“We couldn’t, or wouldn’t accept him after he came back. I think we were jealous of him,” Manny added.
“Manny ended up with his girlfriend, married her,” Andrews added.
“The present Mrs. Anderson?” Swenson asked.
“The one and only,” Manny responded. “The one I still love.”
“How did this Palmer take it, I mean you stealing his girl?” Swenson asked.
“I didn’t steal her. Billy was gone, and Cassey and I had been friends before and we just got together. Billy wasn’t all that shook up about it.”
“Humm, Billy Palmer, the ex-boyfriend, the ex-vet, you sure he’s really dead?” Swenson asked.
“It was an open casket, it was Billy,” Manny said.
“How did he die?” Swenson asked.
“I’m not sure, they just shipped the body back. The Veterans Administration paid for the funeral and I guess he was given a plot back here.”
“He was a disabled vet, then?” Swenson commented.
“Yes, and decorated,” added Manny added.
“I didn’t know that?” Andrews said.
“You knew that he had been wounded?” Manny said.
“Yeah,” Carl said. “first thing I heard, just after it happened, was he had lost an arm, but that was false. He came back in perfect health.”
“I found out he was highly decorated,” Manny said.
“I had no idea,” Carl said.
“I imagine, because he never said too much about his experiences. Most of those guys don’t,” Swenson commented. “I’ll look into this Palmer character, what next?”
“Geez, I don’t know?” Manny said.
“The time line, Mr. Anderson, what did you do after the funeral?”
“I got on the phone and the computer, tried to find information about him, about his life.”
“I thought you weren’t computer literate,” Swenson said suspiciously.
“I’m not, but Cassey led me through the whole thing. I can still just barely turn the damn thing on.”
“I’m still not comfortable with that, go on,” Swenson added.
“I contacted his sister, she wasn’t to upset about his death. His family didn’t have much to do with him, especially after the war.”
“Why was that?” Swenson asked.
“I’m not really sure, he was sort of the black sheep.”
“Yeah, even when we were kids, Billy sort of went his own way,” Carl confirmed. “His parents never really bothered with him too much, let him do his own thing. His dad was okay though, but he treated Billy’s friends better than he treated Billy, I remember that.”
“Fathers can be tough, I know,” Swenson said kindly. “Did the sister have anything to add?” Swenson continued.
“Not really, she had a husband that was also a Vietnam Vet, but he was a real loser and soured her toward all of them,” Manny said.
“John Campbell, I can confirm that,” Carl added. “That guy was nothing but bad news, before and after the service.”
“Does he have any reason to fit into this?” Swenson asked.
“I doubt it, the last time I heard he was serving fifteen to twenty-five. Beat up his new wife, really bad,” Carl said.
“He still in?” Swenson asked.
“I think so,” Carl said.
“Where next?” Swenson asked.
“I found the guy Billy served with in Vietnam,” Manny said.
“One guy, he must have had more than one buddy over there?” Swenson said.
“Yeah, but one in particular because Billy was a sniper, this guy was his partner,” Manny explained.
“A sniper, what branch of the service was he in?” Swenson asked.
“Marines.”
“A Marine sniper!” Swenson exclaimed. “When was he over there?”
“Sixty-six, sixty-seven, I’m not sure of the exact dates,” Manny said.
“And you were shacking up with his girlfriend? You got balls Anderson, I’ll give you that much. And you said he was highly decorated? He have any trouble in the Marines?”
“No, he was solid as a rock, I saw his records. Wait a minute, didn’t you guys contact this partner, Mark Tainer, in New York”
“Mr. Tainer, yes, your wife gave me the number, and I have spoken to him about you Mr. Anderson. I was under the impression that you went to see him, about a book. He is a publisher I believe?” Swenson answered.
“Yeah, he’s a publisher. What did he have to say?” I’m really curious about this one.
