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

Edward answered questions put to him by Sheriff Officers of Washington County.

Denbre repeated the same explanation time after time. He told of how his wife was afraid of falling when she reached the narrow path leading up to the summit of Angles Landing. He told of her asking for help and how she held out her hand. He broke down and cried when saying how she let go of the chain with her right hand and as she reached for him leaned to her right, slipped and went over the edge to the canyon floor below.

After two hours of questioning Edward Denbre was told just how sorry the investigators were about him losing his wife in a tragic accident. Henrietta became just another victim of Angels Landing. In his hotel room Edward packed both suitcases, his and hers and placed them near the door for the bellman. The next morning after breakfast he began the drive to the St. George Airport. Once there he watched the undertakers transfer the body from the hearse to the aircraft. The undertaker had made all of the necessary arrangements for the shipping and handling of the body.

He concentrated on his next moves. The first move would take place when he returned to the house in Baltimore. The second move would be making funeral arrangements for Henrietta.

As he took a seat in the first class section of the airplane. He thought of the ten death certificates that were inside his brief case. The first one would be sent to the insurance company, but only after enough time passed for his bereavement. The question of what to do with her property caused him to think carefully before he made any moves. Taking possession of her jewelry would be easy. There was no one to dispute him taking it. He would decide later to where to have it appraised and then sold. There was also the preparation of a new will with the forged signature. The timing of the presentation of the document had to appear that it had recently been found. Reclining in the chair, he closed his eyes and decided to nap on the flight to Salt Lake City.

When the Delta flight from Salt Lake City arrived in the Baltimore/Washington International Airport, Denbre made sure that Henrietta's body was transferred to the local undertaker that had been contacted on the telephone. Satisfied that the body was being attended to in the manner a loving husband would do, he made his way to the parking lot where his Bentley had been parked. After opening the trunk he placed both suitcases inside, closed the lid and entered the automobile, started the engine and began the drive to the house in the city.

The next day in the house in Baltimore Denbre sat reading Henrietta's will. In it she stipulated that he, as her husband was to received twenty five thousand dollars. The rest of the assets from her estate was to be left to her good friend, Shirley Beauvals of Paris, France. “Like Hell”, he thought to himself. Still, he had to find a way to circumvent this will. He had the ability to forge Henrietta's signature, but was leery about creating another false will as he did with Gloria. There had to be a way. He walked to the desk and sat using the computer. After some time he found what he was looking for in Maryland law, a Codicil. He read the definition over and over. “A codicil is an amendment to an original will. There may be more than one codicil. After death all codicils should be presented to the Register of Wills, along with all original wills.” He smiled as he shut off the computer.

The next day he disconnected the keyboard from Henrietta's desk top computer and packed it in his suitcase along with her jewelry. Before making the drive to Ventnor he called his telephone at the condo. After three rings Renata answered.

“Denbre residence. Mister Denbre is not available at the moment. May I take a message?”, she said.

“Renata, this is Edward. I should be there at about two or two thirty. I'll be staying there for some time, one or two weeks. I just wanted you to know so you can do the food shopping at the market.”

“ Fine Edward. Thanks for letting me know. Is there anything in particular you would want me to pick up?”

“Maybe a lemon pie. Do you still have enough of the money that I left?”

“Yes, more than enough.”

“Good. I'll see you in awhile. Bye.”

For the next five days Denbre wrote and re-wrote several amendments to Henrietta's will. Using her keyboard attached to his computer meant that the printed letters appeared the same as when she wrote the original, before giving it to her attorney. Once he was satisfied that the changes he made would mean that everything she owned went to him he had to concentrate on when the dates would have been when she made the changes.

Still, he wasn't satisfied. He went over what he had done. If there was a probate he had to appear as a grief stricken husband and not one that was greedy. After studying her estate he decided to leave her art collection to the State of Maryland. The collection alone was worth sixty thousand dollars. He made sure that the art works were donated by Mr. Edward Denbre and the late, Henrietta Denbre. He made a note to inform his accountant at tax time.

At the end of ten days, Edward was satisfied that the codicils were finished and signed with the forged signature. What he needed now was the signatures of two witnesses. He convinced Renata and her husband Julio that he needed their signatures for insurance purposes. After they signed he stated that Henrietta who always liked Renata had left her five hundred dollars. The couple were very happy. So was Edward.

The next day Denbre drove to Philadelphia. There he found the Goldberg Brothers who bought and sold diamonds, silver and gold. After some wheeling and dealing he accepted their offer of four thousand, five hundred dollars for her jewelry.

To him, it was all profit.

