Benji in Control
by: E Walk
(© 2009-2011 by the Author)
 

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Chapter 56 

Things Are Not As They Seem

As Rax was about to go out the door, he turned and looked at Benji, “Benji, where did Mr. Poindexter come from, and why did you ask if I was going to take you to Sunday school this morning, when it’s only Saturday?”

“I figured I would give the two waiters something to think about.  I wanted them to think that we were Jewish.  Hopefully, we can go to Sunday school in San Diego in the morning, before we go to see Dad’s game.”

Rax laughed, “Benji, you did it again.  You were talking about two different things at the same time, and why did you call me Mr. Poindexter?

“I deliberately didn’t call you Mr. Fox because you said we were to pretend we didn’t know you.”

“Benji, with a last name like Christiansen, I don’t think anyone is going to think you’re Jewish.”

The conversation was interrupted by the phone.  I looked at Rax, “Did you tell anyone where we were going to be staying?”

“Nope, the only persons who know where you’re staying are my partner and me.”

I answered the phone, “This is Doug Christiansen.”

“Good morning, Dr. Christiansen, this is Boyce Kauffman.  I’m Rax’s partner. If Rax is still there, I would like to talk to him, please.”

“Just a minute, I’ll put him on.”

I handed the phone to Rax, “It’s your partner.”

“What’s up Boyce?  I thought you were going to sleep in. … He what?  … I’ll be damned.  That means Burris is involved. … Just a minute.  I’ll ask Ray, Jr.”

“R. B., did they deliver mail to your Mother’s house?  There is no indication that there has been any mail delivered to your house recently.”

R. J. shook his head, “Mother, never had the mail delivered to the house.  She had a box at the post office, so she didn‘t have to make arrangements for it to be held if she had to go out of town.  I think it was box 2407.  In fact, she had two boxes.  The second box got very little mail.”

Rax asked, “R. B. do the boxes have to be opened with a combination or a key.”

R. B. answered, “They have to be opened with keys that Mother kept in a special place.”

Benji asked, “R. B., do you know where your Mother kept the keys?”

“Yep, one day I peeked when she was putting them away, after we’d been to the post office.”

“R. B., do you have the keys to get us into your Mother’s house?”

“No, but I can get in a special way.  I know the number for the lock at the front gate and I know where Mother hid the keys to open the back door, in case she left her keys someplace as she was always doing.”

“Boyce, meet us at the front door of the hotel with the limo, in ten minutes.  We have a lot to do in a short time.”

Rax hung up and turned to us.  “You have time to brush your teeth and go to the bathroom.  When you see me in the hotel lobby, don’t acknowledge me.  I’ll signal Royce as to whom you are and I’ll be following you in the car.  I’m sorry for the urgency, but the appraiser called to tell me that his secretary had made a mistake when she was typing the appraisal and had typed $305,000  by mistake.  It should have been $505,000.  This indicates to me, that Mr. Burris isn’t exactly as honest as I had thought.  I’ll meet you at the house when you get back from the post office.”

We met Mr. Kauffman who whisked us away to what had been Mrs. Bradford’s home.  R. B. pushed the key pad at the gate and it opened.  We went around to the back door and there was a loose brick that had been hollowed out enough to put a small box in it.  R. B. took the key out of the box, opened the back door and turned off the alarm system.  He led us to the bathroom in the hallway and pulled two keys from a clip off the mirror that looked like all the other clips that were holding the mirror in place.

As soon as we had the keys, we left for the post office.  It was eleven thirty when we arrived.  There was a note of the box 2407.  This box is full of mail.  Please take this notice to one of our agents at the counter.”

We walked into the main client business area and it was a zoo.  A lady was arguing that the postal service persons had lost or stolen her social security check.  The clerk was trying to be patient, “Lady, we haven’t received the check yet.  They won’t be issued until next Wednesday, which is the second Wednesday.  You can write a note to your congressperson and complain. I know it is very difficult to make the money go around when the second Wednesday comes so late in a month.  Next please.”

R. B. handled the situation quite well.  He handed the lady the note, “This note was on my mailbox, saying that I should stop by the counter to collect some more mail that you were unable to put into the box because it was full.”

“What is the box number and do you have a key to open the box?”

R. B. held out his key, “The box number is 2407 and here is the key.”

The clerk examined the key, “Meet me at the window next to the mail boxes.”

It was approximately ten minutes later when the lady opened the top half of the door. “Gentlemen, I’ll need some proof that this mail is yours.  You could have found the key and are trying to get some fast money.”

