THE CASE OF THE DRUNKEN HEIRESS (A BEACON HILL MURDER MYSTERY)
By Karen Carson
INTERIOR. 15TH PRECINCT. CAPTAIN CHERRY GOTTLIEB’S OFFICE.
DR. BLAISE WASHINGTON ENTERS WITH AN ELABORATELY WRAPPED GIFT.
CAPTAIN GOTTLIEB (ON PHONE): Okay. (LOOKING UP AS DR. WASHINGTON COMES IN) Thank you, Steve. (GRINNING. WALKING TOWARDS HIM WITH OPEN ARMS)
Pop! (HUGGING HIM) What’s wrong, Pop? You look tired. You okay?
DR. BLAISE WASHINGTON: Oh, nothing, kid. I’m glad you called. I wouldn’t miss your retirement party for the world, Captain Gottlieb (HE SALUTES HER). For you, madame (BOWING FORMALLY, HE HOLDS OUT THE GIFT. HE PICKS UP WEDDING PICTURE FROM HER DESK. THE PICTURE IS OF HER, HER HUSBAND SETH AND DR, WASHINGTON). So Scooter’s retiring! Hard to believe you’re retiring. You know, you haven’t changed much since I gave you away at your wedding. Your dad would have been so proud of you. You’re a chip off the old block. He was a legend on the force.
(CAPT GOTTLIEB EXCITEDLY OPENS LARGE GIFT BOX, WITH LAYERS OF PINK AND WHITE TISSUE PAPER INSIDE. SHE TAKES OUT LARGE ENVELOPE AND, RECOGNIZING THE BLACKER AND KOOBY BRAND, YELPS IN SURPRISE AS SHE READS THE INVITATION):
CAPT GOTTLIEB (READS): “You and your guest are invited to the Palais des Festivals, the Cannes Film Festival. You will stay at Hotel La Villa Port d’Antibes and Spa, a short walk from the Picasso Museum. Dinner reservations have been made for you at L’Assiete Provencale in Le Vieux Port (I recommend their excellent sea bass fillets!). Shop at Marche Forville and do some “people watching” along La Croisette. Be sure to bring your passport with you when you go to Le Croisette Casino Barriere!
Thank you for your years of dedication to The City of Boston. Congratulations on your retirement, Captain Gottlieb! May this new chapter in your life be an unforgettable adventure!
See you at Cannes, Robert DeNiro.”
Robert Deniro! I can’t believe it! My favorite actor in the whole world! Is this real? Pop! How did you pull this off?
DR. WASHINGTON (SITTING CAREFULLY): Oh, I called in a favor or two. Cherry, I’m so old that I remember that man when he was a skinny 20-year-old actor, before the whole world knew him. Back then, he couldn’t even get arrested.Literally!
CAPT GOTTLIEB (TEARS IN HER EYES): Oh, Pop! You shouldn’t have gone to all this trouble.
DR. WASHINGTON: Nothing but the best for my former partner. Years ago when D Squad paired us up I thought, “I’m going to put my life in the hands of this kid?! What, they’re accepting teenagers in the academy now?”
CAPT GOTTLIEB: Yeah. It took a while for me to win you over. Remember the time I got us locked out of the squad car?
DR WASHINGTON (LAUGHING): That wasn’t the last time, either! But you turned into one of the best cops on the force. I wish your father could be here to see it. He would have been busting with pride.
CAPT GOTTLIEB: I owe a lot of that to you, Pop. You came to the shiva and took me under your wing ever since. Mom never forgot that. You told her not to worry, that you’d look out for me. Now tell me straight: it’s back, isn’t it? Did you get a second opinion this time?
DR WASHINGTON: I never could keep anything from you.I’ll be a little late for your retirement party next week, sweetheart. Dr. Osada wants me in for observation next Tuesday. It’s hard to get an appointment with her. She’s usually booked solid but she was nice enough to move a few things around. It’s stage 4 pancreatic cancer.
CAPT GOTTLIEB (HOLDING HIS HAND): Oh Poppy!
DR WASHINGTON: I don’t usually feel my age but lately, I can feel every one of those 100
years!
CAPT GOTTLIEB: You’re going to see Dr. Sachiko Osada at Mass General? She’s one of the best.
DR WASHINGTON: Yes.She’s on the Gastrointestinal Oncology team. They’re running a trial. The usual treatment at this advanced stage is chemo, maybe 5-fluorouracil or gemcitabine. She went to Harvard Med. She works out of Newton-Wellesley too. I’m not sure about the clinical trial. We’ll see.
