Billy Palmer by Ronald Zastre
“What in the hell are you talking about, Detective?” Manny sounded tired of the ordeal.
“A vender in the airport remembers you buying a prepaid cell phone, or rather, a man fitting your description. That man also bought a golf magazine.”
“Ha,” Manny laughed. “I already have a cell phone so why would I get another one? I hate the damn things, ask Cassey, ask my secretary. I don’t even take the thing with me half the time, I leave it in my hotel room because I use it mostly for messages, and I don’t buy golf magazines because they are rags! You can also check that out with anyone that knows me.”
“You used the phone to plan and execute a crime,” Swenson laughed. “I don’t exactly like the damn things either, but I use them. Deputy Conner tells me the whole plan was brilliant, prepaid cell phone calls can’t be traced back to the caller. She is absolutely convinced though that you didn’t facilitate the computer part, to high tech for you.”
“Now you’re insulting my intelligence?” Manny shouted, uncrossing his arms and leaning forward, toward Swenson.
“Now we’re getting somewhere Manny!” Swenson pounced, also moving forward again. “Why don’t you tell—”
“Hold on, I want to talk to my client,” McDermott interrupted, jumping to head off Manny. Jason grabbed Manny by the arm and pulled him toward the door. Manny didn’t go easily, making McDermott struggle, pulling the sleeve of Manny’s jacket out of shape. Manny finally ripped his arm free of Jason’s grasp and stopped, glaring at the lawyer. “I’ve had it with all these shit-turds.”
“What do you think you’re doing?” Jason asked angrily.
“I am sick of that guy!” Manny shouted, pointing at Swenson, but still looking at McDermott.
“I would be too.” Jason pointed to the door. “Explain it to me, outside.”
Manny hesitated, looking intently at the lawyer. “I’m sick of backing down! I’m not going to take this shit anymore!”
“Out, Manny!” Jason was still pointing at the door a stern look on his face. Manny and the attorney squared off, a match of wills in the making. Swenson sat calmly watching the confrontation, wondering if a definitive moment is at hand.
Manny finally relented. “Assholes!” he shouted, turning and heading out the door.
*
“Did you have anything to do with a cell phone, the one he is describing?” Jason asked, trying to keep up to Manny as he stormed down the hall.
“No, of course not!”
“Well, for Christ sakes, don’t let him bait you. I thought we went over all this?”
“How can he get away with this? Aren’t there any—”
“Manny, don’t start acting like a child on me.”
“You insolent SOB!” Manny came up short and turned quickly to confront the lawyer. “I don’t have to take that from you!”
“Like hell, you don’t! You hired me to cover your ass, and when you’re thinking of getting stupid, it is my job to point it out,” Jason lectured, right in Manny’s face. “Now get your ass out of here, we have to talk.” McDermott pushed Manny through the door that Carl Andrews already had open.
“I blew it huh?” Manny said, as the three men walked to the parking lot.
“You didn’t blow anything,” McDermott replied in a calm voice. “Swenson is forcing the issue, and you being innocent, are simply overreacting to his obsession. It’s like I explained to you before, the detective needs reinforcement. He is certain he’s is doing the right thing, he’s certain you’re the man. I got you out of there because the bullshit is mounting, and I’m convinced that we need to change our strategy,” McDermott said as they reached the car.
Carl Andrews was getting into the passenger’s side of the car, and suddenly commented to Manny. “That comment, the one about the witness seeing a man fitting your description?”
“Yeah, what about it?” Manny replied.
“Jason,” Carl said to McDermott. “I was thinking all this was just one big mistake, that Cassey simply happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time, and Manny was a suspect because he was the husband.” Carl got into the car, thinking.
“What’s on your mind Carl?” McDermott asked.
“The thing about the golf magazine?”
“Yeah, go on.”
“Manny, I seem to remember that you didn’t like golf magazines even when you were a kid, correct?” Carl asked.
“Yeah, they’re bullshit.”
