FIRST STEP MURDER Read online

  “I told you I don’t associate with customers, ever again. You should be proud of yourself you taught me that.”

  “I love you Faxon, I’m not giving up that easy, I know it’s been a while since you’ve been with a woman, you can’t hold out forever.”

  Faxon downed his beer then got up to go to his room, “I’ll never be that horny you stalker bitch.”

  He spoke to her as harsh as he could hoping she’d give up and leave him alone.

  The next morning Faxon talked to the owner about a ride for the day and he was nice enough to let him drive his 1967 GTO. Now that was a ride, he showed up at Lew’s house at just before noon, he brought a couple of steak sandwiches and a six pack of his favorite bottled beer with him. They sat at the small table and ate while Lew told him what he had found out around a mouthful of sandwich.

  “Four of the offers were from companies that were easy to track. One from Boston, one from Philly, and two from New York City, one was the infamous Tremp group. But this last one offered ten times what the appraised value was. Here’s the realtors name, Manuel Molina, but the investment group is called, Marine Investments. I traced the money to an account in the Cayman Islands, and the CEO is listed as a Saudi named Kasam Rashad Kolmani, he’s listed as a member of the royal family and one of the richest men in their country. One other thing he purchases arms from an American Company and hires ex- military for body guards.”

  “What’s the name of the arms dealer here in the U. S.?”

  “Cartwright Arms, out of Tennessee.”

  Faxon paid Lew a thousand dollars for his work and returned the files to Rayna Wilson but didn’t tell her what he had found out. He waited until the last day of his contract before calling Mrs. Johnson and going to her home to tell her what had happened. She understood that there was no evidence but seemed to be satisfied that her brother hadn’t committed suicide. Faxon was convinced that he’d been assassinated and that the Marine group that had made the final offered was involved.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  The month’s past.

  Harper wore a white sundress. She showed just the right amount of tan from ridding the horse’s everyday wearing a bikini top. The dress buttoned up the front, and the skirt flared out wide but was well below the knees. She wore sandals; they didn’t make her look so tall standing next to Richard. Harper had agreed to meet him at the office. They had another dinner scheduled with a prospective client, David Roberts, owner of one of the largest grocery chains in the Northeast. Richard had put a bid in to do the site development and construction of a distribution center for all his stores. It would be a huge job, an enormous building, the parking lot for semi-trucks alone was staggering.

  As soon as she walked into the office company employees all gathered to talk to her, everyone had loved her father. Sam Shepard her father’s General Manager heard the noise and came out of his office to see what was going on.

  “Damn you look good girl.”

  She tip toed to hug Sam and kiss his cheek. He was a big man with salt and pepper hair a tough guy like her Father.

  “I’m going with Richard to a business meeting. He thinks it gives him an advantage to have Clayton’s daughter there. I give them a firm handshake and insult them a few times and their a lot easier to handle.”

  “Well come on he’s in the big office,” Sam said.

  She followed Sam reluctantly the office that Richard occupied it had been her father’s. Richard stood when she walked in with Sam. He kissed her cheek, it surprised Sam he didn’t know they were getting so close.

  “Wow you look great. We’re going to that seafood restaurant on Hwy. 2. Here I want to show you something .You being the principal owner of the company you should read this.”

  Harper sat down with the folder that Richard had just given her.

  “This refers to the property in Boston on Mass. Ave. and Dalton Street. That was my great grandparent’s property.”

  “If you look at the amount their offering Harper I think it’s something you’d have to consider. I’ve checked and it’s way over the appraised value.”

  “Your father would have never sold it Harper,” Sam said.

  “We talked about this Sam,” Richard replied. “It’d mean security for the company way into the future, beyond Harpers children, and security for all our employees.”

  “No, I won’t sell it, not now anyway,” Harper interrupted.

  “Ok, all I thought was that we should talk about it is all,” Richard said.

  “Come on let’s go, I don’t like sitting in here talking about my dad in his office.”

