“What do you mean if?”
She chewed on the end of her pen and said, “I don’t think the cops like you . . .”
“And?”
“And I want you to promise me something.”
“What?”
“Be careful around James Rush. He’s a powerful man.”
“I know.”
“I don’t think you do. I’ve heard some things about him that I don’t especially like. I know I wouldn’t tangle with him if I could help it. He can be a real scumbag.”
I studied her expression. “I don’t think he’s really got anything to do with the murder except for the fact that he may have been having an affair with Mrs. Lawson.”
She nodded, but didn’t say anything. “What I might do is check the index in the district clerk’s office and see if I can find out who the lawyer was that represented Mrs. Lawson in the civil suit to terminate her husband’s parental rights. That’ll probably be difficult because the files are sealed, but I’ll try. Some of the clerks owe me favors.”
“Why? What do you think you’ll find?”
“Well, if you can talk to him, you might be able to discover more about the case. If he won’t talk to you, I’ll check it out if I can. Those are confidential files and the information might be hard to get but if we can get it, it could be a real help. And I’ll check the criminal index and find out who prosecuted the criminal side of the case and that might help.”
“I don’t know what all this has to do with Harrison Lawson’s murder.”
“I don’t get you, Mavis.”
“I don’t understand.”
“What I heard when you were explaining the case to me was that you think Arthur Woodridge was set up.”
I studied her face. “Is that what it sounds like to you?”
“Yes, and if he was set up now, why couldn’t he have been set up then?”
“It’s funny that you would pick up on that, Gillian. I don’t have any proof. ”
“I thought that’s what you were getting at all along. I’ve seen it before, not often, but it’s happened. In fact, there was an article published last year in one of the national legal magazines—I forget which one—about the large number of fraudulent claims of sexual abuse by a parent.” She raised her eyebrows as if speculating on the possibilities. Hers was a face full of expressions. I wondered how well she did before a jury. She continued, “It happens a lot these days in child custody cases. The problem is proving the charges are false.”
“The problem is going to be opening up a twelve-or-thirteen-year-old case. No one will want to say it was all a big mistake.”
“Exactly. And politically, there will be a cover-up from all sides. Such a touchy subject.” She glanced at her watch. “That’s part of what’s got me worried.”
“Right. Well,” Gillian said as she pulled her briefcase from under the table and snapped it open, “you’ve got your work cut out for you. I’m not envious.” She shook her head as she threw her legal pad and pen in the case. “It was nice meeting you.” She held out her hand again and we shook. “You should be out of here in a jiff. I’ll call and let you know the progress I make on your case. Oh—you won’t have to make docket calls, either. I’ll do that for you.”
“Thanks for coming.” I meant it. I wasn’t often truly grateful for anything, but the fact that this woman, who was obviously successful, really bright, to whom I could talk freely, and with whom I was comfortable, came to see me, unpaid, made me appreciative. “By the way, how did Margaret get your name?”
“From Candy.”
“Candy?”
“Yeah,” she said as she reached for the door. “Candy’s the daughter of one of my daddy’s second cousins once removed or something like that.” She shrugged. “He’s a judge in Angleton.”
“Who is?”
“My daddy. Candy’s mother told her to call him and he told her to call me. They wanted someone they could trust.”
Chapter Nineteen
Gillian Wright had given me a lot to think about. If I could clear Woodridge of the kidnapping-murder, I could clear myself. Just how I was going to do that, I didn’t know, but after getting a taste of the jail, I had a lot of motivation.
I was so tired that if I didn’t make a list of all the things that needed doing, I was sure I’d forget most of it. I hadn’t slept at all. There weren’t enough bunks in the cell for all of us, and what there were, were occupied when I got there. With the hysterics of a girl who’d had a crack-up, and most everyone yelling at her to shut up, no one really slept much. The night had been spent with me sitting on the floor against the wall.
Probably the first thing I should have done was go home and hit the sack, but I didn’t. I wanted to apologize to the Lawson kids for screwing up the night before and see if I could get back in their good graces. That would have to wait until later, though. I wanted to go to the insurance company and talk to McAfee again. I also wanted to talk to Hadley and Smythe. I needed to talk to Stanhope. Then there was that file at child welfare that I wanted to see. And I wanted to punch Ben in the nose.
After the judge gave me my magistrate’s warning, I was told that my case would be filed in Harris County and not to come back to Walker County. Afterward, I was released on bail and found Margaret waiting for me. She threw her arms around me and hugged me as if I’d just been released from a dungeon after fifty years confinement. I hugged her back. It was nice to feel loved.
“Thanks for getting me a lawyer,” I said when she finally let me go.
“Is she any good?” Margaret asked as she swiped at the tears spilling from the corners of her eyes.
I patted her on the shoulder and put my arm around her neck as I led her down the stairs and away from the jail. “She may not be Clarice Arrow, Margaret, but I’m glad she’s on our team. She’s smart, and full of distrust, and I think you’ll like her, too.”
