Cry Me A River (32 page)

Tyrone looked up, thinking. “Do we really have a chance?” he asked.

“I’m not going to lie to you,” Captain Jack said. “It’s a long shot. But at least it’s a shot.”

Teary-eyed, Tyrone nodded, then turned and walked to the edge of the road. He needed to be alone. He had
gone as far as he could. And now he had but to trust a man for whom he had little trust. And to believe in a system in which he had little belief. He looked at his watch; it was eight-forty. He had just begun to imagine the worst when in the distance he spied two sets of headlights draw nigh, then turn off the highway, and pull into the parking lot.

They were back. And Billy Ray must have alerted the chief from his squad car, for no sooner had Tyrone started back toward them, than he saw the chief exit the police station and approach the squad car. Tyrone looked at Mrs. Zeno. She was still sitting in her car staring straight ahead. Suddenly, a troubling thought occurred to him. What if this did not pan out? What if she had nothing new to add to what had already been said? No, he couldn’t think this way, for if she could not say what needed to be said, then he would make Rooster talk. Yes, he would make Rooster admit to them that which he had all ready admitted to him.

A car door opened, then slammed. Mrs. Zeno had climbed out and now stood with uncertainty before the four men.

“Miss Zeno,” Captain Jack spoke first.

“Mrs.,” she corrected him.

“My apologies,” Captain Jack said.

He paused. She remained quiet.

“Did you know Amy Talbert?” he asked.

His question made her squint.

“I knew her,” she said. “Why?”

“My apologies again,” he said. “Let me introduce myself. My name is Jack Johnson. I’m an attorney. I represent Marcus Stokes.”

He paused again, she said nothing.

“How well did you know Amy?”

“We were best friends.”

“Do you remember the day she was killed?”

“Yes, sir, I do,” she said. She paused and looked at Captain Jack with questioning eyes. “May I ask what this is all about?”

“There have been some new developments,” Captain Jack told her. “And we were hoping that maybe you could help us clear some things up.”

Terri looked at him, then at Tyrone.

“Did Amy go to school that day?” Captain Jack resumed.

“Yes, sir, she did.”

“And what time does school let out?”

“Two-fifteen.”

“Two-fifteen.” Captain Jack repeated the time.

“Yes, sir,” she said. “Two-fifteen.”

Captain Jack looked at the chief.

“Harland, Charlie couldn’t have seen them at two,” he said. “She was still in school … had to be three … just like Irene said.”

“Could have checked out early,” the chief said matter-of-factly.

“No, sir,” Terri said. “She was there all day. We had last period together.”

“Did you talk to her that day?” Captain Jack asked.

“Yes, sir,” she said. “We talked.”

“She say anything out of the ordinary?”

“I don’t know what you mean.”

“Did she say anything you found strange?”

“No, sir, she didn’t.”

“Did Amy Talbert normally discuss her plans with you?” the chief asked.

“Sometimes,” Terri said.

There was silence. Then Captain Jack asked his next question.

“Did you know Benny Jones?”

“Yes, sir. I know of him.”

“You ever seen him before?”

“Yes, sir. I have.”

“You have?”

“Sure,” she said. “He picked her up before.”

“Excuse me?” Captain Jack said, stunned.

“Amy didn’t have a car,” she explained. “And if she didn’t have a way to work, a lot of times, Mr. Peterson sent Benny to pick her up.”

“Were you ever at her house when Benny came to pick her up?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Have you ever seen his vehicle?”

“Yes, sir.”

“What does he drive?”

“A truck,” she said.

“What color?”

She paused and looked up at the ceiling. “Dark blue.”

“He did it, Harland … He picked her up that day.”

“She didn’t say that,” the chief said.

“You sure the truck was blue?” Captain Jack asked.

“Yes, sir,” she said. “I’m sure.”

“Would you know the truck if you saw it again?” Captain Jack asked.

“Probably,” she said, a little hesitant.

“Well, let’s take a look,” Captain Jack said.

He led her behind the building, and they stopped in front of the truck.

“Well,” Captain Jack said. “What do you think?”

“That looks like it to me,” she said.

“Does it look like the truck or is it the truck?” the chief asked.

“Don’t know if it is or isn’t,” she said. “But it sure looks like it.”