CAPT GOTTLIEB: How are your kids and grandkids taking it?
DR WASHINGTON: At my age, my dear, your family has already bought their black mourning clothes decades before you go, and have them hanging in the back of their closet ready to throw on at a moment’s notice. There will be no surprises. They’re all right. Except for my granddaughter, Judy. She and I always catch new movies together as soon as they come out.
She’s having a hard time with this. Her students think of her as a tough-as-nails professor, but she’s always been a sensitive child. She reminds me of my Mary--
CAPT GOTTLIEB: I miss Aunt Mary too. Had you ever thought of getting married again, Pop? I mean, it’s been a while. She died right before you closed your law firm and went into the academy.
DR WASHINGTON (SIGHS): Yeah, But this was supposed to be a happy visit. And you had some information about the Chenoweth case too.
CAPT GOTTLIEB: Right. I got confirmation on those fingerprints and that hair they found on Ian Chenoweth’s body--his estranged wife, Angela Wierzbicki. Married name, Chenoweth. She was at his place that night. And you’ll want to check out Chenoweth’s investments too.
DR WASHINGTON: So far, mostly tech incubators, start-ups, a handful of movies, and a local hockey team.
CAPT GOTTLIEB: (HANDING HIM A DOCUMENT) Take a look at The Chenoweth Foundation. Look at the dates.
DR WASHINGTON: Someone’s been dipping heavily into the till this year. I don’t get the impression that Chenoweth was a risk taker. I bet that Colin O’Shea’s texts and email records will connect this somehow.
CAPT GOTTLIEB: Something else. You know the detectives handling this case--Bahiti Patel and Kenyatta Grossman, right?
DR WASHINGTON: Sure. Over at the 12th.
CAPT GOTTLIEB: They’re good cops. Grossman’s name came up. I’ve been hearing good things about her. Has she been thinking about taking the sergeant’s exam? She should. And Bahiti Patel’s planning to retire, right?
DR WASHINGTON: You’re ahead of me, Cherry. I trained you well. Bahiti finished law school last spring. He went to Suffolk at night for years and passed the bar already. I’m recommending him for that spot at Jimenez and Beauchamp, and there’s a second year law student who’s been doing a little research for me on this case. He works part time for Barbara Salerno. The kid’s hungry. Great student too. What do you think, Cherry?
CAPT GOTTLIEB: (TEARS IN HER EYES) I think you’re a sick man trying to get all of his ducks in a row.
DR WASHINGTON: Oh, now, Cherry Pie. No tears. I’m just helping out some very talented young people. Sort of building a legacy.
THERE IS A KNOCK AT THE DOOR.
CAPT GOTTLIEB: Come in.
UNIFORMED OFFICER (ENTERING): Excuse me, Captain Gottlieb. Captain Llewelyn from the 22nd is here. There’s a shooting at Faneuil Hall.
CAPT GOTTLIEB: Thank you, Officer. I’ll be right out.
DR WASHINGTON (PUTTING ON HIS HAT): Well, like George Bailey said in “It’s a Wonderful Life”, “Here’s your hat, what’s your hurry?!” I’m so happy for you, Cherry Pie. And so very proud. I’ll be at next week’s party to see you off.
CAPT GOTTLIEB (HER ARM AROUND HIS WAIST AS SHE WALKS HIM TOWARD THE DOOR) Come see me more often, Pop. I miss you. Debbie will be home from med school, and David wants you to come to one of his football games. Janie hasn’t seen you since her bat mitzvah. Now that I’m retiring. I’ll be around more. Let’s go out for ice cream. Come to the house.
DR WASHINGTON: Of course, Cherry Pie! You’re a good daughter. You and Seth and the kids and your mom have to come out to Oak Bluffs this summer. We haven’t all been together in a long time. Lobster tails on the patio at Nancy’s Restaurant?
CAPT GOTTLIEB: It’s a date! Is Eric still there?
DR WASHINGTON: Of course he is. Where’s he going? He owns the place now!
CAPT GOTTLIEB: What?! Then I want bacon wrapped scallops. And let’s go to the Flying Horses Merry Go Round. I want to grab the brass ring and get a free ride. Do they still do that?
DR WASHINGTON: Yes indeed. Do you remember when David and Debbie were little and they buried me in the sand and I fell asleep?
CAPT GOTTLIEB (LAUGHING): And remember when poor Seth got lost on the bike path and we hid from him?
