RAPE-Serialized version
Hi Everyone:
I am pleased to publish
chapter, 17 of my novel, RAPE. After
reading the chapter, I hope you will comment. As you know, your comments and
suggestions influence my revision. If you missed any of the previous chapters,
check the archives.
You can also check out my e-published novels. If you find one to your liking, you can
purchase it from Amazon.com, or from Barnes and Noble. You’ll find links on the
website taking you right to it.
PATH TO A PARDON,
THE EINDHOVEN
STRATEGY,
& PALM BEACH
STYLE.
As I publish each new chapter, the previous
chapter(s) should be archived, so you can easily catch up. For those who
prefer, here is an encapsulated version of the previous action:
PREVIOUSLY:
RAPE
Prosperous
executive, Gary Sanders, has an appointment at the home of Julia Walsh, the
reigning Empress of Palm Beach. Julia’s niece, Oscar winning actress, Miriam
West, is visiting and has jewelry to insure.
Miriam
accuses Gary of assault and rape. Chief Moore shows Gary a close-up of her
facial cuts and bruises. They await the lab report.
Gary’s
wife, Carol is furious. She moves him into the guest room.
Attorney,
Joe Flaherty advises him not to hide, flee or talk. Reporters who publish
stories favoring the actress surround Gary’s home and office. His children are
harassed at school and Gary loses his clients and his major companies.
Neighbors and friends shun Gary and his family.
Lawyer
Flaherty sends P.I., Jim Bosley to investigate, and then visits Carol. He finds
her parents have arrived and plan to take her and the children back to Boston.
A
January court date is set. Bail is set. Carol tells him that she and the
children are going to Boston to live with her parents.
Gary
stops at a Palm Beach Pub. As he walks to his car, a Miriam West fan assaults
him.
A
neighborhood committee offers up to $15,000 to help Gary sell his home if his
family leaves Palm Beach within 60 days.
P.I.
Bosley learns that Consuela Arista was fired after Gary’s visit & Reporter;
Miguel Gonzales is already looking for her.
Miguel’s
editor helps him find an address for Consuela. He learns she has gone to visit
her mother in San Antonio.
Consuela
tells her mother that she was in the next room when Gary came to see her about
insuring her jewelry and she saw him leave. Now, Miriam is forcing her to help
bring him down.
Carol’s
parents make an appointment for her to meet with the family lawyer about a
divorce.
CHAPTER 17
In
late afternoon, the Private Investigator finished interviewing the staff at
Julia Walsh’s home in Palm Beach. Bosley flipped open his cell phone and called
information for the missing maid’s phone number, and cursed at the negative
answer. He turned the key in the ignition, and staying within the speed limit,
headed south toward Royal Poinciana.
After crossing the Intracoastal Waterway on
the bridge to West Palm Beach, Bosley turned the Jeep south again toward his
office on Olive Avenue.
Removing
the ‘Closed until 3:00 P.M.’ sign he glanced at his watch, and thought,
forty-five minutes late, wonder if I missed any callers. Well I almost made it. He unlocked the door and entered the
darkened room. He flipped a light switch and turned on his computer. First
things first, he decided, quickly transcribing his notes for future reference.
Then he turned his attention to the matter of the missing Consuela Arista.
Knowing that Miguel Gonzales had left the mansion on El Mira sol, just as he
arrived, bothered him. If the reporter had the maid’s address, it put him a
step ahead of the P.I. and that thought bugged him worse than an itch in a spot
beyond his reach.
He
Googled the white pages and came up empty, so he reached for his phone and
punched in the numbers for his old friend, Max Grothe, at the Water Department.
“Hi,
Max, its Jim Bosley.”
“Hi
Boz, what’s up?”
“I’m
working a big case and I need a favor.”
“Now
Boz, if it’s another address you’re looking for, you know I’m not supposed to
give out that kind of information.”
