THE CASE OF THE DRUNKEN HEIRESS (A BEACON HILL MURDER MYSTERY)
By Karen Carson
INTERIOR. SATURDAY A.M. DEMET’S DONUTS. MEDFORD MA.
DETECTIVE KENYATTA GROSSMAN AND HER HUSBAND JOE DELLA PAOLA TAKE THEIR FOSTER THERAPY DOG, ARYA, TO A LOCAL DONUT SHOP IN DAVIS SQUARE FOR THE DOG’S FAVORITE BREAKFAST: LIGHTLY BUTTERED TOAST. GEORGE,THE OWNER, KNOWS IT’S ARYA’S DAY OFF FROM HER JOB AS THERAPY DOG TO RESIDENTS OF COURTYARD NURSING CARE CENTER ON MURRAY STREET. JOE GETS A BUTTERNUT DONUT JUST SWEET ENOUGH TO CALM A LATENT URGE FOR A CIGARETTE, EVEN THOUGH HE HAS GONE SEVEN MONTHS WITHOUT THEM. HE PICKS UP A DOZEN BOSTON CREME DONUTS TO WARM UP FOR BREAKFAST THE NEXT MORNING. DEMET’S DONUTS ARE EVEN BETTER THE NEXT DAY. ODD, BUT TRUE.
EXTERIOR.
DETECTIVE GROSSMAN AND JOE RUN ALONG THE RIVER, ARYA BESIDE THEM, WEARING THE GOLD MEDAL AROUND HER NECK THAT SHE WAS AWARDED FROM THE CENTER’S DIRECTOR. THEY STOP AT SERENITY IN THE CITY TO USE THEIR FACIAL AND MASSAGE COUPONS, AND FOR THE DOG’S MONTHLY MANICURE--AZURE BLUE, BECAUSE SHE LOVES THE OCEAN.
INTERIOR. TUFTS UNIVERSITY ART GALLERY. MEDFORD, MA.
DETECTIVE GROSSMAN AND JOE LEISURELY STROLL THROUGH THE EXHIBIT STUDYING HER PARTNER DETECTIVE BAHITI PATEL’S LANDSCAPES.
JOE DELLA PAOLA: He’s really talented, Ken. I thought this was just a hobby. I had no idea.
WINSOME, THEIR NEIGHBOR AND PART TIMER AT THE GALLERY, TAKES ARYA BY HER LEASH.
WINSOME: You ready, Arya? (TO DETECTIVE GROSSMAN AND JOE) She’ll be fine. I promise I won’t give her too many treats. Have a good time at the movies. (SHE LEADS THE DOG OUT THE SIDE DOOR)
INTERIOR. CONCESSION STAND. THE SOMERVILLE THEATER. MEDFORD.
JOE: I don’t think I want any popcorn. I want to save room for burgers. Besides, I’ve got a surprise for you, if I haven’t given it away already.
DET. GROSSMAN: Another present? Oh, sweetheart. The roses this morning were gorgeous, and what better way to spend an afternoon than seeing the original cut of Lon Chaney, Jr. in The Wolfman. In 3-D!!
(JOE LEADS HER DOWN THE STAIRS TO THE MUSEUM OF BAD ART, PAST THE EXHIBITS, TO THE GIFT SHOP, WHERE A COLLEGE STUDENT HOLDS A BEAUTIFULLY WRAPPED BOX OUT TO HIM)
JOE: You’re gonna love this. (DET GROSSMAN OPENS THE BOX, PULLS BACK THE TISSUE PAPER, AND TAKES OUT A DELICATE STRING OF SEA GLASS BEADS)
Happy birthday, baby!
DET GROSSMAN: (TURNING AROUND FOR HIM TO PUT THEM ON HER NECK) They’re beautiful.
JOE: You know we should stop at Petco at the Meadow Glen Mall on Rte 1 and pick up some
Nutrichomps for Arya. She’s all out.
DET. GROSSMAN: Oh, yeah. I checked online this week and they’re all out of the mixed flavor and the assorted flavor braids. I hope Petco has them. She likes those, and they’re rawhide-free. We should go pick her up. It’s time for her Saturday bath and nap.
INTERIOR. THE DELLA PAOLA/GROSSMAN HOME.
JOE TOWELS OFF A SLEEPY ARYA AND TURNS ON THE ANIMAL PLANET CHANNEL
WHILE DET GROSSMAN COVERS HER UP IN HER FAVORITE FLEECE BLANKET IN HER DOGGIE BED. THEY PUT ON THEIR LEATHER JACKETS, GRAB THEIR HELMETS AND CLOSE THE DOOR QUIETLY.
EXTERIOR. DET. GROSSMAN AND JOE ROAR ALONG THE MYSTIC RIVER BACK TOWARDS DAVIS SQUARE, STOPPING AT THE BOSTON BURGER CO.
JOE: (TAKING OFF HIS HELMET) Table outside, babe?
DET. GROSSMAN: Nah. Sky looks a little purple like it might rain in an hour or so.
The line’s pretty short. Let’s go inside.
(THE SERVER, DANIELLE, AS IF EXPECTING THEM, COMES OVER)
DANIELLE: (LAUGHING) I heard those Harleys and I knew it must be you two! Where’s my girl, Arya? Did you leave her at home to watch Animal Planet again? Hey, Kenyatta. Cool helmet and gloves! Where’d you get those?
