Black Monday, A Stan Turner Mystery Vol 7

  Chapter 49

  INSURANCE

   

  After Stan and Detective Besch left, I went back over my notes and decided it would be useful to talk to Betty Bennett and Margie Baker to see how the funeral arrangements were going and also to pry into Don Baker's finances a little. Betty had confirmed to Jodie that she had a picture of Earl, so I'd use that as an excuse to go over there. Everyone was gathering at Betty's place in preparation of the wake and funeral so I was hopeful I'd get a chance to talk to other friends and family about Don and Jimmy. Jodie wanted to come to but I had to say no since someone had to hold the fort down.

  When I got there, the driveway was lined with cars and pickups of every make and model. There was even a limousine. I wondered if Congressman Manning or Speaker Potts had stopped by. As I approached the front door it opened and Betty Bennett and a distinguished looking man in his late fifties stepped out. Betty saw me and introduced me to Winston Rutlege, M.D.

  "This is the doctor I told you Jimmy was seeing about his addiction."

  "Oh, yes. I'm so glad I bumped into you. I need to talk to you here in a minute. It's very important."

  "Well, I usually can't talk about my patients—"

  "Since Jimmy is dead, I'm sure it would be okay, wouldn't it Betty?"

  "Yes, I guess. If the doctor can help you in any way, he should."

  I smiled at Dr. Rutlege and said, "Good, then. Let me speak to Betty a minute and then I'll come find you."

  He nodded and went back inside. I turned to Betty and said, "I'm sorry to intrude at a time like this, but there's been some new developments I need to talk to you and some of your guests about."

  "Well, it's not a good time. We're expecting the body back anytime. The wake is tonight."

  I took Betty down the front walkway a few yards so nobody could overhear us.

  "I know, but Stan and I have been talking and we think Jimmy may have been murdered."

  "Murdered?"

  "Yes, his drug overdose was a little too convenient. That's what I want to talk to Dr. Rutledge about."

  Betty looked genuinely shaken. "Okay, but—"

  "Can we go somewhere private?"

  "Sure. We can go upstairs to my study."

  We went inside through the entryway and up a winding staircase. People were milling around, talking, drinking, and grazing off dozens of trays of meats, cheeses, fruits and vegetables lined up on the dining room table. I followed Betty into her study. She pointed to a finely decorated chair in front of her small desk. I took a seat and she sat down at the desk.

  "Okay, you think Jimmy was murdered? But why?"

  "How is your relationship with your mother?"

  Betty turned a little pale. "My mother? What do you mean?"

  "We have to look at everyone who stood to gain by Don and Jimmy's death. We know you didn't kill Jimmy so that leaves your Mother."

  "My mother didn't like Jimmy, but so what. A lot of mothers don't like their sons-in-law. My mother isn't capable of killing anyone."

  "I know, but what about Earl?"

  "Earl. Well, he is an ex-Marine," Betty said thoughtfully, "but why would he want to kill Daddy or Jimmy? They had the ranch and mom had an allowance that would fund a small country."

  "What about Metroplex? Wasn't your Dad in a cash crunch? Is there a chance that the money was going to be cut off?"

  "No, the construction company was doing well. Mom was paid from Baker Construction."

  "Is there a loan on the ranch?"

  Betty's eyes widened. "Yes, a very large one—about two and a half million."

  "What would have happened if that loan were called?"

  "But Daddy wouldn't call his own loan."

  "What if the OTS demanded it?"

  "Oh, my God! Do you think that happened?"

  "I don't know. How can we find out?"

  "Jerry Hartfield is downstairs. He'd know."

  "Okay, let me talk to Dr. Rutledge first, then I'll talk to Hartfield."

  Betty went downstairs and brought up Dr. Rutledge. I thanked him again and then got right to the point.

  "Dr. Rutledge, I guess you heard Jimmy Bennett supposedly died from a lethal combination of drugs and alcohol."

  "Yes, that's what I heard."

  "Does that surprise you?"

  "Nothing surprises me when it comes to cocaine. It affects people differently. People die from cocaine every day."

  "How long have you been treating Jimmy?"

  "About five years now."

  "So, you'd gotten to know him pretty well, right?"

  "Yes."

  "Knowing Jimmy the way you do, would you have expected him to die the way he did?"

  He shrugged. "Probably not. Jimmy had been using drugs for a long time and has built up a pretty high tolerance for them. It would take a lot to kill him. I can't remember his life ever being in danger in the past."

  "So, it's possible that someone drugged him and made it look like he'd overdosed himself."

  "That wouldn't be hard to do."

  "Is there any way you could find out whether that happened or not?"

  "An autopsy might provide evidence of it, but it would be hard to prove it conclusively."