  Harper hugged Sam before leaving. Richard waited in the car for her and then drove away.

  “I understand how you feel about the property Harper, but I had to show you, it’s a lot of money,” Richard said. “You know you have an engineering degree you could come in and work with us any time you want. I’d love to have you be a bigger part of the company.”

  “No I don’t think so. I’m really committed to competing right now.”

  When they got to the restaurant there was no valet parking and after pulling into a spot they walked across the parking lot. Richard reached over and held her hand.

  Mr. Roberts and his wife met them in the bar. Evelyn Roberts had short brown hair and wore a light blue dress similar to what Harper had on. The men ordered whisky neat, Harper ordered a beer. Evelyn smiled and ordered the same.

  At the table Evelyn ordered broiled fish and roasted asparagus, Harper ordered a filet rare with a loaded baked potato and a Caesar salad. Both men ordered the seafood platter and another drink.

  “I like you Richard but the price is too high,” David Roberts said, “quality is one thing but I don’t think the difference in the other bids can be justified. Clayton always outperformed the estimate, but in your proposal I just don’t see the payoff for the price. There’s two other companies willing to do the job for thirty percent less.”

  The table was quiet, Mr. Roberts finished his whisky, Richard looked down at the drink in his hand, Mrs. Roberts was about to say something then she looked at Harper. Her face was getting red and her fingers were white as she gripped her glass of beer. Harper drank the full glass down in one gulp and set it down hard on the table, both men were startled. Evelyn Roberts smiled expecting Harper to give her husband a curse laden reply knowing her father’s reputation.

  “Mr. Roberts, I’m not just my father’s daughter, I have a degree in engineering, and that much square footage just in the roof alone for a warehouse that large, and, a parking lot twice that, without proper drainage well you haven’t got a chance of getting permits from the county. Lewis Construction happens to be members of the Environmental Society and have done several environmental sensitive projects, and we have a working relationship with the county and government water drainage assessors. We can get projects done, and we can have projects stopped.”

  Harper leaned back in her chair, and smiled, Mr. Roberts looked like he was in shock at the aggressive tirade and out-right threat he had just received from the attractive young woman.

  “Now our plans include a retention pond for rain runoff that’s going to keep the surrounding area from flooding, and get your building permits approved with support from the county and the environmentalist. And frankly Mr. Roberts I would think that alone would be worth the difference in price, and if those other companies haven’t told you that, or told how they plan on handling the drainage problem, then they’re not worth considering.”

  Evelyn laughed and when the waiter came to the table she ordered another round. Richard was nervous unable to read the expression on Mr. Roberts face, but he reached over and put his hand on Harpers and smiled.

  “Well Miss. Lewis, I see the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. I applaud your summation of the project and the difficulties in permitting of the construction. I don’t really see there’s any other choice in who handles the project for Roberts Grocery. Richard I’ll sign the papers w
henever you have them ready.”

  Evelyn laughed again.

  “I don’t think I’ve ever heard him told off so eloquently Harper, oh we’re going to be such good friends.”

  By the time they left the restaurant Mr. Roberts was congratulating himself on his choice of companies to build the distribution center. Evelyn had made a date to come out to New Castle Farms and go riding with Harper before the couples drove away.

  “Damn Harper, when I saw your face I knew you were going to go off on him. You know I hadn’t thought of any of the environmental stuff. You threated him. He looked stunned.” Richard reached over and put his hand on Harpers bare thigh just below her dress close to her knee. “I don’t think I’ve ever been so proud. Listen we’ve both had a few drinks, my house isn’t far, why don’t you stay there tonight.”

  “I’ll have to call Aunt Rachel.” She used her cell phone, “Aunt Rachel, I’m going to stay at Richard’s house tonight, you going to be alright there by yourself?”

  “Of course, I sleep with my revolver under my pillow.”

  “Well that’s good to know in case I ever have to wake you up.”

