The Wives Of Edward Denbre, Robert F. Clifton [recommended reading .TXT] 📗

Eventually he made his way to Atlantic City, New Jersey where he took a job as a dishwasher at the Botany Bay Restaurant. Being young and handsome he had no problem attracting the opposite sex. However, young woman found him to be possessive and dictatorial. Nonetheless, older women welcomed his advances and the attention he gave them. As a result a plan developed in his mind. He would select and court older women, but in particular those who could give him things, such as presents and most important, money.

Denbre scrimped and scraped saving his money. With the money he bought expensive clothes and shoes presenting himself to those who did not know him as a well groomed, well dressed playboy about town. He knew he was on the right path when he entered the Easter Parade on the Atlantic City Boardwalk

and won as the best dressed man. That day he wore a gray pinstriped suit, a black, Prince Albert Coat with a velvet collar and a black derby on his head. Not only did he win, but he slept with the matronly head judge after he persuaded her to stay instead of going back to New York. During they're brief affair Denbre convinced her to invest five hundred dollars in his bogus

company, called Denbre Enterprises. When she contacted him two months later asking for the stock certificates he promised he threatened to tell her husband about their time in her hotel room.

In his spare time and on days off from the restaurant Denbre sat in the local library and read. The first thing he read were books on etiquette and table manners. He purchased a bag of mixed white, plastic knives, forks and spoons and sat in his rented room practicing which utensil to use for each particular course served at meals. He also practiced speaking, adding a new word each day to his vocabulary. As he continued to re-invent himself as an educated businessman he was aware of the one, particular flaw in his plan. That was the inability to enter and mingle with rich, society. He knew that the women he wanted to pursue were known as upper class. Some how, some way he had to find a means to crack that inner circle.

One day, while in the library he took a book from a shelf

and walked to an upholstered chair. There, someone had left the local newspaper. He picked it up and for some reason decided to read it. He discovered an article about a local charity drive that would be held in the ballroom of the Convention Hall. The public was invited. “That's it!”, he thought to himself.

On the evening of Saturday, March 20, 1999, Edward Denbre attired in a dark, blue suit, white shirt and blue striped necktie entered the Atlantic City Convention Hall Ballroom.

He stood on the outside of the crowd and as the sound of a hundred people's conversations resonated he carefully surveyed those gathered in the large room.

The charity event was organized and executed by Mrs. Edwina Binder, widow of Paul Binder, millionaire. She was a local business woman who had one of the leading real estate offices in the county. At the same time it was said that her property holdings were worth millions. Her favorite charity was the Orphans of Haiti for which she raised hundreds of thousands of dollars each year.

Denbre watched people as they walked to where a matronly woman attired in a black designer dress accented with a diamond necklace with matching diamond bracelet met them, conversed with them then politely would turn away and greeted others that approached her. Edward Denbre decided to make his move. He had nothing to lose and everything to gain. He made his way to her then patiently waited until she recognized him by offering her hand.

After taking her hand in his he said, “ Such a worthwhile cause. I believe that you will meet your expectations, Mrs. Binder”.

“I'm sure we will. Have we met?”, Edwina replied.

“Not officially. I was a friend of Paul,” Denbre responded.

“Business or socially?”

“Business. I'm afraid at the time I was too busy to ingratiate my self into your past husbands social set. Nonetheless we did get along handsomely in the business world and together in a few ventures did well financially.”

“That's nice to know Mr.?”

“Denbre, Edward Denbre.”

“I don't recall Paul mentioning you.”

“That's because our business arrangement was such that I preferred to remain anonymous. I still do. As a matter of fact my donation to your worthy cause will be made in that manner, anonymous and faceless. I hope you understand. Once the word is out that I give to charity I will be beset by every charity and institution seeking funds.”

“I understand perfectly Mr. Denbre”.

“Edward, call me Edward. I have a feeling that we will become good friends.”

Denbre then read the Atlantic City Press every morning examining the Society Page. Two weeks after their first meeting Edward found an article stating that a charity ball would be held at the Ambassador Hotel on Saturday, April the twenty fourth. After reading the article he folded the newspaper and sat quietly developing his plan.

On a Tuesday morning, Denbre's day off he showered, shaved and dressed in a dark blue shirt, light blue slacks and navy blue sports coat. Once attired he walked casually down Ocean Ave. to where Edwina Binder still ran the real estate office founded by her late husband.

He stood for a moment on the sidewalk looking through the plate glass window seeing her seated at a desk. She appeared to be going over paper work. She also seemed to be alone. Edward took a deep breath exhaled the opened the door and entered the office. When he did, Edwina looked up. When she saw him she smiled. “Mr. Denbre, this is an unexpected pleasure. It's so nice to see you again,” she said.

“ Please, call me Edward, and the pleasure is all mine. I hope that you won't find me too forward, but I'm planning to attend the charity ball and if I can be so bold was wondering if you would go with me. However, let me warn you. I'm a terrible dancer.

