Black Monday, A Stan Turner Mystery Vol 7

  Chapter 13

  THE ALIBI

   

  After Paula's shocking news about Tex, I told Jodie to reschedule my afternoon appointments and then I called Tex at his home. He wasn't there but his wife Toni told me he was due back in about a half hour. That was about how long it would take me to get to Grand Prairie where he lived, so I told her I was on my way to see him. He answered the door on the first knock and let me in.

  "Stan. Toni said you were coming. What in the hell's going on?"

  "We need to talk."

  "It must be serious for you to make a house call."

  "It is."

  "Okay, let’s go in the den. I'll get us a couple of beers."

  "Fine," I said and followed him through the living room to the den. He pointed to an overstuffed chair, so I took a seat. He disappeared into the kitchen. A moment later Toni walked out with two beers.

  "How are you, Stan?"

  I shrugged. "I've been better. You know how stressful these murder trials can get."

  "I can imagine. How's Rebekah?"

  "She's well. Busy with the kids."

  "I bet. Say hi to her for me."

  "I will."

  Toni left and Tex returned with a can of peanuts. He sat on a love seat across from me.

  "So, what's up," Tex asked.

  "You don't know why I'm here?"

  Tex squinted. "Well, not exactly. I suspect it has something to do with Metroplex Savings. Did you talk to their lawyers?"

  "One of them. But that's not why I'm here. Paula questioned Jerry Hatfield today about Don Baker's death."

  "Yeah, I bet he didn't shed any tears over Baker's murder."

  "Why do you say that?"

  "Baker didn't know the first thing about running a savings and loan. Jerry ran the place and Don got all the credit. If that wasn't bad enough, Don treated Jerry like dirt."

  "How do you know this?"

  "I did business with them. I watched how they operated. Don was strictly a PR man, and it was common knowledge."

  "Is that why you hated him? Because he was a fraud?"

  Tex smiled and replied, "That and a no good, underhanded, son of a bitch."

  "Is that a quote from your letter?" I asked.

  "What letter?" Tex asked.

  "Jerry showed her a file of hate letters addressed to Don and guess what she found."

  "Oh, shit," Tex moaned. He shook his head. "It wasn't a hate letter exactly. It was just a letter complaining about the way they did business. I was a little pissed off, if you recall."

  "Yeah, well your language was a little too colorful and your threat much too explicit to ignore."

  Tex took a deep breath. "So, now what do we do?"

  "You've got Paula and me in a mess. Now you're a suspect and we've got a conflict of interest."

  "A suspect? Are you out of your mind?"

  "No. You had as good a motive as anybody to kill Baker and the threatening letter shows you were actually thinking about doing it."

  "I didn't mean it."

  "It doesn't matter. You think anyone would believe that it was all a big mistake?"

  "I guess not. So, what are we going to do?"

  "I don't know. First I need some answers. Where were you on Sunday night?"

  "Here with Toni watching the Cowboy game."

  "That would be a great alibi except a wife would be expected to lie for her husband. Do you have anyone else who can vouch for your whereabouts?"

  Tex thought a minute, then replied, "No. I can't think of anyone."

  "Listen, if you had anything to do with Don Baker's murder I need to know. Paula and I can't defend Jimmy Bennett if you're a suspect too."

  "I didn't have anything to do with his murder."

  I looked at Tex straight in the eye. He didn't flinch or look away and there was enough intensity in his voice that I felt he was telling the truth. I took a deep breath and smiled.

  "Good."

  We both took a swig of our beers and ate a few peanuts. There was an awkward moment of silence, then I said, "So, what's happening with your Metroplex loan."

  "Well, they accelerated the note on Tuesday so I've got 28 days to come up with the full balance."

  "You think you can move the note in that length of time?"

  "I'm working on it, but frankly I doubt it's going to happen."

  "You give any more thought to my Chapter 11 suggestion?"

  "Yeah, I suppose if nothing else works we'll have to do it. I hope it doesn't come to that though. I hate the idea of filing bankruptcy."

  "Chapter 11 is a big undertaking, so I'm going to have to start working on it now. It's not something you can do in 24 hours. I'll need to get with your accounting people to start working on the schedules and statement of financial affairs."

  "Okay, whatever you need. Just let me know."

  "In the meantime, don't disparage Don Baker and, if anyone wants to talk to you about him let me know. If Detective Perkins decides you're a suspect in Don Baker's murder, then we'll have to withdraw from the case and you'll have to hire another law firm."

  "But why? You were my lawyer first."

  "It doesn't matter. We have confidential information about both you and Jimmy Bennett. It wouldn't be fair for us to represent either one of you."

   "Well, that stinks! I'm in trouble and I can't even use my own attorney."

  "I'm sorry. But that's the way it is. So, see if you can come up with someone to corroborate your alibi. That would eliminate the problem and I'd sleep a hell of a lot better."

  "Okay. I'll give it some thought, but I doubt I'll be able to do it."

  After the meeting with Tex, I went straight home. It was after seven when I walked in the door. Rebekah had put my dinner in the refrigerator and while she was warming it up, I tried to call Paula to tell her not to worry about the potential conflict of interest but there was no answer. Rebekah was setting my dinner on the table when I walked back in.

  "Paula isn't home," I said. "I wonder where she went."

  "Why do you need to talk to her?" Rebekah asked.

  "She was worried about a conflict of interest when she found out Tex had sent a nasty letter to Dusty Baker just before he died."

  "So, what are you going to do?" Rebekah asked.

  "Tex insists he's innocent and I believe him."

  "Yeah, but even so, you could still use the letter to create reasonable doubt, couldn't you?"

  "Yes, I know. We'll have to disclose the potential conflict of interest to Jimmy Bennett and see what he wants to do. It's his call. I don't think Tex was involved in the murder, but, you're right, the letter could be useful."

  "So, just withdraw. You don't need this case."

  "It wouldn't matter to me, but Paula would be devastated."

  "Too bad. There'll be other cases. Tex is your friend and if he's a suspect you should be defending him."

  "If Tex is a viable suspect, I couldn't defend either one of them."

  "Good. I don't like you doing these murder trials. They're too dangerous. I nearly lost you the last time you got involved in one."

  I got up and embraced Rebekah. "I know, but I don't think I'm in any danger in this case, honey. You don't need to worry about me. I'll be fine.

  She wiped the tears from her eyes with her hand. "Right. You didn't think you'd get kidnapped in Ecuador either and you didn't expect to get ambushed on your way to Dusty Thomas' ranch, did you?"

  "Okay. Maybe this is a way to bow out gracefully. I'll try, but I can't promise anything. It's a complicated situation."

  "Do it for me, Stan—and the kids. Okay?"

  I sighed and said, "I'll see what I can do."