Ordeal by Cheque

Being a old detective who has seen it all is never easy and often repetitive. I face each case that is handed to me with the same passive feeling as the case before. I wanted a challenge, and I have just that. I've never in all my life heard of solving a case that only had old checks for clues. What was a old rusty detective suppose to do with that? Either these people are truly insane or they have this ongoing struggle with this past man. Lawrence Exeter, Jr. By the dates on the checks, It's safe to presume he was born on September 2nd, 1903. Through his education, he went from an all boy school to a military school and all the way up to Stanford University. Such an amazing school says a lot for his I.Q. Or, about his families financial capabilities. Either way, he was one of the lucky ones. Buying a 3,000 dollar Cadillac then having to repair it 4 days later is a tricky clue. Either, the car was cheap or something happened around that date.

From June 9th, 1923 to November 18th, 1926, the father sure bought a lot of flowers and sweets. I'd imagine he was either spoiling his wife, or having an affair. One check for a hotel room might suggest the affair was on the money.

Someone else seems to have falling in love, Lawrence Jr. starts to write checks to the same types of sweet shops and flower shops as his father had the year before. Perhaps they have the same sweetheart? 'Oh, now I'm just being silly. It could happen, right? Anyway.'

"What's this?" I pondered to myself. Ah, Love. It has the ability to form fast and be quickly extinguished in the blink of an eye. Apparently, 6 months after a ring was bought at Diamond Co. for five hundred and seventy-five dollars, someone filed for divorce.

"Looks like the gal did, why else would she be given 5 grand."

Two lawyer fees, a court fee....and a 50 grand check to a Marie Exeter? Was this Marie his recent flame? Or, could she be his soon to be ex-wife? The only logical guess I could muster was Marie being his wife. 'Must've been a good prenuptial...for her.'

Most of this kid's life was pretty straight forward. Born to a rich family, went to the best schools, got married and divorced. The only thing that was puzzling, was the checks to Tony Spagoni. It wasn't the payments that was the confusing part, it was the way he was paid. July 1st, 1931, 100 bucks. July 2nd, 1931, 100 bucks. What would someone need payment twice in a row? There has to be a reason.

'The only way I could figure out this....would be to find out who Tony Spagoni is.'

Bringing out my rusty old PC from hibernation, I opened the browser engine. Searching through countless files, I finally found who I hoped I would have....maybe in the way I would not have liked.

"WANTED: Tony Spagoni. Suspect is thought to be armed and dangerous."

"Well, That was easier than I thought...Let's see...That still doesn't explain the checks..hm hm hmm hm" I hummed to myself as I looked over the few checks that were left.

Peter Zentizzi. A check for Peter Zentizzi for $25? Quite an odd amount, especially for the fact that this was NOT Lawrence's handwriting.

After that check, It appears that Lawrence was in a terrible....'accident'? Lawrence Sr. appears again, 100 bucks to the hospital, 175 bucks to the doctor and 1 grand to the mortuary.

The Sr. was crossed out on the 2nd last check, and forgotten on the last. Hm, So. What ever happened to Lawrence Exeter, Jr.?

After more research, tons and tons of research. I have the answer the family needed to move on.

Marie Exeter, AKA Mrs. Lawrence Exeter Jr, was having an affair with Tony Spagoni. After, poor Lawrence discovered this, he filed for divorce. Marie was bitter from being caught and having to live in a less luxurious life. Lucky for her, the prenuptial agreement was to her favor. After remembering that Lawrence had put her on his Will, she decided it was time to get the rest of the money he owed her for all she had done. She hired Tony and Peter Zentizzi to kill Lawrence. The double checks for Tony were because he was the mechanic that repaired Lawrence's Cadillac. The first check was for appointment and holding fee, while the second check was for repairs when the car was done. The Cadillac had the habit of breaking down a lot...'accidentally' of course. The check for 25 dollars that Peter wrote? That was for a title transfer to Lawrence's prized Cadillac to Marie. 'It's a sad day when you're ex-wife has you killed. Even sadder when she takes your car.'

Today, Marie Exeter, Peter Zentizzi, and Tony Spagoni are awaiting trial with charges of murder in the 1st degree. The Exeter family can finally feel relieved that the killers will be behind bars.

Finally, after so much time spent on the case. It has been solved. I feel a sense of pride knowing I cracked even the most unusual cases that I have ever faced. I packed my briefcase, slipped on my hat, and headed out the door. It had been so long since I have left the dark and dreary realms of my office.

I really should retire.