A Secretary's Nightmare

By Chris Lions

This is a warning to all honest law abiding citizens who fall prey to the Money Finders of the Mafia. They move in, take over the company; draw huge salaries out of your company all the time promising big money. When all is said and done and the company is in bankruptcy these men have done their job and are long gone and so is your business.

This is a story of a womans entanglement with a number of people from both sides of the law: Terries husband Del AKA Jim; Chris Ryan, the young man who despite his families objections wants to find out the truth about his Uncle Jay; Morici, the good cop turned bad; Rudicio, the Mafia boss who wants Terrie dead; and Clement Brown, the tough, smart F.B.I. man who, until he met the courageous Terrie Cooper, never had time for affairs of the heart.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Aug 16, 2002
• ISBN: 9781462825172

Chris Lions

Chris Lions was born and educated in a city in the mid-west. When she decided to settle down she moved to Central Florida where she lived on a lake had a boat and horses. She soon became bored and became involved with the flower business, via wholesale and retail owning both. After working full time for some 40 years she has retired, married and is working in an organization that helps children, along with her husband of 3 and a half years. Her first novel was “A Secretary’s Nightmare” released in September, 2002.

Book preview

CHAPTER 1

Chris Ryan closed the last bag and snapped the lock down. He picked it up, took it to the living room and placed it beside the other bags and returned to the bedroom.

There, I’m through packing. He said to Bob, his long time friend and roommate of many years.

Bob was busy putting the last pair of pants in his bag and looking around the room to see if he’d missed anything.

Yeah, me too. Have we left anything behind?

No, that’s it. Chris retorted as he went from room to room, pulling out drawers and searching through cabinets.

Then let’s get the hell outta here and load up the cars. I’m anxious to be on my way. Bob said as he began picking up his bags.

They were closing a chapter of their life. It had been a long six years. They had met in college and roomed together, then decided to share an apartment, off campus, while attending law school. Now it was over. Graduation Day had represented the culmination of a dream, now they were on their way to bigger and better things. They were taking the summer off before returning here in the fall to open their law offices. They had found a building, in town, that they had both liked and bought it. They had made arrangements with a contractor, in town, to do some renovating of the building, over the summer. They had both worked for him during previous summers and he knew what they wanted. He promised to have everything ready for them when they returned in September.

After loading their cars they went back into the apartment for one more quick look around, securing the windows, turning off the lights and taking out the trash. Bob stood on the steps and turned to Chris.

Well, Chris, the next time I see you will probably be at the front door of our new offices in September. Have a great summer and I hope you get your answers.

You too, Bob. I envy you. traipsing off to Europe like you’re doing. Wish I was going with you, but I have something that’s a little more important to due right now.

You’re still determined to go against your parents wishes? There was little doubt in Bob’s mind that Chris would go after some answers about his Uncle Jay, but he thought he’d ask just one more time.

Bob, I have to know what happened to him. The only way I know to do it is to find someone who can or will tell me the truth.

Good luck. Keep in touch and let me know what you find out. You’ve got my itinerary as to where I’ll be most of the time. In the meantime, I’ll write to you at your Mom’s, she should know where you are and can forward my mail on to you.

Chris climbed into the dark blue car that was a graduation present from his folks, nothing sporty, but useful and practical. He ran his hands across the light blue cloth seats and thought, the perfect covering for hot summer weather.

Chris pulled off the exit and pulled into the first restaurant he came too. He’d been driving for hours and it was time to take a break. He got out and stretched his long legs to relieve the cramps. His six foot frame was not used to such confinement and his muscles ached for exercise. He went into the men’s room, washed his face and combed his wavy black hair, before going into the dinning room. He needed a hot meal, since all he’d had for lunch was a cold sandwich he’d gotten at the gas station. First he needed a cup of coffee to revive him.

He ate dinner then went out to walk around the town. It had been a long time since he’d been in this town. Let’s see, Chris thought, I must have been a senior in high school the last time I was here. I wonder if any of the people from Uncle Jay’s company still live here. I’ll check the phone book when I find a motel room. Chris, back in his car drove around town and finally found a motel. It wasn’t much, but it was clean and appeared to have no bugs. That in itself was a blessing. Since Chris was a small child he could not stand bugs. Guess that goes back someplace in my childhood he thought.

A hot shower and then I’ll go through the telephone book, small town, small phone book. Surely I’ll remember someone’s name. It’s worth a try anyway. Chris took a shower, lay down across the bed and decided to read the local newspaper that he’d bought, before going through the phone book.

"Mrs. Candy Renfro is proud to announce the engagement and soon marriage of her daughter … . he read. Why does that name sound so familiar … . oh yes, I remember, she was the receptionist at Ryan’s Enterprise. I used to talk to her waiting for Uncle Jay to get free to talk to me. Finally a name I remember, I’ll check the phone book and call her Chris thought. Looking at his watch he realized it was now 10 o’clock, too late to call her tonight. I’ll call her first thing in the morning right now sleep sounds better.