  "I see. Well, you've been a big help. Sorry I had to bother you at a time like this."

  "It's all right. I'm glad I could help."

  Dr. Ruthledge left and Betty ushered in Jerry Hartfield. As I recalled, Don and he didn't get along too well, so I felt certain he would level with us about the ranch. Betty brought him in and he sat in a chair next to me.

  "Sorry, to bother you at a time like this, Mr. Hartfield, but we have a question about Metroplex that needs answering."

  "It's okay. How can I help you?"

  "Betty tells me Metroplex Savings and Loan has the mortgagee on Don's ranch."

  "No. Not Metroplex. Don borrowed two point seven million to purchase it several years ago, but it would be improper for him to borrow the money from Metroplex. He got the mortgage from Advantage Savings & Loan. You know, the one that Simon Trueblood owns."

  Simon Trueblood's name sounded familiar but I couldn't place who he was. I knew it was a common practice of bankers to strike up relationships with other bankers so that the insiders of one bank could borrow from the others and thus avoid problems with regulators.

  "So, Metroplex had some loans out to Trueblood?"

  "Oh, yes, several."

  "And were there any problems with those loans?"

  Jerry nodded. "Oh, yes. They all were in default. It was a big problem for Don. The regulators finally made him call one of them."

  "And how did Trueblood react to that?"

  "He threatened to call the note on the ranch."

  "Did Trueblood require Don to have a mortgage insurance policy on the ranch in case he died?"

  "Yes, that's standard practice."

  "Did the policy pay when Don died?"

  "Not yet. The insurance company was waiting on the outcome of Jimmy's trial. If Jimmy was found guilty they were prepared to pay off the mortgage.

  I looked at Betty who I could tell instantly understood the situation. If Margie knew the ranch note was about to be called, she would have been devastated. Her wonderful little life would have been ruined, but if Don were to die the ranch would be saved. I thanked Mr. Hartfield and told him he could rejoin the guests downstairs.

  After Hartfield had left, I said, "So, do you think your mother could have conspired with Earl to kill your father?"

  The look on Betty's face told me the answer. She excused herself and I went downstairs to mingle awhile and see if Margie and Earl were there. I saw them in the corner with John Bennett. I approached.

  "Hello, Mrs. Bennett, Earl."

  "Miss Waters, it is so nice of you to come," Margie said.

  "Well, it's the least I could. This has all been such a shock."

  Margie nodded, "Indeed. Pour Betty losing a father and then a husband in such a short time. It's m
uch worse for her than for me. It was no secret that the love between Don and I was over years ago."

  "Yes, but I'm sure it must be difficult for you too. You must have had some feelings for Don. After all, you were together a long time."

  She shrugged. "Yes, I suppose so. Luckily I have Earl to comfort me now."

  I looked at Earl. "Yes, Earl. I didn't see you at the trial yesterday."

  "Oh, yeah. . . . Well, there was an emergency back at the ranch I had to deal with . . . you know how that goes."

  "Sure," I said. "You've got to mind your business."

  Earl nodded and replied, "That's right or you'll find yourself in bankruptcy."

  "So, what are you going to do with Metroplex Savings and Loan now? Are you going to be able to save it?"

  "I don't know. We haven't met with the lawyers and the board of directors yet. But we know it will take a lot of money to keep it afloat."

  "Is the ranch okay? You won't lose it will you?"

  "No, no. It's . . . it's insured."

  Her voice trailed off and she turned a little pale.

  "Good. That would be horrible if you lost the ranch."

  Margie stiffened up and replied," Yes, it would have been, but luckily Don was a good businessman and thought ahead."

  "You're lucky to have married such a smart man," I said.

  Earl frowned. "If he was so smart, why did he let the bank become insolvent."

  Margie elbowed Earl. He glared at her and said, "What? It's true. Your ex was a greedy son of a bitch and that was his downfall."

  Margie turned red this time and glared back at Earl. "Well, you've lived pretty well off his money!"

  Earl took a deep breath. "Yeah, you're right, I have. But what I meant was he had all the money a man could ever use, yet he wasn't satisfied. He had to have more and it cost him everything."

  "That's what greed will do to a man," I said looking directly at Margie, "or a woman."

  Margie gave me a look that made it clear it was time to go home. I'd got the answers I'd come for and if I stayed any longer I was liable to talk too much and perhaps cause Margie and Earl to realize I was on to them. As I was leaving, Betty announced that Jimmy's body was at the funeral home and would be available for viewing at 7:00 p.m. that evening. I'd skip the viewing. I didn't like seeing dead bodies. I preferred remembering people as they were when they were breathing. Besides, I was hoping to get a call from Stan. I couldn't wait to tell him what I'd learned and find out if he and Detective Besch had come up with anything new at Buffalo Ridge.