by Debra Smith
It would be a week later before he could speak to the detectives. In between the detectives found her parents in another county to inform them of Grace’s passing. Devastation was clearly seen on their faces. The detectives returned to their station to try to find the answers.
Once arriving at the station, they compared notes and started sharing ideas. Detective Bass pinned a picture of the victim up.
There was confusion in his voice as he said,” It’s too neat. A man in which I think is the same one who did the shooting at the court house made sure there was no trace of him at either scene. Slow jazz music playing on the radio, freshly lit candles and the white rose and white night gown she was found in, none of it makes sense. What is your thought, Lynn?” She looked at the crime scene photographs to forensic reports. She quizzically answered,” The PI Grace was working for must’ve had a case that caused someone to get angry enough to want them dead. I wonder if we take another look at his office, maybe we’ll find the answers.” Detective Bass said,” It’s worth another try.” They walked out of the station hoping they could solve a case with very little leads.
In thirty minutes they walked into Private Investigator Jerry Lyle’s office with Sheriff Augustine looking for answers, too. This time they looked for any hidden drawers to hidden walls. Once again finding nothing, they decided to talk Clair Sander’s for she was his last client.
When she came to the station, her husband and their attorney came with her. The attorney wouldn’t let her speak for herself. She remained silent as the attorney denied she hired the PI Jerry Lyle and offer various ways he could have had her name from breaking into the office to knowing Sanders were well known in town. They knew money talked. Heath Sander controlled just about everything in this town. They knew if he was somehow connected it would disappear like the other witnesses that came forward about his illegal activities.
The case went unsolved for their lives and their families were receiving anonymous deaths to walk away. They decided to protect their families by relocating to another state, choosing a different profession entirely. Detective Cannon opened a restaurant. Detective Bass opened a bar.
CHAPTER V
The Silver Spring University was vast, allowing anyone to get an education for about anything they would like to become. Annabell Calouchi called her husband, Calvin who was working on grading papers at his desk at the university. He listened to his wife intently about Detective Colter digging up the past. He eased his medium build back into the chair. After they hung up the phone, memories of his past came back to him. All these years of building a life could be taken away. His dark eyes scanned the room of instruments and student desks. There was nothing he could do to keep Detective Colter from coming here. Secrets he kept hidden from his wife and son would very soon surface. He could run and changed his name again, but he knew it was too late. He would welcome the Detective. The hiding had to come to an end. He wondered how his wife would take it. She never knew about his other life. Sadness crept over him at the very thought of telling her. He finished grading the papers. After placing the papers in a locked drawer, he ran his fingers thorough his thinning white hair as his heart shattered at the very thought of telling his beloved Annabell.
Randal and I looked at the crime scene photos in further detail. Black and white photographs stretched across the table as each photo was examined. I looked at the notations as a time was created. Randal rolled in a message board on wheels. Victims’ names, dates and possible connections were written on it. A question mark was placed in the middle for the one connection that would unravel the mystery.
I started to think about my grandmother and the connection to Byron. Why wasn’t she harmed? Who was protecting her? More questions without answers. I didn’t tell Randal about my grandmother. It was something I wanted to talk to her about. I asked Randal about the Serjio and Ruggiero feud. He softly replied,” I do remember the two families had a shoot-out. The Ruggiero’s were connected to a family in New York. The FBI and the Marshals took that family after the shoot-out three days later. All involved were arrested; at least that’s what I heard. Why do you ask and how did you know about it?” I told him about the journals and box at the mansion. I retrieved the books from the truck and showed him the photos. I ask,” Does anyone look familiar?” He looked at the old photographs one by one. He told me the names of two judges who were standing by Heath Sander, Judge Xavier Sulton and Judge James Lucas.