“Well, to tell you the truth Mr. Anderson, he’s a little reluctant to say much. I got the feeling that he was afraid of you, same as your wife, not that I could blame him. After all, he just met you, and then all this happened. He would rather you stayed out of his life, anyway that’s the impression he gave me.”
“Yeah, he kind of flinched when I told him I had contacted Ed Crane,” Manny confessed.
“Mr. Edward Crane, how did he come into the picture?” Swenson asked.
“I found a guy that Billy worked for years ago and he told me Billy had been married. I found the wife, or rather the father in law and went to see him, nice old man. Eddy Crane killed Billy’s wife and daughter and served only seven years in some nut house, and then they set him free.”
“I’m fully aware of the story, but why did you contact Mr. Crane?”
“Do you know the whole story Detective, why he only served seven years?”
“He was found innocent by reason of insanity, and he was eventually evaluated and considered no longer a threat to society.”
“And you agree with this?”
“I don’t make the rules, Mr. Anderson. He committed the crime, but was not cognizant of his actions. Whether or not I agree is not pertinent.”
“Did you know how he was evaluated, what was used to determine his mental state when he committed the crime?” Manny asked.
“It’s not relevant.”
“He was given a full disability by the Veterans Administration. They gave a full disability pension to a man who was never ‘in the service’, and then blunder of blunders, he uses it to beat a murder rap.”
Swenson didn’t say anything for a moment. “He never served? I didn’t know that. Are you sure?”
“Positive! I was on to him, and I was going to take his pension away!
“Interesting story Mr. Anderson, can anyone confirm this?”
“Mr. Wendell Guterraz, the father-in-law, give him a call, and he’ll verify the whole thing. I have his number.”
“I would like to process this before we go any farther, is that okay?” Swenson asked. “And Mr. Anderson, if this turns out to be correct, the information about Crane?” Swenson stopped, looking attentively at Manny.
“Yes Detective, spit it out.”
“It could simply mean that you had a reason to mess with Crane’s life,” Swenson added.
Manny just chuckled, There’s got to be a made in Quantico tag on him somewhere.
“And Detective, one more thing. My wife is genuinely mad at me, and that’s my fault for disrupting her life, but she is afraid because she has been told things, not because I have given her any reason.”
Swenson just nodded.
I’m not sure if it means he considered, or disregarded what I’ve said. You couldn’t read this bugger, even if you had the blue prints.
*
“I checked everything out, Mr. Anderson.” Detective Swenson said back in his office with Manny, Carl, and McDermott. “You seem to be telling me the truth, so far. I’m curious about one thing though?”
“Yes, Detective, how can I help you?”
“You located Eddy Crane so quickly, how’d that happen?”
“The cop on the case, the San Diego detective, Albright, Wendell probably gave you the name.”
“Yes, but the detective was reluctant to talk much, said he never gave you the location of Crane.”
“He didn’t, he refused, said the case was
closed, but, when I got back to my hotel the information was mysteriously there. It’s like someone wanted me to do something about him, something they couldn’t.”
“Mr. Anderson, I can’t verify your story. Information doesn’t just pop up at hotels. I am very suspicious of you again.”
“Whatever Swenson, but that’s how I found Eddy Crane. Follow the story, how else would I have come across him, huh?”
“I’m not sure. Why were you spending all that time in New York?”
“We have gone over and over that! I was there to see Mark Tainer because he was interested in Billy and his writing.”
“Mr. Tainer confirms that you met with him, but says the writing was not the entire reason. He says it’s not very good, but you spent a lot more time there in the city than he verifies. What were you doing the rest of the time?”
Manny sat forward quickly. “He said that, Tainer told you that the book wasn’t any good?”
“Yes, he said that it might yield something interesting, down the road, but it would take a lot of work on his part.”
Bingo, Mr. Tainer, you S,O,B. Manny was silent, thinking.
“Mr. Anderson, again, what were you doing in New York?”
“But we did talk about Vietnam and Billy, quit a bit, he didn’t tell you that?
“He said you talked, but not to any great extent.