(DET GROSSMAN REMOVES HER MATTE BLACK, LIGHTWEIGHT NEXX SX60 JAZZY HELMET, CAREFULLY REMOVING HER GLOVES, AND HANDING THEM TO DANIELLE TO FEEL)
DANIELLE: Oh no, girl. I might have a little grease on my hands.
DET GROSSMAN: Birthday presents from this sweet man here!
DANIELLE: My birthday’s in December, Mr. I want a pair of these!
DET GROSSMAN: These gloves are perfect! You always have to make sure that you don’t feel the seams. They run small too. These have good airflow between the fingers. You don’t want too much of a trade off between thickness and fit. They’re Dainese double down.
(DANIELLE WALKS THEM TO A CORNER TABLE UNDER THE OPEN FLOOR-TO-CEILING WINDOWS WHERE A COOL SPRING BREEZE SNEAKS THROUGH)
JOE: (TEASING) Somebody’s not studying for her LSATs today!
DANIELLE: That’s right. I’ve got to work extra shifts this month to pay off my loan installments. I’m behind as usual. When I do pass the bar, I’d better go into corporate law so I can make some real cash.
JOE: I tried but it wasn’t for me. But you’re smarter than I am, Danielle. You’ll do just fine.
DANIELLE: You two lovebirds want me to come back, or are you ready to order?
DET GROSSMAN: I’m wearing my fat pants especially for this! I’m ready for a belly buster! Let’s see now...How about the Killer Bee? Maybe the Mack Attack Burger. No...I’ve got it: I’m going to go ahead and have the Big Papi Burger. Smoked bacon--not turkey bacon, the real thing!, griddled hot dog, fried egg--fried hard--pickled red onions, lettuce, tomato, and lots of Papi sauce! But hold the guacamole!
JOE: I’ll eat the guacamole!
DET GROSSMAN: Okay!
JOE: Since my wife is going to live dangerously, I guess I will too! I was good last week.
I played it safe and had the “Sophie”--prosciutto, goat cheese, and fig spread. But today I’m going to have the Whiskey Tango Foxtrot--pulled pork, Mac and cheese, onion rings, pickles, and lots of barbeque sauce!
DET GROSSMAN: (THEY HIGH FIVE EACH OTHER) All right, lover! I was going to lay a bet with Danielle that you’d get the Vermonster--sauteed apples, red onions, turkey bacon substitute, maple mayo, and sharp cheddar.
DANIELLE: You know what they say: you can walk it off! Besides, I bet that’s how you’re able to bench press 400 lbs, Joe! Cole slaw, or baked beans on the side?
DET GROSSMAN: Both! We rode the bikes here and we’ll be facing the wind going back! (THEY LAUGH)
JOE: And don’t forget the homemade potato chips.
DET GROSSMAN: What craft beer should we get, Counselor?
DANIELLE: Sam Adams?
DET GROSSMAN: Great. And later we’ll get two Freak Frappes.
JOE: I’m with you, babe!
DANIELLE: I’m gonna wrap up some cheese for Arya. Not Swiss. I know she doesn’t like Swiss cheese. She likes cheese as much as her doggie treats. That’s my little girl.
DET GROSSMAN: Thanks, Danielle. (DANIELLE COLLECTS MENUS AND PUTS A PILE OF NAPKINS ON THEIR TABLE)
DET GROSSMAN: (TAKING OFF HER LEATHER JACKET AND DRAPING IT ACROSS THE BACK OF HER CHAIR) We’re going to have to check the oil in the bikes again, Joe. I thought I saw a leak. I don’t know why I’m so hungry lately. I polished off those pastrami sandwiches my dad brought us back from Katz’s last night. I’m hungry like the wolf.
JOE: (GRINNING AT HER) --from the song of the same name. (HE HOLDS HER HAND)
DET GROSSMAN: (SMILING SLYLY) Uh...no. It’s not that. Believe me, it’s not!
JOE: (LOOKING INTO HER EYES) Really?
DET GROSSMAN: Really. I just turned forty. Four-oh! Arya is about the only little girl I can handle.
JOE: (REACHING OVER AND KISSING HER) Is this because we watched “All About Eve” last night? Bette Davis’s monologue in the car with her friend Karen? Honey. Honey. That movie was written in the ‘50s for goodness sake! I love you, Ken. (CHANGING THE SUBJECT) Hey, let’s stay until the musicians start playing outside. Jerry said they’re supposed to start early before it gets dark. He said something this week that made me laugh. You know how he’s so impressed with your being a detective. He watches “Law and Order” episodes every day! He says, “Joe! Ask Kenyatta something for me: I keep hearing this on just about every cop show. What in the world is a “DD5”? The bosses keep telling everybody that they want their ‘DD5s’ in by the end of the day.”
DET GROSSMAN: (LAUGHING) I know! That drives me crazy when I watch those shows!
Tell Jerry that a DD5 is part of the case management system. It’s like a digital notepad that detectives use for complaint follow ups. We use them to fill out paperwork for filing accident reports, domestic violence reports, things like that.
DANIELLE: Whiskey Tango Foxtrot for Joe (LAYS PLATE IN FRONT OF HIM) and Big Papi
for Kenyatta (LAYS PLATE IN FRONT OF HER). I’m bringing the Sam Adams, is that good? Or do you want Sierra Nevada?
DET GROSSMAN: That’s fine.
