Murder In Louisiana Politics

by Jim Riley

  The house was a reflection of Chrissy Becker, the person. Her ruffled blouse had not a single stray wrinkle. It matched the perfectly creased designer jeans and upscale casual shoes.

  Her jewelry was not gaudy, but highlighted her feminine features. Every hair was in place, it's brunette strands framing an all–American face with a button nose, full lips, and friendly dimples with every smile.

  She was not top-heavy. Instead, she was very well proportioned. The word that came to Niki's mind was firm. The leggy investigator wondered how many hours Chrissy spent in the gym to maintain this doll-like appearance.

  Niki wasted no time. She confronted the assistant about the allegation of a relationship with the congressman. To beat around the bush would be of no benefit to the investigator or the witness.

  "Other than tutoring and mentoring you, what kind of relationship did you have with Mr. Philbin?"

  "He was my friend. I know that sounds funny with our age difference, but we really related to each other well."

  "Was the relationship physical?"

  "What—He wasn't that kind of man. The congressman was a gentleman in every respect."

  "Are you sure?" Niki pressed the young lady. "I've heard some different stories about his relationships with women."

  "Then you’ve been talking to that poor excuse of a wife he had. I actually feel sorry for her."

  "Why?"

  "Because," Chrissy replied. "She has all sorts of mental and emotional problems. She has trouble dealing with reality."

  "Did Omar tell you about her problems?"

  "Sure. She won't hardly talk to me."

  "Why not?"

  "She imagines the same thing you did. She assumed that Omar and I were in some sort of relationship. She thinks it’s the only reason he hired me."

  "How long have you been sleeping with him?"

  "I told you –" Chrissy started.

  "I know what you said, but I also can see what’s in your eyes. You lost more than a boss and a friend yesterday."

  A cavalcade of tears erupted. Chrissy was unable to stem the tide. Several tissues later, the heaving subsided. The white ruffled blouse was now streaked with mascara and cosmetics.

  Niki waited patiently while Kristi shed the tears. Only after the young assistant regained a modicum of composure did the interview continue.

  "How long did you have a relationship with Omar?"

  "I worked with him for eight months," she sniffled. "It was like we were made for each other. He was the most sensitive man I've ever met."

  Niki thought back to the descriptions given of Omar my Alicia Philbin and Dennis Hopper. How could this girl sitting next to her have such a different opinion?

  "So the affair started as soon as you began to work for him?"

  "It wasn't an affair," Chrissy quickly responded. "We loved each other. As soon as the election was over, Omar planned to leave that lady and marry me."

  "Were you willing to wait that long? The election is seven or eight months away."

  More tears.

  "I would have waited a lifetime for him. He was so special."

  "Do you have any idea who might have wanted to kill him?" Niki asked.

  "The bitch he was married to. They had a prenuptial agreement. When they got divorced, she was only getting fifty thousand dollars. Now she gets everything."

  "How much is everything?"

  "I don't know exactly, but I know it is way more than fifty thousand. He told me he had hidden a lot of it from her."

  "If they had a prenup," Niki tried to make sense of what Chrissy was saying. "Then why did he need to hide the money from her? What difference did it make?"

  "He said there was some sort of loophole she might try to use. I don't know what it was."

  Niki knew immediately. From her experience in the early days of Wildcat Investigations, many of her cases involved proving husbands were unfaithful to the current spouse. Most of the time, the wives needed those facts to invalidate the prenuptial agreements. Infidelity had to be the loophole Omar told Chrissy about.

  The information provided by the youngster moved Alicia Philbin up to the top of the suspect list. But at this point, there wasn't much of a list.

  "Do you know of anyone besides Alicia that might have wanted to harm Omar?"

  "Some of those Republicans. Have you heard all the mean things they said about Omar? I couldn't believe it."

  "Will this be the first time you've voted in an election?" Niki asked.

  "Yes. I was barely old enough in the last one, but I wasn't that interested in politics. It's only because of Omar I'm interested this year."

  "Politics, especially in Louisiana, is a serious business. Sometimes it brings out the worst of people. When they want to get elected, many can become mean and nasty."

  "Omar wasn't like that. He was the sweetest person I've ever met."

  Niki blinked. Even she had heard of the dirty political tactics of the late Congressman. One time he hired a prostitute for his opponent and filmed the encounter. Another time, his campaign distributed copies of a purported birth certificate naming his opponent as the father of a mixed–race child. There were more stories and Omar Philbin was a legend for playing hardball on the campaign trail.

  "Have you seen the commercials Omar was running this year? He called an opponent a son of the devil and another a sociopathic liar. Those were not meant as compliments."

  "That was all George's stuff. Omar didn't have anything to do with those."

  "Are you talking about George Thomas?"

  Chrissy nodded.

  "And you believe George put those commercials together and didn't tell Omar?"

  "That's what Omar told me. He said he would have stopped him, but the first time he knew about them was when he saw them on TV. By then, it was too late to do anything about them."

  Niki shook her head in disbelief. Actually, she believed Chrissy. Niki had believed in a man she was in love with despite the obvious signs of deceit. That relationship almost cost the young detective her life. Love can make one blind to the realities of life.

