"Anyway, going back to when Jack and Jill were small ... "

"Jack Abbot and Jill Butler became inseparable from the first moment they were brought together in Jill's playpen. Both were three years old, blue eyed, blonde, and full of fun and mischief. They wrestled, giggled, and played together for hours on end. And they howled like banshees when Mrs. Abbot took little Jack home for his nap.

"Their close friendship continued all through preschool and early elementary school. Their intimacy seemed to increasingly exclude the outside world. They were constantly whispering and laughing about some secret joke or scenario they and they alone were sharing. The other children and even the teachers were made to feel like intruders. Well, by the end of highschool, it was the general assumption, that Jack and Jill would soon be married and live happily ever after.

"Unfortunately, it didn't happen. Jack's father insisted Jack attend M.I.T. University, to get his civil engineering degree. Jill's mother, being the practical single mother that she was, insisted Jill continue her education to become a registered nurse or even a doctor.

"They tried everything to remain together. Jack volunteered to go to medical school, and Jill begged to try for entrance at M.I.T., but it was to no avail. Both families thought it best that they go their separate ways. If they still felt the same after college, there was still plenty of time for marriage."

"After Jack left for his first semester at M.I.T., Jill became pale, withdrawn, and listless. She seemed to lose her appetite for not only food but for life itself. But it was Jack, who broke under the strain first. After only four months at school, he was obsessed with longing for Jill. He quit school quite suddenly and returned home.

"Needless to say, Jack's father was furious and said perhaps, trying to make it on his own without the financial help of his family or the benefit of a decent education, might make him think twice before taking on the responsibilities of wife and children. Jack told his father he and Jill had it all figured out, and they didn't need any damn help.

"Jack got a job with a local building contractor, and Jill continued with her studies to become a registered nurse. Together they saved every cent they could lay their hands on. Finally, Jack was able to buy a piece of land and began to build their dream house.

"Stan Gaines was one of those typical bullies everyone has met and hated at one time in their life. He was two years older than Jack and Jill. The only child of the wealthiest family in Gainesville. The town was even named after his great grandfather. He was used to getting or taking what he wanted. The only time he ever was completely frustrated was when he tried to take Jill from Jack."

"It was during his last semester in highschool that their closeness and intimacy filled him with envious desire. He tried in every way that he knew to win Jill's attention and favor, but only won rejection from her and an amused look of contempt from Jack. By the end of the school term, Stan was furious and embarrassed. He quietly promised himself that someday he would find a way to get even.

"Stan left for U.S.C. to study for a business career. He knew that soon he would be expected to assume the responsibilities of the family business, both the bank and the Gainesville savings and loan. His father had been in poor health for some time now, and mother wasn't much better."

"Stan knew it was going to be all up to him, because both of his parents were also 'only children' and so to his knowledge he had no living relatives to rely upon.

"Four years later, Stan returned from college and began working at the bank to learn the business, 'Hands on' as his father so aptly put it. Jill was still studying for her bachelor of science in nursing. She was living at home with her mother who was working at the library and helping finance Jill's medical schooling. Jack was still working for the same outfit and still sinking every spare cent and every free moment into building that dream house.

"It was nearly finished and soon they could get married and live happily forever after -- just like in the story books."

"Never works out that way, does it. Stan's mother lost her battle with cancer in March and his father barely lived long enough to get her burial service completed before joining her in the Gainesville Memorial Cemetery.

"So at the age of twenty two, Stan took over complete management of the bank and the savings and loan. He immediately started running the businesses in a manner consistent with his personal philosophy. Mortgage foreclosures, loan denials, and pressure deals became standard procedure and all pending transactions had to be reviewed and approved by Stan before further action could be accomplished. It was because of this ruling Stan was given, at last, the weapon he needed for his revenge.

"One of the loan officers at the bank dropped several loan applications into Stan's in basket for his final approval. While going through the stack, he noticed that one of them was from Jack Abbot. The reason for needing the loan was listed as needing the money to pay off a second mortgage for Mrs. Agnes Butler. Mrs. Butler's mortgage was due and payable, and she was in danger of losing her home if she didn't get help soon. Jack Abbot was offering his land and new house as collateral for the loan.

"Stan could have shouted with glee. His time had come! He immediately disapproved the loan, called the construction company where Jack worked, and suggested they could receive a much more reasonable rate of interest if Jack Abbot was no longer employed by the firm.

"He next called Jill and asked that she come to the bank as soon as possible. When she wanted to know why -- he told her it had to do with her mother's mortgage, and he wanted to discuss all possibilities with her, before initiating foreclosure proceedings on the family home.

"When Jill entered his office at the bank, he told her to sit down and then outlined the complete situation; He held the mortgage, by now Jack did not have a job and could, very easily, be blacklisted. Jack could possibly be convicted of stealing building materials from his employer to build his house, if Stan were to put a little pressure on the employer. All this, and worse, would definitely happen -- if Jill would not agree to dump Jack and marry Stan.

