by Irving Munro
“This will have an impact of seismic proportions across the political spectrum,” said the assistant DA. “Here we have one of the biggest shakers and movers in the business world in Texas, if not the entire nation, soon to be arrested for multiple murders. His son is the governor-elect of Texas and some say is on a path to the White House. I need to make a call to the DA right away,” said Bobby, and he left the room to make the call.
“I will need to call Governor Shaw,” said Bill Dunwoody. “The shit he was trying to avoid is rolling downhill fast in his direction. He will want his spin-doctors working on this throughout the night. This might impact Gavin McMullen’s future White House expectations, but it will certainly impact Raymond Shaw’s current White House bid. He will need to distance himself from Garrison McMullen. I need to go call him right now.”
“Marie, we need to get hold of Latisha. Let’s go to my office and we can call her from there. Do you want to join us, Dad?” said Tommy.
“Yes, I’ll tag along. We need to think through what we are going to say to her and I have some ideas,” said Bill.
~
They sat down together in Tommy’s office. “Okay, Dad, how do you think we should handle this with Latisha?”
“When we tell her what we know she will have egg on her face. She will know that she has pulled the trigger too quickly and tried to leverage her governor’s office connections to endear herself to Governor Shaw. She has done this in a calculated way. She may think that being the eyes and ears of a future President inside the press might advance her career. She might also be angling for the press secretary role. Who knows? One thing is certain; she didn’t spill the beans to Raymond Shaw out of the goodness of her heart.”
“We need to take the approach that she has put herself in the shit and we can help her climb out. We can say that we are now briefing the governor on the truth and that she was not in full possession of that latest information. We can tell her that we will tell the governor her actions were with the best intent. We then get something in return; we don’t need to be specific about what that is, simply that she owes us one,” concluded Bill.
“Holy crap, Dad, you should have been a politician!”
“No. I need to be able to sleep at night with a clear conscious, son.”
~
They called Latisha and adopted Bill’s approach. It worked perfectly. Latisha Williams was forever in their debt; at least that’s what she said.
Assistant DA Bobby Brown returned thirty minutes later.
“The DA wants to have us conference him in; let’s get back to the conference room,” said Bobby.
All of them, including the chief, assembled in the conference room.
“We’re all here now, sir,” said Bobby, kicking off the call.
“Hey, everyone, this is Tom Morton here,” said the DA. “Bobby has kept me up to date every step of the way on this and has briefed me on the latest developments of today. Chief Dunwoody, I have to congratulate you and your team for their exceptional work in getting this to this stage. We now need to work together very closely as a team to take it over the finish line and see that all guilty parties get their just desserts. I’m sure that you would agree, Governor Shaw.”
The DA had already linked the governor into the conversation.
“I completely agree,” said Raymond Shaw.
“I also took the liberty of bringing the governor-elect into the call this evening, and although he was very appreciative of the consideration that Detective Ross offered him today, after discussing the issue with Tom and me he is in agreement that we need to move now and arrest his father with all due haste. Would you like to say a few words, Gavin?”
“Thanks, Raymond. Yes, I agree with everything being said and I do want to say here for the record that Detective Sergeant Tommy Ross was in no way out of line today, and that it was I who asked for the delay in taking action. I now realize that the public good would be best served by making the arrest now and that I will need to deal with political fallout as best I can.”
Bill Ross sat in awe at the speed with which these politicians and senior elected officials moved to circle the wagons and protect themselves. In what was in effect less than an hour they all were on the same page. Each could claim that their actions tonight were collectively designed for the public good. It was impressive!
“Thank you both for taking the time to be on the call tonight. I think that Bobby and I should now work through the details on next steps with Chief Dunwoody and his team. Thanks again.”
The governor and the governor-elect left the call.
~
The DA was now calling the shots. He moved the conversation to the next phase.
“It’s now eight-thirty and I am at a Make-a-Wish Foundation dinner at the Four Seasons. I believe that we should make the arrest tonight,” said the DA.
“Do we have any idea where Garrison McMullen is? It may take us some time to organize the team needed to make the arrest,” said Bill Dunwoody.
“Garrison is about 200 feet to my left. He’s at the same event as I am. We should make the arrest when he exits the event and is picked up by his driver,” said Tom Morton.
~
Now it all made sense to Bill, the need for speed. The DA saw the opportunity for a photo op. Based on the “who’s who” attendee list at the Make-A-Wish Foundation fund raiser, the press would be crawling all over the place. It would be on all national news channels in a micro-second.
The sheriff made the call. Tommy Ross would make the arrest with Marie Mason by his side and supported by several deputies. Chief Dunwoody, the assistant DA and the DA would make themselves available for the media to answer questions after the arrest was made and the suspect was secure.
Everyone went off to ready themselves for the event, and Tommy and Marie went off to make another call.
~
“Latisha, we need to talk with you again. There have been some further developments,” said Marie, kicking off the call.
“Marie, there is no need to rub it in. I fucked up. Please stop gloating. As I said in the call a few minutes ago, I owe you one,” replied Latisha.
