by Rose Young
Morrison noted, “It’s a good thing they are in the car with the windows up, or else they’d be carried off to the loony bin by the EMT’s!”
“Considering their antics,” Sam offered, “we should take them to the psych ward for an evaluation and leave them there for a while. We have the authority, don’t we, Morrison?” The detective rubbed his chin with serious consideration and smiled slyly.
Hearing them, Roxanne pinched herself so she could stop laughing. Georgi watched her go through these motions and crossed his legs while giggling.
Morrison flicked his head toward the door and nudged Sam with his elbow, “How long do you think they will carry on?”
“I don’t know, but I think it’s time we walked away,” answered Sam. Both men opened their doors and left the SUV.
As they strode toward the task force, Morrison reported, “With these two men in custody, the FBI involved, and some questionable practices of Morelli, this case is coming together. It’s Mr. Silver that has me concerned. He’s damn unpredictable.”
Sam gave Morrison a friendly slap on the back. “Dan, I’m looking forward to getting my wife back.” Their acknowledging glances spoke volumes. It reminded Sam of one of Morrison’s unusual cases. “Remember when the circus came to town and you had to investigate the strange death of that naked woman found in the Elephant pen?”
Morrison raised his eyebrows high, “That was a doozy! And what about that weird guy Lenny the lip-locker, years ago? All those 9-1-1 calls for a man-down, from bars on Bank Street. Whenever you told me it was the same guy pretending to be unconscious and luring the sailors to give him mouth to mouth resuscitation, well, that was beyond my imagination!”
“Yeah,” Sam added, “until we caught up with his ruse. He had a system of rotating through the bars and finally he was banned from them all.”
Dan says, “I think the Sub-Base still has his face up on posters saying, Beware of Lenny the Lip-locker!”
Sam chuckled, “Yeah, and I heard someone listed on it the names of the guys that were tricked for a kiss!”
Dan laughed, “So Sam, we’ll just add today’s events to the list of strange and amazing!”
As Roxanne watched Dan and Sam walking away, she suddenly remembered the danger on Long Island. She jumped out of the car and raced toward them. “What about Madeline and Marissa?” she puffed. Georgi was quickly behind her.
“And Camilla?” he piped.
“We sent officers to gather them up immediately,” Morrison replied. “They police have been searching Madeline’s property and have just begun to find cameras and listening devices. I expect the entire place was bugged, including her phone lines and internet. They were likely listening with a scanner, to your cell phone call with me, which explains how they pulled this all off. The women are fine, a little overwhelmed, but they’re okay.”
“Oh!” Georgi clutched his chest, “Another heart attack avoided, he crooned.”
Morrison informed Georgi, “We have your car, so now I need the laptop and Madeline’s memory stick. My men will review the files for evidence. We need to verify the possibility that Lester and Mitch were both murdered by Morelli’s assassin.”
“Oh no!” Georgi wailed.
“What now?” Morrison asked, as he gawked at him impatiently.
“That horrible man took Mitch’s laptop and the memory stick!” Georgi gulped.
“What! All of our evidence?” Morrison nearly burst an artery.
Roxanne tried to allay the sudden tension, “I can help. I have a confession to make.” Sam looked at his wife and hoped beyond
hope, that she wasn’t going to say something that would put Dan in the hospital.
Looking at both Dan and Georgi she said, “I copied the laptop files when we were at the Vinho Verde this morning. I put them in a secure file that I have on the Internet. Since I’ve been managing our NLBC garden blog, I learned how to do this with photographs.”
Georgi leapt out and hugged Roxanne. “Thank you, thank you. We are saved! At least we have something. But wait! That brute took Madeline’s memory stick off of me. That data really could have sealed the deal on Morelli.”
“Well, that’s not all,” Roxanne paused.
“Don’t be evasive now,” Morrison said, “I need all the help I can get.”
She continued, “When we were at the ice cream stand, I copied the memory stick files to my online account, too.”
Now it was Morrison’s turn. He wrapped an arm around Roxanne and gave her a kiss on the top of her head. “Now that’s my kind of woman,” he said, smiling at Sam.
