“Did they have accidents, too?” John asked.
“No, we suspect some type of poison,” Dave said. “The problem is we don’t have any real proof at this point. They were all cremated.”
“So, you think she just got impatient?”
“Maybe,” Dave said. “I’m worried she found out we were poking around and just cut to the chase.”
“Well, let’s take a look at the scene,” John said. “The first officer on the scene is still here. I asked him to secure the scene, but he said the paramedics and fireman had trampled over everything.”
They walked beyond the cars, their attention drawn to the foundation walls and the lone cop who approached from the farthest wall.
“I’m Sgt. Frank Tolle,” he said as he extended his hand to Dave and John Wood.
“Frank, this is Dave Meyer with Major Case,” John said.
“Nice to meet you, Frank,” Dave said. “We heard you were the first on the scene. Is that right?”
“That’s true,” Frank said. “I was delayed because I was on the other side of town. This scene is totally contaminated. The paramedics and fireman trampled over everything trying to get the victim out of the foundation.”
The trio walked near the edge of the foundation and studied the multiple sets of footprints that littered the area.
“The way the wife described it, they were walking over there,” Tolle said as he pointed. “She said she was walking and turned around and the victim had fallen in the hole.”
“What do you think?” Dave asked.
“She was rude,” Frank Tolle said. “She wouldn’t say anything except that it was an accident. Then she got in her car and sped away. I didn’t have any reason to stop her. You look around the scene here with the way everyone’s stomped around and there’s no way you can tell what happened.”
“I was thinking the same thing,” John said.
“I think you should talk to the paramedics and the fireman,” Tolle said. “The crime scene boys are on their way. I’ll have them go over the area, but I don’t think it’s going to help. You need to talk to Sam Kelly and Jake Perry. They had plenty of negative things to say about Marian Diamond.”
“They’re at Engine House number 5,” John said. “Why don’t you follow me over there, Dave?”
They thanked Frank Tolle and climbed into their prospective vehicles, with John Wood in the lead car, for the 10 minute drive to Engine House 5. Sam Kelly was finishing his reheated chicken noodle soup when they walked into the kitchen of the firehouse.
“Hey, Sam, how’s it going?” John Wood asked.
“Good, John,” Sam said
“This is Dave Meyer of major case,” John said.
“Hi,” Sam said as he stood and shook hands. “How about some chicken noodle soup? I made it myself.”
“Actually, that sounds great,” Dave said. “I was just starting to think about lunch when I got the call.”
“So, what can I do for you?” Sam Kelly said, as he ladled soup into two bowls. Jake Perry walked in the room.
“We were wondering what you thought about Marian?” Dave asked.
“Wait, you’re Major Case,” Jake said, as Sam put the bowls on the table. “I knew there was something off about that woman.”
“Yeah, who tells you what funeral home to go to before the guy is even dead?” Sam asked.
“I thought maybe the guy jumped to get away from her,” Jake said.
“Or was pushed,” Dave offered as he dug into the soup.
“Whoa,” John said. “Just because she acts creepy doesn’t mean she tried to kill him.”
“It’s enough to keep us looking into this,” Dave said. “We’ll need your statements for the record. I think we should go to the hospital next and get a statement from Marian.”
“OK,” John said. “This time I’ll follow you.”
An hour later, when Dave and John entered the emergency waiting room, they noticed the two clusters of families on opposite ends of the room. On one side, Marian sat with her children, while on the other, Roni huddled with her much larger entourage.
Dave nodded to acknowledge his sister Kitty, who was holding hands with Lionel. His detective mind flew into all kinds of different directions as he thought about the implications of that development.
Before Dave could decide which group to approach first, a tall, gray-haired woman, accompanied by a short, stocky man, who looked like he’d rather be just about anywhere else entered the room and approached Roni and Harley.
“I’m so sorry, Roni,” Theresa Langone said as she hugged Roni. “There was just too much damage and too much bleeding.”
“I’m Doctor Carney,” he said. “I did everything I could but Theresa is right. I’m sorry for your loss.”
“Billy’s dead?” Marian said as she stepped forward. “My Billy is gone.”
Dave noticed an undercurrent among the group standing with Roni, which included Harley, Kitty, Lionel and various other unidentified family members. They seemed speechless as they collectively stared at Marian. Dave wondered how long that would last. He didn’t need to wait too long.
“I want Billy taken to the Burger Funeral Home,” Marian said as she fought back tears. “I’m going to have him cremated.”
“Oh, not no, but hell no,” Roni said.
“I’m his wife,” Marian said. “It’s my decision.”
“Actually, it’s the coroner’s decision,” Dave said as he stepped forward.
“Who the hell are you?” Marian asked.
“I’m David Meyer of the Major Case Squad. I’m confident that after I talk to the coroner, he’s going to want an autopsy.”
“We’ll see about that,” Marian said as she began to leave the room. “You’ll be hearing from my attorney.”
“I need a formal statement from you about how this happened,” Dave said.
“As I said, you’ll be hearing from my attorney.”