“Max,
do you think I’d bother you if this weren’t damned important? We’ve known each
other since we were teenagers. I really need your help. You’ve never failed me
before. Don’t fail me now.”
“Okay,
but let’s make this the last time. Who are you looking for?”
With
the address in hand, the detective made a note to send a bottle of Jack Daniels
to his friend, Max, and headed out the door.The
dashboard clock read 5:05 when he parked in front of the Kirk Road address. The
lack of interior lighting didn’t encourage him but he dutifully knocked on her
door. When that failed, he went next door, but got no answer there either. He
tried the house on the other side of his target. According to the name printed
on the mailbox it belonged to the Lopez family. When Mrs. Lopez came to the
door speaking in machinegun Spanish, he felt like throwing up his hands. He
tried “Donde esta Consuela?” The woman said something unintelligible followed
by a shrug. He returned to the Jeep thinking; if these people are going to live
here, why in hell don’t they learn our lingo?
Pulling
out his cell phone, he called the Palm Beach Dispatch and asked to speak to Miguel Gonzales, only to learn,
the reporter had left on assignment. “In that case,” he said, “please connect
me with Connie Robins.”
“Hi,
Jim. How’ve you been?”
“Pretty
good, but I’ve been missing you. Haven’t seen you at our old watering- hole
lately.”
“Maybe
that’s because you haven’t been looking. Some detective you are.”
“No
kidding, Connie, how about meeting me for a drink after work today?”
“Hell,
Jim. It’s already after work. I’m just about ready to go home.”
“Good,
if we both leave now we’ll probably get to Reef Road & Rum at about the
same time. What do you say, Kid. Like old times?”
“Okay.
I have to finish up here. I’ll meet you in about thirty minutes.”
Bosley
hung up and headed for the restaurant on Clematis Street, the north and south
dividing line in West Palm Beach. He arrived first, secured a small table, in a
smoking area and ordered two classic Mojitos.
Connie
and the drinks arrived simultaneously. Bosley stood, kissed her on the cheek
and held her chair; “I ordered Mojitos. As I recall, that’s what you like.”
“Right!
Other than Miami this is the only place I know of that strains them so you
aren’t sucking mint through your straw.”
He
smiled at the red head. “It’s great to see you, Connie. How the heck are you?”
“Overworked
and underpaid, like always.”
“If
you really feel that way, why do you stay?”
I
stay because the world is full of people who have good computer skills, and can
answer a telephone, and most of them are younger and sexier looking than me.”
“Check,
are you just fishing for compliments, or are you serious?”
“Like
a heart attack.”
“Why
don’t you quit? Come work with me! I need someone to handle my office. I’m out
a lot. I probably miss chances to get new clients because no one is in the
office.”
“I’ll
give it some thought. If I say yes, will you buy me another Mojito?”
“Hell
yes.”
“Tell
me the truth, Jim, is that why you called me?”
“No.
I called the paper looking for Miguel Gonzales, but he’s gone somewhere. I knew
you worked for the same rag, and it bothered me that I hadn’t seen you in a
long time, so I just asked to speak with you. Is that okay?”
“Yeah,
sure; I’d have liked it better if you’d asked for me first.” She sucked on her
straw while her blue-grey eyes studied his unreadable face.
He
finished his drink and signaled the waiter. “Bring us a couple more of these!”
He looked at Connie, “Dinner?”
“Sure,
why not? My cat can wait.”
He
looked up at the waiter, “And a couple of menus, please.”
As
the waiter left, Connie said, “If you’re trying to reach Miguel you might try
his cell. He’s gone to San Antonio. I don’t know when he’ll be back.”
Bosley
offered her a Marlboro and lit her cigarette before lighting his own and
blowing the smoke toward the ceiling asked; “About that job . . . have you
decided yet?”
“Will you match my salary?”
“Check!
I’ll even give you a twenty percent increase. How soon can you start?”
“How
about in two weeks?”
