Brash Endeavor, A Stan Turner Mystery Vol 3

by William Manchee

  Chapter 32

  THE PLAN

  Monday

  Over the weekend I advised Ken of the insurance on Sheila's life and how cleverly Bird had purchased it. He was excited with this development but warned me that having bought an insurance policy on Sheila did not prove anything. His only hope was that he could plant some reasonable doubt into the juror's minds by telling them about Melissa and Bird and pointing out to them how each of them would gain by Sheila's death.

  Over the very depressing weekend I had spent most of my time trying to convince Rebekah she was not doomed. In the process of brain storming about the case we came up with a plan to try to trick Bird into confessing. I called Ken and told him about it and he said he would check with the DA and see if they'd go along with it.

  On Monday I got a phone call from Ken's office letting me know that we had a meeting with the DA at his office at eleven. I figured the DA must be seriously considering my idea and might participate in the plan. I arrived at the Dallas Courthouse at 10:55 a.m. and took the elevator to the 7th floor. Ken was sitting in the waiting room reading a magazine when I arrived.

  "So, the DA must have liked my idea, huh?"

  "Apparently."

  "Good. I think it just might work."

  Ken got up and told the receptionist we were ready to see Paul Snyder. After a minute a tall, skinny man with curly blond hair walked out into the reception room and greeted us.

  "Hello, Ken. How are you?" Mr. Snyder said as he shook Ken's hand. Then he turned to me, smiled, and extended his hand. "You must be Stan Turner, freelance detective extra ordinaire."

  "What?" I replied puzzled by his remark.

  "I'm just joking with you, Stan. That was pretty nice work on the Melba Thorn murder."

  "Oh, thanks," I said. "But I'm not so sure I did anything extraordinary. It seems someone has been manipulating me."

  "Really? So you think there's more to this story than what the press has been reporting," Snyder said.

  "Oh yeah, definitely."

  "Well that's all very interesting but luckily I don't have to prosecute those cases so let's talk about your wife," Snyder said, "Anyway, your idea about blackmailing Bird Logan is intriguing."

  "Nobody knows you hired Miguel, right?" Snyder said.

  "True."

  "If he contacted Bird and said you had hired him and that he was about to report back to you with lots of incriminating evidence, that might get Bird's attention . . . if he's the murderer."

  "That was my thinking," I said.

  "Do you think Miguel would be willing to do it?" Snyder asked.

  "Miguel will do just about anything if you'll pay his price. He's got a big family, so he needs the work."

  "The question I have to ask myself is: Why should I do this? I've got a suspect with motive, opportunity and plenty of witnesses who saw her at the scene of the crime. Why should I bust my ass on the eve of trial to try to prove someone else did it?"

  "Because you're not absolutely sure Rebekah did it and you couldn't sleep at night if you thought an innocent woman might have gone to prison," Ken replied.

  "You give me too much credit, Ken. I'll sleep just fine whether we do this or not. If I do it, it will be because it can't hurt. I have nothing to lose. If Bird falls for the trap, then I've got my killer. If he doesn't I've strengthened by case against Rebekah."

  "I don't care why you're doing it," I said. "Let's just get on with it. We're running out of time."

  "Okay, but understand you'll have to foot the bill on this since it's for your wife's benefit."

  "No problem, I'll cover it."

  "Good, then I'll talk to the local police and you get with Miguel."

  "I will, thank you, Mr. Snyder, I really appreciate you doing this."

  When I got back to the office I called Miguel and asked him if he would participate in our plan. He agreed if I gave him another two thousand dollars now and five thousand if Bird incriminated himself. I didn't have much choice, so I agreed. We decided Miguel would contact Bird at his home in Corpus. The phones would be tapped and if they met, Miguel would be wearing a wire. It was agreed the ploy would begin on Wednesday as it would take a couple days to set up.