Chapter 22
"We've outgrown Trenton."
"Care to elaborate on that, Bomber?" Bobby asked.
The Core Team met daily to discuss current issues, but once a week they stayed for a more in-depth business meeting. Today was the extended meeting.
"I understand our position relative to McGuire Dix and new hires as well as the initial investment here. Trenton is the state capital and does offer unique government security contracts. You learned a great deal about running a security company here, but business locations are down as this is an economically depressed area. After seeing and reviewing the other three Rangeman locations, I'd like to make a suggestion. We establish a new Rangeman Mid-Atlantic headquarters in a larger city with greater density and leave Trenton as a satellite office, auxiliary location, or training location."
"So we vacate Trenton?" Lester questioned.
"No, not vacate, we hang an additional shingle in a larger city. Trenton will continue to be a training facility as well as keeping our security presence. The urban core and the diverse townships around offer varied training scenarios. We have Haywood, the additional buildings around here, safe houses, a rural shooting range, and Les' playground training center if he'll share."
Tank looked thoughtful, "What led you to this?" He was impressed and proud of the way Michelle had blossomed from the emotionally abused Stephanie Plum into this magnificent and confident woman. Ranger saw her potential, but it was Tank, the Merry Men and Michelle herself who completed the transformation.
Michelle resisted smirking at Tank. He knew exactly what led to this. They had discussed it several times. He was keeping the discussion on track. "Boston, Atlanta, and Miami are large metropolitan areas. Miami-Dade alone has 2.5 million people, with the other communities abutting them. Boston's Suffolk County is 1.5 million plus their suburbs. Atlanta-Fulton County is a million plus their surrounding counties. Trenton is a measly 300,000 and aside from Trenton, the only other population centers are Princeton, Pennington-Hopewell, Ewing, and Hamilton, which we have covered. Our last move in Mercer County has been to East Windsor. We have mined this part of middle New Jersey's ore vein. It's time to find fresher digs."
"Have you looked at other cities?" Bobby inquired.
"I looked at New York. State laws are restrictive, property outrageous, transit times horrendous, but they do have some fine restaurants," she smiled sweetly. "Newark is another thought if we don't cross into New York. However, if we want future satellite Mid-Atlantic sites, Newark is hardly centrally located. Baltimore is getting close to Washington DC. I'm not sure we want to move there, yet.
"Philadelphia is central to our area. It is a 2-hour drive north to NYC and 2 hours south to Baltimore. It has a better business climate and far more upscale properties in one small bedroom community than all of Mercer County. We have had excellent results here with the more upscale clients, but we had had to extend all the way to Princeton. There's another benefit by retaining Trenton: we are respected by the Families in the area. Don Vito arranged for a meeting with Don Enzo Cisternino in Philadelphia. Actually, Carlos already knows him. I think it was more of an introduction of the misses," she smiled.
Ranger didn't say a word but nodded, his eyes sparkling.
"Could we keep our core here and set up a satellite in Philadelphia?" Bobby asked.
"Initially, there would be no problem. I've had problems with the appearance of Rangeman being in three major cities and this rust-bucket Trenton."
Several men chuckled.
"If we are looking at prestige then New York should be our destination," Ranger said softly.
"Our response time would be slow with the congestion. The alternative is for Hector to develop some futuristic ultra-security system and base our operations on it."
"Michelle, Hector is good, but not futuristic," Ranger responded, using her professional name, not Babe.
"Then we need to consider enlarging our research and development department. We have good brains in all four cities. Either we pull them together or hire a techno-geek."
Several guys' eyebrows rose as they considered the potential.
"So is it Training Academy or new office?" Lester wondered aloud.
Michelle was confident, "Training. If and when we make a move, we will need more employees immediately. Also, it will take time to come up with facilities in a new location."
"Wouldn't that overextend us financially as we just purchased the Hitchcock building next door and are looking at others?" Tank asked.
"I'm bringing it up now to start planning. This isn't going to happen next year but soon thereafter if we can get a plan going now."