DR WASHINGTON: He sure got back at me when we went kayaking. Where did he learn to paddle like that? My arms were like noodles when we were done!
CAPT GOTTLIEB: Princeton rowing team. Three years!
DR WASHINGTON: We’ll have to stop at The Lazy Frog, of course, to stock up on some games. Old School Monopoly and Sorry for the adults and video games for the grandkids.
CAPT GOTTLIEB: Then Vineyard’s Best Ice Cream. Two scoops!
DR WASHINGTON: Saturday night we’ll catch a poetry reading at Featherstone Center.
CAPT GOTTLIEB (HUGS HIM) Don’t forget about your recommendation for Bahiti, and talk to Kenyatta. She’ll ace the sergeant’s exam. Call me as soon as you leave the doctor’s Pop, okay? I wish you’d let me go with you. Thanks for the present.
DR WASHINGTON: I’ll be fine, Cherry Pie. And you’re welcome. I’ll call you dear. Tell Seth I’ll see him Tuesday at the party.
INTERIOR. BEACON HILL PRECINCT. LIEUTENANT SOKANON JAMES SMITH’S OFFICE
DR BLAISE WASHINGTON (WEARING RUBBER GLOVES, SITTING AT A SPARE DESK, SIFTING THROUGH THE PACKAGE DELIVERED TO IAN CHENOWETH)
I’m, really sorry, Detective Grossman. I should have given you and your partner a heads up that Viveca Chatworth hired me to investigate the case for her. I hope you can forgive me. I really didn’t intend to blindside you. I’ll bet Bahiti won’t forgive and forget though. Is he here?
DETECTIVE KENYATTA GROSSMAN: He’s running late. He went to Rutgers to see Keva and Kelsey’s basketball game. They play a fundraiser game in the off season for a scholarship fund.
DR WASHINGTON: What a nice thing to do. Your parents invited me to their lime on Friday. Are you and your husband going?
DET GROSSMAN: I wouldn’t miss it.I’m making Sunday gravy and my in-laws are bringing pasta and cannolis. My husband and my mom are making roti, and my dad’s making a brisket that’ll make your mouth water!
DR WASHINGTON: Now that’s what I’m talkin about! Wow! Then I’ll bring a big bowl of callaloo. What are you doing for music? Can’t have a lime without good music.
DET GROSSMAN: Bahiti’s put together this great playlist--some jazz, some hip hop, some steelband. All kinds of music. He’s making fried chicken and bringing wine.
(SHE GLANCES INTO THE BOX DR WASHINGTON IS SIFTING THROUGH)
Find anything good in there? Who do you think mailed that to Ian Chenoweth and why?
DR WASHINGTON: I’ve got a hunch. My old partner from years ago is a captain now over at the 15th. She’s retiring. She was able to identify prints from the crime scene from the bathroom sink, a medicine bottle, and a SIM card. A woman’s hair with the same DNA was found on Chenoweth’s body. You must know by now that Ian Chenoweth had an estranged wife that he’d never divorced.
DET GROSSMAN: Uhm. We finally got that out of Viveca Chatworth--
DR WASHINGTON: (RUBBING SEEDS BETWEEN HIS GLOVED FINGERS) No thanks to me. I know. Angela Wierzbicki. That’s her maiden name. Her married name is--
DET GROSSMAN: Chenoweth, by any chance?
DR WASHINGTON (NODDING): Um hmm. She’s a botanist and horticulture consultant. Has her own business. Horticulture happens to be a hobby of mine. Probably from years of walking through the Public Gardens and the Boston Commons. It’s relaxing and so beautiful. I’m a member of the Friends of the Public Gardens. I’m hardly an expert like Angela Wierzbicki, though. She’s sought after by arboretums and public gardens all over the country to make sure their trees and shrubs stay in top condition. It may sound trivial to a layperson but when you think about the reputation of the organization--not to mention their dependence on philanthropists and donors--you realize how important healthy trees are to their bottom line. I read a white paper about tree diseases--Dutch elm disease to be exact. Did you know that tiny insects and fungus can ruin a grove of trees in a matter of weeks? Botanists, arborists, and horticulturists who know what to look for can come in and solve the problem before it even..uh..”takes root”, if you’ll forgive the pun. Some organizations have their own expert on retainer. Usually an arborist or a consultant. Guess who wrote that white paper?
DET GROSSMAN: Angela Wierzbicki. Okay. But I’m not following you.