Another picture showed District Attorney Brian Dekes with Cirrilo Serjio and Heath Sander sitting at the table in his deli. I looked at the paper declaring Clair Sander dead June 08,1952, signed by Judge Xavier Sulton and the other paper Judge James Lucas signed it on June 03, 1950. Suddenly I remembered Victoria and Randal telling me about the car accident on the same day, involving Clair Sander. I interrupted Randal looking at the photographs by saying,” Randal, look at this, Judge Lucas signed Clair’s death notification the day she was in the accident. You said she was taken from the hospital.” Randal looked at the paper as he replied,” Someone carried her out. She was out cold. The doctors cleaned her cut and then bandage it. Why would a doctor treat a wound on a person who is dead?” Putting the two papers on the board, I answered,” She is alive and we’re going to find her. First I am going to talk to Rosa Lea Serjio, and then Judge Lucas, if their alive.” Randal picked a picture as he said,” Judge Lucas is alive and living at Silver Springs Estates. Rosa Lea is alive, too. You’ll find her at their deli. Judge Sulton died from a heart attack and DA Dekes is dead from a gunshot to the head, by one of Ruggiero’s men for turning states evidence on them that happen after the shoot-out. I’ll be dammed. Police Commissioner Ron Baker was dirty.” A shocked expression was on his face as he showed me the picture of the Police Commissioner with Cirrillo Serjio, Heath Sander and Judge James Lucas standing beside each other in what appeared to be an office. I told Randal about the entry in the one book about Ethan Baker’s wife, Eve and his car accident. Randal looked at the books. He read the names and saw the money amount, knowing donations were actually bribes. He replied,” This is what PI Jerry Lyle must’ve had at one time, but somehow ended up in the mansion,” as he read and flip through the pages of the books. I asked,” Did anyone report Eve Baker and her children missing?” He thought for a moment. He answered,” No, she has no family here and her in-law didn’t saying, either.” He looked at the newspaper clipping of Ethan Baker’s car accident, he continued speaking,” The wife left town two days before the accident and nothing was said of her where abouts by the in-law.” I looked at Police Commissioner Baker as I ask,” Is the commissioner alive?” Randal replied,” His wife passed away from lung cancer a few years before their son died in that accident. He disappeared shortly after Sander left the county. It seems everyone disappeared or dies who is connected to Sander. The Commissioner was never seen or heard from again. By the way, how are we going to find Clair, when we don’t know where she is?”
Picking up the picture of the commissioner, I answered,” Not yet, but we will. I am going to take this picture to our computer expert to get an idea of what the commissioner look like now.” Randal sat down in a chair as he said,” I am going to go through these books.” I left the house with the picture. Upon arriving at the station, I walked up to Penny. An average build woman with red hair greeted Matti and I warmly. I gave the picture to her as I pointed to the commissioner and somehow see what he may look like now. Smiling, she replied,” Give me an hour or two and you’ll have it.” The next place, Matti and I went to was Serjio’s Deli.
I drove to Serjio’s Deli who was still in business and run by the family. When I walked in the smell of fresh baked bread, rolls and buns lingered in the air. The customers were at the counter ordering meats, cheeses and bread. A few were eating at the tables, enjoying their sandwiches and drinks as some were reading the newspaper, while others were enjoying conversations with their friends sitting next to them. I saw photos of the family and the business in its early years. B
y the photos, I saw Serjio had his wife and children who worked the business with him. All were wearing aprons. Each pose was different from the cash register to counter to holding bread on a board coming from the oven. An elderly lady walked up to me. She softly asked,” May I help you?” I replied,” My name is Detective Colter. I am investigating the disappearance of Clair Sander. I came upon information her husband; Heath did business with Cirrillo Serjio. Would know anything about it?” A look of sadness came over her face. Bitter memories of the past had come to life. She wanted to desperately forget the ugliness she had seen inflicted on her family from the Ruggiero family who was connected to the New York Mafia family by the same name. All her husband and she wanted was to live in peace to run their business and raise their children. But Ruggiero were bullies by every sense. They threaten, destroyed, beaten and stolen from business who wouldn’t pay for their protection. Serjio and other businesses stood together against the Ruggiero’s. Their businesses flourished and grew. But it came at a heavy price that no one was expecting. Her beloved husband was killed by the Ruggiero’s as were many others from the all-out war Ruggiero’s started. Tears started to come to her eyes. She closed her eyes for a brief minute to compose herself. She let out a sigh as she replied,” Come with me, we have much to talk about it. But first I’ll introduce myself. I am Rosa Lea, Cirrillo Serjio was my husband.” She motioned for me to follow her to a room that was the office. After I walked in, she closed the door behind me. We sat down on the sofa.
She sadly said,” Ruggiero’s killed my husband. Do you think you can arrest them for it? My husband deserves justice.” I sat there for a moment before responding. I wasn’t expecting to solve a murder in addition to the disappearance. I had a strange feeling somehow all of this was connected. I gently answered,” I promise you I will do my best to find the one who took your husband away from you.” She softly said,” I know you will. Now to answer your question about Sander and Serjio. They did business together. My husband had men who helped to keep order. They were no saints, but their actions were for good reason. They protected the weak when no one would help. They all would meet at a warehouse on the out skirts of town. I am not sure exactly where it is for I wasn’t there, only heard about it. We had to form protection from the Ruggiero’s. Rowdy, Patch, Fizzy, Renegade and Trace were knick names I knew them by. I wasn’t told their real names. I didn’t ask either. Trace was the deadliest one of the bunch. They did their best to protect my husband.” She paused for a moment. She proceeds to tell about the day her husband was killed. On a warm summer night, they were getting ready to lock up for the night. Suddenly Ruggiero’s came barging in, shooting everything that moved. Bullets riddled the walls and counter as glass shattered from the deli case with windows crashing to the floor and street. Serjio and his men returned gun fire. Rosa Lea and the children hid in the office closet frighten. By the time the Sheriff and police arrived it was over. Three Ruggiero’s men were dead. Rosa Lea heard Sheriff Augustine soothing voice at the closet door by the office door. Sheriff Augustine quickly escorted them out the back door doing his best to shield them. Once Rosa Lea was outside, she fell apart. She couldn’t help it. The wave of tears, anger and disbelief overwhelmed her as she screamed, he can’t be gone, Cirrillo don’t leave me to no, no, no! Sheriff Augustine tried to comfort her as did his deputy. She clung to her children crying. A rain storm came the next night. Ruggiero’s men proceed with taking complete control by eliminating all who opposed them. It was the same night Sander’s wife and son disappeared in addition his friends. I knew I would have to ask Sheriff Augustine about it. I could hear the pain in Rosa Lea’s voice. When she finished speaking, I asked about the court house murders to a police officer’s wife disappearance and if she knew the where abouts of the wife. By her silence, I decided to press for answers another day. As I was leaving, I replied,” Sooner or later you will tell me more for I suspect you know more than what you are saying.”
