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The Schemer

By Ruth S. Jonassohn

AuthorHouse

Copyright © 2010 Ruth S. Jonassohn
All right reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-4490-9098-2

Chapter One

After a brilliant sunshine during the day, the night became cloudy and humid, something to be expected in a city built near the shore.

As the night progressed, a lone figure walked around the shores of Wildwood Crest, New Jersey. He was so shabbily dressed, no one still at the shore paid any attention to him. As he left the shore, made the rounds of the wealthiest section in town, seeing the beautiful homes with large acreage behind them. A few still had lights on, while others were pitch dark. No dogs were seen or heard, especially at the darkened homes. Almost no one was on the street.

He investigated one house of special interest, then walked to the back to see if there was a rear entrance, if so, if it was lit. The house was completely dark. He checked for an alarm system without finding anything, not even spotlights.

With the front of the house in complete darkness and no streetlights shining on it, he moved to the back entrance. Once inside, he slowly walked to the front of the house to see what it contained. His flashlight was aimed at the floor, as he realized he stood in the foyer and still hadn't seen anything or heard anyone talking.

He slowly walked up the winding staircase, cautiously examining the rooms without finding anyone home. A vicious smile came to his lips.

Entering the master bedroom, he examined every corner and still didn't find an alarm. He moved to the closet, cautiously opened the door, and waited, but nothing happened. He stepped in to see what kind of closet these people had. To his surprise, it was huge.

Looking around, he saw two more doors and opened the nearest one. Behind it was a safe almost as large as the closet.

He returned to the main closet door, opened it slightly, and didn't detect any movement, so he locked it from the inside with a smile. He could work without interruption.

He opened the safe quickly. The beautiful jewelry took his breath away, but it didn't interest him. He needed cash to survive. He searched the safe until he found what he wanted, taking the bundle without counting it, then closed the safe and left the closet. No one would know anything was amiss, because the closet and safe looked undisturbed.

He went downstairs and walked through the rooms, his flashlight pointed at the floor, but he didn't see anything else of interest, so he returned to the kitchen and left the house. He walked into the nearby woods to lose himself until it was safe to return his home.

Removing his shabby clothes, he folded them into a neat package and buried them. The only items he kept were his gloves and overshoes, which left no footprints. Before leaving the woods, he made sure to distribute the dirt so it looked as if no one had walked along that stretch toward the highway even at night.

Ronald Hunter checked his watch and saw it was time to leave the beach, where he'd been watching laughing kids play games. Rita was probably worrying. He should've called her to invite her for a leisurely walk on the beach. She'd probably be angry for not being invited and being left alone.

As he approached his home, he saw all the lights were on. He walked into the spacious foyer and called, "Rita! I'm home."

"It's good to see you so late at night. Where have you been?"

He smiled at the woman he loved, then became serious. "I took a walk on the beach and watched some kids play ball. It was so relaxing, I forgot the time."

"I would've gone with you. Why didn't you call me?" I had nothing else to do but stare at the walls, wondering when you'd return."

"I'm very sorry, Rita. If you'd like to go for a stroll on the beach now, I'll gladly take you."

"It's too late now. Next time, come home sooner. I was worried sick and ready to call the cops."

He laughed, but he knew she meant it.

"How was business today?" she asked.

"Very busy. Paul was, too. We raised the interest rates by three-quarters of a percentage point, to five-and-a-quarter. That's a lot better than the four-and-a-half percent on a CD."

"True. What time element is involved with the new rate? Is it for one year or two years? Less or more?"

"Neither. Its a thirteen months CD."

"That's a good return."

"The best. I hope the rates won't increase so quickly again."

"Has the Federal Reserve made any announcement to that effect?"

"Yes, they did. Why?"

"I haven't heard anything on radio or TV."

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you last night. I was too tired to talk about it."

"Ronald, you're only supervising things for me. Even though you're the CEO of the bank, that doesn't mean I shouldn't be informed of what goes on."

He looked at her with hate-filled eyes. She always let him know who the sole owner of the bank was. It was the same with their mansion and her other properties, including the many acres behind the house and the lake.

He was angry that she didn't have enough confidence in him and had to know everything that happened at the bank. "If you have so much mistrust in my managing the bank, perhaps we should trade positions."

"Ronald, you don't have to be sarcastic. I know what needs to be done whether I'm at the bank or not. You agreed, remember?"

"How can I forget? Your parents saw to it when I proposed marriage. Now that they're gone, nothing should've stopped you from making me an equal partner."

"I would, if I could. You didn't bring anything to our marriage besides good looks and the desire to work in the bank."

He turned, grabbed his coat, and marched from the den.

"Where are you going?" she called.

"To cool off!"

"I now exactly where you're going-to meet your buddies and play poker or blackjack."

Chapter Two

Ronald arrived at their usual hangout, a bar and grill, and smiled at his buddies.

"It's good to see you again," Landers said. "Where have you been?"

"It was a very busy day at the bank. With the new CD rates and the increase in borrowing money, it was pretty hectic, as you can imagine."

"Well, you're here now. How about a drink?"

"No, thanks."

"Are you playing tonight?" Emil asked.

"Of course. That's why I came."

"OK. Let's get started."

They walked into the private room reserved for them, where no one dared interrupt. The owner made sure of that. The players showed their appreciation by spending a lot of money at his business.

"What shall we play?" Landers asked. "Blackjack or poker?"

"It's a poker night. Next time, we'll play blackjack."

Once the game began, the men discussed their week at work. It hadn't been very good.

"What's the problem?" Ronald asked.

"Work is scarce, and pay increases aren't being offered anymore. Even our health insurance has been canceled, and the firm stopped contributing to our pensions. We've been employed there for more than twenty-five years, and suddenly, they see us as extra baggage. Meanwhile, the big shots get millions in compensation and regular raises."

"I know exactly what you mean."

"You? The CEO of the biggest bank in Wildwood Crest?"

"Yes. I asked Rita to make me an equal partner, but she says she can't, because that's how the trusts were set up by her parents. There can't be any changes to them. It's for life," he said bitterly.

"That's tough. You must make a good salary, don't you?"

"Of course, but nothing more."

...