"Jill stood up. She was so furious she couldn't even speak, and as she rushed from the room, Stan's parting words were he would give her twenty four hours to concede or the foreclosure would begin.

"When Jill got home, her mother tearfully admitted that, to keep her in school, she had mortgaged everything and even cashed in all of her life insurance policies.

"This, of course, put a heavy burden of guilt on Jill's shoulders, and as she left the house to go talk to Jack, she couldn't help feeling that she was the cause of her mother's situation."

"When she got to the house that Jack built, she fell sobbing into his arms and told him the whole story. He held her quietly until she had finished and then admitted that 'Yes,' he had been fired at the end of the shift. There had been no reason given, only a gruff 'Don't make a stink about it or it could get worse.'

"Jack was mad enough to kill Stan, but Jill's common sense prevailed. She reminded him that prison walls would indeed keep them apart forever. So they talked, plotted, and schemed long into the night. The decision they finally agreed upon was agonizing to both of them, and when they parted, there were tears running down the cheeks of both lovers.

"The next day, Jill marched into the bank and into Stan's office. She told him she would agree to marry him if he would pay off all of her mothers mortgages and debts and provide the older woman with a monthly pension, so she would not have to continue working at the library unless she chose to do so. She told him Jack was leaving town and she didn't know where he was going. She only knew he was never coming back except to sell his house. But right now he was in no mood to be dealing in real estate.

"Stan was pleased. He couldn't believe he had won so easily, but then why not? he always did, didn't he? He agreed to her terms without any negotiating at all and proposed they be married the first of June. Jill agreed and said she would like to honeymoon at Lake Tahoe. Stan said that would be fine because it was close. He could be contacted by the bank, and he was an avid sailor.

"It was a sad-forlorn Jack Abbot who quietly boarded up his new home and left Gainesville. He left no forwarding address. He told his friends that without Jill, He had no reason for living, and he was joining the priesthood to serve God. It was either that or suicide and his Catholic training would not allow him to do that.

"And it was a grim bitter Jill Butler, who married Stan Gaines and bid her mother a sad farewell, before leaving on her honeymoon.

"All the way to the Tahoe View Inn and Marina, Jill sat gazing sullenly out the window. Stan became angry. He told her that she was now his wife, and he wasn't going to put up with her attitude."

"He said he didn't care how she felt in private but in public she better damn well act as though she loved him and was happy, or he'd make her wish she had. She looked at him, smiled sweetly, and told him he had bought her body 'only.' He would never have her love or respect.

"When they went to their cottage that night, kissing Jill was like kissing a department store manikin. Jill stood watching T.V. while Stan undressed her, and Stan became so enraged that the consummation of the marriage was more like a brutal rape than an act of love.

"The next morning, Jill told Stan if he ever touched her in that way again that she would kill him while he slept. The cold, deadly-serious tone of her voice when she said it, left no room for doubt in Stan's mind that she meant every word.

"Stan furiously cut short the honeymoon and returned to Gainesville. He installed his new bride into the, now empty, family estate. In public the newlyweds appeared to be happily married."

"In private Stan's frustrations were channeled into abusive language and alcohol. The cook and the gardener on many occasions heard Stan cursing Jill during one of his drunken rages. Jill would call her mother and cry on her shoulder. Sometimes she would visit her and show her the evidence of his abuse."

"Jill went to her doctor during the first week of August for some tests, and the following week, during a visit to the bank, the doctor congratulated Stan on becoming a proud parent. Stan was astonished, and when he questioned Jill about it, she admitted that their brief one time contact had indeed produced a child.

"Stan felt optimistic for the first time since their wedding. His attitude and treatment of Jill changed from that moment on. She mellowed somewhat but would still not let him into her bed. By the time the baby was born they were on pretty good speaking terms.

"The baby, a little boy, was blonde haired and blue eyed just like his mother. They named him John Stanley Gaines, and acted just like all other proud parents do; taking hundreds of pictures and bragging to anyone who would listen.

"Jill slowly changed outwardly toward Stan, and when little John was seventeen months old, she shyly suggested if he wanted to -- they could start all over. They could leave the baby with her mother and go back to that same cottage on Lake Tahoe, go sailing, make love, get drunk, and really get to know each other.

"Stan told her he would love to go, and the time was just right. July was warm but not too hot with plenty of wind for sailing."

Harriet paused to light another cigarette and said, "Now that's all I can tell you. Perhaps Agnes can fill in some of the blanks, but that's all she told me."

