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<\/h1>\n<\/h1>\nby Bruce Levine<\/p>\n
\n
Claudine Bucknell set up her easel in what would have been the shadow of the north-west leg of the Washington Square Arch if there could have been a shadow at noon on the north side of the Arch.<\/p>\n
It was a beautiful Sunday in June with the temperature just right and a gentle breeze drifting from the Hudson River to bring out the local residents, NYU students and an array of tourists.<\/p>\n
In the 1950s Claudine would have been one of many artists who set up their easels around the sidewalks of Greenwich Village to ply their trade as portraitists doing charcoal sketches in a matter of minutes for anyone wanting a memento, in varying degrees of proficiency, in the form of an original piece of artwork representing their likeness either realistically or as a caricature.<\/p>\n
Today, however, Claudine was the sole participant in a long-standing tradition and was less concerned about attracting potential clients than she was about finishing the pastel she was working on in time to develop it into an oil painting of 5th Avenue looking north before the September Washington Square Outdoor Art Exhibit, aka the Village Art Show, where she hoped to sell enough to pay for the next round of canvasses and paints. Today\u2019s pastel was one of many she\u2019d been working on, experimenting with various choices of perspective and vanishing points.<\/p>\n
Over the past couple of months as she\u2019d been working a couple of SOHO dealers had each expressed interest in her work and she\u2019d gone to their galleries, but the meetings had ended nebulously without any commitment for a show of her own or even hanging any of her work in their galleries.<\/p>\n
She attached a sign offering to do a charcoal or pastel portrait to the table next to the easel which she used to make handy the assortment of pastels and placed her work in progress on the easel itself.<\/p>\n
Today she\u2019d specifically chosen noon for the effect of the light shining directly down, like a theatrical \u201cGod-light\u201d, on 5th Avenue and illuminating the buildings in interesting ways as she looked north toward Central Park.<\/p>\n
\u201cHow ya doin\u2019?\u201d Andy Freemont asked casually.<\/p>\n
She\u2019d been focusing so intently that the simple question shocked her back to reality.<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, Hi, Andy. How long have you been here?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAbout five minutes. Watching.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou. I figured I\u2019d find you here today.\u201d<\/p>\n
Andy Freemont was a free-lance musician who lived in Hoboken, New Jersey and took the PATH train into Manhattan daily whether he had a gig or not. Washington Square Park was one of his favorite places to read and people watch.<\/p>\n
Claudine and Andy had met when he had her do a charcoal portrait of him as a present for his mother. They\u2019d gotten talking during the time she worked and continued talking for the remainder of the day and over the past couple of months had become friends, but it had never crossed the line of friendship into anything more.<\/p>\n
\u201cDo you have a gig today?\u201d Claudine asked.<\/p>\n
\u201cA Broadway matinee. Want to have some dinner later?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSure. Sounds great. Where?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t know yet. Why don\u2019t I pick you up at your apartment at six and if neither of us has thought of something we\u2019ll go to Restaurant Row and go to the first place we both agree on.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cPerfect! I\u2019ll see you at six,\u201d Claudine said as she turned back to the picture and Andy began walking north.<\/p>\n
\u201cBye,\u201d he said, waiving over his shoulder in a way that exuded friendliness and an understanding between the two of them.<\/p>\n
\u201cBye,\u201d she responded absentmindedly, refocusing on her work.<\/p>\n
Claudine lived in a fourth floor walk-up on West 43rd Street so it would be easy for them to meet after the show and walk up to 46th Street. She was glad Andy had come by and suggested dinner, but right now she was more interested in trying a new idea about adding an abstraction into the perspective.<\/p>\n
She rarely had time during the week to do anything other than some preliminary sketches to develop.<\/p>\n
Her day job required her to be on West 37th Street in the garment district as an assistant to an unknown designer where she spent her time more as a go-fer than an artist which was the guise under which she had been hired to do drawings of the clothes as they were draped on models by a designer who deserved her obscurity for her lack of talent even though she had connections and knew enough of the right people to get her collection into some of the most prestigious wardrobes.<\/p>\n
\u201cHow\u2019d the show go?\u201d Claudine asked as they sat in the first Italian restaurant they came to with a table immediately available. The walls were painted green and covered with Commedia dell ‘arte characters. They both ordered lasagna and a glass of Chianti and were now enjoying dipping wonderful Tuscan bread in olive oil infused with herbs while they waited for their salad course.<\/p>\n
\u201cNothing unusual,\u201d he answered. \u201cHow about your work?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt would have been a wasted day if a whole group of German tourists hadn\u2019t wanted their portraits done and they turned out to be a lot of fun, arguing about who looked the best in their drawing through a mixture of German and broken English that prompted more arguments about expressing their pleasure in a language that created confusion and hilarity. We all ended up laughing enough to make the whole experience memorable.\u201d<\/p>\n
****<\/p>\n
\u201cGood morning, Susan,\u201d Claudine said as she handed over the Starbucks coffee she\u2019d picked up on her walk from 43rd to 37th Street. It was a daily routine and worked out perfectly because Claudine waited on line, which Susan hated doing, and Susan paid for both coffees. \u201cHave you seen Andrea?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNot yet,\u201d Susan Gould answered cheerily as she sipped the hot coffee carefully to avoid burning her entire mouth.<\/p>\n
Susan was Andrea Marconi\u2019s gal-Friday and was always the first to arrive at the studio in the morning. She was only two years older than Claudine and in the six months Claudine had worked for Andrea the two girls had become friends and liked each other well enough for the coffee arrangement, an occasional lunch, but not close enough to share any real confidences.<\/p>\n
One thing they did share was a belief that Andrea was a fraud. They even believed that Andrea\u2019s name was a phony, made to sound like Versace or something equally chic and probably shortened from something long and unpronounceable.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe left a voice-mail for you,\u201d Susan added. \u201cTold you to continue working on the wrap-around and that I could call in the model or you could work on the mannequin, whichever you wanted.\u201d<\/p>\n
Claudine had trouble keeping her jaw from physically dropping in astonishment from the fact that this was the first time Andrea had even suggested that she even came near a work in progress let alone be an active participant in its creation.<\/p>\n
