Murder in Humboldt Read online

  “I guess so; let me check with Mary Ellen. If she is up to it, we’ll come over. Should I call you at the number I have been using?”

  “Yes, call me back and let me know if she is willing and what would be a good time. Talk with you soon," I said hanging up the phone.

  Back at the lunch counter, Nickie brought me a great looking breakfast of ham, eggs and biscuit.

  “Nickie, can I make you a proposal today?” I asked as she leaned across the counter.

  “Absolutely not. I am just not up to it today, find yourself another woman,” she snapped.

  “That is not what I meant. I need to camp out here today, and I want to rent that corner booth – for all day. I know it is Friday, and I promise to be finished and out of here before the crowd moves in this evening. How much?” I was reaching for my wallet.

  “You’re kidding, right?” she said shaking her head. “What’s wrong with your room?”

  “Several things. For one, I’ve got some business that just doesn’t fit a motel room environment. For another, I need the use of a phone, and finally I need to watch the TV. I think a lot of interesting news will be broadcast today.”

  “Carson, you are welcome to the booth. Make yourself a reserved sign and be prepared to fight the idiots we get in here that can’t read. But, I’m not sure I can put up with you all day. Will I have to serve this harem you have following you around?”

  “Maybe, a couple of them. But look at the bright side; I will be here to answer the phone when messages come in – right?”

  “There is a silver lining to every dark cloud, that is good news,” she said turning to walk away.

  “Nickie, there is one other thing.”

  “I knew it. Okay, shoot. No, no, no, wait. I didn’t mean to use the word shoot. What is this other thing?" she laughed.

  “Here is a $20 bill, and I have taken the liberty of making this ‘Out of Order’ sign for the jukebox. I can’t handle that noise and conduct business at the same time. Again, I promise to be out of you hair before the crowd gets here this afternoon. Can we do that?”

  “You are crazy. Do you know that? You mean to tell me I must spend all day with no music? And let me guess, you are going to want me to turn the volume up on the TV, right? I’ll talk to Ronnie and see how much he wants to sell this place. You can just buy it today and do whatever you want.” Nickie was being difficult.

  “Chiefs would not be Chiefs with you – and you know it. How about it – we got a deal?” I pleaded.

  “Okay, handsome. We have a deal until the first fight starts over the phone, the booth, the TV or the jukebox. When that happens, our deal is off and you get out of here – understand?”

  “Understood, and you are a sweetheart. And if you ever decide to leave Ronnie, I hope you would give me a chance.”

  “Carson, you are an idiot. Stop with the flattery, at least stop until I get the jukebox unplugged. Then you can restart where you left off.”

  ~

  Now I had a base of operation for the day, and next I needed to find out about transportation. I called Deloch Auto and spoke with Charles, who said that the windshield and back window could be replaced today. If I needed the back door window and the other bullet damage fixed, it would be sometime next week. We agreed to fix the major damage, and put something in the back door window to keep the weather out. The bullet damage we would take care of later, I needed transportation. Charles said it would be ready sometime this afternoon, and he would call me at Chiefs when it was ready.

  A call to information got me the home number for Gerald Wayne. For reasons, I can never understand, these pay phones never have a directory with them – just that little black chain hanging there where the phone book used to be attached! They give phone books away, so why would anybody steal one? Phone book bandits needed to be punished! I promised myself to look into it when I had time.

  Carrie May answered, and after our hellos, I asked if Gerald was available – he was not. But she promised to give him my number, and have him call as soon as he came in. I could hear Dorothy in the background screaming “Who is it? Is it for me?” It was just after 9 AM, and I wondered if this was a new drunk or still the one left over from last night!

  I gave my love to Carrie May and promised to not let us lose touch again. Dorothy was still yelling in the background when she hung up. I may still kill that woman yet; I had not ruled that out.

  Back inside at my new office, Nickie had moved my breakfast special over to my new desk.

