“I’m sure Mr. Sonn relishes the prospect of a friendly discussion with the likes of your brothers. Are you a conservative or are you the enemy?”
“I guess I would best categorize myself as a liberal democrat,” Sam said. “But I’m afraid I’m not knowledgeable enough to put forth bona fide arguments to support my position with respect to any of the hot issues. And I’m not much of a debater.”
“Nonsense, Sam,” Madison said. “We’re interested in your opinions, and we relish the opportunity to enlighten you on the superiority of the Neo-Conservative Republican platform.”
“Do you espouse the Tea party philosophy?”
“We frown upon it. Do you agree or disagree with Edmond Randolph’s view that the people who own the country ought to govern it?” young Madison Wesley asked.
“It was John Jay who said that,” Sam said politely.
“Perhaps, but Edmond Randolph certainly would have agreed. According to Randolph, the evils of colonial America stemmed from ‘the follies and turbulence of democracy.’”
“Sam is wise to your tricks, Madison. You’ve found yourself a worthy adversary,” Tynan said to his son.
“No father, please allow Mr. Sonn to respond.”
“The Constitution was ahead of its time,” Sam asserted, “but it is still an eighteenth century document, predicated on the doctrine that man’s intrinsic nature is evil and that the common man is incapable and lacks the intelligence required of self rule in a truly democratic society.”
“And how would you describe man’s intrinsic nature, Sam?” Madison asked.
“Now we’re talking philosophy not politics, a subject I am better versed in. A man is defined by many things, not the least of which is his ability to think. Man is the manifestation of a higher being and as Descartes said, ‘"I am a substance the whole nature or essence of which is to think, and which for its existence does not need any place nor depend on any material thing."
“I am indeed impressed by your knowledge of philosophy, but let’s get back to politics, shall we? How do you explain the longevity of the Constitution, Sam?” Madison queried.
“It paved the way for the future. But the world has grown too large for a privileged class. Our society demands egalitarianism. You see the founding fathers made one critical error . . ..”
“And what was that, Sonn?” Wesley asked.
“They thought they could protect their wealth and privilege in society by enacting strict rules for the right to vote.”
“And how would you protect the privileged, Sam?” Jeff asked.
“I wouldn’t. I would look to enhance the opportunities for everyone in our society.”
“So you are strongly in favor of social programs, Sam?” Madison asked.
“I’m not a socialist, but I’m in favor of programs that open doors to the poor and middle class.”
“Mr. Sonn,” Heinreich Kessler began, “politics is the science of influence. It can even be considered an art. During hard times, it is the poor who absorb the shock. Eliminating the lower rungs of society would only undermine the very institutions that protect us. It would inevitably lead to chaos.”
“The lower classes will always act as a buffer!” Joshua said with a smile.
“We must view society as the arrangement of status,” Kessler continued. Some societies better camouflage this class strata, but the basic structure is always the same. You may know a few quotations, Mr. Sonn, but you are gravely lacking in your knowledge of the Constitution.”
“I don’t disagree with you, Herr Kessler, I make no pretense to be a Constitutional scholar.,but right now I need to ask Mr. Wesley some questions concerning the crossword puzzle murders. What can you tell me regarding the crossword killer, Mr. Wesley? Do you think that the killer picked you at random?” Sam asked.
“I haven’t the foggiest idea,” Wesley said. “I can’t draw any parallels between the other victims and myself.”
“Do you buy into the anti-environmentalist theme?” Sam asked.
“The answer is most definitely no,” Wesley said, “and I’ll tell you why. If the killer had an agenda he would have been more vocal in expressing what it was. People with political agendas are unremittingly verbose and vituperative. It’s a rule of thumb I use in debating. Those who believe too strongly in the side they’re arguing always trip themselves up in one way or another.”
“Did you know any of the victims personally?” Sam asked.
“I knew them all, to one degree or another. The Village Celeb is small. Everyone knows each other.”
“Did you ever try your hand at any of the puzzles?” Sam asked.
“I tried them all, Mr. Sonn, but the operative word is try. I never get the theme clues, even in the Sunday Herald Gazette. What’s your take on these murders?”
“I think there could be a link to a political agenda. All of the victims, with the exception of Eleanor Moreau were right wing conservatives and all of them had either polluted the environment or expressed strong opinions against environmentalists.” Sam wasn’t sure what he really believed; he was merely dangling some bait, equally unsure as to what he might catch.
“Moreau could never be described as an anti-environmentalist. Saving the whales was one of her big causes,” Wesley responded.
“Did you know Lewis Lentz, Mr. Wesley?”
“I know Lewis Lentz quite well. He’s written many a piece for the American Standard.”
“I’m afraid knew is more appropriate. I was with him when he died, only hours ago.”
“Lentz, dead? I can’t believe it,” Wesley said.
“It appeared to be a heart attack, but I have my doubts.”
“What do you mean, Sonn?” Kessler asked.
“I suspect that Lentz may have been the latest victim of the crossword killer. Perhaps you can help me on that account, Mr. Wesley. Since you knew Lentz, perhaps you can spot references to him in the latest crossword puzzle sent in by the murderer. I have it right here.” Sam handed the puzzle over to Wesley.
Wesley looked at the puzzle, Principia Mathematica. His expression became ashen. “Lentz published under the pseudonym of Sirous Torre. The word Siri that crosses Torre is an abbreviated form of his first name. But the most obvious connection is the theme of the puzzle. Lentz was a pretty fair mathematician. He studied mathematics a bit. I believe he considered majoring in Math but found Journalism more compelling. He was so intrigued with Mathematics and the history of math, he took it upon himself to read excerpts from Principia Mathematica, the famous mathematical treatise written by Whitehead and Russell.”
“That’s very odd. He didn’t appear to know any advanced level mathematics when we trying to solve the puzzle together.
