we'd be working pro bono if I didn't think of something fast.
It occurred to me that it would be to TI's advantage to have a competitor under investigation. If we somehow proved they were involved in the Brown murders the company could go down in smoke and TI would be sitting pretty with its major competitor out of business. We hadn't got a particularly warm welcome from TI the last time we'd met with them, but things had changed. We had some evidence now of Almatech's involvement. I put in a call to TI's HR manager, Robin Sylvester, and he agreed to see me that afternoon. When I went looking for Bart to tell him about the meeting, Maria advised me he had gone to lunch with Bob Ralston.
I raised my eyebrows at the news that Bart was meeting with the DA. I wondered how that had come about. I asked Maria if Bob had called Bart or if Bart had contacted the DA. She said Bart had called and invited Ralston to lunch. She said she overheard Bart say something about wanting to make sure he got reelected. This new development intrigued me so much I nearly forgot about Sylvester. Luckily, Maria reminded me that I needed to leave. Thirty minutes later I was escorted into Sylvester's office. His secretary asked if I wanted a cold drink. I told her some water would be nice. He seemed very pleased to see me this time. I didn't know if it was because Bart wasn't with me or his perspective had changed since our last meeting.
"So, how's the investigation going?" he asked enthusiastically.
"Oh, it's having its ups and downs," I replied.
"So, tell me about it?" Sylvester pressed.
I sighed. "Well, although we've found considerable evidence to suggest the setting of the fire was a professional job, the DA is still convinced Walter Stanley is the one responsible for it and won't look at anybody else."
"What evidence do you have?"
"According to the arson investigator the triggering device was very sophisticated—something military or CIA. Our client remembers a GTE truck parked in the back alley behind the Brown house. It had been there a day or two and he’d seen a couple of workmen splicing cable. GTE confirms that one of their trucks was stolen the morning before the fire and returned the following evening."
"Really? That does sound interesting. So, what would you like me to do? I assume that's why you're here."
"Yes. We thought if Almatech is in fact assassinating your employees to get a competitive advantage, you'd be a little upset about it. We thought you might want to join in an investigation of their involvement in the Brown murders. Of course, we'd keep your involvement confidential."
"I know you'd try, but these things have a way of leaking out. If Almatech were to find out we were investigating them, they'd be extremely upset about it and they might retaliate."
"That's why our investigation is perfect for you. Nobody has to know that TI is involved. We just need some help with funding. Our client is just a private citizen with limited resources. Without your help he'll go down for the murders and Stout will get away with killing the most intelligent and talented employee TI has ever employed."
"Stout's got an alibi," Sylvester advised. "After you came by last week, we did some checking. He was in San Jose visiting one of his subcontractors."
I shrugged. "Well, I never thought he personally set the fire. I'm sure he has a team—some of his old running buddies, I bet—to do the dirty work."
"You're right He wouldn't be that stupid."
"So, you'll help us out?" I asked expectantly.
"I'm only the HR manager," Sylvester said. "I can't commit the company to something like this. I'll have to talk to our VP of Security, Tom Walston. I'll get back to you in a day or two."
I nodded. I hadn't expected an answer immediately and I doubted that even Tom Walston had the authority to commit funds for an investigation of a major competitor. This would be something the President or maybe even the executive committee of the board of directors would have to authorize. I felt good about the meeting, though, and began thinking of how to conduct an effective investigation once we had TI behind us. When I got back to the office I went straight to Bart's office. I was curious about his meeting with the DA.
Bart was on the telephone and motioned for me to take a seat. I did and waited impatiently for him to get off the phone. Finally, he said his goodbyes and hung up.
"Don't keep me in suspense. What happened with the DA?" I asked.
Bart's eyes narrowed. "How did you find out about that?"
"You think you can keep secrets from me?" I said wryly. "I've got spies everywhere."
"Hmm," he said. "Well, Stan asked me to check with the DA again about a possible snitch ready to testify against Charlotte Wenzel."
"What? But the DA already said that was a ruse."