JOE: (EATING) I love this barbeque sauce. I wonder if they have it in packets.
DET GROSSMAN: (EATING) Take this guacamole. (JOE TAKES IT FROM HER PLATE WITH A SPOON AND PUTS IT ON HIS OWN PLATE) There’s something odd about green food…
JOE: You like green vegetables--broccoli, collard greens, okra--
DET GROSSMAN: That’s different. So what did you like about Bahiti’s landscapes at his exhibit?
JOE: (WIPING SAUCE OFF HIS SHIRT WITH A NAPKIN) I’ve got to get the recipe for this sauce! I like his use of light. I had to take painting as an elective back in undergraduate school.
I remember that Mr. Wernik told us to always have titanium white on hand. Does Bahiti have a favorite landscape artist?
DET GROSSMAN: (PUTTING SOME OF HER CHIPS ON HIS PLATE) Van Gogh, I think.
JOE: Van Gogh. How’s Bahiti doing, Ken? I was shocked to hear about how he feels about Dr. Blaise Washington.
DET GROSSMAN: Yeah, but don’t say anything--
JOE: Oh, no. It’s in the vault, sweetheart.
DET GROSSMAN: (LAUGHING) The vault! (REACHES OVER AND SCRAPES SOME OF HER COLESLAW ONTO HIS PLATE)
JOE: Wha-----ah! Ken! You don’t like it? It’s good!
DET GROSSMAN: I’ll trade my red onions for your onion rings--
JOE: Deal! (TAKES HER RED ONIONS AND PUTS HIS ONION RINGS ON HIS PLATE)
I thought you were hungry--
DET GROSSMAN: (PICKING UP SANDWICH) I am. I’m gonna swallow up this burger in five minutes. Watch me!
JOE: (SIPS HIS BEER) Ah! Nice and cold! I was thinking, Ken. Arya’s been doing well. She’s gotten comfortable with us and she’s settling in. Is there some kind of pre-arrangement that we have to keep when it comes to fostering a dog? I mean, is a family waiting for her? She likes us.
DET GROSSMAN: (CHEWING) A hotdog AND bacon on a hamburger! With Papi sauce! Umhmm! Perfect! Genius! What will they think of next! (SIPS HER BEER)
JOE: I have three words for you: tofurkey and turducken!
DET GROSSMAN: E-e-e-w-w-w! The marketing executive who thought those up must have been fired! I don’t think anything is in stone. Arya’s gotten used to her blanket, her walks, her special treats--
JOE: (HOLDING HIS CELL PHONE UP TO HER) Look at that precious face, huh? And we’re not even crazy dog people. We don’t put Halloween costumes on animals!
DET GROSSMAN: Right! You’re right! We respect the dignity of the dog--
JOE: (SWIPING MORE DOG PICTURES ON THE PHONE) Except for these hockey socks. Do they count? Did we go overboard?
DET GROSSMAN: Well,,,she is a Bruins fan, and it gets so cold here in Boston. How else will she keep her paws warm?
JOE: Exactly! Then it’s settled. We call Hope and tell her she’s ours!
DET GROSSMAN: Did you talk to your mom about your dad? He seems to be slowing down. Your mom’s trying to get him to go to the doctor’s for a check up.
JOE: You know Cosmo. He’d have to be dying before he’d go in. I’ve tried everything. He just refuses to go.
DET GROSSMAN: I bet he’d go if I took him.
JOE: I was going to ask you. You know my dad thinks of you like the daughter he never had. It’s true! He told me last week he even likes your Sunday gravy better than my Mom’s!
DET GROSSMAN: Oh that’s really sweet!
JOE: But Ken, don’t tell Mom I told you!
DET GROSSMAN: (laughing) Of course not.
JOE: Your Mom’s coming to the studio to record a seminar series.
DET GROSSMAN: Cool! She likes seeing you work. I’m sure she’d like her own show.
JOE: Our textbook recordings have been going really well. Jerry’s getting the hang of narrating fiction by local authors. I’m training him on children’s books too. We just hired an intern who is visually-impaired and has a lot of experience recording audiobooks, so he’ll be a big help to us. We’ve been getting inquiries from medical schools. Your Mom’s project is for orientation for doctors from the Caribbean to familiarize them with our patient-doctor communication. Idioms and other things that may be misunderstood. She’s going to include role play on video.
DET GROSSMAN: Students from the Islands contact my mom a lot. She’s got a great reputation for mentoring medical students from there. She’ll love that, honey. But, call your dad, okay? Maybe we can get two more tickets at the box office for him and your mom.
JOE: It’s Frankie Valli, though. They’ve got to be sold out. We probably got the last two seats.
DET GROSSMAN: It’s the Chevalier Theater in Medford, Massachusetts. They’ll find a seat for a fan from back in the day. And a veteran at that! Let’s offer to switch seats with somebody who got stuck by a pole. We know what Frankie Valle looks like. Just hearing him will be just fine. This way, the theatre sells two seats that would have stayed empty anyway, right? (SHE FINISHES THE LAST OF HER SANDWICH AND COLESLAW).
JOE: (FINISHING HIS BEER) Maybe you’re right. You know that guy Saul who owns the mens’ wear shop by Drinkwater’s and the factory outlet? He died last month. He and Cosmo were good buddies.
DET GROSSMAN: He’s losing his friends. I think your dad’s depressed. We should go home and check on Arya, and go pick up your mom and dad and we’ll still have plenty of time to get to the theater before the curtain goes up.
