by Alex Harris
Chapter 9
The following day, Fred made an appointment with Phil for more questions, while Oriole went to the bank to check on the safe deposit box and Lisa’s accounts.
“Phil, thanks for allowing me to intrude.” Fred’s gruff mannerism was replaced by a sweet talking, silver tongued devil. “I’ve just got a few more questions. What will be the dispensation of her estate?”
“What? Do you mean how was her estate to be divided?”
“Sure.”
“We both had wills in favor of the other. So, I guess I inherit. We took out mutual life insurance policies with each other as beneficiaries. The kids get a little from what they owe the estate and there are some small bequests.”
“What is the estate worth including the life insurance?”
“The condo was in her name, life insurance was valued at 250, an apartment complex, really more like a triplex valued at about 300, stocks and bonds probably another 300, odds and ends of maybe another 50.”
“How much is the condo worth?”
“Well, it’s been going down rapidly, but about 150.”
“So somewhere close to a million?”
“Yeah, I’ve never thought about it as a sum total. But that would be pretty close.”
“Phil, I need to put together a time line for where everyone was on the day Lisa died. Can you tell me what you did from say 8:00 in the morning until say 6:00 in the evening?”
“It’s all a blur. Let’s see, I had cereal for breakfast about 8:30. Lisa had gone to the office, early, about 7:00. I took a phone call or two, and made a couple. I had a tee time of 10:30 out at the country club. I had lunch with the foursome. It’s a regular thing. We play a short round and then have lunch. About 2:00, I went to get my hair cut. I had a meeting with a stock broker for 3:00. Ummm, let’s see, that lasted almost until 5:00 and I was back here and then you arrived late, what, 7:30 or so.”
“Would you be able to put together the names and phone numbers of all those people and places for me please?”
“Why?”
“Well, I need to call them and speak with them. They may have more in depth information. It’s routine. Does that create a problem?”
“No, I understand. I’ll get it and can I email it to you?”
“Sure, that works for me. Let’s talk a little about your work. What do you do for a living?” Fred asked, knowing the answer should have been ’I’m a mooch.’
“I’m in between jobs right now. That was what I met with the stock broker about. I’m looking at a training program.”
“When was the last time you had a job and what was it?” Fred had taken off the white cotton gloves.
“Hmmm, well, I guess that would have been a couple years ago when the economy took a tank, I worked at that RV place.”
“What year would that have been and would that have been the one on Willow Creek?”
“Well, it must have been two or three years ago.”
Fred noticed Phil did not get specific with the year or with the location of the RV place, but let it slide.
“Well, I think that about covers it. I appreciate the time and again my condolences.” Fred turned on the charm and took leave of Phil Mason.
Over at the morgue, Dr. Culpepper was finishing the post mortem as Fred walked in. “You’re late. I’m finished.” Cranky Culpepper sounded more like a teacher than an ME.
“Sorry, boss, I got hung up talking to the husband. What did you find?”
“Strangled, standard cord. Sent off for evidence. Her hyoid bone was crushed. No recent sexual activity. But here is something interesting, she had a high level of Ativan in her system. We’re sending that to tox for exact amounts. She expired somewhere between 8:00 and 12:00 on the day she was found. I’ll send over the report as soon as Jill gets it typed up.”
“Thanks, Doc. Sorry about being late. Won’t happen again.” Fred chuckled to himself as he made notes.
Oriole reached the bank about the time Fred had made it to Phil’s. The bank manager opened the safety deposit box to reveal jewelry, stocks, bonds, a copy of the new will and the old one with lettering across it saying ‘revoked’, an insurance policy, and a diary. Oriole provided an inventory and receipt to the manager taking custody of the items. She and the manager went to the back office to discuss the three accounts.
“This first account, numbered 4062, is a savings account in the name of Lisa Wood. The balance is $52,078.00, last activity was a week ago, a withdrawal of $25,000.00 in a counter check made out to Cash. Account number 2543 is a checking account that only Ms. Wood could sign on, balance is $7,569.45, and last activity is a check that cleared two days ago for $231.68. This third account is a joint account with Phil Mason with both being signators. But here is the interesting thing on that account, Ms. Wood came in and met with the assistant manager and closed that account and moved the balance over to her checking account.”
“So, what was the balance in the joint account and when did Ms. Wood close it?”
“Small balance-$143.67, closed a couple weeks ago.”
“Is there a note as to why it was closed?”
“Says here ‘no longer needed‘.”
“Can just one party close it out without the permission of the other?”
“Sure. This is an either/or account. Either one could have done so.”
“Can I get the statements for these three accounts for the last year?”
“Let me look at the subpoena. Yep, says so. I’ll just print them off. Anything else you need?”
“The cashier’s check. Who can get it? Who can cash it?”
“Interesting question. On that account, she was the only one who could make transactions. But anyone in possession of the check can cash it. That’s why I suggested she make it out to someone rather than cash.”
“Okay. Thank you for your assistance. I’ll get out of your hair. Thanks for the statements.”