Dead Sure?: A Paranormal Mystery (20 page)

Ron turned and walked out of the office, a smirk crossing his lips, as he thought about stashing most of the money for himself. The wife never needed to know about any of it, for that matter.

*    *    *

It was about five p.m. as Rene sped along in her yellow Beetle. The rain continued to fall, but it was now just a steady pace and not the monsoon it had been earlier. She had finally gotten the rest of the story out of Liam, and it just didn’t seem to make sense.
How could the police consider him a suspect? After all, they had found him unconscious next to the body, and he had injuries of his own in addition. It’s not like the guy could have hit himself in the back of the head, that’s ridiculous.

If the police really had anything to go on, they wouldn’t have let him walk away without any charges. Dear sweet-goofy Liam, I hope that my listening to his story reassured him. He did seem a lot more like himself when I left. He was even telling his usual dumb jokes again. I wish I had a friend I could fix him up with. He seems so lonely, and his house sure could use a woman’s touch. Strike that, the place could probably use a good box of matches;
she chuckled quietly to herself and drove on.

There was something the police weren’t saying. Rene was sure of it. If Liam was found next to the body and he did it, there must have been a murder weapon or something conclusive to go on, and if so they would have charged him. What happened in the stairwell and why, the question gnawed at her.

Switching on the radio, she tried to forgot about her worries, Liam’s worries, and anything upsetting in general. She had made her mind up earlier in the day, after leaving Liam’s house, that it was time to make a change and be done with the problems that had been haunting her recently, and that was what she was on her way to do right now.

*    *    *

Sam heard a knock on his apartment door, and it rousted him from his nap on the couch. “Hold on, I’m coming,” he said rather loudly. Sam was feeling better now, but he was pretty tired after spending the afternoon getting plastic tarp stapled up over his broken windows, followed by cleaning up all of the glass that had been scattered through the living room when the windows shattered. The shop vacuum he borrowed from work had really helped with that. The carpet had been a soggy glass-strewn mess. He had only finished the cleanup an hour ago, and a nap on the couch had really hit the spot.

Opening the door, Sam was greeted by an exceptionally-cheerful looking Rene. She was wearing some tight faded jeans, and a baggy-looking university sweatshirt. “Hey, Rene, this is a pleasant surprise. I was having a pretty shitty day until now.”

“I took a chance that you would be home, and it looks like I got lucky.”

“I had plans to go golfing today, but the weather had other plans for me. My place is kind of a mess right now. As you can see, I have plastic sheeting for windows.” He waved his arm, pointing to the living room.”

Rene looked surprised. “Was that from today’s storm? It seemed wild, but, wow, that really sucks.”

“It sure does. The landlord is hoping to get it fixed up sometime tomorrow, but for now it will have to do. On the bright side, though, at least it isn’t winter time; otherwise I would be looking for somewhere else to stay for the night.”

“Well, if that happens you can always give me a call. I’m sure I could have put you up for the night.”

“So, do you want to come in? Enter at your own risk of course, and if I were you I would leave my shoes on. I think I got all of the glass cleaned up, but the carpet is still damp in some areas.”

“I do, but first I would like you to get something out of my car for me,” she said a little mysteriously.

“Sure, what have you got?”

“Why don’t you just come and see, and no matter what I say make sure to take it anyway.”

The way she said the last sentence left Sam feeling somewhat confused, but he followed her out to the car obligingly.

Sitting across the back seats was what appeared to be a large painting wrapped in a sheet. Just a hint of gold frame protruded from the bottom of the sheet.

“Is that the painting you made me get you from the bank building?” he asked apprehensively.

“Yes, the very same one. Please, get it out of the car and take it inside,” she said resolutely.

“But, you were so adamant that you had to have it. Don’t you want it anymore?”

“To be bluntly honest, no, please just get it out of the car and take it inside.”

“Okay, but I want to hear all about what changed your mind,” and with that he leaned into the little car, reaching into the back seat. Carefully, he tipped the painting trying to get it out with banging the edges on anything. “How in the hell did you get this in here?” After a little more finagling, he pulled the artwork out, banging the back of his head on the door sill as he finished extracting it. Sputtering a few choice words, he started walking back to the apartment carrying the evil thing.

Rene was trying not to laugh, but she couldn’t help herself. The whole scene had been rather comical. Here was this big guy trying to get this large painting out of this little car, and when it did come out it reminded her of a clown car from the circus, one where all those brightly colored clowns just keep pouring out looking ridiculous. It always seemed impossible that they all could have fit in there in the first place.

Sam turned, and began to laugh too. What the heck, he hadn’t banged his head that badly. “You know you have the most preposterous little car. I feel like a clown at the circus.”