  “You must have had a good evening,” Rachel said.

  “Yea, when the over important grocer turned us down I had to tell him off, and then I threaten to work against him permitting the construction because of environmental concerns.”

  “So you did what your father would have done, normal day for you.”

  “I’m beginning to think these guys push me just to see what I’ll do. Word must be getting around I want take their shit.”

  “Well you have a good time tonight with Richard,” Rachel said then hung up.

  He lived in a gated community in a three bedroom two bath, ranch style home. Nothing spectacular the furnishings were plan, the house was clean and neat, and the kitchen looked like it had never been used. Harper looked around while Richard poured himself a whisky, she opened the fridge and there were foam containers of takeout food, spoiled milk, some ketchup, mustard, and mayonnaise. She took a bottle of domestic beer from a six pack that only had three left.

  They toasted the contracting of another job clinking glass and bottle together and taking a drink. Harper yawned, and Richard tentatively leaned forward and kissed her.

  “Is this your attempt at seduction Richard?”

  Harper put her beer down on the kitchen counter and took his hand then led him down the hall to his bedroom. She stopped at the side of the bed and took his jacket off, then his shirt and tie as he slipped his shoes off she unbuckled his belt then unbuttoned his slacks and pushed them down to his ankles with his boxers. Harper let her dress fall to the floor and joined him on the bed.

  “I still have my socks on,” Richard whispered.

  “I’m not gonna to use your feet.”

  * * *

  Two days later early in the morning Jose’ and Harper loaded Neck Rider in the fifth wheel, (neck over), mobile home / horse trailer. The truck was hooked up, all her tack and saddle were loaded, she would wait to braid her hair and change into her ridding ware just before the start of the event, The New England Equitation Championship.

  Her trainer Walter Keys met them there, Harper was parked along with all the other competitors, and other than a nod none of them said a word to each other. She did speak to the young groomer that she had once gone out with and he wished her success. Jose’ saddled Neck Rider and got him ready while Harper and Walter went to check in and get there position. Rachel went to sit in the stands, Harper was sixth out of twelve and the event began.

  Richard showed up and found Rachel in the stands. “Harper has the sixth position,” Rachel said. They watched as the competition began. Harper stood with Walter and Jose’ waiting their turn at the jumper course. No one had received a perfect score, faults, refusals, and knockdowns, the course was difficult.

  “You’ve walked the course. Neck Rider is anxious,” Walter said. “Look at me. Be confident, give him his head he wants to please you, he’ll feed off your energy, now go out there and show these damn people who you are.”

  Jose’ gave Harper a foot up and she walked her horse out onto the field casually. When she got the start Harper circled once then put her heels to Neck Rider and he responded. Twenty feet to the first two rail fence and he cleared it easily. She had to make a half circle and come back at the first three rail obstacle, his strides were perfect and he went right over. Two more strides then over another two rails, then turn and over a hedge. His strides were perfect, Harper patted his neck and he through his head up, they turned and Neck Rider ran the longest distance to reach the highest of the three rail jumps with a six foot water pool on the other side. Harper held her breath but the fearless horse leaped from a perfect stride tucked his front feet and cleared the top rail and the water. Two more fences and they finished with a perfect run.

  The crowd cheered, Harper stood in the stirrups and pumped her fist. As soon as she stopped it was Robert that gave her the first hug and kiss. None of the other riders could beat their pass and she took home the championship.

  Weeks past

  Harper continued to show her Hunters and Jumpers, and one afternoon she rode with her friend Evelyn Roberts around the estate.”

  “So David told me that he talked to Robert out at the site the other day,” Evelyn said as they rode.

  “I’m surprised, Robert usually doesn’t go out to job sites after they’ve been started,” Harper said.

  “Davis said he couldn’t stop talking about you. He must really love you Harper. It’s been my experience that when a man talks that much about a woman it’s serious.”

