“Whatever happened to Mr. Black, the other Green?”
“Alfonzo was a real screw up, so we had to replace him with someone who was more effective.” Max Green stood up and extended his hand with his card to his son. “Bernie, think about it and give me a call, alright?”
I took the card and asked, “If I call you, who do I ask for, Mr. White or Max Green?”
“Ask for your father, they’ll put the call through.”
CHAPTER SEVENTY
Did You Think You Could Just Walk Away?
We agreed to meet at the bar at the Four Seasons Hotel where she was staying. I nursed my beer while I waited. I watched the well-dressed crowd around me as they greeted one another. Not a familiar face among the mostly young professionals who worked the room, networking themselves and seemingly having the time of their lives. I marveled at how young and carefree the crowd appeared to be and how old I suddenly felt.
All of the young men looked up as she entered the room. Samantha had that effect on men it was as if she attracted all the light in the room. I had noticed that my wife also had that magnetic attention grabbing attraction.
I waved at her and she smiled.
I stood up as she approached. She hugged me and brushed my cheek with a kiss that burned my face. “I’m so glad you called,” she said.
“I’ve been trying to get in touch with you for months. It was like you dropped off the face of the earth.”
“Well, it appears Senator Spellman has some sway with Homeland Security. Any inquiries for him or any of the senior staff get intercepted. It’s a National Security thing,” she said with a shrug of her shoulders.
I nodded to the bartender who immediately responded and waited as she ordered a drink, buying time before I proceeded.
“Bernie why did you try to reach me?” she asked.
I sighed and began. “It seems your former employer is trying to have me, how can I say it, eliminated.”
She stared at me, “Bob Worthington is trying to have you what?”
“Eliminated, whacked, murdered, rubbed out.”
“Seriously?”
I told her about the attempt on my life and my suspicion that the disclosure of Dunlap Holdings Group’s involvement in the White Haven Detention scam that I discovered from the card she had given to me started the unraveling of Worthington’s illegal enterprise.
“That explains his irrational obsession with the Honorable Bernard Green that neither of us could figure out,” she said. “Thank God you’re alright.”
“Do you think you can talk with the District Attorney and perhaps help in the investigation? Maybe you can provide her with some insight on Worthington that she could use to connect him to the assault. I realize that you were not involved in the White Haven scam or many of Worthington’s activities, but you never know. There may be something you know that could help.”
She sat quietly and stared at me evaluating my request and her response. “You know, I was hoping that by moving to DC and getting a position with Senator Spellman I could have a fresh start, but I guess you can never really runaway from your past. Of course I’ll speak with the District Attorney.” She smiled at me and said, “Does your wife know how lucky she is to have a husband like you? No matter how I tried, and believe me I tried, you would not, well you know.”
I laughed and said, “The other day in court when I spoke to you my wife asked me who you were and when I told her she wasn’t very happy with me. She said I forgot to tell her how attractive you are. I think Nicky is a little bit jealous.”
“Did you tell your wife we were meeting for a drink tonight?”
“I was hoping that would be our little secret.”
Samantha saw the message light flashing on her telephone when she returned to her room. Probably the senator leaving a vitally important message about something of minimal consequence that he was having a hissy fit over she thought. She followed the prompts to retrieve the message.
“Did you think you could just walk away without any consequences? If you did, you’re not as smart as I thought you were. Be a smart girl and meet me tomorrow at 3. I’m sure you remember where.”
She looked at her reflection in the mirror for several minutes as she contemplated how to proceed. She always knew there would be consequences and she was smart, at least she believed she was. She would find out tomorrow just how smart she was and whether she had taken sufficient precautions.
CHAPTER SEVENTY ONE
The Top of the Hill Motel
The Top of the Hill Motel and Convention Center had seen better days. Located on Route 743 ten miles east of Harrisburg, it was still used as an off the grid meeting place for politicians and lobbyists for ‘special conferences’ and other activities of questionable repute. It was where Robert Worthington did a lot of business.
Samantha Binnager saw Worthington’s Mercedes bearing the customized NRA license plate parked in the rear parking lot in front of Room 17 the corner suite. She noticed other cars with special license plates signifying the owners as members of the House and Senate parked in front of other suites. Binnager figured the proximity of other politicians provided her a semblance of safety. She had never considered Worthington to be a man capable of violence before, however, in light of the attack on Bernie Green she wasn’t going to take anything for granted.
“How nice of you to show up and on time,” he said. “I guess you thought that your new employer-is that the appropriate term for your relationship with the senator, would protect you from me.” Worthington was seated behind the desk in the suite, the power position, and squinted as the sun light from the window behind her blinded him. So much for the power seat she thought.
“Why would I need protection from you?” she replied.
“Do you really think the senator would keep you around if he knew the things you did when you worked for me? You can’t be that naïve. Spellman would drop you in a New York minute.”