“Mr. Tainer was a very busy man, I didn’t want to take up to much of his time.”
“How considerate,” Swenson accused. “He’s concerned about this problem you have here, and doesn’t want to associate with you any farther.”
“He said this?”
“Yes, he was very adamant about not furthering the relationship.”
“I figured as much when he wouldn’t take my calls,” Manny said, quietly, thinking. “I can’t believe he is trying to convince you he wasn’t interested in Billy’s writing.”
“He said he may be interested in Billy’s story in the future, but that’s all. Now, what did you do with the rest of the time there?” Swenson the Quantico bulldog asked.
“I amused myself in other ways,” Manny said, tired of the inquisition. “I like to walk the city, go to shows, and I started my Christmas shopping a little early this year, not that there’s going to be anyone around to accept any of the stuff I bought.”
“You have any receipts, ticket stubs?” Swenson asked, monotone, like he was getting bored too. “Ever go to Yonkers?” he fired with renewed vigor.
“I’ve got the credit card charges, they will come to my office, call my secretary,” Manny said. He too was bored with the conversation. “What about Yonkers?”
“Did you go there?”
“I’ve been there, but not recently.”
“When was the last time you went there?”
“Oh hell, I don’t know, maybe three, four years, but not recently, no. What’s in Yonkers?”
“A pay phone?”
“A pay phone, that’s it, you want to inform me that there is a pay phone in Yonkers. What happened Deputy?” Manny laughed. “Why do they rate only one pay phone, Detective?”
“Someone called Eddy Crane from a pay phone in Yonkers,” Swenson stated. “Same day as you were there.”
“I told you, I haven’t been to Yonkers in years!” Manny proclaimed.
“What reason did you go there?”
“To play golf, they have a really good course up there, and it was three summers ago. I’m not positive, but I can check.”
“And you haven’t been there since?”
“Nope.”
“Eddy Crane got three calls from the same pay phone, same day. The day after he got two calls from the Minneapolis airport, also the same time you were there. All these calls got him upset enough to make him rush to Minnesota.”
“I told you Detective, it, was, not, me!”
“Very well, sooner or later we’ll find someone that can ID the caller, I’m sure of that,” Swenson said, looking directly at Manny.
“Good, the sooner the better, because your diligence is spooking me.”
“I keep telling you Mr. Anderson, I will find the truth.”
“And, I keep telling you Detective, I’m really looking forward to that, really I am.”
Chapter 32
“You fuckers, it’s not enough that you try to railroad me for the assault on my wife, but now you’re floating rumors of me being gay! What is wrong with you people?” Manny shouted at Swenson who was getting out of his car. Manny was standing outside the vehicle holding the newspaper, waving it, while Carl Andrews and Jason McDermott were both trying to get Manny to back away from the car.
“We are conducting a criminal investigation and we leave no stone unturned,” Swenson said calmly shutting the car door, not in the least perturbed that his inquiries are complicating Manny’s life.
“Investigation, your investigation has turned into an inquisition, have you seen this?” Manny thrust the newspaper at him, as Swenson headed toward his office.
“I don’t write the news, Mr. Anderson,” Swenson said, not taking the paper, still walking.
“I would think that as a public servant, you’d be careful not to make it either,” McDermott added, following with Carl.
“I had nothing to do with that,” Swenson said pointing at the paper in Manny’s hand.
“Have you read it?” McDermott asked.
“I’m aware of its contents,” Swenson answered.
Manny unfolded the paper and read. “Local man under investigation for attempted murder, gay connection revealed by the Sheriff’s Department.” Manny scrunched the paper up. “You had nothing to do with this?”
“Nothing,” Swenson said, reaching the office door.
“Am I missing something here, or are we on different planets.” Manny put his hand out, holding the door so Swenson couldn’t fully open it. “You are the Sheriff’s Department, am I not correct?”
“We released nothing about you being gay, and please release the door.” Swenson said calmly.
