Fatal Encounter, Chapter 18
by Irv Pliskin
The waitress showed up, and they ordered their dinner. Godowsky sat quietly looking at her, thinking that she was absolutely smashing, one of the most attractive women he had ever seen.
“You're right, of course,” she said. “I have only been entertaining for less than a month. I met a gal on campus who suggested it would be more productive and more lucrative than slinging hash at the diner, and that I would be able to have a better time in college. I've had to work hard ever since my stepfather found a way to stop my inheritance. I don't know how he did it, but I was getting enough to keep me together until a while ago, and then it all stopped.
My dad died and left me money that was supposed to take care of me through college and until I was thirty, but my mother's husband, the bastard, managed to stop that, somehow. I don't have the money to fight it in court, so I had to do something. When this girl suggested that I try entertaining, well, I did. As you said, I'm not exactly a virgin...but I wasn't a slut, either. I had had a few friends, but this, this was very strange. The money was good, but I don't know. I don't think I could go on with it very much more. Screwing strangers is not very much fun at all. I certainly don't enjoy it.
“What are you studying in school, Regina?“
“Criminology. I want to be a criminologist. Isn't that strange? At least I now have some idea of how the criminal mind works. I’m a criminal, aren't I?”
“Hey, hey, knock that stuff off. I don't think you're a criminal at all. I think that you're a victim more than a criminal. And what you did by coming to us was a public service. That doesn't sound like a criminal to me. Listen, tell me about
this situation with your stepfather. How did he get your inheritance, do you know?”
“No, no I don't but there has to be a way. I just can't fight it, I can't afford to. I called the insurance company, and nobody would tell me anything.”
“Well, if you give me the details, I may look into it. Who knows, there may be something we can do, through the state's attorneys, you know. It sure doesn't sound right to me. I have some friends in the DA’s office. They may be able to advise me. Another thing. what are you going to do if you don 't go back to work at Dream Gals?”
“Well, I have a few bucks at the moment. Enough to last me until I can find some other job. I'll try to get a job in a good restaurant where the tips are substantial, and that will allow me to go to school for a few courses, at least. I don't think I want to go back to Dream Gals, regardless of the money I might make there.”
“Would you like to work as a toll collector on the Pike? The money is pretty good, and I bet I can you a job there right away. It's pretty dull, they tell me, but it pays well...especially on the night shifts.”
“Would you do that for me? Could you do that for me?”
“No promises, but I'll try.”
They talked some more. She told him about growing up in Easton, and he talked about growing up in Moscow, Pa., up in the Poconos. He told her that he had always wanted to be a state trooper, and that he had gone to the University of Scranton because he could take a bus from home to the school. And as soon as he could he had applied for the state police and been accepted.
They sat and talked in the restaurant until it was obvious they wanted to close the place up and then they left, reluctantly.
When he got her to her apartment, he got out of the car and walked her to the door.
“Would you like to come in for a coffee or some tea or a drink?”
“No,” he said. “No, I think I better be going.”
She looked at him with disappointment. “Oh, so this is it for us. Will you call me, at least about that job on the pike?”
“Don't misunderstand,” he said. “I'd love to come in. But I promised you that I wouldn't do anything to you, that I wouldn't try. If I came in I don't think I could keep that promise. You're the most attractive and exciting woman I've ever been with, and I'm ...”
She had the door open by then and she dragged him in to the apartment and closed the door.
She stood up on her toes and kissed him, hard and passionately.
“I know what you promised and I know what I said, but you're so exciting and understanding and I don't want you to keep that promise.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes, I'm sure, I'm really sure.”
“Oh my God, I don't believe this is happening.”
“Believe it,” she said. “This is for real, at least for me.”
He stopped and thought for a moment. “For me too, I think. It doesn't seem possible, but I think I'm falling in love with you.”
“Me too,” she said, and again burst out crying. “Oh my god, me too.”
She led him to the sofa, and sat down besides him, in the dimly lit room. He put his arms around her, and kissed her. She nuzzled closely and kissed him back. After what seemed like an eternity of kisses, she could feel his hand going around her and slowly stroking her. She sucked in her breath, and put her tongue in his mouth. “Oh God,” she said, “oh God, that's wonderful.”
And then she said, “Frank, Frank, wait a moment, please.”
He stopped.
She got up went to the lights and turned them off. Only the ambient light from the street lighted the room. She pulled her dress over her head and sat down besides him in her bra and panties.
He put his arms around her again, and kissed her, and slowly, slowly slid his hand over her bra, caressing her breasts. She kissed him harder and then said “Push it up Frank, please push it up.”