Chris had a restless night, tossing and turning, dreaming about Uncle Jay, demons and his law practice. When Chris awoke he felt like he hadn’t slept at all. Looking at his watch he saw it was 7 A.M. Hmm, wonder if Mrs. Renfro is up. Probably not, guess I’ll have breakfast and then I’ll give her a call. What was it I was dreaming about last night. This bothered him all through breakfast. As he started back toward his room he remembered.

He dreamt about his search. It began when he and Bob were studying transcripts of past trials. They came across a case where one of the men involved was indicted on bank fraud charges. His name was Jay Ryan, the same as his Uncle Jay. When he went home for Christmas that year, he asked his father about his Uncle Jay. He would never forget the look on his father’s face as he answered Chris.

Chris, there are some things about my brother, your uncle, that are better left unexplained. He is dead and gone now and you really don’t need to know anymore he had shifted in his chair and was squirming as he talked. Chris could see that the conversation was making his Dad very uncomfortable. The pained expression on his face told Chris far more than the words coming out of his mouth. Chris changed the subject so his Dad would quiet down. After small talk Chris excused himself and went in search of his Mom.

Mom has always been honest with me and I with her, surely she’ll talk to me about Uncle Jay. Chris found his Mom in the kitchen, cooking as usual. Christmas was her favorite time of year and she went all out with her baking, cookies, pies and salads of all kinds. Her specialty, as far as Chris was concerned was her Peach pie. That was his favorite.

Hey, Mom Chris said, as he put his arms around her waist, you baking my favorite pie for me again this year?"

Yes, of course. You don’t think I’d forget ‘my growing boy’ for one minute do you?

No, at least I hoped you wouldn’t Mom, sit down for a couple of minutes please, I want to talk to you about something.

You and Bob bought your building didn’t you?

oh yeah and they are going to start renovating it for us so that it will be ready for us when we get back there in September. That isn’t what I want to talk to you about. Chris said as he pulled a kitchen chair out for her. He loved this kitchen, large, lots of cabinets, just an old fashion country kitchen.

Mom, I need to know about Uncle Jay and why Dad is so evasive. As I explained to him, Bob & I studied a trial case that spoke about a Jay Ryan indicted for bank fraud.

Chris please I don’t want to discuss him at all in this house.

"But why? Why won’t you or Dad talk to me about him. I have a right to know, besides I’m an attorney now, Mom. How would it look it I’d go to court with some big legal, mafia type case and some Prosecutor brought up the fact that my uncle had been imprisoned for something and I couldn’t prove differently, and it wasn’t even my uncle.

"Chris, please don’t ask me any more questions. I understand your plight, but you’ve got to respect your father and I and drop the subject. He caused a lot of heartaches, trouble, pain and embarrassment to this family. His death ended some of our pain, but not embarrassment, especially since his death was under mysterious circumstances. All we want to do is get on with our lives and try and forget those years.

Chris realized it was useless to pursue the questioning any further with either one of them. Maybe Janie, she was his cousin and they’d shared all their secrets growing up. However, when he found her she was more evasive, if that were possible, than either one of his folks.

Don’t you think your uncle caused enough problems without you coming along and try to get everyone to relive yesteryear.

When Chris returned to school after the Christmas break, he realized absolutely no one in the family or neighbors would discuss his uncle. Basically everyone said the same thing … . let sleeping dogs lie. What had his uncle done to make everyone react in this manner? His curiosity was stirred all the more. When his roommate got back he discussed it with him and said some day he would some way, somehow, get the answers he was looking for regarding his uncle. He remembered him as a sweet, loving and, yes, giving kind of man.

There’s something strange about this whole thing he said to Bob. Nobody wants to talk about my uncle. Now I do believe he is the one we read about in that class. All I really know is he was head of, owner, if you will, of Ryan Enterprises and he died last year under some mysterious circumstances. I’ve got to know more. He really wasn’t that bad, at least not what I remember of him.

Bob had listened to the whole story and was as puzzled over Jay Ryan and Chris’ family’s reaction as Chris was.

All I can suggest is a search for answers. Somewhere, in these United States, there has to be someone who will remember him and be willing to talk to me about him. Maybe some one who knew him in business, a secretary, someone who surely I will find who will know and tell me exactly what went on.

Chris thought about that conversation and dream as he picked up the telephone book. His fingers started down through the R’s, his mind raced, what if her name wasn’t in the phone book. It’s got to be … . R … Ren … . Renf … . Renfro, … . C. Renfro. Could this be the right one? It was worth a try so he dialed.

Hello a feminine voice answered

Good morning, my name is Christopher Ryan. I hope that I have the right person, are you the Candy Renfro, ah, the one who worked for Ryan Enterprises?

There was a long silence then Chris heard a weak voice ask Who did you say you are?

Forgive me, please. I am the nephew of Jay Ryan he owned Ryan Enterprises, and I am looking for a lady, Candy Renfro, who worked for him as his receptionist. I saw this name in the paper last night and looked it up in the phone book this morning. I’m hoping you are the same Candy Renfro.

