Murder & The Monkey Band: High Desert Cozy Mystery Series Read online

  Early the next morning Jim called his mother and said, “Hi, mom, sorry about our argument yesterday. I want to apologize for acting so badly. It was just such a shock to think you’d do something that Brian clearly did not want done. Have you thought any more about it?”

  “Yes, and although I’m sorry you feel the way you do, I think Brian made a mistake when he left Amy out of his Will. I clearly was the other woman, and I have no idea how much psychological damage the breakup of the marriage did to Amy, but I’m sure there was some. I know this isn’t going to make you happy, but I have an appointment with my attorney later this week, and I’m going to change my Will. Brian was a wealthy man, and there will still be plenty for everyone.”

  “Well, it’s your money and your decision. If you feel it’s important to do that, I’ll respect your wishes. Are you still planning on me being the Executor?”

  “Yes, you live locally here in Palm Springs. Since Amy’s in San Francisco and Marilyn’s in Los Angeles it would make sense for you to take care of it.”

  “As healthy as you are, I’m sure that won’t be something I’ll have to do for a long, long time. Love you! Gotta go.”

  He ended the call. Sorry I have to do this, Mom, but I’m only doing what Brian wanted. Jim walked over to his desk, unlocked the center drawer and withdrew the Will his mother had given him for safekeeping several years earlier. He read it to make sure the Will stated that he and his sister, Marilyn, were named as the only beneficiaries other than his mother’s long-time housekeeper, Rosa, who was to be given the sum of $25,000. He considered forging his mother’s signature on a new Will that left Marilyn out, but he couldn’t think of a way to do it that wouldn’t cause his sister and brother-in-law to make life very difficult for him and which might ultimately cause him to be exposed as a forger.

  There’s nothing else I can do. If she draws up a new Will, I’m down to one-fourth of her estate. If I’m going to do something about it, it’s got to be done in the next couple of days, before she goes to see her attorney.

  Jim walked over to one of the walls in his home office and removed the painting that hung there. He twirled a combination lock on the wall safe hidden behind the painting and opened it. For a moment he stood there and simply looked at the .9mm pistol in the safe.

  Fortunately I know the code to turn off the alarm system in her home, and even though Mom’s been talking on and off about getting a dog, right now she’s by herself, and that will make this ugly little task pretty easy. I should be able to get in and out with no problem. I never thought I’d have to use this pistol on my mother, but then again, I’ve been planning on this money for a long time, and I’m not willing to give half of it away to Amy. She’d probably go through it all in a few months, giving it away to one of those non-profit organizations she’s so involved with.

  CHAPTER 3

  Henry Siegelman looked out the window of his La Quinta home, a wealthy enclave on the outskirts of Palm Springs, California, and thought about what he needed to say to Pam Jensen when he called her. Satisfied, he dialed her number.

  “Hello, Pam, it’s Henry Siegelman calling. I was wondering if you’ve given any more thought to what we talked about last week.”

  “I’m not ready to sell, Henry, and I doubt that I ever will be,” she said. “We’ve had this conversation more times than I care to remember. I love my Meissen china collection, and I have no intention of selling it. I’m sorry, but it’s a hobby and an investment that brings me a great deal of pleasure.”

  “Look, Pam, we both know we probably have the two best private Meissen collections in the world. My collection is my life. If you won’t sell me your entire collection, at least sell me the three pieces you have of the Monkey Band that I need to finish my set. You’ll be a wealthy woman if you sell them to me.”

  “I’m already a wealthy woman, Henry. This is the last time I want to hear from you. I’m willing my collection, including the pieces from the Monkey Band to my children, and they can decide what to do with it when I die, but according to my doctor, that shouldn’t be for quite awhile. I appreciate your persistence, but this subject is finished. Good-bye.”

