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[konamouse]

Heather:

Wow. This is very curious. I corresponded earlier this evening with an 'investigator' whom I had never heard from before, and she asked me
to explain the same incident. Well, since it appears you all share your
communications, perhaps you'll see my response to her soon.

The long and short of it is that I was in Philadelphia on business on
the morning of that day, when I stopped into Dale's office (which is
located just across the Delaware in Camden). I was shocked by his condition (not only was he bruised, but he looked like he had been sleeping in his clothes for 2-3 days). But he started talking about everything else in the world -- the weather, the 76ers, the progress he was making on the town web site. He seemed desperate for me to ignore the obvious -- so I bit my tongue, and did. I spontaneously pitched him on the idea of coming back to A-Fame, trying to get him to open up -
- but it was no go.

Should I have pushed, ignored all the signs he was flashing and
confronted him? Well, it obviously appears so now. But Dale had been systematically been pushing away all of us -- me, his wife, his friends in town -- those past few months. He may not have realized it, but he was positively exuding a vibe of 'leave me alone' 24-7. Diana felt the same withdrawal -- it's why she left with Meaghan, and went home to her parents for a couple of weeks before the tragic accident. It hurts me to think that Dale believes we were the ones turning away from him.

As for the continued highlighting of Empty Threats -- I'm embarrassed
to say that it was part of the current business agreement to modernize the website that ET get feature billing on our site. The minute that I can
contractually do so, any public mention of the Marzanos will disappear from my company's info. At the same time, doing anything precipitous that would attract Sal's attentions doesn't appear prudent, either. Even if the entire family is involved in criminal enterprises, I'm going to have to act like nothing is wrong -- while trying to carefully find out what I can about what they intend to do to Dale, and how it can be prevented. I neither want to share a cell with Sal Marzano, nor tempt him to dig me an unmarked grave. Hopefully you can appreciate the position I appear to be in.

The volunteer work sounds very rewarding. Hope you have a good week. I notice you didn't seem to answer the question of whether you in fact were expressing a little jealousy of Angie in your last letter. Perhaps next time.

Bruce


Quoting hxxxxxxxx <hxxxxxxx@xxxxxx.com>:

> Bruce:
>
> Whoops, sorry about the typo on the wine. Before
> visiting the winery I had no idea that Korbel produced
> regular wines, or the finer champagnes. It's not Louis
> Roderer, but I still prefer it to Dom.
>
> As for Angie, I found out she sent an email to another
> of the investigators with an similar report of your
> interaction....although she is starting to appear
> enthralled by your attention, like a school girl with
> a crush. You must be so sweet. You're assessment may
> be correct - that she really doesn't know anything of
> the seedier side of the Marzano's business practices.
>
> Unfortunately, I have not personally received any
> contact from Dale since his disappearence. I don't
> know why he wouldn't turn to you in his time of need,
> unless he felt embarressed about his financial
> situation. That the business you both created
> together continued to prosper without him, and his own
> attempt, despite his webdesigning abilities, failed.
> Then after the fact, maybe he still associates you
> with the Marzanos since you have done so much work for
> their companies? Speaking of which, your site still
> has their name in your client profile (and this makes
> it seem like right now they are your only client since
> it has been listed as the site-of-the-month for over 6
> weeks now).
>
> There is something in Dale's online diary that has
> been a little troubling. He relates after a physical
> encounter with the boys, you did not seem phased
> seeing him with very visible bruises on his face.
> [Feb 3: Today is Monday. Bruce stopped by my office in
> Camden today. He said he was "just in the area" but
> that's quite a drive from his offices in the City. I'm
> pretty sure my bruises were pretty apparent to him but
> he didn't say anything about them. Come to think of
> it, he didn't even seem surprised by them when he
> first saw me.]
> Perhaps you can recall that visit? What you actually
> saw that day at his office? Speaking of which, have
> you gone back there lately? Maybe there would be some
> clue about Dale's whereabouts or future plans.
>
> I may not be around very much this week. I am
> volunteering at a camp for kids with Diabetes (it is
> Spring Break for the local school district) but hope
> to be able to check my email if a phone line is
> available. Good luck on your next trip to see Angie -
> maybe she does know something but is just a very good
> actress. Or if not, maybe she can sneak a look at the
> "other" books for you (us).
>
> Peace.
> Heather

[Caterpillar]

Re: reply

[konamouse]

From Passion @ collectivedetective
Subject: Contact: Letter from Bruce

I guess I'm the person Bruce referenced in his other letter. Here's my letter to him (the first one I sent to him) and then his reply after that. I'm going to give his letter some thought and make a response later today (Tuesday.)