JOE: What curtain? This is Medford, kid. We’ll drop our bikes off and get the car from the garage.
DET GROSSMAN: Yeah. I doubt I could convince your dad to ride on the back of my motorcycle!
JOE: (LAUGHING) I can hear him now, “Rosemary! Get the wagon!” Mom would get on a motorcycle before he ever would! Now I’ve got this visual of Cosmo on a motorcycle! I won’t be able to get it out of my head! (WIPES HIS MOUTH WITH A NAPKIN)
DANIELLE: (BRINGING THEIR FREAK FRAPPE DRINKS) Wow! You guys weren’t kidding! You really were starving!
JOE: And now we’re gonna roll on out of here if we can. We’re going to pick up my parents and drive back up to see Frankie Valle at the Chevalier. He’d love that.
DANIELLE: Cool! Some of my customers have seen his show. I think this is the last weekend. I can put tops on these drinks so you can take them home.
DET GROSSMAN: That would be great. We’ve got cup holders on our bikes so they won’t spill. Can we have two more Freak Frappes for Joe’s mom and dad?
DANIELLE: Sure. No problem.
JOE: Hey, Danielle. You’re still doing your saxophone solo in church tomorrow for jazz vespers, right?
DANIELLE: Yeah! My boyfriend Cliff is on bass, Fred will be on keyboards, and Siobhan will be on drums. Get there early to get a good seat. (DANIELLE TAKES THE FRAPPES TO THE KITCHEN FOR TOPS AND TO GET TWO MORE. DET GROSSMAN TAKES THE CHECK FROM THE TABLE AND PUTS SEVERAL BILLS UNDER THE SALT SHAKER FOR A TIP)
JOE (TAKES THE BILL) I’ve got this, babe. (WHISPERS) I’ll leave some more money for the tip. She’s got tuition bills to pay. (JOE GOES BACK TO THE TABLE AS DET GROSSMAN GOES TO THE FRONT).
DET GROSSMAN: (UNSEEN, FROM THE FRONT) Hey, Joe. Let’s listen to Dr. Washington’s podcast on the way home.
EXTERIOR. PARK STREET. BOSTON. APRIL.
DR. BLAISE WASHINGTON, CARRYING BROWN PAPER BAG, CROSSES TREMONT STREET, SPEAKING INTO HIS VOICE-ACTIVATED DIGITAL ASSISTANT ON HIS iPHONE.
DR. WASHINGTON: (TO PHONE) Siri, what is my 12:00 appointment today?
SIRI: You are meeting Smita Joshi in front of Park Street Station at 12:00, sir.
DR. WASHINGTON: Thank you, Siri.
SIRI: You are welcome, sir.
(SMITA AND HER FRIEND, BRIGIT JAMESON, WAVE TO DR. WASHINGTON)
SMITA: (WAVING HIM OVER) Dr. Washington! Over here!
DR. WASHINGTON: (WALKS OVER TO THEM HOLDING OUT PAPER BAG)
Good morning! Actually, it’s almost noon. I hope you both drink coffee. There are sugar, cream, and stirrers and napkins inside.
SMITA: Thank you, sir. I’m so glad you agreed to meet with us today. Let’s walk this way to a bench in the park. This is my friend, Brigit Jameson. Bridgit, this is Dr. Blaise Washington. He’s investigating the Ian Chenoweth murder.
BRIGIT: (EXTENDING HER HAND) How do you do, sir? I’m honored to meet you.
DR. WASHINGTON: My pleasure, Brigit. It’s a beautiful spring day. The cherry blossoms are struggling to bloom early. Smita, your message sounded urgent. I’m surprised that you contacted me so soon after our last meeting, but I’m glad that you did. (THEY SIT ON A BENCH)
SMITA (TAKING THE LID OFF HER COFFEE) Well, sir, I knew you’d want me to contact you if I had any information to help solve the murder.
DR, WASHINGTON: “Alleged” murder. All the evidence isn’t in yet. We did have cause to arrest your boss Colin O’Shea, though.
SMITA: First of all, Mrs. O’Shea fired me when she found out I had spoken to you about her husband.
DR. WASHINGTON: Oh! I am so sorry. I’ve gotten you in trouble. I’ll speak to Mrs. O’Shea. Don’t worry, Smita. I certainly didn’t want you to lose your job!
SMITA: Actually, it’s for the best. I didn’t feel comfortable knowing about Mr. O’Shea’s gambling problem and...other things...Brigit saw something or actually someone. We thought it might be important for the case.
BRIGIT: Well, I don’t know much about solving crimes and collecting evidence and all that, but… Beacon Hill is on my jogging route, and the night before the Boston marathon, I was jogging home from a friend’s apartment, and we took selfies in front of the condos to send to our friends . You know, we do that to pretend like we live in one of those swanky places. We took a selfie in front of Mr. Chenoweth’s building. We didn’t think anyone would mind. Well, later, we swiped through our pictures and saw a woman in the background of the shot. When I showed the picture to Smita, she said that the woman looked familiar.
SMITA: Yes. About a month ago, Mr. Chenoweth came over to Mr. O’Shea’s condo with a tall, red-haired woman. Very pretty. They seemed to have been arguing. I wasn’t eavesdropping or anything, but I could tell they had been arguing. Then they left. They’d woken up Liam. I told Mrs. O’Shea when she got home. She said that Mr. Chenoweth had something very important to tell her husband, and that Mr. Chenoweth was going to bring his wife over.
