Second Chair, A Stan Turner Mystery, Vol.4

by William Manchee

  Chapter 3

  Engaging Snake

   

  On the way back to Dallas I couldn't help but think about poor Bobby Wiggins. Since the accident we hadn't heard a word from Marleen or anyone else. Rebekah and I had gone to the funeral but very little was said about the circumstances around his death. Maybe there wouldn't be a claim. After all, we hadn't done anything wrong. Then I remembered our last conversation. He told me he had some kind of problem. I made a mental note to talk to Marleen and see if she knew anything about the problem that Bobby was about to discuss with me. Now that Bobby was dead, it may not have mattered, but it could still be something that needed attention. The least I could do was help Marleen tie up any loose ends.

  It was nearly five o'clock when I pulled into the parking garage adjacent to my office building. When I walked into my office, Jodie was packing up to leave.

  "Hey, you made it back," she said.

  "Uh huh."

  "So how did it go?"

  "Pretty good. Sarah seems like a nice girl. She’s had a tough life, but remarkably stable under the circumstances. I don't think she killed her baby."

  "Really? If she didn't do it, who did?"

  "I have no clue, but I intend to find out."

  After sitting down at my desk I decided I'd better advise the Sherman police that I was representing Sarah so they wouldn't be harassing her and her parents. Tom had told me that Lt. Bernie Meadows was handling the investigation for the Sherman Police Department. I didn't know the number so I dialed information and got it. The dispatcher put me through to Lt. Meadows.

  "Meadows," he said.

  "Lt. Meadows, this is Stan Turner, I'm an attorney. I've just been retained by Sarah Winters to represent her in the investigation into the alleged death of her child."

  "Oh, okay."

  "You needn't bother trying to question her. I’ve advised her not to talk to anyone about the incident."

  "That's okay. We’ve got all the evidence we need to lock her away for the rest of her life."

  "It may appear that way, but she may well be innocent."

  "You don't honestly believe that do you?"

  "Yes, I believe it. I hope you plan to earn your pay and find the real killer."

  Meadows laughed. "Don't you worry about me doing my job. I know who the killer is and she's going to pay for her crime."

  "I may be associating Harry Hertel to help with the defense just for your information."

  "Snake?"

  "Right."

  "Splendid," he said. "The District Attorney's office has assigned the case to Howard Hudson. I'll tell him you and Snake are handling the case. It’ll make his day."

  I didn’t know how to take Hudson’s remark. Did he know something about me or was the comment directed at Snake? A sinking feeling came over me as I realized I hadn't even talked to Harry yet about helping me with the case. It was obviously about time I took care of that minor detail. What if he refused to help? Oh, God, if that happened I'd be trying a murder case on my own. After dialing the number I waited. His secretary answered and put me through.

  "Stan, what's going on? I haven't heard from you for a while."

  "Yeah, it’s been awhile. . . . Hey, I've been talking to a potential criminal client about representation. It's a murder case."

  "Oh really, I didn't think you liked criminal cases. As I recall, you were going to refer them all to me."

  "I don't and I did try to refer it out to you but the client really wants me to handle it."

  "Really, what kind of case is it?"

  "You heard of the girl who allegedly killed her baby up in Sherman."

  "Right, I saw something about it in the newspaper this morning."

  "Sarah Winters is her name. I've just been retained to defend her."

  "Hmm. Does she have a defense?"

  "Yes, she claims she didn't do it and I believe her."

  "Who does she say did it?"

  I told him everything I knew.

  "A memory loss isn't going to cut it," Snake said. "You should probably just plead her out. She probably won't get much jail time."

  "No, she's innocent. I couldn't do that."

  "What makes you so sure she’s innocent?"

  "I don't know. She seems to be intelligent, a little naive perhaps but basically an honest person. I guess it's just a feeling I have now that I've talked to her."

  "From what I hear the DA has an open and shut case."

  "It looks that way, I know, but appearances can be deceiving."

  "Did it occur to you that she may be lying?"

  "Of course, but she needs a lawyer whether she's lying or telling the truth, so will you help?"

  "Can she afford us?"

  "Yeah, her old man's bringing me $10,000 tomorrow morning."

  "Is that all?"

  "Well, it's just the initial retainer."

  "Didn't you pay any attention to me in class, Stan? You always get the entire fee up front in a criminal case. It's nearly impossible to withdraw from a murder case once you make an appearance. And what if the client is convicted? You think the family is going pay you if you lose?"