She kissed his ear and squirmed. “Frank, Frank I want you I want you more than I have ever waned anyone else. I want you to make love to me. Now.”
“Me, too,” he said. “Me, too.”
She stood up then, and pulled her bra back into place. “Frank,” she said, “Frank, don't look at me now, I'm feeing very shy, don't look at me until I get in the bed, please.”
“But I don't understand, I want to see you, all of you.”
“I know, but suddenly I’m embarrassed to be naked in front of you. I even feel embarrassed to be here in my bra and panties. I know that's stupid, but this is important to me.”
“Look, if you feel better I'll just sit here until you get ready and get into bed, will that be okay? Do you want to put it off, wait until tomorrow? I'll wait for you forever if you want me to.”
“No. I just want to get ready. I'll call you in a few moments. Please understand. Please wait.”
He did, and when she was ready she called him in. She was lying under the sheet, curled into an almost fetal position. He slipped into the bed next to her, and slowly reached out and touched her shoulder. He could feel her relax, slightly so he massaged it ever so gently. After a few moments he leaned forward and kissed her on the cheek. He could taste tears, she was really crying.
He put his hand in hers. ”Listen, Regina, if you don't want to do this, if you feel strange or something, I'll understand. I can wait. I'm not going to let you get away from me, and I can postpone this 'til some other time if you'd prefer.”
“No,” she said, “but I wish you were my first boy friend. Oh my God, Frank, as silly as this sounds, I think I love you, madly and I want this to be just right for you I'm so afraid I won't be.”
“Don't worry about it,” he said. “Don't worry about it.”
He kissed her then on the eyes, and then the lips, and she threw her arms around him and sobbed uncontrollably.
When she stopped crying he massaged her back gently, and then she put her arms around him, and kissed him with passion.
Their lovemaking was gentle and yet passionate and very satisfactory. When it was over, she kissed him again and whispered into his ear. “That was the best it has ever been for me ever. Oh, God forgive me for what I have been. That part of my life is over, completely, forever.”
Two and half hours later, since he decided to drive at the exact speed limit, Carl turned off the Schuylkill expressway onto the Vine Street Extension on his way to New Jersey. He crossed the Ben Franklin Bridge and drove on to the Admiral Wilson Boulevard, expecting to see the usual run down buildings, and the sleazy hotels and business establishments.
They were all gone. The crap was on the other side of the highway, beyond the high median strip, but the only building left standing on the right side of the highway was the off brand gas station. That had been enlarged and dressed up, but everything else was gone.
What the hell happened, he wondered? When he came to the building that had housed the nude girlie show and the adult books and videos he was almost distressed to see it was gone, too.
Carl stayed on the left of the highway, took the up and over ramp onto route 38 the major road through the area and headed east. He drove to the Stewart's drive in root beer place. He decided to take the chance that they were not looking for him in New Jersey yet, drove into a parking spot and ordered two hamburgers and a tall glass of root beer. The young woman who served him looked good to him, but he didn't think he should make himself conspicuous by doing anything more than ordering his supper. He certainly wanted to be as anonymous as possible.
He gobbled his sandwiches and then drove to the Days Inn, half a mile down the road. It was not one of the greatest places in the world. It wasn't even good for a Day's Inn, he didn’t think, but it provided him with a parking lot level room, and a door that opened to the car. He drove to the door that was his room, backed his car into the parking space directly in front, went in and double locked the door. He was reasonably sure he would be okay for a while, at least. He could have a couple of days to decide what to do and consider his options.
Hallen had a collection of messages on his desk when he came in early the next morning. Some were routine, but several were very important and he knew they would have to be taken care of immediately. He was sorting through them when he heard a hesitant knocking on his door.
He looked up. Godowsky, in uniform, was standing there holding two containers of coffee and a small bag that Hallen thought contained doughnuts.
“Coffee boss?”
“Sure, why not? Why are you in uniform? Don't you want to continue working with me?”
'Well, I wasn't sure you would want me around, Detective. I may have done something I shouldn't have done, that you might consider pretty stupid and you might not want a low life dumb ass like me on your team.”
“What? That sounds pretty serious. Sit down and tell me about it.”
“Yesm sir. When we met Regina yesterday, the girl who told us about Rogers...”
Hallen interrupted. “I know who she is. She did us a hell of a favor, I think. It took real guts for her to call us and talk to us. None of the other women from that place called us, unless she told them she had and that her testimony would be enough.”
“No,” Frank said. “She didn't tell them.”