  “Can I warm that for you?” she asked.

  “Yes, please - and more coffee. Also, would you mind turning up the TV and put it on Channel 5 news?”

  “Yes sir and I promise not to bow, although the thought did occur to me! I guess now that we have moved up in class, Ronnie and I need to talk about raising our menu prices – ya’ think?”

  “Well, sweetheart, class has its benefits,” I replied ignoring her silliness. “Now, just turn up the TV. I did say please, didn’t I?”

  “No, but I didn’t notice. You usually don’t.”

  ~

  The news had nothing about Humboldt, but somehow I expected things were happening that had just not yet caught up with the news. I was right.

  Jack Logan called early. When he got over his surprise at me actually being available to talk with him and not having to leave a message, he wanted to know if I was involved in what was going down today. After some detailed explanation, Jack was comfortable that my level of involvement was not serious, but I would probably be a part of the legal process when it began to move forward. He said he would make a few calls, and suggested that I get my ass back to Memphis as quickly as I could. I agreed, but let him know that I intended to walk away from here with the JR murder solved and my name cleared. We made plans to talk later that afternoon, after the fireworks.

  Liz called next, and wanted to know if lunchtime would be okay. I said that would be fine and told her about my ‘office for the day’ and that we should meet here.

  “Carson,” she screamed. “We don’t DO Chiefs. You will need to make other arrangements. Sorry.”

  “Look, leave your jewelry at home, put on your jeans and see how the real world manages to exist.” I wanted to add ‘you can leave the rollers in your hair and no one will recognize you or even care’, but thought I better quit while I was winning.

  “Okay, but I’m keeping my sunglasses on, and I’m not parking where someone might see my car,” she quipped.

  “Fine, I’ll see you for lunch. I think Escargot is the special for the day!”

  At that point, I think she hung up on me. Resisting the temptation to ask Nickie if she could whip up some escargot for my guests, I did get her to switch the TV around through the two other channels. They had nothing about Humboldt, so we went back to Channel 5.

  Next, Judy called and she was very upset - the FBI was in her office. They were searching all records and ordered her to close the front door and lock it. Any trucks in transit were to immediately return to the Humboldt terminal without stops. They also told her that agents would be stopping all Maxwell Trucking vehicles found traveling the highways, and provide escort back to the Humboldt terminal. Adding to the embarrassment, Agent Giltner searched her office along with her purse and her person (he was being an asshole and this was just meant to intimidate). Brenda’s files, purse and person were also searched, and both had been placed in the conference room with instructions to remain there until told differently. Dispatcher, Tom Harbin, had been confined to his dock office and not permitted to leave, use the phone or the radio without a FBI agent present.

  She was calling me from the conference room phone and was scared to death of being arrested. I told her to just calm down, she had nothing to fear and to call me back when they released her. I wasn’t sure I believed that ‘nothing to fear’ statement, but she needed to calm down.

  It had started.

  ~

  Gerald Wayne’s white Cadillac pulled up in f
ront of Chiefs, and he entered by the restaurant door. He spotted me immediately and came over to sit down.

  “You wanted to talk?” he was curt. “You better make it quick. I think I am in for a busy day.”

  “What was your car doing parked at the Tennessee Motel on the night of JR’s murder?” I asked without hesitation.

  The blood left his face and he got white as a sheet. Nickie had started over to the table, when she saw me wave my hand letting her know that this was not a good time for her to say ‘may I help you’.

  “What time was it there?” he asked.

  “I saw it at 4:30. And that will probably be determined to be somewhere close to the time of death.”

  “It wasn’t me.” He was shaking.

  “Who was driving your car that night? And don’t embarrass me by saying you don’t know.”

  He said it anyway!

  “I don’t know.”

  “Look, Gerald, it is going to come out. Was Dorothy driving your car? Could it have been Lester driving your car?”

