“Oh, yeah and why is that?”
“Because here comes Officer Carl Menard. He is the policeman that said he saw Henry in the vicinity of where the girl’s body was found. You’ll get to meet him, and maybe even talk to him.”
The uniformed policeman walked quickly from the cruiser, and entered Bea’s Place at a rapid pace. Spotting Leroy, he bulled his way through the crowd and was already talking before he reached where we were sitting.
“Sheriff, sheriff,” he was shouting. “Your office is trying to reach you, they said it was urgent.”
Of course, his shouting and movements had attracted the attention of almost everyone in the restaurant.
“Officer Menard,” Leroy spoke softly. “I would appreciate it if you didn’t alarm the whole town. Let’s keep our conversations to ourselves, okay?” Leroy admonished.
“Yes, sir. I’m sorry,” he said bowing his head.
“Now,” Leroy started, “my office knew I was having lunch at Bea’s, so I’m surprised they didn’t use the phone to call me here. How is it you are involved?”
“I was delivering some paperwork to your office and ran smack into a fight happening on the sidewalk out front. Your deputy, Jeff Cole, was breaking up the scuffle and I volunteered to go find you. Actually, I had seen your cruiser here earlier so I already knew where you were.” Officer Carl Menard was nodding and slightly out of breath as he spoke.
“Thank you, Carl, I appreciate your help,” Leroy said as he stood up. “I would like for you to meet Mr. Carson Reno and Mr. Joe Richardson, they are here working with the Sheriff’s Office and the Humboldt City Police on the Tammy Blurton case.”
Officer Carl Menard gave Joe and me a quick look and said, “Hi.” Then he looked back at Leroy and asked, “Don’t we need to go and help Jeff take care of this?”
Leroy rubbed his chin before he spoke. “No, WE don’t need to do anything. I’m sure that Jeff can handle the situation, and if he couldn’t handle it, he would have called me – not send the Calvary! So, I assume since you are volunteering to assist the sheriff’s department that you are not on any particular assignment from your chief, Raymond Griggs, right?”
“Well, I was assigned to deliver those papers, but other than that, I’m just on routine patrol.”
“Are those papers still in your cruiser?” Leroy asked.
“Yes sir, they are.” He seemed confused.
“Good, you can give them to me, and then I need you to do me a favor. Okay?”
“Sure Sheriff, anything you need,” he said eagerly.
“Go get on your radio and sign yourself as 10-50 at Bea’s Place for the next half-hour. Carson needs to ask you some questions regarding your statements about Henry Walker, and this is as good a time as any to get that done. Now, let’s go get that paperwork and you can make that radio call.” Leroy said, as he started for the door and then stopped and turned back facing me.
“Carson, thanks for lunch, and we’ll try to catch up with each other later this evening,” he said giving me a wink. Leroy had done a great job of setting Officer Carl Menard up and I would need to remember to thank him later!
I turned to Joe. “Listen, while I’m talking to Officer Menard, I want you to walk over to Front Street and send a telegram to Marcie; see Hubert Boyte, he runs the Western Union office. Tell Marcie we will be in Humboldt for an ‘indefinite’ period, and to hold our messages until we get back to Memphis.”
“Anything else, boss?” Joe asked.
“Yes, while you are in the area, check out the place they found Tammy’s body. And, if he’s available, see what you can get out of Jack Cooley, he works in ‘Blue’s Pool Room’ and is the guy that found the body. Also, look for access to the scene, either from the stores or from the alley, you know the routine. Meet me back here, and we’ll decide our next move.”
Joe quickly left, and looking out the window, I observed Leroy and Officer Menard having a conversation in the parking lot next to his cruiser. It appeared that Officer Menard had some objections to speaking with me, and I didn’t blame him!
