A Predetermined Course Of Events by Robert F. Clifton (short novels in english .TXT) 📕

“I don't know but he's been arrested a few times. I can call down to records and see what name they have along with his fingerprints.”

“Do it.”

“Ten minutes later Woodson hung up the telephone and said to Wallace,” I got Munoz real first name and you're not going to believe what it is.”

“Try me.”

“It's Eliodoro.”

“Eliodoro Munoz?”

“Correct.”

“Do you know how he operates?”

“He's the typical dealer. Meets his customers at various places, on the street corners, bar restrooms however, those he really has hooked and too sick to travel he'll got right to the house like in Edith's case.”

“So, he would come in contact with Ethel from time to time.”

“Yes.”

“And his first name begins with El.”

“Right again.”

“It appears that Mr. Munoz is at the moment a prime suspect.”

“I agree.”

**********************

Three days later O'Neil and McKenzie were able to find Munoz dealing heroin on the corner of Pennington and Maple Avenue. After they took him into custody they brought him to the office of the Major Crime Squad. Captain Wallace looked at the man and said, “ We know that your name is Eliodoro. Your alias, Rey or King is new. It doesn't show up on your rap sheet. How come?”

“ The name goes with my reputation man. People that know me think that I'm the king of smack,' Munoz answered.

“ Is that right? Seems to me that since you're here in my office and under arrest for possession and distribution of heroin

you're the king of stupidity.”

“ Man, we both know that your men planted that shit on me. You guys has been harassing me ever since I came to this town.”

“Maybe you should have left.”

“One time you guys even told the press that my stash was laced with rat poison and they printed that story.'

Wallace smiled. “ I bet your business went into a slump.”

“Problem was and is I'm no dope peddler.”

“Yeah and I'm the Pope. Now, let me tell you why you're here instead of in the office of the vice squad. We know that you have a customer named Edith Lamb. Since you know Edith you must know the rest of her family, her husband Henry and their daughter, Ethel.”

“Can't say that I do. Can't say that I don't.”

“I see. Are you aware that Ethel Lamb was a victim of homicide?”

“I heard something about it. Heard she was found out near the dump.”

“ We also know that she traveled with someone with a name that began with El.”

“And you're thinking that it's me.”

“Your first name is Eliodoro.”

“Just a coincidence man.”

“But you must admit a good one for us.”

“First you got me busy selling smack on street corners then you got me running with some retarded teenage girl. If that be true then she would have been bad for business. That kid was dirty, like smelling bad dirty. You know what I mean?”

“Yeah but since you're the king you must know what's going on in the hood. Tell me, what else have you heard about the murder of the girl?”

“Nice try. First you accuse me of being a dope dealer, plant shit on me, then a suspect in a murder and now you expect me to be an informer. Man you got to be kidding. No way man. No way.”

“OK. Have it your way. I have no further questions. The officers will now take you to the Vice Squad and turn you over to them. I'm sure they have many more questions that I do.”

“And they'll get the same answers.”

“See you in a couple of years King or is it Eliodoro?”

******************

Thanksgiving came and went as it did the weather remained cold as did the Major Crime Squads investigation of the Ethel Lamb homicide. The informants that Wallace used continued to come up empty, void of any information related to the case. At a morning briefing Wallace asked, “Does anyone have anything new to contribute? Any information or ideas?”

The squad remained silent. Then, Sergeant Woodson said, “ Here's something. I don't know how important it is but there is going to be a memorial service for Ethel.”

“Really where?,' asked Wallace.

“ At Saint Paul's African Methodist Episcopal Church.

It seems that Children and Family Services paid to have Ethel's body cremated then contacted Reverend Johnson and set up the memorial service,” said Woodson.

“Why?”

“If you ask me I believe they know that they didn't do a proper job in Ethel's case. Thet might be having a guilty conscience, so to speak.”

“Do you know when the service will take place?”

“Tomorrow at seven PM.”

“OK. You and I will be attending.”

“Why are you going Captain?”, asked McKenzie.

“ There have been times when the killer shows up either at the viewing of his victim or the funeral. Perhaps he or she might attend the church service. We will be there looking over the attendance. Maybe we'll spot someone or something out of place or the ordinary. You never know.”

At six thirty the next evening Captain Wallace and Sergeant Wallace stood on the front steps of Saint Paul's church observing and scrutinizing those entering the church. When it appeared that those who would be attending were inside the two investigators entered the church and sat down in the last pew near the front door. Shortly after they took a seat the piano player began to play, “ Just A Closer Walk With Thee.” When the song ended Reverend Horace Johnson, attired in a purple and gold robe got up out of the large chair he had been sitting in and walked to the front of the stage. He began to speak. “Blessed are those who come in the name of the Lord.”

“Amen,” chanted those in the pews.

