Billy Palmer

by Ronald Zastre

  “Manny here is an old friend of someone that worked here. I think you’ll remember this guy?” Ted handed a paper to Brute. Brute looked at Manny, warily, as he walked over to the couch against the other wall and sat down. After a few moments he asked, “What’s this supposed to be?” Brute held up a sheet of paper.

  “What’s it look like?” Ted responded.

  “I don’t know for sure, but it looks like some sort of commendation. Somebody got a medal; the Silver Star?”

  “Recognize the name?”

  “Corporal William Perry Palmer. Don’t recognize the—” Brute got a frown on his face. The big man looked at Ted, then he looked back at the paper in his hand, and then back at Ted. A slow thought seemed to be developing in his head. “Is this William Palmer the same guy that worked for us quite a while back, the dozer operator? Ah, um, what was his name, ah—?”

  “Bill,” Ted said.

  “Yeah, that guy, the good golf course builder?” Brute asked.

  “The one and the same.”

  “Can’t be. That guy was a sissy. He would have crapped his pants, anything like this happened to him,” Brute stated, sure of himself.

  “Same guy, Miller. Like I said, Manny here, he’s an old friend of Mr. Palmer’s. Came here to find out how his old friend was treated.”

  “Shit boss, I had no idea.” Brute looked to Ted and then to Manny, an apologetic look on his face.

  “Just sticking it to you a little, Brute,” Ted said, looking at Manny, with a smirk on his face. “Brute and I go round and round about judging people. He’s good with all the schlocks we have to hire to run the machines and do the grunt work, but is short on recognizing sophistication when it comes along.”

  “Aw shit Boss, I can’t help it. Mosta them boys ain’t any smarter than the machines they run,” Brute whined.

  “Got’cha on this one though.”

  “Damn sure did. This really the same guy, huh?”

  “Yup!”

  “Well, I was right about the military fucking with his head. I got the why and how a little mixed up though.” Brute looked at Manny. “Hey mister, when you see Billy tell him I’m real sorry, I had no idea.”

  “Billy’s dead!”

  “No shit, what happened?” Brute did sound sincere.

  “I’m not really sure, but I think it had something to do with his credibility,” Manny threw back at Brute.

  Ted Gannet smirked again.

  “What do you mean credibility?” Brute asked, puzzled. “What’s that got to do with dying?”

  “Maybe Billy got tired of living, maybe he got tired of being misjudged?”

  “He offed himself?” Brute asked.

  “I don’t know? Maybe he just didn’t take care of himself properly. I think he probably got tired of all the misconceptions regarding who he really was.”

  Ted was listening intently, watching Brute, as Manny laid out the scenario.

  “Hey, it’s his own damn fault! Shit, the guy didn’t say nothing about all this.” Brute flicked the paper, offering his own version of an apology.

  “Would you have believed him if he did?” Manny asked.

  “Sure, of course. What ya think, I’d make fun of a hero. But, I’ll tell yeah, my old man was in Korea, and that Nam was nothing like what he had to go through. Shit those pussies had it good compared to them guys back then.”

  “I would like you to read the citation there, out loud if you would?” Manny asked.

  Brute looked at Ted.

  “Go ahead Miller, it’ll show you’re contrite.”

  “Huh?” Brute responded.

  “Just read the citation,” Ted said.

  “If you say so Boss. Um, let’s see, it says that, ‘Corporal William Perry Palmer and Corporal Markham Joseph Tainer, on June 13th, 1966.” Brute was slow and deliberate with his commentary. “Did, after setting up a firing position overlooking the village of Duc Duc, in the provincial Province of Tam Key, the country of South Vietnam, witness the ambush of the third squad, 1st Platoon, Hotel Company, 2nd battalion Fifth Marines. Corporals Palmer and Tainer, under great risk to themselves, abandoned their secure position and came to the aid of the remaining members of the above mentioned platoon. The two Corporals, members of the battalion’s scout/sniper squad, were operating in a two man team and still knowing that they were vastly outnumbered, did in fact, break up the attack and save the platoon from certain annihilation. Corporal Palmer was wounded in said action, but continued to harass the enemy, figured to number at least fifty NVA, until support arrived.”

