Black Monday, A Stan Turner Mystery Vol 7

  Chapter 47

  THE NOTE

   

  Jodie and I got to the courthouse early to take a look at the visitor's log and see if Skip Henderson had been attending the trial. The log showed that he had signed in but didn't get a seat. Since there weren't enough seats to accommodate everyone who wanted to watch the trial, the bailiff had drawn names out of a hat. We asked the bailiff if he drew new names each day and he said he did. I gave Jodie Skip's picture and told her to hang around and hopefully she'd see him.

  When I went back into the courtroom, Stan was unpacking his briefcase and the court reporter was organizing the exhibits from the previous day. I went into the jury room, got two cups of coffee and brought them to the counsel table. I handed one to Stan and said, "I don't know about you, but I need a little caffeine boost."

  "Didn't sleep well?" Stan asked.

  "Are you kidding? Sleep?"

  "Well, it will all be over soon."

  "One way or another," I replied

  "Come on. It always looks bad when the prosecution is putting on its case. The situation will change quickly when you start pointing out other suspects with better motives to kill Don Baker."

  As we were talking Wilkerson walked in and set his briefcase next to the prosecution table. He came over to us and said, "Well, you find your client yet?"

  "No, he's still MIA," Stan said.

   Wilkerson said, "If he's smart he'll stay away. If he comes back, he'll die."

  I raised my eyebrows and frowned. Wilkerson smiled and went back to the prosecution table. The bailiff stood up and said, "All rise."

  The back door of the courtroom opened and Judge Wingate waddled in and took his seat. After sorting through some files he told Wilkerson to proceed. Wilkerson stood up and was about to say something when the judge's administrative assistant walked in and handed Judge Wingate a note. He opened the note quickly, read it, and shook his head. His face was grim as he looked up at us.

  "Ladies and gentlemen, I've just been given some rather startling news that will affect the continuation of this trial. Due to the sensitive nature of this information, I'll need to meet with counsel in chambers before I explain to all of you what has happened. This court will be in recess for thirty minutes," he said and stood up.

  Stan looked at me and I shrugged. I didn't know what could have happened but it had obviously shaken up the judge. I followed Stan into the judge's chambers. Wilkerson and his assistant joined us.

  The judge said, "I'm sorry to have to tell you this, Miss Waters, but the Mississippi state police have found Jimmy Bennett.

  "Is he in custody?" I asked.

  "Well, not exactly. They found him unconscious in a motel room in Jackson. By the time they got him to a hospital, he was dead. The coroner has made a preliminary determination that the cause of death was a lethal combination of cocaine and alcohol."

  "Oh, my God!" Paula exclaimed.

  "Has anyone told Betty," I asked.

  "No," the judge said. "You're the first to find out about this. Is Mrs. Bennett in the courtroom?"

  "Yes," I said. "I believe I saw her."

  The judge looked over at the bailiff and said, "You better go get her and bring her in here. She should hear this from us rather than the media."

  A few moments later the bailiff bought Betty in and the Judge gave her the bad news. She was visibly shaken and nearly collapsed. Stan grabbed her and helped her sit down. The judge's assistant brought her some water. Tears were flooding from her eyes. We all watched her, not knowing what to say. After a few minutes she wiped away the tears with her sleeve, got up, and rushed out of the room."

  "So, now what happens?" I asked.

  The judge scratched his head and said, "Well, without a defendant we don't have much reason to continue the trial. I'll just recess the trial for now, but I will entertain motions from either side tomorrow morning at 9:30 a.m."

  "Thank you, Your Honor," Paula said.

  Wilkerson turned and left the room with a look of relief on his face. Stan and I looked at each other in disbelief. When we made it back into the courtroom John Bennett and Margie Baker were consoling Betty. I went over to them.

  "I'm so sorry, Betty. This is such terrible news. I thought for sure we'd get a favorable verdict and you two could get on with your lives."

  "Thank you," Betty said. "I've feared this day for a long time. When someone you love is on drugs, you know this can happen at any time."

  "We'll take her home," Margie said. "Don't worry about her."

  "When I get more details on what happened in Mississippi, I'll give you a call," I said.

  "Thank you," John said. "We really appreciate what you tried to do. I just wish Jimmy had been a stronger person. But who are we to question the Lord's will."

  The judge entered the courtroom and advised the jury and the spectators of Jimmy's death. Then he announced a recess until the following morning and returned to his chambers. Margie and John left the courtroom amidst a mob of reporters screaming questions at them. John led the way pushing them aside and saying, "We have no comment. Please just let us through."

  I turned around and saw Stan talking to Wilkerson. I walked over to them. Stan was telling him about Skip Henderson and our theory that he was hired to kill Don Baker. Wilkerson was looking at him like he was a lunatic.

  "So, I know you think this wraps up the Don Baker case, but I'm convinced Jimmy was innocent."

  "Well, I seriously doubt Congressman Manning and Speaker Potts had anything to do with Don Baker's murder and I don't intend to waste the taxpayer's money on a wild goose chase."

  "Suit yourself. I just wanted to point out what we'd discovered in case you thought it warranted further investigation."

  "I don't," Wilkerson said sharply. He turned and when he saw me he said, "Miss Waters. Sorry about your client."

  I smiled and replied, "Thanks."

  Looking at Stan, I said, "So, what was that all about?"

  "Well, we have a duty to report any new information about this case to opposing counsel. Since the trial was prematurely terminated, I figured I better tell Wilkerson what we had found out about the Congressman and Speaker Potts in case he wanted to act on it. I didn't figure he would, but at least I've done my civic duty."

  I laughed. "He looked like he thought you were nuts."

  Stan shrugged and said, "I suppose it does sound a bit bizarre."

  "So, have you talked to Jodie? Did she ever hook up with Skip Henderson?"

  "I don't know. I'll go see if I can find her."

  I went to the door and peeked outside. There were several reporters still lurking about so I didn't want to venture out in the hall needlessly. I saw Jodie talking to a man I figured to be Skip Henderson. He was a white male, tall, muscular and wore his hair in a flat top. I waited until she saw me and then went back to see Stan. A few moments later Jodie walked in the courtroom and joined us.

  "He's a nice guy. He invited me to dinner."

  "That figures," Stan said smiling.

  "Did you learn anything so far?" I asked.

  "Well, he told me all about his job working for the Congressman."

  "Did he say why he was attending the trial?"

  "Yes, the Congressman asked him to monitor the case since Don had been a good friend. He said the Congressman wanted to make sure Don's killer was convicted."

  "Yeah, I bet," Stan said. "Did you find out what he was doing Monday night?"

  "No, I had to take it slow. I'll find that out tonight. I didn't want him to think I was interrogating him."

  "That's all right Jodie," I said. "I'd milk the job for a dinner with an NFL football player too, if I were in your shoes."

  Jodie blushed, "Well, he is kind of cute. How far should I go to get this information?"

  "Dinner is all," Stan said. "You don't have to sleep with him."

  I laughed and added, "Unless you want to."

  You'd think I'd be relieved that I was spared having to
try a murder case that I had little hope of winning, but instead I felt angry. This was my first death penalty trial where I was first chair and fate had snatched it away from me. I felt bad for Jimmy Bennett and ever more so for Betty, but I must confess I was feeling sorry for myself as well. I knew Jimmy had an addiction, but it never crossed my mind that it might be life threatening. The only positive note was that I could now put all this mess out of my mind and concentrate on my wedding.