  “I really mean it. I don’t know. She was really drunk that day. We had an argument, and for some reason, she took my car. The keys hang by the back door, and I didn’t think that was too unusual. But she was out all night. I took her car to my office the next morning, and when I returned home later, the car was back and she was in bed. So I really don’t know. Carson, I love Dorothy and she is just not capable – I mean do you suspect her?”

  I never got a chance to respond. While he had been talking a Gray Plymouth with government tags pulled up next to his car. Two large guys wearing gray suits, conservative ties and sunglasses got out and headed to the door. They were FBI, and you could have picked them out in any crowd.

  They walked over to our table – the black agent spoke. “Mr. Wayne, I’m agent Fisher and this is agent Turner. We have a warrant for your arrest, and you need to come with us. We are taking you to the FBI office in Jackson. There, you will be given the opportunity to make a phone call. Agent Turner will be driving your car, so we will need the keys. We can avoid handcuffs if you cooperate; otherwise we are prepared to bring you in by any means necessary.”

  Strangely calm, Gerald spoke, “I will cooperate.”

  He handed them the keys and they left without any other words. Neither of them ever looked at me, it was almost as if I was invisible. For once, I was not disappointed to not be noticed.

  Nickie walked over to the table. “Wow, does this stuff go on in your office all the time?”

  “Fortunately, no. Hey, go turn up the TV – I think things are going to get interesting.”

  A TV reporter was broadcasting live from the street across from the Hosiery Mill. She was reporting on the FBI removing Maxwell Trucking trailers from the docking area. The union was visibly protesting, and they were throwing rocks and bottles at the rigs as they were being driven out the gates and down 22nd avenue.

  The TV then switched to another remote reporter who seemed to be standing at the gates of a military installation; it was the Milan Arsenal. The camera caught a glimpse of General Samson in the back of another FBI Gray Plymouth; they offered no information about why or where he was being taken. They would report more when additional details became available.

  The next cut was to the front of Maxwell Trucking, and I could not help but think of Judy sitting in that building wondering about her future and wondering what would happen next.

  The shot and commentary were about the trucks from Wayne Knitting Hosiery Mill being rolled into the terminal and behind the gates. You could see FBI agents in their gray suits and sunglasses standing guard at the gate. They had no information about the contents of these trucks and would report more when additional details became available.

  The phone rang again. Nickie answered and it was for me – Sheriff Leroy Epsee was checking up on me. I told him my routine and he seemed pleased. He hung up, saying he would see me later that afternoon.

  ~

  I was walking back to my table when the door opened and in walked Mary Ellen and Elizabeth – I think! They were wearing ill fitting jeans, something that looked like cowboy shirts and had their hair in some silly bun sitting on top of their heads. I really wasn’t sure who it was. Maybe it was Annie Oakley and Penny from Sky King, or maybe just some local rednecks in drag! If it was their intent to be discrete and unnoticed they had failed miserably.

  From behind the dark sunglasses I heard, “Mr. Carson, we are here as you requested.”

  I’m trying to avoid hysterical laughter and managed to just show a small giggle. “Ladies, please step into my office.” I took them to my corner booth.

  “Mary Ellen, thank you for coming, and I know it is a terrible time for you,” I said sincerely. “Please accept my sympathy for your loss and my respect for your grief. I promise I would not have asked to see you if I didn’t think it to be important.”

  She managed to speak, “I understand. What can I do for you?”

  Liz jumped in. “Yes, and I hope whatever we can do for you doesn’t involve eating, because if you think my lips would touch this food – well, then you don’t know my lips!”

  I had a great comeback regarding her lips, but really needed to keep this meeting headed in another direction.

  “I want to solve your husband’s murder, and I have a plan to bring the guilty person out into the open. But I will need your cooperation.”

  “I thought they had the guilty person. Didn’t they arrest my half-bother for the murder?” Mary Ellen uttered.

