. He asked me to be at the arraignment tomorrow in case he wants me to speak with a public defender that may be representing the two thieves. Other than that, it's supposed to be quick and a formality but I'm sure you're well aware of that. If I didn't drop out of law school I would've known more about the process. Can't wait to see you. Love you.”

  The following morning Robert Snyder met Detective Harrison as he was entering the Magisterial District Court at 9:45.

  “No one will be calling on you to testify since this is just a preliminary arraignment, but I wanted you here in the event there is a public defender representing Billy Thompson and Albert Young. I wanted him to see that you are here and have identified one object that was definitely stolen from Mrs. Moore’s estate.”

  Moments later, after two quick procedures, the case was completed. The bailiff called out, “The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania versus William Thompson and Albert Young.”

  At that point, the district attorney informed the magistrate that Albert Young and William Thompson are being charged with burglary statue 3502. And that William Billy Thompson has an outstanding warrant for burglary from the City of Philadelphia. The magistrate looked at both defendants and asked them if they understood the charges. They nodded in confirmation and then he asked if they have an attorney. He also informed them that there will be no bail for William Thompson since there is an outstanding warrant for him and $25,000 bail for Albert Young.

  “If you do not have an attorney or cannot afford one, we will have a public defender meet with you,” instructed the magistrate.

  Detective Harrison, after a brief conversation with the district attorney, Harold Mazor, told Robert that there will be another hearing for probable cause when the State has to show the judge that they have enough evidence to go to trial.

  Harrison also told Robert that at least these two thieves will be in jail while they build a murder case against one or both of them.

  Robert assured the detective that he would call him once a day, shook his hand, and left for his car. Once he opened the door to his Buick sedan, he reached the center console and lifted the car phone handset out of the receiver to return the call from Garrett Paul Boyle Jr., the accountant. Garrett asked him to come to his office immediately. Robert told him that he was just leaving the arraignment hearing for two suspects in Mrs. Moore’s death and that he would be there in less than 30 minutes since it would not be much out of the way to his home.

  Robert exited the District Court on Montgomery Avenue and headed South to Bryn Mawr Avenue trying to avoid traffic and hopped onto 76 S. taking him into Center City to the office of his accountant. After he parked his car, he entered the office building and pressed the elevator for the second floor then looked office Suite 201.

  As he entered a secretary sitting behind a half-round counter asked him "Are you Robert Snyder?” Robert simply confirmed. “ G.P. is expecting you.” She pointed to the office to her right.

  “Garrett, I’m here. What's the bad news?” Robert extended his right hand to shake G.P.’s.

  “Robert, sit down. I'll lay it out plain and simple. If the property that you inherited had not been sold within six months you would have been responsible for an inheritance tax for the fair market value of the property and its contents, plus the valuable antique automobiles. From my calculations and contacts with real estate appraisers, they place the value in the $2 million range on the estate, not counting its contents. There was a caveat that stated currently the market for such estates is minimal and the only buyers are investors willing to wait and take the chance that the market turns around. So on one hand it was good that you did sell the property and did so quickly prior to holding it six months.”

  Robert looked quizzical. “ Well, tell me, after reviewing my previous tax returns, what is the bottom line.?”

  "Being that you inherited a property and are non-related to the deceased you are in a tax bracket at 39% of the proceeds. It is up this year to 41%, however, you did close this past December. There is $124,000 exemption from whatever proceeds that have been received. The sale of the property including the contents is recorded as $750,000. The value of the automobiles is $150,000. If we just use those figures there would be 39%, which is $302,640. due to the IRS. The settlement sheet shows that you paid debts, which reduced your proceeds, however, your personal debts are not a tax deduction therefore doing it properly you owe the I
RS $302,640. as of today.”

  Absolutely astonished, Robert felt like he was going to pass out. “At settlement, I received $332,000 out of everything and you're telling me I owe almost all of that and it has to be paid immediately or else I have to pay a penalty?”

  “Correct. However, since the automobile titles were never transferred into your name and you simply handed them over to pay a debt I think that we should just record the sale of the estate for $750,000. I must inform you that there is a slight chance that the IRS might pick this up during an audit and then you would be responsible to pay,” GP continued. “ Leaving out the automobiles saves you $58,500. It's up to you. As far as I'm concerned, if it was me, off the record I would do it that way.”

  Robert then asked, “How much do I have to write the check for?”

  “$244,140. today. I hope you have it.”

  Robert sat there disheartened, pulled out his checkbook, and wrote out a check to the IRS for $244,140.

  “Robert, since we are not reporting the non-registered automobiles I will file an amended Pennsylvania Tax return requesting a refund due you in the amount of $22,500. I will contact the title company first to see if it has yet been filed.”

  Robert could not believe ever having that amount and now seeing it disappear so quickly. After spending money for an apartment and some minor personal items, Robert was looking at approximately $80,000 remaining and hopefully another $22,500. He took a deep breath after signing the check and the IRS forms then reached over and shook the hand of Garrett Boyle Jr.

  “I have some decisions to make and I have a good idea what they're going to be.” Downtrodden, Robert then left the office.

  Leaving the offices of Boyle, Boyle and Bernstein, Robert headed north on Broad Street until he reached West Montgomery Avenue. He then went straight to the School of Law at Temple University to reapply hoping that he would have credits for his first year. It had been many years since he left law school. He was told that he would have to start over; however, his previous four years in Liberal Arts, which afforded him a bachelor’s degree, still counted. He was asked to fill out forms and return as soon as possible. Thirty minutes later, never leaving the building, Robert returned with his forms completed and presented the paperwork to the secretary at the school of law. He was then informed that they will process it and get back to him with a confirmation. The secretary of admissions saw absolutely no problem and gave him the date when classes would commence.