There were gasps around the living room. “Why?” David asked.
“That’s pretty much all that happened when I was arrested last night. Derrick’s Agent Hosty came in and asked me to meet Hoover for lunch in Washington on Thursday. Then Ruby showed up to give me a ride home. Apparently that Tippit guy told him I’d been taken in so he showed up with his girlfriend and his dog. I’m starting to think that Ruby has no idea what is going on and that he will probably be coerced into this.
So what do we do now?” Bobby asked. There was silence for a moment until Jane broke it.
“Can Faraday and I have a word with you in private?”
“Actually Bobby I would also like a word in private.” David said.
“Okay Derrick why don’t you take Nancy to the office and check if we have had any calls.”
Both Nancy and Derrick looked slightly annoyed as they left the condo at being excluded.
“Okay Jane, Faraday we can talk in my room.”
“Um well actually I just couldn’t say it in front of them. Did you ever see that Oliver Stone film JFK?” Jane asked to the room at large.
“No.” Bobby replied. David and Faraday shook their heads.
“Oh well I only saw it once when I was younger but it was about the New Orleans District Attorney, I can’t remember his name but he believed there was a conspiracy to kill JFK. I don’t know if it’s a true story, I never really gave it much thought but maybe he could help us?”
“The New Orleans District Attorney is Jim Garrison is that who you mean?”
“I don’t know I guess so, I can’t really remember.”
“Okay well we can think about that one, I don’t know about anyone else but I don’t know which law and order forces can be trusted, we already know the FBI and the Dallas Police Department are involved. I don’t think it would be wise to go running to someone until we know which side they’re on.”
“I agree.” David said.
“Okay well I just thought I’d mention it.” Jane said looking dejected.
“No it is a good idea Jane we just need to think carefully before we approach anyone because if this gets back to the wrong people we could end up dead. Come to New Orleans tomorrow with Derrick and me. From what I know of Garrison he sounds like a guy that’s on the level but how exactly do we go to him without sounding as though we are in on the plot?”
“Okay I’ll come with you and we can discuss it then.” Jane replied feeling a bit better, she felt as though she hadn’t been of any use thus far.
“Okay David is your idea private?”
“No, same reason as Jane. As you are all aware I am a Forensic Pathologist. Whilst I was studying we looked at some famous autopsies and had to discuss whether we thought they were handled correctly or not. As it happens these included both Kennedy brothers, but we also studied the autopsy carried out on Marilyn Monroe. Anyone know where I’m going with this?”
Nobody did.
“Anyway the autopsy was carried out by the then Junior Medical Examiner Thomas Noguchi. I don’t know why it was passed to the Junior Medical Examiner but I do have a theory. Now the official cause of death was deemed to be an overdose of Nembutal pills. This was because the Toxicology report revealed she had a fatal amount of Nembutal in her blood and liver. However he did not examine the internal organs. Whether this was intentional or not, I do not know. What I do know is that there were no pills found in her stomach and there was no yellow die with which the tablets were coated. Both of these would have been present if she did indeed take an overdose. Now the theory I have is that Marilyn Monroe was having an affair with Jack Kennedy. Monroe got very attached to Jack and thought she might become the First Lady. Now obviously that could never happen. Imagine the reaction if the public learned that the President of the United States was having an affair with the biggest movie star on the planet. It has been speculated that Bobby Kennedy also had an affair with her and he was seen in the area on the night that she died. It has also been said that he was in the area because he had visited her in an attempt to get hold of her diary and perhaps to intimidate her into keeping quiet. The reason there were no pills in the stomach could be that she had received an enema which ultimately led to her death.”
“Okay so what are you proposing we do?” Bobby asked.
“Well I think Noguchi did not conduct a thorough autopsy because he was instructed not to perhaps by the Attorney General. I have no doubt that Bobby Kennedy would have put a halt to Noguchi’s career had he not done as he was asked. Now I could quite easily get in touch with Noguchi and I’m sure he would be able to get hold of the Attorney General. And again I am sure the Attorney General would be very keen to have a conversation with the man who has Marilyn Monroe’s diary.” David looked very pleased with himself.