When Rangeman began years before, nobody expected this type of conversation. Ranger and Tank had talked of possible expansion, but once Michelle came on board, streamlined the business, increasing the earnings and dropping the overhead, the Core Teams suddenly realized they did not have to remain small. Boston, Atlanta, and Miami had all grown to encompass their areas; Trenton was stuck. Philadelphia was 30 miles south, Newark was 60 miles north.
"Gentlemen, I just bring this up for your consideration. We'll have to dig through the numbers, talk with consultants and others before we make a decision. I'm showing the possible future if that's the way you want to go."
As CEO, Ranger stepped in, "Thank you, Michelle."
Tank spoke, "I'd like to discuss something that is a growing problem, again. Several months ago, we had to deal with Guardian Security, Allied Building Products, and sabotage on our systems. They disappeared for a while. Well, 'they're back.' Apparently they moved their operations from West Windsor and Ewing Townships to East Windsor Township. Now that we are establishing ourselves in this area, we are being targeted again."
Michelle sighed, "Where's Joe Morelli?"
"He hasn't been seen since last summer. He sold his house, closed his bank account, canceled his credit cards, and just disappeared. Hector has been trying to find him. Nothing."
"What about his mother?"
"She refuses to talk about him to anybody. We know the rest of the family considers him a pariah. Even Mooch spits vulgarities when Joe's name is mentioned."
Ranger took over, "Has Terry been seen?" Terry Gilman, Joe's sex-companion since high school was the niece of a mob boss Vito Grizoli.
Lester spoke up, "Word is she went to Italy last summer for….ah…retraining. Vito did not approve of her bringing in Joe Morelli for Family business."
"Did she go alone?"
"Initially, yes, she left broken hearted. Italian Burg gossip indicated the Ferraros were in Sicily last August where they spotted Terry with a Lebanese engineer named Antanios Khoury. Terry tried to avoid the Ferraros when she met them. So the Ferraros asked around to learn the man's name and more about him."
"Sounds like Burg habits die hard…" Michelle mused.
"Antanios? Are you sure it isn't Athanios?" Ranger asked.
"It is the Lebanese version of Athanios. I was confused, too," Les answered.
"So she has moved on? Any chance Vito did us a favor and eliminated Joe?"
"Maybe that's why Angie Morelli refuses to talk about her son. She might have been encouraged to remain silent or the rest of the Morellis would be in danger."
Ranger looked concerned. "Maybe Terry training someone else to take over Joe's job? Let's see what we can find on Mr. Khoury. Meanwhile, determine who is running Guardian now."
"What are they doing to us?" Michelle asked.
Tank shook his head, "The damage is minor. Hector's new 3500 system is nearly tamper-proof. Again, the problem is the kickback to the contractors. Contractors are getting dinged 15% of the bid. In return, they get 5% back to the contractor's pocket, 5% goes for inspection waivers and the other 5% stays with Guardian or a 'discount' on Allied products."
"Sounds like what they were doing before or a variation of the New York scam," Lester added.
"How are they getting inspection waivers?" Bobby asked.
"Unknown," Tank replied. "We are still looking into that. As for New York, that was only 2% but was on much larger projects, like the World Trade Center. East Windsor's contracts are smaller so they need a bigger percentage to make it viable."
"How is this hurting us? It sounds as if the contractors are getting screwed."
"Our systems are more expensive to start. Contractors assume we've already added in the take and want their 5% back plus the waivers."
"Has Guardian solved their fire problems?"
"The State Inspector certified them before retiring to a South Carolina posh retirement community AND he bought a 54' cruiser for a cool half million." Tank left unsaid what he suspected, knowing the others picked up on his innuendos.
"While we research this more, let's stay with existing structures and avoid new construction contractors for now," Ranger stated. "If there is nothing else, the meeting is adjourned."
Bobby came over to Michelle, "How are you feeling? Any nausea?"
Michelle smiled, "Nope, not a thing except I need a power nap after lunch."