Gleefully, Georgi proclaimed, “There detective, I knew you had some chaptalisation in you.”
“What’s that?” all three voiced.
“Sugar added. It’s a winemaking term for when one adds sugar to the grape juice before fermentation. It makes the wine sweeter,” he smiled knowingly, “In other words it’s nice to see your sweet side detective, that’s all.”
Sam shook his head and stepped toward Roxanne, “My dear, I think you saved the day.” He gave her a kiss. She smiled, and glowed in the adoration.
“Dan, I can email you the files now from my phone.”
Morrison immediately forwarded the files to the FBI. Then turned to Roxanne and Georgi, and with a stern voice said, “Okay, wonder-woman and spider-man, you two are officially and permanently, Off The Case! Chief, you are my witness.”
“I am,” Sam said grinning. Then he looked deeply into Roxanne’s eyes and said, “Now, that’s it, that’s all. No more snooping, whispering, wondering or worrying. Let’s go home, shall we?”
Georgi saw Roxanne cross her fingers behind her back, “Yes, dear,” she said with a smile. Georgi caught her eye before saying goodbye and realized there was something left unsolved.
Chapter 59
DAY 6 – 4:30 pm - Morelli’s Escape Plan
Mr. Silver had called Art Morelli from the Chris Craft getaway boat and told him the deal was done. He had Mitch’s laptop and Lester’s memory stick and he would meet him in Cuba. Grateful that the fiasco of confiscating the evidence was over, Morelli arranged for his helicopter to be ready for take-off. Hurriedly, he packed a bag to leave his Long Island home for good.
Morelli and his henchmen boarded his private chopper stationed on the front lawn of his grand summer home. They were airborne instantly and Art Morelli took his last glance toward the widow’s walk he stood on a week earlier. His Sikorsky helicopter zoomed toward the East Hampton airport.
Before landing, Morelli had the pilot circle around to scope out the landscape. They saw no police or unusual activity. Having made a call to his pilot, Morelli’s Lear jet waited on the tarmac for him. His chopper landed. Morelli raced to the Lear and boarded as his helicopter left.
The jet pilot was cleared for take-off. He taxied down the runway and was soon in the air. Art Morelli reclined and gave instructions to the pilot.
“Take me to Cuba, Maurice. We have friends with cigars and Rum waiting for us.”
“Yes sir.”
“Maurice, have the flight attendant bring me a Wild Turkey on the rocks, will you?”
“Yes sir.”
The self-satisfied mogul stretched out in his recliner feeling like he was on top of the world.
A moment went by and a silky female voice presented, “Wild Turkey on the rocks, sir,” She handed him the drink from behind on his left. He took a long sip of the superior bourbon, and put his glass on the coffee table.
The silken voice spoke, “I have something else for you, sir,”
“What’s that?” he murmured looking out the window.
She dangled an object in front of him. “Would you kindly put these on?” a pair of hand-cuffs came into view. “I’m FBI agent Officer Myers. Arthur Morelli, you’re under arrest for your connection to the murder of Mitch Stockman & Lester Williamson.”
Behind him, a gun clicked in his right ear. He heard a man’s voice, “And I’m with Interpol Morell
i, today you’re the turkey on the rocks!”
Chapter 60
Day 7 - 8 am
The day after her unintended swim in Long Island Sound, Roxanne attempted to return her life back to normal. It was a quiet morning and a pleasant day.
Sam asked, “What do you want to do today, honey?”
“Oh, nothing special, I’m just planning to rest, relax, and maybe do a little gardening,” she said casually.
“Okay then, shall I go into work, or call out for the day?” he asked.
“Oh no, you go in, I’ll just putter around here,” she answered.
“Good, I’m glad to hear it,” Sam replied. He dressed into his uniform and was out the door in no time.
Roxanne stepped outside to admire her garden. Her tomato and herb bed was coming along well. The rhubarb was ready to harvest. Overall, she felt the garden looked good. It had stayed at peace while she traveled a long weary road, playing cat and mouse with an evil man.
Her thoughts meandered to Georgi, and she decided to visit him to see how he was doing the morning after almost drowning. Jumping into her truck, she took the waterfront route to Bank Street along Pequot Drive.