DR. WASHINGTON: His wife? Ian Chenoweth was married? Are you sure?
SMITA: Yes, sir. Mr. O’Shea said that Mr. Chenoweth had never given her a divorce. They had separated years ago and put their son, Chandler, in boarding school abroad. Mrs. O’Shea made me promise not to tell him we spoke about it, and not to tell anyone else about her. That is the same woman I saw in the background of Brigit’s selfie!
DR. WASHINGTON: Are you certain of this, Smita? Brigit, you say you took these pictures at night. It must have been dark. How late was it?
BRIGIT: (TAKING HER CELLPHONE OUT OF HER PURSE AND SWIPING PICTURES) I’ll show you, sir. The date and time are right there. The entrance to the condo building is very well lit and it was just starting to get dark. About this time of year it’s not completely dark until after 8:00.
SMITA: That’s her, Dr. Washington! That’s the same woman I saw arguing with Mr. Chenoweth. Mrs. O’Shea said her name was,,,Amy? Anne? No...Angela! She said her name was Angela!
DR. WASHINGTON: (WITH BRIGIT’S CELLPHONE IN HIS HAND) “April 15. 8:27 p.m.” That’s about a half hour after the condo board meeting ended Sunday evening. Brigit, could you please send this picture to my cell phone?
BRIGIT: Yes sir. Will this help?
SMITA: I never knew Mr. Chenoweth was married. I thought his wife had died.
DR, WASHINGTON: This is very helpful. I can see, though, why Mrs. O’Shea fired you, Smita. But it wasn’t right for her to do that. Had she ever complained about your work at all?
SMITA: No, sir. Mrs. O’Shea has always complimented me on my work. She’s always said she wouldn’t want anyone else to watch Liam.
BRIGIT: Last spring when Smita was sick and she offered to get me to babysit in her place, Mrs. O’Shea said “No thank you!” She didn’t want anyone else but Smita to take care of him. Mrs. O’Shea cancelled her plans for that night and stayed home. She never does that.
(BRIGIT FINISHED THE LAST OF HER COFFEE AND WALKED OVER TO THE TRASH CAN TO THROW THE CUP AWAY).
DR. WASHINGTON: Smita, this is very important. Did you sign anything or fill out an application when the O’Sheas hired you as their nanny? I know it’s been a while.
SMITA: I was referred to the O’Sheas by Dr. Moshe Sonnenschein from the lab at MIT. I used to work there between classes. I used to babysit his daughters too. Dr. Sonnenschein knows me, so he was my reference. The O’Sheas needed a nanny right away, so I didn’t have to fill out an application.
DR. WASHINGTON: And you didn’t sign anything? Not a confidentiality statement or anything like that?
SMITA: No sir. Not at all. What should I do, sir?
DR. WASHINGTON: Nothing. Don’t worry, Smita. You did the right thing by coming to me. And, Brigit, thank you very much. You did a good job. You thought on your feet. That can’t be taught, you know! You’ve both got good instincts! You ladies are natural sleuths! Maybe you’d want to work for me some time.
(SMITA AND BRIGIT EXCHANGE EXCITED LOOKS. DR. WASHINGTON’S CELL PHONE BUZZES INDICATING HE HAS A TEXT MSG)
Excuse me, ladies, let me take this message.
(THE MESSAGE READS:
“FORENSICS SAYS DNA ON VICTIM’S MEDICINE BOTTLE NOT COLIN’S. CSU FOUND HANDPRINT MATCH ON BATHROOM SINK. ALSO NOT COLIN’S. LIEUTENANT
CHERRY GOTTLIEB FROM THE 15TH PRECINCT HAS A LEAD.
OFFICER LUCY ALEXANDER, 12TH PRECINCT.”
(DR. WASHINGTON PUTS PHONE BACK IN HIS POCKET).
BRIGIT: Got another lead, Dr. Washington? Can we help?
DR. WASHINGTON: (STANDING UP) You two have been a great deal of help already. I mean it. I’ve got a lot of work to do. Smita, I’m responsible for your losing your job with the O’Sheas.
If you can fit it into your schedule, you’re welcome to help me with my research on the case. Would that be all right? You can help too, Brigit, if you’d like.
SMITA: Yes. I’d like that, sir!
BRIGIT: Me too. We’ll be getting our new class schedules soon. That would be great, sir!
DR. WASHINGTON: It’s not glamorous work, mind you.. I have stacks and stacks of files and other information that needs to be digitized. Think you can help me with that?
SMITA AND BRIGIT: (TOGETHER) Yes, sir!
DR. WASHINGTON: Whoa! I feel like I’m back in the army again! (LAUGHS) Well, here’s my card, Brigit. And another for you, Smita. Contact me again with anything, and I mean anything you think will help, okay? Do you need a lift somewhere?
SMITA: No thank you, sir. We’re going to take the “T” from here. The red line up to Harvard Square and the Peabody Museum. We’re meeting some friends there.
DR. WASHINGTON: All right then. Have a good day. And thanks again.
SMITA: You’ll be hearing from us.
BRIGIT: Thank you, sir! (SMITA AND BRIGIT RUN TO PARK STREET STATION)
DR. WASHINGTON: Bye, bye.