“Good,” she said and sniffed. “I was so worried.” She started to tear up again.
“It’s all right, Margaret. I’m not hurt. I even ate breakfast for once. At least they called it breakfast.”
Margaret laughed. “You’re so tough, Mavis.”
I rolled my eyes. “Right, kid. Let’s get my car so I can get home and change my clothes and hit the streets. I’ll show them how tough I am.”
“I’ve got some bad news for you.”
Could my week get any worse? “Spill it, Margaret.”
“Mrs. Lawson called this morning and left a message that you’re fired.”
“Oh, is that all? I guess we’re never going to get to cash that check since Tommy is pretty angry at me as well.”
“So Candy and I won’t be getting paid any time soon?”
“Only if you can find the money someplace else. I need to scrape two thousand dollars together to pay Gillian.”
Margaret drove me to the impound lot where I was able to get my car out of hock and drive home to my apartment. I sent her back to the office to check up on Hadley and Smythe while I went downtown. It was so hot that it felt like someone had taken the lid off of hell. I wasn’t looking forward to summer.
McAfee continued playing games with me. He kept me waiting a good while, probably hoping I’d go away. After the first twenty minutes or so, I figured as much so I put my head back and snoozed in the reception area. I guess my snoring was an embarrassment to them, because it didn’t take long after that for the girl to show me in. I felt marvelously refreshed until I passed by Annette Jensen’s glaringly vacant desk and went in to talk to him.
It was interesting to note that McAfee hadn’t moved into Lawson’s office. Upon my arrival, he didn’t stand, or even offer a greeting, but that was okay. “More questions, Miss Davis?” he asked, faded-out eyebrows raised. I could tell I was a source of irritation.
I plopped into the chair opposite him and flipped out my notebook. I wasn’t sure whether he knew I knew about Annette, so I saved that for later. “I was wondering if you could tell me wh
ether Mr. Lawson’s life was insured by your company, and if so, who the beneficiaries are.”
His lips formed a thin smile. “Funny you should ask that, Miss Davis. I was curious about that myself and, in fact, was wondering why you didn’t inquire about that the other day.” Good point. “You checked it out, then?”
He leaned back in his chair and started with the cigar business again. There was a sadistic streak in him a mile wide. After he blew smoke in my direction, he said, “Yes. I had Annette pull his file for me.”
It occurred to me that the contents of that file were probably what Annette wanted to talk to me about. I smothered a cough, wondered if he intentionally mentioned Annette, and took the bait. “Where is Ms. Jensen, anyway? Is she sick or something?”
“She had a little accident.”
“Oh. Sorry to hear that. What happened? Is she going to be okay?”
He puffed on his cigar. Lucky I left the door open or I’d have been asphyxiated. “Seems a burglar attacked her.” He watched me closely.
“How awful.”
“Yes, a terrible thing. She’s unconscious at St. Joseph’s Hospital.”
“He must have really hurt her.”
“Banged her in the head with something. From what I understand, it’s still touch and go for her.”
I cringed inwardly. If he knew I was involved, he sure knew how to hurt a girl. Maybe he didn’t know. I couldn’t tell from his expression. It wasn’t any uglier than it had been the other day. “Poor thing.”
“And he killed her dog. Beat it to death. Blood was everywhere, I understand.”
My stomach heaved at the memory. The greasy alleged breakfast didn’t help. “Yuck.”
“Anyway, as I was saying, I had Annette check Mr. Lawson’s file and I’d be glad to give you that information.”
“Well, gee thanks, Mr. McAfee. I appreciate that.”
“Mrs. Lawson was the primary beneficiary. She’s to receive a million dollars.”
“Whew.”
“Each of the children is to receive two hundred and fifty-thousand dollars.”
“That’s a surprise,” I said.
“Not really. He cared a lot about those kids.”
“I didn’t mean to imply that he didn’t. It just seems unusual to leave children that much money.”
“Well, it’ll go into trust for each of them until they’re twenty-two.”
“And who’s the trustee, if I may ask?”
“Hilary.”
“Wow, so she’ll have over a mil and a half.”
“That’s correct.”
A motive for murder if I ever heard one. No wonder Annette was so secretive. “As well as all his holdings—I guess she’ll get all that, too.”
“Probably, Miss Davis, but the will hasn’t been read yet.”
“What was he worth, anyway?”
“His net worth you mean?”
I nodded.
“Don’t think it’s been calculated, but I could give you an educated guess.”
“All right.”
“Another two-and-a-half.”
“Million?”
He nodded. “At least, not including the house.”
A whistle escaped me. Hilary Lawson would get three and a half million dollars and be in control of another half million. I wondered if the police knew that. I stared at him. “Do you know when they’ll probate his will?”
“I imagine it’ll be read after the funeral a few days from now. Rush likes all the formalities and he’s notified several of us to meet him at his office afterwards.”