“How do you have Marilyn Monroe’s diary?” Faraday asked. Jane and Bobby looked at him mockingly.
“I obviously don’t actually have it but if he thinks I do he would talk to me. I could persuade him to cancel the trip to Dallas.”
“You are a genius David!” Jane exclaimed.
“Okay I think you should do it. We will attack this problem on three fronts Faraday you are in at the club, see what you can find out. Jane, Derrick and I will go to New Orleans tomorrow and see what we can find out there, I’ll have to work on the casino accounts today. David go for it! Faraday will you be in the condo tomorrow?”
“Yes why?”
“I just want to make sure that we keep Nancy away from any danger. You have my gun tomorrow and just make sure no one comes near here.”
Chapter 32
The club was pretty quiet probably because it was a Monday. Faraday spent the majority of the evening chatting with a group of police officers who referred to the club as a home from home. He met Nick McDonald, Roscoe White, Ray Hawkins, Bob Carroll, Gerald Hill, Paul Bentley, Jim Leavelle and Tippit once again. He couldn’t help but wonder who was policing Dallas as they all seemed to be propping up the bar. And they all loved Jack, Faraday couldn’t help but think that Bobby had been right about Ruby the way he spoke to the cops he just seemed like an entertainer. It was the man Faraday knew as Gerald Hill that brought up Bobby.
“What the hell was the deal with that gimp last night?”
“Who Bobby?” Ruby responded.
“Yeah that’s the guy. Walker and me picked him up, he was shooting like a madman in the middle of the street. He was rude as fuck.” Hill continued.
“I don’t know what that was all about. He was in here last night he seems like a stand up guy I’m not so sure about the company he keeps.”
“How do you mean?” Tippit asked.
“Well remember that guy Derrick Stinson?”
Everyone nodded.
“Well last night I saw him following me to the club. I think he was following that Oswald guy, I asked Bobby about it and he said they weren’t related but we were interrupted when the kid over there got punched. Oh by the way kid I found Sheba sniffing your tooth its behind the till if you want it back. Anyway I could tell Bobby was the one who had him tail Oswald.”
“That Derrick is scum.” Ray Hawkins added.
“I know I mean he near enough tried to kill Gail, I’ll kill the mother fucker he sets foot in here.” Ruby said.
“He tried to kill her?” The words had left Faraday’s mouth before he could stop them.
“You know him?” Ruby asked.
“I eh know of him.” Faraday replied.
“How come?” Ruby asked.
“Well I met Bobby last night outside the club when I was leaving. He gave me a ride home.” Faraday added wishing he could take it back.
“Oh yeah you stay near him?”
“Well as it turns out me and Jane, that’s my girlfriend we live in the same building as Bobby.”
“How the hell did you pay for that?” Ruby asked.
“My parents are pretty wealthy.” Faraday lied.
“Why the hell you working here th
en?” The cops laughed.
“I like it here.” Faraday said.
“Haha you’ve got good taste kid! So did you see who he was shooting at?”
“Yeah it was that guy who punched me, Bobby was worried that he would follow me and thank God he was there the guy would have killed me otherwise.”
“What was the guys name again?”
“Gerry Hemming.” Faraday replied.
“Anyone know him?” Ruby asked.
Everyone shook their heads.
“Damn, well you see Bobby seems like a good guy but that bastard Derrick, I might have to teach him a lesson.”
“So what actually happened?” Faraday asked.
“Well he was in here drunk as hell and he started trying to grope any woman in sight then he makes a mistake and does the same with Gail. So anyway Gail slaps him and he starts punching her in the face and stomach. She was on the ground by the time I got near him. So he punches me and then I lay him out.”
“So did he go to prison?” Faraday asked.
“No I just gave him a doing and I hadn’t seen him since then until last night.”
