DUMPSITE, Page 24

  Svetleva (the fake Belle) calculated that when they turned around they would be between two, three hours behind her on the return trip. Gerald and Jewel should be around the Toledo, Ohio area about now. She was just passing Pittsburgh and heading northeast to cross Pennsylvania, by way of Route 80.

  “I’m finally getting a message from Svetty,” says Jewel. “Wow, listen to this.”

  Gerald laughs. “Can you believe it; the guy was right under our noses and we didn’t see it.”

  “I’m the one who didn’t see it,” says Jewel. “I almost finished him off; the information would be in a grave.”

  “No worries,” Gerald says. “We’re heading for Fair Lawn. Ask Svetty where she is and if she’s meeting up with us in Fair Lawn?”

  Jewel sends a text. Svetty reads it and answers with, I’m on my way to Fair Lawn, just entered Ohio about a half hour ago. What do you want me to do?

  Jewel relays the message to Gerald. “Tell her we’ll meet her there.”

  Svetty, reads the text and smiles.

  ~

  It was a typical cold, brisk fall morning in Chicago. Sean and Michael had set the alarm for 5:00am. They stretched and yawned but the adrenaline rush gave them a burst of energy. They showered shaved and readied for the coming day. It was to be a day to remember for some and a day to forget for others.

  The phone rang. Sean answered, talked briefly and told Michael all was set to go. They didn’t talk much as their minds were going through the possibilities the diamonds would give them after they were obtained. There was a hint of a smile on each face as they headed for a cup of coffee and a donut at the free breakfast counter in the lobby.

  “Where are we meeting with the Chicago crew?” asked Michael.

  “There is a pub two blocks west of the old furniture store. We’ll all meet there,” answered Sean.

  “How many men will we have?

  “There should be twelve men ready when we get there.”

  “Let’s go. We don’t want to be late.”

  They got up and left for the pub. They arrived in twenty minutes finding six cars parked in front of the pub. The owner had opened early for his guests. They parked around the corner and headed to the door. After the normal salutations they got down to business. One of the Chicago guys spoke first.

  “The furniture store burned down a couple of years ago but there was a sign on the fence with an address which said where the new store location was.”

  “And where is the new location,” Sean asked.

  “A couple of blocks up 38th Street and a quick left,” the large man said, “we sent Dawg and Annter to get the information we need. They should be back shortly.”

  No sooner had the explanation been made then the door opened. The men had the

  information.

  “The woman at the furniture store told us two others, a man and a woman, were asking the same questions yesterday,” said Dawg.

  “That’s right,” repeated Annter.

  “They didn’t seem to know each other, she told us.”

  “That’s right,” repeated Annter.

  “All right, let’s hear the information,” Sean demanded.

  “There is a door inside the fence which leads to the basement. Where the files will show who purchased the case. The time when the case was in the possession of the store is somewhere between 1973 and 1978.” Dawg said.

  “That’s right,” repeated Annter.

  “How do we get inside the fence?” questioned Michael.

  “Easy! In the northwest corner there is a cut in the chain link fence which will let us in without cutting any of the locks. Or - we could also cut the locks,” responded Dawg.

  “That’s rig…”

  Sean interrupted. “Let’s cut the locks and get into the basement. Anybody have a flashlight?”

  “There must be one behind the bar,” suggested one of the men.

  “How do you want to work this?” Sean asked.

  “Maybe half of us spread out and watch up top while the rest of you hit the basement.”

  “Yeah, good let’s do it!”

  The men split up. Seven would spread out and station themselves at various points around the block. They would be on the lookout for any strange movement. The rest would go into the basement and search the records. Some would stand at the bottom of the stairs and spread out as needed.

  The locks were cut and the men headed to the door which would lead to the basement.

  The FBI had been stationed in the area since four in the morning waiting for Sean and his cronies to arrive. They would quietly arrest some of the men standing around the block while trying not to stir up the others. If they could take out four, maybe five, without arousing the others their job would almost be over.

  The arrests went smoothly. Well almost, two of the thugs tried to get away but in doing so didn’t give the remaining two men any sign of trouble. All it cost the FBI was a bruise on one agents left arm and a small headache for another. Now they needed to get the two men who were standing near the corner.

  A quick plan was formulated. Three agents would carry a large 8x12 inch, 20-foot-long wood beam. They would dress as construction workers. The middle man would not be holding the beam but have a gun in the ready as they approached. The other man would naturally look over to see if anything was out of line. At the same time as the beam was passing by the man on the other corner would be subdued by three agents and quickly dragged out of sight. As the men with the beam passed by their man the middle agent would subdue his target.

  All went as planned. A contingent of agents rushed into the area where the door to the basement was and slammed it shut. They threw some heavy objects over the door and waited for their next order.

  Meanwhile in the basement Sean and his men were going through the files. They had found the door unlocked and had made their way in. All had sat down to go through the files. Leaving the basement door unguarded. They heard the door slam.

  “Go see what happened,” instructed an overly secure Sean.

  “Looks like the wind may have blown the door shut,” said Dawg.