Greetings, Bruce,

I'm one of the arm-chair detectives who has been following the strange case of what happened to Dale. I haven't felt the need to write to you up until this point. Perhaps because I'm dealing with another person who is asking many of the same questions you are asking of your friend, Dale, I see some things that might not be obvious to you. My friend is wondering why his friends don't support him. This is something I've run into over and over again during my "life online" over the past dozen or so years.

So, when I read your rhetorical questions about why Dale was shutting you out I thought I'd write and offer my take on this situation.

You wrote of how you'd done so much for Dale. How you would never have turned to the Marzanos for help. How you took responsibility for him getting out of the hospital and then went so far as to see that he was committed.

Apart from your questions, there's also the issue that at one point you met with Dale after he'd had his "encounter" with "the boys" and you didn't make a comment on his condition.

Could it be that the attitude you showed in your letter about never having been, shall we say, dumb enough to go to a loan shark came out in your relationship with Dale? Could your not having made any comment about his bruises have caused Dale to doubt that your concern for him as authentic. Could it be that his growing paranoia (you know, even paranoids can have people trying to get them) could have made him hyper-aware of any such instances of what to him was lack of caring?

It's an old saying, and I've taken it into account in writing this, but remember that when you are pointing a finger at someone there are four pointing back at you.

Is there something in your own actions that has caused your close friend to mistrust you? Perhaps there's something we don't know about your friendship that could shed some light on this.

Here is something else to think about. Those of us "out here" are far safer than a person who is "up close." The internet affords a great buffer to people and the cloak of anonymity. Dale can reach out to us and in a way have more security than turning to a friend who thinks he's crazy enough to be institutionalized. He can simply delete the email from those that think he's gone off the deep end and reach out to those who see that he is in a very unique situation and offer unconditional help.

Perhaps it is easier for Dale to pour his heart out and express his emotions, fears, etc. to an anonymous name in an email than to a close friend. Especially when that close friend had recently committed him.

I probably shouldn't write these things late at night because any "governor" I have on my emotions is set to "off" and I tend to tell it like is from my point of view.

I would very much like to see Dale return to being able to trust you. But I think for that to happen you need to look inside and see if there isn't something you have done or said to cause the mistrust.

Just an anonymous voice in the night,

Sandra

The response:

Sandra:

I'll say this -- unlike some of your predecessors, you make some interesting points. My take on these events is not the same as yours; however, as you do accurately state, it doesn't perhaps matter which of us is right or wrong -- it matters how Dale perceives the same events.

I remember quite well the incident you refer to. I was in Philadelphia
on business one morning in late January or early February -- it can't have
been more than a couple of weeks before the accident -- and stopped in
to see Dale on my way back to New York. Dale was a mess -- he looked
like he had slept in the same rumpled clothes for a couple of days, not
to mention the bruises on his face and hands. But he greeted me like it
was a sunny day in Mister Rogers neighborhood, and I didn't know quite
what to do. I kept waiting for him to bring up what had happened so
that I could find out what was going on. But he kept talking about
everything else under the sun -- the weather, the 76ers, the progress he was making on the town web site. He seemed determined to ignore the subject, and I'm afraid I took my cue from him. I tried to draw him out by making a spontaneous pitch for him to come back to our old firm, but he turned the idea aside. Finally, there didn't seem any way to bring it up that wouldn't risk insulting him, so I left. I called Diana later that day when I got back to the city, but she also didn't seem to have a clue about what was really going on -- only that Dale was depressed and distant.

As the truth has slowly been revealed, you are probably correct that I have blamed Dale for not opening up to us before these tragic events occurred. But could I have done more, forced him to reveal his secrets --
perhaps. Would that have changed the course of fate? Unfortunately, we
will never know that for sure -- though I already mourn Diana and Meaghan's deaths every day, and would not happily imagine that my own
actions contributed to this tragedy.