Benji interrupted, “Raymond Lewis, Junior was Belle Starr’s son.  He has every right to the contents of the post office box.”

The lady frowned, “How do I know that he’s Belle Star’s son?  I thought her kid was some place back east when she fell overboard that boat.”

I decided to get involved, “Miss, would you please get your supervisor.  We don’t have time to stand here and chat with you about whether R. B. is Belle Starr‘s son.  We came to Los Angeles to sell Mr. Lewis’ mother’s house.  Get your supervisor, now!”

The lady sniffled, “You don’t have to get huffy.  Mr. Herndon, these people want to pick up Belle Starr’s mail.  One of the kids claims to be her son.”

A huge black man appeared, “Gentlemen. I’m the station manager, Mr. Harvey Herndon.  How may I help you?”

I motioned for R. B. to answer, “Sir, we came to pick up the mail that was in my Mother’s mailbox and there was a sign on it telling us to go the clerks because there was too much mail for it all to fit in the box.”

Mr. Herndon turned to the clerk, “Viola, who’s mailbox is it?”

The lady answered, “The box belonged to Belle Starr”

Mr. Herndon stood moving his jaw back and forth, “Viola, the young man obviously had a key to get the message.  Young man, what is your name?”

“My name is Raymond Burnside Lewis, the second.  My mother was married to my father until three years ago, when they got divorced.  Belle Starr was my mother’s stage name.”

Mr. Herndon nodded, “Son, I know who you are.  I want to offer my sympathy on the deaths of your father and mother.  Viola this is the rightful owner of the contents of the mail box.  Please give him the mail.”

Mr. Herndon stuck out his hand and asked, “And who might you be?

“I’m Dr. Douglas Christiansen.  Ms. Starr or rather Ms. Bradford made me the guardian for R. B. before she departed for the Amazon.”

Mr. Herndon explained, “We had someone in here earlier this week trying to pick up Miss Starr’s mail.  He didn’t have the key so we didn’t give him the mail.  He claimed that he had every right to pick up the mail since he was Ms Starr’s lawyer.”

“When he couldn’t produce anything to say that he was her lawyer or that he was authorized to pick up the mail, we forcibly had to remove him.  Now, is there anything else we can do for you?”

R. B, held up the other key, “We’re not going to get the same runaround when we open this box, are we?”

“Who’s box is it?”

“It must have been my mother’s, because the key was hidden with the other key.”

Mr. Herndon looked at the key.  “It’s for box 1701.  Viola, go check to see who rented box 1701.”

Viola returned and reported.  “It belongs to Ms Gwen Bradford and it is overflowing as well.”

R. B. had a funny look.  “That was my Mother’s maiden name.  Why did she need two mailboxes?”

Mr. Herndon shook his head, “I guess your mother had a lot of things going for her, if she needed two mail boxes.  Viola, these people are going to need two carriers so they don’t get the mail from the two boxes mixed up,  Dr, Christiansen, I trust that you will make sure the carriers are returned,”

R. B. and Rocky were both carrying a USPS box with mail when we went to the limo.  The boys crawled into the back of the limo and I reminded them, “Don’t get the mail from the two containers mixed.  We need to sit down and see what we can make of it. First, we need to stop to get something to eat.  What would you like to eat?”

R. B. laughed, “Dad, you’re talking like Benji.  Why don’t we stop and get  Subway sandwiches and some chips and take it to the house to eat while we wait for Mr. Burris and the clients.”

Benji asked, “Dad, what are you going to do about Mr. Burris, since he has been lying to us?”

“Benji, I don’t honestly know.  Let’s see what happens this afternoon..”

We stopped and Boyce and I went into a Subway Shop and got a variety of sandwiches, chips and drinks so we could eat them as we got a feel for why Ms Braddock had two mailboxes and what the difference was.

When we got back to the limo, R. B. looked disturbed, “Dad, a lot of these letters have checks for my college fund and there is one from an insurance company for the accidental death of my Mother.  The note with it said that Mr. Burris said he didn’t know where I was living and that the company should send it to him.”

I turned to the guys, “Eat, we have enough information to fry Mr. Burris’ ass.  He has obviously been bought out by Mr. Tomasek and his gang.  We need to be able to move quickly when we get to the house.”

I looked at Boyce, “Do you know how to change the numbers on the gate cipher?”

R. B. spoke up, “I know how to change the code.  My Mother showed me how to do it.”

When we arrived at the house, Rax was already at the house so R. B. and I went to change the numbers on the lock to open the gate.  When we arrived in the house, Rax announced, “The FBI and the local police are in place.  I fully expect that Mr. Burris will be arriving shortly and will try to ramrod the sale of the property to the people who are willing to pay $350,000 if the furnishings are part of the package.”

