Nathan March Investigations - Book 1: Jaded Justice - episode 2
Episode Two
On the second floor of the Sheridan mansion, Massachusetts State Police Detective Sergeant Daniel Moynihan of the Major Crimes Unit, stood behind the photographer’s lights, as the State Police photographer finished taking his second set of photographs of the bedroom. State forensic technicians stood by waiting their chance to examine the scene, while the medical examiner was busy making notes and the gurney containing the petite corpse of Tina Bach, was being readied for removal for an autopsy elsewhere.
One uniformed officer blocked Nathan and Mickey from the room, while another notified Detective Moynihan of Nathan’s request to speak with him. Immediately the detective stepped outside the room, to the hallway area and addressed Nathan there.
“Mr. Marsh I was told to expect you by Judge Sheridan, how is he doing by the way?” asked the detective, offering his hand to Nathan.
“He’s not doing well I’m afraid, this is a major shock to him,“ said Nathan, “By the way may I introduce Mickey Stone my associate,” said Nathan as the detective and Mickey shook hands.
“While I realize the local police and emergency personnel made an informal statement about suicide, as you know we’ll have to await the medical examiner’s autopsy and the crime scene investigator’s reports, before we close it out as a suicide. I can tell you that the experts do seem satisfied that she took her own life and made a perfect job of it with a .357 Magnum, which is registered to her brother.
“We got a hold of one our most experienced crime scene photographers so they’ll be nothing left to question when everything’s put together,” said a very satisfied Detective Moynihan.
“Detective Moynihan I have to tell you that I spoke with Tina not three hours ago and she seemed more than a little vibrant and full of life, so her suicide is hard for me to grasp. Was there a suicide note?” asked Nathan.
“There is no note Mr. March, and according to the statements we’ve taken so far, she did not indicate she was under any stress or depressed. It’s a fact that only one in four suicides ever leaves any last words. Just as you have observed in your line of work I’m sure, often suicides are jubilant beforehand feeling free of any concerns, once they have completed their plans to end their lives,” said Moynihan.
“You’re right of course,” was all Nathan could say yet none of this changed the way he perceived Tina Bach’s death.
Mickey watched Nathan’s reaction to the detective’s comments about his preliminary investigation and realized that Nathan might just be feeling guilty for off putting Tina’s advances all weekend. He was a normal healthy male and Mickey had often dropped him and his female companions off at various out of the way inns, chateaus and hotels and remained close but invisible until summoned days later. But Mrs. Bach was very “hands on” and Nathan while always the gentleman, openly detested very aggressive women.
Handing a business card to Nathan, Detective Moynihan said “I was hoping that you’d give this card to Judge Sheridan. It’s just a suggestion but the cleanup is going to take a while. It appears as if she sat on the bed and put the gun in her mouth so her blood, brains, bone and hair are all over the wall, floor and bed. A clean up team that’s really thorough can make a difference in restoring order to a grieving family, and these people are very thorough.” said the detective. ‘We’ll release the scene by tomorrow morning,” he added.
“Thank you, I will take care of it,” said Nathan trying not to think of the damage a .357 magnum revolver could do to a tiny woman’s head.
Later, Dr. Michael Levin summoned by telephone, arrived from Concord, New Hampshire. Elliot Sheridan’s personal physician and friend was grateful to Nathan as well for assisting him to convince the judge to take the medication he prescribed, in order for the judge to get some rest.
Under the influence of valium, Elliot greeted Nathan as he and Mickey entered his office and each took a seat in front of his desk. His heartache was obvious still and a tremor to his bottom lip made Nathan feel his emotional pain.
“If nothing else, it was very fast and she felt nothing,” said Nathan.
“She always said she wouldn’t wait for death, she‘d handle her exit from life herself. I still wish my revolver hadn’t been in my nightstand drawer. Usually I kept it locked up in the safe behind me, but there have been so many burglaries recently, I wanted quick access to a gun that would stop a burglar in his tracks,” Elliot said passionately.