Hallen raised his eyebrows and looked at Godowsky. “I didn't mean to interrupt you Frank. What were you saying?”
“Well, I was really turned on by her. And I called her up and we had dinner together last night. She thought I was coming on to her because of her work at the Massage parlor and suspected I wanted a freebie. She was really hesitant, but that wasn't it, not at all. It sounds stupid, I know but I think I'm in love with her. But because I did that, called her, and said what I just said, you may not want me around. After all, you might not want a cop on the case who is dating a girl who did what she did to earn her living.” Then in a rush he added, “She's given that up, by the way.”
“Slow down, Frank. Slow down. First of all, what you do is your own business. I have no right to express an opinion, so long as what you do isn't illegal or will bring criticism to the force. I think if the media knew you were dating this woman,
and she stays in her line of work that could be bad for us eventually. But right now only you and I know about her, and I checked. She has no record at all. Did you know that?”
Frank nodded. “Yes, sir. I checked, too.”
“And, I agree, she’s very good looking. So I can understand the physical attraction. Should you get serious about her, and I gather you are serious, you won't be the first guy in the world who found a woman in such circumstances, and some of them became very important, i think. Didn't Peron find Evita in a whorehouse? I think he did. If you want to be with Regina, it's no skin off my ass. Nobody but you and I have to know where you found her, you don't owe me any explanations either. And no, I don't want you off this job. You have a sense for it that is surprising and refreshing. You've been a real asset. So relax. We have a lot of work to do today. Did you bring a change of clothes or are you going to work in the uniform?”
Godowsky swallowed with emotion. He looked at Hallen and said, “Thanks, boss. Thanks a hell of a lot.”
Hallen made a brush off motion with his hand. “Look, sort through these messages and let’s see which are important and handle them.” He leaned back, took a sip of coffee and took a doughnut out of the bag.
”These are pretty good doughnuts. Thanks.”
When Godowsky checked for calls he found one from Colonel Helfer of the Army cryptographic office at the Pentagon. He looked up and cleared his throat to get Hallen’s attention.
“Jerry, there’s a phone call from a Colonel Sidney Helfer at the Pentagon. Isn’t he the guy in the cryptographic office?
“Yeah, he is. Maybe they have something important for us.”
“Want me to try and get him on the phone now? It’s pretty early, but those guys keep strange hours. Let me see what I can do.”
“Sure, okay. do that.”
Frank dialed the number in Washington and was not at all surprised to have the phone answered immediately. He asked if Colonel Helfer was available and the clerk said he was, he would connect him.
“Jerry, Colonel Helfer is coming to the phone now,” Frank said.
“Okay, stay on the phone, Frank. That way we’ll have two people listening. This could be important.”
“Good morning, Detective Hallen. You’re up early.”
“Well sir, so are you.”
“I’m in the army, Detective, we always get up early. The bugler gets us out of bed before the crack of dawn. And someday, I’m gonna murder that bugler, you know that?”
Hallen chuckled. “That’s really an original thought, sir. And I wouldn’t blame you one damn bit. What do you have for me?”
“That stuff was pretty interesting, I have to tell you that. What that encryption was is account numbers and balances in banks all over the world. If we read it right, and I think we do, that guy is worth at least a billion bucks. If he ever gets
out of the country, you’ll have one hell of a job finding him, I’ll tell you that. I’ve sent it all up to you by military courier. You should have it in a couple of hours."
“Thanks very much colonel. Is there a charge, or anything like that?
We’ll be happy to pay it.”
“Heck no, but if I ever get into trouble up in your neck of the woods, I’ll give you a call and you can bail me out.”
“Count on it Colonel. It would be my pleasure.”
“If you need any interpretations, just give me a call.”
“I certainly will and thanks again.”
The colonel had already hung up.
Enamored as he was with Regina, Godowsky needed to know more about her. He needed to know how she had found her way into the massage parlor, exactly how long she had been there, and why she had decided to come to the cops with the identification.
He also needed to set up an interview with someone at the Pennsylvania Pike so she could get her a job. He knew the jobs could be boring as hell, but he also knew they paid very well, a lot better than slinging hash at a restaurant, or
working as a clerk at a discount store.
He picked up the phone and called an acquaintance of his, a toll supervisor at the pike. He got him on the phone: were there any openings?
“I’ve got some spots open. I’m having a training class next week and your friend can come.. She may have to work the four 'til midnight for a while, but I can find work for her.”
“That’s great,” Frank said. “Great. She’ll be in touch. Her name is Regina, and she’ll use my name. Okay?”