“And you’d never buy one?” McDermott asked, picking up on Carl’s direction. “Is there any proof of this?” he asked Manny.
“Any one that knows me is all. I won’t even allow them in my office. If I could keep them out of the stores, I would,” Manny stated.
“I seems likely that someone is trying to make you look guilty. Someone that knows you like golf, but didn’t realize that you don’t buy the magazines.”
“That’s what I’ve been trying to tell everyone!” Manny shouted. “You SOBs weren’t certain I was innocent then?”
“It’s like reading a book Manny. You wrote it so you know how it goes. Carl and I are reading it and we may have an idea about how it ends, before it does, but we’re not sure until we finish, and it’s our job to not jump to conclusions until the page is turned.”
“Whatever!” Manny growled.
“Manny, Carl and I have conferred and we feel it is time to establish a defense,” McDermott said calmly.
“A defense for what?” Manny sounded pissed.
“The evidence is all circumstantial, but it is compelling, and if they find a motive, some proof of you having a good reason to want your wife out of the way, we’ve got problems.”
“I don’t want to talk to you two!” Manny yelled, slamming back hard into the back seat. “This is all bullshit! Swenson is fabricating the whole thing. You two warned me this could happen, the Gestapo mentality could get out of control, and now you’re ready to throw me to the wolves.”
“Calm down, Manny,” Carl pleaded.
“Calm down? Fuck you, Swenson and his raged band are coming up with all these witnesses that are burying my ass. How can that be?”
“Witnesses are notoriously unreliable,” Jason said. “I can go talk to these same people and they’ll tell me what I want to hear, the same thing they did for the authorities, and more than likely they may be stage players, like the guy with the magazine.”
“God, I’m sick of this!” Manny said, expelling a big breath.
“Look, it’s Christmas Eve, we’re all going home,” Carl said. “I’ll go tell Swenson so he can be with the kids, polish his gun or something.”
Chapter 33
“Come on Betty, what are you trying to do?” Manny pleaded into the phone, sitting watching the fire, a drink in his hand. “I have the right to talk to my family.”
“Manny Anderson, you’ve lost that right. You are sinful and dangerous,” Cassey’s mother scolded.
“What are you talking about? I’m being railroaded. You can’t believe all those things about me? You’ve known me for many years, Betty. A relationship of trust doesn’t just disappear overnight. Not because of innuendoes, at least it shouldn’t.”
“Manny, I’ve never trusted you. You and that ridiculous sense of humor, or that’s what you call it. I call it childish. You’ve never grown up Manny and this just proves it. How could you do this to Cassey and the kids?”
“I haven’t done a thing!”
“My daughter and my grandchildren are hiding, afraid for their lives, and you’re trying to convince me that you haven’t done anything. Manny grow up.”
“Is Ed there?”
“Ed is not here, and if he was, he wouldn’t want to talk to you either.”
“You finally got your way, huh Betty? All these years of lying in wait paid off. I’m sorry we couldn’t solve our differences before you were presented with the opportunity of a life time.”
“You are a godless man, Manny Anderson, and that is a sin that can’t be
Don’t say it Manny, don’t provoke her. This is not a good time, the old bat has the edge. How can Ed put up with her?” Manny hung the phone up.
*
“Hey Carl, Manny Anderson, remember me? How the hell’s it going?” Manny said loudly into the phone.
“Manny are you drunk?”
“Damn right I am! And do you know why Carl?”
“No, Manny, I don’t.”
“Because, Mr. legal eagle, I’m having a lousy Christmas,” Manny was slurring his words. “I’m sitting here at home, all alone on Christmas Eve, and I can’t find anyone to talk to. Since I’m paying you, I decided you can’t hang up on me, so I called. How’s that for a reason to get blasted? Does that fit the bill? It’s the only thing I could find to do, getting hammered that is. What can I do for you?”
“Manny, you’re not making much sense, you called me.”