Bobby smiled, "Excellent. You were a little rocky for a month, glad things have settled. Stop by the clinic today for blood pressure and weight check."
Ranger wrapped his arms around Michelle from behind, resting his hand where his child was growing. Michelle backed up into his hold and answered Bobby, "How about right before lunch?"
Bobby nodded and left. Ranger kissed Michelle's temple and whispered, "I miss having access to 7."
Michelle smiled as she rubbed her backside against Ranger, "I thought it was the woman who got horny during pregnancy. Your libido seems to be in overdrive."
"I'm considering locking the door and scrambling the cameras."
She stepped forward, "As delightful as that sounds, we both have meetings in fifteen minutes."
"I can be quick, but I'd rather not. We'll table this for later," he smiled.
"Table? Hmmmm. You know if I were to start wearing a loose skirt instead of trousers and no undies…" she teased.
He looked pained. "Babe."
She laughed, "Come on, stud," and led him out of the conference room.
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Several days later, Hector met with Ranger and Tank privately. Ranger shook his head, "I've never heard of Dokuz Eylul University. Any chance it is a fake university where you make a one-time payment and receive your degree in the mail?"
"No, it actually exists in Turkey, but I cannot confirm Antanios Khoury attended. Also, I cannot find any school records for him in Lebanon," Hector replied in English.
"I'm not surprised. Lebanon has been in turmoil for decades."
Hector continued, "I did find an Antanios Khoury entered the US from Lebanon in 1960 at age 20. But he hasn't appeared on a census since. There is no record of him anywhere, except for a New York driver's license issued in 1960, never renewed. It is as if he arrived and disappeared. However, there was an Antanios Khoury entering Sicily last summer with a US passport."
"He has access to fake passports? Curious. That would make him in his late 70's. How old was the man with Terry?"
"Lester called the Ferraros. They said the man they saw briefly was in his early 40's, about the same age as Terry. They described him as full black beard, pot-bellied, and about six feet tall." Hector was bouncing on his feet and smiling.
Tank looked at him, "You look like the cat that swallowed the canary, Hector. Qué más tienes?"
"Mr. Antanios Khoury and Ms. Teresa Grizolli Gilman returned to the US three months ago. She renewed her New Jersey driver's license as Teresa Grizolli Gilman-Khoury. Mr. and Mrs. Khoury bought a home in East Windsor, three months ago."
"And when did we start hearing about Guardian in East Windsor?"
"Three months ago."
"We need pictures of Mr. Khoury."
"You thinking it is Joe with a new identity?" Tank asked.
"Yeah, or she's training Joe's replacement."
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The morning rain had turned to ice as the late winter storm blew into the Mid-Atlantic area. Icicles were forming on roof edges, power lines and trees. While lovely, the entire area was slowly being transformed into an ice prison. Snow perhaps up to twelve inches was expected. Employers were encouraged to let their workers go home early.
Valerie Plum formerly Kloughn put on her winter coat. It was time to go home. She wondered if her mother found the extra whiskey bottle. With the coming storm, she should stop at the liquor store on the way home lest her mother run out of her "iced-tea." Helen was worse than those two brats Angie and Mary Alice who could ferret out Easter candy long before Easter Sunday morning services. Valerie was still upset sweet Angie had sided with her sister, Mary Alice, and moved away. How can a daughter abandon her mother? Well, she would not. She was a proper Burg woman who knew her place unlike that despicable Stephanie.
After chipping off the ice from the car, Valerie got into her mother's Buick. Albert had taken the family car with him to Florida leaving her the car's monetary worth. Yeah, $2000 would hardly buy something drivable. Look at the POS cars her sister was forced to purchase.
The roads were icy. Valerie, like the other drivers, crept out of downtown Trenton towards home. Her mind again wandered as the traffic moved at a snail's pace. That despicable Stephanie had destroyed the Plums, Kloughns, and Morellis. Rumors are she is trans-gendering to be a man. She, or perhaps now he, will never dare to return to Trenton. Well, the hell with Stephanie or Steven and to hell with her father. How dare a man divorce and abandon his wife! But then again her own Albert left her too. To hell with all men!