(DR. WASHINGTON CROSSES THE STREET, HEADED FOR PEET’S COFFEE SHOP THEN, REALIZING IT’S CLOSED ON SUNDAYS, HEADS TO ZIGGY’S COFFEE BAR NEXT TO BEANTOWN PUB, NEAR SUFFOLK UNIVERSITY, ALL THE WAY, THINKING OF A PULLED PORK SANDWICH THAT AWAITS HIM, AND A NITRO BREW COFFEE SO DARK IT LOOKS LIKE GUINESS! DELICIOUS!)
INTERIOR. BEACON HILL POLICE PRECINCT. LIEUTENANT SOKANON JAMES SMITH AND DETECTIVE BAHITI PATEL ARE QUESTIONING SUSPECT COLIN SEAN O’SHEA IN ONE INTERROGATION ROOM, WHILE DETECTIVE KENYATTA GROSSMAN QUESTIONS VIVECA CHATWORTH IN ANOTHER. OFFICER TODD VINCENTE IS AT THE DOOR.
DETECTIVE BAHITI PATEL: You look tired, Mr. O’Shea.
COLIN O’SHEA: That’s because I am tired. How much longer are you going to keep me here? I feel like I’m repeating myself. I’ve been telling you the same thing since the day you discovered Ian’s body. I went by his condo to pick him up to watch the Boston Marathon that morning like we’d planned. I got to his place about 6:30 a.m., and Viveca Chatworth was standing over him holding a gun. She had blood all over her pajamas. My cell phone didn’t have a charge, so I ran
out to the hall and to the lobby until I found someone with a cell phone so I could call the police, and I did. Why aren’t you questioning Viveca?
DET PATEL: We are. Don’t worry. We’re not finished with her yet. I just want to make sure we’ve gotten everything right. As it happened. You told us the first time we questioned you that you couldn’t get a signal on your cell phone. Now you say it wasn’t charged. Which is it?
COLIN: Oh for goodness sake! You’re twisting my words! What does that matter? I had to call the police! I don’t know what you want me to say!
LIEUTENANT SOKANON SMITH: (MOVING HIS WHEELCHAIR CLOSER TO THE TABLE)
I know what I’d like to know: why are you Ian Chenoweth’s Power of Attorney?
COLIN: We were best friends. We’ve known each other for years! Ian’s younger brother, Cyril, and I were in 6th form together in boarding school. Cambridge Tutors College. We were on the debating team and went to camp together.
LT. SMITH: Umm. I caught a trace of a British accent and something else too. And you were closer to Cyril’s younger brother than Cyril himself, you say?
COLIN: (IMPATIENTLY) Yes. Sure. But Ian let me tag along with his friends too. He snuck me into pubs. He was like an older brother to me. We were mates.
LT. SMITH: An investigation takes some time. You understand. It’s not quick like it is on cop shows. Things aren’t resolved and wrapped up neatly in time for a commercial. We’ve done some digging: you have a dual citizenship, here in the United States and in Ireland too.
COLIN: Yes. (UNCOMFORTABLY) I was adopted when I was two years old. I was born here and my parents adopted me from Ireland.
LT SMITH: A bit unusual, wouldn’t you say?
COLIN: Being adopted? No, not at all.
LT SMITH: Being adopted to Europe. Adoption is usually the other way around. From overseas to America. You have a son, Liam. Your wife recently fired your nanny, a Ms. Smita Joshi. Ms. Joshi has worked for you for nearly three years without complaint. She must have done a good job if you entrusted her with your child for that long. Any idea why your wife, a busy graduate student herself with very expensive tastes, would want to get rid of a trusted, responsible nanny who made it possible for your wife to have as much free time as she needed?
COLIN: What are you getting at, Lieutenant?
DET PATEL: It seems you haven’t been completely upfront with us, Mr. O’Shea. (LT SMITH PULLS OUT A SCANNED COPY OF THE $100,000 CHECK FROM MASSACHUSETTS SOLAR PANELS MADE OUT TO COLIN O’SHEA). How do you explain this check made out to you personally from Massachusetts Solar Panels? A kickback, perhaps? And did it just slip your mind, or did you just forget to tell the detectives that there was a deficit in the condominium board funds of nearly the same amount? We’ve already compared the Board meeting minutes and records.
COLIN: I’d have to ask the condo President, Barbara Salerno.
DET PATEL: You’d have to ask the President! Hmm. You’re the Treasurer , Mr. O’Shea! The buck stops with you. In this case,literally! How could you not be aware of this? It would hardly be a mere mistake or oversight, would it? Your nanny--oh, excuse me--your former nanny, Ms. Joshi, overheard you discussing your frequent trips to casinos--
LT SMITH: Lots of trips. But not a lot of money. For you. You’re not very lucky at the tables, are you, Mr. O’Shea? But you do make a very good living. You’re the go-to guy when it comes to environmental consulting in this town. Booked solid for speaking engagements and book signings. I wouldn’t mind making your kind of dough, would you, Detective Patel?
DET PATEL: I could only wish I had it that good. Look at the bargain suit I’m wearing and look at your hand-sewn Italian silk tie. You tell me who’s living on Easy Street!
LT SMITH: And yet...the action on your bank account and your credit card statements for the past year look like a Richter scale. How do you explain that?