She sat at her desk and stared at the sketch she\u2019d made of the partially completed dress on the model, Andrea never worked on mannequins, after Andrea had abruptly dashed out to meet a client yesterday afternoon. Neither girl believed it was a client, but rather some man she\u2019d met at one of the infamous cocktail parties she was constantly attending.<\/p>\n
\u201cClaudine, are you listening?\u201d Susan asked.<\/p>\n
\u201cSorry,\u201d Claudine responded, pulling herself back from her reverie of surprise. \u201cI\u2019ll just work on the mannequin.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cFine,\u201d Susan answered as she took her coffee back to her own desk.<\/p>\n
This was certainly a series of surprises. Last night, during dinner, she had surprised herself by thinking of asking Andy to come up to her apartment and stay the night, but as they were walking down 9th Avenue she thought better of it and decided to keep things on a friend basis rather than risk losing a good thing.<\/p>\n
And now \u2013 this.<\/p>\n
She studied the sketch again. It was all wrong. She\u2019d have to start over.<\/p>\n
\u201cSusan, can you call Monique and see if she can come in at one o\u2019clock? I\u2019ll work on the mannequin and Andrea can take over whenever she gets here and have Monique around to abuse.\u201d<\/p>\n
Susan laughed at the thought because it was so accurate, but would never say it out loud. \u201cSounds like a plan,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Monique was Andrea\u2019s favorite model to drape fabric because Andrea felt that Monique had a body that every woman should aspire to have so they\u2019d look perfect in her clothes.<\/p>\n
It was all a crock and the three girls often giggled behind Andrea\u2019s back, but a job was a job so no one said anything to the great Andrea Marconi\u2019s face.<\/p>\n
When Monique arrived at one o\u2019clock Andrea had still not made an appearance, but Claudine had managed to turn a twisted piece of cloth into a stunning afternoon lunch dress for the Upper-East-Side set at the club in the Hamptons.<\/p>\n
\u201cI love it!\u201d Monique squeaked excitedly as soon as she saw the dress on the mannequin. \u201cI can\u2019t wait to put it on!\u201d<\/p>\n
An hour later Andrea had still not arrived, but, with, some final tweaking, the dress seemed perfect.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s amazing!\u201d Monique announced. \u201cI always knew there was a designer buried in you, Claudine, but that fake\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m glad you like it,\u201d Claudine said to cut Monique off.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf it weren\u2019t for Andrea\u2019s social connections this place would be gone before the tide went out in South Hampton.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhich is why she spends so much time cultivating,\u201d Susan added.<\/p>\n
\u201cSusan, is there anything on the calendar for the rest of the day?\u201d Monique asked as the three girls stifled their laughter.<\/p>\n
\u201cNothing important.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cGood, then I suggest a girl\u2019s night out.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s only two-thirty,\u201d Susan responded, but the glee she exuded was obvious.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen the cat\u2019s away the mice will play,\u201d Monique answered. \u201cWe can get an early start.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy not,\u201d Claudine agreed. \u201cLet\u2019s clean up and go.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cClean up tomorrow, let\u2019s just go,\u201d Monique added.<\/p>\n
****<\/p>\n
Within ten minutes of Claudine and Susan\u2019s daily coffee routine Monique came in.
\n\u201cAny word from Andrea?\u201d she asked.<\/p>\n
\u201cNothing,\u201d Claudine answered. \u201cWe were just talking about calling the police.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNot yet. You know Andrea. She probably met somebody and is having a wonderful time somewhere.<\/p>\n
The implication was clear and it was true that Andrea had been known to follow the call of the wild more often than Susan could count, but this time she agreed with Claudine that something didn\u2019t seem quite right, but decided to keep her feelings to herself, at least for now.<\/p>\n
Claudine looked from Monique to Susan and it was almost as if she could read Susan\u2019s mind and she too had the same feeling. Plus she had never truly liked Monique. There was something about her that Claudine didn\u2019t trust. It\u2019s probably nothing, she thought, but it seems strange that Monique is taking so much interest in Andrea\u2019s disappearance. And it\u2019s not like her to even be awake this early, let alone arrive at the studio at this hour.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy don\u2019t we wait until this afternoon and if we haven\u2019t heard from her we\u2019ll call the police,\u201d Monique suggested.<\/p>\n
\u201cSounds reasonable,\u201d Claudine agreed half-heartedly.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve gotta run,\u201d Monique announced. \u201cI\u2019ve got to get a manicure for a hand modeling shoot this afternoon.\u201d<\/p>\n
Well that sort of explains her being here, Claudine thought, but\u2026<\/p>\n
\u201cBye.\u201d Monique was out of the door as abruptly as she\u2019d arrived.<\/p>\n
The silence in the studio once Monique was gone was palpable. Susan wandered around aimlessly putting things away and simply moving them from one place to another without any reason. Claudine went to her desk and stared at her drawings.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat should we do with the dress?\u201d Susan asked, breaking the silence.<\/p>\n
\u201cPut it back on the mannequin, I guess. Andrea will want to see it as soon as she gets back,\u201d Claudine answered. And tear it apart, she thought.<\/p>\n
\u201cBy the way, it really is beautiful! You did a great job!\u201d Susan said as she started dressing the mannequin with the wrap-around.<\/p>\n
\u201cThanks.\u201d Claudine paused before asking, \u201cDo you know where Andrea went after she got the phone call?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo idea. I assumed she went to meet some guy.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAny idea who?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNot a clue. It could be anyone. You know Andrea.\u201d<\/p>\n
She did. Claudine thought that it really could be anyone. Someone she\u2019d known for a while or someone she\u2019d just met at a party. If he were handsome enough and had the right connections she\u2019d jump whenever he called. Claudine doubted it could be an actual client because meeting with clients lasted at most a few hours having drinks or a facial at a spa.<\/p>\n
She watched as Susan finished dressing the mannequin and stood back to admire what was obviously the last creation to come from the studio before she picked up her phone and dialed.<\/p>\n
\u201cHi. Andy. It\u2019s me.\u201d Pause. \u201cAre you working today?\u201d Pause. \u201cCan we get together between shows?\u201d Pause. \u201cGreat. I\u2019ll meet you at the Shubert Theatre stage door at five-thirty.\u201d Pause. \u201cI just want to talk. How about getting a hamburger?\u201d Pause. \u201cPerfect. I\u2019ll see you in Shubert Alley at five-thirty. Bye.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAre you and Andy moving beyond friendship?\u201d Susan asked and smiled in a knowing wat at Claudine.<\/p>\n
