For All the Money: Book Iii

By Rose Marie Ash

Jack Cordell Sr. was released from prison after serving seven years of his ten year sentence for manslaughter of Brian Douglas. His wife Miriam Cordell was waiting for him at home and welcomed him home with open arms, but Jack was not receptive to her as she expected him to be. She knew something was wrong and tried to find out why her husband was rejecting her and behaving erratically. Miriam enlisted their sons Jack Jr, Al, and Trace to see if their father would open up to them, but with no avail. Jack Sr. turned over the running of his business to his two older sons, Jack Jr. and Al. Trace had made a career in the military. Jack was content to stay at home doting on his grandchildren. Over the next few years, Jack became increasingly ill. Miriam suspected that he had caught some kind of disease while he was in prison. Countless doctors’ visits and tests did not reveal what was making Jack sick. His health was deteriorating rapidly and he finally confessed to his doctor that he had received test drugs while in prison in exchange for a reduced sentence. Miriam accepted her husbands’ illness. After his death, her eldest grandson, Jackie was doing bombing missions over North Vietnam. His jet fighter was shot down over one of his bombing missions. Trace using his military contacts in Vietnam and found him and brought his nephew home safe and sound. After the death of Miriam, Jack Sr’s attorney presented a hand written letter to Jack’s son’s regarding all that had transpired after the death of Brian Douglas.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Jul 15, 2020
• ISBN: 9781796018202

Book preview

Chapter 1

1953

Miriam Cordell waited all day and the through the early afternoon for Jack, her husband to come home. He had told her that he didn’t want her to come to the prison for him or come to the bus station to pick him up. It had been seven years ago that Jack had been sentenced for the murder of Brian Douglas. The judge had given Jack ten years, but he was released in seven. Miriam figured it was for good behavior. Miriam’s, Lucy Lewis’s, the Lamont sisters, Monica, and Vivian’s testimony persuaded the District Attorney to offer a plea bargain for a reduced sentence from fifteen to ten. None of the ladies told the D.A. that they had any knowledge of each other, just their mutual association with Brian Douglas. How could they. Mrs. Cordell was a wealthy socialite, Lucy Lewis was a middle class working girl, and the Lamont sisters were exotic dancers. There was nothing in common that would link them to each other, except for Brian Douglas. Jack Cordell Sr. pleaded guilty to manslaughter for his crime. Miriam heard the car coming up the driveway to the front of the house. She had purposely left one of the front doors open so she could hear the car driving up the graveled driveway from the library where she paced the room as soon as Jack had called from the bus station and the new driver/caretaker of the property she hired after the Maulers retired was sent to pick up Jack at the bus station. The black limousine came to a halt and she went out to the porch; restraining herself from running down the steps to the car. The driver got out of the driver’s side and came around to the back passenger door and opened it. Jack immerged and stood beside the car. His eyes looked up immediately to the house avoiding Miriam. He had spotted her standing on the porch while driving up to the house. Her hair was done up like he liked her wearing her hair. He chuckled to himself. His eyes went on to examine the house like he was seeing it for the first time. He started on the third floor and went down to the second floor. His eyes darted from one end to the other. For a moment he thought the house was examining him like there was someone behind the drapes and curtains at the windows wondering who was looking at it. Was it an old friend or a stranger peering at it? Jack blinked and continued his inspection. The house looked like it had been recently painted, almost looked like it did when it was new. His mind drifted back to those first days in Bel-Air. It was 1921 when he had moved the family and the business to California from Minnesota. The house was built on a lot in an exclusive part of Los Angeles.

Look folks in ten years this area will be so hot you could not afford it unless your income is not less than six figures. The reality salesman was trying to get rid if the few two acre lots he had left. There was already construction of a house next to the empty lot he was showing the Cordell’s.

Honey, I can see our house here, a long driveway coming to the house. It will be two stories, no make it three, a large yard for the boys to play in, plenty of garden space for you, Jack was so enthusiastic that the salesman knew he had a sale.

They had been staying at her sister’s while the house was being built. Miriam was glad when they could finally move in. The furniture was moved in and Miriam oversaw to the house set up and the gardens. Jack concentrated his energy on his business. There were four rooms and the access to the attic on the top floor. Jack had expected to have a large family and plenty of grandchildren to occupy those rooms from time to time. On the second floor there were five rooms, the master bedroom, a sun room, and three more bedrooms, and a den. On the third floor there were three more bedrooms, on the ground floor there were two libraries. The one on the right was larger and served also as a family room; both Jack and Miriam had a desk in this room. Curio cabinets with Miriam’s collection of porcelain figurines were in each corner of the room. A grandfather clock stood in the other corner. The other library on the left was actually a library housing many first edition books. The dinning room was large, again to accommodate a large family. Portraits of the children and grandchildren adorned this room’s walls. Many a holiday Miriam decorated this room with the theme of the particular holiday. A grand staircase traveled up to the second and third floors. The kitchen was in the back of the house and opened into the back yard. There was a small staircase from the kitchen to the floors above that provided access straight to the third floor and the attic. There was a large patio and a pool, tennis courts, the garages for the limo and cars and living quarters for the live-in cook and caretaker of the estate. The yard was dotted with flower gardens, bushes, and trees. Several walking paths winded through the property to the back walls of the estate.

