Doing Time In Texas, Book 2

by James E Ferrell

  Hours later Willy concealed the old car back in the woods behind the cemetery and started walking back for home. Stopping at the back of the cemetery, he leaned against a tree limb and wondered if he would ever have peace from his own torment. In a strange way he almost envied Thomas. The recent rains had dispersed the loose dirt around the grave and the grass was growing again. For now, his sins had been concealed. One day he would have to face Thomas’ grandmother, but for now he had to stay focused and deal with McDonald or there would be no future for Bonnie. Stepping up on the porch he rubbed the dog’s ears and sat heavily in the porch swing. He could hear Bonnie in the kitchen rattling pots and pans. The smell of bacon was strong in the air. Shaking the weary thoughts from his head, he rose and entered the house. Putting his arms around her he kissed the top of her head. He smelled her fragrant hair as it clung to his heavy growth of whiskers. He whispered in her ear, “I missed you.”

  She leaned her head back against his shoulder. “I missed you, too. I’m glad you are back. I fear that you may leave one day and never come back. Then I will spend the rest of my life wondering what happened to you.” Changing the subject, she said, “I will have you some breakfast ready in a minute.” Turning and kissing him she said, “I’m not worried for me, it’s for our baby. I am afraid our past will put him in harm’s way.”

  “Do you think it is a boy?” Willy asked.

  “Oh, I don’t know. I just know it is alive and moving around. It sometimes has the hiccups!” Bonnie said smiling.

  “Bonnie, maybe you should leave for a couple of weeks,” Willy stated.Changing the subject again she said, “Your breakfast is ready.”

  Willy reiterated, “I mean it Bonnie. I want you to leave just for a few days.”

  “Willy, this is my home and whatever happens I will face it here. I didn’t know it, but I have been running from a good home and family all my life. Maybe McDonald has forgotten about us,” Bonnie stated.

  “That’s wishful thinking…he knows where we are now,” Willy said.

  “How do you know that?” Bonnie asked.

  Willy responded, “I just know. He knows where we are.”

  Bonnie leaned over the sink and looked out the window at the field that stretched across her vision and said, “Willy this is heaven to me. I cannot leave it, but you can…leave now and he will never catch up to you. He will leave me alone, don’t you think?”

  “He will never stop looking for me and he must not get his hands on you. I could never be away from you for very long. I wish I had met you ten years ago. Things may have been different,” Willy said sadly.

  “I don’t think so, back then you would not have liked me,” Bonnie said as she put her arms around his neck. “I think you and I came together at just the right time in our life. After finding real love I don’t intend to make any more bad choices with my life.” Turning the burner down Bonnie cracked an egg on the edge of the skillet and dropped it into the bacon grease. “In the past few weeks I have found out something precious about life that most folks live a lifetime and never figure out. The steps we take can be a light for someone else or they can lead them down a dark path that may leave their lives dismal and grey. I will from now on order my steps to reflect a person of wisdom and character. You and I will soon have a child and we will leave a legacy for him or her. I want to leave a clear path they can be proud to follow should they choose. If we leave poor examples, it will be there for them to see. So, I ask you to consider our child in the path you are taking.”

  For a long time, Willy sat and considered the Bonnie that now stood before him. She had so completely changed he was simply amazed. Even her appearance had taken on a more wholesome and cleaner look. Or was the change coming from an earlier lifestyle with a godly family that was coming to fruition? Whichever it was, it showed a depth he did not understand.

  A sudden thunder shower moved across the countryside and the wind whipped a light mist across Willy’s face. Sitting on the porch swing he watched the grass on the hillside sway in the wind. Rain fell in great sheets and soon filled the barrels at the corner of the house. He sipped his coffee and marveled at the peace he felt. Bonnie was right. This place had a soothing effect on a person. Stepping out on the porch, Bonnie smiled at him and said, “The dishes can wait. I want to enjoy this morning with you.” The rain came down and the wind blew a spray across the meadow where the calves kicked up their heels. Sitting close to Willy, Bonnie said, “I take one day at a time. That is all I can handle. My folks will be here soon, and I intend to be the daughter they never had.”