\u201cNot yet,\u201d Claudine responded then quickly corrected her answer, as if she\u2019d betrayed herself, \u201cwe\u2019re just friends. Andy\u2019s got good instincts about people. If Andrea\u2019s not back by the end of the day then, maybe, he\u2019ll have some ideas. If she is then we\u2019ll have a hamburger together and have a good time.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat about calling the police?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cTechnically she can be considered a missing person since it\u2019s more than twenty-four hours. She hasn\u2019t shown up, called and doesn\u2019t answer her land line at home or her cell phone.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cShe hasn\u2019t been home either,\u201d Susan added.<\/p>\n
Claudine looked at her questioningly.<\/p>\n
\u201cI went to her apartment. The doorman hasn\u2019t seen her and she hasn\u2019t picked up a package that was hand delivered.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDo you know who the package was from?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe wouldn\u2019t say. All he told me was that he hasn\u2019t seen Andrea since Monday morning and, as far as he knows, she hasn\u2019t been home.\u201d<\/p>\n
Claudine stared into space for several minutes.<\/p>\n
\u201cLet\u2019s wait until this afternoon to call the police. If she\u2019s with a guy then she\u2019ll be really angry if we interrupt her fun. And I doubt she\u2019s in a hospital somewhere or anything like that because if she were she wouldn\u2019t have left a message about the dress.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cKnowing Andrea that message didn\u2019t make any sense.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI agree. That\u2019s why I want to talk with Andy.\u201d<\/p>\n
****<\/p>\n
They stood at the counter and ordered two No. 1s, two extra Big Macs, two chocolate shakes and took their trays to a table as far away from anyone as they could find.<\/p>\n
\u201cOkay, tell me what\u2019s going on,\u201d Andy said.<\/p>\n
Claudine told him everything that had happened from the phone call on Monday on and included every detail and, as best as she could, every inflection and unspoken innuendo from her conversations with both Monique and Susan.<\/p>\n
Andy sat in silence, Big Mac poised mid-air between the table and his mouth, through the entire recital and continued the silence while he thought about everything he had just heard while Claudine studied his face for any indication of what he was thinking.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe first thing I think you should do is call the police,\u201d he said to break the silence and give himself a chance to take a bite of the Big Mac.<\/p>\n
\u201cIs that all?\u201d Claudine asked incredulously.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo, it\u2019s my first thought though. My second thought is that there\u2019s a lot to find out about mixed up in all that stuff you just told me.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSo what do we do?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe?!?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou don\u2019t think I can do this alone, do you?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDo what? Claudine, this is a matter for the police. Or maybe even the FBI.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cGreat! Let\u2019s call them. But that doesn\u2019t mean I can just sit back and do nothing.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI thought you didn\u2019t even like her.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t. But what if she\u2019s been kidnapped or even killed?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAll the more reason to let the police and the FBI handle it.\u201d<\/p>\n
They both sat in silence for several minutes and ate their now cold fast food.<\/p>\n
\u201cOkay,\u201d Andy finally said. \u201cI\u2019ve got a show tonight, but I\u2019m free tomorrow. If she\u2019s not at the studio by tomorrow morning we\u2019ll call the police and see what we can find out ourselves. Okay?\u201d<\/p>\n
Claudine smiled then leaned across the table and kissed him. \u201cThank you,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n
****<\/p>\n
Andy was balancing the three cups of Starbucks coffee as Claudine unlocked the studio the next morning.<\/p>\n
\u201cAny word from\u2026\u201d which was as far as Claudine got before the sight of the three people already in the office cut her off.<\/p>\n
\u201cClaudine, there\u2019s a voice mail from Andrea,\u201d Susan said as she came toward Claudine and Andy. \u201cI thought I\u2019d better call the police. These are Detectives Mandi Czaikowski and Joe Ramos from Midtown South.<\/p>\n
\u201cGood morning, Ms. Bucknell,\u201d Detective Ramos said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think you\u2019d better listen to this before we talk,\u201d Detective Czaikowski added and pressed the play button.<\/p>\n
\u201cClaudine, I won\u2019t be back for a while, but a new client needs a cocktail dress for a Gin Lane party. Start working on some drawings. Think size two\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIs that all?\u201d Claudine asked.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt certainly ended abruptly,\u201d Andy commented.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe noticed that,\u201d Detective Ramos replied. \u201cAnd who are you?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAndy Freemont. I\u2019m Claudine\u2019s friend.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThank you, Mr. Freemont. Does it mean anything to you?\u201d he added, turning his attention back to Claudine.<\/p>\n
\u201cNot really, but it sure doesn\u2019t sound like Andrea,\u201d Claudine said thoughtfully.<\/p>\n
\u201cDo you mean that it\u2019s not Ms. Marconi?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo, it\u2019s her talking, but she never asked me to do any designing before Tuesday.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat happened Tuesday?\u201d Detective Czaikowski asked.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere was a voicemail asking Claudine to finish a wrap-around,\u201d Susan answered. \u201cAnd now this. She didn\u2019t think anyone could design a Marconi dress except the great Andrea Marconi,\u201d Susan added sarcastically.<\/p>\n
The two detectives looked at each other before turning back to Claudine.<\/p>\n
\u201cMs. Bucknell, does anything else in the message mean anything to you?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNothing in particular. Andrea is always meeting new clients. She sort of specializes in the Upper-East-Side set so South Hampton would be a natural part of their world. And a cocktail dress would also be natural.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNothing else?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo,\u201d Claudine answered.<\/p>\n
\u201cHas she gone off like this before?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNot that I know of.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cUnless she met someone,\u201d Susan interjected.<\/p>\n