  After the call ended Henry walked over to the wall where he’d installed custom-made glass-fronted shelving. His Meissen china collection was dramatically displayed on shelves which stretched thirty feet along the wall and were five rows high in the family room of his spacious home. Special lighting had been installed that cast a soft light on the various pieces of his collection, highlighting the magnificent colors and designs. The shelving had been bolted to the walls to make it earthquake proof, and he had carefully secured each piece to the shelving with a special wax made specifically to keep displayed antiques and collectibles in place.

  Henry had become interested in Meissen china when he was an art history major in college many years ago, and a professor had shown the class a slide show of different types of china and their history. He’d been away at college when both of his parents had died in a tragic home fire, and as the only child of the union, he’d inherited a great deal of money.

  Shortly after graduating from college he’d gone to the Meissen museum in Germany and spent days studying all the various types of Meissen china and the different marks on the backs and bottoms of the pieces that indicated a fake from an authentic piece of the hard paste porcelain. The Meissen signature logo was crossed swords in a blue underglaze, and once you’d seen the original mark, it was fairly easy to spot a fake. Although China had started producing hard-paste porcelain in the 8th century, it wasn’t until 1708 that the first European hard-paste porcelain was produced at a factory in Meissen, Germany.

  The European aristocracy quickly embraced the detailed landscapes, port scenes, animals, flowers, and courtly scenes depicted on most of the Meissen pieces. There was a strong Asian influence in much of the work, as there was in many of the decorative items of the time. The broad palette of colors was appropriate for the bright colors which dominated the 18th century costumes and decorative arts. Small figurines and animals were very much in evidence during this time as well as all types of dinnerware.

  Soon Henry felt confident enough to begin buying, and within a few years he’d amassed a large collection of early Meissen pieces. He began employing people in different countries around the world who went to auctions and galleries and bought Meissen pieces for him after he’d researched the sale prices. His reputation for owning one of the finest Meissen collections was well known in the world of antiques.

  Henry had been approached many years earlier by a man who had offered to sell him a very important 18th century Meissen piece. Henry researched it and found out that it was stolen. He’d bought it anyway, and it was soon followed by other stolen pieces he’d added to his collection. After all, he reasoned, his collection was just for him, and he was the only person who gained satisfaction from looking at the uniquely beautiful pieces. He had no need to share it with others, and over the last few years most of his purchases had come from the black market rather than being purchased from galleries or at auctions. It was enough for him to know that he was the one who possessed the pieces.

  He remembered when an intermediary had first contacted him and offered him several pieces of the Meissen Monkey Band. The pieces had been made in the original 18th century molds in 1746 and were almost impossible to purchase on the open market. The Monkey Band was created by Johann Joachim Kaendler, the most celebrated and famous of the Meissen sculptors. The Monkey Band consisted of a twenty-two piece set of figurines, each approximately five inches in height, depicting monkeys dressed in colorful costumes playing various different musical instruments. They were based on the satirical illustrations of the French artist Christophe Huet and included the monkey conductor of the band who was whimsically perched on the shoulders of another monkey as he directed the band.

  Each piece was created in the “singerie” style of elegant monkeys which was very popular with the French aristocracy during the 18th
century. He couldn’t explain why, but he became absolutely infatuated with the Monkey Band figurines from the moment he first saw them. Privately he wondered if he’d lived in that century and had something to do with the Monkey Band. He’d even wondered if he’d been Kaendler and now was reincarnated as a wealthy man, so he could buy his previous work. That was something he kept to himself, rather certain that people wouldn’t understand that type of thinking.

  Original pieces dating from mid-eighteenth century in perfect condition brought about $75,000 to $80,000 for each of the twenty-two pieces of the Monkey Band and that was when they were available, which was rarely. There had been a theft of some eighteenth century Monkey Band pieces, and the theft had been written up in numerous antique magazines. The owner had posted a large reward for their return. Henry had been very pleased that he was the one the intermediary had contacted about the stolen pieces. Those were the first pieces he’d bought of the twenty-two piece Meissen Monkey Band. After he purchased the first Monkey Band pieces, he’d become consumed with wanting to own the entire Monkey Band set and within a few years he’d been able to collect all of them with the exception of three pieces: the hurdy gurdy player; the conductor of the band; and the bagpiper. His Meissen collection was his passion, or as the French would say, his raison d’être, meaning his reason to be. Ever since he’d learned that Pam Jensen had the three pieces which would complete his Monkey Band collection, he had spent almost every waking moment of the day thinking about how he could get them. He was desperate to own all twenty-two pieces of the Monkey Band.