“Did you mention where it was to her?” asked Nathan.
“We were discussing the burglaries this morning and yes I’m pretty sure I mentioned that I was keeping it in my room,” said the judge.
“Elliot do you remember anything she said that was odd or out of the ordinary, at all,” asked Nathan.
“No, she and I barely spoke at all the whole weekend. I think she was unhappy with me for keeping you so entertained with my stories. She really did have a strong attraction to you.
“Nathan, now more than ever I need you to be my friend second, and the fine detective you are first, so you can find out why she did this. I want to hire you and any number of associates you feel you’ll need to bring me the answer, no matter what that entails,” said Elliot.
“Elliot, people tell me that all the time. Often when the truth surfaces, they seldom seem pleased that I took their request so seriously,” said Nathan suspecting that Tina‘s activities would probably shock her brother, but if he could provide the reason she died, Elliot might heal faster and more completely.
“I want to know everything you learn. Something terrible had to have happened to make her take her life, of that I’m certain. Unlike Miriam, I know it had nothing to do with your rejections this weekend. I did forget something Nathan, she was dabbing at her eyes on Friday afternoon, when we all came together for lunch. When I mentioned it to her, she told me that I was mistaken so I let it go,” said the judge.
“Let’s start by your telling me about Lincoln Aubrey,” asked Nathan.
“He’s a designer or decorator, I really don‘t know which. I’m afraid I know very little about him other than one day he introduced himself to my wife, who seems to feel obligated to entertain him each and every weekend.
“I do know he’s related to the former owners of the magnificent Tudor mansion down the road. Miriam was quite embarrassed for him when he told her that he was served with papers telling him to turn in his keys and vacate the property by the first of the month, or the police would arrest him for trespassing. It seems that without telling anyone George and Cynthia Aubrey the former owners, have already moved permanently to Milan to a wonderful Italian villa for which they simply traded the Tudor mansion here.
“He was hinting that for a winter’s lodging, he’d assist Miriam in redecorating the living and dining room here free of cost. Miriam was prepared to accept his offer and she still isn’t too happy with me for my extremely negative reaction.
As Nathan and Elliot conversed, Mickey Stone worked his way out of the room, down the hall and into the kitchen some distance away. Once there he sat drinking a fresh cup of coffee with Evelyn Dunn the cook and head housekeeper who had fed him so well for the entire weekend, by bringing leftovers to his room in the male’s quarter’s at the wheelhouse. In her early sixties she was very attractive for her years, had a very kind nature and smelled of talcum powder and light lavender cologne.
“Miriam, now there’s a woman to be studied,” said Evelyn without a nasty tone in her voice.
“I’m learning about her and I’ve found she can be dealt with by simply following orders, and staying out of her way. The two girls come to me often with tails of her shoves and pinches when they don’t move fast enough for her. Even the judge has spoken to her about her treatment of the household help. I can’t repeat her response,” said Evelyn.
“How did she and Tina really get along, I mean both woman seemed so chummy but I got the distinct impression that Miriam loathed her sister-in-law,” said Mickey.
“That’s those detective vibrations guiding you,” said Evelyn.
“So I’m right in my assumption then?” asked Mickey.
“Right as rain, my young Mickey. Tina had a way about her that endeared her to most people. There were no pretenses to glory so to speak, because that girl didn’t care about maintaining social protocol. She often came down here at night and before I knew it she was brewing tea for the girls and herself and sharing stories about their love life with them. When she asked how things were with you, you knew she really wanted to know. She did seem to wobble a bit, but we all ignored it because if we could, we’d stay tipsy ourselves, to make our work here a little more pleasant. Tina was also extremely generous every time she stayed a while with us there were parting gifts, to thank us for making her feel so welcome here.
