PATSY by Kenneth L. Ehrenthal (fantasy novels to read .txt) 📕

everyone; I'm better than all of you.  I can take on a case that no one else will, spend all my time, energy, and wealth to free this man.  What bullshit.  But sometimes that is exactly how I feel.  That of course is the nub of this depression.  Why do I have to be so great?  What is the deeper urgency to gain everyone respect?  And of course the real contradiction is that I know I don't.  Do we all live a fraud?  And if we do, why is it my job, the biggest fraud of all to publicize theirs?  And look how nefarious this has become; I can justify the whole thing by freeing and innocent man.  Heidi, no one is Innocent.”

”But it goes deeper.  Remember when we went to the church.  I left there pretty depressed.  As I remember we talked about the waste of resources to build the edifice for god.  We really don't know if god cares or not, or even for that matter if there is anyone to see it or hear it.  I think that you are right.  We do it for us, and in that way we can feel closer to, whatever god you believe in.” 

”In the interest of the investment that I make in myself, with my compulsion to do good, I become, I hope to others, god like.  Now isn't that a good reason to become depressed.  I go from a feeling of selflessness to the most egocentric person there is, I am god!”

"Oh Sid", said Heidi.  Don’t we all have those feelings at times?  Don't we all step back from situations, especially when being lauded by others and knowingly think....I really didn't do much, but if you want to offer kudos and compliments, I'll take it!  We all live with insecurities, some hide them and deal with them better than others.  Please accept also this....I am not taking this issue lightly and I deeply respect that this does bother you.  We have to talk more!" 

 
 
 
 
 
Chapter 31
 
 
Since he bought the villa on St. Croix, McGinty's life had changed.  He had lost some weight, began to eat more healthily, and even had improved his
relationship with Mary Catherine.  He was able to go to St. Croix three times a year.  Over the long Christmas - New Years stretch the whole family went there.  Being in the warm climate, away from the short cold snowy days in New York, revitalized their systems.  In the evenings just sitting on the veranda, drinking, watching the dip down into the ocean seemed the best possible world.  It was always a bitter sweet feeling when they boarded the plane for home.
 
Of course the other two times he went there he shared the veranda with Sarah.  Not that he ever saw her in the City.  While rarely seeing her on weekends, he usually was able to spend at least one day a week there and even some overnights.  For Sarah, the situation was the best possible situation.  She had no strings.  She kept her job.  She lived in a ritzy neighborhood, rent free.  On nights McGinty wasn't there she could go out with her friends to the best restaurants in New York, she could afford them.  She even rented a car and on the long weekends she could drive all over the New York, New Jersey, Connecticut area.
 
On August 25th, Sarah Alpert had her 28th birthday.  Walter had arranged to come over that night to celebrate.  He brought a beautiful birthday cake.  He brought her a simple pair of diamond and gold ear-rings.  They fell into bed about 11 pm.  McGinty slipped out about 5 in the morning.  Two weeks later Moog woke up with a terrible headache.  It concerned her because she was not the headache type.  It went away by noon and she forgot about.  Several days later she woke from a deep sleep, when into the bathroom and threw-up.  People these day don't go to a doctor when they think they are pregnant, they go to the Drug Store.  The little indicator said, "Yes".  Sarah Alpert was pregnant.  She had very mixed feelings.  Initially she was scared, how can I have a baby, and then she became excited.  This could be the biggest and best thing that had ever happened to her.  She would tell Walter, he would divorce his wife, marry her and they would start a new family.  The euphoria lasted about five minutes.  That little fantasy was just that. What made her think that they would divorce and marry her?  This is the 21st century.  Single women were having babies all the time and I’ll bet plenty of them don’t even know who the father is.  Of course she could also end the pregnancy.  (She hated the term abortion.)  But, didn’t Thomas deserve to know and perhaps be part of the decision?    She would wait and find the most appropriate time to tell him.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Chapter 32
 
On Monday morning Sid, called Margie into his office.  "Is everyone here? He asked” Yes", she said.  "Could you ask them to come into my office?"  The all squeezed into the office.  "We need to get two bits of information."  "First we need to find out who Ms. Alpert boy friend was, and second whether he had access to her apartment.  I know it's been almost four years ago, but there has to be away to get it.  Maybe George can help with that, Margie could you call George and ask him to come in sometime this afternoon.  I have to be in court all morning."  
 
