by W B Garalt
“With that in mind,” Chace went on, “do you have any reservations about being involved with our plan?” he asked. Maggie and Max exchanged glances.
“No”, said he. “No”, said she.
“If this caper fails and word gets out, Lou and I might be joining you in the unemployment line.” stated Chace. “We’ve all got a little skin in this game. Let’s do it.” he said as he raised his closed hand for a fist bump. They all followed.
Between then and 11:30 AM they established that, as a matter of routine, once it was decided that a “distressed property” would have to be auctioned, Maggie would set an inspection date with Max. Francine had always insisted that Maggie then report back to her as to the state of the building, or buildings.
Items at issue would be; working locks with keys, operable electric and water utilities, working heat/AC, an amount of furnishings, and manual timers for vacancy/safety lighting, etc.
Max would prepare the valuation report, along with the size and condition of the structures which Maggie would add to the information that she passed on to Francine.
Max would then submit that same information, but also including a minimum bid value estimate, to Carl Jenson.
If the time negotiated with the mortgage holder allowed for a “short-sale effort before auction”, the usual group-visit by Francine and her sales staff would be made for familiarization of the property.
The four of them went back and forth using Max’s and Maggie’s experiences as to the importance of each part of the reports and which parts were key to the property being selected as the crime location. Although it was hypothetical, the consensus was that a property had to be at least partly furnished, utilities had to be functioning and heating/cooling systems needed to be functional. Properties not fitting that scenario would not be considered.
At break time they selected their lunch choices from the menu and ordered them brought to the suite. The two hotel room occupants went to check out. While they were gone the inspector and the chief went over the need to inform Maggie and Max, and if so, to what extent, about Francine’s past, Carl Jenson’s possible involvement and Carrie’s confession to Chief Devaro. By divulging this law enforcement-acquired personal information, they could be liable for slander, or worse, if it went any further beyond these two civilians.
The chief and the inspector also knew, however, that at this point they were ‘in it up to their necks’. They decided it would be best to trust Max and Maggie with the same information that they had acquired when they first decided to risk going ahead with the sting plan. This should erase any doubts the two civilians may have regarding their respective employers’ implication in illegitimate practices. In that way, the chief and the inspector reasoned, the integrity of the sting operation would be reinforced.
Lunch was served and the idle chatter led to a consensus among them that, if they were ever inclined to attend a meeting in the future, for any reason, this venue would be held up as the epitome of locations. Then it was back to business.
Chief Devaro explained to Maggie and Max that the information they were about to be exposed to was in confidence and was being given with the realization that both he and Chace would be laying their professional lives on the line in doing so. He added that they had both agreed, in full awareness of the risk, but with full faith in their judgments, to share this confidential information. Maggie and Max both steeled themselves to accept some unknown facts.
Inspector Chace revealed the information received from his inquiries to the federal agencies, and from his confidants within the State Police environment, concerning Francine Stanley, Carl Jenson and Carrie Slavonic.
The civilians, Maggie and Max, were stunned at first, at some of the information they were being given about people they knew personally. But both being mature, secure personalities they rationalized that seasoned law enforcement officers, with careers on the line, wouldn’t be acting on information which was inaccurate or unreliable.
The question was put to Maggie whether she would be comfortable setting up the plan at a property with which she was currently involved, or if it would be more workable to select a property whereby she would ‘fake’ a lead, or source of the listing, and submit it to Francine as if it were an actual situation. Maggie thought for a moment and, having been presented with a tough call, she offered a suggestion.
“Although a listing of an actual distressed property would cause no undue suspicion, none of my current pending cases meet the description that we discussed earlier. To wait for a workable solution would be unpredictable. A subject property could be faked, but within a few days, questions would likely arise which could jeopardize the whole scheme of secrecy. Also, the owner of the selected property would have to be practically sworn to silence. Either way could work but each has its risks.” There was a moment of silence.
“Ms. Marshall, that was beautiful! Have you ever considered politics as a career?” boomed the chief.
Startled at the break in intensity of their discussion, the other three participants broke out in spontaneous laughter. The chief joined them and it took a few minutes for the foursome to compose themselves.
“I’m sorry,” the chief apologized, “this is no laughing matter.”
Chace spoke up in a serious tone, “Well, there is one thing that her display of tact proves to me,” he commented, referring to Maggie’s response. “It’s that I can have full confidence in this lady’s ability to pull this caper off.” Just as I called it! Chief Devaro thought, as he showed a thumbs-up to Chace.
“Come on now, you’re going to make me blush.” Maggie shot back, “Seriously, if you want an ‘either-or’ decision, I would feel more confident if we get someone trustworthy to volunteer a property. That way we could control the plan at least for a few days; then I could withdraw the ‘listing’ with an excuse of some sort before anyone checks it out.” All four planners agreed to take that route.
Max was asked if that would pose any problems with him if and when he filed the report on the property with Carl Jenson.