However, whatever you may think of my actions before the accident,
please make no mistake -- Dale's actions after the accident left me no
choice but to force him to get help. He ignored my calls and mails day
after day. Unfortunately, I was busily getting plenty of calls from other
citizens of Aglaura about his behavior -- a shopkeeper he assaulted
trying to physically wrest items she owned from her possession, the Mayor and Town Attorney reporting on his increasingly erratic behavior in
public meetings. And then there was his 'professional demeanor'. Have you seen the current state of the Synthasia website? Dale was airing his
grief for the world to see, in a fashion that would have scared any potential client or investor immediately away. He was doing his personal and professional reputation irreparable harm, and acting in a manner that suggested he might do harm to himself. Frankly, I think that Dr. Kendra seems to be a valuable lifeline for Dale, one he would not have if not for me. Again, though, Dale obviously sees me as a villain for doing so -- and it sounds from your tone that you 'investigators' must encourage that sentiment. I ask you to put yourself in my position, and realize all that happened during the second part of February, before you judge me.

Hopefully the day will come when I can have this same discussion with
Dale. Hopefully, those of you who are in touch with him will get him to
stop running, and seek further help. But there it is. Make of it what
you will.

Sincerely,
Bruce Abbott

[konamouse]

From Passion@collectivedetective
Subject: Contact: Email from Bruce 4-16

[konamouse]

EMAIL from Bruce - He is worried about Marzano business

[butterflyer22]

questions about Bruce

[Valas]

Re: questions about Bruce

[konamouse]

[konamouse]

From Passion@collectivedetective
Subject: Contact: Another letter from Bruce

My letter on top, his reply below:

> Greeting, Bruce,
>
> I hope you are having a Happy Easter.
>
> Thank you for the invitation to correspond with you whenever the mood
> moves me. I have quite a few questions, but I don't like to ask ones
> that would make you feel uncomfortable - so I will try to tread
> lightly on any topic that might be a bit delicate.
>
> You made a most interesting comment at the end of your last
> letter: ". . . you recognize that if a story can't be supported by the
> facts, it's just a fairy tale." I found this interesting on many
> levels - and a bit ironic on this Holy Day.
>
> But what your comment really sparked in me was a question about Dale -

> both of our primary concern. Since you've known him for so long, I was

> wondering if he had ever shown any previous interest in the esoteric?
> I know that he expressed a desire to write - so I was wondering what
> those topics might have been. Did he lean toward writing
> techno-thrillers, moody first person novels of deep introspection,
> sci-fi or fantasy? I believe that knowing some of what genre he wrote
> in would be of interest and could help shed some light on what he is
> going through.
>
> You also mentioned "da boys" as I call them - Sal
> and Marco. It looks like you've put yourself right in
> the middle of things. All I can say is - watch your back.
> You said you wanted to extricate yourself from the
> situation as soon as possible. First, can't you just take
> down the link on your website? Second, it seems you're
> going in the exact opposite direction by asking for a
> meeting with "The Don" (and I agree with your classifying
> him in this manner.) I get the feeling you're torn between
> wanting to safe guard yourself and your company and
> wanting to find a way to get Dale out of his "situation"
> with Don and da boys.
>
> Looks like you've "cast" yourself in the role of adventurer - but then

> we only grow through spreading out wings and trying new things. Just
> be cautious and think of all the ramifications of your actions.
>
> I don't mean to harp on the "caution" issue, but with all
> the crazy things that are going on it's hard for me not to
> worry about the people involved.
>
> On to another issue you brought up - Being a very private person
> myself, I can understand why Dale might want to have Dr. Kendra keep
> some of the details he reveals to her private. Having gone through
> therapy a long time ago after a divorce I know the need to have total
> trust in the confidentiality of what I told my therapist. I had to
> feel free to express anything that came up. Don't you think that Dale
> deserves that type of freedom?
>
> Now, if Dr. Kendra thought that Dale was an imminent threat to himself
> or someone else I'm sure that she would contact you immediately.