  “That’s enough Mr. Miller,” Manny said. “I think you can get a reasonably good idea of what Billy did.”

  “Yeah, geez, he saved a few guys, all right. I knew he had been in the service, but I thought he was just some sort of psycho, wash out. Geez, we never had any idea, huh boss!”

  “No, I guess in our defense we were a little ignorant all right,” Ted commented.

  “Tough shit they put up with, but I’ll bet it still wasn’t as bad as Korea. My old man had some rough fuckin shit there, made him mean as hell. Would’ve curled your toes, just hearing about it.”

  “I’m sure it did,” Ted returned.

  “I can’t figure it?” Brute said. “Why didn’t that guy stick up for himself? Shit, he acted like such a pussy.”

  “What’re we talking about?” Ted laughed. “If I remember right, he ran you down like a dog that one time we had the football game.”

  “Ah boss, I told you he blind-sided me, I never saw it coming.”

  “Oh yeah, that’s right. Say Brute, how’s the equipment list for that job down south coming? We got everything we need?”

  “Looks like it, but I still think we should get a new loader for the separation plant. We’ve about used up the old 950 and it’ll start costing us real money any day now.”

  “I think you’re probably right,” Ted said. “Make sure you get the deal you want though.”

  “Got’cha boss,” Brute Miller said as he got up and headed out of the office.

  “Good man,” Ted said nodding to the hallway. “Knows the business and how to handle the men. Somebody like Billy comes along though, and guys like Brute just naturally get their backs up.”

  “It’s not his fault, the Viet Nam Vets just got a bad rap, and people tend to go with the flow.”

  “You trying to rectify the injustice at a late date?” Ted asked.

  “You might say that.”

  “Good luck! With all the new dilemmas on our door step, I don’t know how much success you’re going to have getting people to cop to an old oversight.”

  “Probably not much, unless I make it entertaining.”

  “How you going to do that?”

  “I’m not sure, but I’m trying to get someone interested in a book that Billy wrote.”

  “He wrote some good stuff, huh? Could I read it?”

  “I’ll get a copy to you when it’s ready. Say, uh, how come Billy quit working for you?”

  “Union bullshit. We got a big job in California and it was union. The union over there wouldn’t take any new members, so we couldn’t put him on. It was a really big job, took everything we had and we didn’t have anything else for him at the time.”

  “The union denied a decorated, disabled veteran his right to make a decent living?” Manny questioned

  “That’s about the size of it.”

  “Is there anything else you know about Billy, anything you can think of?” Manny asked.

  “Not off hand, but you might try talking to his wife.”

  “His wife!” Manny sat up attentively. “I didn’t know he was ever married?”

  “Oh yeah, pretty thing. A real gorgeous lady, smart too. Miller and the other guys are usually crude and rude around women, but not when Lucy came around. Then they got real courteous. I think she intimidated the hell out of them. She was from California, someplace around Palm Springs. They had a kid too, you know. A little girl about five or s
ix. Looked like her mother, the lucky thing.”

  “Billy never mentioned any of this,” Manny said. “I wonder what happened to them? He came back home about five years ago and he was all by himself.”

  “That’s strange, he sure loved them. It looked like he had a good relationship at the time, but you know how things can change.”

  Chapter 19

  “All right, okay, I found them!” Manny shouted, sitting over the computer.

  “Found who?” Cassey asked.

  “Billy’s wife and kid.”

  “Billy was really married then?”

  “Yeah, and he has a daughter.”

  “When was this?”

  “He was married in 1978, and his daughter was born in 1980. The last known address is San Diego.”

  “Not another trip? Manny, you’re going overboard with this.”

  “I can’t help it, it’s getting to be more and more interesting.”

  “Well, at least use the darn phone, once in a while. People can tell their story just as well without you staring them down.”

  “You know I’m just looking for an excuse to get out of here. I can’t take the cold anymore. Why don’t you come with me this time?”

  “Manny, I’ve got two committees on my butt this month so if I don’t do it, it won’t get done.”

