Read Deadly Distractions, A Stan Turner Mystery Vol 6 Page 36
CHAPTER 36
TEXAS MILITIA
When Stan told me about Marcos working for S & T Packing I was ecstatic. Finally we were making some headway. I got some more good news later in the day when Detective Conrad called and said he had a copy of Jill’s phone bill. He said he’d send it to me by messenger and I should have it within an hour or two. I couldn’t wait to find out whom Harris had called after killing Agent Tuttle. When the messenger came, I tore open the envelope and studied the bill. I found the call to Alexandria, Virginia and dialed the number. The call was picked up by an answering machine with an electronic voice. I didn’t leave a message. I figured I’d just have to try again later.
As I was pondering the situation, Jodie came in with the information on the license plate numbers I had written down when I was watching S & T Packing. None of the car owners’ names meant anything to me except Riley Davidson, the preacher who supposedly started the People’s Mission. I wondered if the People’s Mission was into something more than just tax evasion. After digging through the file, I came up with the list of members of the People’s Mission that I had obtained earlier. Two more of the cars in the S & T lot were owned by members of the People’s Mission. I wondered if Bobby Tuttle knew what he had stumbled into before he was murdered. What had he stumbled into? It was something big, I was certain of that.
The thought occurred to me that Bobby might have written a report on the Peoples’ Mission or taken notes about them. It was conceivable that he might have written down some valuable information that he had learned during his investigation. I called Bart and asked him if the police had seized all of Bobby Tuttle’s notes and files regarding the Peoples’ Mission. He said they had some but most were still in the possession of the IRS. I told him I was interested in seeing them. He agreed to meet me at the IRS office so we could go through them together.
I didn’t mind going through the records with Bart. There were a lot of them and having his help made the task a little easier. If we found anything, I would be duty bound to report it to Trenton Lee anyway so it didn’t really matter from a tactical standpoint if Bart helped. Several hours into the task, I came across a yellow pad with some notes about one of Don Harris’ bank accounts. It looked like Tuttle was getting ready to garnish the account or perhaps subpoena records on the account from the bank. The words “unreported bank account” were written in large letters across the pad and underlined several times. The letters B.C.C.I. were written next to it with an account number. There were notations “WT—1985 $221,733.01, $109,334.07, $88,562.33, and $342,622.87.” Wire transfers perhaps? I showed my discovery to Bart.
“These are some very big transactions for a graphic artist,” I said.
Bart studied the numbers and replied, “Jesus, I’m in the wrong business.”
“You suppose Harris paid taxes on this money?”
Bart laughed. “No. That’s why Tuttle was so obsessed with pursuing him. I wonder if Harris knew he had discovered the account?”
We talked to Bobby Tuttle’s supervisor, Robert Perkins, and asked him if the investigation of the People’s Mission had been assigned to another revenue agent. He said it had not, as all Tuttle's records were frozen in case they were needed as evidence in the murder case. If Harris had wanted to derail the investigation against him, he had succeeded. It occurred to me though that the derailment was only temporary and Harris was smart enough to realize that. I assumed he was making plans to disappear or at least relocate.
“Don’t you think we have enough on Don Harris to warrant someone keeping an eye on him?” I asked.
Bart gave me a sympathetic smile and replied, “I think we do, but I doubt Logan will think so. He’d be the one who’d have to make that decision.”
“Try to convince him, would you? We don’t have the resources or we’d do it ourselves.”
“What about Detective Conrad?”
“They’re watching his house and business but if he leaves the county they won’t follow him.”
Before we left, I thanked Perkins for his cooperation and asked him if there was any chance he could go through with the subpoena of Harris’ BCCI bank records. He considered the request and said that as his supervisor, he had authority to continue the investigation, but wouldn’t want to do it without checking with the FBI. I told him our theory that Harris had killed Bobby Tuttle to derail the investigation against him and that it so far had worked. Perkins looked skeptical but I could tell my argument had got him thinking.
“It couldn’t hurt,” I said. “Worst case you waste a few hours—best case you’re a hero.”
The next day Perkins called and said two new revenue agents had been assigned to Don Harris and the People’s Mission and that he had made it a priority case. I suggested they be given security. He said that had already been done. I felt good. Finally, somebody was listening to me. I knew it was unlikely that the IRS would share any information with me, but at least they would be a distraction to Harris so I could get a little closer without attracting attention. I went into Stan’s office and told him the good news.
“That BCCI account is undoubtedly the conduit for his dealings with S & T Packing,” Stan said.
“I hope we get those records,” I said. “They will tell us who he’s doing business with.”
“Yeah, that would really answer a lot of questions,” Stan replied.
“I wonder how long it will take to get them?”
“Thirty days at least—not soon enough to do you any good.”
“I think I stirred Perkins up. Maybe he’ll expedite it.”
“I hope so,” Stan said and took a deep breath. “That would add a lot of credibility to your defense if we found out he was dealing in drugs or laundering money.”
“I think I need to pay another visit to Mabel Anderson.” I said.
“Who?”
“Mable Anderson, the secretary of the People Mission. She was very open to me. I don’t think she realizes what the People’s Mission is really about. Maybe I should clue her in.”
“That should shake things up,” Stan agreed. “Go for it.”
Mabel Anderson readily agreed to another meeting. I met her at IHOP for breakfast. I told her some of the things we had discovered about the People’s Mission and Don Harris in particular. She seemed shocked and dismayed. I told her I liked her and didn’t want her to get hurt when my trial started and the People’s Mission became front page news.
“Oh my God. I’m going to resign immediately.”
“That would be a good idea. I know you didn’t have any idea the People’s Mission was a front for illegal activity.”
“What can I do to help you? Maybe if I cooperate they won’t prosecute me.”
“I can’t promise that. I don’t have any authority to cut deals but if you do help, I’ll make sure the right people know about it.”
“Good. I’ll tell you whatever I know.”
My main interest was Don Harris and I asked Mabel to tell me everything she knew about him. She said when she was married to Peter Lowe they would go out on occasion. Don Harris, Riley Davidson, and Peter Lowe served together in Vietnam and had been friends for twenty years. Like Harris, they had resigned from the army and had joined a paramilitary group in the Texas hill country. I had forgotten about the paramilitary group and asked Mabel if she knew its name. She said it was called the Texas Militia. Apparently the Texas Militia didn’t acknowledge the authority of the United States government over the state of Texas. They claimed the people of Texas never voted to become a part of the United States and that the Republic of Texas was seized by military force after the civil war. I had heard of the Texas Militia but never really paid much attention to it. Although I had taken Texas history in high school, I didn’t remember much about how Texas became a state. I had just taken it for granted that it had all been done legally. Apparently, some people didn’t believe it had.
According to Mabel the Texas Militia was heavily armed and were gearing up for a confro
ntation with the federal government. I chuckled at the thought of insurrection in Texas. It was ludicrous. How could any sane person think they could possibly gain independence for Texas? But apparently there were people like Don Harris who not only believed it, but were determined to make it happen. The scary thing about their movement was that since they didn’t recognize the United States government, they didn’t adhere to its laws and felt justified in killing anyone, as long as it was to further their cause.