  “I love Robert, I guess, we get along good enough, he supports me in whatever I want to do, I don’t bother him about how to run the business, although he asks me enough.”

  “I hear, a-but coming,” Evelyn said.

  “I always thought my mom and dad would be around when I got married, I thought I’d meet a guy like him, tough, hard, sharp tongue.”

  “From what I’ve heard about your father, and what I know about you, there might not be another guy like him Harper.”

  “You might be right.”

  “Besides, if you were to marry a man like you, hell what kind of children would you have,” they both laughed.

  * * *

  Robert picked up Harper at 8:00, they had reservations for dinner at 9:00, and all he’d tell her about where they were going was to wear your best dress. Aunt Rachel and Harper had gone into the city and bought a Versace gown for her, Robert wore an Armani suit.

  “You look amazing,” Robert said.

  “Thanks, damn thing cost enough. You haven’t told me where were going?”

  “I’ll give you a hint, it was rated the most romantic restaurant in Boston.”

  “You know I don’t give a shit about that kind of stuff Robert.”

  “No. 9 Park, I know you don’t care, but how about tonight you pretend you do, ok?”

  “Yea, yea, yea, anything to please you darling,” she said in her snottiest attitude.

  They got out and the Valet driver parked their car, when they went in their table was ready. Robert had prepaid for their best table and three waiters served them. After dinner he put his napkin down on the table stood and knelt beside Harper’s chair, he had a small velvet box in his hand.

  “Harper Lewis, I love you, will you marry me?”

  The ring was a five karat flawless diamond.

  “Yes,” she said.

  They both stood and kissed, and the few people around them clapped reverently and one of the waiters popped the cork on their most expensive bottle of champagne.

  Robert moved in with Harper at New Castle Farms, Aunt Rachel insisted on moving to the pool house to give them more privacy. Harper had a complete renovation done to the one bedroom, one bath pool house. She even had a private garage built with a blacktop driveway from the back around the side of the house to the main driveway.

  Harper and R
ichard scheduled their wedding for December and even though Harper wanted a small wedding the list continued to grow. There were the Lewis Construction employees and one guest each. Then there were the customers and their one guest, and nearby neighbors. Richard reserved the hall at the convention center in Littleton and had a decorating company come in to prepare the huge room. The day of the wedding Harper had asked her Aunt Rachel to walk her down the aisle. The reception was held there too, and then it was off to New Zealand for their honey moon. They stayed two weeks touring the country.

  After they returned home they both resumed their routines. Richard sat in his large office and his cell phone rang. It was a call he wasn’t expecting.

  “Richard Mathis,” he answered. (Pause) “I wasn’t expecting to hear from you so soon Sir. (Pause) I’ve tried for months Sir. You have to give me some more time. (Pause) Well we’re married now. I suspect I can get her to change her mind soon Sir. (Pause) I understand Lieutenant Commander.” And then there was a click, and the call was over.

  CHAPTER FIVE

  Faxon had met with James Cullen the day before. He explained to the crime reporter for the Boston Herald that there was no definitive proof of Martin Samuel’s murder, but he had promised James he’d tell him everything. It had been a week since he had taken Sara Johnson’s case and he’d put off giving her his report as long as he could.

  James didn’t waste any time writing the article about Martin Samuel’s death now weeks after. In the morning paper, the article quoted his sister, saying that her brother would have never committed suicide. James quoted Mr. Samuel’s secretary for the last fifteen years verifying what the sister had said. The sons refused to comment for the article, but several employees and construction workers also commented that Mr. Samuels would not have committed suicide. The article quoted the building maintenance man where Mr. Samuels lived that the face of the key touch pad had been removed. And that there had been video from the building next door of a man’s feet as he knelt next to the key pad on the night in question. James interviewed several people that were going to be involved in the construction of the multi-storied building and the performing arts center, and that it was Mr. Samuels dream to see the project completed. But James Cullen ended the article with the police department’s official report that Martin Samuels’s death was suicide.