“Yep. Perfect.”
They discussed the rate of pay, and when Frank heard the money, he whistled softly. “That’s pretty good for someone with no real skills. Hey it should be fine.”
“One thing, your friend got a record? She has to pass a background check. But, the State Police do that, and if you vouch for her, that will probably do it.”
“I’ll vouch for her,” Frank said. Now, of course, his ass was on the line. He had to make sure that she wasn’t going to bug off with a night’s receipts because he hadn’t checked carefully enough. He might love her, and she might love him, but if she had a background of sticky fingers, that wouldn’t help much. He was pretty sure that he was safe with this, but he had to check it out.
He showed up at her doorstep with a large, steaming hot pizza and a couple of cold beers. He put the pizza down on the table. “I didn’t get a chance to call,” he said “but I picked up a pizza on the way here. I hope that’s okay. I have some things to discuss that better be done here, rather than anywhere in public.”
“Pizza is fine. What kind?”
“Half and half, half mushroom, half pepperoni.”
“That’s great. How did you know that that’s my favorite?”
“I didn’t know, I just guessed.”
He put the pizza on the kitchen table, still steaming.
She handed him two glasses and two plates, and he opened and carefully poured the beer into both glasses making sure it generated just a little head. They each took a slice.
“Okay,” she said. “You look very serious and you said you had something private to discuss with me. Let’s get to it. I’m gritting my teeth in hopes that it is not bad news.”
“I don’t think it is,” he said. “But it has to be done.”
He looked at her directly and started to talk.
“First, there’s good news, if this conversation goes okay.”
“What?”
“Well, I can get you a job on the pike taking tolls. The bad news is that you may have to work the 4 to midnight, and sometimes the Midnight 'til 8 providing you can pass a security check. Would there be any problem with a background check?”
“No, why should there be. I’ve never been arrested, not even for shoplifting as a kid. I’ve never been in any trouble, at all. I got good grades in high school and better grades in college. I’m a typical underachiever, just learning how to achieve. The only thing I ever did wrong was work at that Dream Girls place, and I worked there for less than a week.”
“I hate to ask you this, How about your boyfriends, any of them get in trouble? Pot? Acid? Smack? That sort of thing?”
“None. I have only had four boy friends, Frank. The first was when I was a senior in high school. We had dated a long time, and the night of the prom,” she blushed, “I finally let him. We were going to get married and live together forever, but of course, by the middle of the summer, he and his family were moving to California...and it just wasn’t working out anyhow. The next guy was a rebound, and the other two, well I’m sort of ashamed of one of them, at least. Craziness on my part.”
‘That’s all? Four?
“Aside from you and the couple over there at Dream Girls that’s it. A girl doesn’t forget that sort of thing. You know.”
“Okay, I’m sure you’ll pass.” And then he had her explain about her inheritance and annuity and how it had stopped. He took the names of the insurance company and any other information she could give him.
“Now that you know all this, and what a slut I’ve been, are you going to leave me now? Brush me off?”
He got up from the kitchen chair, put his hands under her arms and lifted her. Then he picked her up and carried her into the living room. He sat down on the couch, with her in his lap.
“You are hardly a slut. Every girl these days has had some experience. I haven’t been a shrinking violet either, by any means. So, don’t ever say that to me again, about being a slut. Got me?
“Yes, sir” she said. And kissed him.
The pizza got very cold, as the beer got warm.
Frank thought for a moment. Then he called one of the state assistant DA’s whom he knew fairly well.
“Hey, Billy,” he said. “Frank Godowsky. I’ve got a curious situation, and I wonder if you can help me out.”
He described the circumstances, as he knew them, to the lawyer.
“You know, Frank, that sounds pretty strange. The money just stopped, abruptly even though it was committed and protected by an insurance policy?”
“Yeah, that's what she told me?”
“Company still in business?”
“Oh sure, it’s one of the big ones.”
“Well give me the details, and I’ll see what I can find out. I’ll get back to you as soon as I can.”
“Thanks, Bill, I really do appreciate it.”
“De Nada.”
The lawyer thought about it for a moment, and then he realized he knew some people in the legal department of the insurance company. Getting a check on the situation should be easy, he decided.
He called his friend who was, surprisingly available to talk to him, and outlined the situation.
“As a favor, Allan, I’d like to know the status of that policy and what happened to it. Can you pull it up on the computer and give me an idea?”
“Sure will, Bill. Hold on a moment.”
“Hmm, here it is. It’s pretty cut and dried, Bill. The beneficiary died, so the money reverted to her parent.”