“Miriam on the other hand wanted everything done quietly and perfectly. She and Tina had many disagreements and when Tina proved that one of the girls was not responsible for stealing several pieces of antique jewelry, we thought Miriam would burst a blood vessel, she was so angry,” said Evelyn.
“Did jewelry go missing a lot then,” asked Mickey.
“No sir, however when anything did go missing the house was searched thoroughly. Things between Tina and Miriam got very rocky when a piece was recovered by Tina, just as Miriam was about to be given a check for it. The insurance company paid Tina a finder‘s fee instead, for her help in the matter, stating they’d be monitoring any future thefts more closely,” said Evelyn.
“Evie, what did the judge make of all this?” asked Mickey.
“That’s just it, he never was told about any of it, not even by Raymond Simpson, the head of security who Miriam reported it to. When the jewelry was found I’m sure Miriam felt silly about it all and asked Tina for her silence. It was never discussed in the judge’s presence, of that I‘m sure” said Evelyn.
“Tina’s death, her suicide does it make sense to you Evie,” asked Mickey.
“I don’t know if those things ever make sense Mickey. One of the girls said she was certain she heard Tina crying in her room before dinner, so perhaps she was in a fragile state of mind, and something just pushed her over the edge,” said Evelyn.
As Mickey’s coffee cup was being refilled by Evelyn, they were joined by Ursula Mills the maid who found Tina‘s body. She was carrying her belongings as she cried without restraint.
“She’s so repulsive, there is no other name that fits her better,” said Ursula sitting down in the empty chair opposite Mickey.
“Now what happened?” asked Evelyn.
“She wanted me and Liz to start the cleanup upstairs, can you imagine. She said she wouldn’t stay in the house if the mess wasn’t taken care of and she didn’t care what the detective said,” said Ursula.
“When we told her the police officer said it would take another day or so until we could even view the room, she slapped me. You can ask Liz to tell you that I had to force her fingers from my arm and run to get away,” said Ursula.
“I’m sorry child, but Mrs. Sheridan’s upset and probably doesn’t know what’s she saying or doing at the moment,” said Evelyn.
“Evelyn, I had to listen to Mrs. Bach and Mrs. Sheridan once again saying such God awful things to each other last night, and I even got slapped as I physically broke them apart. Then today I found Mrs. Bach with her head blown away so between all three events, I should be entitled to some sort of empathy, am I wrong?” said Ursula.
“Of course not,” said Evelyn.
“Evie I’m really sorry but I’m going home and I won’t be returning again. This is a mad house, and I’m not the least bit surprised that something this awful happened,” said Ursula.
“It can’t be as bad as all that,” said Mickey “and jobs aren’t that plentiful right now.”
“I’m nearly through my first year of a nursing course, so I’ll look for work with a family that needs a compassionate companion for their sick relative, and I’ll be just fine. I only stayed on because Mr. Sheridan begged me to after the last time his wife attacked me,” said Ursula.
“You’ll be leaving with the funeral needing your help?” asked Evelyn.
“Forgive me Evie, but I’ve never heard even an excuse from her for all the times before when she pushed or pinched or slapped one of us. It was her husband who gave us a raise, with a promise it wouldn’t happen again. Well I don’t need to earn my money by being abused,” said Ursula, as she stood and hugged Evelyn and then left the mansion by the kitchen door.
“Poor thing and poor Mr. Sheridan, he’ll never get a replacement. It took us over three months with just Liz running around ragged, before Ursula answered our advertisement. Perhaps I’d better speak with Mr. Sheridan and see if my niece would care for a position starting immediately,” said Evelyn.
“Well I don’t envy you your job, Evie so I’ll leave you to it,” said Mickey giving the kind woman a huge hug before leaving the kitchen.
During the nearly two-hour drive the weather cooperated, providing Mickey with a warm evening breeze that allowed him to open the driver’s side window and enjoy some fresh air as they cleared the ninety-six mile distance toward home. Nathan on the other hand sat silently in the back seat for the entire ride ruminating the details of the weekend’s events.