  Looking at the rain-soaked fields Willy wished things could be different. The events of the last few days had sealed his fate. He thought of Thomas Taylor laying cold in the ground with no one to mourn him. Willy shuddered shaking his head to clear the depressing thoughts.

  “What is it, Willy? What’s wrong?” Bonnie asked. Again, the dull pain set in and he began to feel sick. Quickly she helped him inside to the couch and darkened the room. Running back in the kitchen she got a cloth to press against his forehead. This was going to be a bad one.

  Revenge is Sweet……Giving up the road search for the trucks, McDonald pulled into a truck stop on the Texas-Louisiana border. The trucks were long gone, and Hawkins and the old man were running as fast as they could away from McDonald.

  “I will see Willy dead for this,” McDonald said from the backseat. “Let’s go to Huntsville. As soon as we get there, call Val and get the truck we still have unloaded and the merchandise out of the warehouse. Put a contract out on Hawkins and Fred for losing the trucks.”

  Later that day Ed stood in his mechanic shop and observed a new Buick driving up the road to the town square, ‘now there is a shiny new car that looks out of place,’ he thought. Leaning on the fender of the car he was working on, he watched as a large heavy-set man got out and headed for a phone booth on the square. Something about this car and men made him feel uneasy. Suddenly the hair on the back of his neck stood up. These men were not reporters and certainly not rangers. They had to be…somehow the mob had found their way to Huntsville.

  It was a hot summer day in Huntsville and Smitty was uneasy about being in this town. Digging in his pocket he pulled out all the change he had for the phone call. “Hey Val, this is Smitty. We are in a burg called Huntsville in Texas. I’m looking at a prison right down the street. I mean like on Main Street. I guess it’s a short walk to prison from the courthouse in Texas. The boss is on the war path…he has blood in his eyes. You ain’t gonna believe this, but our old friend Willy stole the trucks at the farm. That ain’t all either. The feds got a big chunk of McDonald’s money Binky had put in the bank,” Smitty said.

  “What?” Val exclaimed through the receiver as he removed the cigar from his mouth.

  “That’s right! Took both of the trucks and got clean away!” Smitty said.“Smitty, you might want to go check yourself in at that prison. Especially after what I’m fixing to tell you. You think the boss is mad now hold on for a minute while I finish the story for you. Now get this…Francis and his shooter had the first truck in the warehouse in Memphis when Willy Baker relieved them of that truck, too!” Val stated.

  “You sure about that?” Smitty questioned.

  Val continued, “Willy drove up to the warehouse in one of the other trucks as big as you please. He told Francis the boss wanted the trucks to stay in the warehouse a few days. Francis didn’t know about Willy and turned the truck over to him. Willy sent them back to Chicago.”

  “What?” Smitty said in amazement.

  “That’s right, Baker got that truck, too!” Val said.

  “This is not a thing I want to tell McDonald,” Smitty said.

  “I’m glad I ain’t in your shoes,” Val said.

  Walking back across the square Smitty dreaded to face McDonald with the news. This was the ultimate slap in the face for a man like McDonald.

  “Well?” McDonald said in a gruff voice.

  “Boss, the f
irst truck never left Memphis for Chicago. The driver called in to tell Val that Willy had relieved them of the truck at the cannery in Memphis and sent them on their way, per your orders,” Smitty said reservedly.

  McDonald stepped back and took a deep breath. Alarm came over Smitty’s face.

  “Hey, Mac, are you alright?” Smitty asked.

  Trembling with rage, McDonald got back in the car. Through the open window of the car he said, “Find him now! I don’t care about anything more than that! If he is in this burg find him! NOW!”

  “Keep it down, Boss! We look suspicious sitting here on the town square. Here comes the heat now,” Smitty said quietly.

