by Alan Mulak
They drove in silence for another dozen miles or so, and then Rob asked, “Was I a good client?”
Houdini, apparently taken by surprise, asked, "What are you asking?"
"At work," Rob said, "we conduct post-project quality surveys to identify those areas that may need improvement. What do you think? How did I do as a client?"
Houdini pondered the question, mulling his response. Finally, he said, "An interesting question. Quite honestly, I think you are gullible and naive. For example, you trusted me far too quickly. If I was a charlatan or common thief, I could have taken all your money and disappeared. I suspect many of the very problems you are fleeing from resulted from your over-trusting nature."
“But you asked for all sorts of personal information.”
“And you gave it without hesitation. Have you not heard about identity theft?”
“Of course I have, but you were recommended.”
“Not good enough. Do not trust the evaluations of others on important matters. But we are well past that now. I believe you will never look back at our interface and question any of the motives.”
“As you said,” Rob said. “It’s too late now.”
The men fell silent again. By the time they arrived in North Adams, Rob had drifted into a restless sleep. Houdini led him to a simple room on the second floor of an old New England inn. Rob hardly had time to remove his clothing before he flopped onto the bed and fell into a deep and dreamless sleep.
While Rob slept the sleep of the dead, at four A.M., the electronic controller in the electrical box of his house in Carlisle was activated, which in turn, shut off the electric power to the house. At five A.M., the second controller on the three-way valve in the furnace was activated which in turn melted the plastic casing around the valve. This permitted natural gas to flow out. At first, it filled the furnace. Then, the gas began to fill the entire basement. All this time, snow was falling heavily outside, with about six inches already on the ground.
Houdini woke Rob at seven A.M. and directed him to the bathroom for a shower. While this was taking place, Houdini took Rob’s shirt and pants and tossed them in the wood stove for incineration. By the time Rob had showered, his new wardrobe was laid out for him, as was his new travel kit.
The two men went down to the empty kitchen, drank coffee, and discussed the next few steps. Finally, at nine A.M., using the phone activated landline GCI which electronically moved the call origin from his location in North Adams to his home office in Carlisle, Rob called into the teleconference. Most of his staff – working from being home because of the snowstorm - were already on the line, waiting for the meeting to begin. Rob and his co-workers chatted mindlessly for a minute or two and then began the meeting. All of his field staff were livid about the budget freeze, and the meeting quickly heated up. Then, at precisely five minutes after nine, Rob interrupted the conversation, claiming he smelled gas and needed to go investigate. He said he would call right back. Houdini took the phone from him, pressed the end call key, and then sent a text.
He took a seat at the table next to Rob, and the two men sipped coffee in silence.
After perhaps five endless minutes, Houdini received a text. It read: DONE.
17
Boom!
Town of Carlisle Massachusetts Police / Fire Department Official Report: February 01, 2014
At 09:16, dispatch received a call from 21 Country Lane, reported an explosion and fire at neighbor’s residence. Due to the heavy snow falling, CPD Patrol car 16, a 4WD SUV, was directed to investigate.
At 09:35, CPD Patrolman J. Martin arrived and reported the residence at 23 Country Lane heavily damaged and totally engulfed in flame. The smell of gas was strong from the street. Based upon the report, NGRID Gas Emergency dispatch was notified, and the East Street Emergency and Fire Apparatus Station rang one alarm and dispatched Engine number 3.
At 09:38, the NGRID Gas Line Truck number 44 was directed to the scene.
At 09:47, CVFD Engine number 3 reported sliding off the road 100 yards from the scene.
At 09:48, Two Town of Carlisle Snow removal apparatus were directed to Country Lane.
At 09:49, CPD Patrolman J. Martin called dispatch and reported the house totally destroyed and collapsed inward. The fire, apparently fueled by natural gas, continued to burn vigorously. The heavy snowfall was keeping the adjoining garage and wooded areas from igniting.
At 10:00, dispatch received a call from Craig and Mathews in Boston. The caller, identified as Sandra Lancaster, reported a potential issue. Allegedly, while on a teleconference at 09:05 with Roberto Santos of 23 Country Lane in Carlisle, Mr. Santos complained of smelling a gas leak and said he would investigate and call right back. The attendees of the teleconference waited until approximately 09:45 for Mr. Santos to return, continuously trying to call and text Mr. Santos, and sending emails to his email address. There were no responses.
At 10:16, two snowplows arrived and began clearing the road.
At 10:37, the snowplows departed and CVFD Engine number 3 and NGRID Gas Line Truck number 44 arrived at the scene. CVFD Assistant Fire Chief Robertson took command. He verified the 09:49 report by CPD Patrolman J. Martin as correct.
At 10:44, the shutoff valve to the gas line was located by NGRID Gas field personnel, but the cover was unable to be removed. Using equipment on the line truck, the valve housing was forcibly removed.
At 11:01, the gas valve was shut.
At 11:16, the fire was reduced to no visible flame. CVFD Assistant Fire Chief Robertson instructed the Fire Personnel to stand by, but no hoses were employed.