I walked out of the deli thinking about the warehouse. Its location baffled me. I called Randal about it. I told him everything. He had an idea where it may be, but he was uncertain if his hunch was right. I told him I’ll pick him up in two minutes. After I picked him up, we started driving down an old highway barely used because of the new super highway that provided more access to different routes. I slowly drove down the road looking for an indication of an entrance. I heard Randal say,” I see something.” I saw he was pointing at what appeared to be a broken trail overrun by weeds waist high. I pulled the truck off to the side. Among the over grown trees we saw a slight piece of wood from what appeared to be the roof. As we walked closer, we saw the roof had partially fallen in the middle of the warehouse. The doors had fallen off onto the ground. The windows were smashed out. Cautiously we looked inside the building. The furniture was destroyed from the elements. I walked up to a desk in a corner. I carefully removed a board from it. I heard Randal say,” I found a wooden baseball bat with markings on it. Maybe forensics can figure out what it is. Did you find anything in that desk?” I replied,” Not yet,” as I pulled at drawer open. Finding nothing inside the drawer, I pulled it out completely. Taped to the bottom was an envelope. Another letter done the same way as the one in the mansion. I very gently removed the letter from the aged envelope. By now Randal was beside me. We started reading the letter:
My Dearest Love,
Soon we will be together. I will take away all the hurt and pain you are in. I promise youI’ll never give up. I’ll take you to a secret hiding place. Soon, very soon, my love we will never be apart.
Love Your Sweetheart
I carefully returned it to the envelope. Randal ask,” Do you think Sander’s wife was having an affair with one of those mystery men we don’t have an official name to?” I replied,” It’s possible. I would like to know their names and if they are alive, ask them questions.” My cell phone started to ring. It was Dr. Bordou calling to tell me the blood found was human and two different blood types, one was A+ and the other was O-. Fingerprints will be in a day or two.
I told him about the wooden baseball bat. He agreed to try to get something off of it. As we were leaving, something caught my eye. A black Cadillac about 1950 was among the weeds. We looked inside it. Nothing was in the glove box or in the seats. I quickly called Chase to come get it and take it to Dr.Bordou’s forensics team.
Randal and I drove to the old court house on the out skirts of town. I ask about the Serjio and Ruggiero gun fight that left Serjio dead. Randal told me the same details as Rosa Lea. When we arrived at the court house, the building was barley standing. I cautiously walked in with Matti following behind. Randal showed me where they found the bodies. Someone walked in and shot everyone in sight. I had a hunch it was someone they were familiar with for the shooting happen to easy. We carefully walked out of the building. I looked at the rear entrance. I saw one could go unnoticed entering and exiting. After I dropped off Randal at his house, he wanted to review the papers I found at the mansion. As I was leaving, he advised me to check at the Silver Springs Country Club for Judge Lucas. Not saying a word, I eased the truck onto the street. My cell phone started ringing. It was Penny informing me the picture was done. I told her I’ll be there in a few minutes.
When I walked up to her desk, she had the pictures lying beside each other. I looked at the picture of what may the commissioner look alike. A strange feeling came over me. The face looked very familiar to me. I couldn’t put a name to the face yet. But I knew it would come to me. She ask,” Does the face look familiar to you?” I answered,” The face does look familiar. Could you find out what happen to Commissioner Baker Sr ?” She brought the pictures up on the computer screen. She replied,” I’ll run a facial recognition and see what comes up.” I thanked her and then left. The imagine stuck in my mind. I called my grandmother to see if she was going to be home this evening. I didn’t want to tell her about the real reason for my visit. It was something I wanted to talk to her about in person. I started t
he drive to Silver Springs Estates and country club on the edge of town.
Silver Springs Estates and Country Club was sitting on top of a hill overlooking the town. Million dollar homes with swimming pools and manicured lawns. Judges, doctors, lawyers, bankers, and various other professions lived in this high society. The country club was located at the far end of the estate with its 18 hole golf course and tennis area.