TwentyEight — Jonas Hits the Spot

 

 

Jonas stopped for a cup of coffee and a small pastry before returning to his suite. He had a feeling of euphoria as his walk was light and his heart full of thanks. His granddaughter was visiting with him and his new found friends helping him get back into the music business. He didn’t care if he became a producer again, he just wanted to be involved in one way or another. (Jonas had no idea the fake Belle was not his granddaughter)

Now he was determined to finish the list. Soon Solly would know the place and where the case may be located. Then he would be Vernon Stallings again for the rest of his life.

Belle was just leaving when he approached.

“Where are you headed?”

“I have a bit of shopping to do and I may have found a job. I’ll explain when I get back.” (The fake Belle was getting closer in her quest to find the case with the jewels.)

“I’ll be here working on the list.”

Jonas put on the coffee pot, hoping the caffeine would stimulate his thinking ability and help him stay awake for a few hours. He was interrupted once when Solly called to ask about the list, Jonas explained he was getting close to finishing and thinks he has found the most likely place and four secondary spots. Solly was elated and asked for a phone call when he finished. Jonas put his thinking cap back on and dug in.

The clock showed 3:30 when Jonas took a deep breath and in a loud firm voice said, “finished!”

He called Solly who sounded ecstatic. He would visit Jonas during his half hour break, before the dinner crowd arrived.

By the time Solly arrived, Jonas had started a new list. The list contained five possible places. He explained to Solly; one of these is definitely the home of the case.

“I tried to hone down the list but felt I would prioritize rather then eliminate. Sort of leaving no stone unturned.

“Let’s see what you have.”

“Let’s start at the bottom of the list. My thoughts about Panama City, Florida where I stayed for less then a year. I was recognized by some local musicians. Although they were very kind I thought it best to move on. I had only been on the run for seven, maybe eight years. I stayed in an apartment over a garage on a large farm. I would rate this as the low spot on the totem pole.”

“Let’s discard it for now and move on,” Solly suggested.

“The next spot where I seem to remember the case more vividly was in the northwest section of South Carolina. There are some mountains there and it was sparsely populated so I stopped in a small town a few miles south of the North Carolina border. I was able to rent a trailer from a kindly old gent and stayed there for over two years. He enjoyed a smoke in the evening and would come around the trailer to talk. One evening he brought a corncob pipe he had made especially for me. We both started to have an evening smoke when the weather permitted. Unfortunately, he died one evening of a heart attack. I remember being apprehensive about being caught there so I quickly packed and cleaned out the trailer. I called the police from a phone booth near a bus stop a few miles down the road. I told the police what had happened to him and hung up. I was lucky and caught the daily bus to Nashville. I can’t remember if the case came with me or not.

“This could be the place,” Solly said. “But finding the case in an empty trailer or even in the old gent’s home would be very unlikely. Who knows what would have become of the case should it have been found. I would also call this a negative spot. What’s next on the list, Jonas?”

“How about a coffee, it’s ready?”

“A short one, black pleases,” Solly said. “I have a feeling you have a pretty good idea where the case may be. Am I correct, Jonas?”

“Yes, you are. Very good insight, Solly. Must be the FBI training showing through. I would go right to the number one place but I really need your insight, which you just showed me you have, to eliminate the other places or at least make them less relevant.”

“Thanks for the coffee, it’s very good.”

“All right Solly, the last three places are all possibilities because I can’t remember in what order I lived in each location. Each time I think I have it figured out I come up with another scenario. I give all three an even chance to be the place. If you have any questions ask, it may shock my memory and help get me the order correct.”

“Go on Jonas I’ll do my best,”

“The last three places are all within a day’s ride of each other. Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Lexington, Kentucky and Chicago. As I mentioned when I left South Carolina I headed to Nashville but the bus stopped in Murfreesboro and I decided to see what it afforded me. I liked the area and found a room over a hardware store. I worked as a clerk for about nine months before I moved on. The owner had a granddaughter whom he would care for while her parents worked on their farm. She was about eleven years old and a very bright young lady. She loved to sing while she was working in the store. She would clean and arrange everything without her peepaw saying a word. I told her she had a very nice voice and I enjoyed her singing.

“Her grandfather heard me singing one afternoon and asked if I could help his granddaughter with lessons. I told him I would if she wanted me to. Her voice was very country sounding and strong, I was sure she could be a good professional singer. After a few lessons she really showed promise. I wish I could have stayed longer to see how she progressed with her career in the music scene but one day two gentlemen came in the store looking for a bracket to hold up a muffler on their car. They were dressed in suits and ties not the norm for the area. They gave me a good look over before they left and I in my don’t-trust-anybody mode packed and left early the next morning. I left a note for the owner. I told him Donna was definitely headed for stardom if she wanted it bad enough. I was on my way as the sun rose.”

