Swift Justice: The Southern Way (23 page)

Next, he needed to call Acton’s wife before Acton got home.

~~~~

Right after his call with Archie’s wife, the Sheriff called Acton’s house. This time he would use a different tactic as he wasn’t exactly subtle with Kathy. He would be open with Audrey, Acton’s wife.

“Hello.”

“Hi, Audrey, this is Jefferson. How are you today?”

“Are you kidding?”

“No.”

“I’m doing horrible. Can you believe what is going on in this town? I’m getting very scared. What the hell are we going to do?”

“Well, that’s why I was calling, Audrey. Um, I’m sure your husband has told you we’re going to have Klan or a KOT meeting tonight.”

“No, he hasn’t told me that yet. Why are you calling me when Acton would have told me that?”

“I need to speak to you directly.”

“Why is that?”

“Okay, the FBI is crawling up our asses, and they’re going to probably be contacting you here in a little while. And I just want to get to you first, so you know. They’re going to want to know Acton’s whereabouts at the time of both murder scenes.”

“Okay, that’s easy. He was at home.”

The Sheriff wanted to get more out of her without offending her and without pissing off Acton. “You know, you’ve got to be convincing.”

“Ah, what do you mean? I’m not lying. He was actually at home. He was asleep.”

“How do you know he was asleep?” Sheriff realized that he was stepping on dangerous territory interrogating the local Klan leader’s wife.

“Whoa, Sheriff, come on. What … are you interrogating me?”

“No. I’m trying to get you prepared for the FBI,” the Sheriff lied.

“Sure, okay,” she said skeptically. “What’s your question again?”

“You said he was home both nights?”

“Yes, for sure—”

“How do you know that?”

“Ah … because he was in bed right next to me.”

“Could he have gotten up without you knowing it?”

“Well, I guess so, but I don’t think he could of. He was here when I woke up. He was there when I went to bed.”

“Who went to bed first?”

“Um … we both went the bed at about the same time. He usually reads a book, and then I come to bed.”

“Okay, I’m sorry, Audrey, I just want you to be prepared. The FBI has already questioned me. They’ve question the Judge.”

“The Judge?”

“Yes, they questioned the Judge.”

“Why don’t you drive them out of town,” suggested Audrey.

“Well, that’s why we are going to have this meeting tonight.”

“Okay, see you tonight.”

The Sheriff ended the call. Similar to Kathy’s call, he had the same results. Both wives reacted the same.

The Sheriff thought about both calls. Both wives were convincing, though he had some doubts. It wouldn’t be that easy to investigate Junior because he was not married, although he did have girl he was dating for the past year. He could call her and see if he could get anything out of her. He hated to think that maybe his son could have been the killer. Instead, he figured he would call Paulie at the hospital, and see if he was available. The more he could get done over the phone the better.

He called the hospital and asked the hospital to transfer him to Paulie’s room if he was out of surgery. They informed the Sheriff that the FBI guy was interviewing him.

“Shit!” The Sheriff said aloud and then hung up the phone. He hoped that Paulie didn’t spill the beans about what
really
happened. The Sheriff quickly stopped worrying. There was no way Paulie was going to say anything to the FBI guy that would implicate the Sheriff or the Judge. Paulie knew better than that. Plus, Paulie was part of the crime. Nevertheless, the Sheriff would pay Paulie a visit in the hospital and find out what he said to the FBI agent.

Perry decided that it was better to try and visit the victim in the hospital before he met with Deron at the warehouse. Perry hoped to catch the person off guard. He realized that that the person was not a victim at all, but a murderer that got hurt before he was probably going to commit a crime. He would play it nice at first and then he would come in with the hammer and pressure the guy to give up the Klan. It probably wouldn’t work because these Klan thugs were generally very loyal to the Klan, but he would try, nonetheless.

Perry had a great plan. He had a duffle bag with him, but he also had a smaller bag, as well, that he would camouflage. The smaller bag had another recording device in it. Perry’s plan was to put down the duffel bag near the bed and slide the smaller bag underneath the bed. Perry would leave the recording device there even after he left the room. The hope was that the suspect would say something to a visitor after Perry left. Perry would then later retrieve the bag using the same method that he would use to plant the bug.

After going through the usual red tape to get to see the suspect, he was able to enter his room. Perry liked it that the victim had his own room. The suspect’s name was Paul Sawyer. Perry entered the room but intentionally did not close the door. He wanted Paul to feel comfortable.

Perry strolled up slowly to the bed. He placed the duffel bag on the floor. He noticed that Paul’s arm was in a sling with an IV attached to his veins. “Hello, Mr. Sawyer.”

“Hi.”

