Murder Is Private

by Diane Weiner

  “What about you, Alonzo? Where would you go?” asked Susan.

  “I’ve been thinking about going back home to Argentina for a while now. My Mom has cancer, and my father can barely pay for her treatments. They’re about to lose their home. I should be there.”

  Susan spotted Schwartz across the foyer. He was heading up the stairs. Where on earth is he going? she wondered. Lynette would tell her to stay put. Keep out of danger. But this was Schwartz, sweet Schwartz. Besides, he was more overweight than she was. She could outrun him if she had to.

  Here we go again. She was getting good at discreetly tailing persons of interest. She padded up the stairs behind him. Schwartz stopped at the second floor. He worked his way behind the stored scenery. He wheeled a large wooden tree away from the wall. He crouched down on hands and knees.

  What is he doing? Susan held her breath and watched. The dust burned her eyes.

  Schwartz ran his hand along the bottom of the wall. He softly knocked across the area that had been hidden behind the tree. He pulled at the wall, revealing an opening. Was it a secret passage? she wondered. Susan strained her eyes to see in the dimly lit room. Schwartz pulled something out. It was a violin case. Maybe he was hiding drugs there too. Was he part of the group? What happened next surprised her.

  Schwartz opened the case and took out a bow. He rubbed rosin over it. Then he lifted the violin out of the case as if it were a newborn baby. He cradled its body under his chin and his fingers caressed the neck. The violin cried a mournful song as Schwartz drew the bow back and forth. It was the same piece she’d heard the night she was abducted. It was beautiful. Eerie, but beautiful.

  “Schwartz, what are you doing?” Susan called out. Schwartz nearly dropped the instrument.

  “Susan? What are you doing here?”

  “I was going to ask you the same thing. It’s you, isn’t it? The strange music at night. The auditorium isn’t haunted. It’s you. Were you trying to scare people away?”

  “No, of course not.”

  “I get it now. You play creepy music to scare people away, while Alonzo and Kymani run the drug deals. Kymani signals by flicking the lights upstairs. Then the boat parks at the pier, where Alonzo delivers a violin case full of drugs.”

  “It’s not what you think, Susan.”

  “You’re cornered, Schwartz. I’ve caught you red handed.”

  “Yes, you did. I can carry this burden no longer. Forgive me, Celia. I’m ready to confess.”

  Chapter 39

  “Lynette, call Kevin,” said Susan into her phone. “I’m bringing Robert Schwartz down to the station. He’s ready to confess.”

  “What? He wants to confess?”

  “Yes. We’ll meet you there.”

  When Susan and Schwartz arrived at the station, Kevin and Lynette were already waiting. Kevin motioned for Schwartz to follow him.

  “Come on, Mr. Schwartz. We’re going to the interrogation room. Would you like to call a lawyer?”

  “No. I’m ready to face the consequences.”

  “Mom, wait in Kevin’s office,” said Lynette.

  “No.” said Schwartz. “I want her to hear. She can stay with me.”

  The austere room was freezing cold. Schwartz sat on one side of a metal table, while Kevin sat across from him with a recording device. Susan was glad she’d brought a sweater.

  “Mom, stay quiet. Kevin has to get this on tape,” said Lynette.

  Susan’s pulse quickened. She was anxious to hear what Schwartz was about to say. Kevin leaned across the table. He switched on the recorder.

  “Mr. Schwartz, state your name for the record.”

  “Robert Schwartz.”

  You came here on your own free will and have refused to contact a lawyer, correct?”

  “That’s correct.”

  “Go ahead and tell us why you’re here.”

  Schwartz’s face showed no signs of emotion. “I want to confess.”

  “What is it you’d like to confess to?” said Kevin.

  “I loved Celia. I didn’t want to hurt her. She looked at me with those disappointed eyes. I had no choice.”

  “No choice about what?”

  “I didn’t know at first. I didn’t know what I was getting involved in. It gave me so much pleasure. I was hooked.”

  “You were hooked?” said Kevin.

  “So smooth. Like velvet. It transported me to another planet. Celia said it was wrong. Said I should go to the police, but I couldn’t.”