As she crept down Broad Street she pulled into the corner liquor store. It was surprisingly busy. People wanted their comfort if the electric lines fell from the ice. With several bottles of bourbon and a bottle of Schnapps for herself she left the store and turned onto Hamilton. When the light turned green, she started across Broad Street. Her tires slipped a bit on the ice and the back end of the Buick swung out to the side but Valerie pulled it back in line. But the Buick had strayed over the median line. Felipe Baca, driver of the six-ton Garcia Moving and Storage truck instinctively began breaking, but the big truck began to slide as well. Both vehicles met head-on. Valerie's Buick was less than half the weight of the big truck and was slammed backward into the Fed Ex truck behind her. The crash was extreme. The Buick's airbags deployed but it wasn't enough.
Emergency personnel had to cut her out of the tangled mess taking the critical time needed to get to immediate medical care. St. Francis was just up Hamilton Avenue. Valerie was rushed to surgery while the hospital called her mother. In a panic, Helen Mazur fled out the front door dressed in polyester pants, blouse, and sweater with flats on her feet. She thought she knew the way to St. Francis but her panic and alcohol haze, combined with the blowing snow, she quickly became confused. Instead of running north to Chambers Street, she ran south to Liberty. Certain the shortcut through the alley would bring her to St. Francis, she slipped on ice and went down hitting her head and breaking her hip.
Eddie Gazarra knew Helen Plum did not have transportation to the hospital so he drove to the Plum house. He found the front door open but no Helen inside. Immediately, he put out a Senior Alert for a missing senior citizen perhaps trying to get to St. Francis. A description was given but no name, at least initially.
Rangeman headquarters was monitoring the police radio and the media. They relayed the Senior Alert to all their patrols to look around the Burg for the missing elderly lady who would be on foot and perhaps lost.
Eddie Gazarra called Rangeman as he was one of the few who knew Stephanie now went by Michelle Manoso. Immediately, Rangeman contacted Ranger at his home south of Princeton.
Ranger and Michelle had nearly finished their dinner, looking forward to a time in front of the fireplace as the snow storm blew around them. Ranger's phone murmured.
"Yo."
"We received a call from Detective Gazarra. There has been an auto accident involving Valerie Plum. She's at St. Francis, critical. When the detective went to get her mother, the house was wide open but no Helen Mazur. The police have issued a Senior Alert. I've alerted our patrols."
Ranger was already on his feet pulling Michelle up. "We are on our way."
"What is it, Carlos?"
"Valerie was in a serious car accident and your mother is missing, she may be lost in the storm."
"Carlos, I'm conflicted. They don't want me in their lives, nor do I want them in mine, but…"
"…they are family. This is life and death, Babe. You are stronger than they are, they need your strength whether they want it or not."
Ranger had called Dr. Brown, Bobby, who met them in the emergency room. Bobby was dressed in green scrubs; Carlos dressed in blue trousers and a cream sweater with a blue jacket and cap. Michelle was wearing a white jacket and cap with red leggings. Burg residents recognized Ranger but not the doctor nor the woman with him.
"Come with me," Bobby motioned. They went to a private room behind the emergency doors. "Michelle, I'm sorry to tell you Valerie didn't make it. The injuries were severe. She arrived in cardiac arrest. The doctors tried to revive her, but she was gone. I'm sorry."
Michelle sat down and stared at the floor. "Poor Angie and Mary Alice. They hoped someday their mother would come back into their lives. Valerie wasn't part of my life now, but I, too, secretly hoped she would come around after Helen died." Michelle wasn't crying or weeping, she was resigned. Suddenly she remembered, "Have they found Helen?"
"The Burg grapevine is calling all her old friends. The problem is, they haven't seen her in almost two years."
"Not at church or the beauty parlor?"
"Nothing."