Faraday was shocked how the hell could he tell Bobby that his grandfather was a lying piece of shit?
“Okay Faraday you’ve done enough for your first night, you can take off I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Chapter 33
It was Tuesday morning as David sat in his bedroom staring at the phone wondering what he could say, he knew he would have to try and intimidate Noguchi. It was around an hour before he worked up the courage to make the call.
“Hi this is Dr Lewis from Parkland Hospital in Dallas. I was hoping to speak with Dr Noguchi.”
“No problem I’ll just put you through.”
“Good morning, Dr Noguchi.”
“Hello Dr Noguchi, this is Dr Lewis from Parkland Hospital in Dallas, we met last year at the conference in Nevada?”
“Yes I remember. What can I do for you?”
“Well I was hoping you may be able to get in touch with your friend Robert Kennedy.”
There was a long pause before Noguchi responded. “Excuse me?”
“You heard me just fine. I want you to get in touch with Bobby Kennedy.”
“Why would I do that?”
“Well for one reason I know you botched her autopsy, for another I know Kennedy was with her the night she died.”
“Who are you talking about? I have no idea what you are talking about.”
“Of course you do Thomas, Marilyn Munroe and tell him I have her diary. Get him to call me or I’m going public with everything I know.”
Chapter 34
As the plane touched down in New Orleans it was 10:00, the flight from Dallas was little over an hour. Bobby had spoken to Wray on the phone the previous day and they had arranged to meet at Guy Bannister’s office as he was there working on Marcello’s trial.
They took a taxi from the airport to Lafayette Street. Bobby was irritable, he had hardly slept last night. It seemed that with each passing day their situation had continued to deteriorate. He had been thinking long and hard about Jane’s idea of approaching Jim Garrison but he could not think of a way of doing so without seeming like they were in on the hit.
As the taxi pulled to a stop outside 531 Lafayette Street, Bobby paid the driver and they exited the cab. Bobby hobbled to the corner to double check what Chauncey had told him. He was right 544 Camp Street was the same building as Bannister’s office. The three of them then climbed the stairwell and arrived in Guy Bannister’s office. As they entered the office they saw Jack Martin sat behind his desk smoking a cigarette.
“Bobby how are you?” Jack asked.
As Bobby made to shake Jack’s hand he could smell the whisky on his breath. “I’m good Jack and you?”
“Yeah I’m okay Bobby, work is pretty slow.”
“I thought you were working on Marcello’s deportation case?”
Jack grunted. “No I’m not trusted on something that big, he’s got the lawyer and that kid Ferrie in there just now. Is he expecting you?”
“Yeah I have some accounts to give Wray he asked me to meet him here.”
As Bobby finished speaking the door opened behind them. Two men entered the office.
“Hi Jack is he busy?”
“Yeah sorry Carlos he’s in with Marcello’s lawyer, who’s your friend?”
“Oh this is Louie Witt, can you just tell Bannister that Louie is available for the 22nd?”
“What is he involved in the trial?” Jack asked.
“Yeah he needed me to check that Louis was available. So just let him know that’s okay and I’ll pop back later.”
“Okay bye guys.” Jack said as the two men left the office.
“Who is Carlos?” Bobby asked.
“I’m not sure what his job is exactly he’s been working here a few months, he’s been helping Guy with Marcello’s deportation case. He’s a member of some anti-Castro group.”
“So what’s happening on the 22nd?”
“That’s the day of Marcello’s trial.” Jack stated. He suddenly turned his attention towards Derrick and Jane. “Don’t I know you?” Jack asked.
“No I don’t think so.” Jane responded. Derrick remained silent.
“No not you.” Jack stated as he stared at Derrick.
Derrick was still silent. “This is my new investigator Derrick Stinson and this is my friend Jane Stuart.” Bobby clarified.
“Hmm couldn’t be you then, you look like some guy we had in here a few months back but his name was Billy something or other. Anyway go on in Bobby it’s probably best if you leave your friends out here.”