  “That’s right,” repeated Annter.

  “See if you can open the door while we continue with the files,” Michael told them.

  “It’s jammed,” hollered Dawg.

  “That’s right,” repeated Annter.

  “If he repeats something else, I’ll shoot his big toe off,” Sean declared.

  Everybody laughed!

  “Could someone call one of the men above and get some help?” Michael questioned.

  Dawg called his friend Toad. “Tell Sean I want to speak to him,” came a strange voice.

  “It’s for you Sean,” Dawg said.

  “That’s rig…

  “Shut him up!” screamed Sean.

  “Hello, this is Sean.”

  “Hello to you as well! This is Agent Weisman, you and your cronies are under arrest.”

  Sean shut down the phone. “The FBI has your friends phone, try to call someone else.”

  Several calls were made but Agent Weisman answered all the phones.

  “Looks like things aren’t working out as we planned,” said Michael.

  “Doesn’t look good,” agreed Sean.

  Dawg called his boss, but there was no answer. They all agreed they were pinched.

  Dawg’s phone rang.

  “We will open the door. Each man comes up the stairs alone. When he is at the top the next man starts up the stairs. Is that understood?”

  Dawg had the phone set for all to listen. They agreed. One by one they started up the stairs. One, two, three all the way to six.

  “Where’s Sean?”

  A shot rang out, everyone ducked. A voice could be heard.

  “Help me I’m shot; my foot has a bullet hole. I need help getting up the stairs.”

  It was Sean.

  “Michael you go down and get
him. No funny business,” said Weisman.

  Within moments the two men came crawling up the stairs. The seamless operation had the FBI giving Weisman all the kudos he could handle. He was happy to be getting them, after all the setbacks he had suffered.

  “Well done men,” was all he could say.

  After the crew, all fourteen of them, were escorted into police vans and taken away, Solly called for Jonas to come to the store and told him to bring M&M. They were only a few blocks away sitting in their car. They appeared at the site quickly.

  “Time to get to the diamonds and the case,” said Solly while Weisman was finishing up with the police personnel. “Is this or should I say was this the store where you sold the case? And was this the same store where you stopped to see if it was still there?”

  “I think it was. It looks like the same corner; it’s hard to tell,” said a not too sure Jonas.

  “I used to stop at the bar down the street once or twice a week back in my drinking days,” said Mudd.

  It went through Muddy’s mind that he had purchased a large decorative Spanish looking piece of furniture which the saleslady told him was a locker from the captain’s quarters of a sailing ship, but he thought better of it. After all Helen didn’t like it and he had hid it away so as not to remind her or himself of what he had purchased while under the influence. He had made many such purchases through the years. Most of which Helen didn’t care for. The next day, he didn’t care for them either.

  “Let’s go down to the basement where Sean and his crew were searching. Time for us to do the same,” Solly said.

  “I’ll wait up here if you don’t mind,” Jonas suggested.

  “We’ll call you if we need you.”

  M&M, Jonas and a few other agents waited for the results. Nothing was forth coming. After almost an hour they all came up the stairs from the basement with long faces. They had found nothing concerning the case with the diamonds. Some of the 1977 files were found missing.

  “1977, I was here in Chicago,” Jonas said.

  “Me too,” added Muddy.

  Solly’s phone rang. “Hello, who is this? Oh, hey Noodles. What can I do for you?”

  “Ask not what you can do for me, but what I can do for you!”

  “Go on, Noodles.”

  Noodles told Solly what his son, Sky had laid on him earlier in the day. He had an address on Southern Drive. It all added up to a trip to Fair Lawn, New Jersey. Solly would give the information to Weisman but keep it from Mudd until they arrived in New Jersey or at the house in Fair Lawn. He wanted to see the surprise on Mudd’s face when they went to his parents’ house on Southern Drive.

  Forty — Fair Lawn! Are You Sure?

  Fair Lawn, New Jersey was the place to be. Belle (the real Svetleva) was on her way, Gerald and Jewel were following close behind and the FBI was flying into town via Teterboro Airport. Mervin was not to be found.

  Mervin wasn’t really missing. He had met some friends from Philly and completely forgot about the case and the diamonds. When he recovered from the hangover and the pills he had popped, three days had passed. When he was reminded of all the riches he had been talking about; he quickly made plans to see if he wasn’t too late. He was two days too late. All he got from his so-called friends was a beating. They took all his money and left him in the gutter by the remains of the fenced in furniture store. He awoke shivering while lying on a cold windy street in Chicago. As he came to his senses he grabbed for his shoe, his right shoe where he kept a $100 bill just for an occasion like this. It was still there. He would have a bourbon, head to the station and catch a bus to Philly. He hasn’t been heard from by his Philly friends. He may still be traveling as his money only got him to Toledo, Ohio.

  Belle arrived at 33-26 Southern Drive in the quiet town of Fair Lawn just after 2:30 in the afternoon, it had a for rent sign on the front lawn. She noticed at least one car with two men watching the house. FBI, she said to herself. I’ll go look at the sign and call the Real Estate for a quick appointment. She did and drove away. She would return in thirty minutes to meet the agent for a look at the rental property.