“Thank you for the invitation, but I don't attend balls or dances. Unfortunately I suffer from sever asthma and that kind of activity often brings on attacks. Instead of attending this charity ball I simply send a check. I'm so sorry, but again thank you for asking me”, she explained.

“I'm so sorry. I'm sorry about your condition, but more sadden that we won't be attending together,” Denbre replied.

“Perhaps another time at a different event”, Edwina suggested.

Denbre spotted an opening and took advantage. “Then, may I suggest we dine together this evening?” he said.

“My you are persuasive. Alright, I accept your dinner invitation. Say eight o'clock this evening?”

“Your wish is my command dear lady. May I ask which restaurant you prefer?”

“ Tonight I'm in the mood for sea food. I like Don Carlo's.

They serve Portuguese cuisine. Is that alright with you?”

“Certainly. A restaurant named after a character in a Verdi opera must be good. Now, may I have your address and perhaps your telephone number in case I get delayed?”

After he left Edwina's office he walked several blocks to where Don Carlo's was located. He noticed the small parking lot which told him that in all probability they only took reservations

He walked in, saw cleaning staff vacuuming the lush red and gold rug and women placing silverware, napkins and Chrystal water glasses on tables. Edward turned at the sound of a voice that said, “May I help you sir?”

“Yes, I assume you take reservations, said Denbre.

“Yes sir, may I ask how many and at what time?”, asked a young woman as she walked to the reservation desk.

“Before we do this would you check to see if my friend, Mrs. Edwina Binder made reservations for the two of us. I wouldn't want you to hold two tables when we'll be using only one.”

The young woman scanned the reservation book using her index finger. “No sir. Mrs. Binder hasn't called. Now, what time would you prefer?”

“Eight this evening. Oh, and one more thing”.

“Yes sir?”

“Do you accept credit cards?”

“We do.”

“Thank you very much”, said Edward

The first dinner date with Edwina Binder raised his credit card debt to three thousand dollars. However, it opened the door for him to begin a courtship, one that lasted just over one year. Edwina Binder welcomed the attention Denbre gave her. She was now a fifty year old widow and as a result of her husbands death, very lonely. At the age of eighteen, and a blue eyed blond she had won the Miss Atlantic City contest. Now, she remained attractive, but was aging.

On Monday, April 10, 2000 the couple were married before a Justice Of The Peace in Atlantic City. Reluctantly, Denbre signed a prenuptial agreement. Although this annoyed him because it interfered on him getting his hands on her money he decided to remain patient and move slowly with his plans.

In the month of September, 2000 the stock market fell drastically. Denbre used this event to convince his wife that at the moment his financial losses were substantial. He told her that under the current situation he was without any money and what funds he did have were tied up in investments in Europe, and the Caribbean. He presented himself as distraught and momentarily

penniless. Edwina then began paying the household bills and those accumulated by her husband.

Unknown to Edwina Denbre was the fact that some of the money she gave to her new husband paid the monthly premium on the one hundred thousand dollar life insurance policy he had taken out on her. He never missed a payment and the policy was kept in a safe deposit box in the bank he used. At the same time Edward became a doting husband particularly when his wife suffered asthma attacks. He would rush to her side and hand her the inhaler and stay with her until her breathing returned to normal. At bedtime he would mix her medication, Theolair with orange juice because Theolair, a brand of theophyline had an extremely, bitter taste. He stood by her bedside making sure that she drank every drop. “This will relax you my dear. We don't want any attacks during the night, do we?” he would say.

After two years of marriage Edwina agreed to open a joint checking account. Edward was delighted and promised to repay her for any expenses related to his business endeavors once his European accounts were straighten. He was told not to worry.

He didn't. Shortly after, he convinced Edwina to change her will leaving all of her assets, cash, property, stocks and bonds and jewelry to him with the exception of ten thousand dollars which would go to her favorite charity, The Haiti Orphaned Children Fund. He sat with her and Edwina's attorney and silently watched as paralegals signed the document as a witness.

Now, he sat waiting as the temperature in the apartment began to rise. He knew that the heat and humidity in the bedroom would eventually trigger an asthma attack. He also knew that the Oxycontin given to her during an asthma attack would slow her breathing. He had discovered this fact by using the computer at the library. One hundred and sixty milligrams mixed with Theoliar should result in her death.

At two o'clock in the morning her heard the rasping breathing as the asthma attack began. Denbre got up off of the sofa walked into the kitchen and after pouring a tall glass of orange juice, mixed the powdery form of Oxycontin and Theoliar together in the juice. He dropped the plastic container into the sink with the garbage disposal, turned on the switch on the wall and listened as the plastic was ground into a thousand pieces and swept away by water from the kitchen sink.

“Edward? Edward? I need you,” he heard his wife call from the bedroom.

“Coming dear. I'm coming”.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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