"Babe, do you want me to call Albert and your father?"
"I'll call Daddy. He'll know how to contact Albert." Standing up, she enveloped Bobby, "Thank you."
Bobby hugged her, "I'm sorry Michelle. I'm sorry she is gone and you two never reconnected." Looking at Ranger, Bobby continued, "There will be papers to sign. I'll see how they are coming. You are welcome to stay here for privacy."
Ranger nodded and wrapped Michelle in his arms. They didn't need to talk, they just held each other. Michelle was pulling strength from him to make the call to Florida.
Bobby returned soon after he left. Eddie Gazarra followed him in. He hadn't seen Michelle since the Morelli episode in Pino's. "Michelle."
Ranger and Michelle turned towards Eddie. Ranger spoke, "Detective Gazarra, thank you for calling us."
"I'm sorry for your loss, Michelle. But I come with more bad news. Helen Plum was found dead behind Pete's Bar. An autopsy will be needed but early indications are she slipped and hit her head and died from exposure. She was not wearing a jacket. Apparently she panicked and ran out of the house to come here, but got lost. Pete's Bar is the other way from here."
Ranger didn't say a word, but in his mind he wondered if the Burg gossip would have Helen Plum actually trying to get to Pete's desperate for a drink. On the positive side, the younger Burgers didn't know Helen Plum and couldn't care less.
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The dual viewing at Stiva's was scheduled for a smaller viewing room as it was assumed the Burg no longer cared. Unfortunately, the older Burgers showed up in force for one last gossip about Helen Mazur. The room was packed as was the hall and lobby. Two caskets, side by side. Frank, Albert, and Edna Mazur sat beside the open coffins. Valerie's head had been damaged. Extensive repair was necessary for the viewing. Helen Mazur was hardly recognized. Her body was emaciated from using alcohol as her main sustenance. The embalmers had plumped her back up so her skin didn't say too much. Her hair had grown long and turned grey. She hadn't been to a beauty parlor since the divorce.
While Michelle should have been up with the caskets, she asked if she could remain separate to look after Angie, Mary Alice, and toddler, Lisa. Michelle still had her edgy, super-fit look, short hair on the sides, curls on top now a rich auburn color. She was dressed in a designer black business suit with the same black boots she wore in Atlanta. Ranger, Tank, Lester, and Bobby stood with her dressed in their dark Italian suits. Mary Alice and Angie held Ranger's hands. Tank stood between Michelle and Ranger. She wanted to distance herself from Burg prying eyes. Lester held Lisa, where she found a kindred spirit, as they made funny faces to one another. Tank looked over, "Don't you think she's too old for you?"
The guests came to gawk at Helen Mazur. They were stunned to see how vibrant Edna Mazur looked with her stylish haircut, totally white hair, and perfect makeup. Everyone in the Burg knew an older woman must keep the grey at bay with rinses and dyes and did not bother with makeup other than lipstick. What made Edna Mazur so special? They offered their condolences, platitudes to Edna, remarking it was a shame Stephanie couldn't be at the funeral. Most were clucking their tongues anxious to start a new rumor mill about Stephanie Plum disrespecting her mother and sister.
Edna knew what the old hens were up to and responded, "She hasn't disrespected them. She paid for their funerals. She has advanced in her work and her pay is generous. She had the sense to move far beyond the backward and evil Burg and into the real world like Frank and I have."
The first group of mourners moved to the two gentlemen with Edna. "How did you know Helen and Valerie?" the first viewer asked.
The very trim, head shaved and tanned Frank Plum responded, "I was married to Helen, Valerie was my older daughter."
Mrs. Bartolli gasped. This couldn't be Frank Plum. Did Helen have an affair? It would be just like her to hide her past. The group asked his name.
"You know me, Carlota Bartolli. I'm Frank Plum."
Carlota shook her head no. Frank Plum was a dumpy old man with thinning hair when he lived in the Burg. This Frank had lost weight and muscled up and shaved his head. His complexion was tanned. He looked twenty years younger than he did in New Jersey.