As she drove aside the Thames River, she rejoiced at the freedom she felt. Serenity had a place in her life again and everything looked fresh and new. She passed Mitchell College’s campus and the waterfront beach. Green Harbor Park came into view and she looked over the small garden site she managed with the New London Beautification Committee. Roxanne thought of her friends fondly and looking forward to telling them her tale.
Even though her world seemed normal again, there was one last nagging issue. She mused, Maybe Georgi will help me.
It was just 9 am, and the tarts were still available at Muddy Waters Cafe. Roxanne made a quick decision and delivered the goodies to Georgi at the Vinho Verde.
She found the door wide open and so were the windows that overlooked the deck to the Thames. She stepped inside and looked around. She heard his familiar footsteps coming up the stairs from the wine cellar and Georgi appeared.
Roxanne greeted him, “How are you?”
“Fresh breezes, Roxanne, fresh breezes have rolled in, and I feel good.” He did a James Brown dance move across the floor with flair.
“I brought you something,” she said, “so we can celebrate our freedom.”
“Oh, you’re so sweet,” he cooed. They sat on the outdoor deck. A ferry horn sounded and they looked at each other knowingly while munching on the crisp flaky tarts and sipping hot Columbian coffee.
“You know, Roxanne,” Georgi’s voice was rising with each word, “I was wondering what that man was talking about when he asked you about a diamond?”
“I don’t know. I thought he was just crazy, but he was obviously dead serious.”
Georgi pondered, “But I was thinking, it doesn’t make sense that you were mugged and shortly after some man was at your house. And what about the guy who beat me up, asking me what you found?”
Roxanne stared out at the water, “Well, I don’t know anything about a diamond, but it seems likely the killer thought I found it in the garden. Sooo,” she eyed him impishly, “maybe it’s still there.”
“But the police were all over Columbus Circle,” Georgi reasoned, “You yourself said they took a hundred pictures and went through it with forensic precision. They would have found it. Or maybe it’s in police custody and they never told us. What do you think of that?”
“After all we’ve been through I think Dan would have told us about a diamond. Besides, no one knew there was a diamond involved.” She touched his arm, “But I have another idea. Why don’t we just take a quick look to satisfy our curiosity? How about it?”
“I have someone coming in two hours. Is that enough time?” he asked.
“I think so. It’s just to search under Columbus’ feet in the garden,” she smiled.
“Okay, Thelma. Are we mining for diamonds?” he asked coyly.
“Why not? Don’t they say, diamonds are forever?” she declared and stood up, “We are finally on a peaceful quest.”
Georgi blinked and in a flash, he pictured Roxanne as the heroine embracing a palm frond atop the Soldiers and Sailors monument in the Parade Plaza, a symbol of peace.
“Yes,” Georgi said, transfixed on his image, “A peaceful quest will be refreshing.”
Roxanne parked her truck at Columbus Circle near the bistro. Gone was the yellow crime scene tape. While Roxanne stood on the edge of the garden, she tried to imagine what had occurred.
“If the murderer knew Mitch had a diamond, he might have threatened Mitch for it first.”
Georgi continued the thought, “So let’s say Mitch fights him and in the scuffle the diamond goes flying.”
“But diamonds are small,” added Roxanne, “and could easily be lost in the garden or street.”
“Mitch could afford a big diamond,” Georgi boasted, “he’s richer than you know.”
“Why would he have a big diamond?” asked Roxanne.
“Well, he did mention it was his wedding anniversary in a month. Maybe it was a gift for Marissa,” he surmised
“Okay then, let’s look carefully,” she said. “Let’s do it like the police, and section an area off. I’ll start here, and you start there,” she suggested. While looking under every plant and along the surface, she moved the soil with their feet.
“We are just repeating what has already been done,” Roxanne mumbled as lifted the lid on the green ground box. Finally, they stopped their search.
With hands on hips, Roxanne tried to imagine a flying ring as Georgi stared at the sidewalk on the edge Columbus Circle and Bank Street, “What’s that for?” he stared down into a circular grate.