“Well, that’s comforting, considering that I’m not!” Manny shouted, as McDermott pulled his arm from the door. “Then how does a story like this end up getting printed?”
“I’m not required to divulge any of our investigation, especially to you.”
Manny was so exasperated that he was unable to continue. Manny just stared at Swenson as the detective pulled the door fully open. It didn’t seem to bother the detective as he went through the door into the building, a satisfying smirk on his face
This peckerwood is enjoying this. He thinks he’s got me on the ropes, and I’m going to fall apart and confess the whole thing.
“Detective,” Manny yelled, going through the door behind Swenson, the two lawyers scrambling up the rear, conferring about something. “in that narrow gage train of thought you use, does the possibility you might be wrong about me, ever surface?”
“If I’m wrong, you will be vindicated,” Swenson said nonchalantly as he went into his office.
“No, I won’t, not even close!” Manny was still on Swenson’s heels. “You have done irreversible damage to my integrity in this community. You’ve entered my life, tossed around the pieces, and when you’re gone, I’ll be left to clean up the mess. Do you know I have to go to the next town to get food? Thanks to you, I’m a spectacle in a small Minnesota town! There’s not a whole hell of a lot to do around here, or haven’t you noticed?”
“You are the prime suspect in a heinous crime, and if I’m right, when we get what we need, your present problems will pale in comparison,” Swenson said, sitting down behind his desk.
“That’s your rational? Why, Mr. Anderson, it’s not so bad now, why are you complaining so much, just wait until I can make it worse, save your breath. Is that it Swenson, is that what you’re telling me?”
Manny was standing on the other side of the desk, his face red and puffy. The two lawyers were on either side of Manny, slightly behind, nervous looks on both their
faces.
Manny and Swenson were silent. It was obvious that Swenson wasn’t going to say any more, and Manny was weak from the frustration of dealing with the narrow minded detective. Both men just stare at each other, Swenson sitting back, hands on his thighs, turning side to side in small sharp actions, making the chair swivel with him, Manny, still standing, was ridged with anger.
Swenson finally broke the quiet deadlock, sitting forward, looking at McDermott. “We found a witness.” He rolled his chair forward, moving up under the desk. “that can place your client in the proximity of the Yonkers pay phone,” Swenson finished dramatically, slapping both palms on the desk top.
“Bullshit!” Manny stated, kind of rocking back on his heels, crossing his arms, looking even more defiant.
“A witness says he saw a man fitting your description buying a bottle of water in a convenience store.” Swenson was smiling, looking Manny right in the face, tilting the chair forward. “Right around the corner from the pay phone that was used to call Eddy Crane.”
“Did this witness see the man fitting my client’s description, use the phone in question?” McDermott asked, suddenly stepping forward, drawing even with Manny. “And how did you find this witness?”
“We canvassed the neighborhood, and he is willing to testify. We also have a witness, a transit policeman, that is sure a man fitting your description,” Swenson nodded to Manny, “was on the subway heading back into Manhattan. Coming from the North, coming from the direction of Yonkers.”
“Not enough to convince a jury,” McDermott said.
“Enough to bring him to trial,” Swenson said. “We’ll see how Mr. Anderson fares when it’s all put together and presented to that jury. You think you can weather that storm, Mr. Anderson? Everything will be presented in a detailed timeline. We are connecting the dots, Sir. Auburn canvassed the Minneapolis airport.” Swenson smiled, looking intently at Manny.
“What for, we all know I was there?” Manny answered quickly. “How is a witness spotting me on my way to New York going to make it any worse?”
“Did you use any phones in that airport?”
“No, I did not!”
“I guess playing dumb is about all you can do at this point, Sir.” Swenson sat back again. “I hardly expect you to come forward with the truth, not now. Apparently you intend to play it out. Like I mentioned before, I thought that it was a spur of the moment crime. That you hadn’t thought it through, just reacted when an opportunity presented itself, but I can see that there was careful planning involved, and you fully intend for this crime to go unpunished.”
Billy Palmer Page 20