  Susan looked at Lynette and mouthed the words, “Told you it had to do with drugs.”

  Lynette shook her head and held her index finger to her lip. Susan couldn’t wait to tell Audrey the case was solved.

  “Who else knew it was hidden there? Alonzo Benitez? A student named Kymani? Celia Watkins?”

  “No one. It was my secret.”

  “Where did you get the drugs? You hid them in the violin. Then you sold them. Celia found out and that’s why you killed her, right?” Kevin spoke louder than before.

  “Drugs? What are you talking about?”

  “You said you had to confess.”

  “I know nothing about dealing drugs. I’m talking about the violin. I had the violin, that’s all. I bought it at a garage sale in Salzburg. I had no idea how valuable it was or how it got there. When I got home, I did my research. It was a Stradivarius. It was one of the instruments taken by the Nazis and stashed away in Salzburg. I couldn’t believe I’d found a piece of history. Celia said I had to give it back. I couldn’t. My people had had so much stolen from them during the war. It was as if I’d recovered it for all of us.”

  Kevin sat back. “Celia threatened to tell the police if you didn’t turn this violin back in?”

  “Yes.”

  Kevin stood up and banged his palm against the metal table. “So you killed Celia so she wouldn’t tell the police you’d stolen the violin?”

  Schwartz turned white. “No. That’s not it at all! I didn’t kill Celia. I loved her! We fought about it, but eventually I came around to her point of view. I was going to return it. Then she was murdered. I couldn’t lose two things I loved at the same time. I was still planning on returning it. I just needed a little more time.”

  “You didn’t kill her?”

  “Of course not! I was home working on my taxes the night she was killed. Check my phone records. My accountant and I were back and forth on the phone all night long. You can ask him.”

  “You had nothing to do with selling drugs out of the auditorium?” said Kevin.

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about. I came to tell you I have the violin. That’s all. Am I under arrest?”

  Kevin paced across the small room. “Let me get this straight; you didn’t actually steal the violin. You bought it at a garage sale, correct?”

  “That’s right. In Salzburg.”

  “And you’re planning on returning it to the Austrian government?”

  “First thing in the morning I’ll put in a call.”

  “Then go home, Mr. Schwartz. I’ll be checking up on you to be sure you do return the violin, but I don’t see a crime here. As long as you make things right.”

  “Of course. Thank you, sir. I feel so much lighter now that the weight of that secret is off my shoulders.”

  “Listen, why don’t you bring the violin here to the station for safe keeping until you make arrangements? Then you’re free to go.”

  Chapter 40

  Back to square one. Susan had been wrong in her assumption that Schwartz had killed Celia. She could kick herself. The Schwartz she’d gotten to know these past few weeks was sweet and gentle, not a cold-blooded killer. It was only coincidental that his violin playing and ‘Alonzo and company’s drug dealing shared the same venue. Schwartz had hidden the violin on the second floor. The light signals came from the third floor tower.

  A middle-aged woman with a visitor’s badge stuck to her too tight blazer, was waiting outside Susan’s classroom when sh
e arrived at school. She hadn’t seen the woman on campus before.

  “Can I help you?” asked Susan.

  “I hope so. I’m subbing for the orchestra conductor. I thought I understood the directions, but I can’t find his room.”

  “Come, I’ll show you.” Susan led the substitute to Alonzo’s room. She waited with her until a custodian came by and opened the door.

  “I appreciate your help,” said the substitute. “I just moved down here and it’s my first day subbing.”

  “Schools can always use good substitutes. Especially in the spring. Teachers are worn down by then.”

  “I need to use the restroom before the children arrive. Would you mind hanging out for a few minutes? I can’t lock the door, but I know better than to leave the room unattended with students on campus.”

  “No problem. It’s down the hall on the left.”

  Susan sat at Alonzo’s desk while she waited for his sub to return. She marveled at his organizational skills. The music on the shelves was arranged alphabetically, by composer. The books were sorted by size. As she scanned the books, she noticed an anomaly.