“Latisha, this is Tommy, you need to shut up and listen. Get your ass down to the Four Seasons as fast as possible. Get all support you need to get what will happen there out in the public domain. You can get the drop on this, Latisha, and this is further evidence of our good faith and willingness to continue working together. In about forty minutes Garrison McMullen will be arrested outside the Four Seasons.”
The phone went dead. The Rottweiler was on her way!
~
Exiting the fundraiser, Garrison McMullen was surrounded by his normal supporting entourage. Following on behind were the guests from the table for ten that Venture Point Holdings had purchased. They included Enrique Rodriguez, Finlay Robertson of Robertson Richards and his wife, Eddie Tang and his wife, and Charles Haywood of the Venture Point Investment Fund and his wife.
The limos pulled up to the curb and the driver jumped out of the lead limo and opened the door for Garrison McMullen. He stepped from the door of the hotel and then did a 180 to say goodbye to his friends and business associates and wave to the press. When he turned back around to move to the car, Tommy and Marie stood in his way.
“Garrison McMullen, I am arresting you in connection with the murders of Alyana Reyes and Achak Muguara. When we reach the police office, more detailed charges will be made and you will be Mirandized. I strongly suggest that you simply step this way and not create the need for us to arrest you forcibly in front of the national press,” said Tommy.
Garrison McMullen did as they asked, but as he walked with them to the waiting cruiser he whispered in Tommy’s ear. “Your life as you know it is over you son of a bitch!” Tommy looked him in the eye smiled and winked and said, “I think you got it the wrong way around, you arrogant asshole!”
~
There was total chaos at the entrance to the Four Seasons.
Garrison McMullen’s guests and business partners scurried across the parking lot looking for their limos to exit stage left out of the melee. Reporters, there to cover the fundraising event, were on their cell phones with their bosses trying to get instructions on what to do to leverage the coverage of the chaos for their news outlet. It was pandemonium.
Off to the side of the main entrance two men stood with a mobile news team from KXAN, the NBC affiliate in Austin. The cameras rolled, transmitting a live stream to the local Austin community and to NBC New York, which had been given a 25-minute warning that a huge news story was breaking in Austin and to be ready for the feed.
The Travis County District Attorney, Tom Morton, with Sheriff Bill Dunwoody and Bobby Brown at his side, made a brief statement.
“This evening officers from the Travis County Police Department, led by Detective Sargent Tommy Ross, the head of the cold case unit, arrested Mr. Garrison McMullen in connection with the death of his ex-wife, Alyana Reyes, and her partner, Mr. Achak Muguara. Due to the lateness of the hour, Chief Dunwoody and I will give a more detailed statement tomorrow afternoon at 3 p.m. Central time. Thank you.”
The throng of reporters was now firing questions at them, but no answers were forthcoming. They made no further statement and left.
Standing in the parking lot of the hotel, Bill Ross watched all of this go down. He was humming a tune, remembering the words of the song “Dirty Laundry” by Don Henley:
I make my living off the evening news
Just give me something-something I can use
People love it when you lose,
They love dirty laundry
Kick 'em when they're up
Kick 'em when they're down
Kick 'em when they're up
Kick 'em all around
Chapter 30: The Scottish genius
Julien Boudreaux was at the sheriff’s office bright and early.
“We’re going to have to give you an employee badge if you keep this up, Julien! How come all of your clients are suddenly getting into so much trouble? The good thing, of course, is that based on your hourly rate your kids should get some expensive Christmas gifts this year!” said Bill Dunwoody, laughing.
“I want to see my client!” demanded the Cajun attorney.
“Let me see now, which one would that be, Julien?”
“Chief, take me to Garrison McMullen immediately, please!” said the lawyer now irritated by the chief’s lack of respect.
~
Tommy arrived in the office at the same time as Marie.
“Good work yesterday, Marie! I see that Latisha was on the ball. She had a full page in the Statesman this morning with the report on Garrison McMullen’s arrest. There’s also a nice group photo of all of us as we get him loaded into the car. She was obviously right on the ball was Latisha. I wonder how that happened,” said Tommy, grinning from ear to ear.
When Tommy reached his desk there was a note waiting for him that Jimmy Rodriguez wanted to see him the minute he got in.
“Marie, we need to go take Jimmy Rodriguez his morning coffee!” yelled Tommy before Marie had a chance to check her own messages.
“Good morning, Jimmy, don’t tell me you missed me and couldn’t wait to say hi the minute I got in. That’s so sweet of you. I brought you a latte, well, actually it’s just a white out of the vending machine with two sugars, but we can call it a latte this morning just to give our meeting a little more ambience.”
Jimmy was not amused at Tommy’s little joke.
“I need to talk to you without my lawyer present. Can we do it now, please? I have something very important to share,” said Jimmy.
“Sure thing. Let’s you, Marie and I take the lattes to the small conference room over there and let’s hear what you have to say.”
The holding cell deputy led Jimmy across the hallway to the conference room and secured him to the chair.
“Your show, Jimmy, fire away.”
“I understand that Garrison McMullen was arrested last night; is this true?”