  She’s made it very clear she’s never going to sell them to me, but I hear her son Jim is money hungry. If something happened to her, I might be able to buy the pieces from him, Henry thought.

  He sat for a moment thinking about the steps he needed to take to complete his collection, and then he picked up his phone. “Nick, I have a job for you. It involves a little more than what you’ve done for me in the past, but I’ll make it worth your time.” He listened for a moment and said, “Come to my house this evening, and I’ll give you the particulars.”

  Henry smiled thinking about what it was going to feel like when he finally owned the complete set of the 18th century Meissen Monkey Band. He looked at the other pieces of his Monkey Band collection and visualized how the missing three pieces would look in his glass-fronted display case.

  It’s too bad, but Pam will simply be collateral damage, and that happens in the world of high stakes antiques. She should have taken me up on my offer. At least she would have lived if she had.

  Henry had briefly considered having Nick steal the pieces he wanted, but he knew that sooner or later he might be questioned because everyone in the antique world knew that Henry Siegelman wanted those pieces to complete his Meissen Monkey Band. If Pam was murdered and the entire Monkey Band was stolen, no one would point a finger at him.

  CHAPTER 4

  “Rosa,” Pam Jensen said as she got ready to go shopping, “I know I tell you this every time I see you dusting my Meissen Monkey Band pieces, but it always makes me nervous. You know how much I trust you, but those pieces are so special to me, and evidently to a few other people as well. Please be extra careful with them when you’re dusting. As I’ve probably told you before, Brian surprised me with them many years ago. I’d mentioned to him how charming I thought they were, and that I’d love to add them to my collection of other Meissen pieces. Without telling me what he was doing, he found someone in China who had a set and bought it for me as a surprise gift on our tenth anniversary.”

  “I know how much you love them, Mrs. Jensen, so I’m special careful with them. Don’t you worry.”

  When Pam was gone Rosa took a long look at the Monkey Band pieces. She agreed with what Mrs. Jensen had said – the pieces were special. In fact so special that yesterday a man had offered Rosa a great deal of money if she would turn off the security alarm when she left for the evening, so he could get into the house and steal the pieces. He’d paid her $5,000 as hush money and told her there would be another $45,000 for her if she agreed to do it. She liked Mrs. Jensen and didn’t want to jeopardize her job, but with Julio out of work, money for their family had really gotten tight. Even though Mrs. Jensen paid her well, it wasn’t enough to support the two granddaughters she and Julio were raising plus themselves. She felt her blood pressure rise just thinking about her daughter abandoning her two little girls to go off with that good-for-nothing drug addict.

  Like he would be any different from the rest of the men she’d had relationships with over the years. I don’t think she even knows who the father is of those little girls. No one is ever going to give me the Mother of the Year award for raising her. Maybe that’s why God gave me those two little granddaughters. Sure hope I do a better job with them than I did with their mother.

  Maybe I should take the money. Mrs. Jensen would never know about it, and we sure do need it. I told him I’d call him today and give him my answer. I feel guilty even thinking about it, because I know how much Mrs. Jensen loves those Monkey Band pieces, but she has so many other Meissen pieces I don’t think it would really matter if a few of them are gone.

  When I told Julio last night about the man who offered me the money, he told me he thought I should do it. He said he didn’t know how much longer we could hang on. I don’t know what to do. I’ve always been so honest. I feel sick to my stomach just thinking about it.

  Her cell phone rang, and she saw Julio’s name on the screen. “Yes, Julio. What is it?”

