A Conspiracy Uncovered

by Lindsay Downs

  The next scene was another party but not as formal as the previous one at the Watergate. This one was, I’m guessing, in the afternoon and on The Mall. I know that because in the background is the Washington Monument. The area of the gathering was cordoned off and there was a large police presence to keep bystanders away. As with the previous event the news camera caught the participants as they arrived. Sally slowed the tape so we could see who was wearing the pin.

  As the participants arrived, five were identified as being members of the group, the camera started shooting footage of the party. What kind of gathering I couldn’t tell.

  “Anyone want to guess what we’re seeing?” I asked.

  “All I can think of is a fund raiser of some kind. No clue for who or what party,” Richard Sr. said.

  “Wait, Sally. Stop the video and back the tape up slowly,” Thomas requested.

  She did as asked, then Thomas walked over to the television. “Right there. Who is Koker talking to? He also has the pin.”

  “Me, but that’s impossible. I’ve never been in DC.”

  “Sure, looks like you,” Nancy replied.

  I looked at the date and time stamp on the bottom right of the screen. June 23, 1973.

  “I’ll be right back.” I went to the office, got the case file from the safe then returned to the living room and started looking through the pages, including the transcripts from the recordings.

  “What are you searching for, Junior?” June asked.

  “To confirm Walter is telling the truth that he wasn’t in DC on that date, not that I don’t believe you, Walter,” I replied, then continued to rifle through the pages. “Here we go. June 23, 1973 you told me you were at a home improvement show in Billings.”

  “Yes, that’s right and where I met Aiko Milton and she ordered the screen. All my receipts are back in Lavina.”

  “That maybe so but we can ask her in the morning. But that still doesn’t answer the question, who is Koker talking to?”

  “Walter, you sure you don’t have a brother?” Richard, Sr. asked.

  “I am but looking at that person I don’t know any more.”

  “Junior, show him the fax.”

  From the case file I took out the paper we had received from John earlier. “Here you go,” I handed over the note.

  “You’ve got to be kidding me. Why did my parents give him up for adoption? Why couldn’t they keep William?”

  “The agent is looking into that. I’m not sure when we will, if ever, get the answer. Maybe never,” I told him.

  “So, I have a brother out there someplace.”

  “Even worse, he’s a member of the Illuminismo consider yourself lucky he hasn’t tried to come after you,” Nancy said.

  “You do make a good point. Junior, do I need to worry about him?”

  “Yes, you should. That is if he still thinks you are alive. If Koker can get ahold of him he could tell William where you are living.”

  “Then I’m glad to be moving in the morning.”

  I reminded Walter to let Edward know about the truck, which he did.

  “I’ll call a friend at the newspaper and make sure they don’t print the transaction,” Richard, Sr. said.

  “Thank you.”

  I waved to Sally to turn the tape back on. We didn’t see any more members of the group that we hadn’t already identified. When the video ended Edward suggested we stop for the night and pick up in the morning. We agreed.

  ****

  December 3, 1983

  With a few personal possessions in my bag the last item to go in is the box, now empty because I had given all the papers and pictures to Junior. Hidden by the false bottom are the five letters I had received over the years. Closing the case I went out to the kitchen for my last meal with Richard and Nancy.

  Over breakfast Nancy asked about my new house. With a practiced ease I described the building, grounds and what would be my new workshop.

  “If you can give me a week then I will invite everyone over for dinner.”

  “Thank you. We can’t wait to see the place. From your description your new home will be ideal for your work. I know you haven’t thought about the meal but let me know if I or any of us can bring anything?”

  “I will, Nancy. Of course, all the children will be welcomed as well. I cannot leave them out.”

  I started to carry my dirty plate, and juice glass to the sink but Junior said he’d take care of them. When the phone rang I suspected that was Edward calling from the main house. Nancy answered the phone then after a second hung up.

  “Walter, your truck is coming up the drive.”

  On my way to the front door I grabbed my suitcase before Junior could then he and Nancy followed me outside.

  “Is she not a beauty, Junior? She’s loaded with accessories. I got the eight-foot bed because of the furniture I will be hauling. I also have a bumper hitch in the off chance I need to pull a trailer for a very large piece.”

  “I’ll take your word that the truck is beautiful. As you know, we’re car people.”

  “That’s alright. Anyways, I’ve enjoyed staying with you both.”

  Putting my bag in the bed of the truck I said thank you and good bye then climbed in. Driving by the main house I saw Edward, Sally and the senior Dean’s on the front porch. I returned their wave then went down the driveway to the main road.

  Taking a left onto the Pacific Coast Highway I took the delivery man back to the dealership then drove over to The First Bank of the Pacific. Before I did anything, or went anywhere, I needed to cash a check. I figured a hundred dollars would be enough for a start. With the money in ten dollar bills in my wallet my next stop was the Santa Monica Pier.

  Finding a parking space I got the box out of my bag then climbed back into the truck. Taking the lid off I then turned the container over then tapped the bottom. The letters fell out. I picked up the most recent and carefully took the onion skin paper from the envelope.