“While you were gone, we had the police checking for finger prints and I’ve called a locksmith to change the locks on the house.  Boyce and I will disappear when your visitors arrive.  I’ve installed some listening devices in the house, so we’ll be able to hear what is going on in the living room.”

The intercom came on, “Is anyone there?  We have an appointment to close on the house, this afternoon.”

I went to the box, “Mr. Burris hasn’t arrived.  I’ll open the gate so you can come in out of the heat, and wait for Mr. Burris to arrive.”

I greeted the two visitors, “I’m Dr. Christiansen, Ray Lewis, Jr.’s guardian.” 

The two gentlemen identified themselves as Mr. Storz and Mr. Durham.  I invited them in, “Won’t you please come in and sit down until Mr. Burris arrives.  What can I get you to drink?”

The two visitors both wanted a beer.  I went to a refrigerator and used a napkin to wipe off the cans so there wouldn’t be any other  fingerprints than the people who drank out of them.  I took the beers and two glasses but they ignored the glasses.

They had time to take a drink of their beers (I guess it would be more appropriate to say take a guzzle of the beer) before the intercom was activated again.  My three guys were sitting watching the visitors.

Ihe intercom was activated and we heard, “This is Dale Burris. Who the hell changed the cipher on this lock?”

I went to box, “Mr. Burris, this is Raymond’s house and we changed the cipher.  I’ll buzz you through.  Your clients are already here and I would ask that you refrain from using such language, since there are three young boys here.”

I heard Mr. Burris take a deep breath, but he didn’t say anything else..

When he entered the house, I offered him a drink and he had a scotch and water.  I took the same precautions so that his fingerprints would be the only ones on the glass.  When I handed him his drink, I suggested, “Let’s get down to business.”

Mr. Burris took a drink of his drink and pulled some papers out of his briefcase, but before Mr. Burris could say anything, I asked, “Mr. Burris, do you have a copy of the appraisal with you?”

Mr. Durham pointed at Mr. Burris, “I thought you said this was a done deal.  We were to pay $350, 000 dollars in cash for the house and the furnishings and there would be no questions asked.”

Mr. Burris was a little flustered, “I didn’t bring the appraisal with me.  I thought Mr. Christiansen agreed to the deal that you would pay $350.000.00 dollars and that I would get a ten percent commission.”

I was incensed, “Mr. Burris, I didn’t agree to any such deal.  The more I thought about the appraisal and the other offer you had lined up, the more I had second thoughts about your honesty.  I’ve had some people here this week, checking on the situation.  They had an appraisal done of the house and it valued the house and contents at $505.000.00.  We also found out that you were trying to gain access to Miss Starr’s mailbox.”

Mr. Storz pulled out a gun, “Mr. Christiansen and Raymond Lewis, you had better sign that contract that Burris has, or all four of you are going to be dead.  We want this house and we’re going to get it.  Now sign the paperwork.”

The doors burst open in all directions and a police officer yelled, “Mr. Storz, Mr. Durham and Mr. Burris, I suggest that you freeze, or you are the people who are going to be dead.”

Needless to say, I was about to wet my pants.  I looked at the three guys and was concerned as to what this must be doing to R. B., Rocky and Benji.

The police gathered the two beer cans and the tumbler that Mr. Burris drank out of and put them in containers.  An FBI agent stepped forward, “Next time, Dr. Christiansen, would you please make it easier for us to keep up with you?”

Benji looked at the agent, “Mr. Strickler, I thought you lived in Georgia.  What are you doing here in Los Angeles?”

“The bosses thought it would be good if I came to make sure you were safe, since I knew who you were by sight.  Fortunately, Rax and Mr. Kauffman have been keeping us advised of their findings.  Hopefully the Tomasek gang will stop messing around with you.  If you find anything interesting in the mail, please advise us.”              

To be continued...

Editor's Notes: Things are happening pretty quickly now, aren't they?

I was suspicious of Mr. Burris because of his trying to force the issue with the people who waned to buy all the contents of the house.

I am guessing that there is still a lot of important evidence in the house, that hasn't been uncovered yet.

I also strongly suspect that R B's mother's death was not an accident.  In fact, I am wondering if she is not, in fact, alive, but is hiding from the crooks.

I guess we will just have to wait and see what will happen next.

Darryl AKA The Radio Rancher

Posted: 02/25/11