Chasing a Dead Man

by Kathryn J Bain

  Silence held over the line for a moment. “You’re probably right,” Trish finally said. “We’ve got the funeral scheduled for Andrew. I know Pamela would like you to attend.”

  “I’ll see what I can do.” After getting the date and time, Jane hung up. She looked at the ceiling and shook her head. Just what Jacksonville needed, Trish and Pamela out looking for this storage unit. The notion made her laugh.

  After trying to reach Sawyer, she headed to the front office. “Brenda, do you still have that storage unit key?”

  “Yeah.” She handed it back. “I only have a couple more to check.”

  “You can finish if you’d like, but I have to turn this over to the feds.” Jane held the key up in the air. Her phone vibrated on her waist.

  “Gotta run. Have a meeting on wedding preparations.” Jane rushed back, grabbed her purse, and headed out the door.

  Thirty minutes later, she pulled in front of Mom’s house at the same time as Terri. While Jane was a thin five foot nine, Terri was only five-five and plump, taking after their mother. The rest of the kids got Dad’s tall, skinny genes.

  They were meeting with Mom to discuss the wedding arrangements. Poppy was to appear by video. This wasn’t exactly Jane’s forte, but Terri had begged her to help.

  “Hey, girl,” Jane said.

  “Good morning.” Terri’s face shined with her large smile.

  They hugged each other. “Okay, let me see the ring.” Jane waved two fingers.

  Her sister held her hand out. A pear-shaped diamond on her ring finger.

  “Very nice.”

  “I still can’t believe it.” She led Jane up the cobblestone walk. “I still can’t believe someone wants to spend the rest of their life with me.”

  “Me neither.” Jane nudged Terri in the back with her knuckle. “Now, remember what I said, choose your battles.”

  Terri inhaled, then released a loud breath.

  Jane took her sister’s arm and slowed her pace. “If Mom wants the wedding in front of the roses, don’t insist on it being in front of the lilies. The more you let her have her way with this and the food, the less she’ll give you trouble on your dress or the people you want to invite.”

  “Okay, I get it,” Terri said. “Speaking of dresses, tomorrow, I’m heading to the Beaches to see if I can find one. Mom’s coming. Poppy said she’d be available by video. Any chance you can come along?”

  “You don’t think two opinions are enough?”

  “It’s not that. I’m hoping you can run interference. Mom doesn’t exactly like my taste in clothes.”

  “Who does?” Jane laughed. “I should be able to.”

  “Thanks.” Her sister’s face lit up.

  An hour later, they had decided to have the ceremony outside in the gazebo Dad had built before he died. Both Terri and Mom loved the idea.

  “Now what about food?” Mom asked. “I thought something light since it will be mid-afternoon.”

  “I agree.” Terri glanced at Jane then back at Mom. “Can you make your meatballs?”

  “With you wearing a white dress?” Mom stared as if Terri had two heads.

  “Please, Mom.” Terri bounced up and down in the chair like a three-year-old. “You know they’re my favorite. Please.”

  “Just say you’ll make them, Mom,” Jane said. “You know you will.”

  Terri didn’t realize the ceremony was the simple part. It was after the wedding things got hard. Their mother would like nothing more than to have a gazillion grandchildren. And she wasn’t shy about her request.

  Terri’s phone rang in the other room, and she got up to answer it.

  “So, what’s wrong with you?” Mom sat down across the dining room table from Jane.

  “What makes you think something’s wrong?” Jane answered.

  “You just don’t seem to be enjoying yourself. Like your mind is elsewhere.”

  “I’m just having an issue with Luke.”

  Terri returned to the room. “Luke, he’s the best. I can’t imagine he’s giving you any trouble.”

  “He’s not really. He just doesn’t want a babysitter anymore, and I’m not ready to leave him and Liz alone.” Jane leaned back.

  Terri raised a finger. “I agree. He’s only twelve.”

  “Going on thirty,” Jane added.

