Chapter 9
Kate shows Rick what she has found on Helen's son. Rick reads the financials on Tony Dioguardi. He finds that he is buried in massive debt. Rick thinks that the only way for him to get out from under is to inherit the stock in her will. There is only one problem for Tony. She is still alive. Rick places himself into this situation as if Tony is a character in one of his books.
He would think of hiring an assassin to take care of his mother. However, Rick realizes the same as Tony did that from his financials there is no way he would ever afford to pay for the hit. Rick now thinks of the resentment Tony would feel about a conman husband that she has married. There would be a voice of derision on how she never notices that he is draining her dry. Rick realizes Tony has no choice. He needs to cut the welcher off before all her money is gone.
"He should be the one to get his mother's money. Not this low life. Where did she ever find him?" Rick muses in his head and thinks as his character Tony would think.
Rick now speaks out loud.
"Kate, I think I have a viable idea on what happened." Rick says.
"You do Rick go ahead…Please tell me…I hope it does not contain anything about aliens or the CIA." Kate says teasing her husband.
Rick looks affronted then with a twinkle in his eyes he begins.
"Ok Kate this is what we know. Tony is so desperate for cash. He has made a financial mess of things." Rick states.
"Okay, that's true of these statements. So, what do you think happened?" Kate asks.
"Okay, so he knows about Walter somehow and learns of his proclivities." Rick says.
"You mean he found out his step father is a crook and robbing his mother blind? That sounds like a powerful motive to me." Kate replies.
"Yes, it does. So, to keep something in the family so he can inherit later. He has to eliminate both Walter and his mother." Rick suggests.
"Okay, that makes sense. Rick go on…" Kate states.
"Now he has murder in mind to get rid of his problems. He knows his mother's routine by heart. He waits at her condo that day. She is out at the food store. When she returns, he attacks. He needs the element of surprise so once she is dead, she would carry the truth of her murderer with her to the grave. Tony believes that taking another life would be the hardest thing one person would do. But as he stabs her in the kidney like his hand to hand combat instructor advises, he finds that it isn't as tough as he has thought. Maybe it is the fact that his mother has always berated and ridiculed him it public for his terrible choices in his life so that gives him the motivation do be able to callously kill her." Rick states.
"Wait a minute, what instructor? Did you uncover some sort of military training that is not apparent?" Kate asks.
"Kate, I'm on a roll I'll answer your questions later. Now where was I oh yeah… He is kind of glad that he is the one to kill her. Once, the job is done. He needs to leave. His clothes are all bloody so he has to duck out quickly. An opportunity appears when Walter shows up. He quickly returns to his hiding spot in the condo. He watches as Walter finds his mother lying dead on the floor in the middle of the condo. Tony wearing gloves notices that Walter is leaving his prints everywhere even on the murder weapon. Tony leaves Walter to blunder around so he departs to the servant's quarters knowing the maid is still out. There he watches Walter try to clean up his DNA contributions though it is very sloppy." Rick says.
"The maid quarters huh, how did you figure that out?" Kate asks.
"Kate, please wait a second… Now Tony changes clothes, then he deposits the dirty clothes into the cleaners bag. Now all he has to do is let the maid give the laundry to the delivery person as usual. Tony knows the route then sneaks in the truck then retrieve the laundry bag. This is where he shoots my car up the following day when we were following the laundry truck. Luckily, he is not that good of a shot." Rick says.
"Thank goodness for small favors." Kate says kissing her husband.
"So, were the maid quarters searched by the vaunted FBI?" Rick asks.
"I was not brought in for that part…I'll have to ask Will." Kate says.
"Okay, you do that… Now back to my narrative… I stashed Walter in the safe house then met up with you. You know the rest of the story. Tony follows Walter somehow…He notices Martha is alone with Walter on stage. Want to guess who Helen Dioguardi was before her first husband?" Rick asks.
"No Rick, who was she?" Kate asks.
"Jenny from the block…When I was growing up, she would sometimes babysit me. She was in the chorus line…Tony knows that theater as much as I or even my mother. So, it is a simple matter of shutting the lights off, attack Walter, then shove the murder weapon into mother's hands, then disappear out of the side exit opposite from we were. Then reset the lights. We have all our attention on mother while Tony escapes." Rick concludes.
"Okay, that is very probable so where is Tony now?" Kate asks.
"Well, I suppose he is at my lawyer's office. Since Helen dies first everything in NJ reverts to Walter. So, I made Walter use my lawyer. When Walter dies, my lawyer is named executor of this estate." Rick proudly says.
"So, were you able to track down that laundry bag?" Kate asks.
"Yep, it is in the NJ State's crime lab. Guess whose fingerprints and DNA are found in the bag?" Rick asks.
"Tony's and his mother's…? Rick, you've solved this case! I could kiss you!" Kate says advancing on her husband.
"Please do as much as you like, Kate" Rick states as they kiss very passionately.
Breaking the kiss Kate gets a puzzled look on her face.
"So, I do not understand why was Martha involved in this at all?" Kate asks a bit confused.
"Well, it is an interesting story. Captain Gates knew that Martha would be a target so she eliminated her by rushing her off to the safe house after play acting she is under arrest. Since she is using my lawyer it's a safe bet Tony is making sure Martha is accused. So, this charade is formed with the boys, the Captain and me. It just needs to look good for the cameras." Rick says.
"I see. So I was worrying all for nothing?" Kate asks in a small voice.