  "What was the relationship like between Omar and George?"

  "Omar depended on George to do all the little stuff that he didn't have time for. I know he got frustrated at him when one of his opponents spread some lines. It was George’s responsibility to get the truth out to the public."

  Spin doctor, Niki immediately thought. Twist the facts to make the candidate look good no matter if they are true or not.

  "How bad were the disagreements between Omar and George?"

  "Omar planned to fire George as soon as the election was over. He told me I could do George's job a lot better, and then we could always be together, even at work."

  "Any of the Republican candidates stick out in your mind who didn't care for Omar?"

  "Jimmy Gill. He hated Omar."

  "Why?"

  "Jimmy thinks George is the one who started the rumor his two daughters aren't really his daughters."

  "I haven't heard that one."

  "Then you haven't been paying attention. I can believe it’s true because neither one of his daughters look anything like him. Besides, the rumor has taken all the air out of Jimmy's campaign. He was almost tied with Omar, and now he’s almost at the bottom of the pack."

  "I can understand then why he was not the president of Omar’s fan club."

  "But Omar didn't start those rumors. I asked him."

  "Anyone else?"

  "Kenny Long. I was in Omar's office one day when he called. He threatened to come over to the office and give Omar a thrashing."

  "Why?"

  "Somebody sent an email to everyone on Kenny's donors list. It was all the folks who made any sort of contribution."

  "What did the email say?"

  "It said Kenny used the donations to take a vacation to Belize. There were some photographs attached to it showing Kenny on a nude beach with a lot of girls."

  "Holy Moses," Niki blur
ted. "I bet that pic goes over well with the family and the donors."

  "I was kinda surprised he even showed up for the debate. I don't think he'll get his wife to vote for him. No way he was going to get enough votes to win after that."

  The suspect list kept growing by leaps and bounds. At some point, it seems Omar had alienated every person he ever came into contact with. Except Chrissy.

  "You've been very helpful. I may need to speak to you again," Niki began to rise.

  "Wait a minute," Chrissy's eyes widened. "I don't know if it’s important, but Omar got a serious phone call Friday."

  "Who from?"

  "Some organization. CAG on PCP or something like that."

  “What was the conversation about?”

  “Something about a bunch of money they had given Omar.”

  “A campaign contribution?” Niki asked. “I don't think so. It sounded too personal. Omar looked scared when he got off the phone.”

  "Did Omar tell you anything about the call? Did he make any comments?"

  "The only thing he said," Chrissy paused as if trying to remember the exact words. "He said maybe shouldn't have changed his vote."

  Chapter Ten

  Sunday night

  Liberty Road

  "George, I understand you were Mr. Philbin's internal support."

  Niki enjoyed the view of George Thomas's ranch. His estate was more like what she expected to see when she visited Omar's home. A white rail fence surrounded one hundred fifty acres of pristine bottom land.

  Heavyweight cows and bulls munched on the lush pasture grass. They were the biggest and prettiest cattle Niki had ever seen. Even though she had been raised in Central, the rural countryside was never far away in Louisiana. Holsteins. Brahmas. Guernsey's. Niki has seen them all. None compared to the breed she saw on the Thomas ranch.

  The ranch house was a tremendous log cabin, more than six thousand square feet of rustic opulence. Huge beams spanned across the twenty foot arch highlighted with custom windows and ports.

  All the furnishings were of the log cabin era, but very modern in building style. The period cherry table with matching chairs could seat a dozen people. Antler chandeliers illuminated the interior better than any florescent lights on the market. Even the knobs on the kitchen cabinets and drawers were made from antlers of the deer family.

  The entrance-way was made of giant timbers, each perfectly formed and set in place. The walkway from the parking area to the front steps had lined stone columns interspersed between antique rails.

  George did not fit the picture of the outdoor rancher. He looked more like a nerdy accountant. Short. Squad. Thick glasses. Thirty pounds of extra flab he did not wear well. His chubby cheeks lacked definition and his round eyes looked like brown saucers behind the multiple lenses.

  "Professionally speaking, I guess that’s true."

  "Are you insinuating Omar might have had some unprofessional relationships?"

  "Hey," the obese man responded. "He's dead now. I don't have to protect him anymore. Not unless he’s running for Congress in hell. Then the truth won't hurt him there."

  "If you didn't respect Omar, why did you continue to work for him and advise him?"

  “Look around,” Thomas pointed at his luxurious surroundings. “You can't afford all this working at the desk clerk in an accounting firm.”

  "But you’re obviously good at your job. Why didn't you go to work for another campaign?"

  "Most politicians aren't as stupid as Omar. They know how to be discreet. Omar didn't have a clue, and never would. He didn't have the mental capacity of the lab rat. Hell, even a rat can find his way out of a maze if you give him enough time."

  "And he listened to you?"

  "He had no choice. Without me, he couldn't get out of the rain with six umbrellas."

  "Did you set the policy for him?"

  "In a roundabout way. You can say so."

  "If not you, who did?"

  "The causes that were willing to pay. Omar's only allegiance had lots of green. Without money involved, he had the firm stance of Jell-O."