“Did you know for sure the guys in the suits were after you?” Solly asked.

“No, I had no idea, but early on when something bothered me I took off, never to return.”

“Well, where does the case come into the picture?” questioned Solly.

“I was so intent on telling you about Donna’s singing I forgot to tell you how much she loved the case. I was repairing one of the hinges one day when she first noticed. She loved the look and design; each time she spotted it she asked if I would sell it to her when I didn’t want it anymore. I thought about giving it to her when I left early in the morning but I can’t remember if I did, I don’t think so.”

“Good Jonas, I agree, I don’t think you left it, but you’re also right to consider this place as one of priority,” Solly said. “Do you remember the name of the hardware store?”

“I think it was Fargo’s Hardware and Farm Equipment.

“Good Jonas, let’s put this place at the top for now,” Solly told him, “and go to the next town.”

“Lexington, Kentucky, was the post office but the actual town was called Nicholasville. It was located a few miles south of Lexington. I found a farm again where they were hiring. They knew of a home, renting a room, attached to the house with kitchen privileges. I jumped at the chance and rented a small but very comfortable room where I stayed for almost three years. The work on the farm was hard but I enjoyed it and it was work which helped keep me fit.

“One day when I came home from work the landlady was there. She had told me it was time for spring cleaning. The case had been pulled from under the bed. She asked me where I had obtained it. I told her a story and when I ended with how lucky I was to get the case she offered to buy it from me if I ever wanted to sell. I thanked her and told her if a sale was on my mind she would be the first to know. As I recall, nothing was ever mentioned about the case again.” Jonas paused for just a moment and then continued.

“It was fall, I remember the trees were changing color. I thought maybe a move to a city where I could find some warm inside work during the winter. The farm work was outside for the most part. I thanked everyone and told them I was heading south to my sister’s place, saying she needed help since her husband had taken ill. They all wished me well when I left. I don’t remember the lady of the house being home when I departed so it seems I had the case with me.”

“Where were you actually headed?” Solly asked.

“You were paying attention.”

“My job!”

“I headed to Chicago, always loved the blues which came out of the clubs on the South Side. Junior Parker and his harmonica always stirred my soul. The trip took a little longer because I headed south. Some of my friends saw me off so I had to buy a ticket to Bowling Green where I waited almost a day for the next bus north. It was also a tactical ploy should anyone trace me to Nicholasville they might check where I headed at the bus station. I arrived in Chicago late the next day. The sun was about to set when I found a motel where I stayed until I got a permanent address.”

“You never had a chance to get to know anyone for a long period of time, did you?” asked Solly, “Must have been tough. You get to know someone and then you leave.”

“No fun, definitely no fun.”

“What did you do in Chicago?

“Well, for about a week I hunted for a place to live. I found a few but wanted to get a job so I could be sure of working close to where I lived. I never owned a car during my travels.

“I always tried to live close to where I worked. There was a rooming house I really liked. There were always people to talk to at such establishments and I enjoyed the company at times. Not far from the place was a small bar which had a sign in the window saying, Blues Music Sold Here. That interested me so I stopped in for a beer. They had music in the place on the weekends. When I asked the name of the group, the bartender started to talk to me and finally asked if I was new in town and was I looking for work. He needed someone to keep the place clean and a part time bartender. He told me he was the owner and head bartender, said he was slowing down and needed a break from the long hours or his wife would leave him. He didn’t think she would, but he appreciated her trying to get him to take it a little slower. I of course said yes to the job. The hourly rate when I cleaned was not much, but he said the cliental usually tipped pretty well and I should make a pretty good living bartending twice a week and cleaning the other three days. He would come by and close the register for me so I would not have to worry about bookwork. I needed to give him a list of the liquor and beer which would have to be ordered and he hoped I could be here when it was delivered. I told him I would and could. A handshake and I would start work the next day.

“I walked back up the street and told the family I would take the room. It was perfect a few hundred yards and just around the corner from the boarding house. I moved in a few hours later with my suitcase and as I remember I also picked up the case. I had picked up a few pairs of pants and shirts along the way. The case was starting to show wear and I would have to replace it soon or it would fall apart. That’s the main reason I think this is where I left the case for good.” Jonas finished with satisfaction in his voice.

“Sounds like you are thinking this is the place,” Solly asked. “Is there more to the story?”

“Yes, quite a bit as a matter of fact,” Jonas said, “don’t you need to get back to work?”