  "I know, I should have insisted on more, but I doubt they could have raised it. I'm sure they'll pay us."

  "Ha. Sarah isn't the only naive one."

  I chose to ignore that comment. Unlike me, Snake obviously didn't have any trepidations about taking the life savings of his clients. I guessed he had lots of money so ten grand didn't seem like that much to him.

  "I'll do most of the work. I just need you for advice and moral support. Will you do it?"

  "Okay, I'll help you out, but I have a hunch she's guilty and we'll end up pleading her out."

  "I hope you're wrong," I said.

  "You better call the detective assigned to the case and tell him to leave her alone. We don't want them beating a confession out of her."

  "I already did that."

  "Good, well you can buy me lunch tomorrow and we can discuss strategy."

  "You're on. How about 11:30 at Carelli's."

  "Fine. See you then."

  My mind began to race as I contemplated all that needed to be done to prepare to defend Sarah. I'd have to set up interviews with all the potential witnesses and suspects. I'd need some help from a private investigator of course. And, just in case Sarah turned out to be guilty, I decided it would be best to get a psychiatrist to examine her for a possible temporary insanity defense.

  Although this appeared to be a hopeless case, I knew from experience that hopeless cases weren't all that bad. If I won, everyone would think I was brilliant, but if I lost no one would think less of me because it was a hopeless case. I didn't plan to lose this one, though, I really believed Sarah was innocent and wanted her to be vindicated.

  As I continued to contemplate Sarah's defense, Jodie walked in to say goodnight.

  "I'm going to go. Here's a phone message from some assistant DA up in Sherman. I don't know how they found out already that you're handling the case, but apparently they did."

  "I called them. I didn't want them going over to the hospital and bothering Sarah without contacting me first."

  She handed me the telephone message. I noted that it was from a Howard Hudson.

  "Do you know this Howard Hudson guy?" Jodie asked.

  "Yeah, don't you remember, he used to be a football star at Texas A & M."

  "Oh really, that Howard Hudson. Is he any good?"

  "He thinks so, I guess. I've never had to deal with him but Snake tells me he's got quite an ego."

  "I bet he doesn't like Snake much either."

  "You're very perceptive."

  "Of course. Well, I'm out of here. Don't work too late tonight. Rebekah already called to see if you were going to be home at a decent hour."

  "Poor Rebekah, I don't know why she puts up with me."

  "I don't either. I sure wouldn't."

  "Thanks a lot."

  "No problem." Jodie laughed.
“Good night."

  "Good night."

  Howard Hudson was a well known and respected prosecutor. My stomach tightened as I contemplated having to face him in court. Had I gotten in over my head? . . . Yeah, there was little doubt of that, but that's why I had retained Snake to keep me out of trouble. I dialed the number on the message and was quickly connected to Mr. Hudson.

  "I heard you're going to defend Sarah Winters," he said.

  "That's correct."

  "Well it's not looking too good for your client. The citizens are really up in arms over what she did–particularly with two innocent babies murdered in the same night. It looks bad for the community. Swift justice is imperative in this case. Don't expect any leniency from this office."

  "We're not looking for leniency. Sarah is innocent and we intend to prove it."

  "You haven’t tried many murder cases, have you, Mr. Turner?" Hudson said.

  "No, that’s why Harry Hertel’s gonna be second chair."

  “That’s what I heard. I’m a little surprised. I thought . . . well, Snake was teaching over at SMU these days?”

  “He is, but he still practices some.”

  "Well, I’m glad he’s going be on the case. I owe him one. I've been looking forward to facing off with him one more time."

  "Oh really?"

  "Yes, tell him I haven't forgotten the Miller trial. I'm going to relish the opportunity to pay him back."

  "Is that right? I'll be sure and tell him."

  "Good. So anyway, the reason I called was to tell you that just as soon as your little lady gets released by her doctor you need to bring her in to be booked. We've already made a presentation to the Grand Jury and expect an indictment very soon."

  "Already? You guys work fast," I said.

  "We protect our children up here in Sherman, Mr. Turner. We don’t take kindly to the likes of your client."

  "Okay, I'll call her doctor and find out when she's due to be released and then arrange to bring her in."

  "Let me know when you're coming," Hudson said."We want to have a cell ready for her."

  "Don't bother, I'm sure we'll post her bond immediately," I said.

  "If the judge sets a bond. We're going to do everything in our power to keep your client locked up where she belongs."