  “You’re just afraid to fly, admit it.”

  “Okay, so It scares the hell out of me, so what?”

  “You never used to be. We talked about it; there are people that can help you with that.”

  “Look Manny, ever since Penny got killed in that plane, I don’t know, it just freaks me out to think about getting on one again. These people you keep telling me to go to, do they run alongside the plane making sure that the wings don’t fall off?”

  “Oh, don’t be silly.”

  “Silly, you expect me to listen to someone trying to convince me that it is okay to fly, and planes still crash. What I need is for somebody to guarantee me that the planes won’t ever crash again, ever, and then I’ll consider it. Besides, I don’t hate the winter, you know that.”

  “I know, you love the seasons.”

  “Jealous?”

  “I was back when I couldn’t get away, but I still wouldn’t mind you with me.”

  “Oh, we’ll have all that time together after the snow melts. Besides, if you do die in a plane crash then there’ll be people around to say, ‘I told you so.’” Cassey stuck her tongue out at Manny. “Have you talked to that Tainer guy? I haven’t heard anything back on the book we sent him.”

  “No, I told him to get in touch with you. He’ll call, when he’s ready. He said that they were extremely busy and it takes a couple of years to get a book to the public, even if it is good. I guess they have a lot going at the time.”

  “Well, I’m thinking of sending it to someone else, someone that has the time.”

  “Boy, you’re impatient, you sound like this is your book,” Manny laughed.

  “I know, but in a way it is. I want to see Billy get his just reward for what he did.”

  “Are you getting emotionally involved?”

  “You bet your ass. The more I find out, the more I want to see it through. I guess the book turned into my baby. I’m just wondering why this Mark is not taking an interest in Billy’s work? Like I said, I’m thinking of maybe contacting another publisher.”

  “Cassey, if you think that’s what you want to do, go ahead. It wouldn’t hurt to have a second opinion, never does.”

  *

  “Yes, Lucy Guterraz, Lucy Palmer, is my daughter.” The old man blinked, looking out into the much brighter light, his deeply lined, ancient looking face and head the only thing Manny could see of him. Manny could see the blinds were mostly drawn, the house very dark behind the partially open door.

  “Lucy ‘was’ my daughter,” the old man added sadly.

  The house Manny came to was an old, post WWII design, so familiar to this San Diego neighborhood. It was well kept, the yard clean, the grass neatly cut. A large shady tree in the front yard cut off the direct sunlight to the front porch, where Manny was standing. The house and street would be unremarkable, except that looking down the street, Manny could see the sparkling blue of the Pacific Ocean.

  “Was? Oh no,” Manny hesitated, the comment catching him off guard. “I’m sorry, I, a, I’m not sure what to say. Do you mean she’s dead?” Manny’s voice betrayed his shock and sadness. He had been very excited about finding Billy’s wife.

  “Yes,” the man said morosely. He was very old and frail, holding on to the partially open door for support.

  “I’m sorry. I had no idea she was dead,” Manny stammered, uncertain how to continue, or maybe duck out. “I am so sorry to trouble you, but I was once a close friend of Billy Palmer’s. I am at the right place?”

  A sad little smile appeared on the dated face. “Yes, I know Billy. He was married to my daughter for almost ten years.”

  “Ah, I don’t know how to continue here, could I come in? I just want to find out about Billy, anything you could tell me?”

  “It’s such a nice day out, I could come out if you wish?” the old man said. “It’s so dreary in the house.” The old man fully opened the door, waiting for Manny to agree to his request.

  “By all means, I’m just in from Minnesota, and it’s great to feel warm weather,” Manny said agreeably

  The old man stepped on to the porch and pointed to a couple of chairs. “Please sit down Mr. . . ?”

  “Anderson, but just Manny, if you don’t mind.”

  “Nice to meet you Manny. I’m Wendell. Funny name for a Mexican, huh?” Wendell said, hobbling to one chair. “But my family has been here for generations. Your friend Billy was a very good man. I have missed him, but after what happened to my Lucy, he couldn’t get past it and he, he never came back. He would call from time to time, but he never came back to this street. He is dead, right?”