  A single book was out of place. She went to the bookcase and pulled it out. Oh my. What’s this doing here?

  A floral scarf was stuffed behind the leather-bound book. It was embroidered with the initials C.W.––Celia Watkins. There was a stain on it. She examined it closely. It looked like dried blood. Alonzo was hiding Celia’s bloody scarf. Her heart rate accelerated. She had to rush this evidence down to the station, but she had a class waiting for her. The door opened with a creak.

  “Thanks for helping me,” said the substitute.

  “No problem. Say, can you return the favor for me? I have an emergency and need to leave. Can I send my first period class in here with yours?”

  “I was going to show a movie,” said the sub. “The teacher didn’t leave plans. Not that I could teach music anyhow. The more the merrier! Send them in.”

  Susan stuffed the scarf in her purse and headed out. Wait. Lynette will have a fit if she knows I touched evidence. She quickly wrapped the scarf in plain copier paper before grabbing a taxi to the station.

  “I need to see Detective Kevin O’Hara. It’s urgent!” The officer escorted her down the hall.

  “Mrs. Wiles. Can I help you with something? Shouldn’t you be at school?” asked Kevin.

  “Kevin, I found something important. It was stuffed behind a book in Alonzo’s office.” She pulled the paper-wrapped scarf from her purse and put it on his desk.

  “C.W. Celia Watkins?”

  “I’m sure of it. And look. There’s a blood stain. Can you get DNA from it? I’ll bet the blood is Celia’s.”

  “Good work, Mrs. Wiles. I’ll get this to the lab right away. By the way, what’s Lynette up to today?”

  “She’s taking care of her daughter. She’s going to call her husband, Jason too. She and the baby miss him. A lot. Jason is a great dad.”

  “Maybe I’ll pop over there during lunch.” Susan bit her lip to keep from screaming at the man.

  “She’ll probably be out with the baby.” It irritated Susan to no end when Kevin tried to cozy up to Lynette. Her daughter seemed to be blind to Kevin’s ulterior motives. “When do you think you’ll have results from the scarf?”

  “I’m taking this down to the lab personally. I’ll put a rush on it.”

  Susan got back to school in time for her next class. She chatted with Manolito while the class worked on their music history assignment.

  “I can’t wait till the school day is over,” said Manolito.

  “Big plans?” said Susan.

  “My parents and I are taking the boat out. We’re gonna pack a dinner and eat on the water. It’s so peaceful.”

  “A boat? Lucky you.”

  “Lots of people in Florida own boats. You can go out on the water year round. We even had a school pot luck out on the Intracoastal last month. My mom brought a fish casserole to share. Mrs. Roberts made macaroni and cheese. Mr. Benitez brought fried plantains. Delicious.”

  “Mr. Benitez has a boat?”

  “Yeah. A nice little motor boat. I told my parents I want one just like it as a graduation gift.”

  Interesting. Alonzo has his own boat.

  Susan jumped at the sound of the bell. “Finish up the assignment for homework. See you all tomorrow.”

  Susan’s stomach growled and she looked forward to lunch. Gabby was already at the table when Susan came into the planning area.

  “Gabby, I want to ask you something. Did Celia ever wear a floral scarf?”

  “She wore it all the time,” said Gabby. “Always trying to protect her singing voice. Why do you ask?”

  “I was just…”

  “Good afternoon, ladies.” Schwartz sat down with his lunch.

  “I saw you on the news last night,” said Gabby. “You’re quite the hero, returning that violin, Schwartz! Leave it to a History teacher to find a violin stolen by the Nazis.”

  “I’m happy it’s back where it belongs,” said Schwartz.

  “I’m sorry I thought you killed Celia. You should write a book,” said Susan.

  “I’m going to. The world needs to know how the Nazis ripped away symbols of Jewish culture.”

  “Good for you, Schwartz. Maybe the school will even fund your European research trips. An author on campus will surely attract students,” added Susan.

  “One step at a time, as they say,” replied Schwartz. “I’m happy to have a project to focus on. If I stay busy, it will distract me from missing Celia.”