  “The doctor just called with the results of the test concerning Ana’s stomach problems. Baby, it’s not good. She needs surgery, and it’s going to cost around $40,000. He said it’s not an uncommon condition among children who are born to mothers who are addicted to drugs.”

  Rosa sat down in shock. They didn’t have that kind of money, and they didn’t even know where their daughter, Ana’s mother, was, and even if they did know, Ana’s mother probably wouldn’t care. She sure hadn’t expressed any concern about her children when she’d left.

  She heard Julio say, “Baby, are you there?”

  “Yes, I’m here. I just don’t know what we can do. Did the doctor say what would happen if Ana didn’t have the operation?”

  “Yeah, I asked the same question. He said if Ana doesn’t have the surgery, she would continue to vomit and have diarrhea and ultimately it could result in her death. Baby, remember last night when you told me about the man who offered you money to turn off the security system at Mrs. Jensen’s home when you left for the evening? We could sure use that money to pay for Ana’s surgery. I don’t think we can get it anywhere else. I know how much you don’t want to do it, but Rosa, we don’t have a choice. It’s the money or our granddaughter’s life, and I don’t think either one of us wants to feel guilty for the rest of our lives because we didn’t take money that could have saved her life and allowed her to lead a normal life. What do you think?”

  Rosa was quiet for a long time. “Julio, I suppose you’re right. I couldn’t live with myself if that child died and I hadn’t done something to save her life when I had the chance. I’ll call him now. Why don’t you call the doctor back and schedule the surgery.”

  A few moments later Rosa heard a voice, say, “This is Lou.”

  “Lou, this is Rosa, Mrs. Jensen’s housekeeper. When do you want me to leave the security system off, and when will I get the money?”

  “I’ll hand you the money this evening when you’re waiting for the bus after you finish work. I’ll park at the curb near the bus stop and wave to you. You wave back like I’m an old friend and walk over to the car. My window will be rolled down. Hold onto your purse and leave it open, putting it just inside the window. I’ll place the envelope with the money inside it. I’ll let you know when I want you to leave the system unarmed. See you later.”

  Just as Rosa ended the call, her stomach churning, Mrs. Jensen walked through the kitchen door from the garage. “Rosa, do you feel all
right? You’re white as a ghost.”

  “I’m fine, Mrs. Jensen. Julio just called and told me one of his relatives had passed away unexpectedly. It was quite a shock.”

  “Do you want to go home? I can certainly do without you the rest of the afternoon.”

  “Thank you, but I’m fine, really. I need to go upstairs and finish the bedrooms. Is there anything else you want me to do today?”

  “No. George Ellis is taking me out to dinner tonight, so I won’t be home this evening. If I think of anything, I’m sure it can wait until tomorrow.”

  Rosa walked up the stairs with wooden legs, not sure if she would be able to reach the next step. Each one seemed insurmountable to her. She silently cursed the gods that had allowed her to be put in a position like this. Mrs. Jensen was the best employer she had ever had and she, Rosa, was going to be responsible for Mrs. Jensen’s favorite pieces of Meissen being stolen. Sometimes life didn’t seem fair.

  Of course I could think of it another way. If Lou hadn’t approached me yesterday, I wouldn’t have been able to tell Julio to go ahead with the surgery, and Ana might have died. I’ve heard of no-win situations, and I think I’m right in the middle of one.

  CHAPTER 5

  Late that afternoon Lou pulled over to the curb not far from the bus stop where Rosa was sitting and waved to her. She nonchalantly walked over to his car as if picking up an envelope with $45,000 in it was something she did every day.

  “Rosa, I’ll call you in a day or so, but here’s one thing you need to know. Don’t even think about double-crossing me. Bad things happen to granddaughters when their grandmother doesn’t keep her word. We have a deal. When you take this $45,000, you are agreeing you will tell no one, and I mean no one, not the police or anyone else about our deal. You don’t know me, and you never saw me. I don’t want to have to be responsible for causing injury or death to someone in your family. Do you understand what I’m saying?”