Bean climbed out of bed to escape the cigarette smoke and picked up the phone. He dialed his own number at the station and Gerttie answered,

"Gainesville Police, Detective Bean's desk, he ain't in right now, but.." Bean interrupted her with,

"I know Gerttie, I'm way over here on the other end of this telephone line. I called my own number to make sure I got through. Have we received any calls from the Sheriff's Department?" He could hear Gerttie taking a deep breath then,

"James Bean! are you hinting that I'm on the phone too much? Ya keep that up and I'll start billing fer my overtime.

"The Sheriff did call, seems like he's holding our Bank President over at Lake Tahoe fer murder, and he'd like someone to come over and take him off his hands. You volunteering?"

Bean told her he would go over and pick him up, and to call the Sheriff back and tell him that he was on the way. He dressed quickly and kissed Harriet good-bye. He asked her what was the name of the Inn where Stan and Jill had been planning on staying? She told him, the Tahoe View. He grinned, thanked her for everything, and left.

He stopped at the Tahoe View Inn on the way to the Sheriff's station to interview the Owner. Bean found him standing on the office porch talking to a group of people. As Bean approached, he heard the words 'Gaines' and 'Bank' and 'Poor young girl,' so he knew that they were discussing the same topic that he was interested in discussing.

He displayed his badge and identification, and almost instantly he stood alone on the porch with a tall dark man with a thin pencil line mustache. He had been speaking with a very slight accent, possibly Hungarian. He extended his hand and said,

"Very pleased to meet you, Detective Bean. My name is Carl Zabor -- how may I help you?"

"I'm on my way to pick up the prisoner," Bean replied, "and I thought that I would stop by and find out what you remembered about the Gaines family visits to your Marina."

"Not too much, the first visit was one continuous bitter fight. It hadn't been loud in the dining room just uncomfortably noticeable, but later in their cottage it had gotten loud and physical. They had left the next morning, and from what the guests in the adjacent cottages reported; whatever had gone on had been pretty ugly. The maid who cleaned the cottage said it was a mess."

Bean prodded, "And what do you remember about this last visit? Tell me, if you can, everything that happened from the time they checked in until they left in the boat."

"When they checked in," Carl said, "I was apprehensive because I remembered them from last time, but they appeared to be getting along fine. I understand that the lady unpacked while Mister Gaines went down to the Marina to rent their sailboat. The maid was still in the cottage putting towels and linen away.

"When he got back they changed clothes to go sailing, and Mister Gaines grabbed a fifth of scotch, 'To keep warm with,' he said. The Missus asked him not to, but he told her not to start telling him when he could take a drink. Then they went sailing." Carl explained that the gardener had also heard the conversation about the bottle of scotch. He continued,

"When They weren't back by dusk, and the wind started whipping up white-caps and some dangerous sized waves; I called the County Sheriff Search and Rescue and reported them missing.

"The Search and Rescue Squad found the boat drifting in the wind. Stan Gaines was passed out drunk. There were scratches on his face, blood on his sleeves and on the railing, and no Missus Gaines. They took Mister Gaines into custody and towed the boat back to the marina." Carl added that he was present when they questioned Stan. He said,

"When Mister Gaines awoke and sobered up, he swore that he could remember nothing only getting dizzy and passing out. He had no idea where the scratches came from, or what had happened to his wife. He also had no explanation for the blood."

Bean thanked him for his time and cooperation and told him that he could sign later after his statement was typed.

Bean left and drove over to the Sheriff's station to pick up Stan Gaines. He parked and went in to the detention building and presented his credentials. He told Sheriff Richie Cranston that he was there to pick up Gaines and take him back to Gainesville.

He said that the preliminary hearing would be held in Gainesville, and that he would need a copy of the arrest report and transcripts of any and all interrogations.

While he waited for the paper-work, Cranston said,

"We're sure glad you finally showed up! I don't know when we've had a more obnoxious prisoner. He is arrogant, mean, and more worried about someone finding out about his being in jail than he is about his wife. The bastard hasn't even asked if we've found her."

Bean got his paper-work, signed for the prisoner, and then they brought out Stan Gaines with his hands cuffed behind him. He was a mess and he stunk. He had thrown up and then laid in it, and it was dried on the side of his face.

Bean put him in the car, and he demanded that Bean take off the cuffs. Bean said, "Sorry Sir, but I can't do that."

"Look Bastard," he started, "I am a good friend of your boss, Bob Wells, and if you don't get these damn cuffs off me, you won't have a job this time tomorrow!"

Bean pulled the car over to the curb, took one of his old socks out of the glove compartment, turned to Gaines, and quietly replied,

"Sir, if you don't keep your mouth shut, I'm going to enjoy cramming this old sock into it and taping the damn thing shut. Now it's a long drive, so let's do it the easy way Okay?"

He put the car in gear, turned on the radio, and had a nice pleasant drive back to Gainesville. Anticipating the possibility of a media reception, he took Gaines in the back way and had him safely tucked into a cell before anyone knew that he was in town.

