The Lonely Road

By Marigbz

The story involves Americans and Russians in murder, romance, and intrigue for you to find the answer. What is stronger, murder, love, or time?

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Aug 26, 2015
• ISBN: 9781504922302

Marigbz

Marianne Brechler Zarek was born, raised, married, had three daughters (all now married) where she lived in the small town of Fennimore, Wisconsin. In 1982 she and her husband, Bob Brechler, moved to Naples, Florida. After Bob’s death, she married Gene Zarek, who is also now deceased. Marianne still resides in Naples, enjoying the Sunshine State.

Book preview

CHAPTER 1

Craig

I was headed east as the sun rose and slowly drove away the darkness that engulfed the lonely road. The black top glishtened, wet from the night’s rain, making a mirror reflects for the sun’s rays. I could almost visualize the picture of myself, like the reflection of a car and lone driver heading somewhere in the morning.

The quiet was only interrupted by the sound of splashing as my tires drove over the wetness that clung on the road.

Time alone, gave my mind moments to reflect another day on this lonely road. I was an early riser, ready to leave for work ahead of schedule. It was the reason I was driving slowly, enjoying the wooded area beside the lonely road. I was suddenly shaken by what looked like a body lying in a ditch. As if by human nature, I looked back and saw no car and ahead for oncoming traffic. There was no one to be seen, except myself and this body.

With some hesitation, I pulled over and parked. It was a body of a woman lying face up. She merely appeared to be sleeping with her eyes closed, however, she was not moving, nor did she move when I yelled. I was shaking, but knew I needed to call 911 for assistance.

The 911 operator responded immediately, advising me NOT to touch the body, which I certainly was not planning on doing. It seemed forever, but finally the ambulance came, police cars, siren screaming and a fire rescue truck. I stood like a frozen statue pointing down into the ditch.

I wanted to leave and continue onto work, but I was told I needed to make a statement about how I had found the body. This seemed simple as I had nothing more to say except I was driving down this lonely road and happened to glance down saw the body.

How many years ago was this? Ten? And I am still driving down this lonely road to work. But much has happened in those years, and this is my story.

The woman in the ditch had been strangled and apparently tossed out of a moving vehicle sometime during the night before I found the body. I will tell you her name as just Alice, a famous diva from an operaetta company. Even in death I could see her beauty, but to think she had been strangled so her voice would be silenced seemed the cruelest death.

I made my statement for the police, and within a short time was contacted by Alice’s daughter. She was grateful that her mother had been found as it was Alice’s idea to escape to an unknown place to rehearse when pressure bore down, making her need to get away. Without knowing where her mother might be, it would have been sometime before her daughter would be forced to look for her.

Alice’s daughter was Alexander, an adopted child from Russia. She was just two year old when Alice was singing in a concert in Moscow and found the little girl sitting outside the concert hall. It was an immediate attachment as Alice picked up the child. Because of the failure to find any relative and the notoriety of Alice, she was able to adopt the girl and bring her back to America. The child held a blanket with the name Alexander embroidered in the corner, thus she had a name.

Alexander requested we meet. It was her wish to thank me for finding the body, reporting it and staying as a witness at the scene. This seemed acceptable to me, which make thoughts swirl when I drive this lonely road.

The result of my meeting with Alexander was the beginning of changes in my life. I was, and still I am an employee of an environmental agency on weather conditions relative to world problems.

College days had left me employed by the agency, living in a small mid-west community away from the city hubbub. At 26, I still remained single, which partly is due to the fact that the small town didn’t provide many single women to choose from. This may have helped my situation to become at once fascinated by this beautiful girl named Alexander.

Alexander had just finished college, a graduate of a music academy. Her mother had planned on presenting her to the world of opera as only a famous diva could do. Although Alexander had a talent, she had always hoped mother, Alice, would let her find her own place in the world, which was not the opera.

Our meeting was founded on sharing life’s stories. I had lost my parents when I was a junior in college. They had been on the way to visit, because I was giving a speech on world’s temperature, relative to cooling and hazardous material usage. Both had been killed instantly when a truck came through a stop sign, flipping their car over, crushing both.

Alexander couldn’t tell much about her life before Alice picked her up. She remembered her mother had sat her on the steps of the concert hall, and waved goodbye. At two years if age, she just faintly recalled waving goodbye until the beautiful woman cuddled her in her arms.

The Russian Government had sent papers verifying Alice as a mother, but further information had never come forth as to who she belonged to. Just, in the past few years Alice had tried to find more data about this child left at the Concert Hall. Letters had gone back and forth between the Russian Embassy and American Embassy, but it failed to produce any birth certificate or details of the birth mother.

Alexander was curious why Alice had become obsessed with an answer to her parentage. Only recently, before Alice left, she seemed upset upon receiving correspondence from someone in Russia. After Alexander learned her mother’s death she had looked through her mother’s desk in hopes of finding the letters. They seemed to have disappeared or been destroyed.

Our meeting had lasted much longer than either of us expected. Alexander had rented a motel in the nearby city and suggested we meet again soon.

As I drove home, I couldn’t shake the feeling that there was a connection to the Russian correspondence Alice had received and her death. I would need to learn if Alice had enemies in the opera circuit – someone who would hate her enough to strangle and cut off her breath in order to kill her. A terrible way for a singer to die.