Officer Carl Menard was not a tall man and didn’t appear to be in great shape. He was, obviously, overweight and wasn’t carrying that weight well, which explained his being out of breath when he had entered Bea’s earlier. His uniform was neat, but he seemed to be outfitted with numerous ‘extras’ that were probably not necessary for his work. A nightstick, Billy Club, 4 extra pistol loads and several pouches I could not identify, must have added an additional 30 pounds to his standard weapons belt. I would bet a case of good beer that he had at least one, probably two, backup weapons hidden somewhere on his person - he was that type. Officer Carl Menard was definitely ready for whatever trouble might come his way; I just hoped he was ready for me!
He and Leroy finished their conversation and Officer Carl Menard re-entered Bea’s place and walked over to where I was sitting.
“Where’d that other guy go?” he asked looking around.
“May I call you Carl?” I asked, ignoring his question.
“What?” He seemed surprised.
“Please have a seat,” I offered. “I asked if I might be able to call you Carl. And please call me Carson; we have no need to be formal.”
“Sure. Okay, Carl is fine,” he said as he sat down. “Listen, why do you want to talk to me? You’re not a lawyer, are you?”
“No, but I work with one. Would you prefer to talk with him? I hope that you can talk to me and avoid talking to the lawyer. I don’t like lawyers, do you?” I asked with a smile.
“Hell no, I don’t like lawyers!” Carl said with emphasis. “What do you want to know? I’m checked out at Bea’s Place for a half-hour, so you better make it quick. I might get a call and have to leave at anytime.”
“I understand,” I said softly. “Can you tell me where and under what circumstances you believe you observed Henry on Monday evening or Monday night?”
“I don’t BELIEVE I observed Henry, I DID observe him! In fact, I saw him twice. I saw him early, around 8 PM, walking down the sidewalk near the drugstore. Then I saw him later in ‘Blue’s Pool Room’; he was drinking beer at the bar. That would have been around midnight; the pool room closes at 1 AM, so it had to be before that.”
“What were you doing?” I asked.
“Routine patrol. I was working the 8 PM to 4 AM shift on Monday, and my check of the pool room was just something I normally do.”
“Was his brother, Yarnell with him? You do know Yarnell, don’t you?”
He thought for a minute and then said, “Yes, I believe he was. Not the first time, but I believe he was with Henry when I saw him later in the poolroom.”
“What was Henry wearing, do you remember?” I asked, as Bea delivered me another beer.
“I damn sure do. He was wearing that short sleeve, blue, work shirt with his name on the pocket. The same shirt they found that dead girl wearing!” Carl said with assurance.
“How do you know it was the same shirt?”
“Well…I don’t,” he stuttered. “But it was one just like it, I do know that.”
“You seem to be a very observant officer, my congratulations,” I offered. “When you would see Henry out during your patrols, what was he normally wearing?”
Carl thought for a minute. “I don’t remember, one of those work shirts, I guess.”
“But you do remember what he was wearing on Monday night, right?” I was agitating him and I knew it.
“Look, I remember because I saw the same shirt…or a similar shirt wrapped around that dead girl, that’s why!”
“Okay, let’s talk about the dead girl, Tammy Blurton. You identified the body, correct?” I asked.
“Yes, well, I mean no. I didn’t identify the body, her father did. I knew what Tammy Burton looked like, and I was able to tell Leroy and his investigators that I thought it was her, that’s all,” he answered nervously.
“How well did you know Tammy? I mean did you know her socially or just
as a citizen of the town where you work as a police officer?” He didn’t like that question.
“Look, Carson or Reno or whatever your name is, she was a married woman. I wouldn’t have been socializing with her!” Carl snapped, as he wiggled on his barstool.
“Married people socialize, don’t they? Are you married, Carl?”
“Divorced,” he answered quickly, “and I’m finished with your questions. I need to go back to work.”
“Okay, sure. I just have one other question, is that alright?”
“One more, that’s all,” he blurted.
“How do you feel about colored people? I mean do you have any friends who are colored?”
Carl gave me a stare that had daggers in it. He stood up, turned toward the door and then turned back to me. “No, do you?” He said with an evil grin on his face, and then walked toward the door.
“YES!” I yelled, making sure he did hear me.
Officer Carl Menard was definitely an interesting character. Unfortunately, the town was full of them!