“I don’t see a problem with that,” Max replied. “Sometimes I need a few extra days to verify sales of comparable properties. Carl then takes a day or so to prepare an auction agreement which I pass back to Maggie for participants’ signatures on her end. There’s no rush on that. If current value is less than what is owed on the property at least 30 days is usually allowed for a short sale offer from the general public.”
With those contingencies settled, Don Chace brought up the final point of the meeting.
“We’re fairly certain that the killings revolve around Carrie Slavonic, although we have no idea of what the motive is. If it has to do with the prostitution, Carrie doesn’t seem to have a motive and Francine wouldn’t likely have a motive. If Jenson is involved it would have to be that he has contact with some high profile ‘johns’ and gets a cut, which means he would have no motive either. Neither Jenson nor Francine Stanley can be aware of this set up. Now the question is, what about Carrie? Should she be aware of the trap when it’s ready to spring or should we let her go in with business as usual, using the fake property for a ‘session’ as she calls it, with us monitoring the surroundings?”
“That’s a good question,” said the chief, “She can be really tough and, as she told me, she has been a good ‘actress’ for most of her life. She could probably pull it off, but I don’t think we should take that chance. According to the routine that she and Francine have been using, a session is arranged for a certain date and time. The pre-paid ‘john’ has to present a photo ID to Carrie when they meet. This is so that she doesn’t have to collect and carry large amounts of money, and also it’s to prevent an undercover vice cop setting it up to nab her in the act of taking money. If we get the advance info from Carrie, we can stake out the client’s location and have him tracked along the route. If he is being followed by anyone else, that may be the killer. If anyone else shows up at the site, that could be the killer. In any c
ase, Carrie will be protected and we may get a lucky break”, the chief concluded. Chace nodded in agreement.
“With the time and place pinned down, I can have some back-up from State Patrol Division ready to track the client in case he is being accompanied by any cohorts.” he offered. “One of us can ‘stakeout’, in advance, inside the building and tell Carrie what’s going on when she gets there. We can wait a while, and then cover her when she leaves.”
“I think we have the makings of a plan”, said the chief. “The next step is to put our heads together and come up with a location. Let’s take a few days to locate a property. Once we have a location, we can set a date, and set the trap.”
At 2:30 PM Inspector Chace had to leave to attend to family obligations. Chief Devaro closed up the meeting room and after having settled up the costs, met Maggie and Max at the bar of an Irish pub inside the casino.
Max bought a round of drinks and the trio raised their glasses in a salute ‘To-the-Luck-of-the-Draw’, a poker term they borrowed for the sake of a vocal toast. Secretly, the toast referenced their hope to ‘draw’ a clue, or even a culprit, out into the open during the sting.
Chapter 31
Everything seemed normal to Maggie as she checked in at Stanley Realty on this beginning of a bright warm Monday.
“Good morning” she sang in her usual greeting to Francine who was sitting in her office, and one of the saleswomen whose shoe was visible through the opening in the phone duty cubicle.
“Hi”, from Francine was all she got in return. Par-for-the-course, she thought, I guess they bought the act so far.
Maggie was not an actress. She was usually cordial, straight forward and unassuming as she dealt with other individuals while doing business, but for the near future, she was going to have to ‘play the role’ of normalcy. She checked messages, noted her appointments for the day, and left.
“Ta-Ta” she said as she waved at Francine and got an expressionless look and a hand wave in return.
My God, now that I know, she really does look like a flophouse Madame! Maggie thought, as she walked to her car. But then she cautioned herself. Be careful Maggie, sometimes your thoughts can influence your actions, don’t blow it.
At noon Maggie met up with Max for lunch at ‘The Jug’. The conversation turned to the need to get a ‘location’, both of them speaking in code so that anyone within earshot would assume that they were talking business, which they sometimes did at lunch.
Jerry walked by behind the bar and, during a lull in Max’s and Maggie’s conversation he asked, “And how are you mates doing these days, is business keeping you ‘hoppin’?” Both nodded their heads as they chewed on sandwiches.
“How goes it with you, Jerry?” asked Max thru his mouthful.
“Oh, just ‘slavin’ away, ‘workin’ for the bank.” Jerry replied wearily, “I’m’ holdin’ my own, but I’m upside-down on both this place and my house. The pressure is on and my credit is squeaky. I was ‘goin’ to ask you Max, how the auction game works if you have to get out real quick.”
Both Max and Maggie were surprised at the question. Neither of them usually talked business with friends or acquaintances publicly.
“How’s that, Jerry?” asked Maggie, “You’re business is good here, isn’t it?”
“Would you like some suggestions, maybe later during your afternoon slowdown?” asked Max.
“Well, yeah,” Jerry replied, “I’ve got to do ‘somethin’. You both team-up to move property that’s in a jam, don’t you?”
Max and Maggie knew that Jerry had bought a large, older house on a large lot overlooking the village square. It was built circa 1890 by one of the town founders.
