The Case Of The Missing Bride - Robert F. Clifton (red novels .txt) 📗

The Challenge

 

 

 

 

 

THE CASE OF THE

MISSING

BRIDE

by

Robert F. Clifton

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PREFACE

 

The reader is advised that this is a work

Of fiction. Any similarity of any persons or the names, places or events are purely coincidental.

 

R.F. Clifton

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Copyright © 2014 by Robert F. Clifton

 

 

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without written permission from the author.

Edited by J. Bill Blackmore

 

This book is dedicated to my wife, Jean, the lovely woman who has put up with me for sixty two years. Thanks Dear.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chapter One

The Challenge

 

Robert Wallace was uncomfortable. He sat on a hard, wooden chair under hot glowing lights. He didn't want to be in the television studio of the only local T.V. station in Nautilus Beach, New Jersey. First of all, he had an aversion to newspaper, radio and television reporters, even though he was married to one. Second, he was there under orders by the Chief of Police, Jerry Monahan. It was May 15, 1975, Police Memorial Day and Monahan had agreed to appear on Station KCCD in a public relations endeavor. The Chief had been invited by the programs host, Reds Morton to answer questions called in by the listening public. The Police Captain was there to answer any questions that Monahan might have trouble with. Wallace didn't like Morton. He found the television reporter to be what he considered a “Bullshit Artist”. Reds Morton was forty years old, stood just under five feet tall and weighed about one hundred and thirty five pounds. He had gone bald ten years ago and had worn a red toupee' ever since. In addition to the hair piece, he wore elevated insoles in his shoes in an effort to make himself appear taller.

Morton was a local boy, born Carl David Morton and he got his start in radio as a sports reporter. Soon after, he presented himself as an authority on whatever sport he was discussing on air at the time. His real, personal achievement in sports was when he served as the coxswain of a crew that won one race on the Schuylkill River in 1955. He got that position due to his size when the crew coach needed a small guy in the shell at the time.

Wallace had seen his type before, a characteristic referred to as the, Napoleon Complex or Short Man Syndrome, a personality fault that results in overly aggressive and/or domineering social behavior. Not all short men have this analyzable condition, but Morton did and at times when doing interviews, sports related or not could be very cruel with his questioning.

Reds Morton watched and waited for the signal that would come from his director and when it came he faced the camera and said, “Good evening ladies and gentlemen. I am Reds Morton. Today, for those of you that don't know, it is Police Memorial Day. This is the time each year when we, the public along with police officers across the nation honor those men who gave their lives protecting us and society. This evening we have in the studio the Chief of Police of Nautilus Beach, Jerry Monahan and Captain Robert Wallace. They are here at my request not only to discuss this important day in American Law Enforcement, but to also answer questions that you, the listening and watching public may have regarding Nautilus Beach and its police department.

Chief, I'd like to start with you. What can you tell us about the rate of crime here in Nautilus Beach?”

Monahan suddenly camera shy shifted his position in his chair. Finally, with a dry mouth he answered. “I'm proud to say that Nautilus Beach is one of the safest seaside resorts in the State”. “That's nice to know Chief, but exactly what is the crime rate here?”, asked Morton

“Could you be more explicit?”,asked Monahan.

“Certainly. For example how many assaults were committed in 1974?”, Morton asked.

“I don't know exactly, but right off of the top of my head I don't imagine there were that many to be concerned about”, said the Chief.

“You don't know exactly? Excuse me Chief, but I find it odd that you, the top executive officer of our police department doesn't know the crime statistics of his own municipality. How about you Captain Wallace? Perhaps you can provide us with an answer”, said Morton sarcastically.

“Oh, I can give you an answer”, said Wallace looking directly into the television camera. “The reason the Chief can't give you a direct answer is because the Nautilus Beach Police Department responds to one hundred and fifty thousand calls for service each year. Keep in mind that our city is a seaside resort. In addition to our own residents we render service to visitors to our town. Now, if you want to really know how many assaults occurred in our jurisdiction I refer you to either the New Jersey State Police or the Federal Bureau of Investigation for their Uniform Crime Report. However, let me advise you that our crime statistics are so low that Nautilus Beach is not even mentioned in the State Police reports. Does that answer your question?”, asked Wallace.

“Not entirely. Correct me if I'm wrong Captain Wallace, but didn't you at one time command the vice Squad?”, asked Morton.

“I did”.

“And yet, prostitutes walk the streets day and night, illegal gambling operates out of candy stores, and narcotics are being sold openly”, said Morton.

“Is that a statement or a question?”, asked Wallace.

“Both. Why are these vice conditions allowed to exist?” Morton questioned.

