A Despicable Mission (Olympia Brown Mysteries)

by Judith Campbell

  Bateson was the picture of confidence and bonhomie. “I’ll go you one better than that, my man. I’ll give you my license and my registration and my business card. I’m a realtor, Gingerbread Men Realty, down in Oak Bluffs. I manage this property and others when the owners are off island. I was up here checking on it. Everything is in order, quiet as a church mouse in there, so you don’t have to bother with it today. Now, why don’t you both hop in, and I’ll give you a ride back out to the road and save you some shoe leather.”

  The young policeman was examining Bateson’s credentials when the shot rang out.

  “Oh, shit,” said Bateson twisting in his seat in the direction of the sound. He turned back and frantically tried to start the car. Tavares grabbed for his gun and roared, “Don’t move. Turn off the engine, and get out of the car.”

  Then he jerked his head toward Jack Winters and said, “You too, back toward the house. You first, then the gingerbread man, then me and my gun.”

  “Somebody just got shot in there, you asshole!” yelled Jack.

  “And I’m not going to make it a double if I can help it. Keep walking, and don’t try anything funny.

  As they approached the house, all three of them could hear a woman screaming. Jack Winters was the first through the door. He was greeted by the smoky, sweet smell of expensive Scotch, Olympia Brown pointing a gun in his direction, and Mary Beth Lessing doubled over in a chair, making angry cat noises and clawing at her eyes.

  “Don’t move,” said the young policeman, pushing Jack Winters to one side and keeping his gun trained on Bateson. He looked around the room. “What the hell’s going on here?”

  “It think it’s okay now,” said Olympia, “but if I were you, I’d give the gun to Jack and handcuff Mr. Bateson. He brought me here against my will, and the woman in the chair held a gun on me until I managed to reverse the balance of power.”

  Bateson raised his hands in mock surrender. “Wait a minute, you’ve got this all wrong. I was just checking on the house. I come up here every other week. I …”

  “Shut up, you slime bag,” said the Reverend Olympia Brown.

  “I’m taking you in for questioning,” said the policeman.

  “On what charges, officer?”

  “We’ll start with abduction. I’m sure we’ll come up with a few other charges. Turn around and put your hands behind your back.”

  With that, the policeman began to recite Bateson’s rights, and Jack and Olympia gave each other a thumbs-up and blew out long sighs of immense relief.

  Still curled in her chair, Mary Beth continued wailing and rubbing her eyes.

  “Somebody get her a couple of ice cubes and wrap them in a paper towel,” said Olympia. It will ease the pain and reduce the swelling. Then you’d better cuff her as well. She’s part of the operation.”

  Mary Beth glowered through red and puffy eyes but said nothing.

  When Bateson and Mary Beth had both been secured and advised of their rights, the blessed sound of an approaching siren signaled to all present that the ordeal was almost over. Olympia collapsed into the nearest chair, looking and sounding like a punctured balloon.

  Thirty

  After the house was secured, Officer Jorge Tavares, who had finally introduced himself by name, took full charge of the situation. He put a now silent and obviously furious William Bateson and Mary Beth Lessing in the custody of the two officers who responded to his call for a back-up. Then he directed them posthaste to the Edgartown jail where the two suspects would be held until the arraignment.

  Once they were on their way, Jack offered to take Olympia back to the church to get her own car, unless, of course, she would prefer to go back to the Janney Lee and have a second chance at an oversized single-malt Scotch that she wouldn’t have to use in self-defense. The lighthearted joke broke the tension, and Olympia wondered what saint she should thank for Jack’s lifesaving appearance and intervention. Jack chuckled and shook his head.

  “I was coming down the street when I saw you getting into Bateson’s car. He has no idea what kind of a car I drive, so I slowed down and started looking around like I was a lost tourist so I could watch what was going on. Even from my car I could tell that something was wrong. You were stiff and awkward. I got a bad feeling, so I turned onto the next street, waited and then followed you. This place is so crazy in the summer, no one takes any notice of anything, least of all one more car on the road, even up here.”