~
Joe walked back in Bea’s just as Carl was leaving. He looked back at Carl and was shaking his head when he got to where I was sitting.
“Jeez, boss. You must’ve pissed that guy off! He looked mad, and usually making cops mad isn’t a good idea!” Joe said with a laugh.
“I did make him mad, but he got mad for all the wrong reasons. I’ll tell you about it later; tell me what you found over on Front Street?”
“Not much,” Joe started. “I sent the telegram to Marcie and then went looking around; there must be a dozen different ways to get to where they found that body. Cars drive through the alley unrestricted and there is nothing to prevent them from entering and leaving in three different directions. Almost anyone could have driven up to the trash area and dumped a body without attracting attention. I could ask questions but I doubt we would learn anything. The poolroom, the drugstore and the Western Union office each have rear access to the alley near where the body was found. With exception of the poolroom, the public wouldn’t be able to use that access, so I don’t think that’s going anywhere.”
“Did you see Jack Cooley?” I asked.
“Yep, but he didn’t know anything. However, he did tell me that Henry and his brother were in the poolroom that night, but he couldn’t remember what time they left.”
“I don’t suppose he knew what kind of shirt Henry was wearing, did he?”
“Strange you asked that! When I asked him how he knew it was Henry, he said he had remembered the face, but not the name until he saw it written on his work shirt. How did you know to ask that?” Joe was serious.
“I didn’t, but I’m chasing shirts and had hoped he was wearing one of his work shirts!”
“What?” Joe asked.
“I’ll tell you later, it’s just a hunch. Have you got your Bible with you?”
“Uh, no. Do I need one?” Joe laughed.
“We’ll see. Let’s go to a revival meeting – you ready?”
“No,” Joe said. “I want another beer. I always drink before church, don’t you?”
I agreed, so Joe and I had another one of Bea’s cold beers before heading to our next stop. I wondered about the details around the fight at the Sheriff’s Office that Carl had reported to Leroy. I was tempted to call, but decided to wait. It wasn’t something I could control and wasn’t something I could handle. I did need to focus on something I could handle, and that was finding some answers on who, besides Robert Henry Walker, could have murdered Tammy Blurton.
The Circuit
Following my grandfather’s death, Robert Henry Walker, Sr. moved his family into town, where they settled into a home on Calhoun Street in the Crossing area. As Colleen had told me earlier, she still maintained that home following her father’s death last year. Joe and I made the short drive from Bea’s Place to 1220 Calhoun Street; I wanted to visit with Colleen for a second time.
I pulled up next to the curb and stared in disbelief at what I saw in the front yard. There was a small orchestra standing on the lawn, which included trumpets, trombones, saxophones, drums, guitars and a half dozen singers. The group consisted of old, young, male, female, short and tall colored people; all dressed in white robes. They were being lead by a huge colored man dressed in a black robe and waving a very long gold baton. Their music was quite good, and they were playing a familiar version of ‘Amazing Grace’, as Joe and I got out of the Ford and started walking toward the front door.
The large colored man turned to look at us, and then waved the music to a stop – very abruptly! With the baton in his left hand and a huge grin on his face, he extended his right hand and walked quickly up to where Joe and I had stopped.
“Mr. Carson, Mr. Carson,” he repeated as he grabbed my hand. “I knew you were coming. The Lord told me you were coming, and he told me you were going to save Henry Walker!”
“My name is Carson Reno and this is my associate, Joe Richardson,” I said as he was rapidly shaking my hand up and down. “Henry is a longtime friend of mine, and yes, we are going to do what we can to get him out of this trouble. We came by to talk with Colleen for a minute, is she at home?” I managed to ask.
“Yes sir, Mr. Carson, she’s in the house. Praise the Lord,” he repeated, as he finally released my hand.
“I’m sorry,” I said to the large man. “I did not catch your name. Who are you and where are your from?”
“I am Deacon Jerome Davis from the ‘Nazarene Baptist Church’ in Memphis, and we are here with the Reverend Jeremiah Higgs. Our church was asked by Henry’s brother, Yarnell Walker, to come to Humboldt and provide our spiritual support,” he answered proudly.
