To Kill a President (17 page)

Chapter 33

It was Tuesday morning as David sat in his bedroom staring at the phone wondering what he could say, he knew he would have to try and intimidate Noguchi.  It was around an hour before he worked up the courage to make the call.

“Hi this is Dr Lewis from Parkland Hospital in Dallas. I was hoping to speak with Dr Noguchi.”

“No problem I’ll just put you through.”

“Good morning, Dr Noguchi.”

“Hello Dr Noguchi, this is Dr Lewis from Parkland Hospital in Dallas, we met last year at the conference in Nevada?”

“Yes I remember. What can I do for you?”

“Well I was hoping you may be able to get in touch with your friend Robert Kennedy.”

There was a long pause before Noguchi responded.  “Excuse me?”

“You heard me just fine. I want you to get in touch with Bobby Kennedy.”

“Why would I do that?”

“Well for one reason I know you botched her autopsy, for another I know Kennedy was with her the night she died.”

“Who are you talking about?  I have no idea what you are talking about.”

“Of course you do Thomas, Marilyn Munroe and tell him I have her diary.  Get him to call me or I’m going public with everything I know.”

Chapter 34

As the plane touched down in New Orleans it was 10:00, the flight from Dallas was little over an hour.  Bobby had spoken to Wray on the phone the previous day and they had arranged to meet at Guy Bannister’s office as he was there working on Marcello’s trial.

They took a taxi from the airport to Lafayette Street.  Bobby was irritable, he had hardly slept last night. It seemed that with each passing day their situation had continued to deteriorate.  He had been thinking long and hard about Jane’s idea of approaching Jim Garrison but he could not think of a way of doing so without seeming like they were in on the hit. 

As the taxi pulled to a stop outside 531 Lafayette Street, Bobby paid the driver and they exited the cab.  Bobby hobbled to the corner to double check what Chauncey had told him.  He was right 544 Camp Street was the same building as Bannister’s office.  The three of them then climbed the stairwell and arrived in Guy Bannister’s office.  As they entered the office they saw Jack Martin sat behind his desk smoking a cigarette.

“Bobby how are you?” Jack asked.

As Bobby made to shake Jack’s hand he could smell the whisky on his breath.  “I’m good Jack and you?”

“Yeah I’m okay Bobby, work is pretty slow.”

“I thought you were working on Marcello’s deportation case?”

Jack grunted.  “No I’m not trusted on something that big, he’s got the lawyer and that kid Ferrie in there just now.  Is he expecting you?”

“Yeah I have some accounts to give Wray he asked me to meet him here.”

As Bobby finished speaking the door opened behind them.  Two men entered the office.

“Hi Jack is he busy?”

“Yeah sorry Carlos he’s in with Marcello’s lawyer, who’s your friend?”

“Oh this is Louie Witt, can you just tell Bannister that Louie is available for the 22
nd
?”

“What is he involved in the trial?”  Jack asked.

“Yeah he needed me to check that Louis was available.  So just let him know that’s okay and I’ll pop back later.”

“Okay bye guys.”  Jack said as the two men left the office.

“Who is Carlos?”  Bobby asked.

“I’m not sure what his job is exactly he’s been working here a few months, he’s been helping Guy with Marcello’s deportation case.  He’s a member of some anti-Castro group.”

“So what’s happening on the 22
nd
?”

“That’s the day of Marcello’s trial.”  Jack stated.  He suddenly turned his attention towards Derrick and Jane.  “Don’t I know you?”  Jack asked.

“No I don’t think so.”  Jane responded.  Derrick remained silent.

“No not you.”  Jack stated as he stared at Derrick.

Derrick was still silent.  “This is my new investigator Derrick Stinson and this is my friend Jane Stuart.” Bobby clarified.

“Hmm couldn’t be you then, you look like some guy we had in here a few months back but his name was Billy something or other.  Anyway go on in Bobby it’s probably best if you leave your friends out here.”

Bobby nodded and headed towards Guy’s door.  He knocked once.

“Come in.”  As Bobby entered he saw Bannister sitting behind his desk to the left of the room and David Ferrie sitting with Wray Gill in the centre of the room.

“Bobby come on in and take a seat.” Bannister said.  He pulled up a chair beside David Ferrie.  “We were just finishing up, have you met David?”  Guy asked.

“Yes I think just the once.”  David nodded in agreement.  He was a weird looking man, he suffered from alopecia and as a result he wore a bad red wig and he had drawn on eyebrows.  “So how’s the case coming along?”

“We should be just fine.”  Wray answered.  “Did you bring the accounts?”

Bobby handed Wray the red book he had been carrying.  “Sure did, the place is doing great.”

“Thanks Bobby and did you have a chance to talk with Chuck?”

Bobby was perplexed “Chuck?”

David sighed.  “The ice rink guy” Wray clarified.

“Ah no to be honest I completely forgot about that, does it need to be me?  I could send Derrick?”

“Yes that would be fine.”  Wray stated.

“Just make sure he tells Chuck I want to open a rink here in New Orleans and I’ll be popping by with a couple of investors later in the month. And make sure he tells him I may have a job for him if he’s interested.”  David said.

“Will do I’ll send him today do you know when you will be visiting?”