“The senator knows everything there is to know about me. I doubt that anything you tell him would have any impact on my employment.”
“You were always pretty full of yourself. I don’t think you really want to put that to the test.”
She sat down on the chair in front of the desk with her back to the window the sun still giving her a strategic advantage and said, “What do you want?”
“What no banter, no foreplay? That used to be one of your patented moves as I recall.”
She sat there and stared at Worthington and waited for his response.
“Your buddy Green has been a king sized pain in my ass. I need you to help me take care of him.”
The sun was still in his face; Binnager could see tears beginning to well up in his eyes. She stood up blocking the sun and stared at Worthington and said, “You may have forgotten that I don’t work for you any longer so I will not help you take care of State Representative Green.”
“Listen to me you bitch...”
She cut him off, “No you listen to me! I’m not afraid of you and neither is Bernie Green. You’d be doing yourself a big favor if you follow my advice and leave both of us alone.”
“And what if I don’t?”
“I don’t think you’re man enough to take on Bernie Green on your own. As for me, I know where all your skeletons are buried. I don’t think you want me to unearth their remains.”
And with that she turned her back on him and walked towards the door.”
“Where the hell do you think you’re going?”
As she walked away she could hear him cursing her. Worthington had lost his famous cool demeanor. She knew she had to be wary of him. Desperate men are capable of really stupid acts and Worthington struck her as close to the end of his rope. She had to warn Green.
“This just in to KYW News, Robert Worthington the head of the Pennsylvania chapter of the NRA, a powerful lobbyist in Harrisburg and in our region was found dead in a motel room in Hummelstown, Pennsylvania, near the state capitol. Worthington was
the apparent victim of a deadly shooting. The State Police discovered the body at around 4:30 PM this afternoon. At present there are no suspects…”
I could not help feeling a sense of relief and satisfaction in hearing the report of that bastard’s death. Guns don’t kill people, people kill people. Yeah, people with guns you jerk. As to suspects, I think the authorities will have a long list to investigate. It’s a good thing I was in Philadelphia all day and thus nowhere near Harrisburg or I might be among the pool of suspects.
The bell on the blue tooth in my ear startled me. Since Philadelphia passed an ordinance making it illegal to use a hand held mobile phone while driving I had started to use the new device with mixed results. I could not quite get used to speaking without actually talking into a receiver. Since I had only given my number to Nicky and my staff and had just left the District Office I figured it was Nicky calling to find out when I would get home.
“Hi honey.”
“Well hello to you.”
It was Samantha Binnager.
“I thought it was my wife calling…wait a minute, how did you get this number? I mean only my staff and Nicky have my mobile number.” I found Binnager’s habit of getting my unlisted numbers and other personal information unsettling.
She chuckled and said, “Sorry, I’m not stalking you. I really do not want to intrude on your privacy, but as a senior member of Senator Spellman’s staff I have access to a lot of information. But listen, I called to warn you about Bob Worthington.”
“I know about it,” I interrupted her.
“How can you know about it? I mean I just left him less than two hours ago. Did he call you?”
Binnager’s comment that she had been with Worthington this afternoon almost caused me to slam on the brakes, “Wait a minute what exactly are you warning me about?”
“He asked me to help him take care of you. He said you were a king sized pain in his ass. In light of what you told me about the prior attempt on your life, well, he just seemed to be, I don’t know desperate and dangerous. I tried to call you right away, but it took me this long to get someplace where my cell phone would work.”
“Samantha, hold up a second. How was Worthington when you left him?”
“He was mad as hell I could hear him cursing me as I walked away. Why?”
“Then you haven’t heard the news?”
“What news?”
“Worthington was murdered. He was found in some motel in Hummelstown.”
“The Top of the Hill?”
“Yes that’s the place. Someone shot him.”
“That’s where I left him. He was alive when I drove away.”
When I did not respond she asked, “Don’t you believe me?”
After another pause I said, “Of course I believe you. I think you should contact the State Police immediately and let them know you were at the motel with Worthington earlier today. It might help them establish a time line for their investigation.” The line went silent for a couple seconds and I said, “Samantha are you there?”
“I don’t know.”
“I really think you need to contact the State Police right away. You have to assume that someone saw you at the crime scene around the time of the shooting. You don’t want the police to come to you. The last time I advised a friend to go to the police and he waited it had near disastrous consequences.”
“Then are you advising me as a friend or as my attorney?”
“Just some friendly advice,” I replied.
“OK it’s good to know you consider me as a friend.”
“Well, of course I do. So are you going to contact the police?”
“I’m still about a half an hour away from Philly. I have some time to think it over, and I need to speak with the senator, but yes, I think I’ll follow your advice,” she paused. “Bernie there’s one more thing.”
“Sure what is it?” I asked.
“Does your wife know we’re friends?”