  C54 - Flew the Coop

  “Not much I can tell you,” Hadley said speaking into the telephone. “We went out and had a talk with a loser name of Billy Parks. He and his wife Alice live in and out of a local mission for losers. The Mission provides help for skid row bums like him. He had nothing to say and we got nowhere with him. We put a watch on their apartment that night but found out they had skipped the next morning. They are somewhere in the city, I would bet on it,” Hadley said. “These kinds live from meal to meal. Do you want us to try and dig them up?”

  From the other end of the telephone, the voice was calm but firm saying, “We have a major murder investigation going on here in Texas and this Billy Parks is possibly a vital link. He may even hold the key to solving the crimes. Yes, I want you to find them and as soon as possible. Put your chief back on the phone.” Handing the phone to the smoldering superior, Hadley knew he had messed up.

  “Captain Eastman, we will get back with you today with something.” Hanging up the phone, the Chicago Chief looked at Hadley and said, “You allowed this man and his wife to rabbit and you don’t have a clue as to where they went. You clowns get back on the street now and find those people. I want a full report before noon. Is that clear? Don’t show your faces until you know all about these two. I want your report before I have to call this ranger and make some excuse for your poor performance.”

  Daniel Eastman hung up the phone and turned to Lightfoot saying, “Now there’s a fine piece of detective work. The detectives that investigated the phone trace lost the suspects. At least they got their names: Billy and Alice Parks. Their chief said he would call me back. If they don’t find them, I will offer to send you to Chicago to find the suspects for them.”

  “Oh yeah, that should just about do it, Captain,” Lightfoot said sarcastically.

  ααααααα

  Work of Art----The rusty rear fenders shook violently as the old truck made its way east. Edsel Washington had been the owner and operator of the Washington Monument Company for the past 30 years. Today he had two of his finest creations to set. Edsel was especially proud of the engraving he had done on this monument. These two stones were the best of all his creations. Floral designs, western scenes, crosses…no problem. He had a gift for creating beautiful monuments. His work gave him pride and a real sense of accomplishment. To Edsel, words set in stone were a thing of beauty. They reminded him of the Ten Commandments which God had written in stone. These two were the most expensive stones he had, and he had wanted to set them for a very long time. Then out of the blue, a well-dressed man stepped into the monument company office and gave Trelbi cash money for the two stones and a retainer to finish the names and dates later.

  Edsel tried to carry on a conversation above the noise of the old truck Bubba Henry drove. Following directions, he watched for the row of mailboxes that would lead them to the first cemetery. His bald head stuck through a turf of receding red hair giving his pail skin and big nose a comical appearance. Bubba seldom had much to say but he was a good listener. Besides, Edsel usually answered his own questions. One would think that he already knew the answers before he asked it. Working for the little black Frenchman left little space to interject much of anything into a conversation.

  The letter of instruction for the stones was plain. The two stones went in different cemeteries. Edsel’s wife had been supplied with information and locations in each cemetery. ‘In the far-left corner of the first cemetery there were two spots both marked with small stones marked RESERVED.’ Set the grey marble stone above the left most grave. The engraving on the stone is to be done later.

  The second stone went to a cemetery in Huntsville down the hill from where Sam Houston was buried. Bubba rounded the fence next to the church and Edsel jumped out to open the service gate in the rear of the cemetery. After locating the gravesite Bubba backed the old truck across the rear of the cemetery. “You ain’t going to run over anyone… there ain’t no one buried back here, bring it on back,” Edsel shouted over the sound of the truck noise.

  A few minutes later both men stood wondering who was buried at their feet. Bubba said, “Edsel, I don’t get this. This spot looks occupied so why we ain’t putting a name on this stone…what-you-figure?”

  “Well, we got to come back and do the fixing. We sure gonna hafts to know who’s down there when we come…that’s what I reckon. Got me sorta’ mystified, don’t you know,” Edsel said.