“I’m Special Agent Perry with the FBI. I’m sorry to hear about your loss of your brothers.”

“Thank you,” he said skeptically.

“Is it all right if I ask you a few questions?” Perry started with the nice-guy routine. As he was talking, he subtly slid the recorder bag with his foot underneath the bed.

“Ah … no. I’m not going to talk to you. Why would I talk to you?”

“Because the Sheriff and the Judge have asked me to look into the crimes and find the Negroes or Negro who killed your brothers.” Perry thought he would add that he was looking for Negroes to maybe get some cooperation from this asshole.

“They didn’t ask for your help.”

“Yes, they did. They want me to find the niggers who did this, and they want me to do it quietly.” Perry needed to speak their language. “I think that you might be able to help me.”

“All right, what do you want to know?”

“Okay, can you describe the man who shot your brothers and tried to kill you?”

“Well, I already told the Sheriff that it was dark. I could only see an outline of the guy. I couldn’t tell you what he was wearing. I don’t know.”

“Can you tell me approximately how tall he was? Was he real tall? Was he real short or average height?”

“Ah … he was average height. He wasn’t tall; he wasn’t short.”

“When he shot at you, was he right handed or left handed?”

“Oh, he was right handed, and I could tell the way he held the rifle.”

“And did he say anything to you? Did he yell anything?”

“No. He didn’t say a word.”

Okay, enough of the easy questions, thought Perry. Now, he needed to ask the contentious questions.

“Okay … okay, why were you there in the first place?” asked Perry.

There was a long uncomfortable pause. “Hey, I’ll answer your questions about the guy who killed my brothers, but not going to answer any other questions.”

“Why is that?”

“Because I’m not,” he said arrogantly. “You know, that’s it. No more questions. Get the fuck out of here.”

Perry gauged the situation. He debated whether he should pursue hardball tactics to see if he could get information out of this thug. He decided that he would try.

“I see,” Perry said. Perry walked over to the door and closed it quietly and walked slowly back to Paul glaring at him.

“What are you doing?” Paul said with concern. “Open that door and get the fuck out of here. … Nurse!”

Perry quickly took a washcloth lying around and shoved it in Paul’s mouth to quiet him.

“Okay, motherfucker, you’re going to tell me why you were there.” Perry started to release the washcloth from his mouth, but Paul was ready to scream again. Perry pressed it again against Paul’s mouth. Then Perry pressed his other hand right against the shoulder that was in the sling.

“Aaah,” Perry could hear the muffle noise coming from the washcloth as Paul screamed in pain.

Perry replied calmly. “Are you sure you don’t want to tell me why you were there?” Perry then slammed his hand against the wound again.

Paul screamed in pain again, but Perry was the only one who could hear.

“Why were you fuckin’ there!” Perry said almost shouting but not loud enough to be heard from outside. Perry released the cloth.

“You’re a fuckin’ asshole. I’m not telling you a fuckin’ thing.”

Perry thought he would take a shot into the dark. “Why were you there? Did the Judge order you to be there? Did the Sheriff order you to be there?” Perry noticed that Paul’s eyes shot wide open, which indicated to Perry that he was on to something.

“You’re fuckin’ insane. I went there because my brother told me to be there.”

“I don’t fuckin’ believe you.”

“Yes, my brother. Everyone calls him Cueball. I do whatever he says.”

“Did the Judge or the Sheriff order him to do it? You would know.”

“You’re a dead man. Wait until they hear what you did to me here.”

“Who’s
they
?”

“I’m not talking anymore. Go ahead and try to hurt me some more. You’re just digging yourself your own grave.”

Perry put his face right up to Paul’s face. “Listen, pussy, you must not understand how the FBI works. If I have as much as a mosquito bite on me, the whole FBI and maybe the Army would come down here and try to find out who planted that mosquito. No one is stupid enough to touch an FBI agent. As for you, I would worry about your own safety for giving up the Judge and the Sheriff.”

“That’s bullshit. They’re not going to believe that for one moment.”

“Well, I hope so, but they are going to wonder how I knew that the Judge and the Sheriff ordered the hit on both Leon and Deron. Hmmm … what’s the best way to prevent someone from shooting their mouth off. Well, you would know how the Klan operates more than me.”

“You are so full of shit. I’m not worried. They know me. They don’t know you.”

Perry figured he got the most he was going to get. The dumb shit didn’t realize that he effectively gave away the Judge and the Sheriff. Perry knew he was on the right track.

“Well, Paul, it was a real pleasure to meet you,” Perry said sarcastically. “I really hope the Judge doesn’t get upset with you for shooting your mouth off to the FBI. You have a great day, and I hope your shoulder gets better.” Perry picked up his duffel bag and strolled out of the room. He kept the recording device underneath the bed as planned.