“They are not allowed as you put it. Arrest's are made when there is probable cause. Vice functions in any community because the residents of that community want it to happen. So, you might start looking for an answer to your question by asking the Chamber of Commerce if the conditions you mentioned is good for business. Then, I suggest you interview the judiciary and inquire as to why it is that a person arrested for a high misdemeanor usually has the charge down graded to either a misdemeanor or a city ordinance”, said Wallace.

“My, my Captain, you sound as though you either dislike our Chamber of Commerce, our court judges, or perhaps even the citizens of Nautilus Beach”, said Morton.

“Not at all. What I dislike is someone creating a condition that doesn't exist”, said Wallace.

“Are you saying that the vice conditions I just mentioned do not exist in Nautilus Beach?”

“Of course not. They exist in every community, from bored housewives making extra money selling sex, to candy store owners with pinball machines paying nickles for free games won by the players. The vice you mention does exist in Nautilus Beach. However, to my knowledge and particularly during my time as head of the Vice Squad, not one citizen of this community has walked into the police department or telephoned to register a complaint in relation to prostitution or illegal gambling”.

“I wonder why that is Captain?”, asked Morton.

“What you are inferring now Mister Morton, is that the citizens of this community either believe that the men and women of the Nautilus Beach Police Department are corrupt or they prefer those vice conditions you suggest do exist. If there is any corruption in the rank and file of the police then I recommend that you not only ask for, but insist that either the County Prosecutor or the Attorney General of New Jersey investigate and take any action necessary.

And, while we are on this subject

let me say this. A police department, any police department is only as good and as powerful as the citizens of the community they serve allow it to be.”

Wallace sat and watched Morton's face turn red. The T.V. host was momentarily lost for words and he fought to regain control of the situation. Finally he said, “Well, since we are mentioning the citizens of Nautilus Beach let's allow them now to call in with their questions. Ladies and gentlemen the telephone lines are now open,” said Reds Morton.

A few minutes later a female voice came into the studio. “Hello caller, you are on the air. Please give us your first name and then, do you have a question for either the Chief of Police or the Captain?”, asked Morton.

“Yes I do. My name is Gladys and my question is for Chief Monahan. Chief, you said earlier that we citizens of Nautilus Beach should have no concerns about crime in our city. Yet, I would like to remind you that in the past few years there has been several murders. I would also like to mention that in two of the cases the murderers killed many people. My question is what is being done to prevent this type of crime now and in the future? I wait for your answer”.

Once again Chief Monahan moved uncomfortably in his chair. Looking at Wallace, then at Morton for help and guidance and receiving none he finally answered. “What is being done to prevent murder here in our community? That's a good question. It is so good that I am going to allow Captain Wallace answer. After all, he is the commanding Officer of the Major Crime Squad. Captain answer the lady's question.”

Wallace looked at the Chief of Police, then at Morton. “Well Captain it appears as though you are the selected one. Would you care to answer the lady's question?”, asked Morton.

“Of course. Let me start by saying that no police department or police organization in any nation can prevent what you call murder. To suggest that the police could preclude such an incident is a mistake. Even if it were possible to assign a police officer in every home in Nautilus Beach there would still be the potentiality that such a crime could occur, even in the presence of the police. Allow me to give an example. No group of people are watched, supervised, studied and evaluated more than the inmates in our penitentiaries. The inmates or convicts, if you will, are housed together, in cells and cell blocks, behind concrete walls and constantly watched day and night. Yet, homicides do occur among the prison population. Until the day comes when police have the ability to read a person's mind and the Constitution of the United States allows that type of police activity, homicides or murder, as you call it will happen. And there is nothing that you or the police can do to prevent it from happening.”

“Thank you Captain”, said the caller.

“Alright. Next caller please”, said Morton.

“Hi, my name is Steve. I am well aware of the homicides that you have investigated and solved. My question to you Captain is, how many unsolved murders are you and your squad still investigating?”

“At present we have three, what we call cold case homicides that we are investigating. One such instance was what we call the “Jane Doe Murder”. The only facts that we have in this matter is that on January 23, 1970 the nude body of a Caucasian female washed up on the shore of Nautilus Beach. A pathological examination revealed that the victim was approximately twenty five to thirty years of age and had been strangled. There were no markings on the body such as scars or tattoos. Her fingerprints were taken and sent to both the New Jersey State police and the F.B.I. There were no results.

It is my opinion and let me state only my opinion that the victim was

murdered far out at sea. Keep in mind that in the nineteen sixties and seventies Eastern Block Nations were fishing off of the eastern coast of the United States. These ships and in particular the factory ships employed females as part of the crew. I believe that this woman was killed and tossed over the side. Eventually she washed up on our shore.

The second open