“So James Rush was Mr. Lawson’s estate attorney?”
“Right.” He rocked back and forth in his chair, apparently enjoying himself immensely.
“That’ll mean a big legal fee for him, won’t it?”
“Yes, Miss Davis, but Rush doesn’t need the money if you’re thinking something is wrong there.”
“Well, you know that old saying, ‘You can’t be too rich—’”
“I’m not fond of cliches myself.”
“Sorry,” I said. “I guess I won’t take up any more of your time, Mr. McAfee. You’ve been more than helpful.”
“Anytime, Miss Davis. Glad to be of help.”
Liar, liar, I thought.
“By the way,” he said as I started out the door. “I hear they arrested Arthur last night for Harrison’s murder.”
“Oh, really?” I tried to act totally surprised, but I’m not sure I pulled it off.
“You didn’t know?”
“Why should I know?”
“Come on, Miss Davis. Stop playing games.”
“I know they took you in for it, too.”
He shot me a dirty look.
“If they let you go, Mr. McAfee, there’s nothing to say that they won’t let Mr. Woodridge go, also.”
“So you don’t think he did it, Miss Davis?”
“There’s a little thing called motive, Mr. McAfee.”
“Oh, I think all those years in prison were motive enough,” he said.
“For killing Lawson? Ha. For killing Hilary, sure, but not Lawson. You just about said as much yourself.”
“Maybe he got the wrong person by mistake.”
“Wrong. There’s also the small problem of opportunity, Mr. McAfee. How could Arthur Woodridge have gotten to Lawson? He couldn’t have gotten anywhere near that house and you know it.”
“Is there some reason you’re getting so defensive, Miss Davis?”
I gave him one of my best “Go to hell” looks. “I’m sure if you know he was arrested, then you know I was, too. Right?”
He chuckled, clearly enjoying himself. I could tell. “How did you like the Walker County jail?”
“About as much as you would.”
“Seriously, Miss Davis, you are going to try to clear Arthur, aren’t you?”
“Is that concern I hear in your voice?”
“Well, he did get a raw deal before.”
“And someone is trying to give him another one now. I hope to figure out who.” Or was it whom?
“Well, I’m glad to know someone is going to help him. Off the record, I wouldn’t mind chipping in for his attorney’s fees. I’d hate for him to get stuck with a court appointed attorney again.”
I studied his face. Was he serious? “I hope it won’t come to that, Mr. McAfee, but I’ll pass the word along.”
“Thank you. That offer’s good for the kidnapping as well as the murder charge.”
“The kids will clear him on the kidnapping.”
“Maybe so, but Hilary will pursue that ‘enticing’ statute. Even if the kids clear him, which I doubt, she can still push the state to prosecute him for enticing them away.”
I wondered if that was the same thing as interfering with child custody. I made a mental note to call Gillian and ask her about it. Anyway, if I could prove Hilary murdered Harrison, she wouldn’t be pushing the state to prosecute Arthur for anything. She’d ultimately be pushing up flowers, I hoped. “Well, I’d better be going, Mr. McAfee,” I said and turned back toward the door.
“Wait, Miss Davis. Don’t you want to know who the rest of Harrison’s beneficiaries are?”
“What?” I said, turning back again. He really was into messing with my head.
“The other beneficiaries, Miss Davis.”
I took a breath of fresh air from outside the room and went back to my chair. “I thought that was all.”
“Oh, no. There’s Annette Jensen.”
“How much?”
“Seventy-five thousand.”
“He must have cared for her after all.”
“Yes. She cried when she saw it.”
“How sad.”
“If you’re a romantic. Stupid, is more like it.”
God he was callous. “Does Hilary know?”
“No. At least not yet.”
I was sure he’d make certain Hilary knew a-sap. “Hmmm. Were there any others?”
“One last
one.”
I waited, letting him play it out.
“Five hundred thousand dollars to Clayton Hadley.”
Chapter Twenty
There should be some kind of limit. Only one motive per person per day. Like coupons. Or take a number and stand in line. The list was now up to four suspects and counting.
McAfee stared at me as I silently digested what he’d just said. I asked why Hadley had insurance on Lawson and learned that the policy had been in force for eighteen years. Lawson also had one for the same amount on Hadley. McAfee thought it had something to do with real estate. Then, without further ado, I took my leave as they say. The list of things to accomplish grew longer as the day grew shorter.
When I left McAfee’s office, it was almost five. I called Angela, the children’s protective services supervisor, when I got to the lobby. It was imperative that I meet with her about the file immediately. The woman who answered said she wasn’t there but was expected to stop back by the office before she went home for the day. Did I want to leave a message? Not on your life. I knew if old Mandy found out what I wanted, not only would I never get to see the contents of that folder, but Angela’s job would be on the line.
The Sweet Scent of Murder Page 16