The group of harpies moved down the line. They thought they recognized Albert Kloughn but he was no longer the little doughboy. Albert answered their question before they even asked. "I was briefly married to Valerie. Our daughter, Lisa, is being held by Mr. Santos of Rangeman. Many in the company came to pay their respects to Edna and Frank."
The viewing was scheduled for two hours but even with the mortuary attendants pushing people through, the viewing lasted nearly three hours. At the end of the viewing Joe Juniak came to pay his respects. He kissed Edna and said something quietly that made her smile. He and Frank gave each other man-hugs and handshakes. He shook Albert's hand. Moving on to the Rangemen, he shook each of their hands including the strange woman on the end next to Tank. He was chuckling, "The old hens are wondering who you are. When people ask Hal and Cal in the back, they are calling you Mrs. Manoso, Assistant Director of Business Operations at Rangeman. I won't hug you so you can keep your identity secret."
After the viewing, the family left for Casa Manoso. There was plenty of room. The funeral was scheduled for tomorrow at 10am, so people were eager to get to bed. As they were moving towards their bedrooms, Ranger's phone murmured.
"Yo." He listened saying very little. Afterward he came into the bedroom. "That was Hector. There are rumblings in the Burg's gutters wondering where Stephanie Plum is. Why didn't the Army let her come home for her mother's funeral."
"Anyone in particular?" she asked with disgust.
"It's not the old hens. A single person is going around asking why you aren't around."
"Does this single person have a name?"
"Hector watched him as he interviewed people leaving the viewing. Hector got pictures and ran them through facial recognition. His name is Antanios Khoury. You know him as Joe Morelli. This is what he looks like now."
Ranger showed a picture of Antanios Khoury on his cell phone. The man had gone to pot, literally. He had gained 20 pounds in the belly, was sporting a full black beard and short hair, glasses. His skin tone was darker.
"Joe is back with Guardian security systems, East Windsor. What does he want with me?"
"From the grapevine, he's calling you the Army Bitch, Regimental Groundsheet, and other less-pleasing terms. I'd say he's fixated on you."
"A regimental what?"
"A groundsheet is used in various ways such as erecting a temporary shelter or to lie on the ground for protection. It's one term for a woman who puts out. Regimental would indicate she services many men."
"You said 'less-pleasing terms'. Do I want to know?"
"No, and I won't repeat them. I'm angry and worried. I would rather you not confront him. I don't want our baby born in prison."
"Me too, Carlos. Are you going to suggest I miss the funeral?"
"We'll discuss it with Edna, Frank, and Albert tomorrow. Right now, I'm going to have to remove those boots again. It is a tough job, but someone must do it."
The breakfast discussion was sad. Ella had taken Lisa aside but Angie and Mary Alice refused to leave. "Grandpa, we are old enough to understand."
Frank looked at Edna and Michelle and both nodded affirmatively. Frank sighed, "Ladies, you remember Joe."
Angie rolled her eyes and Mary Alice stuck her finger in her mouth as if to gag herself. If the situation wasn't serious Michelle would have chuckled.
"Mr. Morelli is going around saying bad things against Michelle though he doesn't know she has changed her name. He has mental conditions that make him dangerous and we are afraid he means to hurt Michelle."
"She could kick his ass," Mary Alice replied.
Michelle replied, "Mary Alice, while I could indeed kick his ass, I'm pregnant. I care more about Carlos' child inside me than that piece of trash. I can't take a chance he might have a gun."
Angie spoke quickly, "I'm going to have a cousin?"
The adults smiled. "Yes, ma'am. Next September."
Angie looked down at her hands and thought a minute then looked up. "You can't go to the funeral. He might be looking for you." Mustering more courage than the young girl should have, "I'll never see my mother and grandma Helen again. I don't want to lose you too. Who will help us fly?"
Michelle raised an eyebrow, "You want to fly, too, Angie?"
"We want to be like you," Mary Alice cut in. "Strong, courageous, smart and beautiful."