At 11:51, the fire was reduced from ‘active’ to ‘smolder.’
At 12:22, CVFD Fire Chief Walter O’Toole arrived on the scene.
At 12:26, CVFD Fire Chief O’Toole and CVFD Assistant Fire Chief Robertson walked the perimeter.
At 12:49, CVFD Fire Chief O’Toole reported to dispatch:
A severely burned arm, with a wedding ring on finger, was found thirty feet from the east wall.
A mangled foot, also burned, was found forty-two feet from the east wall. Pieces of cloth stained with what appears to be blood, apparently from a tee shirt, were found in the yard, approximately forty feet from the house.
A blood-like substance located on the west side of the garage. The measured distance from the house to the garage is approximately fifty feet.
One car in garage, registered to resident Roberto Santos.
The car registered to Nicole Santos was not on the property.
At 12:59, dispatch reached Nicole Santos via telephone. She and the two daughters were in South Beach Florida. She believed Roberto Santos was working out of his home office today. The phone of Roberto Santos was out of service.
At 15:00, CVFD Fire Chief O’Toole, declared the fire no longer burning, and due to the weather which had turned to steady sleet and freezing rain, ordered the emergency service vehicles to stand down.
Liberty Mutual Property Loss Report – 23 Country Lane, Carlisle Massachusetts.
Date of incident: February 1, 2014
Date of Report: February 3, 2014
Reporting Agent: Maxwell Chamberlin
Nature of Loss: Residence destroyed by alleged gas leak explosion/fire
References:
See attached Town of Carlisle Massachusetts Police / Fire Department Official Report: February 1, 2014
See attached photos.
Notes and Observations:
Two days after the subject incident, I examined the site. Due to the heat of the fire and length of time before the gas was turned off from the street, the residence and all interior belongings are a total loss. See photo #1.
The 2012 Volvo, which was parked in the garage, was apparently unaffected. See photo #2.
There was minor damage to the garage. See photo #3.
Parts of the house were found 108 yards away. See photo #4.
NGRID Gas Company is conducting a full investigation as to why and how th
is event took place. The heating equipment had been serviced in September and was reported to be in excellent condition.
As to the issue with the lid to the shutoff valve in the street being jammed and unable to be quickly removed, NGRID Gas Company has no comment. See photo #5.
A left arm and mangled right foot were found approximately forty feet from the house. The wedding ring found on the finger attached to the arm was identified as that of Mr. Robert Santos by Nicole Santos, wife of the deceased.
Blood of the same blood type as Mr. Roberto Santos was found splattered on the adjacent garage. Due to the proximity of the house to the garage (52 feet), it is possible that when the blast occurred, anyone in the house could have been dismembered and essentially atomized, with some of their viscera being blown outward. According to Nicole Santos, wife of Roberto Santos, his home office was on the west side of the house, the same side as the garage. See photos # 6,7,8
Mr. Roberto Santos has not been seen nor heard from since the incident.
Nicole Santos was “quite sure” he had planned to work out of his home office on the day of the incident.
As part of the executive benefits package offered by Craig and Mathews, Liberty Mutual holds a 2X salary Term Life Insurance Policy on Mr. Santos. There are no other known policies.
Summary and Next Steps:
As of this date, it appears as if Mr. Roberto Santos perished in the blast/fire. Evidence on the site supports this.
Telephone records from Verizon indicate a call was made from the Carlisle location at 9 am.
As of this date, there is no evidence of foul play. The police have chosen not to investigate further and have essentially closed the case.
As of this date, NGRID Gas Company continues to investigate the site, looking for causes.
It is my opinion they will find none. The force of the blast and the heat and length of time the fire raged, burned and melted everything. For example, the remains of the kitchen appliances – melted into balloon-like objects - were found in the basement. The heat was extreme. See photo #9.
As of this date, other than the arm, foot, and blood on the garage, no other physical remains of Mr. Roberto Santos have been found.
It is my opinion they will find none due to the fact that gas fires burn hot. And gas fires that are fueled by a continuous spray of atomized natural gas burn extremely hot. They in fact, partially simulate and replicate the flame used to cremate human remains.
It is my opinion that Liberty Mutual invoke Commonwealth of Massachusetts Statute 103.6.91a, that in cases such as this where no corpse has been found in an apparently accidental death, declares death official after the passage of seven years.
It is my opinion that Liberty Mutual prepare for a motion by Nicole Santos, to waive the above-mentioned statute. I have no reason to object to such a motion.
Report submitted in confidence by: Maxwell Chamberlin, Senior Field Agent
18
Off
Houdini said, “Well Alex, you are a free man. I suggest you begin your new life.”
Rob, now known as Alex, stared into his coffee cup. “I’m trying to figure out what I’m feeling. It’s not joy or relief or anxiousness. It’s nothing…empty.”
Houdini nodded. “Understandable. All the more reason for you to reboot. You will have hours and hours of windshield time to sort out the events of the recent past.”
Alex drained his cup. “Yeah.”
