Chapter 7
LATE RETURN
It was Thursday before I got another call from Tex. The week had been hectic so far with two funerals, Huntington's predicament, and the beginning of another major murder case. Jodie indicated he was on line three. I picked up the phone and Tex immediately began complaining about Metroplex.
"So, did you work something out with them?"
"Shit no. I just got a letter. They've called my note, the bastards."
"Oh, God. I'm sorry, Tex. Damn it."
"Now what am I going to do?"
"What happened to the money from Ecuador?"
I was referring to $900,000 dollars Tex had pocketed from a scam he had pulled off in Quito, Ecuador the previous year that had nearly got us both killed.
"A lot of it went down the tubes on Monday. The rest I invested in the business. I'm broke, Stan. There is no way in hell I can pay off that note."
"What about some of your business partners, can't they help you out?"
"They all took a good hit on Monday too. I've talked to most of them and nobody is in a position to help me out."
"I wonder if maybe you could move the note?"
Tex shook his head. "That would take some time. I doubt I could pull it off even if I found a bank that was actually lending money right now."
Tex was right. It was unlikely he could move the loan with banks and savings and loans falling like rocks in a landslide. The idea of chapter 11 was sounding better and better. We discussed it again and for the first time Tex seemed interested in the idea. Chapter 11 was difficult and expensive but it would force the bank to continue to carry the note for a while. Down the road, after the stock market rebounded and the banking system had been stabilized, Tex could find new financing for his venture and take Metroplex Savings and Loan out of the equation. Tex said he would seriously consider this option and knowing, at the very least, that he could buy some time and save himself from complete financial ruin.
After Tex had hung up, Jodie advised me that Robert Huntington had arrived to work on his tax returns. I had finally gotten hold of him and suggested we get his company's tax returns done to see if it really did owe the IRS all the money that they claimed it did. Jodie showed him in and he took a seat. He didn't look happy.
"So, did you find all your records?"
"Such as they are. A lot of what we need is at our other office."
"Well, can't you call your partner and have him give us the numbers over the telephone?"
"I guess. But do we have time?"
I shrugged. "I don't know, but I don't see any other way. The IRS isn't going to release the garnishment and we don't have time to go to court to try to get the money freed up. This is really our only hope."
"I can't believe they are doing this after all I've done for this damn country. Did they call the congressman?"
"Yes, but Barton didn't seem impressed when I dropped his name."
"Did he talk to him?" Huntington asked.
"He hadn't yet. He said he would."
"Well, we've got to get him to talk to Manning."
"Why don't you call Manning and have him call Barton?"
"I can't do that. There can't be any contact between me and Manning."
I sighed. "Well, let's get to work on those tax returns. It could take us all day to get them done. Then we have to file them with Barton and convince him that they are accurate and that Continental Exporters doesn't owe the IRS any money."
Huntington opened his briefcase and started stacking papers on my desk. After we had worked on the tax returns for several hours, it appeared there wasn't going to be any taxes owed as the company had actually lost money both years. I thought it was time I called Barton and arranged for a meeting. I told Jodie to get Barton on the line. She did.
"Listen, we've just about got the Continental Exporters tax return done and wanted to make arrangements to file it with you. I think when you see them, you'll agree nothing is owed and will want to release the funds."
"Yeah, well. I can't just drop everything for your client, Mr. Turner. I'm booked up until next Thursday. You'll have to wait until then."
"You know we can't. A man's life is at stake here."
"You keep saying that, but I'm not buying it."
"Did you talk to Manning?"
Barton didn't answer right away. Finally, he said, "No, we've been playing telephone tag."
"Try him right now, would you? This is important and he could clear things up for you."
He laughed. "I don't see how."
"Just call him. I'll hold."
I took a deep breath and whispered to Huntington, "He's calling Manning right now."
Huntington nodded and replied, "Good."
There was what seemed like five minutes of silence and then Barton came back on the line.
"All right. I think I understand your predicament a little better now," Barton said. "Why don't you come in tomorrow morning at 8:00 a.m.? I'll squeeze you in before my nine o'clock meeting."
I gave Huntington a thumbs up and then thanked Barton. He cautioned that he wasn't making any promises, but that he would take a look at the returns and make a decision at that time. Huntington was relieved but still was quite anxious. I knew there was a lot he wasn't telling me and I had no idea what Manning had told Barton, but whatever it was it did the trick. We worked another couple hours on the returns. Huntington had to make a few calls to his partner to get some of the missing information we needed. Finally, a little after five o'clock they were finished.
"Well, we did well," I said. "Continental Exporters did lose money both years as you suspected. That should satisfy Barton.
"I hope so. I've got to get that money freed up tomorrow."
"Keep your fingers crossed," I said smiling. "It won't be long now."
Huntington left with the understanding that we would meet the next day at Barton's office in the Earle Cabell Federal Building in downtown Dallas. I was feeling very good about what we had accomplished, however, we still had one problem. A lot of the backup and supporting documentation for the return was at the other office. Whether IRS would accept all our numbers without seeing the backup was a question mark. Normally when a return was filed the IRS would accept it at face value. Later on, if it were selected for an audit, the numbers could be challenged or backup could be requested. In this case, however, with the money already garnished, they might want to audit the returns immediately. This could take time and delay the release of the money. I didn't want to alarm Huntington, but realistically if he got his money the next day it would be a miracle—or by the grace of Congressman Manning.
As I was contemplating the situation, I heard voices. Jodie had already left so I assumed Paula was still there. I got up and walked into her office. She and Bart were in the middle of a passionate kiss. "Oh, sorry," I said, making a quick U-turn.
Paula broke away from Bart and said, "No. It's okay, Stan. Bart was just leaving."
Bart smiled and gave me a wave. I nodded. Paula said, "I'll see you later, stud."
"Right. Later," Bart said and made a hasty exit.
"I'm sorry," I said, embarrassed I had interrupted them.
"Don't worry about it. I was just feeling kind of sad and lonely after interviewing Betty Bennett today."
Paula filled me in on her interview.
"I wonder why Jimmy didn't tell us about the divorce?" I said.
Paula replied, "I don't know, but it kind of makes you think he's hiding something."
"I suppose we better assume we can't believe anything he tells us."
Paula nodded. "I'll start digging around and see if I can corroborate what he's told us so far."
"Good. You headed home?" I asked.
"Yeah, dinner, a little wine, and a warm body are just what a girl needs when she's sad and depressed."
I smiled, "So, why are you so sad and depressed? You got the big murder case you wanted."
Paula didn't retu
rn the smile. She just looked at me sadly. Then she took a deep breath and said. "Right. I've got everything a girl could ask for. Have a great night, Stan. I'll see you tomorrow."
She grabbed her purse and left. If she was trying to lay a guilt trip on me, she had succeeded. I felt terrible, but I couldn't do anything about her plight. I just prayed she'd fall in love with Bart or find someone else and give up on me. Until she did that it was awkward and a bit dangerous being around her.
Black Monday, A Stan Turner Mystery Vol 7 Page 7