Hi Everyone:

I am pleased to publish chapter 25 of my novel, RAPE. After reading the chapter, I hope you will comment. Your comments and suggestions influence my revision. If you missed any of the previous chapters, check the archives.

          I encourage you to visit my website:  joshswritingroom.com/ where you will find, the current short story.

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PATH TO A PARDON,

THE EINDHOVEN STRATEGY,

& PALM BEACH STYLE.

          These novels deliver hours of reading pleasure. Path to a Pardon & Palm Beach Style can be purchased at reduced prices, combined they cost less than a movie. You can now purchase two books for what it once cost to read just one.

 

As I publish each new chapter, the previous chapter(s) are 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.

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.

Gary’s lawyer, Joe 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. Carol tells Gary that she and the children are going to Boston to live with her parents.

One of Miriam West’s fans assaults Gary. A neighborhood committee offers money to help Gary sell his home, if his family leaves Palm Beach within 60 days.

Private Investigator, Bosley, learns of Consuela Arista’s termination following Gary’s visit. Reporter, Miguel Gonzales, is already looking for her.

Miguel learns Consuela 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 Miriam about insuring her jewelry and she saw him leave. Miriam is forcing her to help destroy him.

Carol’s parents make an appointment for her to see the family lawyer about a divorce.

Bosley meets with ex-girlfriend, Connie, who works for the same newspaper as Miguel and learns the reporter has gone to San Antonio. He offers & she accepts a job running his office.

During lunch at the Sailfish Club, Miriam drinks too much and thinks about how she advanced her career and what she may yet have to do.

Carol consults an attorney about a divorce. Robert hits a classmate and is suspended.

Gary and his ex-secretary, Erica meet for lunch at Hamburger Heaven, where she tells him that she believes in him and he should do whatever he must to keep his children.

P.I. Jim Bosley finds an address where Miriam West’s maid may be staying.

As they leave the restaurant, reporters accost Gary and Erica. Joe Flaherty tells Gary that Bosley is going to interview a maid who may help his case and cautions him not to tell anyone until he is sure of her testimony. Gary promises.

Despite giving his word to the attorney, Gary tells Carol the good news. She is not impressed and denies him access to the children.

 

 

CHAPTER 25

 

Miguel Gonzales found an empty table under a small umbrella along the River Walk. A pleasure-barge loaded with carefree passengers had just pulled away, taking the happy tourists for a pleasant afternoon ride. He bit into the sandwich loaded with what the vendor billed as Real Texas Bar-B-Q and thought, if I get what I need from Consuela I’ll come back to Paseo del Rio in the evening when they light the Christmas trees, and take a ride on the San Antonio River like those tourists.

The food tasted better than he’d expected, topped off by a schooner of cold beer. He pulled out his tape recorder and inspected it for the third time today. He listened to his test message and then re-wound the tape. Satisfied, he put it away, exchanging it for his cell phone. Leaving the little table and the shade of the umbrella, he moved along the walkway seeking privacy. When he found a spot where he felt safe from curious ears he stopped and called Bernardino’s private number.

The Editor fielded the call on the second ring; “Is that you Gonzales?”

Leaning against the fence separating him from the river he said; “Well it ain’t the Queen of Sheba, How you doing, Chief?”

 “Skip the small talk, what have you got, Miguel?”

“Okay. Here’s where we are. I found Consuela Arista; she’s staying with her mother here in San Antonio. She’s skittish, very skittish; from my conversation with her, I managed to confirm that she served as Miriam West’s personal maid. She didn’t say it, but I’m convinced she heard or saw something, but so far she’s unwilling to go public.”

Miguel, is she trying to hold us up for a big pay-off?”

“No, Chief, I don’t think she’s hurting for money.”

“Really? Does she have one of those Texas oil wells or a big paying job?”

“No, that’s not it; she says she’s here on a paid vacation, but get this, I think she slipped up because she told me Ms. West promised to send her weekly paychecks not Ms. Walsh, and contrary to what I learned at the mansion, they didn’t fired her, she is still employed, but my gut says she’s nervous.”

“You’re on to something, Miguel. If she’s getting paid by the actress to take a paid vacation, chances are better than fifty-fifty that Miriam West is trying to hide the one person who can put the lie to what she claims transpired back on December fifth.”

“Yeah, chief, that’s how it looks to me too. She’s financially on easy street as long as she keeps quiet. I’m sure that the actress will fire her ass if she gives me the straight stuff. If you want the whole truth, we’ve got to find a way to trump Miriam West’s ace.”

“And just how much do you figure it will take to trump that ace?”

A boat loaded with waving tourists moved slowly by. Miguel returned the gesture before turning his back to them and taking a seat on a nearby bench. He took a deep breath, and then in a voice so low it was nearly a whisper, said; “I think ten grand ought to do it.”

“Miguel, have you been drinking? You know damn well that I can’t authorize that kind of dough. What’s more, I can’t even approach the publisher without knowing a lot more about her story.”

Miguel wished he had another beer. Vincent Bernardino had a way of putting a guy on the hot seat and keeping him there. And yet, he had a soft spot—yeah—for stray cats and children. “Okay, okay, I get it, but how about I dangle the possibility of a big payoff on the condition that she gives me an idea of what her testimony might be. Maybe she’ll open up a bit if we offer her a small down payment.”

“How about threatening to report her as an illegal?”

“No dice, first because she isn’t and second because I won’t”

“I’m only kidding. I know you don’t go around reporting illegals. Let’s go for a token payment. I think that’s worth a try, Miguel. Tell her we’ll put her picture on the front page and help her find a new job. See if two grand will soothe her fears. And I’m sure I don’t need to remind you to get it on tape along with a signed authorization.”

“Don’t worry, I’ll get her to sign, but listen, Chief, about that photo, normally I’d say that will work. Most folks love to see their picture on the front page, but this woman is hiding out, she’ll reject having her puss out where everyone and his brother will see it. Now the job offer, that’s a good one. If we publish her story, she’ll need a new job and maybe a bodyguard. You know she acts so scared of Miriam West that I’m beginning to think that Sanders guy might just be telling the truth.”

“Don’t go soft on me. Reporters who do that usually find themselves looking for work. I’d hate to see that happen to you. Why you’re like a son to me. Up until now, we’ve been backing the victim. That’s where all the facts led us. Miguel, your job is to get the facts; deciding how and if we use them is mine. You get me the truth and then we’ll see which side we take. I don’t think we’re ready to change sides, do you?”

       “I guess you’re right, but let’s not waste time evaluating truth. Eventually her story, whatever it is, will get out. In fact I saw Jim Bosley when I left the Walsh mansion; the guy is no dummy, it won’t be long before he comes sniffing around the Arista house. If he or a reporter for one of our competitors’ gets wind of this we’re sure gonna look foolish if we’re backing the wrong side.”

“For a dumb reporter you’re pretty smart. You get her to talk and if what she says proves that Sanders didn’t commit rape, I’ll try to get the poor sap in to take a polygraph. It may not be admissible in court, but then we aren’t exactly in the justice business are we?”