“That’s because people drink to forget, not to make sense,” Manny laughed. “Does that make sense? No wait, people drink to wash away the pain. Yeah, that’s it, I got pain Carl. Oops,” Manny laughed again. “I did have pain, but the alcohol ‘has’ kicked in, and now I’m fine. Of course I’ll have a rip roaring hangover in the morning, but that’ll be tomorrow, won’t it? I’ll bet you I won’t drink tomorrow, no sirry, but for the rest of this day I’ll be just fine, thanks to the booze.”
“Manny, things aren’t as bad as you’re making them out to be.”
“Bullshit, Swenson the Savage Swede figures he has enough to arrest me now. How much worse can it get?”
“An arrest is a long way away, Manny. You’re over reacting.”
“I’m am thinking of getting the hell out of here.”
“What?” Carl shouted. “Don’t do that? You can’t solve anything by running away. Manny, please, let McDermott do his job.”
“His job! Who’s job is it to find who the hell is doing this to me, huh? Carl, who do we hire to take care of that? I’d be willing to pay him overtime, by the way, or maybe we need a woman. Yeah, a woman with big tits, they get answers faster. He could make a lot more than you are, no, we decided it was a she. Boy, just think, I wouldn’t need you and McDermott because I wouldn’t be guilty anymore.”
“If someone is setting you up, it will come out,” Carl assured.
“If, if! God-damnit Andrews, someone is screwing me over here. I know this because I am innocent. You hear me Carl! In-no-cent! How would you like to be in-no-cent on Christmas Eve, and getting drunk instead because no one believes you? Put that in your pipe and smoke it. Oops, that’s not right is it,” Manny chuckled. “I’m drinking, not smoking. There’s where I made my mistake. Is there a cliché about getting bombed that fits the bill?”
“Go to bed Manny.”
“I guess I’ll have to, to fuckin drunk to drive.”
“Oh, for gosh sakes Manny, do not get in your car, you hear me.”
“I already said I was too drunk to drive, lawyer dude. Shit, I couldn’t even find the keys, even if I had to. Shit, I probably couldn’t even find the car.” Manny laughed heartily. “So don’t worry counselor, I’m isolated for the evening, out of the loop. Can’t get in anymore trouble, so don’t worry oh lawyer of mine. Hey you know what?”
There was a clattering sound as Manny dropped the phone. Manny fumbled for a moment, finally getting the phone back to his ear, but didn’t say anything. Carl can hear Manny breathing
“Manny, you there?” Carl finally asked.
“Hey Carl, thanks for getting back to me,” Manny slurred. “Where was I?”
“You’re having a lousy Christmas,” Carl sighed.
“Oh yeah, that’s where I was. Yeah, that’s why I’m drinking, right?”
“Manny, I have to go!”
“This is probably going to be my worst Christmas ever, huh Andrews? Tell me it’s not possible to have a worse one, will you Andrews, huh, will you?”
“No Manny, it’s not likely that you’ll ever have one this bad again. Now put the bottle away and ‘go-to-bed’.”
“The bottle, what bottle? Shit Andrews, I lost the goddamn bottle. Carl, I can’t find my bottle. What am I going to do now? Shit, guess I’ll just have to go to bed. Thanks for calling Carl.” Manny hung up.
Chapter 34
Manny was cradling a steaming hot cup of coffee in both hands, looking forlornly out the window of the kitchen. More snow had piled up over the night and the back yard was a white picture postcard.
“All this crap, and now a hell of a hangover to go with it. Good going Anderson,” Manny said quietly to himself, the ringing phone bringing him back to reality. Manny just stared at it, not sure if he wanted to talk to anyone the way he’s feeling.
“Christ, someone sure wants to talk,” Manny said annoyed, as the phone continued to ring.
“Give it up, paleeese!” Manny shouted at the ringing phone.
“God dammit!” Manny said, finally relenting and reaching for the phone.
“Hello, I’m in a shitty mood,” Manny shouted into the phone, “and I have a hangover! So state your business and be gone.”
There was silence from the caller.
“Come on, you called me, so don’t be shy. Take your shot, shit all over my parade,” Manny snarled into the phone.