“Thanks for reminding me, I gotta run. I’ll be back tonight around ten.”

“I’ll be here with the rest of what I remember about my time in Chicago.”

Solly left in a hurry and just made it back to his post as the first guests arrived.

Jonas was bushed and went to lie down on his easy chair when Belle came in all excited about a job possibility.

“I have good news,” she said. “I spoke to a law firm from Philadelphia. They are opening a small office in Toms River and are looking for a receptionist/office manager. I would have to take a short course to learn some law terminology but nothing very deep. What do you think?”

“Will you be staying in the area?”

“I hope so. It’s been exciting seeing you and watching as you get into the music you love so much.”

“Thanks, it’s been great having you here. Will you continue to stay here at the chateau?”

“I don’t think it’s allowed, but I will stay close by. I was looking for a place as well. I didn’t find anything, but then I don’t have the job yet so there’s no hurry.”

“Where did you get the connection to the law office job?”

“I mentioned I thought about staying around here but I needed a job to Mudd. He picked up the phone called Mother and within ten minutes there was Mutty Blumberg on the phone and he set up lunch at a restaurant in Toms River.”

“What kind of name is Mutty?” Jonas asked.

“Oh, his full name is Mutle Blumberg,” Belle said. “Mutty is his nickname.”

“Makes sense I think.”

“Don’t you want me to stay?”

“Of course I do,” Jonas declared as he asked, “who is Mutty anyway?”

“Oh, you will meet him soon, he is a music lawyer as well as a commercial properties entrepreneur. He is coming to town soon to get all the publishing and recording contracts finalized.”

“I feel better now; I know he’s family, said Jonas. “Oh, by the way, Solly is coming back at ten to hear about Chicago.”

“So, has there been a decision as to where the case may be located?” Belle inquired.

“Pretty much Chicago but I’m thinking we will probably have two other places to visit if nothing comes of the Windy City.” Jonas concluded. “I think I’ll rest my eyelids.”

“Do you want me to wake you before Solly gets here”

“If I’m still asleep at 9:00, please get me up.”

Jonas slept like a baby, enjoying dreams of the good old days when he was a full-time music man. In his dreams he remembered some of the recording sessions and the musicians who played on them; they were characters. As he followed his career he suddenly pictured the dumpsite and woke himself in a sweat. He checked the time it was a quarter to nine.

An hour later Solly knocked. He had changed from his tuxedo to a relaxing pair of slacks and a bland looking shirt which showed no particular color. Jonas offered him a coffee which he declined and they sat down at the kitchen table with the list in hand. Jonas continued the Chicago story. He told Solly the job at the local bar was routine although being a bartender even in a small bar was a little tense until he was able to learn the martini’s and manhattans – the sweet and sour drinks and a few more some of the ladies preferred. After a few weeks it was all routine. He loved the music on the weekends. He was asked to work Saturday’s, which gave him Sunday and Monday off. A perfect job although there wasn’t much left to save after he paid his expenses.

The landlady was very pleasant. She was around sixty years of age and was finding it difficult to get around. She asked Jonas if he was interested in doing a few chores around the place and get paid by her reducing his rent. He would put out the garbage cans twice a week and keep the grass cut. In the winter he would shovel the walk and at times he helped with minor repairs for the other tenants. She was more then generous with the pay so he practically lived there for nothing.

One day he was looking at the case and as he recalls, decided get rid of it. He offered it to his landlady but she suggested he give it to an old furniture store where they sell what they get and give the money, after cost of operation, to various local support groups. Had he known all the trouble the case would give him he would have dumped it sooner. He didn’t recall when he went to the used furniture place but before he did he fixed up some of the little things wrong with the case. When it was finished it looked good enough to keep; still he believed he brought it to the store as he had no recollection of ever seeing it again.

“Do you think the store is still there after all these years?” Solly asked.

“I don’t know, but it had been there for many years. The landlady thought it had been there since the depression. I was there around 1977-78. Every time I passed by the case was still in the window. Wait a minute one day it was gone. Yes, I passed by and it was not in the window so out of curiosity I went in and asked if the case had been sold. The woman said yes, she had sold it to an inebriated man who bought it for his wife. I felt a chill up and down my spine. I didn’t realize how the case and I had become attached.”

“If the store is still there they may have kept records,” Solly said.

“It amazes me how convoluted all this gets. I hope you get it done soon.”

“It’ll get done real soon. I’ll personally keep you informed. Don’t call the office unless I’m not here and there is an immediate danger.”

“Not very reassuring,” Jonas softly said, “I’m worried about Belle, she could get caught up in this as well.”