The Crossing (25 page)

Judge Graves called court to order at precisely 10:00 AM.
 
Henry Walker was asked to stand before the court and enter a plea – his answer was ‘Not guilty’.

Judge Graves read the warrant and a brief summary of the evidence that had brought Robert Henry Walker to this courtroom today.

Judge Graves then took his time in explaining the procedures of a preliminary hearing to the participants, the accused and the small group of law enforcement and press members that had been permitted into the courtroom.
 
He next asked District Attorney Griffin Hawks and Defense Attorney Jack Logan if they intended to present evidence and call witnesses.
 
Both replied, “No.”

“I understand the defendant is represented by co-counsel,” Judge Graves said while looking around the courtroom. “What is the position of co-counsel, Benjamin Abernathy?” he asked.

Griffin Hawks and Jack Logan looked at each other and then back at Judge Graves, neither spoke.

Judge Graves shuffled some papers on his desk and retrieved a bound brief, which he began thumbing through as he mumbled to himself.

“Mr. Logan,” Judge Graves growled. “I have here a twenty-five page document that includes over a dozen objections to these proceedings and requests release of the defendant for a half-dozen more reasons!
 
What do you say about this, Mr. Logan?”

Jack stood up. “Your Honor, I know nothing about that brief and I’m quite sure you won’t find my name anywhere on it.”

“What,” Judge Graves seemed confused. “Where is this Benjamin Abernathy?
 
I need him to speak to this court about this document and objections!
 
 
He has signed it and he must be available to the court to represent it!”

No one spoke.

Judge Graves stood up and leaned over his bench where he could look directly at the bailiff and court reporter.
 
“Bailiff, you are ordered to issue a bench warrant for the arrest of this attorney, Benjamin Abernathy.
 
Then you are to present that warrant to Sheriff Leroy Epsee for execution and then I intend for Mr. Benjamin Abernathy to have a few meals courtesy of this county and this court!
 
You cannot file such documents in my court without arranging for proper representation for the charges and objections.
 
Since co-counsel, Jack Logan, claims no knowledge or authorship of this document, I declare Benjamin Abernathy in contempt of court and order his immediate arrest!
 
Court adjourned!” Judge Graves declared hammering his gavel on his desk.

I was standing in the hall laughing when Jack walked out of the courtroom.

“Good job, buddy!” I congratulated.

“Ha, that was fun,” Jack laughed. “However, considering all the trouble going on outside, Mr. Benjamin Abernathy might already be in jail!”

“You are probably right,” I added. “You want to join me for a drink?
 
I’m spending the afternoon at Chiefs watching the news.
 
I prefer seeing the violence on TV and not in person!”

“Not a chance,” Jack countered. “I’m spending the afternoon with Judy, we’re having dinner in Jackson and then – well who knows. Where is Liz?”

“I’m not sure, but I am sure she’s mad.
 
When I left with Leroy last evening I promised to call her; however, it was late when I got back to Chiefs.
 
Since I knew she had an early flight this morning, I didn’t call.”

“Good work,” Jack laughed.

“I know, but my thoughts have been somewhere else.
 
I’ve got a theory I’m going to put into operation tomorrow, and if it works, Henry might be able to sleep at home tomorrow night.
 
So stay in touch.”

“Really, are you serious?” Jack exclaimed. “You need to tell me about it?”

“Nope, not now, but please stay in touch and somewhere I can reach you. Leroy is working with me, and if this works out, I should have an answer early tomorrow.
 
 
I’ll let you know how it goes,” I said as I headed toward the back stairs.

Slipping out the rear door, I avoided the confusion and problems of Main Street and walked back down 12
th
Avenue to where I had parked the Ford.
 
It seemed that the police had situations under control, but the demonstrations continued and would continue well into the evening.
 
News and TV vehicles from all the Memphis stations were parked along the roads, plus those of several national news organizations.

I took a detour through the Crossing and pointed the Ford toward Chiefs.
 
Oddly, the streets were almost deserted, I assumed everyone was on Main Street or, hopefully, at home where they belonged.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Sex, Lies and Murder

C
hiefs’ lunch crowd had already left and I almost had the place to myself.
 
Flo was busy cleaning the tables, Nickie was shuffling dishes back to the kitchen, Mavis was stocking the bar and from somewhere in the back,
 
I could hear Ronnie doing his imitation of Hank Williams!
 
I think he was singing ‘Your Cheaten Heart’, but I wasn’t sure.

I went behind the bar and turned on the small black and white TV.
 
Ronnie had installed the TV and put up an antenna so they could watch the Sunday football games; and Nickie could call Chiefs a ‘Sports Bar’!
 
It never worked, because you couldn’t hear anything over the jukebox music, but at least it added some atmosphere – I think!

Tuning through the three channels, it appeared that ABC was offering the best coverage of the events in downtown Humboldt.

WHBQ, Channel 13 in Memphis delivered the ABC broadcast.

I went back to my barstool and was trying to read the lips of a male reporter standing in the middle of Main Street, when Nickie walked up behind me.

“Make yourself at home, Mr. Reno,” Nickie laughed. “The best soap operas are on channel 5; do you want me to change it for you?”