\u201cSomeone?\u201d Do you mean a man?\u201d Detective Czaikowski asked.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s possible,\u201d Susan answered. \u201cAndrea\u2019s always trying to cultivate new clients which means she goes to a lot of parties with the social set that buys couture clothes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd there are men at these parties,\u201d Detective Czaikowski added.<\/p>\n
Susan nodded salaciously.<\/p>\n
The detectives looked at each other before continuing for the next hour with routine questions about everyone\u2019s background, connections, how long they worked for Andrea and how they felt about her and everyone\u2019s itinerary for the past two days which revealed nothing that they didn\u2019t know already.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf it weren\u2019t for those messages we\u2019d treat this as a missing person case, but\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBut what, Detective?\u201d Andy asked.<\/p>\n
\u201cNothing. It\u2019s just that some things don\u2019t seem to fit. Unfortunately there\u2019s nothing we can do at this point, but if she shows up or you hear from her again please give us a call,\u201d Detective Ramos said as he handed each of them his card. \u201cGood-bye,\u201d he added as they left.<\/p>\n
\u201cSusan, can you hold down the fort today?\u201d Claudine asked as soon as they were gone.<\/p>\n
\u201cSure, but what are you going to do? Aren\u2019t you going to work on the designs?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ll work on them at home. Right now I think I\u2019ll be able to think better away from here. Will you be alright?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSure. I\u2019ll just get some of the stuff done that I\u2019ve been meaning to do. Plus I think I\u2019d better wait and see if Andrea calls again.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOkay. Thanks. I\u2019ll see you tomorrow,\u201d Claudine said as she almost pushed Andy out the door.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat\u2019s going on?\u201d he asked as soon as they were far enough away that Susan couldn\u2019t hear.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s something wrong. Andrea would never leave me a message like that. Somehow I get the feeling that she\u2019s in trouble and she\u2019s trying to tell me something.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou mean like clues?\u201d Andy asked skeptically. \u201cClaudine, you\u2019re a lot of wonderful things, but you\u2019re not a detective. Leave it to the police.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOr the FBI.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy the FBI?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause if she\u2019s been kidnapped\u2026 Come on. Let\u2019s go back to my apartment and I\u2019ll make you some scrambled eggs. I need to think about this.\u201d<\/p>\n
****<\/p>\n
They walked up 8th Avenue then across 42nd Street at the Port Authority then across and up to Claudine\u2019s apartment on 43rd Street between 9th and 10th Avenues in silence.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou make the toast while I scramble the eggs,\u201d Claudine suddenly said as they reached her door on the fourth floor. \u201cAnd make a full pot of coffee; I think we\u2019ll need it.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, ma\u2019am,\u201d Andy responded playfully, in a mock military response.<\/p>\n
They\u2019d remained silent while they prepared the breakfast.<\/p>\n
\u201cSomething\u2019s very wrong,\u201d Claudine blurted out as soon as they sat down to eat. \u201cThere\u2019s more here than meets the eye.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat sounds like a line from a bad murder mystery,\u201d Andy responded, laughing so hard that he could barely get the words out and almost choking on the scrambled eggs he\u2019d just put in his mouth.<\/p>\n
Claudine gave him an annoyed look and added, \u201cNo, I\u2019m serious.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI know you are. It\u2019s just the way it came out,\u201d he added as he fought to regain control of himself.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s got to be something in those messages that Andrea was trying to tell us.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cLook, if it bothers you that much I\u2019ll make a call.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cTo who?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI have a friend who\u2019s a Special Agent with the FBI. Don\u2019t look at me that way,\u201d he added after a short pause. \u201cWe met at a club where I was playing a jazz gig and we got talking after the set. He\u2019s a really good guy.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cGreat! Call him,\u201d Claudine responded enthusiastically just as the phone rang.<\/p>\n
Andy ate while Claudine answered the phone.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat was Susan,\u201d she began a few minutes later. \u201cIt seems that about ten minutes after we left Monique showed up and she had a guy Susan\u2019d never met with her.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cName?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cFranklin Grant. She introduced him as her boyfriend, but Susan got this really creepy feeling about both of them. She said that Monique asked all the right questions, but something just felt wrong. And they both sort-a wandered around looking at things like they were sizing the place up for something.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cLike a robbery?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s nothing there worth anything. It\u2019s only a design studio. All the real stuff is in the work room a couple of blocks away. I told her to call the police and tell them everything and then lock up and go home.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cGood idea. And I\u2019ll call Gary. Finish your breakfast.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat did he say?\u201d Claudine asked through a mouth-full of eggs.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe agrees that it just doesn\u2019t smell right. He\u2019ll be here in about an hour. In the meantime let\u2019s go through those messages again. Do you remember what Andrea said?\u201d<\/p>\n
Andy made a list of what he thought were key words as Claudine spoke:<\/p>\n
Gin Lane<\/p>\n
Party<\/p>\n
Cocktail dress<\/p>\n
Size 2<\/p>\n
\u201cWe know that Gin Lane is one of the wealthiest areas in South Hampton, right on the ocean, and they have a lot of parties where cocktail dresses would be worn and size two probably refers to her client\u2019s dress size so none of that tells us anything,\u201d Claudine conceded.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, but she asked you to design it.\u201d<\/p>\n
They paused and thought about how odd that was.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd she\u2019d asked me to finish the wrap-around.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIs there a common denominator?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNone that I can think of other than that they\u2019re both a first for Andrea. And Andrea goes to a lot of cocktail parties in South Hampton,\u201d Claudine added after a short pause.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe can\u2019t go out to South Hampton and drive up and down Gin Lane looking for cocktail parties,\u201d Andy said sarcastically.<\/p>\n