The two men rounded up Alex’s few possessions – his wallet, travel kit, Wool Rich Hunting Coat, and NFL New York Giants Wool Cap – and made their way to the barn. It was cold, but the sky was deep blue. The coastal storm had pulled away. The roadways would be clear.
Houdini opened the barn door, exposing a faded 2009 Ford F-150 pickup truck with New Jersey plates.
“It may look,” he said, “old and tired, but don’t worry. It is essentially an old truck body over a new vehicle. The engine, battery, brakes, tires, and transmission are all new. You will not have any problems with this truck. Of course, check the oil from time to time, and watch the tires for proper inflation and wear, but this vehicle is the least of your worries. Let’s get in, shall we?”
The two men slid into the front seat, Alex behind the wheel, Houdini on the passenger side.
“Go ahead, start it up. I would appreciate some heat.”
The truck started easily and ran smoothly.
“Now,” Houdini said, “a few features. First,” He reached under the front seat and pulled out a sliding drawer. “Clearly, this is a false seat bottom, which is virtually impossible to detect. In here,” he removed the same manila envelope from a few days prior, “are all the forms, paperwork, cards, statements, and cash as we discussed. Also included is the account information of your funds in Grand Cayman. Finally, there are keys to your new house and spare keys to this truck.”
Alex watched Houdini slide the drawer shut. It disappeared.
“Next,” he took a Garmin GPS DriveLuxe 50 LMT HD from the glove box and attached it to a dashboard-mounted holder. "Put this away when you leave the truck and make sure you lock the vehicle wherever you go. Highway rest areas are rich environments for petty thieves.”
“I know,” Alex said.
"As I mentioned yesterday, this is already programmed to keep you off toll roads and away from cities. My advice is to follow the directions. It will also tell you when you are exceeding the speed limit. Obey the law. You do not want to be stopped."
“Don’t worry.”
“Your bank account in Dolores Savings Bank will start receiving a deposit of six thousand dollars each month. This is from the trust fund we discussed, and this will be enough to live on but not so much as to attract attention.”
Alex nodded.
“Are you ready?”
Alex stared out the windshield. “I feel like sobbing.”
Houdini jammed his hands deep into the pockets of his topcoat, looking momentarily uncomfortable by the expression of emotion. Finally, he said, “I recommend you let it happen. Emotional releases tend to be therapeutic.”
After another silence, Houdini said, “One final word. Never look back. Resist the temptation to read your obituary. Each and every day, say your new name out loud. Make it a mantra. While you are driving, practice the story of your new life. Remember, you are an emotionally fragile Army veteran, seeking new surroundings. Ernest Hemingway wrote several short stories using Nick Adams as his main character. Read them.”
Alex looked at him quizzically. “Just read them?”
Houdini said, “You’ll understand. And now, good luck.”
He extended his hand across the seat. Alex shook it.
Then as was his habit, Houdini got out of the truck, and without a backward glance, disappeared.
19
Alone
The route programmed into the Garmin took Alex west out of Massachusetts, south through rural New York State and then southwest into Pennsylvania. Leftover from the departing coastal storm, a lingering, intermittent light snow fell giving the countryside a melancholy, colorless look. Winter scenes can be inspirational at times, with memories of holidays gone by and picturesque snow drifts and horses standing in a field of white. But to Alex, the landscape that passed by his windshield was bleak and cold. He tried to rehearse the story of his new identity, but after a few times, couldn’t concentrate anymore. Instead, he was overwhelmed with the realization that he was utterly alone, and now, anyone who cared a lick about him was grieving his death. He would be soon forgotten. As far as the rest of the world knew, he was gone forever. For the first time in his life, he was alone.
He gripped the steering wheel, and suddenly shouted, “WHAT THE FUCK AM I DOING?” Sweat broke out on his forehead. His stomach churned. His head pounded. The realization spawned a tsunami of panic.
Fortuitously, there was a rest area just ahead and Alex pulled in. Some guy was walking his dog over by the woods, but otherwise, the pull off was empty. Alex parked down
at the end of the lot, far away from the dog walker. He turned off the truck and sat motionlessly. Then he closed his eyes and put his head on the steering wheel, saying aloud, “You can’t go back. There are no choices to be made.” Tears dripped from his eyes.
A minute or so later, the panic subsided to the point where he could function again. After several deep breaths, he jumped out of the truck and walked aimlessly to nowhere, ice and snow crunching underfoot. Like a crisp, sharp slap across the face, the cold air staggered him, and in seconds, he was shivering. Still, he drifted. Then he stopped and hugged himself, mumbling, "This is now my life. How the hell did it come to this?"
More deep breaths.
Then, suddenly, he turned and ran back to the truck, climbed in, cranked it up, and put the heat on HIGH. Rubbing his hands together, staring out the window. It was a gray day. A few cars and trucks whizzed by.
After a few beats, he put the truck into gear and slowly pulled away.
An hour later, his headache had subsided to a dull pounding, and he no longer thought he was about to vomit. It occurred to him that he couldn’t remember the last time he’d eaten and as unappealing as it was, he probably should put some food in his stomach. If for no other reason, so he could down some aspirin without further messing up his gut.