“Deacon Davis, your music is absolutely beautiful,” I nodded to him and his group.
“God bless you, Mr. Carson, we are proud to offer it and glad you enjoy it,” he was smiling ear to ear!
“Is the Reverend Higgs here at Colleen’s house?” I asked.
“No sir, Mr. Carson. He is staying over at the Booker Motel, with some of the other church Deacons.”
“Thank you,” I said pointing toward the house. “We are going inside so please continue with your music, I enjoy it.”
The music started again, and I saw Colleen standing in an open door at the top of the steps. Joe and I walked up on the porch and I introduced him, before she escorted us into her living room. Then she shut the door.
“Carson, I’m sorry,” she apologized. “They’ve been playing and singing since they got here. I finally had to run them out of the house; it was just getting to be too much.”
“Colleen, you have nothing to apologize for, believe me. I understand it gets old and tiring, but their music is pretty good.” I chuckled.
“Carson, the music is great, but I do have other chores to handle.” Then she turned and smiled at Joe, “Who is your handsome friend?”
“I’m sorry. Colleen, meet my associate, Joe Richardson. Joe, meet my old friend, Colleen Walker.” I introduced them both.
Colleen invited us to sit down and offered some refreshments; we both accepted a glass of ice tea. While she was getting our tea, I took the opportunity to look around the room and at the many photographs displayed on the walls and in smaller frames scattered throughout the living room. There were pictures of her father, mother and several of her siblings at various ages and stages of life. Although separated by a couple of years, I noticed how much Henry and Yarnell looked alike, and how they both resembled their father.
Colleen returned with the ice tea and took a seat in a stuffed chair across from where Joe and I were sitting on the couch. She was dressed in a simple white cotton blouse and navy skirt; you could tell from her bloodshot eyes that she had been crying a lot.
“So, Carson,” she started. “What have you found out? When can we get Henry out of jail?”
“I’m not sure, Colleen. But I wanted to talk with you and see if you had a chance to go by Henry’s house and check on his shirts?” I ask
ed.
“Yes sir, I did,” she nodded. “He had two dirty shirts and three clean shirts. I’m sure he has one with him at the jail, and they found one with the dead girl, so that makes seven.”
“Thank you, Colleen. That is exactly what I wanted to know.”
Joe looked at me. “I don’t get it boss, what’s that all about?”
“It means that the shirt Tammy Blurton was wearing was a clean shirt, not one that Henry had already worn this week,” I answered.
“So?” Joe asked shaking his head.
“It means that the note, with his phone number, is not something Henry would have left in the pocket of that shirt. Colleen empties the pockets before she launders the shirts, so that phone number could not have been in the shirt pocket, unless it was a dirty shirt. Since we have accounted for all the dirty shirts, it means that somebody PLACED the note with the name and phone number in that shirt, perhaps Henry, but I doubt it.”
“That means we can get Henry out of jail!” Colleen shouted as she stood up.
“No, but I wish it did,” I said frankly. “It does help me understand where the shirt came from, maybe not how she got it, but at least I know he had not worn it when it was given to her.”
“Oh,” Colleen said with disgust, as she sat back down.
“Do you have a key to Henry’s house? I mean how do you get in when you go collect his dirty clothes?” I asked.
“Key, are you kidding? Nobody locks doors around here. No, I don’t need a key. The door isn’t locked, and hasn’t ever been locked, I suspect,” Colleen added.
“Really,” Joe observed.
“And there is another group from Memphis staying at Henry and Yarnell’s house too!” Colleen exclaimed. “I went over there this morning and they were sleeping on the floor, the couch and even in Henry’s bedroom. I don’t know if they have a band, like I do, but there sure are a lot of them!”
“Colleen, we’re going to leave now and let you get back to your chores,” I said as I stood up. “May I borrow one of your family pictures? I’d like one of Henry and Yarnell, if possible.”
The Crossing Page 7