They sat in silence for a half hour until the door buzzer shocked them back to reality.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s FBI Special Agent Gary Cutler,\u201d Claudine said as she returned from buzzing him in.<\/p>\n
Two minutes later she opened the door to a man who looked nothing like an FBI agent.<\/p>\n
\u201cI agree, something feels wrong,\u201d Gary stated after Andy and Claudine had gone through every detail they could remember.<\/p>\n
The interview had lasted over an hour and Gary had gone over points repeatedly and back-tracked several times, trying to piece some sort of scenario together. He kept looking at the range of possibilities from that it was simply that Andrea had met a man and gone off to have an affair to it being a kidnapping. But there was no contact from a kidnapper other than the possibility that Andrea\u2019s phone messages were actually the kidnapper\u2019s messages and she was making the calls under duress. She could have been reading a script written for her, but whoever wrote it would have to know the details of the unfinished dress and a new one.<\/p>\n
\u201cSusan,\u201d Claudine suggested. \u201cBut she was in the studio so how could she get Andrea to make the calls.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cShe only told you that they were on the answering machine when she got there; you weren\u2019t with her when the messages were left. Andrea could be anywhere, even down the block, so she could force Andrea to make the calls and then simply go to the studio and listen to them and tell you about them.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t believe Susan had anything to do with it,\u201d Claudine announced emphatically. \u201cShe doesn\u2019t like Andrea, but she\u2019d never do anything to hurt her.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re probably right, Ms. Bucknell, but we\u2019ve all got to keep an open mind. If you think of anything else call me. And I\u2019ll nose around and see what I can find out.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThanks, Gary,\u201d Andy said as he walked him to the door.<\/p>\n
\u201cI can\u2019t just sit here waiting for the police or the FBI to figure it out!\u201d Claudine nearly shouted in frustration as soon as Andy returned.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat do you want to do?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cGo to South Hampton.\u201d<\/p>\n
****<\/p>\n
\u201cOkay, we\u2019re here. Now what?\u201d Andy asked.<\/p>\n
Claudine sat silently, thinking.<\/p>\n
\u201cClaudine, the light\u2019s green.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cLet\u2019s go to Gin Lane.\u201d<\/p>\n
Andy pulled the car to the side of the road so he wouldn\u2019t block traffic, especially as the season had already started and, even though a week day, South Hampton was already crowded.<\/p>\n
\u201cClaudine, are you serious? We can\u2019t just drive up and down Gin Lane. Besides, what do you expect to find? Do you think Andrea will suddenly run out of one of the houses shouting \u2018I\u2019m here, come and take me back to New York.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n
Claudine laughed. It was a nice laugh, he thought. He hadn\u2019t heard her laugh like that for a while.<\/p>\n
She looked at him and he felt that he had no choice but to put the car back in drive and go to Gin Lane.<\/p>\n
\u201cSatisfied\u201d he asked a half hour later after finally finding a parking space in town outside the Ralph Lauren store.<\/p>\n
\u201cAt least it was a nice ride,\u201d Claudine said. \u201cAnd you have to admit the ocean was beautiful and the houses amazing\u2026 Duck!\u201d she suddenly said, sliding down in her seat.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat\u2019s the matter?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s Monique coming out of Ralph Lauren.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSo?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSo, what\u2019s she doing here? And who\u2019s the guy she\u2019s with? I thought she was in New York.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cProbably her boyfriend. Didn\u2019t Susan say Monique had her boyfriend with her when she came to the studio?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cRight. I\u2019m going to call her and find out what he looked like.\u201d<\/p>\n
Claudine peaked out the window before dialing Susan\u2019s number on her cell phone. \u201cIt\u2019s okay,\u201d she said, sliding back into a sitting position. \u201cThey\u2019re walking away.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThey look like a couple,\u201d Andy commented as he too sat up.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat do you mean?\u201d<\/p>\n
He laughed. \u201cNothing. But they are walking like they\u2019re comfortable together.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re right,\u201d she agreed and dialed Susan\u2019s number. \u201cSusan, it\u2019s Claudine. Call me when you get this.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s nothing we can do until you hear from Susan. Let\u2019s go get something to eat.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cGood idea.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cClaudine, is that you?\u201d<\/p>\n
Claudine and Andy stopped abruptly as they were walking back to their car to face Monique and the man they had seen with her earlier outside Ralph Lauren.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat are you doing in South Hampton? I thought you were strictly a city girl,\u201d Monique added disdainfully.<\/p>\n
\u201cI could ask you the same thing, Monique. I thought you were in the city.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI was, but Franklin insisted that we spend the week-end in his house.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, you have a house here?\u201d Claudine asked.<\/p>\n
\u201cRented,\u201d Franklin responded. \u201cI\u2019ve rented it for the season.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI guess you haven\u2019t met. Claudine Bucknell, this is Franklin Grant, Claudine is Andrea\u2019s assistant,\u201d she added disdainfully. \u201cShe did do an amazing job on that wrap-dress.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThanks, Monique. Coming from you that\u2019s a real compliment.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat are you doing here?\u201d Monique asked again. \u201cAnd who\u2019s this?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is Andy Freemont and he thought I needed to get out of the city for a while because of the stress from worrying about Andrea and this is as far as we got before we got hungry.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHave you heard from Andrea?\u201d Franklin asked.<\/p>\n
\u201cNot yet, but the police are looking into it,\u201d Andy answered.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd the FBI,\u201d Claudine added.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe FBI?\u201d Monique quickly responded.<\/p>\n
\u201cJust a friend of Andy\u2019s. We\u2019ve gotta go,\u201d Claudine added. \u201cIt\u2019s a long drive back to the city.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cRight,\u201d Monique agreed, but there was a hint of thoughtfulness in her response.<\/p>\n