DR WASHINGTON: That medication bottle that I told you CSU found at the crime scene? It’s allergy medication. Chenoweth was allergic to dust, dander, some nuts, and pollen. His allergies got particularly bad, of course, in the spring when trees bloom. Chenoweth’s condominium is
located directly across from the Public Gardens. I treasure my walks in the Gardens in the spring. The blossoms and the leaves blowing by don’t bother me a bit, but for Ian--
DET GROSSMAN: Got it. His medication must be antihistamines. But why wouldn’t he just take something from over the counter? Something he could just pick up at the drugstore?
DR WASHINGTON: That’s not enough for some people. In fact, Ian also used an inhaler or a
Breathalyzer. The M.E. found traces of a substance in it and CSU found a syringe buried in the carpeting of the bedroom. (DET GROSSMAN LOOKS UP) Not what you’re thinking. Some allergy sufferers have respiratory systems that are so sensitive--often it’s the airway or the lining of the nasal passage--that they eventually become immune to the common allergy medications. What may have worked for them in the past is no longer effective so they graduate to injectable medication prescribed by a doctor. If they’re careful, everything’s fine. But if they take too large of a dosage, or develop additional allergies, they could run into problems. Some develop asthma.
DET GROSSMAN: I see what you mean. Bahiti said that Vincente found pieces of a broken wine glass from a dumpster in back of the condo.
DR WASHINGTON: Yes. Someone must have left Chenoweth’s gun out as a distraction. There were no signs of bullet entry or exit on his body. He hadn’t been shot so how did he die? The blood on Viveca’s pajamas was her own blood. But the victim had bruises on his sternum consistent with a failed attempt at resuscitation. He must have been choking and someone must have tried to save him. If toxicology finds prints on Chenoweth’s inhaler and the residue is found to be tree resin…
DET GROSSMAN: Who would know how bad Ian’s allergies were and how would they know it was tree pollen? Who else would have access to his condo? Could Viveca or Colin have let someone else in? (SHE LOOKS IN THE BOX) I’d like to have a look at the cell phone.
DR WASHINGTON: ---and the prepaid cell too.
DET GROSSMAN: I’ll call Bahiti.
DR WASHINGTON: Oh Detective. Before I forget. I’d like to ask your husband and Detective Patel’s wife to replace me as keynote speaker for the Black History in the Arts symposium next spring at the Rockland Trust Pavilion on the Waterfront. Something very important came up that I can’t cancel and I want to select my own replacement. You said your husband Joe did his dissertation in African American culture and history. Of course who better to lecture on the creative writing aspect than Professor Karen Clark-Patel, Harvard’s poet laureate! Panels of the
artist Jacob Lawrence will be on exhibit. There are parallels between his painting, the American Revolution, the Great Migration of 1955, Emmett Till’s murder, and even civil rights issues in the present. I’m asking you because I hope the differences between your partner and myself won’t be a factor. You work with him every day and I know you’ll give me your honest opinion of my idea. And you told me your husband Joe listens to my podcast and has read my books so I was hoping he wouldn’t mind--
DET GROSSMAN: Mind? Dr. Washington! My husband would jump at the chance! He’d be so honored! I can’t speak for Professor Clark-Patel, but she’s very involved in Boston’s cultural events. I don’t know how tight her speaking schedule is but she’s very friendly and very approachable. I just assumed you’d met her and their girls. But don’t worry. I think it’s a great idea. Why don’t you ask her at the lime on Friday. She’s coming with Bahiti. And of course Joe’s looking forward to seeing you. He’ll probably talk your ear off!
DR WASHINGTON: Thank you. Thank you, Detective. I’ll do that. I’d better make sure my callaloo is top notch! Well, let’s get Lieutenant Smith and fill him in on the cell phone and the other evidence.
INTERIOR. BEACON HILL PRECINCT SQUADROOM. AFTERNOON.
DETECTIVE BAHITI PATEL AND DETECTIVE KENYATTA GROSSMAN SIT AMONG DETECTIVES JENNY OH, GEORGE RILEY, AND EDITH REID IN FRONT OF WHITEBOARD WHILE OFFICER ALI, CONFIDENT AND IN COMMAND DESPITE HER YOUTH, WRITES ON BOARD WITH BLACK MARKER. LIEUTENANT SOKANON SMITH, IN WHEELCHAIR TO THE RIGHT OF THE BOARD, LEADS THE DISCUSSION.
CLOSE UP OF TREE SERVICE REPORT FROM ANGELA WIERZBICKI’S TREE SERVICE.