Miriam stood there looking at him. She did not move no matter how she wanted to. Finally his eyes met hers. Jack saw the tears welling up in her eyes. It pained him, and that was the main reason he didn’t want her to visit him in jail. He had not moved. They both stood transfixed, just staring at each other.

Sir, do you want me to take your bags into the house? The driver broke the moment of what would have transpired next for Jack and Miriam. Jack turned to him with a quizzical look on his face. The driver had introduced himself to Jack at the bus station, but he had forgotten. He had any things on his mind. The long bus ride back to Los Angeles gave Jack lots of time to reflect of the past seven years and what would wait for him when he got home.

I’m sorry, Mr. Towers. You can place it here. I’ll take it, Jack told him. You can take the car around to the garage. I won’t need it anymore today.

Very good sir I’ll take it to the garage. Mr. Towers placed the bag down and went back to the driver’s side and drove the car around the driveway to the rear of the house. Jack followed him until the car went out of sight behind the front of the house. He was avoiding having to face Miriam again. Jack came full around to the front of the house and gave out a pent up sigh. It was time. He could not avoid her anymore..

Miriam could no longer contain herself any longer. She ran down the steps on him, flinging herself to him, hugging and kissing him. He stood solid against her onslaught. He finally put his arms around her, gingerly at first, and then he pressed her harder to his chest. Jack was not too comfortable of her clinging to him like she was. They stood there for a few minutes. Miriam was softly sobbing. Her tears soaking into his thin prison issued suit jacket. He took his arms away from her and examined her like he had done to the house. She had gotten grayer around her temples. He also noticed some frown lines on her forehead. She still had the slim waist that had attracted her to him when they had first met.

Miriam’s thoughts went to the day she was allowed to say goodbye to Jack before he was taken to serve out his prison sentence. She was asked to wait in a small room reserved for meetings between attorney’s and their clients. Miriam had been to every court hearing and attorney meeting with her husband and always came impeccably dressed. She wore a suit by Channel today, a light blue. She looked at the sparse furniture in the room. There was a medium sized square table with four chairs around it, and nothing else. This room can use a decorator, Miriam thought. She turned to face the window, staring out at nothing in particular. A pigeon flew to the window ledge and pecked away at some imaginary crumb which garnered her attention to the hungry bird. There was a knock at the door. Miriam pulled her eyes away from the pigeon and turned around to see who was coming in. Jack appeared with a court deputy.

Could you leave us alone? Miriam demanded of the deputy.

No madam. It’s not allowed, he said as he placed his hands behind his back and stood rigidly by the door. He had plenty of experience dealing with the families of the recently convicted and on their way to prison. Crocodile tears did not sway him.

Well, can you at least stay there and we can go to the other side of the room? The deputy nodded his head. Miriam took Jack’s hand and led him to the opposite corner of the room. She wasn’t happy about not having any privacy, but this would have to do. In hushed tones Miriam spoke to Jack. I know there is a lot I want to say to you, but the words are not coming. Jack, I. She couldn’t finish what she was about to say.

Miriam, we both are sorry Jack did not have much time to waste. He had to tell her that she would not be happy to hear. I can’t have you come to the prison. She didn’t wait to hear the rest that he was going to tell her.

Jack, I know I can’t come with you now, but later when they let you have visitors.

No, Miriam. I don’t want you to come at all, he waited for her to get it. She wasn’t expecting this.

How can you say not to visit you?

Miriam, ten years is a long time to be worrying about me. It would best for you and the boys to stay away.

You can’t mean that. I love you and not to see you for that length of time would break my heart. I know all this is my fault and that is why you don’t want me to see you?

Miriam, honestly that is not the reason. I made up my mind. Stay away, please. It would pain me for you to come and see me in prison. Promise me now that you won’t come. Jack looked deep into her eyes. She was reading something there in his stare that there was no way that he would reconsider his request of her.

Your time is up, the deputy spoke up in a gruff voice. He started to walk towards Jack and Miriam.

Promise me Miriam, Jack continued to look intently at her, squeezing her shoulders, as he pleaded with her. She gave in, but was not happy about it.

All right Jack, I promise, but you can’t stop me from writing to you, Miriam hugged him. He was being pulled away by the deputy. Miriam clung to Jack. He tried to kiss her. Their lips barely touching as the deputy pulled them apart and led Jack out of the room.

Miriam took out a handkerchief from her handbag and dabbed her eyes dry. She was intent