It was nothing that Claudine could really define, but something she said had definitely touched a chord in Monique and it seemed sour.<\/p>\n
As the two couples started in opposite directions Claudine glanced back over her shoulder and saw Monique and Franklin standing in place and watching them walk away.<\/p>\n
\u201cLet\u2019s get to the car. We\u2019ve gotta talk!\u201d Claudine said as she quickened her pace.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019re hiding something,\u201d Claudine said as soon as they were back in the car. \u201cDrive around the block and see if you can find them.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSo we can follow them.\u201d<\/p>\n
Andy gave her a look like she was crazy, but started the car, drove around the block and saw them still standing exactly where they had left them.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat are they doing?\u201d Andy asked as he drove slowly past.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt looks like they\u2019re arguing. Go slowly, but don\u2019t lose them.\u201d<\/p>\n
As they drove around the block again they were just in time to see them get into the Mercedes parked a few feet away.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat are they doing now?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNothing.\u201d<\/p>\n
The cars honking behind him prompted Andy to move along, much to Claudine\u2019s annoyance and by the time they drove around once more Monique and Franklin were gone.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat do we do now?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cGo back to New York and I\u2019ll call Gary and see if he\u2019s found out anything or has any ideas.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cGood idea,\u201d Claudine agreed.<\/p>\n
By the time they\u2019d gotten going traffic on the Long Island Expressway was already building up and by the time they reached the Queens border was crawling along at a snail\u2019s pace.<\/p>\n
As they inched their way toward the Midtown Tunnel Claudine felt her eyes closing, probably from exhaustion created by stress and anxiety over Andrea\u2019s disappearance, and by the time Andy pulled into a parking space in the garage on 42nd Street, near Claudine\u2019s apartment, she had been asleep, leaning on his shoulder, for nearly an hour.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re here.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhere?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHome. You\u2019re home, I mean.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOh,\u201d Claudine said as she stretched, waking up. \u201cSorry. How long have I been asleep?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSince Douglaston Parkway\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
Claudine laughed. \u201cLet\u2019s go up to the apartment and you can call Gary.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAbsolutely.\u201d<\/p>\n
****<\/p>\n
Just as they got to her apartment door Claudine\u2019s phone rang. She listened as she fumbled to balance the cell phone with her shoulder as she got out her keys and opened the three locks of her apartment door.<\/p>\n
\u201cTall, about six feet, long brown hair, almost to his shoulders, athletic looking, a real Hamptons type,\u201d Claudine recited for Andy\u2019s benefit as she listened. \u201cThanks, Susan. You haven\u2019t heard from Andrea again, have you?\u201d Claudine listened. \u201cOkay. How are you doing?\u201d Pause. \u201cOkay, hang in there. I\u2019ll call you if I hear anything. Try to get some rest, you sound like you could use it. Bye.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSounds like the same guy we met with Monique,\u201d Andy said as he took out his cell phone and scrolled through his contacts. \u201cI\u2019m calling Gary right now.\u201d<\/p>\n
Twenty minutes later the buzzer rang and Claudine pressed the button to open the front door of the building to allow Gary Cutler in.<\/p>\n
She waited at her apartment door while he climbed the four flights of stairs then they all found seats in her living room.<\/p>\n
\u201cI made some calls to some friends in real estate who made some calls to realtors in the Hamptons and one of them remembered two guys coming in about renting a property on Gin Lane for the season a couple of months ago. She said it was Avery Simpson who was actually looking to rent a house and she didn\u2019t get his friend\u2019s name, but the friend exactly fit Franklin Grant\u2019s description. The problem is is that there\u2019s no record of either Avery or Franklin renting anything in the Hamptons.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat about Monique?\u201d Claudine asked.<\/p>\n
\u201cNot even under her real name.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhich is?\u201d Andy asked.<\/p>\n
\u201cMarjorie Prescott.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWait a minute,\u201d Claudine suddenly broke in. \u201cAndrea was giving us a clue. Think size two. Monique is size two.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd if that wasn\u2019t part of the script and Andrea snuck it in at the end that would make sense that the call ended so suddenly; they probably grabbed the phone away before she said anything else,\u201d Andy added.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd why we haven\u2019t heard from her again,\u201d Gary agreed.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf they were too afraid to risk calling again what are they going to do?\u201d Claudine asked.<\/p>\n
\u201cOr what are they going to do to Andrea?\u201d Andy added.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut I still can\u2019t see the point,\u201d Claudine continued. \u201cThey haven\u2019t asked for money.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s assuming she\u2019s been kidnapped,\u201d Gary stated skeptically.<\/p>\n
The ensuing silence became nearly unbearable as the three of them tried to piece together every scenario they could conceive.<\/p>\n
\u201cI called Detectives Czaikowski and Ramos and the NYPD hasn\u2019t come up with anything,\u201d Gary said, breaking the silence. \u201cAs a working hypothesis, let\u2019s assume Andrea\u2019s been kidnapped.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI agree,\u201d Andy said. \u201cBesides, it pits it in your ball court.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cRight.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy would anyone kidnap Andrea?\u201d Claudine asked, but it was more thinking out loud rather than a real question.<\/p>\n
\u201cLet\u2019s list possibilities,\u201d Andy said as he got a pad and pencil from Claudine\u2019s desk.<\/p>\n
\u201cLove, hate, money, power, revenge,\u201d Andy started listing.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t think it\u2019s any of the basic motives this time. This one\u2019s unique,\u201d Gary interrupted. \u201cCould it have something to do with Andrea\u2019s business?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t see how. We all agree that Andrea\u2019s a fraud, but she\u2019s a successful fraud,\u201d Claudine answered.<\/p>\n
