Part 7: Ethan G

As many of you have noticed, the clue we need was already there in the last update.

Let's examine the photographs again.



Several of the photos showed a group of children sitting around a table.

Two men flanked the children, smiling at the camera like they just won the lottery.

A caption read: "J. Silver and E. Goldberg, on duty at the Beth Tikvah Youth Center."

E. Goldberg. Ethan G.

And then there was this:



Goldberg & Weiselbaum. The accounting firm Jack Lauder hired. It's all coming together.

Only one way to make sure.



The Jewgle.



With a warm rush of triumph, I knew I found my man.


Two members of Beth Tikvah, doing business together; and now dead together. Coincidence?

I wonder if Rabbi Zelig could comment on that.



But let's visit the scene of Ethan's murder first.



A rather dark alley. Appropriate for a mugging.



Some posters advertising the latest rock craze adorned the wall.



Some old, faded photographs were tacked to the wall.

I couldn't reach them. I didn't want to, in any case.



The jukebox sported a large sign that read: "Out of Order."



From the look of the wall, the dart board was unnecessary.



The woman seemed to be having an animated conversation with someone who wasn't there.

Welcome to New York.

Excuse me?

Hello?

She ignored me. She seemed to be staring into space, at something that wasn't there.

In another place, another time, I might have stopped to help her.

But people like her are a dime a dozen in this city.



He seemed to be concentrating on his dart game.

Excuse me?

The man ignored me.

This was getting old.

Perhaps the bartender will be more inclined to talk to us?



The bartender surveyed his domain with the expression of one hoping something better will come along.

Excuse me.

The bartender glared at me with vague disinterest.



I'm looking for information on Ethan Goldberg. He was killed outside of this bar?

The bartender shrugged.

Do you know anything about it?

He gave me a glare that told me everything I needed to know about asking more questions.

Despite the glare, we persist.

Ask about Ethan
> Ask about Jack
Ask about Joe
Shrug and leave

Do you know a Mr. Jack Lauder?



It seemed that he wasn't a very talkative fellow.

Ask about Ethan
Ask about Jack
> Ask about Joe
Shrug and leave

I'm looking for information on Joe DeMarco.

He narrowed his eyes and glared daggers at me. I wasn't going to get any information out of him.



Ask about Ethan
Ask about Jack
Ask about Joe
> Shrug and leave

Nothing really useful here at the moment.



It's time to confront Rabbi Zelig with the new info.



Yes?



I was hoping you could tell me something about Ethan Goldberg. I know he used to work here.

Ethan? Oh. What a tragedy.



It's a shame what happened to him.

You know about his death?

Of course. I conducted the funeral service myself.

I recently found out that Ethan Goldberg and Jack Lauder did business together.

Really?



He was a whiz with an adding machine, so I heard.



Doesn't any of this strike you as odd?

Should it?

Two Jewish men, both in business together, and both belonging to the same synagogue, are killed within two weeks of each other.

A third man, who may or may not be Jewish, is nowhere to be found.



One is Jack's business.

The other is this synagogue.

Rabbi Stone, I hope you are not suggesting anything...

I'm not.

We're not?

Let me finish.

People all over the world use religious communities to network and conduct business. This is nothing new.

You know this, Rabbi Stone. If there IS a connection, it has to do with their business dealings and nothing to do with Beth Tikvah.



As crystal.

I'm glad we understand each other.

Now if you'll excuse me, it IS rather late.

I understand. I'll see myself out.



Feel free to email me if you have any more questions.



Email him? I'm sure Rabbi Stone has a better idea.