  “That’s when you called the police?”

  “I never called the police. That was pure luck. Tavares was about to arrest me for trespassing. He saw the car parked in the bushes and decided to investigate. Good thing he did.”

  “I’ll say.”

  “I had hell’s own time convincing him to go into the house. He was trying to get me out of there when Bateson came along in the car. I was like a crazy man. I was really afraid he was going to pull it off and get away.”

  ‘What do you mean?”

  “There’s Bateson, the all-professional real estate agent, claiming to be on the property doing a house check. That S.O.B.’s a good actor. Tavares was just about to let him go when we all heard the gunshot, and you know the rest. Speaking of the rest, how did you get the gun away from the Lessing woman?”

  “That was a last ditch effort, let me tell you. I told her I was nervous and wanted a drink, even offered to get her one. She followed me out into the kitchen, gun in hand, and watched every move I made. I eventually found myself some really high-alcohol-content Scotch, poured myself a huge glassful and pretended to drink it. I kept pacing and sipping until she was used to me walking around and finally put the gun down on the table beside her. I worked my way closer and closer, and when I thought the moment was right, I screeched and threw the Scotch in her face.”

  “And you grabbed the gun?”

  “I wish. Even half-blind she was too fast for me. She grabbed the gun and fired it in my direction, but by then she was totally blinded and pretty well paralyzed with the booze in her eyes. That’s when I got the gun.”

  “Pretty quick thinking for a girl.” said Jack.

  “Watch it!” said Olympia.

  The two drove in silence for a while. Olympia was staring out of the window, trying to make sense of everything she had just witnessed, and Jack just drove, following the white line on the road and paying careful attention to the speed limit.

  Finally Olympia spoke. “You saved my life, you know. Probably Dory’s, too. I suppose I should thank you, but right now, words seem so totally inadequate. I mean, you really saved my life. They were very likely going to kill me. No one’s ever made an attempt on my life before, and I hope to God no one ever does it again.”

  Jack checked the rear view mirror, signaled right, and for the second time that day pulled his car off the road and out of the traffic flow. Then he turned to Olympia and began to speak.

  “Olympia, or should I say, Reverend Olympia, I’ve just been given a fifty-fifty chance at having a life beyond chemo and radiation. The life I’ve lived up until now has not been exemplary. Too much money, too much time on my hands, lots of frivolous pleasantries and one enormous hole in my life left by the death of my son. I suppose I used taking care of Janney and covering up her problems as a way not to think of my own.”

  “People do that,” said Olympia softly.

  “When we talked yesterday, I really was planning to refuse treatment and just get it over with. Today, I had the chance to do something that has made a difference, something I’m proud of. I’m thinking that if I have, in fact, saved someone’s life, maybe I should give more thought to saving my own. Thanks, Reverend.”

  Thirty-One

  When she got home, Olympia didn’t know who to call first, but when she thought about it, the obvious person was Julia Scott-Norton, who could then tell Dory and Jessica. When she heard the short form of the events of the day, Julia immediately insisted that Olympia stay right where she was and allow Julia to come get her. That way
, she could tell Dory and Jessica the whole story firsthand, and Julia could give her a glass of wine and follow it with some supper. If she wanted to stay the night and not be alone, she was welcome to that, too.

  Olympia couldn’t help but laugh. “How many bedrooms do you have in that place?”

  “Enough, “said Julia.

  “Give me an hour. I just need to make a couple of phone calls and see to the cats.”

  When she hung up the phone she looked up Dan Parker’s number, then called him and gave him a quick rundown of the tumultuous and revealing events of the day. When she finished, he, too, offered dinner, but Olympia declined, asking for a rain check, perhaps sometime after his mother’s funeral and before she left the island. She then asked if they could wait until after the weekend to discuss the date and details of his mother’s service, if he didn’t mind.