  C55 - A Glimmer of Understanding

  “Captain Eastman, this is Captain Murphy of the Chicago Police Department. Let me apologize for the poor detective work done by my men. However, they have redeemed themselves somewhat. It appears that the party you’re looking for left Chicago the night my detectives made their visit. Traveling by Greyhound they purchased tickets to Houston. There is little else that I can tell at this time except they are traveling using their real names. Their neighbors say they are peaceful people. Billy Parks has a speech impediment and stutters so bad he can’t hold down a job. The wife works at whatever she can find to keep them afloat,” Captain Murphy stated.

  Hanging up the phone, Eastman drummed his fingers on his desk and said, “Chief, I’m sending Ranger Mike Walker back with you. I want you to locate these two. Start at the bus station in Houston and find out what’s going on. This Billy Parks and his wife must be a major key to the puzzle. You and Mike link up with Cage and keep me posted.”

  “Captain, we haven’t linked Baker with the other two suspects. We haven’t the first clue as to what is going on. Something has to break before long or we will stand a good chance of never solving these crimes,” Chief Lightfoot stated.

  During the discussion Ranger Walker came into the office and Lightfoot commented, “Captain, have you issued Cage and Mike guns yet? These junior rangers are getting to be as numerous as fleas on a dog.” Mike grinned at the Comanche and lifted the side of his coat to reveal a shiny revolver.

  “Lightfoot, I guess you will have to start driving a government issue unless you can get Mike in a side car on that cycle of yours,” Captain Eastman said grinning.

  “Not a chance, Captain. I have seen how he drives that thing,” Ranger Walker stated smiling.

  “Then we best be on our way. I will let you know as soon as we find the suspects,” Lightfoot said.

  C56 - What Goes Around

  Bart was tired and had a bad head because he had drunk too much last night, but he circled the square to make his presence known. What he really wanted to do was sleep for a week. Rounding the square, a black Buick parked across from the diner. Bart frowned. He was tired of reporters and rangers and this car probably had a fresh load of one or the other; full of the same old questions. Pulling up to the rear of the Buick, he got out of the police cruiser.

  “Evening, Gentlemen! What brings you to Huntsville?” He had not noticed the man sitting in the rear of the car until a voice spoke up.

  “Well, hello, Sheriff!” a voice from the back seat of the car said. Turning, Bart was caught by surprise to see McDonald.

  “You’re the sheriff of this place? You’re Harlan Williams’ driver. Too bad about Harlan. We were about to do a lot of business together,” McDonald said.

  Bart stood speechless putting two and two together. He realized the stolen trucks belonged to McDonald. Recovering somewhat Bart asked i
n a low tone, “What are you doing here?”

  “Well! Well! Well! Sheriff, you are the answer to a very large problem,” McDonald said as he lit a cigar and dropped the match at Bart’s feet.

  “I don’t know what kind of problem you have, but this town is overrun with Texas Rangers. We’ve had a series of murders here,” Bart interjected with more confidence than he felt.

  “I know, and your prime suspect is one Willy Baker,” McDonald stated.

  “Willy Baker? Who’s this Baker fellow? The rangers haven’t told me any such thing,” Bart said.

  McDonald rolled the cigar and thumped his ashes out the window looking at Bart. He said, “You need to get more involved in law enforcement and find Baker for me.”

  “The rangers have kept me in the dark. I don’t know anything that’s going on. Baker must be new in town! What do you want with this Baker fellow?” Bart asked.

  “Knowing his whereabouts could make you a tidy sum of money,” McDonald said.

  “You haven’t told me what you want with him,” Bart stated.

  “Just find him, Sheriff. The less you know the better. You find him, and it could get you a couple of big ones,” McDonald stated. “Harlan Williams had a man named Judd Smith. You know where he is?”

  “Judd Smith owns a ranch west of here. What do you want with him?” Bart asked.

  “What’s with the questions? That’s none of your business, Sheriff. Just contact him for me,” McDonald added bluntly.

  “Judd Smith I can get hold of in a few hours, but this Baker may take me a day or two to locate without raising suspicion. Like I said, there are rangers all over the place. I suggest you get out of town. I will contact you when I find your man,” Bart stated.