Black Monday, A Stan Turner Mystery Vol 7

  Chapter 48

  RX7

   

  The next morning Detective Besch called to offer his condolences over Jimmy's death and ask me about my conversation with Wilkerson. Apparently Wilkerson had told his assistant about it and the story spread from there.

  "You think Huntington was working with Congressman Manning and Speaker Potts?" Detective Besch asked.

  "Yes, you can confirm that with Margie Baker. We also found a ranch hand at Buffalo Ridge who worked for United Recycling."

  I filled Besch in on everything else we'd learned. I told him Jodie was due in shortly and we'd hopefully find out whether or not Skip Henderson could be the killer. He said he was on his way over. He wanted to hear what Jodie had to say and talk to us some more about Congressman Manning, Speaker Potts, and Captain Chamberlain.

  Paula and I were already talking to her when Besch walked into the break room. Jodie poured him a cup of coffee and he sat down to hear her story.

  "Skips a cool guy. We had a great time last night?"

  "Where did you go?" Paula asked.

  "To Anthony's."

  "Oh, I love that place," Paula said.

  "So, what did you find out?" Besch asked.

  "I've got bad news, I'm afraid," Jodie replied.

  "No. Don't tell me that," I said.

  "Yes, Skip's got an alibi."

  "Come on. You're not saying that just because you like the guy, are you?" I asked.

  "No. He spent that Sunday evening at Texas Stadium watching the Cowboy game. He's got three witnesses."

  "Damn it," I said. "Now we're back to square one?"

  "Not necessarily," Paula mumbled.

  We all looked at her. "What did you say?" I asked.

  "Well, think about it. Who benefits if both Don and Jimmy are dead?"

  "You think Jimmy was murdered?" Besch asked.

  "I don't know but, let's assume he was."

  I thought for a moment and said, "Margie would get control of the Baker fortune, but Don gave her everything she wanted. I can't see why she'd want him dead."

  "I know it doesn't make sense with what we know, but let's think about this some more. Do you remember when we went back to the courtroom yesterday?"

  "Sure."

  "Margie was alone. Earl was nowhere to be seen."

  "He could have been in the bathroom," Besch said.

  "No, I didn't see him at all yesterday. What if he was in Mississippi? What if he tracked Jimmy down, killed him, and made it look like a drug overdose?"

  "It's possible, I guess, but we have no proof," I said.

  "You know I didn't connect these two dots until now, but Earl drives a red Mazda RX7," Paula said.

  "So?"

  "Remember the pool maintenance man who was hanging around all day at the condo pool but didn't actually work for the pool service?"

  "Yeah," I replied

  "Well, he was seen driving a red Mazda RX7 the day of Don's murder. Earl matches the description of the pool contractor," Paula said.

  "Oh, my God, you're right," I said. "We need to get a picture of Earl and show it to the manager and your other witnesses at Don's condo."

  "I'll do that," Jodie said.

  I looked at Jodie and replied, "Great. Where can we get a picture of Earl?"

  "Betty probably has one. I'll call her and see."

  "Don't tell her why you need it," I said. "We need to be sure about this before we start pointing fingers."

  "We should have someone show Earl's picture around the motel where they found Jimmy's body."

   "I can arrange that," Besch said. "I'll also see if anyone saw Earl's RX 7 in Mississippi or if he used a credit card along the way."

  "I think I'm going to take a trip out to the ranch and talk to some of the hands while Earl and Margie are busy with Jimmy's funeral," I said.

  "I'll tag along, if you don't mind," Besch said.

  "Sure," I replied. "It's always easier to get people to talk when you have a badge to flash in their face."

  "It will be safer, too," Paula noted. "If Earl is the killer, he wouldn't hesitate to kill again to protect him and Margie. I'll hang around the office and look back through my notes to see if there is anything else that links Earl to the murders."

  Detective Besch went back to his office to get some of his staff working on the case. He told me he'd be back at noon and we could head out to Abilene. Jodie left to call Betty and see if she had a picture of Earl and Paula went back to her office. As I was sitting at my desk it occurred to me a man like Don Baker would have a lot of insurance. I wondered how much he had and who were the beneficiaries. That information would no doubt tell us a lot.