“Yes it will be the 22
nd
.”

Bobby was stunned why would Ferrie one of Marcello’s key guys be in Houston on the day he may be deported and the day he was having the president murdered in Dallas?  “Would Marcello not rather have you here to help during the trial?”

“My work will be done by then, that prick Bobby Kennedy has no chance.”

“Well I actually need to be getting back to the office.”  Wray interrupted.  “So I shall see you all later, Bobby thanks again do you need a ride back to the airport?”

“No thanks Wray I was planning on making a day of it here of it in New Orleans.  But Derrick is out there with Jack and a friend of mine Jane, you could take him to the airport and tell him to pick up Nancy then take her to Houston.  Have you got the address of that ice rink?”  Wray nodded.  “Well just tell him I want him to go and do as David has asked.  But tell Jane to stay here.”

“Sure thing.”

As Wray closed the door Bobby turned towards Guy and said “Your friend Carlos popped by, he said Louis was available for the 22
nd
.”

“Did he?  That’s great news.”  Guy stated. “They are helping with the situation in Dallas, just like you Bobby.”  He had assumed Guy and David were involved but this provided confirmation.

“So did Marcello tell you about my role?”  Bobby enquired.

“He sure did.  You’re not worried about it are you?”

“No.” Bobby lied.  “I’m just not that comfortable with an innocent man taking the fall, so who’s pulling the trigger?”

Bannister laughed.  “You think he would tell us?  Bobby everyone has a job to do.”

“And what is yours Guy?”  Bobby asked.

His smile was gone now.  “I’ve just helped people get to where they’ve needed to be.”  He replied.

“People like Oswald?”

“Why do you say that?”  Bannister replied.

“You know Chauncey Holt?  He came by to drop off some fake ID he meets your man Carlos.  Next time he comes Carlos is fighting Oswald in the street for handing out leaflets with your address on them.  Little odd wouldn’t you say?”

“You really shouldn’t be digging so deep into this Bobby, you’re a friend so I’ll let it pass but if you keep digging around you’re asking for trouble.”

“What you think they’ll have me whacked Guy?”

He laughed once again but it was David that responded.  “They are whacking JFK you really think anyone would worry about hitting you too?”

“Well I suppose not.”  Bobby replied.  “I should be going anyway, Jack said he hasn’t got much on at the moment is he free for a few drinks?”

“Yeah be good to get that drunken bum out of here.”  Guy said.

With that Bobby rose from his chair and went back through the door towards Jack and Jane.  “Jack, Jane and I are going for a few drinks before we head back would you care to join us?  Guy said you could have the rest of the day off.”

Jack looked delighted.  “That sounds great Bobby.”

Chapter 35

It had been a difficult morning for Faraday, it was the first time he had spent any time alone with Nancy and he found that the words of Jack Ruby had been playing on his mind.  He had tried to fight the urge to ask Nancy about Derrick but he found that his resistance was waning.

“So how did you and Derrick meet?”

“Oh he’s a sweetheart it was pouring with rain one night when I was heading home from the office.  Derrick was driving passed and pulled over to offer me a lift home.”

“Really you just got in his car he could have been anyone?”

“Yes it was probably silly but it worked out pretty well.”  She smiled as she spoke of him.

“So did you two just hit it off?”

“Pretty much, when he told me his name was Stinson I just couldn’t believe the coincidence, we got chatting and went out for a few drinks.”

“So when did he tell you about his run in with Jack Ruby?”

“Why do you ask?”  Nancy’s face changed, she had her guard up now.

“Just curious I mean it’s not the kind of thing he would have mentioned on the first date.”

“No I suppose not.  He only told me a couple of weeks ago, he was struggling to find work.  He kept asking me to ask Bobby if there were any jobs going.  But I couldn’t bring myself to do that, Bobby has done so much for me I wouldn’t feel right asking him for favours.”

“Really he specifically wanted to work for Bobby?”

“Well yeah he had heard about Bobby in the papers, he’s a very talented lawyer.”

“Yes I suppose he is, Derrick seems like a talented investigator too, he managed to find out quite a lot about Lee Harvey Oswald didn’t he?”

“What is it that you’re getting at Faraday, why are you so interested in Derrick?”

“No reason just making conversation.”

An awkward silence ensued.  It was eventually broken by the condo door being opened.  Derrick entered the living room.  “Nancy we are off to Houston.”

“Why?”

“Bobby wants me to go and visit an ice rink up there speak to some guy called Chuck.  We could go skating while we are there?”

“That’s a long way to go for skating.”  Nancy replied.

“Take it up with Bobby!  I figured we could make the best of it maybe spend the night?”

“Okay I guess it would be fun to have a night away.”

Chapter 36

As they entered the bar it was empty save for the lone barman.  “I’ll get the first round” Bobby said.  “What’s your poison folks?”

“I’ll have a whisky thanks Bobby.”  Jack replied.

“Gin and tonic thanks.”  Jane replied.

“Go grab a table and I’ll bring them over.”

As Bobby returned to Jack and Jane he didn’t know where to begin.  Jack took a sip of his whisky and lit a cigarette.  Bobby lit one as well.

“Okay Jack I’m going to be honest, we need your help.”  Bobby stated.