\u201cPrecisely,\u201d Gary said as they drifted in silence again.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut what if it\u2019s her success that\u2019s\u2026\u201d Andy began.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat if another designer is trying to move in and take over\u2026\u201d Claudine continued his thought.<\/p>\n
\u201cOr build on her client list\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
Or steal it\u2026\u201d Andy concluded.<\/p>\n
They\u2019d been bouncing ideas back and forth like a ping-pong match until it came to a screeching halt.<\/p>\n
\u201cI just thought of something Susan said,\u201d Claudine began. \u201cDo you remember she said that Monique and Franklin \u2018sort-a wandered around looking at things like they were sizing the place up for something\u2019?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd I thought of a robbery,\u201d Andy agreed.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat if they were checking the place out to see what they\u2019d be getting?\u201d Claudine suggested.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf it were theirs,\u201d Andy once again finished the thought.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd if they kidnapped Andrea they could force her to turn over the business,\u201d Gary concluded. \u201cIt makes sense. Which is why there\u2019s been no ransom demand, the client list is the ransom.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd with Monique\u2019s power in the fashion world as a model plus Andrea\u2019s carefully cultivated clients who need to fill their wardrobe with the perfect couture ensemble or dress for South Hampton or the Upper-East-Side or Aspen and have the money to do it the well would never dry up.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cExactly. The problem is still where is Andrea?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI still say she\u2019s in a house on Gin Lane,\u201d Claudine stated as if it were a certainty.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe can\u2019t just go door to door on Gin Lane demanding to search everyone\u2019s guest room,\u201d Gary said in his best FBI manner.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo, but we can keep an eye on Monique and Franklin and see if they go to a house\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSouth Hampton\u2019s a big place plus we don\u2019t even know if it is South Hampton, it could be East Hampton or Quogue or\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s South Hampton,\u201d Claudine said defiantly. \u201cMonique made reference to South Hampton several times. I thought they were normal examples in her lexicon, but now they seem more like Freudian slips\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cCriminals always make a fatal mistake,\u201d Gary agreed.<\/p>\n
\u201cOkay. Let\u2019s take another ride to South Hampton,\u201d Andy added.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd I\u2019ll make a call to the South Hampton Police Department and the Bureau.\u201d<\/p>\n
****<\/p>\n
Claudine called Susan both to check that she was okay and ask if Andrea had turned up or left any new messages. She was certain Susan would have called, but she had to be sure.<\/p>\n
\u201cWithout Andrea there doesn\u2019t seem to be any reason to be here,\u201d Susan said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI agree. Why don\u2019t you go home?\u201d Claudine suggested. \u201cAnd why don\u2019t you forward any office calls to my cell phone, that way I can pass them on the Agent Cutler.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI didn\u2019t know you were talking with him.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s Andy\u2019s friend so\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI didn\u2019t mean it that way. Actually I don\u2019t know what I meant. Sorry.\u201d<\/p>\n
Don\u2019t be. Go home and get some rest. You deserve it.\u201d<\/p>\n
They took Gary\u2019s car because they thought Monique and Franklin might have seen them in Andy\u2019s.<\/p>\n
Traffic on the Long Island Expressway was unexpectedly light and they\u2019d made exceptional time, especially as Gary didn\u2019t worry about the 65 mph speed limit and set the cruise control at 85. Claudine was glad she and Andy were sitting in the back seat so she didn\u2019t have to watch the speedometer, but, in truth, they were only keeping up with traffic and she wondered if everyone was oblivious to the speed laws.<\/p>\n
Once in South Hampton proper Gary thought it best to start on Gin Lane, but then to make a tour of the entire area before stopping at the SHPD to check in and compare notes. Gary didn\u2019t subscribe to the usual antipathy between the FBI and the local PD and always tried his best to get along both for a good working relationship, but also to make it as pleasant as possible under the circumstances and help him prevent the ulcer that so many of his fellow agents felt was just another part of the job.<\/p>\n
The SHPD had checked all the rental records and they visited the realty offices without any luck finding anything in Monique or Franklin\u2019s name. Either Franklin had lied or whatever they rented or owned had been done in someone else\u2019s name or someone did it for them. The realtor had confirmed that Franklin had been in with Avery to enquire about rentals from the photo they showed her.<\/p>\n
By six o\u2019clock they were about to give up after getting some dinner. Walking along Main Street they were suddenly rewarded for their effort.<\/p>\n
Gary pushed Claudine and Andy in the nearest open store just as Monique and Franklin passed carrying a huge bag of what looked like take-out food.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou stay here so they don\u2019t see you. I\u2019ll follow because they don\u2019t know me or my car. I\u2019ll call the SHPD to pick you up and bring you wherever I end up and then we\u2019ll figure out our next move. Okay?\u201d<\/p>\n
All of this was said and done in an amazingly short amount of time and Gary was gone.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019d better look like tourists browsing around so they don\u2019t think we\u2019re shoplifters,\u201d Andy suggested as he walked further into the shop.<\/p>\n
About ten minutes later a car pulled in front of the store and double-parked while a tall, but over-weight man in khaki pants and an open-collared blue and white striped shirt got out, came into the shop and walked directly toward Claudine and Andy. In a matter of less than a minute he\u2019d explained who he was and the three of them walked out and got into the double-parked, unmarked police car.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s the house,\u201d Gary said as soon as they arrived and pointed toward a house further along Gin Lane. \u201cHow good an actor are you, Claudine?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAs good as I have to be,\u201d she responded.<\/p>\n
\u201cOkay. I want you and Andy to ring the bell and pretend to simply be paying a visit because you got into a conversation with some people at dinner who said they thought there was a famous model in town and when you described Monique they told you where Monique was living because they also live on Gin Lane. In fact they\u2019re really excited to live so close to her. Unfortunately you\u2019re going to have to play it by ear once you get in, but you won\u2019t be alone, we\u2019ve got your back. Are you okay with that?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t care what we have to do as long as we find Andrea.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMe too,\u201d Andy added.<\/p>\n