  May 29, 1983

  Unlike the previous letters this one brings possibly disturbing news. Those whom you have been successfully hiding from might have found you. Or at least the state where you’re living.

  From your previous communique I agree the evidence should be sent to Professor Richard Dean, Jr. if you find your life is in danger. If he and his wife, Professor Nancy Dean, go to you then all of you return to Los Angeles and at some point I will fly there as well, using business as my reason.

  I’ll be staying Beverly Wilshire Hotel. If you want to meet call the hotel, ask for me then say only Griffith Observatory when I answer the call. Go there and I will find you.

  Stay safe.

  Your brother

  Putting the letter back into the envelope I looked around for a kiosk or someplace which sold food to go. Finding what I was looking for, a burger joint, I locked my truck then walked over and ordered a cheeseburger and vanilla milkshake. I paid, pocketing the change I went over to a payphone. Getting the hotel’s number from the phone book I dialed then asked for William Barron. When he answered the call I said “Griffith Observatory” then hung up.

  Back in my truck, I ate while looking for where I was going on a map. After finding the place I tossed my garbage in a can then headed over to the park. When I got there I followed the signs to the observatory, found a place to park then casually walked around looking at the other visitors. The only problem, I had no idea what this person looked like, even though we are twins he could have changed over the years, as I know I had which had me wondering if he knows me.

  After thirty minutes I sat on one of the benches that looked out to the ocean, which I guessed to be about fifteen miles away. Even at that distance I could make out large power boats and sail boats. Neither interested me in the slightest.

  “Hello, Walter,” a man said behind me.

  I turned around only to see myself looking back at me.

  “William?”

  “Yes. As you see we are twins, but I’ll bet you alre
ady know that.”

  “I do and you’re a member of the Illuminismo. Are you here to kill me?”

  “I belong to them but no, you’re safe with me. In fact, I am the one who Miss Dean contacted for certain information regarding them. My goal is to bring them down. Why? For now that doesn’t matter. Someday I’ll tell you. Do you believe me?”

  “I am not sure. Have you been sending me money every month for the past eighteen years?”

  “I have because I wanted to make sure you had the funds available if you had to flee Lavina, which I guess you have, for Los Angeles.”

  “Except I am not staying here. I have to find another place to live.”

  “Why? I can assure you Walter that you’ll be safe here. I know you’ve got the money so buy a lovely house with a barn for your workshop.”

  “How can you be so sure no one will come after me? From what I have learned from the Deans the organization has a very long reach.”

  “Because the individual who operates the LA cell believes the news story about your suicide. If you hadn’t already guessed Jamison Koker is a paranoid schizophrenic. The Secretary-General has put out the word he’s to be removed. Permanently.”

  “That will be very difficult because he is in a jail cell with no contact there except for the staff.”

  “You have to trust me, Walter, when I say the man will never live long enough to see the inside of a court room for his trial.”

  “Okay, I will, but what am I to do? All the Deans think I am moving into my new house.”

  “Tell them the truth, except about Koker. That you have to keep to yourself. I have to go because I expect that sometime today Junior and John Wentworth will have found where I’m staying.”

  “I will do as you request. Will I ever see you again?”

  “You might. Goodbye for now.”

  I watched him walk away then went back to my truck. To do what or go where, I had no clue. Climbing in I drove to one of the place the real estate agent had shown me. With my mind made up I found a payphone and called her.

  “Mrs. Garfield, this is Walter Sutton. I’ll buy the last house you showed me yesterday.”

  “Good. Somehow I knew you’d prefer that one over the others. What would you like to make an offer for?”

  “One dollar under their asking price of a quarter million. If they do not accept that, I authorize you to increases the amount by a thousand dollars up to six hundred thousand.”

  “Yes sir. I should have an answer within the hour. Where can I reach you?”

  “That I am not sure. I will call you.”

  “Very good, Walter.”

  With that taken care of I drove to the Beverly Wiltshire Hotel, arriving just as I saw John Wentworth and Junior drive away.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

  Nancy and I headed over to the main house to continue reviewing film footage looking for more members of the group. When we arrived, Edward told us the final two men had died under mysterious circumstances. The one in Hartford fell or was pushed onto the tracks as a train came by. In Dallas the man died when he had a flat tire on Interstate 35 and crashed into a Jersey barrier.

  “That takes care of all five and barely in time. Three more days and we would have gone public,” Alice said.

  “And here is the juice glass Walter used at breakfast.” I handed the tumbler over.

  “Will you be able to get a good set of prints from that?”

  “Yes. I’ll do that right now then compare them to the sheet John faxed over. Give me ten minutes then we’ll have a confirmed answer if Walter is truly Walter.”

  “As you all know he’s headed over to his new place. Walter told us to give him a week then he’d invite us all over for dinner,” Nancy announced. “And that includes our children as well. In the meantime guess we’ll go back to watching the tapes.”