“Funny you should mention that,” she stammered between breaths, “that’s exactly what it reminded me of.” Rene was laughing so hard now, tears were filling her eyes.

Her laughter was contagious and Sam found himself in hysterics as well. After a few minutes of just standing there in hysteria, Sam mentioned that they should probably get the painting in out of the rain.

“That’s why I have the sheet over it,”
well partly,
“but you’re probably right about that. I guess it doesn’t give it the best of protection.”

Sam took the picture into the dining area of the small apartment and leaned it up against the wall, and started to remove the sheet.

“Stop, Sam, leave it covered, please.”

“Why, I don’t think that’s a good idea. The sheet is damp from the rain and might damage the paint.”             

“Meet me out in the hall after you have uncovered the thing,” she said hesitantly, making her way to the door.

Sam pulled the sheet off the painting, staring at it briefly. The little girl he had remembered seeing in the scene was gone. That thought only half registered with him as he shook his head slightly and headed for the hall.

“I have this psychic feeling you are hungry for pizza, and I know just the place. It’s called Ski’s, and they have a great deep dish pizza with a spicy sauce,” Rene said, smiling brightly.

“You’re right about me being hungry for pizza, but you’ll never guess what happened to me last night.” As they began walking to the car, Sam launched into his story about the journal and the pizza he never got.

Stopping at the car, the smile slipped from Rene’s mouth. She looked at Sam intensely for a minute before beginning to speak. “Don’t stop me, just let me finish. I have been going through a rough time lately, and I’m not sure why, but I think the bank building and the painting have something to do with it.”

Sam started to say something, but Rene grabbed his arm gently, and began speaking again. “I would like you to get rid of the painting. I don’t want to know any details, just don’t try to sell it to Liam’s antique shop. If I ask for it back or inquire about it, don’t give in and tell me anything, no matter how adamant I become. Promise me!”

Sam stared hard at her for a minute thinking the matter over. “Okay, if you’re sure that’s what you want I will do it. What about the journal, it’s from the bank building as well?”

“It’s funny, but when you speak about it I get this real warm-tingly feeling. Still, being that it’s connected to the bank, I’d just as soon you get rid of it to.”

“Fascinatingly, every time I start reading it strange things happen.”

“Please, just get rid of the journal as well, Sam. That bank building is bad news. As far as I’m concerned, the sooner it’s gone the better. I know that’s contrary to what Liam wants, but I’m sure it will be for the best.”

“Consider it done. I don’t need anymore of its dark cloud either.”

Rene’s smile reappeared, “No more talk of the bank building or anything remotely related to the subject. Let’s just go and have a good time.”

“That sounds fine by me. Spicy pizza, huh, sounds cool.”

And with that, the two jumped into Rene’s car and sped off for dinner. 

Chapter 18
Monday September 16
th
, 1929

Monday September 16
th
, 1929

Tim had been writing in his journal, when clarity suddenly sprung upon him like an animal leaping on its unsuspecting prey. This whole experience had been so disorienting that he really hadn’t been thinking straight. He had let events unfold and sweep him along like a leaf running down stream with the current. Now, he decided it was time to push back.

Quickly, but thoughtfully, he got up, closing the journal and tucking it neatly in the crack formed where the dresser met the wall. Leaving the room, he headed for the front door. Tim was halfway down the steps of the front porch when he heard a gravelly voice call out his name.

“Hey, Tim, where do you think you are going?”

Tim was anxious and in a hurry. He wanted to yell “What’s it to you?”, but thought better of it. Reggie was already walking towards him, the usual sneer on his face leading the charge. “I’m going for a walk. I need some fresh air.”

“Well, it had better be a short walk. We’re due downtown in about half an hour. In fact, I’ll come with you to make sure you stay out of trouble. We wouldn’t want the boss’s new hire to wander off and get lost, now would we?” he said, finishing with as sarcastic a flourish as his strained voice could muster.

“Sure, great, I’d love the company,” Tim replied with only a hint of sarcasm. Reggie looked like he was just waiting for a reason to snap him in two.

*    *    *

They had been walking for ten minutes with not so much as a word. Every once in a while, Reggie would look over at him and glare, in-between taking puffs of his cigar. “We should get back, it’s almost time to go.”

It had been a miserable walk. Not one step closer to getting home, and the company of a thug without any conversational skill. “Sure, why not. I’ve had enough fresh air.”
Your damn cigar really added to the ambience.

“What was that?”

“Yeah, let’s go, I agree already.”

“You had something else to say. I can feel it, but you don’t have the balls to say it.”