  Then she called Jim, who scolded her for leaving her cell phone off but rescinded all criticism when he heard her story … and then went on to tell her his news.

  “I was calling you to warn you about that Bateson person. He and the Lessing woman are the brains of an operation that has been doing this under various aliases up and down the east coast. They target areas with a large retirement community and set up shop. They haven’t been stopped, because although it’s a scam, the paperwork is legal. By the time the victims, or more typically their family members, start investigating, they’ve long gone, changed the name of their company and set up shop somewhere else. Looks like you finally tagged them.”

  “And damn near got myself killed in the process.”

  “We need to talk about that, Olympia.”

  “I know, look before I leap.”

  “Among other things. Anyway, I’ve got it all, and I’ll get it to you. I’m sure there’s going to be a trial. Sad part is, I don’t think most of the victims will get anything back other than vindication that these rats have been stopped. Jail time is far too good for them.”

  “Well, at least Dory will keep her house, and the other one down here, Dan Parker, will get to keep his. They got greedy, couldn’t resist doing it just once more, but it was too similar and too close on the heels of the other one. After listening to them, I swear to God, Jim, it was as much about the thrill of getting away with it as it was about the money.”

  “My policeman friend Jerry has said as much. Some criminals seem to enjoy the crime as much as the spoils. Weird, isn’t it”

  “What about you, Jim. Have you heard from the doctor?”

  “I have. There’s good news and bad news.”

  “Uh oh.”

  “Not that bad, considering. I do have to go on medication, and I absolutely have to cut back my hours. I just have to decide where to cut them. Do I stop teaching at the college, which I love, or do I cut back at St. Bart’s, where I’m desperately needed?”

  “Can you do a little of both?”

  “That’s where you come in.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “You said I could come spend some time with you in Brookfield. Is that offer still good? I mean, I know you are impetuous and big hearted, but since you made the offer, you’ve accepted a ring from a very nice man. Might you not want a little privacy?”

  “Oh, Jim, as a courtesy and in deference to you, I’ll ask him, but I already know what his answer will be. Besides, he’s so into working on that house, he’s going to just love clearing out and fixing up another room. It will keep him out of mischief.”

  “Are you sure about that? I will have to make some arrangements for coverage. It’s all still up in the air, but just knowing I have a place to go is really important to me right now.”

  “Jim, wherever I am, there will be a place for you. You’re family, remember? Just give me a three-day warning, OK? By the way, I still haven’t told Frederick what happened today, and Julia Scott-Norton is going to be here in twenty minutes. I have to feed the cats and wash my face.”

  Olympia’s last call was to Frederick, who, upon hearing all that had transpired in the twelve hours they had been apart, insisted on returning right then and there.

  “You don’t have time to make the last ferry. Julia is coming to get me and has offered to let me stay the night, should I feel the need. To be honest, I don’t think I do, but it’s there if I need it. Why don’t you take a day or two, close up the house and come down for the rest of the summer? The Jacksons across the street will keep an eye on the place. They’ve done it before, and they don’t mind. I’ll call the post office and have them forward the mail. I think it’s time.”

  All Frederick could sputter in response was, “Jolly good!”

  ~

  When Julia ushered Olympia into the room, Jessica and Dory both started clapping. Not to be left out of the excitement, the dog started barking and running in circles around them all. Everybody was talking at once, congratulating, consoling and asking questions until Julia took command. “I took the liberty of telling Jessica and her mother what happened, and we all think this calls for a celebratory toast. Olympia, I understand you have a fondness for single malt Scotch.” In response to Olympia’s dumbfounded expression, she added, “If you haven’t figured it out by now, my dear, this is a very small island.”

  “I’d love one, said Olympia, “but just a shot with a splash of water and no ice, please. It has been a long day.”