“We come here this day to honor one of God's children. A sister to all of us. One that came into this world afflicted. One might ask, why did the Lord God allow a child to be born with an infliction? Now, I could give you the old adage, that God moves in mysterious ways but I know that will not satisfy you. So, what I will do is tell you of the curing ways of the Lord Jesus. And Jesus said, “ Behold I cast out devils and I do cures, today, tomorrow and the third I shall be perfected.” Now, what else do we know. Well, we know he cured a woman who had been ill for eighteen years. We also know that he raised Lazarus from the dead. He made the blind to see. In Luke 5:12-16 it reads, “And it came to pass, when he was in a certain city, behold a man full of leprosy who seeing Jesus fell on his face and besought him saying, Lord, if thou will, cast me clean. And he put forth his hand and touched him saying, I will: be thou clean and immediately the leprosy departed from him.

So I say to you that there can be no doubt in anyone's mind that the Lord Jesus did then and does now have the ability to cure. First of all he told us that he does. Second it is written in the bible of the many cures and miracles that he performed. We also know that he in his other ways cured the suffering. As he was on the cross he said to the others being crucified, “Today you shall be with me in heaven. And, their suffering ended. Now, we think of our little sister Ethel who also suffered. She suffered with an infliction. She also probably suffered at the hands of an assassin. If we trust in God. If we trust in Jesus then we can be assured that in death she was cured and is in heaven with the Lord. Let us pray.”

When the prayer was finished the choir also dressed in purple robes stood. The choir director then turned to the piano player and nodded his head. When the music started the

choir began to sing, “Oh Happy Day”. Wallace listened to the lyrics:

“Oh happy day. Oh happy day. When Jesus

Washed my sins away. Oh happy day. Oh happy day. When Jesus washed my sins away. He taught me how to watch and fight and pray. And live rejoicing every day, every day. Oh happy day. Oh happy day. When Jesus washed my sins away. He washed my sins away. To watch and fight and pray and live rejoicing everyday.”

When the music ended and the song was over so was the service and Wallace and Woodson sat watching and observing those who were filing out of the church. Henry and Edith Lamb were not among those leaving.

Chapter Five

Chasing Leads

Captain Wallace stood before his office window on the third floor of police headquarters. He was in an unpleasant mood. Weeks had gone by from the time Ethel Lamb had been found murdered out near the city dump and to the present which was mid December. The majority of the citizens of Nautilus Beach were beginning to enjoy the coming holiday season while he was frustrated with the lack of progress he and his squad members had accomplished so far. As he stood looking out and down to the street below he saw the Christmas decorations the city workers had placed on the light poles on every corner. He turned to the sound of the ringing telephone on his desk top and he walked to his desk sat down and after lifting the receiver said, “Major Crime Squad, Captain Wallace.”

“It's me, Bubba.”

“Do you have something for me?,” asked Wallace.

“Maybe. Right now I need the facts. Word on the street be you looking for a car with a certain tire. That right?”

“Correct. A General motors automobile with a damaged front tire. When I say damaged I mean that the tread is worn off because of the front end being out of line.”

“That all?”

“Isn't that enough?”

“Guess it will have to do. Anyways, there be a dude who works as a porter at the Aristocrat Bar located on Fenton Street. You know the place?”

“I'm familiar with it.”

“Good, this dude I be talkin about got a nineteen sixty eight Buick. Also got a damaged front end and the right front tire matches what you say.”

“Interesting. What time does this guy come to work and on what days?”

“Dude gets there at bout nine in the morning. Then he cleans the shit houses and mops the floors. He be done bout one or two in the afternoon. Works everyday”

“This guy got a name?”

“Sure he got a name. It be Tillman Johnson.”

“What else do you know about him?

“Damn Wally. What the hell do you want from me?

You want his damn pedigree?”

“Calm down, calm down. I want as much information

As I can get. My job is to ask questions. Your job is to answer them. Understand?”

“Yeah man.”

“Good. Now I'll check out this guy and his car and I'll get back to you.”

“And then I get paid and remember it be Christmas time.”

“If your information pans out you get paid. If it doesn't the only thing that will be in your Christmas stocking will be your foot,” said Wallace as he hung up the telephone.

At ten o'clock the next morning Wallace and O'Neil walked into the Aristocrat Bar. They were instantly met with the mixed odor of stale cigarette smoke, stale beer and cheap cologne. Wallace figured that the aroma of cheap cologne was coming from the guy standing behind the bar who asked, “You want something?”

“Police. We're looking for a man named Tillman Johnson,” said O'Neil.

“What about?”

“A private matter.”

“Suppose I tell you he ain't here?”

“Then I'd have to arrest you for lying to the police,”

said O'Neil.

“Hey man don't get riled. I'm just lookin out for a brother that's all. Man's working in the ladies room. Back of the room to your left.”

The two investigators then made their way to the restrooms. Arriving at the Ladies Room they found the door open. From the open door the strong smell of bleach and other disinfectants was carried on the air mixing with the other aromas from the bar room. Fighting