LITMIR.BIZ

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but a look on each face which gave certainty to the calm before the storm.

      They all laughed nervously, as if to say no one wants to go there, but no one would hazard a guess as to his good fortune. The owner of record, the estate of a deceased single man named Dennis Mattingly was represented in his absence, by a real estate agent, a small wiry woman who chain-smoked and coughed throughout the closing to the discomfort and dismay of the others. But Thad treated her with respect, at a distance, and as they left the closing they walked out together to the parking lot.

      “Tragic matter,” she said. Thad looked quizzically at her

      “Mrs. Toddy, poor thing”

      “I’m sorry,” Thad said, “I do not recognize the name.”

      “Elderly lady, lives in the basement of the house which you just purchased, has been there now all these years, watched them come and go. You know, wouldn’t harm a fly!”

      Thad noticed a hint of the Gaelic in her voice which he tried to emulate…a habit many fall into when confronted by a different dialect.

      “Supposin you’ll be letting her go on now?”

      “I’m so sorry, Mam. I do not know of this lady, nor why I should change her status!”

      “Sir, she lives in your new house. Mrs. Toddy is the cleaning lady and, she sort of watches over the place, you know as caretaker when you are away. But now, I don’t know, she witnessed the…” she paused. “Well sir she saw the argument in the courtyard and witnessed the murder of Mr. Mattingly in his study!”

      In the car Thad sat wondering about the conversation, now he knew why the house was on the market at such a bargain. The fact that a homicide had occurred would have put most people off. The fear that the house was somehow demented and to be shared by the slain previous owner who now walked the halls in the evening, scratching his balls… and searching for his head. None of that would have bothered Thad even if he had known beforehand but he was somewhat concerned about the old lady. Was she still there? Was the killer stalking the house waiting for her return and the opportunity to close her mouth just as permanently as the killer had done with Dennis! Hamilton decided to head home but remembered that he was downtown and… near the police station, a look at the file would not hurt anything and it would be best to know the facts. It was his right he thought, and to see if there was any mention of Mrs. Toddy or others involved in the case. Moreover, he thought he should speak with the police now in order to determine if his new possession was going to be impacted by the comings and goings of the police and other forensic and fingerprint experts.

      After explaining to the Duty Officer about his acquisition and displaying his closing documents, Thad was shown to a small room to wait for a detective who showed up momentarily to Thad’s delight.

      “Detective Ellioto”, the woman said, handing Thad her card.

      “So you are the new owner of the Shawnee Parkway property, the Mattingly house?” she asked.

      “Yes Mam” Thad replied, “Fresh from the closing where I discovered that I had just purchased Wuthering Heights or the house where Anthony Perkins and his mother reside,” he smiled, noticing that she wasn’t so amused by the comment!

      “Murder leaves an impression Mr. Hamilton… no one or anything is ever the same… after they are touched by it; perhaps, that is the reason most people avoid… shall I say properties… with a past, and why you no doubt got a great deal,” she said softly.

      “It wasn’t my intent to be so callus…just thought the moment required a small bit of levity…” Hamilton said.

      “And I thought it was a great deal as the agent took me through the house, of course she never bother to inform me of the murder. May have thought I knew! The house checked out from a soundness standpoint and it met all my family needs but, I’m wondering now that there may be some lingering police requirement and I am concerned about the old lady, my tenants, and my daughter who will visit, often, I hope!”

      “Mrs. Toddy?” the Detective said. “The sweetest old Irish lady. The fight and the murder frightened the poor thing out of her wits, saw the entire event!”

      “So I am told.” Thad looked intently at the Detective, “Doesn’t that put her at risk, and by virtue of her proximity to my other tenants, them as well?”

      The Detective was impressed that Hamilton had not mentioned himself as one of the at risk individuals.

      “There is certainly reason to be careful, Mr. Hamilton but in so far as Mrs. Toddy is concerned, we believe that she is in a place where she is safe and the other party involved in this gruesome business will soon be located! But, you may want to rethink your daughter visiting for a while,” she said looking up at him, “Until we catch the murderer!”

      “I sure admire your confidence,” Thad said eyeing the shoulder holster, which was now visible along ample breast as Detective Allioto shifted in her chair. Big gun… he thought, for such a small lady.

      “So does that mean that Mrs. Toddy will not be returning to Shawnee Parkway?” He continued.

      “Certainly not until we catch the killer, and, in the meantime I’ve been directed by the department to move in to the Toddy space, if that will be alright with you… you know as the landlord?” she inquired.

      “Will you be cleaning the halls?” He laughed!

      SHAWNEE PARKWAY

      Thad moved into the Carriage house and within a couple of days Detective Ellioto brought in a few things into the lower floor studio occupied by Mrs. Toddy. The entrance to this studio was off the courtyard, the courtyard also provided the entrance to the Carriage house except Thad had the option of parking in the garage space and entering his office space without going outside, a convenient feature in inclement weather or if you did not wish to have others watching your comings and goings. Not a problem for Thad but soon after her arrival, Detective Ellioto caught Thad sweeping and hosing down the courtyard.

      “Good morning,” Mr. Hamilton.

      “Buon Giorno,” (Good Morning) he bowed to her in the courtly gesture of the old country.

      “Una Bella Giornata,” (A Nice Day) she smiled

      “But Detective Ellioto, are you planning to rain on my parade,” he smiled

      “Nothing but good news for you today, Mr. Hamilton, and a request!”

      “I could never refuse a lady, especially one with a big, how you say, weapon!”

      “Some would say, gun, or in the home of my ancestors, pistola,” she smiled, pointing a make believe gun/finger toward Thad and blowing on the end.

      “Nice shot, you got your man,” he said.

      She was wondering what type man he was. She had looked up his file and there was no record. She ran him through Dunn & Bradstreet and discovered that he was the President of Child Cosmapolis and an officer in Mid-West Engineering. A rather strange combination of businesses she thought, engineering and kids, but then this guy seemed to have some diversity about him. And, he was very adorable as well. She didn’t see a ring and he appeared to be living alone except for visitors during the day; he was quiet otherwise. She liked his voice, the cadence was unique and the pattern definitive; it was soothing and seductive.

      There was something in his background that seemed to raise a question, perhaps of little interest to the untrained eye, or maybe she was just too jaundiced by the job and the people who made up her routine. She checked him thoroughly, there was nothing on the record. It was spotless, politician clean. Princeton graduate, Vietnam Veteran, single parent. Dunn & Bradstreet gave the historical business history, nothing but success.

      What was it, she wondered, that she could not answer about this seemingly perfect guy? And then it hit her, how had he earned a living upon his return to the states after his tour in Nam? Looked like he married almost immediately, apparently fathering a child

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