A Sliver of a Break
by
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Lisa and Marc Cummings were sipping coffee in their newly renovated brownstone on Bloomfield Street in Hoboken, New Jersey, on Wednesday, September 13, 1995, when the news broke of an explosion in midtown Manhattan. The couple sat up straighter in their chairs, straining their ears for further details, but none were offered at the early hour of five-thirty in the morning. Shock showed on Lisa's face. 'Marc, that's where your offices are. You'd better call Victor and ask if he's heard anything.' 'No rush. We don't know where in midtown the explosion occurred. Sometimes, no news is good news. I'm sure the radio will have another bulletin as soon as the police have the situation under control. Why speculate?' 'If you say so.' They were quiet for a few minutes. 'Marc, are you taking the tube to New York?' she asked. 'Why?' 'I thought you might take the car and give me a ride into the city. I like to walk to Columbus Circle before going to the office. It's early enough for that if you take me.' He smiled at his wife of five years and thought how they'd come a long way together. He had his own detective agency, and Lisa had a good job with the Eagle Federal Savings and Loan Association's loan department. She thrived on her work and deserved the recognition she received. He smiled at her. 'I'll be glad to take you. When will you be ready? I have to leave no later than seven.' 'No problem. If you do the dishes, I'll take care of the bedroom and bath. It won't take me long to clean up.' While doing the dishes, Marc listened attentively to the radio as another news bulletin came on. Still, no location was mentioned, and he thought that rather odd. I wonder what happened? he wondered. An explosion? Could it be gas, or did the sewer blow up? Maybe it was electrical or a bomb. It's hard to guess. I hope there weren't any casualties. Thank God it happened so early.
'...the Hudson tubes...' the announcer said. What has the tube got to do with it? he wondered in shock. Oh, my God!
'Lisa!' She ran into the kitchen. 'What is it?' 'They just mentioned the Hudson tube! You know it stops at the Thirty-Third Street Station. I hope the explosion didn't happen there. Can you imagine the casualties? Those trains run twenty-four hours a day, and there are a lot of homeless people sleeping in the tunnels.' He frowned at Lisa. 'Maybe you should stay home today. I don't want you down there if the explosion happened near your office.' 'I wouldn't mind staying home, but I have to meet the boss at nine.' 'You didn't mention a meeting last night. What's it about?' 'I don't know. I got a memo from Wayne after he left for the day. You know how he works. Otherwise, I wouldn't have minded playing hooky for the day, then we could've gone somewhere. Victor would've covered for you, too, but, knowing you, you wouldn't give up a day. Is there a chance we might get away for the weekend? It's long overdue.' 'I can't tell yet,' Marc replied. 'I don't know what the agency faces today. Something may've come over the Internet. If there's nothing pressing, I'd love to.' Lisa smiled at the thought of getting away for a few days. 'We'll see.' A few minutes later, he called, 'Are you ready to go, Lisa? The alarm's set.' 'OK.' They went through the kitchen to their oversized, one-car garage. Once inside, they stood for a moment to admire their pride and joy, a new, 1996 Oldsmobile Aurora. When they bought it, they realized it was expensive and would make their checkbooks short for a while, but they didn't care. By prenuptial agreement, their separate savings accounts weren't touched. They lived by the motto, You live only once.
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About the Book
Linda and Marc Cummings were sipping coffee when the news broke of an explosion in midtown Manhattan. No other information was offered at five-thirty in the morning. Marc Cummings, a private investigator, was called on by the New York Police Department to assist in a number of unsolved murder cases. He always came through for them. Once Marc agreed to work for the City again, he learned that People's Bank was completely destroyed, and so was the subway station. Lisa Cummings was working for the People's Bank in their offices at the Chrysler Building. In the course of Lisa's day, she was called to the Vice President of Finance and was advised that she was promoted as Vice President of the Loan Division. What no one knew was that Lisa had an active affair with the chairman of the board of the People's Bank, then her separation from Marc, and resignation, then her move to the West Coast. The deeper Marc went into his investigation, the more he became involved, not only in the destruction of the People's Bank, but murder in the Hudson Tube, the selling of human organs, as well as embezzlement of finances, but also the swindle of in Street Name only Insured Municipal Bonds.
About the Author
Ruth S. Jonassohn left Germany as a child in 1937 and moved with her parents and siblings to Lap Paz, Bolivia, where she spent her childhood. In 1949 she moved to the United States and settled in New Jersey. She went to business college and then worked in New York and Connecticut for a nonprofit corporation in the baking industry in the capacity of Packaging Buyer and Purchasing Manager. She also was a member of the Packaging Institute, U.S.A. In 1982, Ruth and her husband moved to Tamarac, Florida, where she became an active member of the Board of Directors of her association. She is trilingual and enjoys classical music, opera, theater, reading, and writing. Ms. Jonassohn won the 1997 Eaton Literary Award for her novel, A Sliver Of A Break.