Bobby nodded and headed towards Guy’s door. He knocked once.
“Come in.” As Bobby entered he saw Bannister sitting behind his desk to the left of the room and David Ferrie sitting with Wray Gill in the centre of the room.
“Bobby come on in and take a seat.” Bannister said. He pulled up a chair beside David Ferrie. “We were just finishing up, have you met David?” Guy asked.
“Yes I think just the once.” David nodded in agreement. He was a weird looking man, he suffered from alopecia and as a result he wore a bad red wig and he had drawn on eyebrows. “So how’s the case coming along?”
“We should be just fine.” Wray answered. “Did you bring the accounts?”
Bobby handed Wray the red book he had been carrying. “Sure did, the place is doing great.”
“Thanks Bobby and did you have a chance to talk with Chuck?”
Bobby was perplexed “Chuck?”
David sighed. “The ice rink guy” Wray clarified.
“Ah no to be honest I completely forgot about that, does it need to be me? I could send Derrick?”
“Yes that would be fine.” Wray stated.
“Just make sure he tells Chuck I want to open a rink here in New Orleans and I’ll be popping by with a couple of investors later in the month. And make sure he tells him I may have a job for him if he’s interested.” David said.
“Will do I’ll send him today do you know when you will be visiting?”
“Yes it will be the 22nd.”
Bobby was stunned why would Ferrie one of Marcello’s key guys be in Houston on the day he may be deported and the day he was having the president murdered in Dallas? “Would Marcello not rather have you here to help during the trial?”
“My work will be done by then, that prick Bobby Kennedy has no chance.”
“Well I actually need to be getting back to the office.” Wray interrupted. “So I shall see you all later, Bobby thanks again do you need a ride back to the airport?”
“No thanks Wray I was planning on making a day of it here of it in New Orleans. But Derrick is out there with Jack and a friend of mine Jane, you could take him to the airport and tell him to pick up Nancy then take her to Houston. Have you got the address of that ice rink?” Wray nodded. “Well just tell him I want him to go and do as David has asked. But tell
Jane to stay here.”
“Sure thing.”
As Wray closed the door Bobby turned towards Guy and said “Your friend Carlos popped by, he said Louis was available for the 22nd.”
“Did he? That’s great news.” Guy stated. “They are helping with the situation in Dallas, just like you Bobby.” He had assumed Guy and David were involved but this provided confirmation.
“So did Marcello tell you about my role?” Bobby enquired.
“He sure did. You’re not worried about it are you?”
“No.” Bobby lied. “I’m just not that comfortable with an innocent man taking the fall, so who’s pulling the trigger?”
Bannister laughed. “You think he would tell us? Bobby everyone has a job to do.”
“And what is yours Guy?” Bobby asked.
His smile was gone now. “I’ve just helped people get to where they’ve needed to be.” He replied.
“People like Oswald?”
“Why do you say that?” Bannister replied.
“You know Chauncey Holt? He came by to drop off some fake ID he meets your man Carlos. Next time he comes Carlos is fighting Oswald in the street for handing out leaflets with your address on them. Little odd wouldn’t you say?”
“You really shouldn’t be digging so deep into this Bobby, you’re a friend so I’ll let it pass but if you keep digging around you’re asking for trouble.”
“What you think they’ll have me whacked Guy?”
He laughed once again but it was David that responded. “They are whacking JFK you really think anyone would worry about hitting you too?”
“Well I suppose not.” Bobby replied. “I should be going anyway, Jack said he hasn’t got much on at the moment is he free for a few drinks?”
“Yeah be good to get that drunken bum out of here.” Guy said.
With that Bobby rose from his chair and went back through the door towards Jack and Jane. “Jack, Jane and I are going for a few drinks before we head back would you care to join us? Guy said you could have the rest of the day off.”
Jack looked delighted. “That sounds great Bobby.”
To Kill a President Page 12