When he returned to the house in Baltimore he found several messages from the funeral director wishing to know how and when to proceed with Henrietta's body. Denbre sat pondering what to do. Finally, he picked up the telephone called and told them to cremate her remains. There would be no viewing, no funeral and he wouldn't have to stand around answering questions. Henrietta had only one living relative, an aged aunt living somewhere suffering from Alzheimer disease.

The next day he went to Henrietta's attorney. After accepting the lawyers condolences Edward presented the codicils. When he did he sat holding his breath as he watched

Danial Jacobs study the signatures. He slowly exhaled when Jacobs said, “These appear to be in order Mr. Denbre. What would you like me to do for you?”

“What ever is necessary under the law. I must admit that I'm at a loss when it comes to legal matters. I would like you to expedite the proceedings. If that's what they're called, so that I might deal with my late wife's estate and return to my home in New Jersey. Naturally, when you present your fee I will see that you are paid at once.'

“Don't worry about a thing Mr. Denbre. I'll get on it right a way. Again may I say how sorry I am for your loss.”

“Thank you sir. Thank you. I miss her terribly.”

“I'm sure you do,” said Jacobs.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chapter Seven

Meeting Joyce Palmer

One year later on a Saturday night Edward Debre sat at the baccarat table in a special room away from the main casino floor at Resorts Hotel Casino in Atlantic City. On this evening he decided to play betting with the house although he had to pay the five per cent when he won. Tonight, he was winning but playing cautiously betting a twenty five dollar chip on each hand.The man seated next to him was losing and losing big. Denbre knew the feeling and watched the gambler who kept increasing his bets hoping to eventually win and go ahead. In disgust the man quit, tipped the dealers and got up and left. His seat was immediately taken by an attractive brunette woman.

The aroma of her perfume made Denbre turn his head and look at her. He saw a young woman who he judged to be between thirty to thirty five years old. She was small, petite, dressed comfortably in a black dress with accessories of a gold, colored necklace and ear rings. He recognized the fragrance she was using as, Obsession. The last time Henrietta bought it she paid over sixty dollars an ounce. As he looked at her, she looked back at him waiting for him to speak. “Good luck,” he said.

“It appears that you are doing well”, she replied at the same time placing five one hundred dollar bills in front of the croupier. “Twenty five dollar chips, please”, she said.

“To be honest, I've won some times and lost other times. Now, with you here maybe my luck will change.”

“And to be honest with you my being here might change your luck from good to bad.”

“Oh, dear lady, I doubt it. Allow me to introduce myself.

I'm Edward Denbre.”

“Hello Edward Denbre. They call me Joyce Palmer.”

Both players made their bets. Edward bet the bank, Joyce bet the player. Edward won. “See, you're bringing me luck,” he said.

“That was only one play. So, Mr. Denbre what is it that you do besides play baccarat?”, she asked.

“I own an investment company, Denbre Enterprises.”

“Really?”

“Yes and I notice that you have a New England accent. I bet you're from Boston.”

“Close. I was born and raised in Lowell.”

“Now, if I may be so bold what do you do? And when I ask for instance, let's start with the word housewife.”

“ How about I make it easy for you. I'm thirty years old, graduated from Boston University. I'm a certified accountant, single at the moment and am financially independent.”

“My, my, music to my ears. Excuse me”, he said as he bet fifty dollars on the bank. Turning his attention again to the woman he said, “Besides playing the casino why else are you in town?”

“I'm interested in investing in real estate here in this area.”

“Excuse me, I just won again. Now, if I may, I'll give you some advice. Real estate in this area and Atlantic City would be a poor investment opportunity. This town is on it's way down and out. You don't want to join it.”

“Really? I was under the impression that the casino's actually raised property values.”

“They did originally. Now, casino's are closing. It's just a matter of time when they all will be gone.”

“I see. Well, since you have given me some sound advice what other recommendations do you have?”

“Well, since at the moment I'm up in my winnings and you are losing, I recommend that we both quit and move to the cocktail lounge and get to know each other better. What do you say?”

“I say that so far your counseling has been beneficial. I'm interested to see what other hidden talents you possess.”

“Denbre smiled, “Be assured lovely lady that I'm willing to show you.”

Over drinks Denbre asked, “How long will you be in town?”

“Right now I don't know. I was going to stay and look at properties, but after your advice I might reconsider. At the same time I have to find a place to live.”

“I have a place in mind if you'd be interested.”

“That depends in what you want in exchange for the rent.”

“Absolutely nothing. There's a studio apartment in my building that's vacant. It's furnished including linens and cookware.”

“And, it comes with no strings attached?”

“Yep.”

“Tell me more about yourself Mr. Denbre. I find you very interesting.”

“Edward, call me Edward.”

 

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What began as a friendship turned into a courtship. Joyce moved into the condo with Edward. She got along well with Renata and