> Other than that, maybe a first step in healing the breach between you and
> your friend would be to offer him a show of faith and confidence.
> Through all this it's possible that he knows of your desire to be
> informed of all that is going on with him. In Dale's current state of
> mind, whatever that might be, he can only see this as an issue of
> control and lack of trust. A close relationship without trust is
> doomed to failure. This can also be applied to Dale and his not
> trusting you.
>
> I agree, Dale left Diana in the dark about too much that was going on
> with him. But put yourself in his place, as hard as that might be.
> Just for a few moments let's accept that this fairytale, as you
> described it, is real. As Shakespeare said, "There are more things on
> heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamed of in your philosophy." As
> you would have liked Dale to react to circumstances as you, the
> level-headed one would have done, try putting yourself in his place
> and be the dreamer and romantic (small "r") for the moment. What would
> your reaction have been to what he believes has happened to him?
>
> One last thing - would there be any "fact" or proof that would
> convince you of the authenticity of Dale's claims?
>
> Wishing you fantasy-filled moments,
>
> Sandra
>
> PS - I see you've found out my Internet nick - Passion. I've been
> called it and Pash for so many years I sometimes think of it as a real
> name. See how easily it is to live in two worlds?
>

Sandra:

I'm not the one who revealed your 'pen name' -- Heather mentioned you by that name in her last mail to me. I've gotten used to the fact that whatever I say to one person will ultimately make the rounds, so I'm no longer surprised by that fact. This probably means that you've likely had a chance to see my most recent email to her. I'll tread lightly on topics you raise that I've discussed with her.

I don't feel that I've 'cast' myself as an adventurer -- but rather that I've been thrust into this role by events. These emails that Angie Shapiro has forwarded to me about a possible FBI investigation of Dale just heightens an already horrible situation. Everything suggests that some of my business associates are criminals -- business associates that Dale designed our original pitch for back in 1999. Associates whose criminal side Dale seems to have been far more aware of, since he was the one who approached him for a 'loan'. An unpaid loan that has caused Sal Marzano to engage in assault and battery, threats, possibly even arson -- and apparently to engage in these acts while agents of the federal government are watching. So hiding under the covers and riding this one out doesn't appear to be an option.

Think it through, Sandra. I've got two choices here -- neither of them of my own making, but that's water under the bridge. I can suddenly sever my business dealings with the Marzanos, making myself appear to be part of theproblem and possibly putting myself on Sal's enemies list. Or I can try to be part of the solution -- letting Don Marzano know what's going on, and hoping that he can get control of his loose cannon sons, and trying to get Dale to do what needs to be done to get the insurance company to sign off on the accident settlement, so that some or all of this money can be used to pay off his debt and end his involvement in this end of the mess. It's not a desirable position to bein, but the other choices all seem worse.

And I don't even understand what else is going on here. These FBI mails seem to be indicating that Dale is being somehow investigated as someone who is dealing with terrorists, or has been acting as some kind of undercover informant for the Government and making contact with terrorists -- it's all too unreal.

And still I'm here, trying to help him out any way that I can. Yet now even you have echoed the sentiments I've heard from other 'investigators' -- that somehow I'm supposed to be the one making some sort of effort to 'heal the breach between us'. It's best if I say nothing further on this particular subject, because if I go on, there is no way for me to avoid 'going off' on you. When if ever will Dale be held accountable in your eyes for everything he has done to contribute to the disastrous
events that have engulfed him and his family? Why aren't you all encouraging Dale to realize he can still trust me, when you (unlike Dale) are in a position to objectively review the evidence, and recognize that I haven't made a single decision since this mess began that hasn't had Dale's best interests at heart?

Sincerely,
Bruce Abbott

[konamouse]

From Bruce: Explanation of Power of Attorney

[konamouse]

> Bruce,
>
> Ate the chocolate bar on Friday (thanks).
>
> Are you saying that the FBI is investigating Dale? Or
> just the Marzanos? Are they looking at you? That
> sounds dangerous to your business. Is there any chance
> that Don Marzano doesn't know what Sal & Marco (and
> Frank?) are doing? I hope Angie can help you get the
> answers.
>
> Speaking of Angie, are you just using her to get close
> to the family, or are you developing a real fondness
> for her? I'm not communicating with her myself, but I
> have finally found some of the emails she has sent to
> other investigators. She really likes you. She has
> mentioned that you are a smart dresser, and something
> about you "smell nice". (Sorry, that just brings a
> cute smile to my face). What cologne do you wear?
> Maybe I shouldn't be telling you what she is emailing
> to others. It's kind of like passing notes in high
> school.
>
> Okay, back to the important stuff. I did send Dale an
> email, that even if he won't agree to talk to you
> face-to-face, asking him to at least answer your
> emails. I hope it helps. There has been some
> discussion about your POA and if you can still help
> him out financially. Can Dale revoke your POA? I
> thought it was activated when he was in the coma for
> you to make medical decisions; will it also allow you
> to deal with financial issues?
>
> Speaking of medical issues - there was something that
> bugged me from last month. Dale reported going back
> to the hospital and found that someone else had
> already collected his personal effects (there was some
> items in his pockets that were left there after his
> discharge). We've never found out who, how, or why.
> Do you have any ideas?
>
> You make it sound like the medical examiner hasn't
> signed off on the death certificates for Diana and
> Meaghan. Why would Dale have to "agree" to anything.
> That is just the ME's job, has nothing to do with
> next-of-kin. Then the information goes to the
> insurance company (*they* may want to investigate, if
> they are worried about fraud). Again, Dale does not
> have to agree to anything. Now, for burial, that is
> something Dale has to deal with (or Diana's parents if
> Dale is declared mentally unavailable). Does that
> mean their remains are still at the morgue. Such a sad
> situation.
>
> Keep me posted. Sounds like you are hitting some
> stressfull times. Wish I could be there to give you a
> shoulder massage.
>
> Peace,
> Heather