  “Tell him it’s too soon. And that after summer, when he’s thirteen, you’ll revisit the issue. Gives you time to get used to the idea but doesn’t close off the discussion.”

  Jane looked at Terri. “When’d you get so much wisdom?”

  “You forget, I was the youngest. I had a lot of practice being told no.”

  Jane’s phone rang. The office. I need to take this.

  “Jane,” Brenda said. “When can I get my milkshake?”

  “You found the unit?”

  “Yeah, it’s one on San Jose Boulevard.”

  Chapter 31

  Winston put her blinker on to get off the highway. The hearing on the Motion to Dismiss for the killer of the Newberry kid was an hour away.

  Charles had called her over the weekend and told her that Mrs. Herbert claimed she was only in the area to meet with Pamela. She wanted to apologize for what her son had done, but couldn’t gather up the nerve, so she left. Since Charles had nothing to really hold her on, she was sent home.

  Pamela had called with the date for her husband’s funeral. As much as Winston hated to attend, she’d be there, if for nothing else Pamela. Though several days had passed since his death, Winston knew even with the funeral that it would take time to move on.

  While most people hated the traffic heading west to the Duval County Courthouse, she had no issue with it. The forty minutes gave her time to listen to music. She chose jazz today to avoid hearing one of Steve’s songs.

  She found a parking spot across from the Pita Pit and walked the one block to the courthouse. Her body felt like she was moving in slow motion, her mind in a fog from lack of sleep.

  Kimberly Shay was waiting with Stuart and another guy outside courtroom 722. Winston assumed he was an associate working at Kimberly’s office though he only held a manilla envelope in his hand.

  “Where’s Fran?” Winston glanced around looking for her.

  “She’s not feeling well.” Stuart stood with his hands in his pants pockets.

  Once the courtroom had cleared from the prior hearing, they all walked in and took a seat. The young man who’d been with Kimberly sat in the aisle across from them.

  A reporter she recognized from a local station walked up to her. “Ms. Black, would you be interested in doing an interview about the Phillip Evers’ case?”

  “No.” She shook her head.

  “How about his wife?” the man said. “Do you think she’ll talk to me?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “Can you check?” The reporter slid his card over to Winston. “Just let me know.”

  At least he wasn’t forceful like some. She’d have to call Pamela and tell her. She might want to get out of town once the funeral is over. At least until all the hoopla died down.

  More local reporters were seated in the middle of the room. Voices, while mainly murmurs, would raise every once in a while, drowning out the rustling of papers up front.

  Kimberly walked up to Ben Nichols, the attorney representing the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office. Within a minute, she was back.

  “My guess is the judge won’t dismiss it,” Kimberly said.

  “Why not?” Stuart hissed.

  “Most judges would rather allow a jury to decide, especially on a violation of a person’s civil rights.”

  “What about my son’s rights?” Stuart’s lips disappeared. He leaned forward as if trying to get the reporters to listen. “The media claims the police murdered him because he was black. Seems they don’t care that my boy was a black man also.”

  Attorney Leland Coleman walked in with his clients, Susan Xavier and Andre Martinez. A couple others with them were
wearing t-shirts with Joseph Xavier’s face on the front.

  Stuart went to rise, but Winston put her hand on his arm. The last thing she needed was him getting kicked out before the hearing even began.

  Coleman paused, glanced their way with a furrowed brow, then headed to a table near the front.

  People whispered at each other. Occasionally, Coleman would glance back at them over his shoulder. Once the judge entered and the proceeding began, all went silent. The attorney for the sheriff’s office started with his case for dismissal.

  “Your honor, Joseph Xavier had a long history of criminal activity. He had a gun on his possession at the time of his death. A weapon he aimed at the police. They felt they were in danger. Even though he was just a teen, he’d already killed two people. The officers had no way of knowing whether he was going to shoot them as well.”

  This went on for about two more minutes before he finished, and Judge Latimere turned to Leland Coleman to give his rebuttal.