He sat in his office and recorded on tape everything that Harriet had told him, and what Carl Zabor from the Tahoe View Inn had told. He went into such detail that it took him the better part of three hours.

He then went to see the District Attorney, Fred Zeller. He turned over the arrest and interrogation report from the Sheriff and the tapes that he had just created. He said,

"Fred, this guy is a real bum, and he's got enough money to skip the country and leave us looking silly. I hope when you get through evaluating the evidence, you'll see fit to convince the Judge to deny bail and set up a speedy arraignment for this guy. I know damn well that his Attorney will be pulling every trick in the book to get him out."

Zeller said he would form his own opinion after he had finished listening to Bean's tapes and reading the reports supplied by the Sheriff. Bean agreed it was the right way to evaluate the issue, so he said while Fred was evaluating, he was going to be eating his brunch.

He found a dark quiet little restaurant where he could get some real Irish Beef Stew and a pitcher of cold beer. As he sat there watching the news on the TV over the bar, he knew that without a body and with a good lawyer, the bastard would probably get it reduced to manslaughter, and only do about seven years.

When he returned to work, Fred Zeller had left a message for him to stop by, so he went into Zeller's office.

Zeller looked up and said, "You were right! He is the King of skunks. I think with what we have, and the fact that Judge Wilson has known Jack Abbot and Jill Butler ever since they were born, we won't have much trouble holding the bastard until after the arraignment and the preliminary hearing."

By the time the preliminary hearing was over the prosecution had gathered sufficient evidence to charge Stan with Murder. Witnesses, including Jill's mother, testified to Stan's brutality and Jill's mother had tape recordings of Jill's many calls about his treatment of her.

The blood in the boat was hers and the scratches had been made by finger nails. Stan's lawyer was very pessimistic about his chances, and suggested perhaps he should plead guilty to second degree murder. Maybe he could get out in about seven years with time off for good behavior.

Stan went out of his mind -- he cursed his attorney, and told him to get out. Stan had heard what they did to tender young men at San Quentin, so when they brought his evening meal, they found him hanging in his cell.

Most interpreted this as an admission of guilt, but not Detective James Bean. Bean as the investigating officer on the case suddenly felt uneasy with the situation.

His feelings were substantiated when, the very next day, Jill Gaines came storming into the station demanding to know what they had done to her husband.

Her story was that Stan was passed out drunk, when the boom of the sailboat had crossed over and struck her in the nose. Trying to catch herself, she had fallen onto Stan, scratching his face and getting blood all over him and everything else.

She still couldn't wake him, her nose was hurting, and it was getting dark; so she hitched a ride with a passing boat. The man had taken her to Sunnyslope marina, and had been nice enough to drop her off in Reno.

She decided to punish the drunken bastard by staying in hiding and followed the story of his arrest with delight up until he killed himself. She no longer thought her prank was funny, but blamed the police for his death.

Bean hated sloppy incompetent police-work, especially if he was the one doing the work. So rapidly -- he did some investigating. He spent the best part of a week interviewing everybody that knew anything about the Abbot family, the Butler family, and the Gaines family and was able to slowly put the story together.

Jill's mother did have an answering machine that could record calls. Her telephone bill reflected many calls to Reno. The Tahoe View Inn had recorded one call to The Kings Casino . The telephone number in Reno belonged to one, Jack Abbot. The Kings Casino had employed one, Jack Abbot for the last two years and on the day in question, he had received a phone call and left work almost immediately.

Later, a priest from St. Marks rented a boat at the Sunnyslope Marina. The Catholic registry indicated that no 'St. Marks' existed in their records.

By the time he was through, Bean felt that he had all the pieces of the puzzle, knew the characters intimately, and to his dismay, he found himself totally in sympathy with the young lovers. He told himself that right or wrong, there was only one way that he could close the case.

He called Jack and Jill into his office. When he had them sitting quietly waiting, He outlined in detail their entire plot summarizing with the statement that only someone who knew Stan intimately could predict his taking refuge in suicide.

He said that there was no way he could charge them with anything that would stick, but he didn't want them to walk away thinking that they had fooled everyone. He ended by smiling into their suddenly glowing faces and saying,

"Now get the Hell out of my office and Oh Yeah, name the next one after me!"

And so, they finally did get married and lived Happily Ever After.

Several weeks later, during a moment of relaxation Harriet murmured,

"James, I don't know if you know it but the everyone in town has heard about the way you handled the case of Jill's disappearance. They all think that even if your not the best Cop that they know, you are -- by far -- the nicest!"

Thoughtfully, he answered,

"Sometimes you can go by the book, and Justice is served. Then again; sometimes, I just have to bend the rules until, in my heart, both the people and Justice can be served."