CAMERA PULLS BACK TO DET PATEL AS HE TAKES ORANGE TIC TACS FROM HIS JACKET POCKET, TAKES TWO, AND OFFERS PACK TO DET GROSSMAN. SHE HOLDS OUT HER HAND AS HE POURS CANDY INTO HER HANDS.
LT SMITH: So here’s the update on the Ian Chenoweth case.
(FORENSICS ACCOUNTANT DOUGLAS QUINONEZ ENTERS AND SITS)
The Chestnut Hill address on the box of leaves, tiny green blossoms, and dead beetles delivered to the victim’s condo, was tracked to--get this--the middle of the Charles River! But that wasn’t a dead end after all. Detectives Patel and Grossman subpoenaed the cell phone records and Forensics Accountant Doug Quinonez, reviewed the calls from Angela Wierzbicki’s cell phone. She called the mailing service to track the delivery, and Doug traced the call. A hair
from the box, and fingerprints from the victim’s allergy medication bottle and the cell phone found in the trash at the crime scene, were hers. The detectives ran the prints through the automated fingerprint ID system and got a match. Ms Wierzbicki once worked for the City of Boston. Personnel fingerprinted all city employees at the time as a condition of their employment. Hers were on file.
You know that Angela Wierzbicki’s married name is Chenoweth and that she’s the victim’s estranged wife. She’s also the botanist and horticulture expert, tree doctor, if you will, who owns
the arboriculture service hired by the Boston Public Gardens to treat their elm trees for Dutch Elm disease. It’s a wilting disease caused by the fungus ceratocystis ulmi. Very nasty. The fungus gets into the upper crown of healthy elm trees by bark beetles. This is a big deal to the Gardens because climate change and the extreme changes in weather over the past few years have been putting major stress on the trees, and the head arborist consultant had to call someone in to nip this in the bud before the fungus spreads and wipes out all the trees in the entire Garden. Dr. Blaise Washington, an investigator on this case, is a member of the Friends of the Public Gardens as well as an amateur horticulturist who has taken classes at the Gardens greenhouse. The Friends of the Public Gardens are responsible for overseeing the upkeep, structure, planning, and maintenance of the Gardens. He and the Committee on Horticultural Planning are aware of the conditions of the Gardens and responsible for acquiring specialists to tend to it. They are the advisory body for the Commissioner of Parks and Recreation. Detective Grossman will pick it up from here.
DET GROSSMAN (STANDING): The COR or Contracting Officers Representative of the Boston Public Gardens confirms that Angela Wierzbicki and her arboriculture service are under contract with them, and has been treating their trees with fungicide injections and antimicrobials for the past month. I emailed a copy of the Arborist Pesticide Application Record/Monitoring and Integrated Pest Management Report and contract to all of you. Bring it up on your ipads. Keep in mind that Chenoweth’s condo is located across the street from the Gardens. A photo from a witness’s cell shows the time that she exited the victim’s condo. Ms Wierzbicki gained entrance by opening the door remotely from her blue tooth! Her smart phone activated a digital key by a code that the victim had given her some time ago but forgot to deactivate. Ms Wierzbicki was able to control the lights and music in the victim’s apartment as well. That’s what Poni, the doorwoman, heard from the unit when she knocked on the door to leave the package but no one answered.
When a door is opened remotely, the app will message the owner, in this case, Chenoweth, and the app login account receives a notification. The door will remain unlocked. Somehow, Chenoweth never received the message tipping him off that someone was entering his condo.
Ms Wierzbicki returned later, hiding in the study, before her estranged husband and Ms Chatworth arrived after the board meeting
We know that the victim had severe allergies, especially to pollen, and that he took oral antihistamines, and, when needed, loratadine by injection for his asthma. This is a pre-filled, single-dose, 2.25 ml syringe. He also used an inhaler or Breathylyzer when short of breath, and regularly checked his oxygen level through his smart watch. His allergist confirmed receiving an alert by phone as Chenoweth self-administered this oxygen test, but there was no indication that this was an emergency requiring medical attention.