  “Your honor, we have video which shows Joseph Xavier, age seventeen, was raising his hands to surrender when the police shot him. Here he was, a child chased down and scared by the police for a crime he hadn’t been convicted of.”

  “A victim shot that night identified him, your honor.” Nichols glared at the other attorney.

  “Even if he’d been guilty, he deserved a trial, not justice in the streets.”

  A couple people behind Joseph’s mother nodded and said, “That’s right.”

  Nichols was about to say something else when the judge raised a hand. “I think I’ve heard enough, gentlemen. I would suggest with a video as evidence we allow a jury to decide.” He slammed his gavel, got up, and disappeared through a back door.

  Triumphant yells went through the people sitting on Joseph Xavier’s side. All the reporters rushed out except for one. She glanced their way, her mouth downturned. Apparently, she realized what a travesty this was.

  “So much for justice,” Stuart said.

  Winston didn’t know what to say to calm him. She wrapped her purse strap around her shoulder as she stood.

  Kimberly leaned towards them. “Now it’s our turn.”

  Coleman and his clients, all smiles, headed their way. The guy who had come with Kimberly stepped in front of them.

  “Ms. Xavier? Mr. Martinez?”

  “Yes,” both said in unison.

  “I’m with Roundtree Special Services. These are for you.” He held out the envelope, but Coleman intercepted.

  “What’s this?” Coleman asked.

  “Will you please sign this?” The guy shoved his tablet toward Coleman who waited a beat then signed.

  The processer server turned and nodded at Kimberly then left.

  “I don’t understand?” Colman held up the envelopes.

  “My clients are suing the parents of Joseph Xavier over the death of their son,” Kimberly said.

  All the excitement the Xavier crowd had exhibited seconds earlier died. A few curse words were spewed, but the bailiff quieted them quickly. The reporter who’d remained took a picture of the group with her cell, then typed on the pad. A light grin on her face. By staying behind, she’d garnered an exclusive.

  “What’s she talking about?” Mrs. Xavier asked. “I didn’t kill nobody.”

  Kimberly leaned on the bench in front of her. “It means you’ll never see a penny of any money you might win from your lawsuit.” She turned to Winston and Stuart. “Shall we go?”

  “W-Wait a minute.” Coleman held his palm out to stop them. “Maybe we can find a room and discuss this.”

  ***

  Gabriel pulled up the airlines available to take him to Morocco, one of the nicer countries without extradition. He and his family could live well on a modest income. The interest from his accounts should be enough to get him a home.

  He pulled out four stacks of twenties from his safe and dropped them inside his briefcase alongside four others. He’d leave the last two for the family.

  Analyn walked in. She pulled the plane itinerary off the printer “What is this?”

  “I have to go out of the country for work.”

  “When?”

  “Unfortunately, first thing tomorrow.” He nodded at the document in her hand.

  “When were you going to tell me?”

  “As soon as I got the date. Didn’t expect it to be so soon.”

  Analyn looked at him, her brown eyes sad. “This is why you’ve been in such a bad mood and chasing your phone all the time.”

  He looked down at his desk. “Yeah. I don’t want to go, but I have no choice.”

  “You should have said something.” She shook her head.

  “I’m just going to miss you all terribly.”

  “We’ll miss you too.” She walked around and placed the information in his briefcase.

  He pulled her down on his lap. “Maybe you and the kids would like to go with me. We have the money. Be great for the kids to see Casablanca and the mountains of Morocco. It’s supposed to be a beautiful place.”

  “I wish we could, but there’s school to think about.”

  “They can study ahead or make it up when we come home.”

  A shine came into her eyes. She was considering it; he just knew it.

  “When would we be back?”

  His shoulders slumped. He knew better than to lie to her. She could read him too well. “I don’t know.”

  She wrapped her arms around his neck. “It was a nice thought. Maybe we can visit if it goes on longer than a couple of weeks.”

  “That would be great.” He knew by then everything would probably have come to light, especially if he didn’t get to that storage unit. “I’m leaving you enough cash for at least a month. Just in case.”