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Alexander

CHAPTER 2

The Diva, Alice

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A young, rather shy child, from a poor family from the back woods of Tennessee, Alice found her life changed when a music teacher realized her voice had a great potential. She was just twelve years of age, in the sixth grade of a small country school.

Each morning the children recited the Pledge to Allegiance. The teacher decided that to encourage love of country, they would then sing God Bless America. It was then that Alice’s voice stood out among the group. It was so clear and powerful, the teacher and even the students stopped singing and turned to hear where this was coming from. Alice was so engrossed with singing she did not even realize she was the only voice finishing the song.

The rest of the day was a normal school day, but upon dismissing the children, the teacher asked Alice to remain. It was one of those times when you are at the right place at the right time, for this teacher had started her college in hopes of getting a degree in Music. Circumstances changed and the teacher merely graduated with a regular teaching degree and this was her first year in a school.

Alice became inspired by all the teacher had to say. Never dreaming her voice would be the high point of her life, she began voice lesson after school, and soon was learning how to breath properly, read music and work hard.

By the time Alice moved onto High School she was singing solos in every school play, as well performing at school concerts. It was at the time that, unknown to her, the teacher had invited an agent from an opera company to one of the school concerts.

The agent could hardly believe his ears. This young lady had the voice of a mature woman, and recognized the future potential for her. Following the concert, Alice, the teacher and agent met. Much to Alice’s surprise the agent asked to meet her parents with the hope of Alice moving to a New York Music Academy for training.

The finances of Alice’s family could not pay for such a move, but the agent assured them Alice would receive a grant to study and allowances for her room and board. There was no hesitation for Alice or her family. Alice could move to New York and began her life in the music world.

Within two years, Alice was a part of an opera production. It was at the opening that she was singled out. From then on her career leaped forward and she became a well know Diva.

Alice had changed from the shy country girl to a cultured woman. She realized a dream which was inspired by the teacher, and her first leading role was dedicated to the teacher who was invited on stage as Alice took the curtain call. Alice did not forget her roots.

There are those who think a Diva is untouchable, but not Alice. She became wealthy as she toured America and other countries and used her monies to help many in need.

When Russia was listed on Alice’s tour, she was unprepared for the outcome. As she finished a concert, she exited only to find a littel girl curled up on the steps. There was Alexander, abandoned by her mother. Alice instantly picked up and nuzzled her close. Now, the question- what to do with her.

The Russian authorities thought of this child as just one more homeless refugee, and were not interested in searching for the parent. Alice thought it a shameless act on a human life, and asked about adopting the little girl.

The solution for the Russian government was to allow Alice to proceed with adoption and take the child as her own. An examination for the health records proved the child was well and had no significant marks except a strange looking birthmark on her left shoulder blade. And so it was that Alexander became an American citizen, daughter of Alice.

Alice had a home in New York and a nanny to care for Alexander. When Alice traveled Alexander was allowed to be with her as much as possible, except when she became school age. Alexander attended a regular school rather than one for the privileged as Alice felt she should understand how the normal family lived. Alexander, however, was encouraged to study music for appreciation of the world in which Alice lived.

So, the years moved on as Alice continued as a Diva of the opera. Alexander attended the Music Academy per Alice’s request, but not her desire. They never argued about it although Alice knew Alexander would have preferred another career. When Alexander graduated from the college Alice’s gift was a trip to Russia.

During the years with Alice this was one country Alexander had never visited. Now, however, Alice thought she should return to Moscow where their life had begun. Without knowing this would lead to a shocking outcome, the plan was set in motion.

Alice requested her agent to make arrangements for their visit. She asked that he consult the Russian Embassy to check if they had ever found an information about the little girl.

On the third day of Alice and Alexander’s visit they received notification to appear at the Russian Embassy. There were several official looking men in attendance, which gave Alice an upsetting moment. They were, however, informed they wanted to meet this American Diva and her adopted Russian child, and with this Alice relaxed. Then a man stepped forward and introduced himself as a medical doctor who had read the examination report of the adoption. He remarked about the birthmark and asked if he could look at Alexander’s shoulder.

Alexander was happy to oblige, but Alice felt a shudder, a warning as the brain said this is odd. The doctor merely looked, nodded and immediately departed before Alice could question why he wanted to examine Alexander’s shoulder.

They were asked to remain long enough for some vodka and caviar while a troupe of Russian dancers performed. Alice was uneasy and even the vodka could not help settle her unrest about what had occurred. Escorted to their awaiting car, the ladies hands were held and kissed before departing.

The trip was to last for another week, but Alice feared that something was amiss reached a climax and a change was made for their departure for home. When Alexander questioned her mother about what was bothering her, she was merely told she was tired and needed to get back to her home turf for rest.

Alice received the itinerary for her tours and it was then she decided to get away for practice. This was not uncommon as she often felt alone time gave her the benefit of sharpening her vocal ability. This was to be the last time Alexander saw her mother alive.

CHAPTER 3

The informant

Alice needed to get away and consider the letter she had received from Russia. Using the excuse that she needed to do some practicing, her bags were packed and she drove away in her vehicle. Alexander decided to think about her future. With mother, Alice, away it seemed a definite opportunity for her to reach out on her own. The secret desire for Alexander was not to be the performer, but a teacher, perhaps in a high school or college level.

In the car, Alice was shaking with fear. The letter she had received was from an informant in the Russian Embassy. She did not fully understand the warning, but it was clear she