It was almost 1:00AM when the sedan reached its destination and turned into the gated driveway of the March Manor in Guilford, Vermont.
The housekeeper Dina Perry asleep for hours, woke to the sound of car doors closing and by the time a key unlocked the front door, the kettle was on the stove and three varieties of muffins made from scratch hours earlier, were on the kitchen table with marmalade, butter or molasses to top them off.
This was standard operating procedure when a case was in progress and the perk that came with her job, which the housekeeper enjoyed the most. Mickey always called letting her know when they were on their way home, allowing her to prepare a snack for them before bed.
As her boss entered the kitchen a silver-haired blue-eyed Dina greeted him with a warm smile which he returned with an earnest embrace for the lady that kept his home and hearth such a great place to return to, after his work was done elsewhere.
Some years separated them in age, but as Nathan told Dina many times had those years not been there, he was certain they would have made it to the altar. That comment always sent the older woman into gales of laughter, as she knew his preference was for the younger ladies.
“Good to see you Dina love,” said Nathan.
“You too Nathan,” said Dina ushering him to a chair at the table in the spacious kitchen, as Mickey sauntered in and sat in a chair of his own.
Tea was poured and the muffins consumed as the trio discussed the event at the judge’s summer home in Manchester, Massachusetts.
“What did you think of Mrs. Bach, Mickey?” asked Dina while Nathan listened intently.
“I think that even in her forties that was one very attractive lady and it beats the heck out of me, why she’d do such a thing,” said Mickey.
“Well it sounds to me like she didn’t have great taste in the men she selected for herself,” said Dina “you being the exception sir.” she said referring to her boss.
“Thank you Dina, but a lot of what I sense tells me that it’s going to take a lot more work than usual to learn the truth about this case, and I want to start with both Miriam Sheridan‘s and Tina Bach’s bank statements. I’m fairly certain we are going to find that some of Miriam’s withdrawals are going to coincide with some of Tina’s deposits,” said Nathan.
“Blackmail sir,” said the housekeeper “of course if the judge’s sister caught onto her sister-in-law’s relationship with the law clerk, Mrs. Bach could have made a small fortune at Mrs. Sheridan’s expense I suppose,” said Dina.
“More like at her brother’s expense, after all according to the household help Miriam Sheridan was not the recipient of a sizable divorce settlement from her first husband, and since she never worked a day in her life, all she has now is what the judge doles out to her,” said Mickey.
“I’m more inclined to believe that Tina and Miriam’s relationship was far more sinister than blackmail based on adultery. I hope I didn’t make an error in not insisting that we stay for Elliot’s sake,” said Nathan.
Looking at the wall clock Mickey said “We can be back there shortly if you feel he’s in any danger.”
“For now let’s get a good night’s sleep and see what tomorrow brings,” said Nathan.
Mickey agreed knowing that Nathan had a pretty good idea of what was coming, and when he looked at Dina her expression told Mickey that she knew it as well.
Once again the tired housekeeper slipped beneath the bedclothes knowing that her body would insist she be up shortly after dawn despite the fact that she’d already lost over two hours of sleep. As if on cue her head hit the pillows, her eyes closed, her body relaxed and she was asleep once again.
Nathan March hated nothing more than being forced awake before his body was ready for consciousness. The sharp cry he heard was from downstairs, and sounded as if it came from Dina Perry. Stopping only to put on slippers, he lost no time climbing down the staircase taking two steps at a time. He observed Dina slumped against the open front door and Mickey Stone bending over something or someone lying at the door’s entrance, just out of his view.
“Are you alright Dina,” asked Nathan on reaching her.
“I’m fine sir, but who would do such a thing to Muggles?” she cried.