Wow, it’s like this guy heard my thoughts, or maybe he knows more about people than I’ve given him credit for.
“Sure, I’ll say it! Your damn stinky cigar didn’t add to the ambience of the walk, and I’m sick of your damn attitude.”

Reggie turned on him and then glared intensely for a few seconds. Then slowly the corners of his mouth turned upward, and he began to chuckle. “Now that’s more like it.  Talk tough or you’re not going to be around very long, and amby what? You sure talk fancy. What’s your story anyway? You don’t seem like you belong in this racket!” Once Reggie started speaking the questions came pouring out.

Tim was surprised by the quick change in Reggie’s demeanor, from quiet and angry to curious. “Look, it’s not a short story and not very believable, and at this point I’m keeping it to myself.” The last note Tim spoke with conviction.

“I can respect that, but between you and me, watch your back. Charles has taken a strong dislike to you,” and with that, Reggie went back to being silent for the rest of the walk.

*    *    *

Half an hour later, their car pulled up downtown and Tim was ushered into Angela’s office by one of her goons. She was sitting behind her desk with an intense look on her face. Charles was seated in one of the wing chairs across the room from her, and the other was occupied by some no name thug. Two smaller wooden office chairs stood closely facing the desk and bridging the gap between.

Angela motioned for Tim to take a seat in one of those chairs. He did so feeling very uncomfortable, as this left his back to Charles and the other man. Sitting down, he turned the chair slightly so as to angle his back away from Charles.

Charles broke the silence first. “So, what is it this grifter is going to do for us again?”

Angela smiled, the earlier tension on her face melting away. “He is going to clean up the books and help legitimize the business. I want you to show him around the office and take him to the records room. Get him set up with whatever he needs.”

“Sure, but I’d like to send him on a few jobs first, to make sure we can trust him. He seems way to straight- laced for my taste.”

“Tim’s fine, we can trust him. My instincts have never let me down. Charles, you know my decision on this issue, and it’s final…now get going!”

“Hey, if you’re not comfortable with this whole thing, I can find work elsewhere.”

“Now, that’s the first smart thing I’ve heard him say. Let me show you the way out,” Charles said, with an evil gleam in his eyes.

“That is not going to happen. Now do what I asked.” The tone of the last sentence was spoken as if to a small child, and left no room for argument.

Her voice changing dramatically, she turned her attention towards Tim. “Meet me back here at noon for lunch. I will be very interested in hearing your thoughts about what you see this morning.” There was something about the invitation that suggested more than just a business discussion.

I can see why Angela has gotten so far in this line of work. She is so gorgeous and mysterious all wrapped up in one. Think straight, I’ve got to get some time to myself, or I’m never going to get out of this era. Yet, I feel compelled to have lunch with this woman. It’s been two years since Susan passed away and I have been so busy with Missy, I haven’t really tried dating. Missy, I have to focus, I can’t leave my sweet daughter all by herself with no mom and a dad that disappeared. That’s just too much for a twelve-year-old to deal with.  I’ve got to get some alone time and put my plan into action. If I try and sneak off, that crazy Charles will probably shoot me. For now I’ll just have to play along.

*    *    *

“Come on Tim, lets get going!” Charles’s blood was boiling, as he and Tim walked from the room. They made their way down the hall and into an office at the end. “This is the public books room,” he said, his voice returning to a smoother composure. “In here the previous accountant kept the business records we show to the government and use for tax purposes. On the floor below us is another room. In there we keep the real books.”

“Where do you want me to start?”

“Spend the morning in here, and in the afternoon I’ll take you to the other room.” As an afterthought he waved his index finger in Tim’s face and added, “Let me tell you this, nobody messes with me and lives to tell about it. Everything you see here is very hush-hush, breath a word of it to anyone and I’ll have to kill you nice and slow. What a shame, that would be, Angela would be so disappointed.” Turning he left the room, his footsteps echoing down the hallway.

Tim looked around the room; it was an ordinary office with a plain oak desk and chair. There were a couple of other very practical-looking chairs too. On one side of the office was a small window facing the side street. This area had none of the lavish furnishings or class of Angela’s office. It also contained a wall of rather large filing cabinets and a small shelf stocked with supplies. The whole place was quite utilitarian in nature.               Obviously being the accountant for a group of thugs was not a prestigious job. Tim shivered, pondering what had happened to the previous accountant, and then quickly forced any further thoughts on the matter out of his mind.

Walking over to the desk, he sat down and began to look through the drawers. He found pens and pencils, a couple of rulers, and miscellaneous other things. Nothing that would really set this place apart from his accounting office in the eighties, that is minus the technology that made life so much easier; the calculator, the computer, the copy machine. Working here was going to be much slower and tedious. Feeling dejected, he quickly reminded himself that, he wasn’t going to be here all that much longer.