“It’s where excess rainwater goes so the sidewalk doesn’t flood,” she answered.
“Oh, do you think a diamond could have dropped into it?” Georgi asked.
“Well, it’s pretty far from where Mitch was found. I guess we could check,” she went to her truck and grabbed a couple gardening tools. She pried the grate open with a shovel. They both peered down into the wet darkness.
“Here, let me turn on the flashlight feature of my phone,” Georgi offered. It brightly lit the watery pit, but it was difficult to determine the water’s depth.
“I’m going to put my hand down there,” Roxanne said.
“Ooh, isn’t it nasty?” Georgi asked squeezing his nose.
“It’s not sewage, it’s just water run-off,” she explained.
“Oh, okay,” he conceded while still wrinkling his nose. Kneeling, Roxanne’s put her arm in and her hand came out with nothing in it.
“Oh, that’s too bad,” Georgi sighed.
“It’s too deep. I’ll be right back.” Roxanne went to her truck and took out a floor mat and grabbed a bucket. She put the mat on the ground and laid on it. She told Georgi to be ready to pass her the bucket as her cheek pressed against the mat. Then to Georgi’s surprise she slid into the opening head first with her shovel in hand. Disgusted he grimaced with horror.
“Hold my legs, Georgi,” her order echoed from underground, “sit on them.” Overwhelmed Georgi did as he was told but was well aware that to anyone passing by, the scene of her down the hole while he sat on her legs looked bizarre. It taxed even the limits of his eccentricity.
Concerned, he pleaded, “Hurry, if you can, people are going to wonder what we’re doing. They may even call the police!”
“Let them, Georgi!” Roxanne’s voice boomed defiantly from the hole, “we’re on a mission.” Her shovel scraped below the dark water along the bottom.
“Hand me the bucket,” her voice resounded, and he did so.
“It’s full of gravel. I doubt it’s here.” She loaded several shovelfuls into the bucket.”
Georgi helped her up. Once on her knees she stuck her hand into the bucket and wiped over the mud covered rocks. With no results she stuck her hand in and felt around. A larger rock was among the others an
d she pulled on it. A sucking sound released it from the mud. Georgi winced, repulsed by her operation.
She smoothed the mud off noticing it was different somehow. “Oh my God! This isn’t a rock!” she exclaimed. Quickly she pried it open. And a huge glinting pink diamond appeared.
“OHHH!” they both squealed. She closed the ring box, grabbed Georgi’s arm and hurried him toward the spigot box. Roxanne knelt and turned on the water to wash the box.
She excitedly whispered, “Pink diamonds are rare and expensive! I can’t believe it was here all along!”
“Oh, Roxanne I couldn’t be happier. I can’t believe you found it! I never, never, never would have gone down that horrible hole! You’re amazing!”
Roxanne stood up and pulled Georgi toward her truck. Celebrating they jumped up and down hugging each other.
“We’re amazing!” she smiled. “Okay, now that we found it, I’ll call Dan, and ask him to stop by.”
Georgi’s forehead creased, “Alright, but I’m not sure how he’ll feel about us slinking around. He told us we were off the case.”
“Don’t worry,” Roxanne assured cheerily, “this is good news, its lost and found, not murder and mayhem!”
Chapter 61
Detectives Morrison and Peabody arrived at Roxanne’s truck wondering why they were there, congregating at the tailgate of her truck.
“Hello you two,” Morrison started, “I’m curious why we are here, but let us first give you some good news. You tell them Peabody.”
Pleased to inform, Jack stated, “Last night, the FBI and Interpol captured Morelli. He was trying to escape to Cuba on his private jet.”
With great relief, Roxanne & Georgi collapsed dramatically against each other.
Roxanne leaned in towards Morrison and loudly whispered, “Dan, those men are crazy! They were almost the death of us!”
With compassion, Morrison understood, “I know Roxanne, and those men affected our whole police force too. Jack is my witness. It was as if we were training for a triathlon mentally and physically. But most of all I don’t know if I could have lived with myself if you two were harmed anymore than you were.” He gave her and Georgi a knowing smile.