“Yes, it’s true, Jimmy.”
“I will give you information that will help you put him away if you take the death penalty off the table.”
“You and Pepe are always negotiating,” said Tommy, knowing that the comment about his boyfriend would not be lost on Jimmy. “What evidence do you have, Jimmy? I can’t go to the DA without a solid understanding of what’s on offer.”
“You think Garrison McMullen ordered the hit on the Raul Hernandez dude and told me to put it about that it was because he was muscling in on our business. That wasn’t the reason. It was because the dude was asking too many questions about Garrison’s dead wife, and I will testify to that. I will also testify that McMullen asked me to clean up the mess at the ranch after he killed his wife and Achak Muguara. I can also tell you where the bodies are as I was asked to get rid of them.”
“Okay, Jimmy, I appreciate your fine offer. I’ll take it to the DA and see what he says. I’ll get back to you on it. This fine deputy will take you back to your cell now and you can enjoy your morning coffee in peace.”
~
Tommy got back to his desk where Bill Dunwoody and Bobby Brown were waiting on him.
“Good work last night, Tommy. Julien Boudreaux wants to meet us with his client Garrison McMullen. Want to sit in? You can just stand in the corner with the chief; I think you’ve earned it. If they ask you to leave then you have to get out of there.”
They arrived at the interview room that had become very familiar to them over the past couple of weeks. Julien spoke first, of course.
“I have gone over the charges with my client and he denies any knowledge of any murder. There was no murder! His wife and Mr. Muguara were both killed in a road traffic accident in Mexico. My client flew down there and identified the body of his wife, brought her home, and she is now buried in the family plot in Lago Vista.
“These charges are a complete fabrication and the accusers must be persons looking to take political advantage from my client’s demise. I request a hearing with the judge immediately. I will request complete dismissal of all charges.”
Julien sat back, pretty satisfied with his opening salvo.
“Were you ever on Saturday Night Live, Julien? You’re hilarious! We plan to exhume your client’s wife’s body and check it with his son’s DNA for a match., My guess is that will not work in your client’s favor. We have an eyewitness who saw the killing of both people take place. Oh, in addition, there are likely to be further charges brought. Certain individuals currently in our custody claim that your client ordered the killing of Mike Muguara, Achak Muguara’s son. That was the body found out at Whispering Hollow earlier this year, the murder that two of your other clients have been charged with. It sounds to me, Julien, that you might have been drinking too much holiday cheer!”
Julien was so red in the face that Bobby thought he might self-combust at any moment. Garrison McMullen stared at his attorney like he wanted to tear his head off right in front of them.
~
After the meeting with Garrison McMullen and his attorney, Tommy was back at his desk with Bill bringing him up to speed on latest developments.
“When there is blood in the water, predators come from miles around!” said Bill. “Tell the DA to wait and not to force the pace too quickly. It’s Christmas and Julien knows that everything slows down to a snail’s pace at Christmas; that’s why he’s trying to move it along,” he continued.
“Why don’t you tell him yourself, Dad? He wanted to meet you, and here he comes right now."
Bill turned around and saw Tom Morton striding purposefully in his direction.
“Bill Ross, the Scottish genius! I can’t tell you how much I have been looking forward to meeting you. I wanted to officially thank you for the great work on the Luther Fisher case and also for the insight and support you continue to provide your son and his team every day. I don’t mean to embarrass you, but since you are not compen
sated for your incredible service, I wanted to wish you the joys of the season.”
Bill hadn’t seen the guy at the back of the room arrive with the DA, and he now stepped forward with a box and placed it on the desk in front of Bill. Tommy had never seen such a look on his father’s face; he stared at the box and then he held on to the side of Tommy’s desk for support.
“The Pride ’78!” he seemed to whisper the words under his breath.
Lying on the table was a box of two bottles of Glenmorangie Single Malt Scotch, with a current retail value of $5,800 per bottle.
Gaining his composure, Bill explained why he was so overcome.
“Glenmorangie Pride 1978 is a limited edition. Only 700 bottles of the single malt were made available worldwide. Only five casks were laid down, making it extremely rare, and only 180 bottles of the limited edition whisky was made available for purchase in the U.S. Two bottles are now resting in front of me. I don’t know what to say.”
“Say nothing, Bill!” bellowed the DA. “You deserve this for your continued service to the good people of Travis County - Enjoy!”
~
“In the conference room now, please!” The DA had now moved on and was barking instructions at the Chief, Bobby and Tommy.
A group of about a dozen suits sat in the conference room awaiting their arrival. They were PR people from the county, city and state administrations. Seated at the head of the table was Governor Shaw and to his right Gavin McMullen.
The DA took the floor.
“This afternoon at three o’clock we have our first formal statement on this. My team advises me that the nation’s press is descending on Austin. I am also advised that there are state and national politicians already giving interviews on national TV, spinning this story every which way. The left is having a field day and licking their lips at the potential demise of a major Republican contributor, second only to the Koch brothers. The right is claiming a conspiracy by liberals to try to tarnish the good name of a business leader committed to the creation of thousands of new jobs.