Chapter Seventy
Marian and her entourage skittered out of the waiting room like rats fleeing a doomed ship. I guess Marian hoped her dramatic display would obfuscate her responsibility to answer a whole host of uncomfortable questions. I had to hand it to Marian; she could sprinkle fairy dust with the best of them. To me, the most horrifying aspect was the very real probability that she would get away with it. The atmosphere in the waiting room remained electric as we moved closer to Roni to offer comfort.
My brother Dave and another man stood apart from the rest of us. I didn’t like the looks on either of their faces. Those looks spoke of failure and the inevitability of an undesirable outcome. Lionel’s admonitions about pursuing an investigation swirled around my head like a swarm of bees, and I could tell Roni’s thoughts were also headed in that direction.
“Do not go there,” I ordered Roni as I hugged her. “You did what you had to do. You had no choice.”
“I could have left it alone,” Roni said. “I wouldn’t have gotten Billy killed if I had done that.”
“That’s the wrong way to look at this,” Dave said as he stepped forward. “Roni, this is Sgt. John Wood with the Alton P.D. We’re going to look into this. There’s going to be a thorough investigation. I’ve got a call in for the coroner right now.”
“Don’t you see?” Roni said. “She’s too smart. She’s been way ahead of us the whole time.”
“If we’re right about her,” Dave said and then hesitated. “Look Roni, I can’t imagine how much this hurts right now, but if we’re right, and I think we are, then we would have ended up here even if you hadn’t investigated this.”
“What can I do to help?” Roni asked.
“You need to go see Billy’s lawyer,” Dave said. “See if Billy had anything in his will about his funeral and burial.”
“You’re right,” Harley said. “Otherwise, she’ll have Billy cremated ASAP.”
“That’s been her pattern from the beginning,” Lionel said. “None of her other husbands had an autopsy.”
“What about getting Mary Clare involved?” I asked.
“Those all are good ideas,” Roni said. “You know, the last thing Billy said to me was that he didn’t want to be cremated.”
As Roni started sobbing, Dave gave me a nod indicating he wanted to talk out in the hall. I followed him out as inconspicuously as possible. John Wood provided extra cover as we made our way out to the corridor.
“What’s up?” I asked.
“Look, I don’t want to rain on this parade,” Dave said.
“But you’re that little pop-up thunderstorm right?” I asked.
“John and I went to the scene,” Dave said. “You have to understand. This started out as a rescue. The scene was trampled on and totally contaminated. We have a CSI unit over there but the chances of getting anything are practically zero. The paramedics said Marian acted weird at the scene, but that’s not enough. Marian is too smart to give us anything in her statement. Our only shot is the autopsy.”
“How can I help Roni?” I asked.
“Get her to Billy’s lawyer,” Dave said. “Pray Billy had the good sense to include his wishes for burial.”
“Marian is going to get everything Billy had, isn’t she?” I asked.
“Under Illinois law that’s probably true,” John said. “It all depends on what’s in the will. Another good reason to get to this guy.”
“This was never about Billy’s money,” I said. “Roni just didn’t want Billy to get hurt.”
“At some point she’ll accept she did the best she could in an impossible situation,” Dave said as his cell phone chirped.
“Dave Meyer,” he said as he answered the call. “OK, thanks for letting me know.”
“We’re on,” he said. “This is officially a coroner’s case.”
Chapter Seventy-One
After the horrible news had been digested in the waiting room, Roni and Harley took me up on my offer of a jamming session at my condo. Multiple phone calls were made to coordinate events and notify relatives. Lionel and I ordered pizza, and managed to get Roni to eat a few bites. It was after 3 a.m. before we finally tumbled into bed.
The next morning, Roni and I were drinking large coffees from a Starbucks drive-through on our way to see Billy’s attorney, Richard Cook. Too shell shocked and tired to talk, we sipped our drinks. My thoughts revolved around concern for Roni. Losing a parent is a sobering event, an unwelcome realization that you’re really on your own. All the suspicion and guilt surrounding this death would make it worse. Once the fierce activities of the next few days were over the hard work of grieving would begin in earnest.
Dave and Lionel were meeting Mary Clare at the coroner’s office in Alton. Fred Pataki, the county coroner, had welcomed Mary Clare’s attendance and insight. They had developed a good working relationship during a case the previous winter. While Roni and I met with Mr. Cook, they would proceed with Billy’s autopsy.
Richard Cook’s office was located in a mixed residential/commercial neighborhood on a tree-lined street close to one of the local hospitals. The office was a renovated house with a huge wraparound porch. The front door opened into a paneled entryway that led into a walnut paneled study with bookcases lining three of the four walls. The other had floor-to-ceiling windows, allowing a view of the front. A pudgy, bald man stood and greeted us from behind a huge cherry desk.
“Are you Roni?” he asked as he came around the desk and took Roni’s hand.
“Yes, I’m Roni and this is my friend, Kitty,” Roni said.
“Nice to meet you,” Richard Cook said. “Horrible circumstances, but Billy talked about you so much I feel like I know you.”
“Have a seat,” he said. “Would you like some coffee or a soda?”
“No, thanks,” Roni said. “Look, Mr. Cook, as I told you last night on the phone I need some information from you.”