I need to enjoy what little time I do have. I always wanted to know what it would really be like to live in the twenties.

Rummaging through the cabinets, he found some files and began to digest them eagerly in an effort to understand what type of business holdings this company purported to run.

There was a flower business, a restaurant, a grocery store, a real estate holding company, and a delivery business. The list was fairly impressive, quite a good number of legitimate establishments to launder money with.

Two hours later, Tim’s head was swimming with all of the details. He was trying to absorb it all, when an idea came to him.
I’ll just take a break for fifteen minutes before lunch, and head down to the park. It didn’t seem like it was too far from here. Nobody will even know I’m gone.

Closing the book he was currently scrutinizing, he headed out into the hall. Tim had only gone a couple of steps when. “Where do you think you are going?” echoed through the hall.

His heart pounding, he turned to see Wes, a tall thin gangster standing there. Thinking quickly, he replied, “Where are the bathrooms?”

“Yeah, I guess that’s kind of an important detail, isn’t it. Down the hall on the right hand side.”

Tim walked calmly to the bathroom, shaking his head with irritation. Was it Angela’s idea to have him watched all the time?
This is getting old really fast. Now, how the hell am I going to get out of here? Maybe after work I can have some free time without an escort.

*    *    *

Lunch time arrived without any more excitement. A couple of times Tim had stuck his head out of the office ,only to see Wes standing out there looking bored, and one time half asleep.

At noon Angela came walking into the dully lit office, brightening the whole place up. “Well, what do you think? Pretty nifty little operation, huh? I kind of liken it to an iceberg, and you’ve only seen the tip. I’m sure you’ll enjoy this afternoon’s foray into the real down and dirty.”

Angela has a way about her that makes even accounting seem exciting. I’ve never heard the term down and dirty used when describing numbers. I’m going to miss this woman when I get out of here today.
“So, what have you got planned for lunch?”

“Actually, I thought we would just wing it. There are several good places nearby. We’ll go for a walk, and you can choose whichever one trips your fancy.”

“Let’s walk towards the park we met in and see what we find,” Tim replied.

*    *    *

It was a great day for a walk, the sun was shining and the temperature was very pleasant. This was Tim’s second walk of the day, and the company was definitely much more to his liking.

Unnoticed, Charles was leaning against the corner of the building in the opposite direction from which the couple was heading. He had been finishing up a cigarette, and looking around for some new opportunity. Charles was feeling glum and agitated today, and he couldn’t quite put his finger on why.

It must just be one of those days. That new guy certainly bugs me, but not that much. Maybe I need to go spend some more of my new-found wealth, or hook up with a new dame.

He flicked the butt to the ground and worked at it with the toe of his shoe. Glancing up, he watched as Tim and Angela exited the building, all smiling and cheerful. They were headed off in the direction of the park.

That dirty son of a bitch, there he goes with Angela again. Angela is my dame. I really hate that guy, he gets under my skin. What does Angela see in him anyway? So he can do some fancy accounting crap, so what. That kind of thing doesn’t pay the bills. I could tell her better than him how to run this business. I am so sick of her recent train of thought on going straight and legit. That kind of thinking will ruin the business, and if it gets out, I doubt she’ll be sitting on top anymore. The boys will never go for it. The idea of making all our money above board lacks excitement, and certainly wouldn’t be as profitable. Maybe she’s slipping. It’s like she is starting to get conservative and scared, maybe it’s time for some new leadership, like mine. 

At that moment, Charles happened to glance up, looking across the street. There was a kid of about twelve walking along. Normally, he wouldn’t have given the kid a second thought, but this kid was the one from the night of the robbery. The very kid he had foisted the ugly medallion on. Charles had been thinking more about that stupid thing recently, foolish thoughts about the medallion possessing some type of power.

Hastily, he ran across the street to catch up with the boy. Failing to look before crossing, he was almost hit by a passing motorcar. The angry driver yelled something, and laid on the horn. “ARRUGAH, ARRUGAH,” the horn bleated out.

Charles, without breaking his stride or even bothering to glimpse at the driver, just waved his arm dismissively and kept running. Most boys probably would have run seeing a stranger bearing down on them, but not this kid. Instead, he actually turned and came toward the approaching stranger.

Eyeing him with curiosity, the boy spoke first. “Oh, it’s you, what do you want? I’ve kept my end of the bargain!”

Charles quickly remembered why he had been taken with this kid originally.
This kid has got real pluck, doesn’t even run with me chasing after him. Damn, some of our gang members don’t always act that courageously.
“Listen kid, there’s a couple of things you can do for me.”