  Chapter 41

  When Susan got home, Kevin and Lynette were chatting over coffee. She felt her muscles tense whenever she saw them together. After all, they had once been madly in love. She trusted Lynette, but Kevin?

  “Mrs. Wiles,” said Kevin. “I wanted to tell you in person. I got the results back. Alonzo’s fingerprints are all over the mallet. And on the scarf––and it’s Celia’s blood.”

  “Do you have enough to arrest him?” said Susan.

  “Security footage from the gas station near the school puts him in the vicinity of campus around the time of Celia’s death.”

  “That’s not enough,” said Lynette.

  “We have one more thing,” said Kevin. “Marshall, the nurse from Trinity Village, came to see me. He says he saw Alonzo sneaking into the patients’ rooms. Thinks he was stealing drugs from them. We have enough to bring him in.”

  “I’m glad. Audrey will be so relieved,” said Susan.

  Audrey came in from the kitchen. “Relieved about what?”

  “We have enough evidence to make an arrest, Mrs. Roberts. We have a warrant out for Alonzo Benitez. Maybe we’ll be lucky and get a confession,” said Kevin.

  “That’s wonderful new, but Alonzo? Such a nice young man. I have to say I’m surprised. He worked extra hours to send money back to his parents. His mother has cancer,” said Audrey.

  “Extra motivation for selling drugs,” said Kevin. “I’m guessing Celia found out about his involvement and that’s why he killed her.”

  “As soon as you have him in custody, call me,” said Audrey. “I want to make an announcement to the parents and donors. Maybe it’s not too late to salvage funding and keep the school open next year.”

  “As soon as we get him, we’ll let the press know,” said Kevin.

  “Thank you. I’m going to start writing a press release.”

  While Audrey went about saving the school, Susan took out her laptop and looked at the airline schedule and prices. She missed her cats. And Mike, of course. She was ready to go home. Tomorrow, she would tell Audrey.

  She turned on the evening news, expecting to see a breaking story about Alonzo’s arrest. There was nothing. She flipped through the other news stations to be sure.

  “Audrey, did Kevin call you?”

  “I called him. They haven’t found Alonzo yet. They went to his house, but he wasn’t home. And he didn’t show up a
t work today. Hadn’t called in either. I was lucky to find a sub.”

  Susan went to Lynette’s room. “Have you spoken to Kevin?”

  “Yes. They can’t find Alonzo. He must have found out that the police were coming for him and skipped town.”

  “The boat. Lynette, tell Kevin that Alonzo owns a boat. Maybe he took off in it.”

  Chapter 42

  “It’s been three days, Lynette. Why haven’t they found him?” Susan was frustrated and becoming impatient. She wanted to go home.

  “The FBI has alerts out all over the state. The airports are on alert. The first place we figured he’d flee to was Argentina, but he hasn’t turned up there.”

  “And the boat? He could have used it to escape.”

  “The boat was docked in its usual spot. His car, however, is gone.”

  “Audrey is on pins and needles waiting to make an announcement. We never anticipated this delay.”

  “The FBI is doing all they can. They’ll find him. I’m going to take Annalise for a walk. Want to come?”

  “Sure.”

  They started walking toward the duck pond. Trees now sporting brilliant orange flowers lined the streets of Audrey’s neighborhood. The sun felt comforting as it warmed Susan’s face.

  “Oh, no,” said Susan. “Forgot my phone. Dad was going to call this afternoon. Let me run back for it.”

  “You know where we’ll be.”

  Susan returned to an empty house. She wondered where Audrey had gone. The phone rang. On the caller ID, Susan saw it was a call from Bayersville State Correctional Facility in New York. That’s odd. Maybe they have news. Maybe Alonzo’s there. No, that doesn’t make sense. Why would Alonzo be in New York? She picked up the phone.

  “We have a call for Audrey Roberts. Is this she?” Susan decided to fib and get the information for Audrey.

  “This is she.”

  “One second.”

  A deep, male voice was on the line. “Hey, honey, it’s me! I don’t know how much longer I can stand this. Any word from that fancy lawyer?”