COLIN: I have a wife and a growing child--
DET PATEL: A young wife--oh, I’d say about ten, fifteen years younger than you--whose face is familiar to most of the sales associates at all the high-end stores from Newbury Street to Copley Plaza!
INTERIOR. BEACON HILL POLICE PRECINCT. ADJACENT INTERROGATION ROOM.
VIVECA CHATWORTH SITS AT THE INTERROGATION TABLE, A LARGE, WIDE, LONG LIGHT ROSE PASHMINA SCARF WRAPPED AROUND HER SHOULDERS. DETECTIVE KENYATTA GROSSMAN IS SEATED ACROSS FROM HER IN MAUVE BLOUSE, AND
MATCHING STEEL GRAY SLACKS AND JACKET. SHE’S WEARING SILVER EARRINGS WITH THE CHINESE CHARACTER FOR HAPPINESS.
OFFICER TODD VINCENTE ENTERS WITH A WHITE LINEN NAPKIN AND AN OVERSIZED SHOPPING BAG FROM MA MAISON. HE EXPERTLY SPREADS THE NAPKIN ON THE INTERROGATION TABLE IN FRONT OF VIVECA CHATWORTH AND REMOVES FROM THE BAG AN ELABORATE AND COLORFUL FRUIT PLATE, PLACING WRAPPED UTENSILS AND ANOTHER NAPKIN ON HER LEFT SIDE.
OFFICER TODD VINCENTE: Here you are Ma’am. Chef Jacky delivered your order personally. He brought you a complimentary champagne cocktail too. I hope everything is okay.
VIVECA: This is fine, Officer. Thank you so much. I hope you didn’t go to too much trouble. Would you like some fruit? There’s enough here for two.
OFFICER VINCENTE: No, thank you, Ma’am. Enjoy. Let me know if there’s anything else I can do for you. Your champagne (OFFICER VINCENTE SITS THE GLASS ON THE TABLE WITH A NAPKIN UNDER IT).
VIVECA: You’ve been so kind. (TO DET GROSSMAN) Would you like some fruit, Detective? I hope you don’t mind this. I have a very sensitive palate.
DET GROSSMAN: No thank you. I had a big breakfast. Are you comfortable? Is it chilly in here?
VIVECA: I’m fine now, thank you. This is silk. Burberry. Go ahead. Feel it.
DET GROSSMAN: Let’s get back to your relationship to the deceased--
VIVECA: Ian Chenoweth.
DET GROSSMAN: You were very close. A witness saw you arguing at the condo board meeting Sunday as it adjourned. The night before Ian Chenoweth’s body was discovered in his own bed.
If you don’t mind, Ms Chatworth, could you tell me what you were arguing about?
VIVECA: (SIPPING THE CHAMPAGNE) Arguing? Hardly. Ian and I have been friends for years. We’re like brother and sister. Brothers and sisters argue. I don’t even recall an argument from that night. You know, Ian has been investing in my theatrical comeback.
DET GROSSMAN: We know that Mr. Chenoweth was a venture capitalist. We’re aware of his investments in start-ups, trendy new apps, chic restaurants, new artists, theater, and film. So would you say that your relationship was, for the most part...business? Or was there...more?
VIVECA: (SLICING AN APPLE WEDGE IN TWO) It sounds like you’ve been talking to Colin O’Shea. For a youngish man, he’s got such a suspicious mind. Colin has always had it in for me. Like I said, Ian and I were like brother and sister. Siblings go into business together, you know. Some of the greatest , most enduring businesses have been among relatives. And, of course, it’s necessary to discuss the details of the business over dinner or brunch or lunch. (PUTTING DOWN HER KNIFE SMILING). Ian took me to only the best restaurants. Reservation only! We had to go to New York City of course to look at Broadway venues for my show. Have you ever been to The Mark Restaurant, Detective? East 77th Street. No? I don’t suppose you could on a detective’s salary. But you must find a way to go. Jean-Georges. Chef Jean-Georges Vongerichter, makes the most heavenly appetizers: egg caviar with chilled artichokes and mustard dipping sauce! Oh! Sometimes we’d just get something light, like chicken and coconut milk soup, with galangal and shiitakes. To die for! But you would probably like something more...down to earth. Heartier. More substantial. Ah! The signature Mark Cheeseburger with Black Truffle dressing and brie! Now don’t tell me your fast food lunch on the run could ever hold a candle to that! And the wine! Lunch isn’t lunch without a good pinot grigio or sauvignon blanc. I just love white wines, don’t you? I’ll confess to you that I always have dessert too! Jean-Georges saves me key lime and meringue tarts with coconut sorbet! You’d never know it by my waist though, would you? (SHE STANDS UP AND TWIRLS AROUND, THE SCARF SWIRLING WITH HER).
DET GROSSMAN: Ms Chatworth. We have learned that, how shall I put this? You have been in “arrears” in payments for your condo and fees. Let’s lay our cards on the table: Ian Chenoweth was your sugar daddy wasn’t he?
VIVECA: Detective! There is no need to be crude!. We were not sleeping together. He merely “advanced” me a sum of money every month and paid for our business lunches. There. Now that you’ve shamed me, I may as well give you the whole story.
DET GROSSMAN: (SETTLING BACK IN HER CHAIR) Please do. Take your time.