The prior owner of the bar, now known as Jerry’s Jug, also owned the old house on the hill just south of the bar. He sold it fully furnished, together with the bar which was located in the commercial section, to Jerry, five years earlier. It was a good deal for Jerry, he needed a place to live near the bar and he wanted to start his own business. He had worked tending-bar for the owner for several years.
Maggie and Max compared agendas and could only get together after 9 PM. Jerry agreed. He could get a part time helper to tend bar from nine until closing. He suggested that they could talk in the old poker room behind the bar, built back in the ‘Speak Easy Days’ of prohibition. The appointment was set and Maggie and Max departed to their respective appointments.
Max finished earlier than planned. Maggie was finished, as expected, by 7:30. They met at Maggie’s apartment for a quick take-out pizza supper before going over to talk with Jerry.
“What do you think Jerry’s problem is?” Max asked Maggie.
“I remember him asking how a private mortgage worked when he was thinking of buying the house and the bar”, she replied. “The owner was to hold the deed while Jerry paid interest and a small principal amount for a few years until he could get a bank mortgage to pay off the ‘balloon balance’ to the seller. As I remember, the owner died and a probate judge transferred the deed, with the mortgage balance due from Jerry, to a relative in charge of the estate.”
“Maybe the balloon payment on the private mortgage is coming due”, Max surmised.
“We’ll find out soon”, said Maggie. “Right now we had better get a move on. It’s 8:30.”
With complimentary drinks for his two friends, they and Jerry sat around a card table in the 1950’s style back room and Jerry told the story about his real estate woes. It pretty well matched what Maggie had mentioned. He had procrastinated in trying to get financed with a bank mortgage and now, the question of value was coming into play.
Separate mortgages on each parcel of property were possible but the private mortgage contained a clause stipulating that only a lump sum for both parcels together was acceptable for settlement. This provision tied both parcels together. If he couldn’t come up with the amount due within twenty two days, he might have to forfeit his equity and end up with a foreclosure on his record.
Jerry felt better having talked about his problem. He gave the two real estate professionals the key to a side door of the house, the only key he had. He hadn’t gotten around to getting locks changed on the other doors.
Max and Maggie agreed to inspect the property. Maggie would give Stanley Realty a short term listing at market value. Max would estimate a bottom bid amount and submit it to Jenson & Associates for possible auction if no buyers were obtained quickly.
Although Jerry had been paying the taxes, the property was still registered in Town Hall records under the prior owner’s name. For purposes of the sale attempt, Jerry would be listed as trustee and caretaker for now.
Jerry explained that he had not been living there for one year. He was living with his lady friend in a tenement in Bridgeport, twenty minutes down the coast.
The significant other was not aware of Jerry’s house because he never told her about it. She had children, two teens and a ten year old, by her ex-husband. The youngest lived with her because her apartment was small. Her other two lived with their father. She would naturally want to move into the big old house in East Wayford with all three kids. Jerry wasn’t ready for that.
The unoccupied house had variable timer lights to simulate occupancy, and motion detecting lights around the grounds. Jerry explained that he stopped in to collect mail from the mail slot and to make sure the heat, which was set on minimum to prevent freezing during the winter months, was working. Otherwise he checked the electricity by the timer lights when driving by on his way to Bridgeport each night.
The pair of real estate professionals thanked Jerry for the drinks, and consoled him as best they could under the circumstances.
“We’ll get back to you within three days”, Max told him. “Then you will have the information you need, and some options to choose from, so that you can make the right decision.” Jerry looked tired, but relieved.
“Thanks mates, I hope there’s a way to make it work, or a way for me to at least get-out even
.” he said as Maggie and Max went out into the cool summer night.
As they drove away from the pub, both were deep in thought. Maggie broke the silence.
“Are you thinking what I’m thinking?” she asked.
“Do you mean this could be a location for the sting?” he asked in return. Max turned back.
“Let’s take a ride by for a quick look at Jerry’s house.” he suggested.
In the town center section the property was not hard to find. The gloomy, two-story gothic styled, ten room mini mansion sat on a hill with a commanding view of the town square below.
There was an ivy covered, eight-foot masonry wall at the street level.
On the sloping front lawn there was a concrete circular water fountain with an anodized bronze statue in the center. A crushed stone drive circled the dried out, unused fountain.
The reflected gleam of a street light shined off the slate-shingled roof.
Weeds were abundant. A carriage house could be seen to the left and behind the house, and there was a small patch of trees where a garden once existed long ago.
Max took the next left on a short lane which led uphill to a street parallel to the frontage. Off the rear street there was access to the rear of the carriage house which was dimly illuminated by a lone street light. Obviously, it was now used as a garage with loft storage space.
“What a spooky place,” remarked Maggie, “it gives me the shivers. This thing is right out of a horror movie!” Max agreed with her.
“A little bright paint and a few more lights would do wonders for the first impression, that’s for sure”, he remarked.
Later, over a nightcap and coffee at Maggie’s apartment, a conversation of “what-ifs” went on for some time.
“Jerry wouldn’t necessarily have to know about the set up, he only has the one key, and he isn’t around that much”, suggested Max.