Don Scribner’s Blog Actor, Screenwriter, Songwriter, Singer

rewrite and more of the book

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“How long do you plan on having me here?”  Sam gave an innocent almost apologetic look and used Robbie’s arms and hands up gesture.  Robbie understood that the time was not definitive.  “If it’s going to be over an hour maybe an order of sushi and water with a lemon… twist.”

“I’ll bring you some coffee.  Black alright?”

As Sam was leaving Robbie nodded as he cleared his throat, then rose and walked a few steps and stretched without a glance at the cameras. His movement seemed to lack purpose.   It was as if he wanted to fill in space… at least that’s the way I would write it.

I hadn’t taken any notes or thought of any questions, comments, or anything that I believed would help in the process, but wrote something anyway.  Ask him if he’s sure of his sexuality. Whitey looked at it and whispered, “Sam already has that down.”  I realized that whatever Whitey and I discussed about Teri was registered in his internal computer and discussed with Sam.

A moment later, Sam was back with coffee for two.  “I could use an entire pot.”  He handed one to Robbie.  “Again Mr. Baron, we appreciate you coming down to help us and anything you can tell us about her may do just that.”

Robbie seemed to accept that yet now appeared fidgety.  “This is being filmed right?”  He motioned toward the cameras.  “And, who’s watching?”

Not at all fazed, Sam yawned again.  “Of course it’s being documented.  This is a murder investigation and something you say now may help us later.  It’s so easy to miss the tree in the forest.  And, a couple of detectives are…”  He pointed to a camera.  “I’d like to ask you a couple of personal questions if it’s alright.”

Robbie put on his best smile.  “Doesn’t mean I’ll answer.  You understand.”

Sam hinted at a quick smile.  “You did have a physical relationship with Miss Mitchell.”  Robbie stared straight ahead.  “How long did it last or was it still going on?”

“What we won’t do for friends.”  Robbie forced a chuckle.  “That’s extremely personal don’t you think?  But, since my wife recently filed for divorce I’ll answer.  Physical relationship… yes, we had one of those and it was sweet.  She was game for anything.  And, I mean anything.  She could have made some money in that area.  Actually, she did, didn’t she?  I kept her around.”

“You kept her around until the end, right?”  Robbie stiffened and Sam realized he may have crossed a line and softened the question.  “What I mean is you gave her opportunities for employment and friendship… always.”

I worked.  Robbie accepted it as a compliment, seemed less tense and rode with it.  “I did.  I gave her opportunities and friendship and she gave me…”  He leaned back with his hands behind his head.  “She gave me her charms.  Life’s a two-way street Detective.

Whitey pushed his notepad in front of me.  Piece of work, isn’t he? I enjoyed reading it, but it didn’t make me feel better.  All I could think of was ‘How could Teri be with him… ever?’

Sam then turned his head and looked directly at a camera as if he could see us.

Whitey leaned into me and whispered again.  “Watch this.  Sam’s about to spring.”

“How well do you know the guy she lived with in Orange County… the guy with the BMW’s?”

“Daniel… not well at all.  He didn’t really care for me.”

“Something against attorneys?”

Everybody laughed at that including Sam.

Robbie had his smug look now.  “Against this one for sure.”  Robbie fed off of Sam’s tell me more look.  “She spent more time with me than him.  She was there because of that big house and a new BMW.  But, it was in Orange County and she detested Orange County.  She found it all boring… business boring she said, including him.  She used to call me and beg to go on a trip.  She’d go anywhere anytime.”

“What about that last guy, the one before her husband?  Saltz.”

Robbie shook his head as he openly scoffed.  “Salt shaker?  We never got along either.  He’s a little more common than my usual associates.”

“Salt shaker, I like that.  Were you having physical relations with her when she was with him… too?”

“I’m nearing the end of the question and answer period Detective.  But, I don’t want to leave you with anything other than pure thoughts about our ‘physical relationship’ as you so deftly refer to it.  I introduced Teri to a wonderful world of physical freedom.  Now, you can interpret that any way you wish.  But, she loved it and she would have jumped at the opportunity to become Mrs. Baron.”

That piqued Sam’s attention.  “Why didn’t she?”

“She didn’t really fit.”

“Sexually?”

“Sexually she was up for anything.  That’s what I loved about her.  She was my little marionette.”

Sam seemed to sense that he had only a few questions left.  “Mr. Baron, we appreciate your candor so much, but you skirted the question and we are trying to solve a murder here.  Mr. Saltz was her last boyfriend unless you were still sleeping with her.”

Wow!  I’m watching a guy on a monitor that I truly don’t like and my heart is pounding with anticipation and when he leaned forward onto the table I wanted to slap his arms off.  But, above that I wanted him to say no.

“No, Detective, I wasn’t.  I don’t know what she saw in him.”

“Well, he does seem sure of his sexuality… doesn’t he?”  That comment was delivered

like a spear and Robbie’s eyes made a dart toward a camera.  Sam continued.  “Even I can see that.  Did she ever talk about him?“

It was easy to see the wheels working in Robbie’s eyes and he folded his arms and seemed to realize his weak body language and leaned back and gave a cagy comment.  “He’s a suspect isn’t he?  Figures.”

“At this point of time Mr. Barron we’re talking to everyone.  And, you didn’t answer the question.”

“I’m sorry Detective.  Yes, I believe she mentioned him at times.”

“When was the last time?”

Robbie scratched his neck and hesitating.  “I don’t recall.  The less I heard about him the better.  As I said, we didn’t really get along, socialize.”

Sam chuckled.  “Yeah, you never hung around together one-upping each other with your love connection.”  Robbie’s posture was now stiff and Sam seemed to be trying to push directly through it.  “You didn’t socialize together… have him over for drinks?”

“No, that didn’t happen.”

“Did you ever go over to his place?