VIVECA: (TAKING THE SCARF FROM AROUND HER SHOULDERS AND FOLDING IT)
It’s true that I went through nearly all of my inheritance from my family’s publishing house. Did you know that Sylvia Plath, Ernest Hemingway and even Jackie Onasis published books with us? It’s true. My father had no time for me when I was young, so I did everything I could to get under his skin. Same familiar story. Little rich girl trying to get daddy’s attention through liquor,
drugs, wild parties, wild men, and sex, sex and more sex. I see your eyes widen, Detective. I was a very hot property once. And what I couldn’t get the usual way, I paid for in hard cash. Top
dollar! There’s nothing the young celebrities of today aren’t doing now that I didn’t do back in the ‘70s and ‘80s. And then some. I met my husband Dean at a rock concert. It was wild and psychedelic. We were so high I don’t even remember the details. But can you believe it? That stoner beach bum--the guy I left for more drugs and sex wherever I could get it--has gotten his
act together all these years later! And he’s standing by me on this. Whattaya know? He loved me all along!
But Ian was rich, fun, and looking for excitement, so we traveled everywhere on his money. He was very smart. He invested very well. Ian got in on the dot com era and got out before the bubble burst, with his self respect intact and his cash too. The British are like that, you know.
Believe it or not, I still have a little money coming in. Residual checks from a few seasons of old forgotten series like “Murder She Wrote”, “The Love Boat”, “Kung Fu”, “The Munsters”, and “Barney Miller”. A few movies too. You know about my walk ons in “Night of the Living Dead”, and “Munster Go Home.” I might not have gotten famous, but each role kept my face out there and got me better auditions.That’s what it’s all about.
DET GROSSMAN: You have to admit, some of your ideas for inventions were a bit…
VIVECA: Just say it: crazy! No crazier than some of the ideas for inventions you see on TV. I bet you I could get on “Shark Tank”! Okay, maybe not. But my comeback will be different.
Ian took me to see a play about Hedy Lamar, the glamorous 1930s movie star who was a genius! Did you know that Hedy Lamar and composer George Antheil invented the system to make torpedoes more accurate, the same technology that’s used today in cell phones? Now you know back then people must have called her crazy. You know producers who were after a buck just wanted her to shut up and be pretty. Some things don’t change very much. Well just as Ian and I started writing a script for a movie, a cable channel beat us to it. So I thought, my life is just as spectacular, just as unbelievable, with humor, pathos, tragedy, and a little mystery too. Throw in some snappy songs and a few dance numbers, and, bingo! You’ve got a musical! Why not? Why not me? Why not Poor Little Rich Girl?
Detective Grossman, I did not kill Ian Chenoweth! You may think I took advantage of him--his money, and his kindness, but I would never have killed my best friend.! Colin O’Shea can implicate me all he wants to, but he’s lying! I passed out that night, and when I came to, the gun was in my hand and I was lying on the bed with blood all over me. I have been framed! Whether you believe me or not, it’s true!
Ian was a true friend. He kept my secret all these years. A secret that only Dean and then Colin knew: I left Dean all those years ago because I was pregnant, and we didn’t have any money.
But Dean doesn’t know that the baby wasn’t his. I was really wild when I was in my 20s and making up for being by myself in Venice Beach while Dean played around, sleeping with all my
friends!. I followed a punk rock band around while they went on tour-- a band from Dublin-- and I got pregnant by the drummer. He fought me until I gave in and let his parents adopt my son and raise him in Ireland. I never would have won. They’re rich, and I had gone through all my money. I never saw my baby again. He’d be in his 40s by now. There’s not a day that goes by
that I don’t think of what I did. If I hadn’t have spent my inheritance on a wild life, I would have my son right now. Dean thinks it was his baby even now. I could never tell him the truth. Colin
wants to hold this over my head for the rest of my life. So he wants everyone to believe I killed Ian. Colin’s been taking money from Ian’s foundation for years. And the condo board fund too. Everyone’s suspected it but nobody can prove it, so I’m the one who has to pay. Detective, I’m just a washed up would-be actor who got sidetracked too many times. I am not a killer! I swear it!
DET GROSSMAN: I know, Viveca. I believe you. We’ve known all along. We know you didn’t kill Ian Chenoweth. Your fingerprints and DNA have been on file for years from all those DUIs. And not one of those fingerprints found in Ian’s condo match yours. Even the blood on your pajamas from that night is yours, not Ian’s. We just had to fill in some of the missing pieces. I’m sorry we didn’t tell you earlier.
VIVECA: Oh I’m so relieved you believe me. Dean is standing behind me and now I guess I can tell you that a few weeks ago I...I hired a private investigator. Just in case.
DET GROSSMAN: (SURPRISED) Really? You hired your own P.I.? Who did you hire?
VIVECA: (TRIUMPHANTLY) Dr. Blaise Washington!
About the Author:
Trained at Emerson College in Boston and Herbert Berghoff (HB) Studios in New York City, with a Masters degree from Rider University, Karen has been interviewed by U.S.1 newspaper, and featured on “Your Career is Calling” on WRRC 1077.7FM, and NJTV’s “Classroom Close-up”, on her original collection of monologues about job loss presented throughout New Jersey at a play festival, bookstores, libraries, and Princeton’s Theatre Intime.
Also a contributing writer for Trenton Daily’s online publication, Karen has written a memoir about volunteerism and being a struggling artist in New York City. She has also written entertaining crime stories and scripts like “The Case of the Drunken Heiress”.
Karen may be contacted at karencarson21@yahoo.com.