  “No, not really,” I answered shaking my head. “He has been arrested for a number of offenses, but not charged with your husband’s murder. I don’t think he did it, but unless we can prove otherwise, he will probably be charged and probably be convicted. If he is guilty, there won’t be any harm in my plan. If he isn’t guilty, then I hope my plan will expose the one who is. Will you help?”

  “Carson, I will do whatever is necessary,” Mary Ellen said quietly. “For some strange reason I trust you, probably because Liz has convinced me that I should. So, yes. What do you need?”

  Then I explained my plan to both Mary Ellen and Liz. I ended by telling her that Leroy would be calling and visiting with her, probably later today. It would be better if she could move herself back in the Warmath Circle house. She agreed, and said they would be doing that later today.

  Still in disguise, they made their way out the door and off to somewhere. I never saw Liz’s car. Who knows – they may have taken a cab? Although if I were a cab driver, I probably would not have given them a ride!

  Nickie walked over. “My God Carson, who were those two? The Carnival will be here next week for the Festival, are they early arrivals?”

  “Hey, Nickie, I thought they were a couple of your regulars? You didn’t recognize them?”

  She threw a menu at me, but fortunately it missed.

  ~

  I had missed a lot of TV announcements while talking with Mary Ellen and Liz, so I had to wait for them to recycle. I didn’t have long to wait.

  In summary, the FBI had seized the assets of Maxwell Trucking. These included partially loaded trailers parked at Wayne Knitting Hosiery Mill, The Milan Arsenal and The Pine Bluff Arsenal in Arkansas. These trailers were found to contain hundreds of illegal weapons, ammunition, explosives and other ordinance hidden in, supposedly empty, army containers. Transported and reported as empty, these containers had been returned from Vietnam to the arsenals in Milan and Pine Bluff for reuse. It is speculated that these containers were not empty when returned, and had been transferred to Maxwell Trucking trailers for sale and distribution to illegal markets. These illegal markets were reported to be controlled by a group of underworld figures – known as the Memphis Mafia. Major arrests included Steve Carrollton – reported leader of the Memphis Mafia – General Sandy Samson of the Milan Arsenal and General Darrell Taylor of the Pine Bluff Arsenal. Also arrested were the COO and President of Wayne Knitting Hosiery Mill, Gerald Wayne. The Presiden
t and owner of Maxwell Trucking, JR Maxwell had died mysteriously earlier this week, and it is suspected his death was related to these activities. Numerous other arrests of drivers, dock personnel, army warehouse managers and other management of Maxwell Trucking were underway, and should continue throughout the day and into the weekend as the investigations continue.

  ~

  I went quickly the phone and called Jack. Unbelievably he was in his office.

  “Jack, I’ve got a friend who is mixed up in this Humboldt mess, but I know she is innocent,” I said anxiously.

  “She?” Jack asked.

  “Yes she. Her name is Judy Strong and she is/was the Executive Vice President Sales for Maxwell Trucking.”

  “Wow. With JR Maxwell dead, she is in the gun sights of the FBI, you can count on that.”

  “I know. I expect to talk with her later today, and I will have her call you at first opportunity. Meanwhile, grab your luggage and get up here, she needs your help and I need you to help her.”

  “Is your head, your heart or some other part of your body making these decisions?” Jack asked.

  “It’s my head. She is innocent, and they will crucify her without some quality legal help.”

  “You’re sure she is innocent?” he didn’t seem convinced.

  “Yes, I am absolutely sure.”

  “Okay, I’ll be there as soon as I can. Have her call me; she must give me authority to speak as her attorney. Without that, I can’t do much.”

  “Done, I’ll see you later,” I said hurriedly.

  ~

  Judy finally called about 2:00, and she had been arrested. But she was at the County jail, not in Jackson. Silly her, she had used her one phone call on me. I told her my plan and assured her that Jack could and would take care of her. Then I asked if Scotty was close. He was, and I had her give him the phone.