It should be noted that the M.E. had detected a faint odor of emisis from the victim’s body, although there was no evidence of vomit in the victim’s mouth. The body was still warm when
CSU arrived. Rigor had not yet set in. T.O.D. was approximately 2 or 3 am. The dark bruises on Chenoweth’s sternum were concluded to be the results of a clumsy attempt at chest compression to resuscitate him. After interrogating Viveca Chatworth again, we discovered that she had tried to revive Ian Chenoweth when he began hyperventilating. Their argument at the board meeting that was overheard by neighbor Lucia Pettigrew was about her drinking. Mr. Chenoweth was trying to convince Ms Chatworth to go into rehab. She had apparently attempted suicide several times in the past but Chenoweth had always been able to calm her down. As they were close platonic friends, Ms Chatworth occasionally spent the night at his condo because he was afraid to leave her alone. My partner, Detective Patel will pick it up from there.
DET PATEL (HE STANDS AS DET GROSSMAN SITS): We have concluded that the proceedings on the night of the murder went as follows: Ian Chenoweth had convinced Ms Chatworth to spend the night. They had some wine and talked, but continued to argue. Ms Wierzbicki, still hiding in the study, overheard them and, remembering where her estranged husband kept his medication and inhaler, she rubbed some of the blossom and beetle substance far up into the neck of the inhaler. She also crushed up three aspirin and stirred them into the glass of wine he had set on the sink, and grabbed a full syringe from his supply that he kept in the medicine cabinet. Ms Wierzbicki returned to the study as Ian Chenoweth went into the bathroom to take his allergy medication, and Ms Chatworth, still in the bedroom, found his gun and threatened to kill herself. Ms Chatworth and Mr Chenoweth struggled with the gun, and when she dropped her wine glass, breaking the stem, Ms Chatworth picked up a piece of the broken glass and slashed her wrist. Thankfully it wasn’t deep, but she bled all over her pajamas. This was too much for Mr Chenoweth, who began to hyperventilate, the combination of the
wine, aspirin, and pollen from the inhaler, all quickly taking effect. Chenoweth, gasping for air, fell on the bed. Ms Chatworth tried to revive him with chest compressions as Ms Wierzbicki rushed in from the study with the syringe, injecting the victim in his thigh with the loratadine as he desperately tried to breathe. Ms Chatworth fainted, falling backwards onto the bed. Ms Wierzbicki then picked up her husband’s gun from the floor and placed it in Ms Chatworth’s hand as Ian Chenoweth took his last breath. Ms Wierzbicki left the condo forgetting that it would remain unlocked. Several hours later, Colin O’Shea arrived finding his friend dead on the bed with Ms Chatworth, still unconscious beside him, holding the gun. Shortly after Mr. O’Shea left to call the police, Dr. Blaise Washington arrived on the scene. Picking up the gun, he saw that it had been wiped clean of fingerprints. He left to call the police.
LT SOKANON: Thank you Detectives. Dr. Quinonez. Before everyone leaves today, I need your DD5s. Especially you, Reid. I’ll have more for you as I get it. (LT SOKANON SPEAKS TO OFFICER ALI)
Patel. Grossman. In my office before you leave, please.
(DET PATEL AND DET GROSSMAN FOLLOW LT SOKANON TOWARDS HIS OFFICE)
DET GROSSMAN: B, you sounded like Perry Mason today! Remind me not to have you defend me if I’m ever on Death Row!
DET PATEL (LOOKS AT HIS FIT BIT AND SIGHS) Thanks.
DET GROSSMAN: Oh. How many steps so far? (DET PATEL SHOWS HER HIS WRIST) That’s not too bad. Really. It’s only 3:00. Only 8 thousand more steps to go today. (DET PATEL GROANS) One hour at a time. Add a thousand more steps each day until you get used to it. It’s hard…
DET PATEL: Said the woman whose husband can bench press 400 lbs without breaking a sweat! He’s been after me to go to his gym to work out, but my old football injury keeps acting up. (DET GROSSMAN ROLLS HER EYES AT HIM) I’m serious. I think I twisted something.
DET GROSSMAN: Um hmm. Right. And what does Karen say?
DET PATEL: I thought being married to a Harvard professor and a poet laureate would get me some sympathy, but she gave me the same look you just did. Give me some credit: I switched from M & Ms to Tic Tacs.
DET GROSSMAN: Well that’s progress! (DET GROSSMAN ENTERS LT SOKANON’S OFFICE BEHIND THEM AND SHUTS THE DOOR)
LT SOKANON: (ROLLING HIS WHEELCHAIR BEHIND HIS DESK) Good work, you two.