Michelle started to get teary-eyed. "Thank you." Then, composing herself Michelle said, "And for my nieces, I will remain here today with Lisa."
The two girls scooted from their chairs and wrapped their arms around Michelle.
Frank looked on, "The decision has been made. But ladies, I have several questions for you. What are you going to say if people ask where your Aunt Stephanie is?"
The girls looked at each other and then Angie replied, "Aunt Stephanie is gone forever."
"And if they ask where she lives?"
"She travels a lot and wears a uniform."
"Ah, that's not totally true, Angie," Michelle replied.
"Yes it is. You travel with Uncles Tank and Carlos and you wear your black Rangeman uniform."
"And if they ask if she is in the Army?"
"We haven't seen the uniform so we aren't sure?"
"Girls, I don't want you lying for me."
Frank cut in, "Edna, Albert and I will keep them close."
"I've assigned a group of Rangemen to provide security both in uniform and plain clothes. I'll be at the funeral and interment escorting Edna. I don't want people to think I'm family."
The funeral was at Our Lady of Angels in the Burg. Neither Helen nor Valerie had been inside the church since the divorces but Father Lourdes wanted to do the funeral. The funeral service was traditional but no communion was offered. People began to wonder why. At the completion of the service, the priest looked over the surprisingly well-attended funeral and began a eulogy. It was not what people were expecting.
"Today we commend the souls of Helen Mazur and Valerie Plum. We pray God will be merciful but God's mercy may have limits."
This caused the harpies in the pews to smile.
"Helen Mazur married Francis Plum believing she was doing her duty as a woman. In short order, Valerie was born and Helen was overjoyed. She was congratulated by the community women for bearing such a lovely daughter. But she was not happy for she remembered Luke 2:23 'as it is written in the Law of the Lord, Every firstborn male that opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord.' Helen did not feel her duty as a woman was complete until she bore a son. Eighteen months later, she bore another daughter. Helen became depressed. The women in the Burg were not helpful and they continually told her to try again for it was a woman's job to give her husband a son. Though Frank was satisfied with two lovely daughters, Helen insisted they try again. This time a son was born, Francis. The pregnancy was extremely difficult and Francis was born prematurely. Helen had complications and nearly died. Surgery was necessary. Her childbearing was over. Francis was never well and died while still an infant. Helen and Frank were devastated. Instead of consoling the grieving couple, the Burg's tongues began to say, 'Poor Frank. He doesn't have a son.' Helen Plum became angry with God and her second daughter, Stephanie. Frank became depressed and withdrew from the family as a leader, becoming solely the financial support. Helen left the church. When Edna lost her husband and came to live with Helen and Frank, Edna brought Helen back to church. Though outwardly pious, Helen was still angry at God and sought martyrdom by blaming her unhappiness on her younger daughter. She participated in gossip, vilifying her daughter and others around the community. Sunday after Sunday, I preached about the evils of gossip, but nobody listened.
"Proverbs 21:23 - Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles.
"James 1:26 - If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion [is] vain.
"Matthew 12:36 - But I say unto you, that every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the Day of Judgment.
"Proverbs 18:8 - The words of a talebearer [are] as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.
"1 Timothy 5:13 - And withal they learn [to be] idle, wandering about from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not.
"Proverbs 17:9 - He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth [very] friends.
"This last proverb is especially poignant because through Burg gossip a family was destroyed. A lovely daughter, Stephanie, became the focus of malicious rumors. When she was sexually abused at age six by an older boy, Helen blamed her and told the community her daughter was trouble. When the same boy raped her at sixteen, Helen blamed her daughter's promiscuity. Not one person argued that Stephane was the victim. All of you jumped on the bandwagon demonizing the young girl. Why? Because she was born a girl, not a boy? Or perhaps you enjoyed spreading lies and innuendos about others while destroying your own souls. You drove a lovely lady from the church.