  “Yes, how did you know?”

  “Billy was a dead man for many years, in his spirit,” Wendell said with a deep sigh. “I had a premonition a while ago that his body had finally joined his soul. You know, some people say I am a strange old man, but if I try hard enough, I can see my Lucy playing in the street, right out there.” The old man pointed to the street. “I can really see her. Sometimes I can see Billy sitting there.” The old man pointed to the love seat at the far end of the porch. “I can see Billy with Lucy sitting on his lap, laughing, enjoying each other. They were meant to be together.”

  “He loved his wife then?” Manny asked.

  “Oh yes, and Jasmine,” Wendell perked up, “oh, the dear sweet little girl.” He looked out to the street and sat still not speaking. “They are both dead now, for eight years,” he finally said, his voice quavering.

  “My god, I didn’t mean to just show up on your door step and rehash something so obviously painful for you,” Manny apologized profusely. “I am so sorry.”

  “But, Manny, it is good to talk about the Saints you have known,” Wendell countered. “It does an old man good to discuss the bright times in his twilight years.”

  “What happened?” Manny asked.

  “Lucy was murdered, and little Jasmine too. An evil man, high on drugs broke into their apartment when Lucy and Jasmine were there, alone. They never figured out if this man didn’t know anyone was home, or just didn’t care, because he was surely out of his mind. Killed them both, a mother and her daughter for less than sixty dollars.”

  “Jesus, no wonder Billy was so elusive the last time I saw him. How could anyone function after something like that?” Manny exclaimed. “No wonder he looked beaten, really down. I was shocked, I never thought Billy could be so subdued, and now I know why.”

  “Yes, he did blame himself for not being there. At first I was worried that he would go after this evil man, this El Diablo, but Billy said that it would not bring them back. I am not a violent man, but when I saw what it did to him, I changed my mind. I
told Billy that to save his spirit, he maybe should taste the revenge, but he said no, that the laws were meant for everybody.

  “You want to hear the saddest part of this tragedy?” Wendell continued. “This evil man that killed a mother and her daughter, my family, was supposed to be a Viet Nam veteran, just like Billy Palmer. This man was on full disability, claiming that his flash-backs prevented him from holding a job. Before he gets to trial, he pleads guilty by reason of insanity. The well-meaning States Attorney takes the plea, and they send this man to a mental hospital, based on his VA evaluation, which says that he is mentally unstable because of his war experience. Meanwhile, the detective assigned to the case is reading a book called Stolen Valor, are you familiar with it Manny?”

  “Yes, I know the book.”

  “Yes, I don’t have to explain it then. This detective decides to check this man out and he finds this man, Eddy Crane, has never been in Vietnam. This man has never even been in the service. This man has lied about everything. The VA would not admit their mistake, officially, and this man continues to get his full disability. It is a very confusing system we have Manny.”

  “You can’t make much sense to a bureaucrat.”

  “I was with the diplomatic corps for many years, Manny. I came to realize that politics is a very flawed form of governing, that is for sure. But, it gets even worse Manny. After six years, the state doctors say this evil man is all better and can go home, with his full disability of course.

  “Of course,” Manny said.

  “The only vindication in this saga is that the man hasn’t killed anyone else. At least, not as far as we know.”

  “Who is this guy? Do you know where he is now?”

  “Yes, I think so. The detective keeps track of him the best he can, but it is difficult. The authorities say they can’t give this information out. They must protect his identity and location, you know, for his safety. I can never forget him. I am an old man, Manny, and I don’t have long to live, but if someone younger could take up my cause?”

  “Oh, I’m sorry Mr. Guterraz, I know you’re very angry and rightfully so, but I’m not the sort of person to take up a vendetta. I have a family of my own.”

  “Oh no Manny, Billy was right of course, but I would like to see this man at least be deprived of his ill-gotten gains, that is all.”

  “Mr. Guterraz, I don’t know what I can do? I’m just a business man and I have no expertise for that sort of thing. I stay as far away from officialdom as I can because they frustrate the hell out of me.”