  “Will you have enough? Here we can use credit cards. I’m not sure how they work overseas.”

  “I’ve got more at the office.”

  His phone vibrated on the desk. He couldn’t wait to toss that thing away.

  “Work calls.” Analyn kissed him on the lips then disappeared out the door.

  The text was from Employee 429. He’d had the fifty thousand delivered to Trish two nights ago. He wasn’t going to take a chance on a video catching him going into a hotel room rented by a woman. If that ever came to light, Analyn would leave him for sure, even if it had been an innocent meeting.

  I found the key. Employee 429 texted.

  Gabriel practically jumped from his chair. When can I get it?

  There’s a hitch. A P.I. has it. Name is Jane Bayou. Don’t know if she has location.

  Gabriel responded. I’ll take care of it.

  Don’t forget the rest of my finder’s fee.

  If he could get the files in the unit taken care of, then there would be no evidence against him. No evidence means no more payments. He’d consider the fifty to be a finder’s fee for the key. The best part, his kids wouldn’t have to grow up living in some foreign country.

  He called Employee 368.

  “Yeah.”

  “That P.I. has got the key. Get it and the location, by any means necessary.”

  Analyn returned as he was hanging up the phone. “I’m heading to get the kids. Will you be here for dinner?”

  “I think so. Just going to grab the rest of the money then I should be back. Besides, I need to say goodbye to the kids.”

  If everything worked out, he’d disappear for a week or so and then come home, no one ever knowing what had occurred. He kissed her goodbye and headed to the car. As he pulled from driveway, the bum he’d hired to keep an eye on the office called.

  “Yeah, what do you want?”

  “A bunch of cops just showed up at the office,” he said.

  “And they let you make a phone call?” Smirnov figured this was some sort of ploy.

  “Happened to be across the street getting lunch.” He snickered. “Anything you want to tell me.”

  “No. I’ll be there in a few minutes.” He turned the phone off.
No choice now. He had to find that storage unit or get out of the country fast.

  Gabriel took a couple back roads to make sure no one was following. A block before the main road, he spotted two police cars and a dark sedan heading toward his house, the only house in that direction.

  He turned on his phone and texted Analyn for what could be the last time. I love you all very much.

  Chapter 32

  Winston walked with Kimberly and Stuart to the Bank of America Tower on Laura Street. When Coleman had discovered other attorneys had taken up the meeting rooms, everyone agreed to meet at Kimberly’s office after lunch.

  They rode the elevator to the ninth floor. Coleman and his clients were waiting when they arrived.

  “I sure hope we get something accomplished with this,” Stuart said.

  “At least we’ll make people think about the justice system.” Winston knew it wasn’t as fair and balanced as the lady with scales wanted people to believe. “You’re not allowed to benefit if you murder another person. And neither should family members.”

  Kimberly greeted Coleman and his clients, then led them to the conference room in the back. Winston, Stuart, and Kimberly sat across from the other three. Kimberly had made it clear to Stuart that he was not to say a word. His jaw was tight and the veins in his neck showed. Winston wasn’t sure he would make it without blurting something out.

  “So, what did you want to discuss?” Kimberly sat with her forearms on the table.

  Coleman looked at Winston. “Why are they here?”

  “I’m the probate attorney,” Winston said. “I need to ensure the estate’s rights are protected. And he’s the personal representative.” She tilted her head toward Stuart. “Same reason.”

  Coleman shook his head but didn’t argue. “So, what’s the deal?” he asked. “You can’t be serious suing my clients for the death of Mr. Newberry?”

  Stuart opened his mouth to speak, but Kimberly placed a hand on his arm. She stared at him until his shoulders relaxed.

  After a second, Kimberly returned her attention to Coleman. “Why not? As you pointed out so well in the hearing this morning, Joseph Xavier was a child of seventeen. That makes him a minor and his actions the responsibility of his parents, at least financially.”