A couple of minutes later Claudine and Andy rang the bell and the door abruptly opened to reveal a surprised Monique.<\/p>\n
\u201cHi, Monique,\u201d Claudine said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI thought you went back to New York.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe drove out to Montauk for the afternoon and ended up back here when we got hungry again. We heard you were staying here so we thought we\u2019d visit and see how the other half lives on Gin Lane. Can we come in?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSure. I\u2019m sorry. Where are my manners?\u201d Monique replied nervously.<\/p>\n
Once inside Claudine told Monique the story Gary had suggested about the people living down Gin Lane. As Claudia expected it worked perfectly because it appealed to Monique\u2019s ego.<\/p>\n
And then she saw it, the huge bag of food and she knew exactly what to say next.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m sorry. Are you expecting company? That food really smells good.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo, it\u2019s just for Franklin and me.\u201d Monique\u2019s nervousness was increasing and she called Franklin who immediately joined them.<\/p>\n
\u201cHi, Franklin,\u201d Claudine said. \u201cWe always hoped to get a chance to actually see the inside of one of these houses and actually knowing someone actually living in one was more than we could resist. I hope you don\u2019t mind if we look around.\u201d<\/p>\n
By the time Franklin responded Andy had already moved, looking into rooms and trying doors.<\/p>\n
Franklin followed Andy while Claudine moved in the opposite direction with Monique following her closely.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat\u2019s that?\u201d Andy asked.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t know,\u201d Franklin answered as casually as he was able.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt sounded like it came from in here,\u201d Andy said as he tried turning the locked doorknob.<\/p>\n
By the time they heard the second crash Claudine had slipped away and opened the front door to reveal Gary and four SHPD who quickly moved in and got Franklin to unlock the door which led to the basement where Andrea had been held captive.<\/p>\n
With Monique and Franklin in handcuffs and having been read their Maranda Rights Andrea explained that she heard a lot of movement upstairs and thought that it was worth a try to knock a few things over and make some noise.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt apparently worked, Ms. Marconi,\u201d Gary said before Monique and Franklin were led out to the waiting SHPD cars. \u201cLet\u2019s get you back to New York,\u201d he added to Claudine and Andy.<\/p>\n
\u201cI want to call Susan.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIn the car,\u201d Andy said. \u201cLet\u2019s go.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cTake my car,\u201d Gary said. \u201cThe SHPD will take them to the Bureau\u2019s field office, but I have a lot of paper-work to do. Thanks to you two\u2026 We really didn\u2019t have probable cause so we couldn\u2019t get a warrant, but once you opened the\u2026\u201d He broke off before adding, \u201cI\u2019ll call you tomorrow once I know what\u2019s really going on.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat\u2019s happening with Andrea?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019re taking her to the hospital and then she\u2019ll be brought back to New York.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOkay,\u201d Claudine and Andy said in unison.<\/p>\n
****<\/p>\n
\u201cIt seems that Andrea\u2019s company was the ransom,\u201d Gary began as he poured himself a second cup of coffee sitting with Claudine and Andy in her living room the next morning. It\u2019s almost as if she had heard you recite your entire explanation about wanting the company because Andrea is a successful fraud with a huge, very wealthy, client list who will continue needing the clothes they were used to getting and, as you know, they expect to get what they want.<\/p>\n
The plan was to hold her in that basement until she signed over the business. They actually had the paperwork drawn up and ready for Andrea\u2019s signature.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThen the motive really wasn\u2019t so unique after all,\u201d Claudine began. \u201cMoney, a splash of revenge and her jet-setting life style.\u201d<\/p>\n
###<\/p>\n
Bruce Levine is a native Manhattanite who now lives in Florida with his wife and their dog Daisy. He\u2019s spent his life as a writer and a music and theatre professional and his works have been published in a variety of media, including Brimfield Publications, Heuer Publishing, Rodale Press and soon to be released stories in Visitant and Foliate Oak Literary Magazines and his shows have been produced in New York and around the country.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The Dress by Bruce Levine Claudine Bucknell set up her easel in what would have been the shadow of the north-west leg of the Washington Square Arch if there could have been a shadow at noon on the north side of the Arch. It was a beautiful Sunday in June with the temperature just right…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_bbp_topic_count":0,"_bbp_reply_count":0,"_bbp_total_topic_count":0,"_bbp_total_reply_count":0,"_bbp_voice_count":0,"_bbp_anonymous_reply_count":0,"_bbp_topic_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_reply_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_forum_subforum_count":0,"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[273],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3052","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-short-short"],"aioseo_notices":[],"amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.everywritersresource.com\/shortstories\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3052","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.everywritersresource.com\/shortstories\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.everywritersresource.com\/shortstories\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.everywritersresource.com\/shortstories\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.everywritersresource.com\/shortstories\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3052"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.everywritersresource.com\/shortstories\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3052\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3054,"href":"https:\/\/www.everywritersresource.com\/shortstories\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3052\/revisions\/3054"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.everywritersresource.com\/shortstories\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3052"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.everywritersresource.com\/shortstories\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3052"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.everywritersresource.com\/shortstories\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3052"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}