  Thirty-Two

  Ironically, on the day of Mary Parker’s graveside ceremony the weather was about as good as it got on the Island. The temperature and humidity had dropped, and a seasoned islander would have noted a hint of fall in the color and angle of the sunlight overhead. Olympia had to take Dan’s word for it as the two of them, flanked by Julia Scott-Norton and a small flotilla of lunch ladies in outrageous hats, came to bid farewell to one of their own. The service was brief but not without meaning and regret that one so vivacious and full of life was now lost to them.

  When Olympia spoke the final “Amen,” Dan took one of his mother’s famous hats out of the tote bag he was carrying and placed it over the hole where her ashes had so recently been placed. Although no one really felt like celebrating, it was his mother’s wish that they should. Accordingly, Dan bravely led the colorful group back to their cars and on to the much larger assemblage of friends and neighbors at the P.A. club where all who knew and loved Mary Parker raised more than one glass in her honor and memory.

  Later that afternoon Olympia was back at the house, thinking about how in the world she was going to fit Frederick and his clothes into the place, when she heard a knock at the front door. It was Dan Parker, holding out a bouquet of flowers she remembered seeing at the gravesite.

  “I hope you don’t mind my dropping by unannounced, Olympia, but I don’t see any reason why these should be left where they can’t be enjoyed.”

  “Why, thank you, Dan. I was just about to have some iced tea, would you like some? We can sit on my little deck. It’s gorgeous outside.” Olympia took the flowers, set them on the bookcase beside the clock, and went off to get their drinks.

  When they were each perched on a white plastic deck chair, glass of tea in hand, Dan was the first to speak.

  “That was a beautiful service, Olympia; my mother would have loved it.”

  Olympia inclined her head. “Thank you, Dan. It’s hard when you don’t know the person, and add to that the terrible circumstances of her death … well, I did my best.”

  “I suppose now isn’t the time to ask, but I know you don’t work for free. Can you tell me what ministers get for this sort of thing?”

  Olympia chuckled. “Actually, um, how do I say this? This is part of the benefits package of church membership. Your mother was a member in good standing, if not in attendance, of the community church, and weddings, christenings, and memorial services are a benefit of belonging. There is no charge. Some people choose to make a donation to the church itself or give something like a bench or a tree in the person’s memory. That would be entirely up to you.”

&nb
sp; Dan sipped his tea before responding. “You’ll be pleased to know that Bateson and his buddies are all behind bars and out of commission, and my lawyer says I’m going to get the house and everything else back as it should be. It’s all thanks to you. You damned near got yourself killed, you know.”

  “Believe me, Dan, I know. I don’t mind telling you I was scared out of my mind. If Jack Winters and that young policeman hadn’t shown up, no one ever would have found me.”

  “I’m glad they did, very glad.” His voice had become husky. Olympia attributed it to his grief and sat without speaking, giving him time to compose himself.

  “Olympia, how does a man who’s having a glass of iced tea with the woman who just officiated at his mother’s funeral ask if he can see her again … socially?”

  Olympia was blindsided but remained composed and smiling at the man sitting beside her. What does the woman say?

  “I’m honored, Dan, but I am going to decline for two reasons. One is that, although you are not a member of this church and I am not the year-round pastor, it’s still not a boundary I can cross. The second is that I have just recently agreed to an exclusive relationship with a very lovely gentleman who will be joining me tomorrow. But if either of those two conditions were not in place, then I would be delighted to accept.”

  He looked a bit sheepish and crestfallen. “I understand, but I had to ask. You don’t mind, do you?”

  “Like I said, Dan, I’m honored.”

  “I hope he’s worthy of you.”

  “Let’s put it this way: I’ve decided he’s worth the investment.”

  Dan set down his tea and stood up. “I’ll admit I’m disappointed, but I am glad you have someone nice in your life. Having said that, I really need to be getting back to the house. The police are still collecting evidence, but as of this morning, the property and finances are all back in my control, and I guess your Mrs. West is all set, as well. Is she going to fix up the house and move back in?”