“That’s good enough for me,” Captain Jack said, eye-balling the chief.

The chief ran his hand over his face, then sighed heavily.

“Did you see Benny Jones pick Amy Talbert up in this truck the day she was killed?”

“No, sir … I didn’t.”

“But you have seen him and her in this truck together?” Captain Jack countered quickly.

“Yes, sir,” she said. “Lots of times.”

“Well, Jack,” the chief said. “I’ll admit this makes interesting conversation, but it still don’t change the fact that two witnesses saw Marcus Stokes abduct Amy Talbert the day she was killed.”

“They saw Benny Jones,” Captain Jack said. “Not Marcus Stokes.”

The chief shook his head. “They saw Stokes,” he said. “Both of them picked him out of a lineup.”

“After they had seen his picture plastered all over the news.”

“Jury didn’t see it that way,” the chief said.

“Well, Harland, maybe they saw it wrong,” Captain Jack said. “Wouldn’t be the first time.”

“Mrs. Zeno.” The chief turned his attention back to the witness. “Did Amy ever say anything to you about Benny Jones?”

She shook her head. “No, sir, she didn’t.”

“Nothing at all?” the chief said.

She shook her head again. “Not that I can remember.”

“Were they seeing each other?” Captain Jack was blunt.

“God no!” she said. “He took her to work sometimes, that’s all.”

“How long had she been working for Mr. Peterson?” the chief asked.

Terri paused, thinking.

“About two years.”

“During that time, how often would you say that Benny Jones picked her up and carried her to work?”

She looked at the chief, then hesitated, thinking. “A lot of times,” she said.

“A dozen or so?” The chief wanted specifics.

“More than that,” she said.

“Two dozen?” the chief asked.

“Probably more,” she said.

“And during that time,” the chief pressed his point, “she never had one problem with him, did she?”

“No, sir,” Terri said. “At least not that I know of.”

“And if she had,” the chief said, “do you think she would have told you?”

“I’m sure she would have,” Terri said. “She told me just about everything.”

“Did Amy Talbert tell you every time Benny Jones picked her up and carried her to work?” Captain Jack asked.

“No, sir,” Terri said. “I’m sure she didn’t.”

“So, you don’t know if Benny Jones picked her up that day or not, do you?”

“No, sir,” she said. “I don’t … but I doubt it.”

“Why is that?” Captain Jack asked. Her answer caught him off guard. He hadn’t expected her to say that.

“Because it was Monday,” she said.

He looked at her strangely. “I don’t understand,” he said, confused. “I don’t understand the significance.”

“It’s a school night,” Terri explained. “And normally Amy only worked on weekends. It was rare for her to work on a school night.”

“Rare,” Captain Jack said. “But she did … sometimes … didn’t she?”

“I guess,” she said. “But I sure can’t remember a time she worked up there on a school night.”

The chief saw an opening, and he pounced.

“So if someone said they saw Benny Jones pick her up and carry her to work that day, they would be lying, wouldn’t they?” the chief said.

“I don’t know,” she said. “They could have … I mean … I guess it’s possible … I just don’t know.”

“Well, what if I tell you that BennyJones said he didn’t know Amy Talbert,” Captain Jack countered.

“Then, he’d be lying,” she said.

“What if I tell you that he said he has never picked Amy up in that truck and carried her to work.”

“He’s lying,” she said. “He picked her up lots of times. I’ve seen him.”

“Maybe you’re lying.” The chief turned hostile.

“What reason I got to lie?” she asked.

“I don’t know,” the chief snapped. “You tell me.”

“I didn’t ask to come in here,” she said. “Y’all dragged me in here. Besides, Amy was my friend. I wouldn’t lie on her. She was my best friend.”

“How well do you know Mr. Stokes?” the chief asked.

“Can’t say that I know him at all,” Terri said. “Just met him a few days ago.”

“You and him talk about Amy Talbert?”

“He asked some questions,” she said.

“What kind of questions?” the chief wanted to know.

“He just wanted to know about Amy.”

“What did you tell him?”

“That she was a wonderful person. That’s all I could tell him … because she was.”

“He threaten you?” the chief asked.

“No,” she said.

“Bribe you?”

”Of course not.”

“You have any interest in his son?”

“Sir, I’m a married woman.”