George walked into the World Wide Travel, Associates and was greeted by a smiling woman.  She ushered him into a seat in front of her desk with a large computer on it.  All around the office were procures depicting beautiful cities, beaches, and smiling faces, just the kind of place to wet ones appetite for travel.  "Well sir", she said, "if your looking for a perfect get-away you've come to the right place.  Where would you like to go?"  George smiled, "Looking around here, it seems that it won't make much difference everybody looks happy anyplace."  She sat back, "just name you place and we'll get you there!"  "Before I book my paradise, I’d like to ask you a dew questions.” Oh sir", she said, "I'm a duly registered professional travel agent and I've had lots of experience booking place for, if I may say so, for good looking older gentleman like yourself."  "I'm sure you have," said George.  "And yes those are some of the questions I have, but there are several others.  I came in here about 4, 5 years ago.  There was another pretty young woman who took care of me.  Is she still here?"  The agent was quiet for a moment, the smile off her face.  "If you mean Sarah, she's not here any more." 
 
George looking disappointed continued.  She did such a good job on my last vacation that I really wanted to work with her.  Has she gone to another agency?  "I believe that Sarah died several years ago.  She's dead, said George, she was so young."  Yes, it was very sudden and tragic."  It seems that Sarah was murdered.  George sat back in shock.  "Murdered?  "And they caught the killer and he's now in jail for life."  "For life", said George, "they should have fried that "bastard", oops pardon my language, but she was such a kind and very professional agent.  I'm very disappointed and shocked."  "We were good friends and maybe I can in at least help you on the travel end of it replace her professionalism.  Give me a chance." 

George thought, then said   "I just can't get her out of my mind.  Maybe if I talk about it, I'll feel better about letting you help me".  "I'm all ears", she said.  As I remember we talked about a lot of things, let's see if I can remember.  She told me that she had just or was just about to move into a new apartment, and she had a new boy friend, she seemed very happy."  "Yes", the agent said, "she was very effusive about the turn her life was taking.  Seems on an evaluation trip, we all do these, we want to be able to recommend places from first hand experience, and she met him.  She met her new boyfriend, I believe, on her trip to St. Croix.  She came back as though she were floating on cloud nine
I've been to St. Croix myself, and while it is a nice place, there are many others, that I consider better.  I believe that the man also came from New York and it seemed that they were going to continue the relationship here.  She really must have loved St .Croix, because every chance she got, she went back."  "St. Croix, huh!"  "It was after she came back the first time that she moved into her new apartment.  "Let's see, said George, I came in about 5 years ago, was that before this "change of circumstance or after."  "If it was 5 years ago, that was probably before."  George got up.  "You know, I'm feeling so bad about that poor girl that I don't think I'm in the mood for planning, now.  But I promise that when I am, I'll come right back to you." “Promise?” she asked him.  "Absolutely", said George leaving.      
                                                      
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Chapter 33
 
 
During the usual Friday meeting both George and Winthrop were able to report the new information they had gathered.  George related the St. Croix
boyfriend connection and Winthrop made it very clear the in her opinion Walter McGinty was the person responsible for both the security hold on the trial records, and the witness safe houses, in the DA's office.  Heidi asked,
"Is there a connection between Sarah Alpert and McGinty, or someone close to McGinty?"  Sid perked up.  "We have been making good progress.  We know a lot more about Alpert, now I think we have to hone in on McGinty."  Marie chimed in, “I think that St. Croix is involved in a very big way.  She went there many times and her boyfriend is involved there, also.  I know it's been 4 years since she was there, but maybe some there will remember something."  "George", said Sid, "do you think that your travel agent friend could tell you which hotel she stayed at or was investigating."  George said, with a wink, "only if I get to go there." Sid said "We'll discuss that later!"

Saturday morning, George calls and tells Sid, that the name of the hotel was the American and he had to plan a trip there before he could get the information.  I had to tell her some story about knowing Alpert and liking her and wanting to see places she approved of starting on St. Croix.  She tried to convince me to go to Ocho Rios, in Jamaica, she had a bargain rate there and she liked that place better than St. Croix.  But he insisted.  "When do I leave", he said.  Who said Sid, "we'll take about that on Monday, in the afternoon, and you know morning court."

Heidi over heard some of the conversation with George.  "Sid," she said, "we deserve a vacation, why don't we go to St. Croix?  "Sweetheart, I think that's great idea, but we're going to have a very disappointed George on our hands."


 
 
 
 
 
 
Chapter 34
 
 
Traveling by air used to be an exciting experience.  Now for some, they'd rather take a bus.  If your