Heather:

(Caption from a holiday themed email card I received over the weekend from a friend -- card shows two chocolate bunnies, one of whom has been partially consumed from the bottom up, the other from the top down. Bunny #1 -- "My butt hurts" Bunny #2 - "What?". I feel a lot like Bunny #1.)

Supposedly, from these emails, the FBI claims that they are watching Dale as part of some investigation into terrorism -- the Marzanos just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time, and wound up on tape, in e-mails, etc.
It's my guess (my hope?) that "Don" Don doesn't know how Sal and Marco have been conducting the family business. Look, I've known the man for three years, and he never once did anything around me to suggest he was anything but a legitimate businessman.

Hey, you can bet I'm scared. Probably like you, everything I 'know' about organized crime comes from watching the Godfather, GoodFellas, etc. Well, Don Marzano has always acted like Tom the Robert Duvall character in the Godfather, the attorney whose hands never get involved in the dirty work, while Sal -- well, he's Joe Pesci. In the movies, when the crazy guy goes too far, the family always takes care of him to protect themselves. At the same time, they always side with 'family' against people outside the family. By going in together with Angie, I'm hoping to make it seem more like one side of the family against the other. Of course, maybe real life is nothing like the movies, in which case I'm shooting blind . . .

Now, don't get me wrong; I also want to make sure that none of this mess rebounds on Angie, either. THough my initial motives for contacting her may not have been entirely pure, the pleasure of her company has definitely been a rare bright spot in the last couple of weeks. Is it something that could last over the long haul? Who can say for sure? The biggest thing working against a relationship is the fact that I'm looking to reduce and gradually eliminate my connection to the Marzano family, not marry into it. But, yes, there's genuine fondness on my part, and it seems to be reciprocated on hers.

As to some of your other questions, you could put what I personally know about POAs and insurance settlements in a scotch glass, and still have plenty of room for ice. I have no idea what the limits of my POA are, or if it even remains in effect. As it is, the only reason that I care about even maintaining the framework of the relationship is that its existence might force Dale to have to talk to me and figure out what he wants to do about all this. Call me crazy, but I just don't see running as a permanent solution. The only contact that I ever had with Dale's insurance company was a phone call where the representative seemed to be saying that Dale was contesting the facts of the accident report, and that this could hold up the final determination of the claim. Maybe that's no longer true. There's so much that I don't really know for sure while Dale stays out of touch. I don't want to make decisions without Dale -- far from it. But until he starts to seem like he actually wants to figure out a way out of this mess, somebody has got to see what options are available before we run out of choices altogether.

I imagine that, like some of these other 'investigators', you may find my approach to be not sufficiently heroic -- and OK, maybe it's not. If only they had to walk a mile in my shoes. There's a very thin line between brave and foolish here, and if I wind up crossing that line, I risk both my livelihood and my life. I want to help my friend get out of this mess, but bringing down the mob single-handedly doesn't seem the most likely way of doing that.

I probably didn't answer everything you asked -- sorry. I'll keep you posted if things develop further, or if I hear from Dale.
Bruce

[konamouse]

Bruce has received the warning (and another date with Angie)

[konamouse]

Bruce's email exchange with Passion is getting heated

[konamouse]

Passion talks to Bruce about using the POA and Insurance $

[konamouse]

Bruce is trusting us to protect Dale