Chapter 12
Paula Waters
When she pressed him on the subject he denied buying the rat poison and claimed to have no idea how it got there. Paula knew that if Ricardo had been set up, this was just part of the killer’s plan to incriminate him. Still, she was feeling rather glum when she brought the news to Stan.
“Ricardo would have to be an idiot to leave the rat poison in his garage if he was the killer,” Stan said. “This actually makes it look more like a setup.”
Paula thought about that a moment. “That’s true, but he’s young and rather laid back so the jury might conclude he is stupid.”
Stan sighed. “Well, we need to figure out how the killer got into his apartment and into the garage. You should also check hardware stores in the area for recent sales of Vacor Rat Killer.”
“That sounds like a job for Bart,” Paula said. “He loves hardware stores.”
Stan smiled. “There you go.”
“While he is doing that I’ll canvas the neighborhood. Maybe one of his neighbors saw something.”
“We can get our PI to do that,” Stan said.
“No. I’d rather talk to them myself. It’s a small apartment building. There’s only going to be a half dozen or so occupants who might have seen something.”
“Well, if I can help out in any way let me know.”
Paula nodded. “Don’t worry. I will.”
Paula went back to her office and took the Yellow Pages off of her bookshelf. She set it on her desk and started making a list of hardware stores within a three mile radius of Emilio’s restaurant. When she was done she folded up the list and put it in her purse to give to Bart. Then she called the manager of the Lawndale Apartments to find out the best way to approach the tenants there.
“Hi. This is Paula Waters. I’m an attorney–”
“Right. You’re Ricardo’s attorney.”
“Yes. What’s your name?”
“Virginia Storm.”
“You’re the manager?”
“Right. So, how’s Ricardo’s defense coming? He’s such a good boy. He couldn’t have killed all those people.”
“I know, but unfortunately there is a lot of evidence pointing to him as the perpetrator.”
“Hmm. So, how can I help you?”
“We’re trying to figure out how someone could have gotten into Ricardo’s apartment while he was at work and planted the evidence that the police found. I was hoping one of the tenants might have seen someone or something.”
“Most of the tenants work during the day so they probably wouldn’t have been home.”
“Were you there?”
“Yes. I’m always here. It’s my job,” Virginia said.
“So, did you see any strangers lurking about that day?”
“Not lurking, but there were people in and out. I didn’t know some of them.”
“I have some photos I’d like to show you and the others. If we could put either of these men in or around Ricardo’s apartment any time before the murders, that would be huge.”
“Well, the best time to come by would be Saturday morning between nine and noon. Most of the people you want to talk to will be home then.”
“Will you be there?”
“Yes. Saturday is one of my busiest days.”
“Okay. I’ll see you on Saturday then.”
Paula hung up and then started going through phone messages. She stopped when she saw one of the messages was from Walter Satterwhite, the investor who had put his entire retirement fund into an oil well being developed by Richmond Oil and Gas. She wondered if he was just a complete idiot or had John Richmond been one of those super salesmen who nobody could resist. She dialed the number. Satterwhite picked up immediately.
“Mr. Satterwhite, this is Paula Waters. Thanks for returning my call.”
“No problem. What can I do for you?”
“Well, I understand you had a fraud claim against John Richmond and Richmond Oil & Gas.”
“I did but the bastard went and got himself murdered.”
“Yes, he did. I represent Ricardo Rizzi who is charged with his murder.”
“I know. I saw you on TV. Tell your client they should pin a medal on him.”
Paula laughed. “Well, he claims he didn’t do it.”
“Well, whoever did it should get a medal.”
“What I was calling about was the fraud claim. I need to know why you think you were defrauded and if you knew of any other investors who felt the same way.”
“You think I killed Richmond?”
“I don’t know but I have to look at anyone who had any animosity toward him and I heard you threatened his life.”
Satterwhite sighed. “Yeah, maybe I did, but it was just an expression of my frustration. I’m not a killer.”
“Well, I’d still like to talk to you so I can take you off the suspect list and maybe pick up a few names to add. I’m sure a lot of people were upset when that well went dry.”
“Oh, yeah. I was just one of the smaller investors.”
“Can we meet?”
“Sure. Monday afternoon after 2:00 p.m. would work.”
“Okay. Do you want me to come to you or would you prefer to meet here at my office?”
“I’ll come to your office. My place is a little crowded and we should keep our discussions confidential.”
Paula agreed and the meeting was scheduled. On Saturday morning, while they were eating breakfast, Paula handed Bart the list of hardware stores she had made. He looked at her and frowned. “What’s this?”
“Would you mind dropping by these hardware stores and seeing if any of them sell Vacor Rat Killer?”
Bart laughed. “Why me?”
“Because you love hardware stores and I hate them.”
“Can’t you guys afford a PI?”
“We could but I didn’t think you would mind. I’ve got to spend the morning canvassing Ricardo’s neighborhood. If we can prove that Tom Wilkinson or one of his goons was in the neighborhood it would go a long way at getting an acquittal.”
Bart narrowed his eyes. “Hmm.”
Paula gave him a seductive look. “I’ll be very appreciative tonight after you get through watching all your football games.”
Bart smiled. “You will, huh?”
Paula nodded.
“Alright, but I don’t want to hear any complaints if I come home with a few new tools for my workshop. You know how difficult it is for me to resist the impulse to buy something I’ve been wanting, if it’s on sale.”
Paula sighed. “I won’t say a word. I promise.”
“So, that’s all I have to do is see if they sell it?”
“Well, if they do sell it you could ask them if their computer could pull up a list of recent purchases.”
Bart sighed deeply. “You don’t want much, do you?”
Paula leaned in and kissed Bart. “Thank you, honey.”