We finally have cause to arrest Angela Wierzbicki. Go over to the Public Gardens and pick her up. Take Oh, Reid, and Riley with you. I sent some uniforms over to her house with a search warrant. She’ll be at the Gardens overseeing some work on the trees. I checked with the COR: she’s got a field crew of climbers and health care specialists with the crew leader. They’ve got to trim some limbs and cut down two trees. They’re still there. This is a perfect time to bring her in. They’re by a grove of trees by the Carousel. (CHECKS HIS CELL PHONE FOR THE TIME)
Shake a leg. It’s after 3.
(DET PATEL TOSSES HIS CAR KEYS TO DET GROSSMAN. THEY EXIT LT SOKANON’S OFFICE)
6th installment
EXTERIOR. 484 COMMONWEALTH AVENUE. COMMONWEALTH AVENUE “MALL”.
THE EMERALD NECKLACE. NEAR BOSTON PUBLIC GARDENS. 4PM.
A VAN MARKED “WIERZBICKI TREE SERVICES” IS PARKED AT THE CURB. A TREE SERVICE CREW MEMBER IN ORANGE REFLECTOR VEST AND HARD HAT STANDS IN A “BASKET” CUTTING TREE BRANCHES WITH A CHAINSAW, ANOTHER WORKER GATHERS THE BRANCHES FROM THE GROUND TO PUT IN PILES. A PLANT PLANT INJECTOR INJECTS FUNGICIDE INTO THE BARK OF A TREE.
ANGELA WIERZBICKI (IN PROTECTIVE GEAR AND HARD HAT) (TO CREW)
Remember to cut the grafts between the trees so it doesn’t spread. Flush after the injection. Less damage to the cambium that way.
(DETECTIVES BAHITI PATEL, KENYATTA GROSSMAN, DIRECT DETECTIVES OH, RILEY, AND REID)
DETECTIVE PATEL (TO OH, RILEY, AND REID) Get their statements.
DETECTIVE GROSSMAN (SHOWING HER BADGE) Angela Wierzbicki? I’m Detective Grossman. This is my partner, Detective Patel. You are under arrest for the murder of--
(WIERZBICKI TURNS QUICKLY, RUNNING UP THE WALKWAY)
DETECTIVE PATEL (RUNS AFTER HER. SHOUTING OVER HIS SHOULDER TO DETECTIVE GROSSMAN) Call it in!
(DETECTIVE PATEL IS 500 FEET BEHIND WIERZBICKI. HE CONTINUES CHASING HER DOWN THE TREE-LINED WALKWAY OF ELM TREES, PAST BROWNSTONES ON EITHER SIDE, AND PARK BENCHES EVERY FEW FEET. A COLLEGE STUDENT ON A BENCH LAUGHS AT A VIDEO ON HIS CELL PHONE. A DOG WALKER PASSES HIM WITH FOUR LARGE DOGS. A RETIREE READS A BOOK ON ANOTHER BENCH. A COUPLE PUSH A STROLLER ACROSS THE WALKWAY. UP AHEAD, WIERZBICKI, OUT OF BREATH, STOPS TO SIT ON A BENCH TO CATCH HER BREATH. DETECTIVE PATEL’S CELL PHONE RINGS AS HE PASSES THE VENDOME FIRE MEMORIAL. OUT OF BREATH, HE BENDS OVER, THEN STRAIGHTENS UP, TAKING OUT HIS CELLPHONE.
CLOSE-UP ON THE WORD “KENYATTA” ON THE PHONE’S SCREEN.
DETECTIVE GROSSMAN (FROM HER CELL PHONE IN THE SQUADCAR) I’m at Berkeley Street. Where are you? Should we call Reid for back up? Angela didn’t look dangerous to me. We can handle her.
DETECTIVE PATEL: She’s out of breath, and so am I. I think she’s going to follow this walkway out to the end. Probably headed for the Commons. I’ll text Oh, Riley, and Reid that we’ll pick them up on the way back.
DETECTIVE GROSSMAN (ON CELL PHONE) Stay right where you are. I’ll pick you up. Unless you want to keep following her on foot the rest of the way. Mmmm...I can smell the dogwood and magnolia from here. “The calla lilies are in bloom again! Such a strange flower. Suitable for any occasion!”
DETECTIVE PATEL (LOOKING AROUND FOR THE CAR) Okay, Katherine Hepburn! Pick me up. I see Wierzbicki up ahead. She just got up from the bench. Let’s go!
(A COUPLE TAKES A SELFIE AS DETECTIVE PATEL GETS UP CAREFULLY FROM THE BENCH, RUBBING HIS KNEE. HE CROSSES THE STREET AND GETS IN THE WAITING SQUADCAR)
DETECTIVE PATEL (CHUCKLING) Follow that red-haired woman!
