FICTION and FACT

(temporarily in remission from political disgust)

Crime Fiction
I'm very fond of detective novels, in fact just finished listening to a fine rendition on discs of  "They Came to Baghdad" by Agatha Christie read by Emelia Fox:

"Pretty Victoria Jones, an incurable romantic with a mischievous streak, falls for a handsome stranger in Fitz-James Gardens and determines to pursue him in exotic Baghdad. When Edward eludes her, she is drawn into a quagmire of dust, deception, and murder.  After a man dies in Victoria's hotel room, British agents recruit her to infiltrate a devious group that has developed a secret weapon of massive proportions.  The evil conspirators-and a certain young man-may have finally met their match. Agatha Christie, who had a home in Baghdad, unveils on of the world's most fascinating cities in this face-paced mystery."

~*~

Meanwhile

 Yesterday mid-afternoon, and on through the night, independent photographers, as well as media trucks and reporters from major networks were gathered on the steps of my building...

and lined up along both sides of the street waiting for the alleged murderer to be led out of the Police precinct. I hung out a while then went up to the apartment.  They were still waiting when I looked at three o'clock...

 four O'clock...

and five O'clock.

Crime Fact
"A three-state investigation into the murder of a Connecticut man whose body was believed to be found in a shallow grave is focusing on what happened in the New York City apartment building where he was last seen over the weekend. Investigators revealed Thursday that some sort of argument led up to the fatal stabbing of 26-year-old Joseph 'Joey' Comunale, of Stamford. Police have arrested 25-year-old James Rackover and 28-year-old Lawrence Dilione, who are charged with second-degree murder, concealment of a human corpse and tampering with physical evidence. Dilione is also charged with hindering prosecution."

"Authorities say Joseph Comunale traveled to Manhattan Saturday, November 12, and attended a party at The Grand Sutton at 418 E. 59th Street between First Avenue and Sutton Place. The party was held in a fourth-floor apartment, and Comunale was there with two other men and three women, who he had just met at a nightclub that night. An argument happened at some point, and police said Comunale was stabbed 15 times in the chest.  NYPD Chief of Detectives, Robert Boyce, said the body was taken at some point to Oceanport, New Jersey, where it was buried in a shallow grave about 1-foot deep. There appeared to be some effort to burn the body, as there was gasoline found at that scene, which wasn't found until Wednesday when one of the people being questioned apparently pointed detectives to that location - more than 60 miles from Manhattan. Comunale's father reported his son missing Monday because he had not heard from him. Police went to the place where Comunale was last seen where police found evidence of foul play.  Comunale's bloody clothes, as well as bloody sheets and towels, were found during the search of the apartment and garbage. Police said one of the two men charged, Rackover, lived in the apartment where it's believed Comunale was killed. The medical examiner in Monmouth County, New Jersey, is still working to positively identify the body found in the wooded area. The motive of the killing is under investigation."

"Jeffrey Rackover treated James Rackover like the son he never had and allowed him to formally use his name. Jeffrey never had children, he developed a relationship with this young man and introduced him to his family." --private detective Bo Dietl, a friend of Jeffrey's for 30 years, told DailyMail.com-- "Jimmy was a troubled young man and Jeffrey hoped to get him back on his feet.  He got him a job at Willis Towers Watson insurance company and an an apartment in the same building he lives in. Jeffrey was on the 32nd floor and James on the fourth floor."

Just another New York story

https://youtu.be/ol0dPJdzm1M
I was going to title this post "Murder" but thought better of it. What interests me most about crime stories are the characters and their motivations, so I did a bit of google search on one and came up with this promo-piece for now:
(Jeffrey Rockover)
~*~