After breakfast Bart headed for the first hardware store on his list and Paula went to the Lawndale Apartments to meet with Virginia Storm. When she got there she found Virginia behind her desk talking on the phone. When she hung up she smiled up at Paula.
“Paula Waters, I presume.”
“Yes,” Paula said. “Thank you for agreeing to see me.”
“It’s no problem. I want to help Ricardo.”
Paula dug the photos of Benjamin Jamison, Christopher Hunt and Tom Wilkinson out of her purse and showed them one by one to Virginia. She looked at them carefully and then shook her head. “No. I don’t recognize any of them.”
Paula sighed. “Okay. I’d still like to talk to your tenants if you don’t mind.”
“Knock yourself out. I warned them you might be coming by.”
“Good. I appreciate that. . . . Oh, and Ricardo said I could take a look at his apartment. He had to work today or he would have stayed to let me in.”
“Sure. Come on. I’ll let you in right now.”
Paula followed Virginia out her door a
nd upstairs to Ricardo’s apartment. She noticed there was only one way in and out so anyone coming or going would have to walk through the common area.
“You don’t have surveillance cameras, do you?” Paula asked.
Virginia laughed. “In this dump. Are you kidding?”
Paula shrugged. “Well, you never know.”
When they got to Ricardo’s apartment Virginia unlocked the door and let Paula in. “Just lock the door when you leave,” she said.
Paula thanked her and started looking around. It was a small apartment with a kitchen and dining area to the left and the main living area straight ahead. A hallway led from the living room to two bedrooms with a bath in the middle. Paula took a quick glance in the kitchen and saw that it was clean and neat. As she walked through the living room she observed the usual TV, sofa, love seat and chair along with an expensive looking stereo. There were several family photos and religious ornaments on a coffee table. As she was heading into the bedroom the front door opened. Startled, Paula whirled around to see a young woman entering.
“Sonia?” Paula asked.
“Hi,” Sonia replied. “Didn’t mean to startle you. Ricardo said you would probably be here. He wanted me to show you around.”
“Oh. Good. I needed to talk to you anyway.”
“Would you like a cup of tea?” Sonia asked.
Paula nodded. “Yes. That would be very nice.”
Sonia went into the kitchen and put a pot of water on while Paula made herself comfortable at the kitchen table. After setting out cups and saucers Sonia sat down across from Paula.
“So, what did you want to talk to me about?” Sonia asked.
“Well, you are in and out of this apartment quite often, aren’t you?”
“Sure. I don’t live here but I visit a lot and occasionally stay overnight,” she confessed.
“Right. So there are pieces of evidence that were found here in this apartment that are critical to Ricardo’s case.”
“You mean the money?”
“The money and the rat poison.”
“Rat poison?”
“Yes. The DA’s experts have determined that the poison in the Parmesan cheese came from a box of Vacor Rat Poison that they found in Ricardo’s garage. Do you know anything about either of those items?”
“I have seen the rat poison. It’s been there as long as I can remember. I’ve never seen Ricardo use it, though.”
“Did he ever mention it?”
“No.”
“And the shoe box–had you ever seen it before?”
“No, but I wouldn’t have any reason to look under Ricardo’s bed. It could have been there, but I didn’t see it.”
“Were you here in the apartment on the night of the murders?”
“I was earlier in the day but not at night. I had to work.”
“Oh, that’s right. You work at the hospital.”
“Right.”
“Was there anyone else in the apartment that day?”
“Not that I know of.”
“Did you see any strangers when you were coming or going from the apartment?”
“No. I can’t recall any.”
“What about the week or so prior to the murders?”
“We had some friends over on Saturday for a barbeque. Let me see. On Friday Emilio brought Ricardo home since his car wouldn’t start, but I don’t think he came in. Oh, there was a meter reader who came through that day.”
“A meter reader?”
“Yes. TU Electric, I think.”
“Did he have a uniform?”
“No, just jeans and a blue work shirt. He had a clipboard and went to each of the meters and read them.”
“How did you know it was TU Electric?”
“He had a hard hat with the TU insignia.”
Paula thought about that for a moment while Sonia poured hot water in their cups, put out a box of Lipton Tea bags and a bowl of sugar. Paula took a tea bag and put it in the cup and then started digging in her purse while she waited for the water to darken. She pulled out the photographs of Benjamin Jamison, Christopher Hunt and Tom Wilkinson.
“Did the meter reader look like any of these guys?”
Sonia studied them for a moment and then pointed to the one of Christopher Hunt. “I’m not a hundred percent positive, but he kind of looked like this guy.”
Paula leaned forward excitedly. “Really? You think this guy might have been the meter reader?”
Sonia shrugged tentatively. “Well, I don’t usually pay a lot of attention to meter readers so, like I said, I’m not a hundred percent sure.”
Paula gave Sonia a disappointed look. Unless Sonia could positively identify Christopher Hunt as being the meter reader her testimony would be worthless. She made a mental note to check with TU Electric to see if they had a meter reader in the building during the week before the murders. If they didn’t then she would have good cause for further investigation.
After their cup of tea Paula left and talked with all the neighbors but nobody remembered seeing any of the three men around the apartment building at the time of the murders. Paula was feeling rather depressed and dejected when she got back to her own apartment and Bart’s report did nothing to cheer her up.
“Sorry babe, but nobody sells Vacor Rat Poison anymore. Apparently the government banned it from the marketplace years ago.”
“Well, that doesn’t surprise me. I ran into Sonia, Ricardo’s girlfriend, and she says that the box of rat poison has been in Ricardo’s garage for a long time.”
“Damn,” Bart replied. “That kind of blows a hole in your theory that somebody set Ricardo up.”
“Tell me about it.”