Duplicity - A True Story of Crime and Deceit by Paul Goldman (surface ebook reader txt) 📗

speak to Sergeant Kowalski, she perked right up,grateful to have something to do and eager to get out from behindthe desk. She quickly led me into a small interview room, where Iwas told the Sergeant would be right in. Within a minute’s time, ayoung, casually dressed man entered the room and shut the door.

“I’m Sergeant Kowalski,”he said, extending his hand in a perfunctory act of courtesy. “Whatcan I help you with today?” Sergeant Kowalski pulled the metalchair out from under the cold metal table and sat directly acrossfrom me. The sound of the chair made a screech that caused me towince while the sergeant began a rather annoying habit of clickinghis pen repeatedly. If this was his tactic to deter chronicgrumblers determined to waste police time, it was unsuccessful. Allit did was annoy me.

“I have reason to believethat Audrey Munson, my wife, is a prostitute and madam of a largeprostitution ring operating in and around Palm Beach,” I statedconfidently, spreading all my documents out before the sergeant whowas still clicking away at his pen. I went on to share mysuspicions about Audrey and her associates, and to detail myinvestigation so far. I brought photos of Audrey and handed them tothe sergeant.

“I've never seen her,” hesaid, “but I'll pass them around.”

“I've made copies of allthe evidence for you, Sergeant,” I said, handing him two largestacks.

“Well,” he said, standingabruptly, terminating the meeting. “Thank you for coming in, Mr.Goldman. I’ll take a closer look at this and let you know what Ithink.” Before I could thank him for his time, he was out of theroom and heading back down the hall with the click of his penmarking his cadence.

“Thanks, Sergeant,” Imuttered to myself. I was deflated by his imperial manner and leftthe room.

Disappointed by my failureto establish any real communication with the police, frustrated bythe slow process of surveillance, and irritated by my lawyer’scontinuing skepticism, I decided it was time to call Bill Townsend,the man possibly impersonating Charlie Watson, and see where thatconversation might lead. After I got home, I dialed his officenumber and his secretary was kind enough to put me rightthrough.

“Mr. Townsend,” I began,much more certain of my words than I was with Charlie Watson, “myname is Paul Goldman and I'm the husband of Audrey Munson. I'mcalling to warn you that Audrey marries men for the sole purpose ofstealing their assets and then divorces them.” I paused and calmlyawaited his response.

“I have no idea who AudreyMunson is, but go on.”

“Well, let me tell youwhat she did to me and to her second husband, a man named BobThompson.” I proceeded to give him the shorter, fifteen minuteversion of my story, which he listened to quietly, save theoccasional “uh huh” at various points. “Well, Mr. Townsend, now youknow everything. If you want to keep having sex with her, go rightahead, but for God’s sake, don’t marry her.” Too much had happenedto mince words; I was determined to relay my message whether hewanted to hear it or not.

“Well, like I said, Idon’t know Audrey Munson, but thanks for the warning.Bye.”

And with that, he hung up. Odd, I thought.This very busy man who claimed not to know Audrey still listenedattentively to every detail of my story. He knew her, I concluded,but since he was misrepresenting himself as another man, I wasn'tsure if he was Audrey's next victim or a satisfied customer.

* * *

Ten days passed without a word from SergeantKowalski of the Palm Beach Police department. Restless because ofmy investigation’s lack of recent progress, I decided to call himinstead of waiting for him to call.

“Sergeant Kowalski, thisis Paul Goldman. I sat down with you last week and gave youinformation about Audrey Munson. Since I haven't heard from you, Iwas wondering if you could tell me how things weregoing?”

“Mr. Goldman, our officeis not going to pursue an investigation,” he declared, obviouslyannoyed by my impertinent call.

“Why not?”

“We don’t feel that thereis enough activity in our jurisdiction to warrant furtherinvestigation.” It occurred to me that he probably never intendedto call me back.

“Not enough activity? Butthe Queen Palm Hotel in Palm Beach is one of the main ones sheuses.”

“Sorry, Mr. Goldman,”though we both knew he wasn’t. “That’s our decision. But I havesent the file to the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Department fortheir review. Their jurisdiction is the whole county, all of PalmBeach County.”

“Okay, tha-- ” and againhe was gone before I could say another word. The conversation notonly left me irritated, but also confused. According to Terri,Audrey worked very ritzy hotels, and the most ritzy were in PalmBeach. Furthermore, Bob Thompson told me that Audrey often went toPalm Beach hotels to pick up men. In fact, he originally met Audreyin a Palm Beach bar. Anyway, I was not giving up just because ourpublic non-servant didn’t believe there was anything toinvestigate. There were other police departments and I would not bedeterred. I immediately called the Spencer County Sheriff’s Office;Spencer County being the one in which both Audrey and Royce lived.Doubting that this department could say that there wasn't enoughactivity in their area, I confidently asked the receptionist toconnect me with someone in their vice unit.

“Tobias,” the man answeredcurtly.

“Are you a vice officer?”I asked, determined not to waste any more time.

“Yes I am. How can I helpyou?”

“I have information abouta large prostitution ring whose pimp and madam live in yourjurisdiction.”

“What’s the pimp’s name?”he asked, his tone devoid of emotion or inflection.

“Royce Rocco.”

“Oh, yes, we knowhim.”

“You know him?” I asked,surprised and elated by the admission.

“Yes.”

“Well, I think we need tomeet so I can give you the information I have obtained.”

“Fine, when would you liketo meet? ” he asked. Agent Tobias seemed to be interested, and Iwas happy that he was willing to meet with me.

“How abouttomorrow?”

“Fine, come to the stationat noon.”

“I’ll bethere.”

“Fine.” I hung up thephone, pleased to have found someone who might actually take realaction. That made me feel more than fine. So excited was I that Ineeded to share the news with someone who shared my interest andinvestment in the case: Bob Thompson. I immediately called him upand told him