“How dare you talk to me like that,” Cassey snarled back from the other end of the line.
“Oh shit, Cassey. I’m sorry, I didn’t think I’d hear from you. I’m sorry, please don’t hang up,” Manny begged.
“I don’t know Manny, I don’t like your tone. What’s gotten into you, you would never answer the phone that way? What is your problem?”
“It’s Christmas morning, my family is gone, left me. I have a hell of a hangover, and every time I look out the window, I visualize Detective Swenson standing out in the snow, waiting to take me in. I’m Red Pine’s criminal of the century, and I don’t relish the notoriety”
“Other than all that, how are you doing?”
“Christ Cassey, I just told you how I am. Am I supposed to gloss it over, go find my suit of armor and put it on.”
“I don’t know Manny, you got yourself into this.”
“How, how the hell did I get myself into this, huh?” Manny shouted. “You tell me, what is it I’ve done that warrants this?”
“I don’t know Manny, but I sure haven’t done anything either, and I’m spending Christmas away from my house.”
“Well, come on back, then,” Manny said happily, excited about the thought.
Cassey was silent.
“What’s the problem, you can come home? We can salvage the rest of the holidays, anyway?” Manny pleaded. “Come on, what do you say?”
“No, Manny, I don’t think that would be wise.”
“Why, what the hell is wrong with our getting back our lives?
“We aren’t going to get our lives back until whoever is doing this is caught.”
“Cassey please, don’t shut me out. You’re all wrong about this, all of you, and I need your help, please.”
“Manny I’m scared, don’t you understand. I don’t know what to do. In my heart I can’t fathom you being involved, but in my head, I don’t know.”
“I am not involved!”
“If you hadn’t started this, it wouldn’t have happened.”
“I know, but I never intended for it to get this serious.”
“You do know what is happening, then?” Cassey said with a faint whisper.
Manny can’t sense if she’s cautious, or curious.
“I think so, but I can’t prove it, not yet.”
“Manny, my god, my mother is right, I can’t believe it.”
“Oh Cassey, she sees the Devil everywhere, you know that.”
“She’s not accusing you of being the Devil, but she says
“Yeah well, don’t put too much faith in people’s opinions, they tend to follow their wishes.”
“I know you don’t like my mother, but I feel safe here. I don’t feel that way with you anymore.”
“I understand, but keep an open mind about me. I will prove to you that I am being set up. I need to know about the man that attacked you, please help me.”
“Ask Swenson, I gave him everything I remembered.”
“I’ve gotten Swenson’s official report, but that man is holding out. I don’t think everything is in there. He’s holding a lot of stuff close to his chest. I can hardly wait for this to be over so I can dance on ‘his’ dilemma, just like he’s doing to me.”
“I already told Swenson, he was a tiny man, looked like an elf because his ears stuck out. Probably had red hair.”
“Why would you say that?”
“He had watery, pale blue eyes. Most people with those eyes usually have red hair, that’s why.”
“An elf with a ski mask on, Santa must be having trouble keeping people.”
“Oh, you joke,” Cassey chastised. You have such a great defense, you’re so pragmatic about everything. I loved it there Manny, all the time, not selective like you. I loved that road because it was my peaceful place. I don’t think I’ll ever be able to go back there. Do you have any idea what I’ve lost?”
Manny was silent. Red Pine will never be the same, she’s right. Manny hung up the phone without responding, knowing there was nothing more he could say.
Right now I’m jealous of Billy. His definitive moments were in Vietnam and he could leave it behind.” Manny sat quietly, a neutral look on his face.
My god, Cassey and I are having our first reality check, and it’s on our doorstep. Red hair, ears that stick out. Where have I heard that before?”
*
Manny quickly dialed another number and waited. The phone was answered on the fourth ring.
“Swenson, you talked to Betty Boop,” Manny said annoyed.
“Betty who? And what are you doing calling me at home, on Christmas Day?” Swenson didn’t sound pleased.
“You gave me the number to confess, if I decided to, remember?”