David Bishop - The Original Alibi

Karen left about an hour later. Both of us fed, watered, and satisfied. She said she had things to do and I needed some time to sift through and process what I learned from her during dinner. I was meeting Charles for lunch, so after the strawberries and mimosas, I only wanted coffee.

Charles picked me up in front of my condo building at noon. He looked more relaxed away from the Whittaker house, his smile easier. I took him to Mackie’s where we chose a quiet corner booth. Axel was sitting at the end of the bar, around the curve, from where he could watch Charles. I hadn’t planned that, but apparently Axel had, which was okay. He had a good feel for people so a second opinion might be helpful.

“Thank you for meeting me, Charles. I trust you won’t be uncomfortable with my asking questions about the general and the family.”

“The general’s instruction were that I should answer your questions and that we would trust your integrity, Mr. Kile, so you may ask whatever you wish.”

I first asked a series of questions that confirmed his recollections matched what the general had told me about his trip to the bank, and the cell call he had received before tossing the bag with the two million over the side of the road. Charles also confirmed the general had walked the rest of the way to the house, and that he, Charles, had found Cliff working out in his gym over the garage and sent him back to get the general’s car out of the ditch.

“Did the general look over the edge where he had dropped the satchel with the money?”

“No, but I did. I walked back to the car with Cliff.”

“Did you see anything?”

“No. It’s really dark in that section. That spot’s about a hundred yards back from where the car had been driven into the ditch. The light from the road is shaded by the edge; erosion has torn hunks out of the sandstone cliff face all along that section of the beach. The general had to have it reinforced in a few places to secure the road. But, no, I saw no one. I couldn’t even see the satchel. By then I doubt it was still there. I’m sure whoever had called the general to drop it, had picked it up right away and left before the general got back to house, let alone before Cliff and I got back there. Later, after I got back to the house, I got a large flashlight, went down the stairs and walked back there in the sand. I saw no satchel and there were too many tracks in the sand to learn anything.”

“Why didn’t the general call for you and Cliff?”

“He said he just wanted to walk some. The ordeal had ended. The car wasn’t going anywhere. It was one of the few times I’ve ever seen the general out of sorts, if I can say so, sir. He had just been ordered to throw two million dollars over a cliff.” Charles grinned and shook his head. “I suspect that would rattle anyone.”

“Did he say the call was from a man or woman?”

“Woman.”

“A woman’s voice, okay, but what I’m asking is whether the caller was a man or a woman?”

“Women’s voices come from women, Mr. Kile. I don’t understand.”

“For legitimate or personal reasons as well as illegitimate reasons people can learn to speak as a member of the opposite sex. With a modest amount of practice, a woman can learn to speak in a masculine tone from lower in her throat, below the Adam’s apple. Conversely, a man can speak like a woman by projecting his voice from above the Adam’s apple. By keeping your finger on your throat you get feedback as to the level on which your voice begins. The doing isn’t all that hard, but it takes practice to make it sound easy and natural.”

“That’s beyond me, Mr. Kile. The general said a woman. That’s all I know.”

“Yes. That’s what the general told me when I asked him the same thing.”

We took time to look at the menus and ordered beef dips and a draft beer; Charles ordered a side of horseradish sauce. Then I asked Charles how long he had known General Whittaker.

“When he first made general, I was assigned to his staff as his driver. Other than a few years when I was otherwise assigned, I’ve been with him ever since.”

“You know you can call me Matt.”

“I’m comfortable sir, if you are.”

“Why have you stayed with him all these years?”

“In the beginning, in the army, he was a father figure I suppose. I had joined the army after growing up in foster homes. I enlisted at the youngest age I could. Since getting out, well, a man must work. The general pays well and with room and board included it provides a healthy income that allows me to make modest investments. I should also say that over the years a deep friendship evolved. I understand my place, of course, at my insistence more than the general’s.”

“And then there’s the inheritance. You being provided for in his will.”

“Yes, Mr. Kile, if you’re angling to learn if I know about that. I do. However, I have no doubts that if I were to leave, the general would not change my place in his will. I believe he sees providing for me therein as for services rendered, not to be rendered. No, sir, I stay because it is my home. I have no other family and I am devoted to the general, also for services rendered, to reuse the phrase.”

“I guess you know the general better than anyone. What are his strengths and weaknesses? I’m not needlessly prying, Charles, I need to know how he will handle himself depending on where my investigation takes me. Please speak candidly.”

Our meals came before Charles began to answer. I glanced up at Axel who had taken a position to far away to hear, but sufficient to study the face of my lunch guest.

“The general has so many high qualities I don’t know where to begin or how to summarize, but I shall try. He is an old-fashioned man. He believes in honor, duty, and integrity. If he gives you his word, you may safely rest your life upon it. He demands loyalty from those near him and gives a full measure in return. If he has a fault it could be his intense commitment to those qualities. At times it keeps him rigid. But in the end, I’ll take his kind every time.”

“His greatest trial? Most trying, I mean.”

“Certainly the death of his first wife, Grace, in 1970, she died of breast cancer. Then there was his failed marriage to Karen’s mother, Mary. With those exceptions, the general rarely achieved less than he set out to achieve. Mary, his second wife, was a smart woman and beautiful. Frankly Karen is much like her mother in looks and style. Mary could not countenance the military life. She demanded the general choose between her and his army. He did. But he always loved her. And he always provided for her and Karen. He saw them a few times each year and always attended special events in Karen’s life as she grew into a woman. I had the pleasure of accompanying the general to many, probably most, of those events. Karen and Mary squabbled like many mothers and daughters. That’s what led Karen to come live with us while still in college.”

“So you like him, don’t you, Charles?”

“Above all others, Mr. Kile. General Whittaker is my employer and, as I said, we maintain that relationship. We are also friends for life and he has never wavered in that commitment.”

“How is he doing? His health I mean. Is he able to keep up some of his favorite activities and hobbies?”

Mackie came out from around the bar and started toward our table. I held up my hand, palm out. He did an about face and headed back behind the bar. I also noticed he had been staying away from Axel. In prison you learn to be aware of who is watching who, before deciding whether or not to approach. Mackie knew Axel was watching Charles and me, so he stayed at the end of the bar away from Axel.