"I know. But Stan was afraid maybe the DA really did have one or has found one since he took over the case."
"Okay," I said.
"So, I decided to do a little politicking to see if I could find out the truth. When I called Ralston I told him I was concerned about his re-election campaign and wanted to help him. He was skeptical but agreed to have lunch. We met at the On the Border in Addison, so it wasn't likely that our meeting would be noticed."
It was crowded and we had to wait about ten minutes before we were seated. The waitress brought us two beers and then took our orders. When she was out of earshot, Ralston took a deep breath and said, "All right, I'm here. Now what's this about my political career being in jeopardy?"
I took a swig of my beer and then looked him in the eye. "You know Gary Shepard is after your job, don't you?"
His eyes narrowed. "What? That's crazy. He hasn't been on the job here thirty days. How's he going to possibly run against me."
"He assumes he'll get a lot of media attention from the Wenzel case and be a household name by election day. But he knows that won't be enough so my guess is he'll orchestrate some kind of fiasco to embarrass you and force you to withdraw from the race. As you know, he'll get what he wants no matter what it takes."
"That's bullshit," Ralston chuckled.
"I know, it probably sounds like bullshit," I replied, "but I have it on good authority that it's true. He's been bragging about it to people."
"Why didn't he run in Houston? He already was a household name down there."
"My sources tell me the Harris County DA had something on him to keep him in line. That's why he so eagerly took your job offer. It was the first one he’d gotten from a decent size county—a county with a future. His political ambition goes beyond the DA's office, you know. He's got his eyes on Austin."
"Well, I don't believe you. I think you're just trying to get back at him for what he did to you and Paula."
"That was pretty underhanded and I won't deny that I'd like to get back at him for that, but that's not why I'm here. I don't want Gary Shepard being DA. I have a lot of respect for you and I want to help you keep your job."
"Well, your concern for me is very touching," Ralston said, "but if that's all you came here to tell me, you should have just sent my campaign treasurer a check and saved us both some time."
"That's not everything," I replied. "There is one other matter."
"What's that?" Ralston asked.
"These rumors Shepard has been spreading about having a snitch and then not having a snitch, have got to stop. We know you have someone in the wings who claims Charlotte Wenzel approached him about killing her husband."
"I don't know what you're talking about," Ralston protested.
"Okay, play dumb. It's your funeral. Just remember, though, if on the eve of trial you decide you need this snitch to testify and Stan hasn't had access to him, he'll be sure to let the judge know Shepard's been sitting on him for six months. And if the judge doesn't do anything about it, he'll go straight to the grievance committee of the state bar."
Ralston's complexion reddened. He got up angrily and put on his coat. "Don't threaten me," he warned.
As he was leaving, I said, "Watch your back, Bob. I promise you Shepard's out to get you."
Ralston shook his head and stormed out of the restaurant. A moment later the waitress showed up with our orders. She asked me what had become of my friend. I told her he got some upsetting news and lost his appetite. She gave me a puzzled look and then said evenly, "Well, I hope you're hungry, because I can't take this back to the kitchen. Once it's on a plate it must be eaten or thrown away. If it gets thrown away, it will come out of my check."
"Don't worry. I'll cover it," I said with a smile. "I'm actually kind of hungry."
The waitress shrugged and tossed the bill on the table. As I ate, I wondered how long it would be before Stan got the snitch's name. Something like this was too important to ignore. If there was a snitch we had to learn as much about him as possible. The only way to deal with a snitch was to discredit him and that wasn't always easy to do.
Bart's confrontation with the DA bothered me. Even though Stan had asked for his help, he didn't have to go straight to the DA. He was playing hardball unnecessarily. I didn't want Shepard targeting Bart for more dirty tricks. There was no telling what he was capable of. We already had our hands full with T. Robert Stout. Soon he'd learn of our investigation and he was a professional killer with a security team that could kill anyone at will and make it look like an accident. The knot in my stomach began to twist and throb. Maybe working with your spouse on a high profile murder case wasn't such a good idea after all.
23
Alien Sensation
Stan Turner
On Friday while Tehra