“Did you see Benny Jones pick Amy Talbert up the day that she was killed?” the chief asked her again.

“No, sir, I didn’t.”

“Well,” the chief said, looking at Captain Jack. “That’s all that matters, now, isn’t it?”

Captain Jack shook his head. “I don’t think so, Harland,” he said. “I think something was going on between Benny and Amy. Something that possibly got her killed.”

“Pure speculation,” the chief said.

“Speculation or not,” Captain Jack countered, “I believe it.”

“You can believe whatever you want to,” the chief said. “But we’ll never know, now, will we? … Dead folks can’t talk.”

“Maybe they can,” Terri said.

There was silence. And the chief looked at her strangely.

“What?” he finally said.

“Amy kept a diary,” Terri explained.

“How do you know that?” Captain Jack asked.

“I saw it,” Terri said.

“Are you sure about this?”

“I’m positive.”

“Harland, I want that diary.”

“Now, hold on, Jack.”

“Harland, my client and I have a right to examine any evidence that can prove his innocence. I want to see that diary. “

“No, Jack,” the chief said. “Enough’s enough.”

“Harland—”

“No, Jack,” the chief said again. “Now, the Talberts
have suffered enough. I won’t put that family through that, and I won’t let you drag that child’s name through the mud. I just won’t.”

“I’ll get a court order.”

“Don’t threaten me, Jack.” The chief screwed up his face and stared at Captain Jack with cold, angry eyes. Tyrone had been watching quietly, taking this all in. But now he felt compelled to say something. Here was new evidence that could possibly free his son, and the chief arbitrator of the law, whose express duty it was to protect and serve, was hedging. He opened his mouth to speak, but before he could, Captain Jack spoke again.

“Harland, if something was going on that got Amy Talbert killed,” he said, “don’t you think her family would want to know about it?”

“Ah, come on, Jack,” the chief said, disgusted. “You know this is not about Amy’s family. This is about you and that Stokes boy and trying to get away with murder.”

“No, Harland,” Captain Jack said. “This is about truth and justice. How will it look? We discover a piece of evidence that could exonerate my client, and the chief of police has it withheld.”

There was silence. Then the chief looked at Terri. “Do you have any idea what kind of things are in her diary?” he asked.

“Amy was very private. She didn’t talk a lot. But she wrote down everything. So, I’m sure it’s filled with her innermost thoughts and secrets.”

“You ever read it?” the chief asked.

“I saw it,” she said. “And I saw her writing in it. But I never read it.”

Captain Jack looked at Terri. “If something was going on in her life—something dangerous—do you think she would have written it down?”

“Yes, sir,” she said. “I’m sure she would’ve. Provided she had the time.”

The chief and Captain Jack looked at each other. Their eyes met. The chief spoke first.

“Let’s say there is a diary, Jack. And let’s say I’m able to locate it. And let’s say I turn it over to you. How do you plan on handling it?”

“I need to read it,” Captain Jack said.

“You and who else?”

“Just me and my client.”

“This is sensitive, Jack,” the chief said. “I don’t want it made public.”

“I’m only interested in finding out who killed her.”

“I know who killed her.” The chief was adamant.

“Well, if you’re right, then this won’t change a thing, will it?” Captain Jack said. “But if you’re wrong, it just might keep an innocent man from dying. Now, I think that’s worth making a few people uncomfortable, don’t you?”

“I’ll ride out there,” the chief said.

“I’ll go with you,” Captain Jack said.

“No,” the chief said. “You stay here. Be better for everyone if I go by myself.”

T
he Talbert house was located near downtown, just off the end of Main Street, not more than a couple of minutes away. So when the chief left, Tyrone did not expect him to be gone long; yet, he was still surprised when the chief returned within minutes with a middle-aged white woman whom he was sure he had never seen before. When they entered the room, he looked at her and at the chief; then he narrowed his eyes and leaned forward, staring. Where was the diary? He did not see the diary. Suddenly, Captain Jack stepped forward and extended his hand.

“Mrs. Talbert.”

Tyrone had been searching the chief with his eyes, looking for the diary, but when he heard Mrs. Talbert’s name, he halted and with bated breath raised his eyes and peered into the woman’s face. His gaze had just fallen on her when her lips parted, and she spoke for the first time.