“I also got a call from Marian this morning,” Richard Cook said. “She wants to know what’s in Billy’s will. She’s coming to see me this afternoon.”
“There’s a shocker,” I said sarcastically.
“Do I detect a tone in your voice?” he asked.
“A tone and then some,” Roni said. “I’ve been looking into Marian’s past. She’s been married six times and five of her husbands are dead.”
“Did Billy know that?” he asked.
“Not until yesterday,” Roni said.
“The same day he has a fatal accident,” I added.
“I don’t want Billy cremated,” Roni said. “Did he leave any provisions in his will about that?”
“Yes, he did,” Cook said. “I reviewed his will first thing this morning. Billy wanted to be buried next to your mother.”
“Thank God,” Roni said. “Does that mean we can stop Marian from cremating him?”
“I guess she could fight it,” he said. “I mean, you can fight anything, but I think she would lose. This is all very interesting to me.”
“What do you mean?” Roni asked.
“This confirms something I suspected,” he said. “It seems clear now. From the very beginning, I always had the feeling Billy never really trusted Marian.”
“Why would you say that?” I asked.
“Billy came to see me before he married Marian,” he said. “He wanted to be sure most of his money went to you, Roni. He was willing to take care of Marian to a certain extent, but he didn’t want to leave everything to her. He told me he didn’t think a couple of years of marriage should change what he wanted for his only child.”
“What did you do?” Roni asked as she fought back tears.
“I separated his assets into two trusts,” he said. “One with his name and your name on it and another with his name and Marian’s. The bulk of the money was always in the trust with your name on it. Billy moved money back and forth to cover things such as building the new house.”
“I don’t know what to say,” Roni said. “There were only two things I really wanted from Billy. A picture of the original house in Hillsboro my grandparents built and my parent’s wedding quilt.”
“You might as well know, Billy called me a couple of weeks ago,” Cook said. “He asked about a divorce lawyer. He said it was for a friend, but I wasn’t convinced that was true, you know.”
“What if Marian contests the will?” I asked.
“She can make it an ugly fight that I think she would lose,” he said. “This was done prior to the marriage. She’s only entitled to the things in their trust.”
“Which are?” I asked.
“Basically, the Alton Heights lot and some cash. Of course, the Alton house and everything in it is in your trust.”
“Sweet,” I said. “Do you think Marian knows this? I’d really like to be here when you tell her.”
“You really believe Marian killed Billy?” he asked. “I mean I’m not crazy about meeting with a murderer.”
Roni was about to answer when the she heard the ringtone of her cell phone. She checked the screen and looked at Richard Cook.
“I hope you don’t think I’m impossibly rude, but I really need to get this.”
“Hi, Mary Clare,” she said as she listened to the information. “Thank you for your help, Mary Clare. I’ll let you know.”
“Well, it looks like Marian is going to get away with it again,” Roni said. “Billy had a bruise on his back but it’s just not enough to get an indictment. Unless the tox screen or tissue analysis shows something, she’s off the hook.”
“Damn, I’m sorry, Roni,” I said.
“It’s what I expected,” Roni said. “I think Marian was on to us.”
“Or maybe Billy gave it away,” I said. “If he was thinking about a divorce Marian could have picked up on that.”
“Billy seemed really conflicted when we parted yesterday,” Roni said. “I thought it was because of what I told him.”
“I don’t think Billy was conflicted at all any
more,” Richard Cook said.
“What do you mean?” Roni asked.
“Billy called me yesterday afternoon,” Cook said. “He was probably on his way to meet Marian. He told me to pull most of the cash from his joint trust with Marian and put it in the other one. Basically, all Marian’s going to get is the Alton Heights Lot. There’s nothing else in her trust.”
Chapter Seventy-Two
A violent thunderstorm left a cold wind and a killing frost in its wake. Reluctant leaves tumbled off the trees in the span of 48 hours, causing a mad scramble to rake and mulch the huge piles. The season had changed suddenly and violently, much like the aftermath of Billy’s death.
Marian reacted with a burning rage when she realized Billy had basically cut her out of the will. Curiously, she seemed more upset that Billy would not be cremated. She pitched a screaming fit over not getting possession of the ashes and the fact Billy would be buried next to his first wife on Roni’s land.
She threatened multiple lawsuits and consulted a cadre of lawyers, who seemed to head for the exits when they realized there wasn’t much available cash to be had.
Roni still held out hope that Billy’s tox screen or tissue samples might nail Marian and we hoped she was right. Roni and Harley planned Billy’s funeral and despite Marian’s objections, there was no legal maneuvering to stop it.
A cold drizzle seemed fitting as Lionel and I drove to the church for the service. When we entered the back of the church, we could sense the tension in the air. The whole spectacle had the feel of the Hatfield/McCoy family feud to it, which absolutely guaranteed everyone would be extremely uncomfortable.
Marian and her children sat on one side of the church with everyone else on the other side. I half expected some kind of confrontation, but I think everyone was afraid of letting that genie out of the bottle.
After the service at the grave, Roni stayed to be sure Billy actually made it into the ground, and then we gathered at her house for lunch (or the wake as I refer to it since I’m Irish). Noticeably absent were Marian and her clan.
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