  Gerald and Jewel were making good time; however, they were almost three hours behind Belle.

  The FBI plane was in the air and would be landing in forty minutes. The drive to Fair Lawn by way of Route 46 west to Route 17 north to Route 4 west and a right on 34th Street which ended at Southern Drive, would take about fifteen minutes, should the traffic allow. They would be there before Gerald and Jewel.

  When the fake Belle spotted a car parking at the house, she headed back down 34th Street. She met the agent. They looked around the property and then entered the house. Belle realized the house was completely empty. She asked if she could look in the attic and the basement. She knocked on some of the walls. She didn’t know why; it seemed appropriate. After spending a half hour looking she became depressed, realizing there was nothing in the house. She thanked the agent and told her she would call in the morning if her husband wanted to see the property.

  As Belle drove away she decided to call Jonas. If there was any chance of getting the diamonds he would have the information. She called. Leaving a message, she had come to her senses and was returning to Chateau 54. She apologized and told Jonas she would be in touch. She remembered to use the Southern drawl. It was getting dark as Belle headed down the Parkway.

  The FBI had to wait an extra thirty minutes before landing as the airport was backed up. When they landed the cars they needed hadn’t arrived. They lost another hour and a half before they started up the road to Fair Lawn. Muddy still had no clue where they were going.

  Gerald and Jewel, played the role of a married couple. They had called the agent after finding the number on line. They met at the house. He showed them the inside as it was too dark for a walk around the yard. Jewel and Gerald made a thorough search of the house. The attic, the basement and they knocked on almost every wall. They were disappointed; they started to ask the agent questions he felt were not relevant. They asked if the house had been renovated recently or if there was a shed on the outside, he answered, “Not to my knowledge.” Feeling uncomfortable, he flatly told them that he was leaving and they had to go. Jewel got upset. Gerald tried to calm her but she would have none of it. The real estate agent headed for the door with Jewel in close pursuit. He managed to get out the door but she tackled him. He got up and started running to the street screaming for help. By this time Gerald had caught up to Jewel; they both grabbed the frightened agent.

  As this was going on the FBI stakeout noticed the Real Estate Agent followed by two others coming out of the house. Four men from two cars headed to the area where Jewel, Gerald and the Real Estate man were about to engage. They seized both Jewel and Gerald. Read them their rights and cuffed them. They all headed into the house. They called their Superior and were connected to Weisman’s phone. He told them, hold on to them they would be there in less then ten minutes.

  Belle had arrived at the Chateau. She needed to think before acting. She would wait before she called Jonas again, maybe in the morning, she thought. Jonas suite looked good but she decided to go to a motel.

  “Hey, where are you guys going? This is my hometown!” Mudd told anyone willing to listen. (most people never listened to Muddy)

  “Oh, really,” said Agent Weisman.

  “Yeah! Really. I lived here as a kid in fact I lived in the house you’re pulling up to.”

  “Muddy, you all right?” Mother asked. “What’re we doing at your parents’ house?”

  “I think I’m all right. What the heck is happening? Why are we at my house?”

  “We’ll find out soon,” Jonas said.

  “Mr. Mudd, do you still own this house?” asked Agent Weisman.

  “Yeah, I own it.”

  “Come with me Mr. Mudd,” an agent requested.

  “Who me? What have I done? I’m innocent. You’re not the IRS, are you?”

&n
bsp; “No! We’re the FBI,” said Weisman, “why is this house of such interest to everyone connected with the case of diamonds?”

  “You’re asking me?” Mudd told him. “I’ve been renting the house through a Real Estate firm to supplement my income.”

  “There’s no law against renting your house, but there must be a reason why this place is the center of attention.”

  “I wish it was the center of attention,” Mudd said, “maybe I could keep it rented.”

  “Everybody inside the house,” Solly said. “We have to get to the bottom of this tonight.”

  “I’m glad we’re going inside it’s getting cold out here,” bantered Muddy.

  As everyone entered the house there was Gerald and Jewel handcuffed and sitting on the floor. There was amazement on some faces and unbelief on others.

  “She’s the broad who kidnapped me!” yelled Muddy.

  “Calm down Mudd!” Mother said as he asked. “What’s going on?”

  “You’ll know as soon as we get to the heart of the situation,” said Agent Weisman. “We know you purchased an item in Chicago, Mr. Mudd.”

  “I purchased lots of stuff in Chicago,” said a miffed Muddy.

  “Here’s the situation in a nut shell,” Weisman continued. “We know Jonas left the case with the diamonds at a used furniture store. We also know it was sold to an inebriated man who talked without breathing.”

  “A what, who did what?” Mudd asked.

  “A quote from Ms. Hudson, of Chicago,” said Weisman. “Now we’re standing in an empty house where supposedly the case has passed through. By the way there is a $3,000,000 reward for the recovery of the Star of LaMar. Do we have any takers?”

  Silence ensued in the living room of Muddy’s childhood home.

  When all looked lost, Solly suggested they show the various pictures of the case to Jonas so they could focus on the correct case.