Not a bad way to spend a beautiful spring afternoon. Chasing a murderer through the Emerald Necklace. At least the trees look the same as when I lived down this way. So beautiful. Wish I had my paints. Reminds me of the Champs Elysee. That’s what the architect had in mind when he designed the area.
DETECTIVE GROSSMAN: Um hmm. I thought of that when I spent that summer at the Sorbonne during high school. Thanks again, Aunt Bebe! Rest in peace!
DETECTIVE PATEL: Did I tell you that Karen and I rented our first apartment together in this area when I started at the Academy? Basement apartment with a fire-red shag rug and a furnace on the other side of the wall that got soot all over the white walls!
DETECTIVE GROSSMAN: Ooo! Very ‘80s!
DETECTIVE PATEL: Something like that. It was on Marlboro Street between Berkeley and Clarendon by the Emerson College Library. It was all we could afford. I couldn’t even rent a bathroom on that street nowadays! All the old affordable apartments are condos by now.
DETECTIVE GROSSMAN: I bet Angela will try to ditch us in the Commons.
DETECTIVE PATEL: Maybe she’s headed for the Frog Pond--
DETECTIVE GROSSMAN (TURNING ONTO BEACON STREET) I don’t want to scare her to death.
DETECTIVE PATEL: She’s a murderer, K! How can you possibly scare her?
DETECTIVE GROSSMAN: There she is, B! She’s headed for the Frog Pond!
DETECTIVE PATEL: No. Look! The Carousel! I hope your shoes are comfortable!
(DETECTIVE GROSSMAN BRINGS THE SQUAD CAR TO A SKID NEAR THE TICKET BOOTH. THEY JUMP OUT, DETECTIVE PATEL RUNNING AHEAD AS HE SPOTS WIERZBICKI DISAPPEARING UNDER THE BLUE AND WHITE STRIPED TOP OF THE CAROUSEL. A YOUNG ATTENDANT LOOKS UP FROM HIS CELL PHONE AS WIERZBICKI RUNS BY AND DETECTIVE GROSSMAN APPROACHES HIM)
DETECTIVE GROSSMAN (SHOWING HER BADGE TO THE ATTENDANT)
I’m Detective Grossman. That’s my partner, Detective Patel. We’ve got to get that red-haired woman! Stop the carousel and help me get those kids and adults off of it right now! Don’t let anymore customers in!
ATTENDANT: What’s going on? What did she do?
DETECTIVE GROSSMAN: We’ve got it under control. Just stop the carousel right now and let’s get those people off without causing a panic!
(THE ATTENDANT RUNS TO THE TICKET BOOTH TO STOP THE CAROUSEL. ANGELA WIERZBICKI RUNS ACROSS THE OAK FLOOR OF THE CAROUSEL, NEARLY SLIPPING. SHE WEAVES BETWEEN THE WHITE RABBIT, AND THE BLUE DRAGON, HIDING BEHIND THE CAT WITH THE BLUE FISH IN HER MOUTH. DETECTIVE PATEL SPOTS HER IN THE REFLECTION IN THE MIRRORED WALL. SHE RUNS PAST A ZEBRA, A ROOSTER, AND A SEA HORSE, REACHING THE CHARIOT JUST AS THE ATTENDANT STOPS THE CAROUSEL. DETECTIVE GROSSMAN AND TWO ATTENDANTS HELP THE PEOPLE OFF THE CAROUSEL. DETECTIVE GROSSMAN TAKES A TWENTY DOLLAR BILL FROM HER POCKET AND GIVES IT TO AN ATTENDANT)
DETECTIVE GROSSMAN: We’re good. If we owe you anymore, just bill the Beacon Hill Police Precinct.
DETECTIVE PATEL (HANDCUFFING ANGELA WIERZBICKI) Are you kidding me? Did you really think you’d get away with killing your husband?
DETECTIVE GROSSMAN (LEADING WIERZBICKI TO THE SQUAD CAR) Angela Wierzbicki, you have the right to remain silent---
(DETECTIVE PATEL LOOKS AT HIS WRIST IN SURPRISE AS HE WALKS DOWN THE RAMP AND GETS INTO THE SQUAD CAR. HE SHOWS HIS WRIST TO DETECTIVE GROSSMAN)
DETECTIVE GROSSMAN: Hey! 12,000 steps! All right!
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.