The boxer was Dina’s dog and a beautiful animal that seldom left her side, especially when Nathan and Mickey were away. After being let out to return to his dog house, he had been butchered and, his entrails strewn over the large front steps of the manor house. When Nathan lifted his eyes he saw Mickey running back from the guard shack at the front of the estate, in full defensive mode. He moved like lightning and carried his Glock 30 out in the open, for all to see.
“Nathan the front gate was open and Larry Connors is out cold. I’m going to look for Simpson who I expect is in the same condition. You might want to get inside sir,” said Mickey as he headed passed the house.
Immediately Dina was ushered inside and using her cell phone she sent for an ambulance while Nathan on his cell spoke with Chief of Police Milton Pierce, a personal friend. The Chief of Police insisted on riding with the uniform officers as they headed to the March manor house moments later.
When Nathan next saw Mickey he was helping their security guard, Chet Simpson stay on his feet while he got him inside the main house’s front hallway and onto an upholstered sofa there.
“He was just coming to when I got to the back entrance,” said Mickey.
“Chet are you hurt anywhere,” asked Nathan.
“I’m sick to my stomach but otherwise, I’m okay,” said Chet Simpson a new security guard, who manned the guard shack at the property’s rear entrance.
“The ambulance is here sir,” cried Dina from the front stairs, where she had covered her precious dog, always her protector in the past, with a blanket.
“Stay here,” said Nathan to Mickey as he ran to the front gate to check on Larry Connors. What he found was an embarrassed and still very confused Larry Connors, refusing to go to the hospital.
“You’ll be going with these fine gentlemen and Chet Simpson to the hospital where they will examine you and be sure you’re both alright,” said Nathan booking no nonsense from the Vietnam veteran he’d known now for ten years, and trusted implicitly.
“What happened sir,” one minute I was eating my sandwich and drinking my coffee and the next I woke up on the floor in the shack. Truth is, my stomach does feel like I ate something bad, and my head hurts too,” said the guard lying back on the gurney as it was loaded onto the ambulance.
The second gurney carrying Chet Simpson was quickly loaded into the ambulance as two police units arrived. Once a uniformed officer joined the ambulance crew for the ride to the hospital, the ambulance was put in motion.
The next vehicle arriving was the Animal Control van carrying the animal control officer along with his assistant. Nathan escorted Dina back inside while the two removed the dog carefully including all his remains which would be examined by a veterinarian for exact cause of death, as requested by Nathan.
From the rear of a police unit, Chief of Police Milton Pierce swiftly exited and headed for the front door and into the entry hall looking baffled and highly agitated by the events he was told about. In a tailored suit standing 6’2” with dark hair and eyes and a well exercised physique, Pierce commanded respect and got it from everyone.
“Nathan’s with Dina,” said Mickey.
On arriving into the den Milt Pierce began a rapid fire explanation of his slow response to Nathan’s call.
“Please forgive me if it seems I was delayed in arriving. We decided to check the perimeter of your property first for any evidence of a prowler or the way he entered the property, but outside of coming over the walls and your alarm system would have alerted if that was the chosen entrance, all that’s left are the front and rear entry gates. We photographed the front entrance where the dog was but it doesn’t look like there’s anything to find out there.
“I see,” said Nathan.
“You know what that means Nathan?” was Milton Pierce’s response.
“Yes Milt, that means that someone inside arranged this morning events, last night after we arrived home.” said Nathan.
“One of us, Nathan?” asked Mickey.
“Yes unfortunately it’s one of our guards. I’m betting it was young Chet Simpson,” said Nathan looking forlorn as the words left his mouth.
“Why do you suspect Chet?” asked Mickey looking shocked.
“His recommendation came from Elliot Sheridan. Raymond Simpson is the head of Elliot’s security team, who he‘s known for years,” said Nathan, “so he had no qualms with recommending Simpson’s son to me.”
“Any idea why Chet might do such a thing?” asked Milton Pierce.
“Someone paid him to of course,” said Nathan.
“I sure hope they paid him plenty, he’s going to need it,” said Mickey.