Chapter 13
Two hours later on Thursday, after a quick trip home to change into his full sergeant’s uniform, Goddard was across town at Memorial Park, standing stiff as a statue, as expected of an ex-marine-officer. Among the mournful dignitaries at the crowded final ceremony for State Senator Albert Towson, were state and federal politicians, including the governor, a U.S. senator, two U.S. representatives, and a former cabinet member. Other expected familiar faces were present—and one that wasn’t expected.
Goddard nudged the chief, and now neither was listening to the cleric. They exchanged a quick do-you-see- who-I-see glance. They were looking past the casket at Sonny Barner, alive but looking uncomfortable in his Sunday best. Goddard was relieved, he didn’t need a second murder.
“Reporters are here,” the chief whispered, “so pick him up without tipping them off.”
Within the hour, Goddard had changed back into civilian clothes, and was seated across the table from Barner in the interrogation room. Moran and the chief watched through the glass in the adjoining room.
Barner was a tall, scrawny character who had never quite caught on to the fundamentals of socializing. It didn’t help that his yellowish crooked teeth, big ears, and too-long face made him seem unapproachable. Yet Barner had made it on his own for some fifty years.
He claimed he didn’t know anyone was looking for him. “Against the law now for a businessman to travel to Vegas?” His finger pulled at the tight collar of his unironed white dress shirt.
“Business must be good to fly off to Vegas for a few days. You left town in a hurry, didn’t you? Didn’t change your answering machine. No note on the door. What was the rush?”
“Yeah, the idea just came to me sudden like.”
“Where’d you stay?”
“Caesar’s Palace.”
“Cheaper places than Caesar’s Palace. You a big spender? Where’d you get the money?”
“I’m a businessman, I have resources.”
“Does one of your resources shoot bullets?”
“I know why I’m here. You’re not sure who killed him and you’re fishing around.” Barner leaned back in the chair. “Forget about me.”
“You own any guns?”
“Yeah, a couple of pumps. Want to buy one?”
“Any handguns?”
He locked his hands behind his head. “No, but I got a Uzi SMG I use to plink tin cans around the backyard.”
“You’re sort of flip with this, Barner. You’ve done this police routine before haven’t you? You ever do any big time?”
“You’ve already checked my record, you know I’m clean. I just don’t like to spend time with cops, no offense.” He made a half smirk. “Oh, now I see your problem. You’ve got the wrong sonafabitch in jail!”
'And you’re sitting there laughing because you know he didn’t do it. When did you make the plane reservation?'
'Didn’t, just walked up to the counter.'
“Which airport, what time, when did you come back? We're going to check all this, you know.”
“Oh, what day is it now? Let’s see, left Saturday evening from Orlando, seven o’clock flight, back last night. Back just in time for the funeral.”
“That’s nice, back for the funeral. You and the senator, pretty close, huh? Funny, word around town is you didn’t like the guy at all.” Goddard made up that one.
“He was okay.”
“Maybe you came back for the funeral to be sure he was dead and couldn’t talk. When did you last see him?”
“That day, the day I left, I did his apartment. Did it and left about three. Now you’re going to be cute and ask if he was alive when I left. Yes, I think he was alive—at least he was talking on the phone.”
“How did you get into the building?”
“He buzzed me in. I’m in and out of that building all the time.”
'Where were you between three and seven, before you left town?'
'That when he was killed? Got to catch up on the papers. I had a couple other Saturday jobs and then left for the airport.'
“I need the names of those jobs. How many customers do you have in Towson's building?”
“Let’s see, four regulars, others are call-in’s.”
“So, any of those people could have buzzed you in.”
“Yeah, sure could have but didn’t. Towson did.”
“No, I mean later.” He moved his chair closer. “When you came back later, someone else buzzed you in.”
“There was no 'came back later', detective.”
“You must see some valuable stuff laying around in some of those homes. Do customers follow you around while you’re spraying their place, going through their bedrooms and all?”
“No, they don’t and that’s why I can’t have employees. Can’t trust them alone in people’s houses. Like I told you, Towson was on the phone while I was spraying.”
“Didn’t you have to wait for him when he had to go find some cash to pay you?”
“No, I bill him.”
“I thought you said he paid you in cash.'
'Nice try.'
'Where did you get all the money for Vegas?”
“Some I have to bill, damn it. Some pay cash. You gonna turn me in to the IRS?”
“What about Tammy?”
Barner folded his arms across his chest and crossed his legs. For the first time he turned his look away from Goddard. He didn’t speak.
“Look at me, Sonny. What about Tammy?”
Barner cleared his throat. “Miss Jerrold is a good customer.”
“You ever do her?”
Barner stared sharply at him.
“Her apartment—you do her apartment?”
Barner’s jaw was clinched. He nodded. “Miss Jerrold and I are closer than people think. We’re friends, in a way, she likes me.”
“Towson was a real lucky bastard to have a young piece like that around whenever he wanted it. You can’t blame her. A girl has to do what a girl has to do. Know what I mean? She didn’t have any choice. That’s what money will do for you. You can take advantage of people, of girls. God knows he was loaded, had more than any one man needed. Well, he won’t be putting his hands on her again.”
Barner was slowly opening and closing his bony fists. His voice was now noticeably shaky, “She wouldn’t be like that with him. She had to put up with Towson. She’s better off now.”
“Yes, I understand, Sonny, too good for him. He probably didn’t even appreciate her, like some guys would. Someone did her a big favor. She’s free now. She can spend time with who she really wants. Look at me, Sonny, did you think you’d get lucky?”
Barner was rubbing his hands over his knees and didn’t say anything. The detective kept staring at him. He didn’t answer at first, just sat there frowning as though he was lost.”
“In Vegas—get lucky? How did you pay for the plane ticket? How did you pay for your room in Vegas? Where’d you get the gambling money? We’re going to find out everything.”