“Say that again, please.”
“Well, it says here that the beneficiary died, and the payments reverted to her living parent. That’s the way the policy is written. And that’s what happened here. The beneficiary died. We have copies of the death certificate, and it says she died while DUI in a single car accident. Hit a tree at high speed. Is that what you want to know?”
“Yeah, sure. But there’s something strange. Can you fax me a copy of that file, please. I know it’s unusual, but be a good guy and print it out and send it to me.” He read off his fax number and waited half an hour until the fax was on his desk. Then he called Godowsky.
“Frank,” he said, “Bill Harlow. I’ve got an answer for you.”
“So quick. Gee, thanks I appreciate it.”
“Well, I don’t know what you’re doing, but according to the insurance company the beneficiary of that policy is dead.”
“What?”
“Yeah, they say she died while DUI in a one car wreck, let’s see, about two years ago, and following the terms of he policy the money reverts to her living relative. They faxed me the papers, I’ll fax them on to you.”
Godowsky thanked Harlow, and then thought about it. He was dumbfounded.
The Army courier showed up right after lunch, and the material he brought with him demanded everyone’s attention. Hallen called a meeting and asked Frank, BB, and Lt. Starkie to attend. They spread out the decrypted papers and looked at them. As Colonel Helfer had said, there were lists of banks and account numbers for those banks.
The banks were all over the world, and as they added up the amounts on deposit and converted them into dollars they realized that Rogers was wealthy beyond belief. He had well over half a billion dollars in deposits, and there was no way of knowing what additional assets he possessed. The interest his money generated daily was enough to support a person in luxury: Hallen and his team were really impressed.
“What in the world possessed a guy with all that money to kill women the way this creep does?” Lt. Starkie asked, “it sure beats the hell outta me.”
“I don’t know Boss,” Hallen said. “But the world is full of certified crazies. This guy sure is one. If we ever catch him and bring him to trial, he’ll have the best lawyers in the world. They’d probably convict one of us of the crimes, not him. But what do we do with this bank information?”
“I think we have to go over it with the legal boys and see what they think, but, I don’t think we can even attach any of this money until we get an indictment, and we can’t do that until we catch him, can we?”
No one knew for sure, but they all thought that a legal opinion was needed. Hallen called the states’ attorney’s office and made a date to see him in Harrisburg the next morning. He asked BB and Frank to come along with him.
Frank parked his Mustang outside Regina’s apartment at just about 4 o’clock, took his briefcase and walked up to the covered entrance. He knocked softly on the door, and waited impatiently. She came to the door almost instantly. She had been watching for him through the blinds in the living room. He walked in, she threw her arms around his neck and kissed him with passion. He kissed back and then he nuzzled into her neck.
“Oh god, what a wonderful way to be greeted. Oh. I don’t think I can stand it.”
“I’ve been waiting for you all day. I can hardly stand it. Kiss me again, kiss me again.”
He did and within minutes they were in the bedroom, ripping at each other’s clothes.
Leaning on his elbow, and looking down at her, he said “You are the most beautiful thing in this world, you know that? You have no right to be so beautiful. No right at all.”
She blushed and pulled the sheet up over her.
“Don’t do that. I have to look at you. I have to see all of you, all of you,” he pulled he sheet down, and she kissed him, and then reached down and touched him.
“You must think I’m beautiful,” she said. “You’re ready again.”
“You bet,” he said, “oh, you bet.”
Afterwards he looked at her and asked, “Will we carry on like this after we are married, do you think?”
She was taken aback. “Married, are we going to get married?”
‘If I have anything to say about it, we will be. Shall I ask you now on my knee, formal like?”
“No”, she said. “Later, so we can tell people we were somewhere other than in bed when you proposed.”
“Will I have to wait until then for an answer?”
“Of course not,” she said, and she kissed him. She could feel him respond and looked at him in wonder. “Not again, darling, not again?”
He didn’t think an answer was necessary. Action was called for.
“What are we going to do for dinner,” he asked?
“All I have in the house are eggs,” she said. “I have a dozen eggs.”
“That’s great, come talk to me while I make an omelet.”
“You’re so handsome. Do you cook too?”
“Sure, you get me, you get a pretty good chef. I keep house, too, but I draw the line on doing windows.”
“We’ll hire someone to do them,” she said.
They went to the kitchen and he told her about the conversations with the DA and the information he had gotten.
“I know you’ve never been arrested for DUI,” he said. “It’s not on the record, but the insurance company seems to think you were killed in an auto accident. They even have the documentation. Any idea how that could have happened?”
