forced a smile at Vargas and said, “Well, Uncle Juan, if Roberto thinks you should be in control of the trust, then that’s fine with me. I am prepared to establish a new fund with a portion of our inheritance fund. I’m sure we can have the necessary documents ready by this time next week and then you can start building another successful investment venture.”
Vargas watched Rudy with one eye shut, as if studying him under a microscope. “Starting another fund is not what I had in mind,” Vargas said through his teeth.
The group was interrupted by a uniformed police officer escorting a short, round woman carrying a sword cradled in a towel. Rudy recognized the woman from early this morning with the vacuum.
“This was found in the maid’s closet on this floor,” the officer reported to Levy.
“This yours” Levy asked Rudy.
“No, it was brought here by one of Vargas’s men. I told him I needed a sword and he called someone to bring it here.”
“When was the sword delivered to you?” Levy asked.
Vargas came to attention and sounded out “Yesterday afternoon, so he could practice that night.” Rudy stood silent. “The boy can no longer travel around the world with his own equipment. You know, this terrorist crap. You can no longer fly with a finger nail clipper or a shaving razor, let alone a sword. I must take care of all these details for him,” Vargas said glaring at Rudy.
Rudy looked at the tarnished blade and said, “All of my swords are hand made to my specifications and feel. They have solid silver handles with my initials and surgical steel blades that are balanced to perfection. They are honed to be razor sharp and designed for a quick and merciful kill. The bulls dies a gallant and painless death. I am a hero to the spectators and the bull is a hero to the spectators. I win because I have better equipment than the toros. I do not venture into situations that are beyond my abilities.”
Levy looked at Rudy for a moment with a puzzled look on his face, but said nothing. He then told the officer to take the towel and sword from the woman and to process it for evidence.
Miller smiled a sneer at Vargas and said, “Well, now we have the possible murder weapon. It’s looking more and more like we have just cause to suspect that a murder may have taken place here.”
“Yes...yes, you are correct,” Vargas said. “I am beginning to see your reasoning.”
Rudy walked to the side of the blood stained bed and motioned to detective Levy to join him. “Detective, I received a deep wound to my left shoulder last night, standing just about where I am standing now. I used the bed sheet to stop the bleeding.” Rudy pulled the top strip of white tape from his bandaged shoulder. “These three staples and ten stitches were administered by Doctor Pamela Bean at New York General Hospital last night. No one was murdered here. I can assure you that no harm has come to my brother, Roberto.”
Rudy waited for Vargas to make another incriminating remark but instead Vargas turned on his heels and was heading for the door when he said, “Rudy, remember my office today at 3:00 P.M. to conclude our business.”
Rudy nodded his head to confirm the appointment as Vargas hurried away.
Miller watched the heavy man leave the room and then asked Rudy, “Is he a relative?”
“No, not really. I have called him Uncle all my life. He was one of only a few that I could call family after my parents drowned.”
Miller’s right eyebrow raised as he said, “Yeah, with that kind of family around you sure don’t’ need any enemies.”
Rudy took a long look at Miller and then said, “Yes, you’re right, I’m beginning to see a side of Uncle Juan that I’ve never seen before. He’s ready to sacrifice me for any reason available as long as it permits him to continue to control the family fortune. Or...is he implicated in some way with the whole pretense?”
Miller wondered what Rudy was implying but he said nothing. He patiently waited for any other pieces of information to come to light from Rudy’s thinking out loud.
Rudy closed his eyes for a moment and said, “I’m very tired and need sleep. My head’s swimming with all the accusations and lies. I can’t figure out some of the pieces to this puzzle. If you have what you came for, then perhaps you will permit me to go back to bed.”
Levy and Miller both silently nodded their heads in agreement. Levy said, “Mr. Rodriguez, we warn you not leave the city, we may need to talk to you again. Do you understand?”
Rudy nodded his head in the affirmative and said, “I’m sure when you talk to Roberto it will clear up everything.” The two detectives did not respond.
Levy ordered the other officers to wrap up their duties and leave. Rudy followed them to the door and locked it after they had gone. Rudy was grateful that the ordeal was coming to a close. Perhaps he should have called the police after the intruders tried to kill him. Perhaps he should have told the truth to the police detectives this morning. The life long deception was wearing on Rudy’s nerves. He wanted to have a clean break from his past. At the present, life seems so complicated. In less than 39 hours he would become one of the world’s richest men. He would then concentrate on his hunt to find the answers to what had happened to his parents’ yacht. He thought of Pamela. She should be warned about the police coming to question her. Rudy found the telephone book and searched for her name. Bean P. I., MD, that’s it. He dialed her number with anticipation, happy he would be hearing her voice again.
“Doctor Bean’s residence,” the woman on the phone answered. It was not Pamela’s voice.
“I’d like to speak to Pamela,” Rudy said.
“I’m sorry sir, she’s not available at the moment,” the woman said.
This is Rudy Rodriguez, and it’s very important that I speak with her,” he said.
“Is this a medical emergency?” she asked.
“No...no, it’s personal.” Rudy replied. “But, it is important that I talk to her before she goes to the hospital this evening.”
“I’ll be sure she gets your message, Mr. Rodriguez. Is there a number where she can return your call?’ The woman asked.
“Yes, please tell her to call The Ritz Hotel and ask for my suite,” Rudy answered.
“Yes sir,” the woman said and hung up on the phone. Rudy was disappointed that he did not get to hear Pamela’s voice. Perhaps he should go to her house and wait for her, he thought. No that would not do. He thought about how he would feel if Pamela camped out on his doorstep until he returned from some errand. He turned from the telephone table and aimlessly meandered to the rear bedroom. He closed the bedroom door behind him and removed his trousers as he made his way to the large inviting bed. Nude, he crawled between the cool sheets and laid flat on his stomach. Again, his thoughts were about Pamela and moments later he was fast asleep.
The pounding on the door seemed to go on non-stop. “Mr. Rodriguez...Mr. Rodriguez, open up,” came the call from the hotel corridor. Rudy opened his eyes and looked around the room. It looked vaguely familiar. Where am I? he thought. What’s all the uproar about? The pounding from the front door continued. He looked at the clock on the night stand, 10:30 A.M. Someone was calling his name at the door and interrupting his sleep. Rudy dragged himself out of bed and pulled on his trousers as he staggered to the front door. He surely must be damned and would spend the rest of eternity wandering through purgatory without enough sleep. “Okay...okay, I’m coming. I hope this isn’t complimentary room service,” he shouted to the person pounding on the door. He unbolted the lock and swung the door wide open. Two strapping men in dark suits stood before him. A deep voice asked “Are you Mr. Rodriguez?”
“Yes I am,” Rudy replied.
“Mr. Rodriguez, you’re wanted at police headquarters to answer some questions,” the bigger of the two men said in the same deep, no nonsense voice.
“But