  "Am I correct in guessing it was your job to round up the money, and tell him how to support those causes?"

  "I did an excellent job at it."

  "So where is all the money? Omar wasn't exactly living in a palace."

  "You'll have to ask Alicia about that. Or you might want to ask that little slut that was his latest conquest."

  "I assume you're speaking of Chrissy."

  "Yep," he nodded. "She's the latest in a long string of sluts."

  Niki thought about the naïve young girl who she had visited earlier. The private investigator had no doubt Chrissy absolutely adored her former boss. She wondered how Chrissy would feel if she could hear this conversation.

  "Was Alicia Philbin aware of Omar's indiscretions?"

  "Hah," George chuckled. "You should go into the image business. I guess you could describe screwing every woman who didn't say no a dozen times as indiscretions."

  "That many?"

  "Fish in the sea. That's how he used to refer to them." George shook his head. "I don't know what they saw in him. Maybe he had a big lure. I never wanted to find out."

  "I understand he paid you well. From the looks of this place, you did all right for yourself."

  "I did okay," he nodded. "I took a big cut, but I deserved it. Without me, nobody would have given Omar a dime."

  "So you were the brains and he was the beauty? Is that accurate?"

  "I wouldn't exactly call Omar a beauty. I mean, you saw him. Right? Would you call him a beauty?"

  "Beauty means something different to different people. If not that, how would you describe your relationship with Omar?"

  "Simple. He was the puppet. I controlled the strings. That was the best thing about Omar. He had the brains of a puppet."

  "How big of a cut did you take?"

  "Enough. Do you think the puppet or the puppeteer deserves to get paid?"

  "What did Omar think about that?"

  "Whatever I told him to think. I was also the treasurer for his campaign fund. I let him have what he needed to get elected. The rest went to expenses."

  "I'm guessing you were one of those expenses."

  "Everything was legal and above board. I pay taxes on my earnings."

  "Did Omar have any enemies?"

  "Do you mean other than his wife and the slut?"

  Niki nodded.

  "There were a few opponents who took exception to our campaign strategy. Also, there are a couple of causes that didn't think they were getting their money's worth."

  "Which opponents?"

  "Kenny Long is at the top of the list. He's not the brightest bulb on the tree. He left a link to his donor list right on his website."

  "Were you the one who copied the list?"

  "It was not stealing," Thomas replied. "The list was in the public domain. It was on the Internet."

  “But you were the one that took it, and used it for Omar's campaign?”

  "Why would I look a gift horse in the mouth?"

  "Ethics," Niki responded.

  "You're kidding?" George laughed. "In Louisiana, politics has its own set of ethics."

  "Can you give me an example?"

  "I know you talked to Clarice. Can you imagine what would happen to her campaign if pictures of her surfaced showing her putting dollar bills in the G–string of a male stripper?"

  "She wouldn’t do something like that."

  "Probably not," Thomas smiled. "But that is beside the point. She would have to spend the rest of the campaign playing defense. She can't win doing that."

  “Would Omar really do something like that?”

  "Of course," he answered. "We didn't mind if she dropped out of the race."

  Niki shook her head. "Kenny Long, Clarice, and Alisha all have motives to kill Omar. Anyone else?"

  "Don't forget the slut. She needed Omar to die before he changed his will again."


  "What’s in the will?"

  "As of a couple of months ago, he left everything he had to the little whore. I think she convinced him to do it."

  "Chrissy knew she would inherit his estate?"

  George Thomas nodded.

  Niki thought back to her conversations with Chrissy and Alisha. Neither had mentioned a will leaving Omar's entire estate to Chrissy.

  "How much is Omar's estate?"

  "I'm sure you have someone working on that right now." He waited for a reaction. When he got none, he continued. "I think you're in for a surprise."

  "Was Alicia aware of the changes?"

  "I would guess so. But this isn't the first time Omar used the wrong head to make decisions. He always changed the will back after he tired of his new toy."

  "But this time, he didn't get a chance to change it back?"

  "Makes you wonder, doesn't it?"

  Chapter Eleven

  Monday morning

  Wildcat Investigations

  "What did you guys find out?" Niki shoved a box of doughnuts across the desk to Donna and Drexel.

  Donna took two glazed and one covered with chocolate icing and sprinkles. Drexel selected an unglazed bran oval.

  "There are a bunch of companies and organizations unhappy with the deceased," Drexel began.

  "Any of them stand out?" Niki asked.

  "Two. One is an NRA opponent. It calls itself the Coalition Against Guns."

  "CAG. Chrissy mentioned that one and another one," Niki said.

  "Probably PCP. People for Coastal Preservation."

  "What do they want from Omar?"

  "He promised he would propose legislation stopping the coastal erosion along the Louisiana Gulf Coast."

  "That’ll do a lot of good," Donna scoffed. "Maybe they should pass a law against birds crapping all over my car."

  "I didn't say it made a lot of sense, but Omar convinced them he could stop coastal erosion."

  “How much did they give him?” Niki asked.

  "I can answer that," Donna interjected. "As of six months ago, their PAC, political action committee had donated over three million dollars to his campaign."