"Kate I would never hold you doing your duty against you. You should know that by now…It was all play acting. We can't be sure if Tony has any allies." Rick says kissing his wife again.
"So how did you learn of Tony and Helen's connection to the theater?" Kate asks.
"Well, that was all Mother's doing. As we were heading to the safe house, Ryan has a folder with the picture of the deceased opened. Mother recognizes her right away. Once we found the theater connection, then finding Tony as we suspect is relatively easy. I even have a picture with Jenny and the rest of the chorus girls when I was five. Here the girl on the left holding my knee is Jenny. Notice who is to her, right…" Rick says showing her the picture.
"Is that Tony?" Kate asks.
"Yes, it is…I remember playing with him on the stages since both our mothers were in the theater together." Rick says…"So Kate, are you ready to go collar your criminal?"
"Yeah, Rick, let's go do this!" Kate says enthusiastically.
Xx
"Mr. Dioguardi…This is highly unusual. I cannot release any assets from my client's estate until it clears probate. I am so sorry, but the NJ law is quite specific." Rick's lawyer says for a number of times.
He is getting a headache denying Tony's requests.
"So, what about the life insurance policy? It has nothing to do with the estate. My mother names me beneficiary. It has nothing to do with Walter! Besides, he killed my mother. Why would he have anything to do with that?" Tony asks.
"Okay, Mr. Dioguardi let me look into that…It is not in this paperwork." Rick's lawyer states as he looks at his watch.
"What are you doing?" Tony asks.
"Mr. Dioguardi. It's late and I am late for my dinner…Why don't you leave and come back tomorrow. Maybe by then the paperwork on this insurance policy may appear." He says, wiping his glasses then placing them on his face.
Tony is desperate he needs that cash now. There is no way the wheels of justice will turn fast enough. He needs to find that insurance policy for himself.
"Okay, I'm getting nowhere with you… I'm now going… I will be back!" Tony warns.
"Good evening to you Mr. Dioguardi." Rick's lawyer says.
Xx
Tony storms out of the office, then right into the hands of the FBI and Kate holding up her badge.
"Tony Dioguardi you are under arrest for the murder of Helen Dioguardi, and Walter Papadois. You have the right to remain silent…" Kate says as he drops his hands.
"I do not think so… Detective." Tony says, realizing Kate spoke his given last name.
He spins around pulling out the gun from the waistband of his pants, he kept patting drawing Rick's attention. Rick notices the expression on his face change as he decides to act.
"Look out Kate gun!" Rick screams as he pushes her to the ground as the FBI open fire.
Rick covers her with his body until the all clear sign is sounded. Rick carefully inspects Kate for any damage. There is nothing but a skinned knuckle as Rick threw her to the ground.
"That was close…" Kate says, holding Rick close and kissing him. "My hero… what were you thinking, you could have been shot!"
"What, I just saved your life… I saw how Tony was fidgeting with his pants as you stepped forward. Well, you know the rest…" Rick says.
"So, you think Tony knew the jig was up and so he decided to play it as a suicide by cop?" Kate asks.
"Yeah, it is obvious that was his plan. If I did not intervene, he might have taken you with him." Rick says, hugging her again, glad that they are both alive and the perp is dead.
Xx
It took the FBI several hours until they have finished with this newest crime scene. Rick bundles Kate and takes her home via his driving service.
On the ride back Kate snuggles against him.
"Oh, Rick you never told me about Tony's training." Kate asks.
"Well, it seems that Mr. Dioguardi the first husband was not fond of Tony like some of the mother's husbands were to me. In his records Tony was sent to the Wentworth Academy for boys. He was enrolled under his given name Papadois. Anthony Papadois…Walter was his real father." Tony carefully covered those records once he was adopted. So, Tony Dioguardi has no military record. However, Tony Papadois did. Didn't you see the family resemblance between the two?" Rick asks. "Walter confessed his suspicions to me in the safe house. The DNA proves his suspicions. We're home, let's go in I'm bushed."
"That poor woman all she wanted was her family back together. It is so sad." Kate says.
"Yes, it is quite tragic. Walter could not stop his thieving ways. Tony was all sorts of messed up. It was a very tragic situation." Rick agrees as they walk into the building's lobby.
Getting into the elevator they push the fourth floor. As the doors open they hear loud music coming from down the hall plus some guests are arriving in front of them. Martha has gathered a few people to celebrate her release.
"Er, Kate…Let's get a hotel for the night…Mother is celebrating and who knows when she will finish?" Rick asks while standing in the doorway surveying the party goers.
A red flash attacks them both making them step into the hall.
"Dad, you are here! What happened…Grams just appeared and will you take me with you please?" Alexis pleads as she hugs both of them.
"Okay, Rick…A hotel it is…Let's get out of here before she sucks us all in…" Kate warns as they leave, they run into another group of theater folk heading toward the loft.
"Grams sure is celebrating." Alexis says swiveling her head to look at her father.
"Yes, she has so much to celebrate. Tomorrow is Walter's funeral. He is to be buried next to his last wife. I don't suppose you would be interested…" Rick asks.
"Dad, if you are going to the funeral well, I will too. He was not that bad of a step-grandfather." Alexis states.
"Kate, what about you…Are you going?" Rick asks.
"Rick, if you are going I'm going too." Kate says kissing her husband…
A/N So ends this story. Epilogue to follow. Thanks to all who have faved and followed this fic.