"When Stephanie found her husband committing adultery, she left him and returned home. Helen slammed the door in her face telling her to go back to her husband. Yet three years later when Valerie returned home having discovered her husband had committed adultery, she was welcomed back into the family. Helen's hypocrisy was only trumped by the wagging tongues around town and in this parish every Sunday. You sat here defiling the Lord's house with your evil gossip.
"Stephanie set out to support herself with a difficult job. Did her mother support her? No, she took every opportunity to malign her while playing the martyr with you gossipers. Stephanie's family, cousins, school friends and co-workers never missed an opportunity to spread malicious rumors. Even the despicable newspaper began printing the gossip. Perhaps the ultimate betrayal was Helen and the Burg continually trying to push her into a marriage to the man that abused her years before. Stephanie Plum began to fracture. Falling to her mother's and the Burg's pressure, she accepted the proposal from her abuser. But once again the mortal sin of adultery raised its ugly head and Stephanie was once again betrayed. This time she shattered. She ran from the Burg, ran from her parental home, ran from the few people who cared about her. When it first appeared Stephanie had died in the fire at her apartment, gossipers turned on Helen wondering if she had set the fire. Once again, another life was shattered by wagging tongues. Helen fell into severe depression as she lost her exalted position on the Burg's gossip grapevine. She refused mental help because 'what would the Burg think?'
"It was this destruction of his second daughter than woke up Frank Plum. He saw his family devastated and unrepairable. His older daughter had become a mirror of her mother, verbally abusing one daughter while adoring the other. He saw his older daughter take to alcohol the way Helen had. He had to save what was left of his family: his granddaughters. He, Edna, and Albert left with the girls to start a new life well away from the viper pit filled with wagging tongues, lies, and innuendos known as the Burg. Satan himself has found himself welcome in the people of this parish and this community. Your wagging tongues destroyed two marriages, destroyed Helen Mazur, destroyed Valerie Plum, and destroyed Stephanie Plum.
"I say to all of you today the words of David in the Old Testament, Psalms 101:5 – 'Whoso privily slandereth his neighbor, him will I cut off: him that hath has high look and a proud heart will not I suffer.'
"Today, I refused to conduct communion. I'm not sure anyone here is worthy to partake of the Eucharist. He or she who is not fully prepared through prayer and repentance and partakes of Holy Communion condemns their souls. Helen Mazur's and Valerie Plum's time for repentance is over. Only God's mercy will save them. Your time is not yet over. 'Turn away from your sins, because the Kingdom of heaven is near!' (Matthew 4:17)"
The congregation was stunned. Frank, Albert, and Edna had been warned ahead and had Angie and Mary Alice quietly removed before Fr. Lourdes began his sermon. It was too intense for the young girls. When the caskets were rolled out of the church followed by the family, Edna, Frank, and Albert kept their eyes straight ahead, looking at nobody. Ranger and other Rangemen escorted them to their limousine. The girls were safe with Lester and Bobby in a Rangeman vehicle. All left the church parking lot.
Edna, Frank, and Albert provided a lunch for attendees before the interment in several hours. It was proper Burg protocol. Attendees filed into the church hall but few partook of the meal. Few people spoke and most left early. Servers packed up the food and took it to the local homeless shelter.
The interment was not at the Our Lady of Angels cemetery lest the parishioners continue to gloat over Helen's and Valerie's passing. Nor was it at Greenwood Cemetery, the backup Burg cemetery. Edna, Frank, and Albert had the caskets interred in Fountain Lawn in Ewing, far from the Burg. Few people attended the graveside ceremony. Rangeman guards were dressed in civilian clothes and stood well away from the funeral watching for one individual. He was seen, standing alone behind a large oak tree. Joe Morelli was still looking for Stephanie Plum.
Ram and Cyrene were several hundred yards away with rifles trained on Joe. Cyrene quietly murmured into her microphone, "I could easily eliminate that cockroach from here."
Ram replied, "Our orders are to wait until he makes a threatening move. We have to see a handgun or rifle."
"Pity."