~~~~

As Perry was exiting Paul Sawyer’s room, he saw the Sheriff approaching. This was perfect timing, thought Perry. Perry would lay his trap right now to get the Sheriff to speak frankly with Paul Sawyer while Perry was gone. He would start off, as usual, with the nice-guy routine and then drop the bomb.

“Oh, hi, Sheriff, how are you doing?”

“What are you doing here?” asked the Sheriff in a curt tone.

“Well, you told me to investigate the crime. I’m investigating the crime.”

“Well, why do you have to be here? I thought you would be in the Negro area. We told you to investigate the Negro area.”

Perry thought, you don’t tell me anything, you motherfucker, but it wasn’t time to drop the bomb, yet. “Well, I’ll get there, but I wanted to talk to him to see if he could describe the killer better.”

“What did you find out?” asked the Sheriff.

“He can’t describe him other than he is an average-size person.”

“Okay,” said the Sheriff as he was turning towards Paul Sawyer’s room.

Now, was the time to drop the bomb, Perry figured. “Oh, by the way, your boy in there was singing like a canary.”

The Sheriff stopped in his tracks and had a puzzled look on his face. “What do you mean?” asked the Sheriff.

“Oh, well, he’s not too happy with you and the Judge for ordering the hit and getting his brothers killed.”

“Bullshit, he didn’t say anything like that. Why would he say that?”

“I don’t know, man, he was very specific. He says that the Judge and you order the hit to his brother, Cueball. Cueball told him about it, and Paul is pissed off at you and the Judge. He’s singing like a canary.”

“Well, if that is the case, then why aren’t you arresting me?”

“Well, that may come, but first we have to solve the five murders. You know, one thing at a time.”

“Bullshit,” the Sheriff chuckled. “You got nothing. I didn’t do anything.”

“Oh, sure, talk to you later, Sheriff.” Perry strolled out of the hospital whistling as if he didn’t have a worry in the world.

Perry thought his performance was perfect. Right now, he figured, the Sheriff was steaming mad and would confront Paul Sawyer. Hopefully, their discussion would reveal some good information. Perry would wait near the hospital until the Sheriff left the hospital, then he would pay poor little Paulie another pleasant visit.

~~~~

The Sheriff noticed that he was actually sweating after his brief conversation with the FBI guy. Fuck, did Paulie snitch to the FBI. No, he couldn’t have done that, thought the Sheriff.

But how did the FBI guy know so many details, like us ordering the hit with Cueball?

How did he even know Cueball’s name? Was Paulie really mad at him? No, he had already spoken to him. He was sad, but not mad at the Sheriff. The Sheriff needed to get answers and make sure that Paulie doesn’t broadcast the Klan’s plan to the FBI.

The Sheriff entered the room and walked straight to the right side of Paulie’s bed.

“Hey, Paulie, how are you doing?” the Sheriff asked.

“Sheriff, that FBI guy that just left, he roughed me up. He shoved a rag up my mouth and pressed his hand against my wound right here.” Paulie pointed to his wound.

Wow, the FBI guys are brutal, thought the Sheriff. Those dirty bastards. They’re no different than the Klan, he thought.

“Sheriff, you got to get him. You got to do something with him, Sheriff. Get him out of town. He just roughed me up. He’s trying to get me to talk.”