“No,” I snapped, “I’m not watching soap operas!
 
I want to see the news and there should be plenty of it this afternoon.
 
But, you can get me a drink and have Ronnie fix me a burger.
 
Please,” I added.

“Yes sir, coming up.” Nickie trotted back to the kitchen and then quickly returned to make my drink.

“Have you checked on Colleen lately?” Nickie asked, pouring a healthy shot of Jack Daniel’s in my glass.

Leroy hadn’t mentioned it, but I was certain he was still keeping Yarnell’s death a secret.
 
I’m not sure how long he would be able to manage that, but my getting into an uncomfortable conversation with Colleen was not a good idea.
 
I didn’t want to be put in a position to tell her a lie because when she finds out about Yarnell, she would know I had lied.
 
It was best to just avoid talking with her, for the time being.

“No, I haven’t,” I responded. “Is she doing alright?”

“Yes, she’s fine.
 
She’s been taking her meals in her cabin and I brought her a little television and rabbit ears from home.
 
Reception isn’t great, but at least she’s got some entertainment.
 
I guess I was feeling sorry for her,” Nickie was shaking her head.

“Thanks Nickie, you’re a sweetheart.
 
Perhaps she can go home tomorrow or maybe the next day; we’ll see how quickly the demonstrators get tired and go home.”

“Oh, yeah?” Nickie responded as she handed me my drink. “You really think it will happen that soon?”

“It’s possible, and I’ll be working on that problem tomorrow.”

“Why tomorrow?” Nickie frowned. “Why not today?”

“Because today I am drinking and watching television!
 
Call it a ‘day of rest’, if you like.”

“Humph!” Nickie snorted as she headed back to the kitchen.

Sipping my first Jack and Coke of the day, I made myself comfortable and started watching the news coverage on the small TV.
 
I was out of practice with my lip reading, but I think the reporter said, “Over 25 demonstrators had been arrested.”
 
He flashed a publicity photograph of Reverend Jeremiah Higgs, then some film footage of him being led off in handcuffs by a THP Trooper.
 
I guess both Leroy and Raymond’s jails would be full tonight, but I hoped they saved some room for that NAACP lawyer, Benjamin Abernathy!

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Nickie had just delivered my hamburger, when the front door opened and Joe Richardson walked in.

“Hey boss,” he yelled.
 
“I’m back.”

“Why?” Was all I could manage.

“Because I like my work,” Joe said as he took a seat on the barstool next to me. “Besides, you need me to take care of you and I had to bring Nathan’s car back and get mine so...”

“Stop,” I interrupted, “that must be good medicine you’re on; maybe I should try some myself.”

“Huh?” Joe frowned.

“Slow down,” I said quietly. “You are talking 100 miles an hour and I’m having difficulty keeping up!”

“Oh, okay,” Joe said slowly.

“Now, regarding my needing you to take care of me – yes, I do.
 
Regarding your car, I am sad to inform you that it didn’t make it through surgery – it died.
 
Donnie Graves promised to give it a proper burial and suggested you should adopt another one.
 
Sorry.”

“Oh, that’s okay,” Joe laughed. “I stopped by Bluff City Buick yesterday, and they’ve got one almost like the one I had.
 
The salesmen said he would hold it for me until I got back in town.”

“Good.
 
Now, get yourself a beer and something to eat – we’ve got a lot to talk about.”

Joe and I spent the next two hours sipping drinks, having lunch and catching up on everything.
 
We would stop, occasionally, and watch some reporter give us the latest on the ‘riots’ and ‘demonstrations’ in Humboldt.
 
They had news and had to report it – I guess.

“Damn,” Joe finally said shaking his head. “I’m so sorry to hear about Yarnell.”

“I know,” I said.

“But at least those bastards that did it got what was coming to them,” Joe added.

“I know,” I said again.

“But, now Colleen has one brother in jail and another dead.
 
That’s terrible.”

“I know!” I said for the third time. “Damn it, Joe, I know all that and it just makes me sick all over.
 
However, if our little plan works tomorrow,
like I hope it does, then Colleen will have Henry back and they can grieve together.”

“When are you going to put your plan in motion?” he asked.

~

W
hile Joe and I talked, Nickie had managed to keep Flo busy and away from Joe.
 
But, as the ‘happy-hour’ crowd began to gather, the jukebox got louder and Flo just couldn’t stand it any longer.
 
From behind the bar, she leaned over and spoke right into Joe’s face.

“Handsome, you still owe me some dances and I ain’t forgot.”

“Florence,” I interrupted. “Joe has been in an accident and I’m not sure he’s well enough to be dancing.”

“But boss I…” Joe started.

“And besides, Flo, don’t you have this skin problem?
 
We wouldn’t want Joe to catch it,” I managed to say with a straight face.

“Well, I saw them bandages on your arm and..,” Flo stopped in mid sentence, when she finally realized what I had said. “Why, Mr. Reno, you’re talking dirty again!
 
I ain’t got no skin problem, I just been itching to dance with this handsome fellow again – that’s all I meant.”

“Carson, what the hell are you talking about?” Joe blurted.