CHAPTER SEVENTY TWO
But I’m Not Qualified
Who killed Robert Worthington? I theorized that Worthington had amassed a number of enemies throughout his career as a lobbyist and likely from his other endeavors. His ruthless take no prisoners approach using seduction and blackmail to keep politicians in line had no doubt accumulated a long line of victims. There were of course his business partners in the White Haven scam who upon learning the extent of Worthington’s manipulation, not to mention the disparity in the profits he retained might also seek retribution. There were probably other business ventures in which Worthington took unfair advantage of his partners as well.
I was suddenly concerned about the conversation I had with my father who had offered his ‘assistance’ in resolving issues with Worthington. I better make sure that the fatherly assistance was of benign intent.
“Did you hear the news about Robert Worthington?” I asked Nicky.
She nodded.
“What’s wrong?”
“That Binnager woman called here and asked for you.”
“She called me on my cell phone. She hadn’t heard that Worthington had been murdered. She told me she had been with him at the motel and that he was alive when she left him…What?”
“Did you give her you’re cell phone number? I thought you told me that only Carlotta and Mike Zeebooker and I have that number.”
I sighed, “Honey, I didn’t give her my phone number. I asked her how she got it and she told me she has access to a lot of information because she’s on Senator Spellman’s staff. Nicky you’re not jealous are you?”
“There’s just something not right about that woman. And yes I am jealous,” she said.
I walked over and took her in my arms. “I am totally head over heels in love with you. I would never do anything to betray you. You know that, so stop worrying about Samantha Binnager. Okay?” and I kissed her.
“OK. So if she didn’t kill Worthington who did?” she asked.
“Dunno, but I’m glad he’s dead. I know it’s wrong to think that, but he got what he deserved.”
“I forgot to tell you Jack Collins called. He said he had some interesting news to share.”
I placed the call and got Collins’ answering machine. “Jack if you’re there pick up, it’s Bernie returning your call.”
“Bernie lad I was hopin you would call back. We need to get together there’s been some recent developments that might be of interest to ya,” he said.
“Does it have anything to do with Worthington’s murder?”
“Well it may, but then again it may not. I’ll say this, whoever shot that black hearted bastard should get a medal.”
“Anyone we know?” I asked.
“Truth be told, I’ve no clue, although I assume the list of suspects could probably fill the Linc like an Eagles’ home game.”
We arranged to meet the next morning at my office at Brinkley Smoot.
“Mr. Green, Mr. Collins is here.”
“Please bring him in.”
“It’s a grand office you have here, I’m sure you’re going to miss it. Not to mention that cutie of a secretary,” Collins said as he settled into the chair in front of my desk.
“Why will I be missing my office and where will I be going?”
“Why Bernie, you’ll be moving to Washington, DC of course.”
“What are you talking about? “
“You’re going to be the U.S. Representative for Pennsylvania’s first Congressional District.”
“Jack, last I checked Congressman O’Grady represents that district.”
“That he does and has done a damned fine job for the last 17 years. However, I have this from an impeccable source that the Honorable Congressman will shortly announce his decision to retire at the end of his current term next year. The party will be seekin an appropriate candidate to replace him don’t ya know.”
“I’m sure there are a number of qualified candidates who have paid their dues and will be seeking the party’s endo
rsement. Besides, I’m really not interested in the job, not to mention the fact that I’m not qualified.”
“Bernie, Bernie, Bernie. Sometimes you really disappoint me,” he said with a sigh. “First of all, you are eminently qualified for the job. In fact, you are the most qualified of the possible successors the Party has to select from. Most of the contenders are far past their primes, or are a bunch of posers and has- beens or never-weres.
More to the point, it doesn’t matter that you’re not interested in the job, the Party is interested in you for the job! You’re the perfect selection, you’re the fresh face. You’re a decorated war hero. You’ve already accomplished more in less than a full term in your current job than your predecessor achieved in ten terms. And besides it’s already been decided.”
“Wait a minute, don’t I have a say in this.”
“Not really. Don’t be worryin, you’ll get used to the idea.”
“Jack, I really…”
“Listen to me,” Collins said cutting me off. “Things will be moving quickly. Congressman O’Grady will be making his announcement in three days. You and the governor, and Senator Spellman will be present and O’Grady will announce that the National Democratic Party has already endorsed you. It will be grand vintage political theater. You’ll be introduced with the beautiful Nicky and the equally photogenic Bobby at your side. I think it best to leave the dog at home. Don’t ya think?” he said with a wink.
“For now ya must keep all of this to yourself. Not a word of this must get out before O’Grady makes the announcement. Now ya have to be thinkin about your staff. You’ll be needin an experienced chief of staff for your Washington office. As you know, the governor cannot run for another term. So, as luck would have it, yours truly will be available when you take office,” he said with a smile. “Congressman Green of Pennsylvania, yes it’s got a nice ring to it.”
I sat in silence stunned by Collins news. It was preposterous. There was no way I would consider such a step.
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