  In the living room Sally put in the next tape into the VCR and pressed ‘play’. This time, as with last night, we watched the video in slow motion. Again, we were able to identify several new members of the group. Edward walked in and I could see something was wrong.

  “We have a problem. I can’t tell if Walter is or isn’t Walter. I don’t know who he is. Twins might have similarities in their fingerprints so there’s no way to figure out who is who,” Edward explained.

  “You’re sure about this?”

  “Yes. I called Special Agent Wentworth and told him. He asked me to fax him my card which I did. He’s going to have an expert confirm my findings.”

  What made me curious, at what point did William become Walter and is he still alive. Or is William still William and Walter still Walter. Or will we ever know?

  “Sally, find the newest tape. We need to look at that one to find out if we can see the twin. Right now, I’m not sure what name to give him,” I requested.

  “I don’t blame you, Junior,” my father replied.

  “This one is dated a week ago starting on November 27, 1983 and ends on the 29th.”

  She turned the VCR on, and we watched people arriving at a party held someplace. From what I could tell this event wasn’t as formal as the one we saw last night. Easily we were able to spot several members of the group.

  “Stop the tape,” Thomas asked. He got up and went over to the television. “Right there,” he said, then pointed to a person. “That’s the twin? Right?”

  I joined my brother. “Yes. So that means as of then William is alive.”

  The phone rang in the office and Edward went to answer the call. In a few minutes he was back.

  “John’s FBI expert agrees with me that the fingerprints might or might not belong to the person we know as Walter Sutton. Right now, there’s no way of knowing who they are.”

  “So, then who assassinated President Kennedy?” Nancy asked.

  “For the time being and until otherwise told, we are going to have to assume the individual we formally knew as Walter pulled the trigger.”

  “When Jason Waters arranged for the transfer of his funds from Montana to here do you know how much that was?”

  “Edward, I’m not sure but the amount had to be at least half to a million. Last night he told Nancy and me he bought the house and paid in full. To buy what he was looking for he would have had to spend at least a quarter million.”

  “He didn’t blink when my husband suggested having a moving company bring everything from Lavina to here. The bill for that would have to be at least fifteen to twenty thousand.”

  “To be honest, I don’t think his furniture business brings in enough money to cover all those expenses. I’ve got a feeling he is getting funds from somewhere else. Or most likely a group who we are very familiar with. Alice, what are the chances your person can get more damaging evidence on the Illuminismo,” Edward requested.

  “I can ask. Give me twenty minutes.”

  Alice left for the office. With luck in a day or two we might have more ammunition to use.

  “Wait a second. Earlier I offered to give him a ride to his house. He declined the offer. That was right before his pickup arrived. This is a big what if, but what if he never bought a place and is planning to run. There is one person who can answer that question for us. His real estate agent. The only problem, we don’t know her name or who she works for.”

  “But Jason Waters could. He gave Walter her business card,” Nancy reminded me.

  “Right, how could I have forgotten. I’ll use the kitchen phone and give him a call. Wait, I can’t get a hold of him until Monday.”

  “Wait a minute, Edward. The other day when the agent came to pick him up did she give her name or where she works?” June asked.

  “I’ve been sitting here racking my brain trying to recall who she works for. Considering Walter got the card from Jason you know she must be an agent for one of the more exclusive real estate agencies in the city. Let me get the phone book and search through the pages. Maybe then I’ll recognize the company.”

  If my older brother can find who the
woman worked for and Alice’s contact can get evidence the group is sending money to Walter, or whatever his name is, then we should have enough proof to take to the FBI. The only other question regarding the Illuminismo, why would they continue to pay him. He’d already received one million. Or had he. Could the money Jason Waters set the account up for be part of the groups? Which meant, could Walter be a member of the Illuminismo? They might be smart enough to only keep small amounts in different numbered accounts all over the world and I had gotten suckered into believing he was-what. The real shooter as he claimed. Or setting me up to be made a fool of?

  What started out for me as a simple proof of who the real shooter is has turned into a global case.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

  Finally, I think our luck is beginning to change. Edward had found the real estate agency the woman worked for and had spoken with her. She contradicted what Walter had told Nancy and me last night. He had not bought a house after seeing several which met with his approval and price range. A quarter to half a million dollars. As far as what his total worth was, for that we’d have to wait.

  Even better news came from Alice. She had spoken with her contact and we were now waiting for a fax to come through. What the contents are Alice either doesn’t know or wouldn’t tell us.

  “What I don’t understand, why is Walter running? The men who he met at the deserted base in Texas are no longer a threat to him. His twin might not even know he’s alive. From where I sit, he’s not in any danger.”

  “Not to mention, except for two years in Alaska he had remained relatively unknown in Lavina for eighteen years. The one thing we do know, if his name isn’t Walter so how could he have been able to pass the fingerprint examination? Do you have any idea Edward?” Nancy asked.

  “That all depends on who compared the card to the one on file, which could have been switched so the technician would have seen Walter’s.”