Yes, I am Candy Renfro and I did work at Ryan’s and I was the receptionist.

Would it be possible for me to come out and talk with you? I would very much like to ask you some questions about my Uncle Jay. Chris asked

Of course you can come over. She replied I would love to see you. It’s been what 4, 5 years since I last saw you. I’m sure that you’re quite grown up by now. As your Uncle’s receptionist though, I’m not too sure if I can be of any help.

"That’s OK. I would like to see you anyway, like you said, it’s been a long time. Besides maybe you’ll be able to tell me someone else who might be able to help me out.

What time would it be convenient for you to see me?"

Candy thought a minute and looked at the clock. Eight o’clock in the morning was way too early to see him.

How about 10 o’clock, would that be OK with you? I have some fresh made cinnamon rolls and if you drink coffee we can have some to go with the rolls.

"That sounds good to me. How do I get to your house? I am staying at the Inn Motel here in town.?

That’s no problem. You’re not more than a mile or two away from me. Candy gave Chris her address and directions on how to get there. See you around 10."

That sounds great to me. Thanks a lot. See you then. Chris said and hung up the phone.

Chris followed Candy’s directions out of town and found her road in no time at all. She had said she had sold most of her property so for him to look for a one story brick house with crème colored shutters on the left hand side of the dirt road. As he approached her driveway he could tell that she took pride in her yard. She had lots of flowers and flowering bushes around the house. Mmmm a small comfortable home outside of a small town. This is what I want one of these days.

Candy met him at the door before he had a chance to ring the doorbell.

Hello Chris, my, my how you have grown. She said as she opened the screen door. Please come in. You know, I’m not sure I would have recognized you if I’d passed you on the street. You do look a lot like your Uncle Jay tho’.

Chris went in and sat down in an overstuffed brown chair. He could tell that it had been Jim’s (Candy’s husband) chair. It was a manly kind of thing.

Now tell me Chris what can I possibly do to help you.

Chris began his story of how he had seen and studied his uncle’s case and the transcript of the trial and how he had asked questions of his family and neighbors in regards to his uncle only to be told, in so many words, let sleeping dogs lie.

I have been determined to find out what happened since then, so when I graduated last week, I set out to find someone who could tell me about him. I have all summer, if that’s what it takes. Driving this way I remembered you and I thought several others lived here or near here in Meadville, so I made this my starting point.

Candy was sitting back and looking at Chris’s blue eyes. How much he really did resemble his uncle. Almost the same build, same type black wavy hair and same piercing eyes. She wondered how she could talk to this young man about someone so close to him, and yet so infamous. It was obvious to Candy that he really didn’t know anything about his uncle’s activities.

Chris, I really don’t know how much I can help you, but I do know of someone who can … . that is if you can find her. Her name is Terrie Cooper and she was your uncle’s secretary the last few years.

Chris sat up with a start. This was the first glimmer of light and ray of hope he’d had as yet.

Do you know where she is, or how I can contact her? he asked

The last time I saw or talked with Terrie was the day the plant was shut down by the bankruptcy courts and we all had to leave. She made the remark that she would love to get away from the whole mess, to move far away, and said something about moving to ‘peanut country’. Candy looked, as she was talking, as if she was trying to force something out of her memory, some kind of information that might help Chris.

Do you know of anyone who might know where she can be located?

I’m not sure, Chris, let me think a minute. Wait a minute, yes, maybe I do. She has a brother, who worked for Ryan Enterprises for a while, he left a few years before we did and moved to Tennessee. I remember Terrie telling me about going to visit Bud and how beautiful the mountains were. He had settled down and was working at a hotel, in, I believe, Gatlinburg, Tennessee. From what Terrie said, he has a real good job, running or managing a large hotel or motel there. Maybe you could find someone in that area that would know him and be able to help you out.

That’s great Chris said, The first real lead that I’ve had, outside of you. Besides I’ve always wanted to go to Gatlinburg, so why not go now. I told you, if it took all summer, I am determined to get some answers, and at least you’ve given me a place to start. Besides how hard can it be to find a manager of a hotel or motel by the name of Bud? Chris laughed.

His full name is Bud Roberts. Candy interjected laughing

Seriously I really appreciate this more than I can ever thank you or show you.

Chris looked at his watch. It was almost noon.

Say, how about going to lunch with me? I’d love to talk some more and you must be hungry. He said as he watches her face curiously.

What a wonderful idea, especially since I never got you the homemade rolls or coffee. Give me a minute to change. I know a nice little Tea Room in town that serves excellent food.

Candy directed him to the town square, complete with an old stone courthouse and some modern office buildings, which housed the city utility workers. He could see a sign stating City Council Chambers on one of the doors. They drove around the courthouse toward the north side. There on the corner was a quaint old building, which must have been a house at one time. It had been restored and made into the tea house.

"This corner marks a real historic spot. This is where the two states meet. A long time ago the weary travelers would stop at this house for a bit