Between Black and White (McMurtrie and Drake Legal Thrillers #2)(82)

“No, I’m not,” Maggie said, her voice devoid of any doubt. “Bo did this. I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life.”

“Really?” Tom said. “Were you aware that Andy was going to confess to murdering Roosevelt Haynes?”

Maggie creased her eyebrow and placed her hands on her hips. “That’s the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard. Why would Andy confess to something he didn’t do?”

She’s either in total denial or she’s a pretty good actress, Tom thought, deciding to press the issue. “Mrs. Walton, Darla Ford is going to testify that a few nights before his murder, Andy told her that he intended to confess to killing Roosevelt Haynes. Interesting, isn’t it? Seems like a lot of folks would have motive to kill Andy if he was about to confess.” He paused. “Your brother, for instance . . .” He left it hanging out there and started to walk away.

As he entered the courtroom, he saw Maggie Walton’s reflection through the glass in the doors. Her hands remained on her hips and her mouth was open in shock.

Tom hoped he would see the same reaction when Ray Ray’s witness testified that her brother participated in Roosevelt Haynes’s lynching.





69


Darla Ford did not look like a stripper when she took the stand as the first witness for the defense on Thursday afternoon. On the contrary, in her navy suit and medium-length brown hair, she gave the appearance of an affluent businesswoman. Over the course of an hour, Darla took the jury through a quick summary of her life story. From high school in Pulaski to not having enough money for college, to taking a job first as a waitress and then a dancer at the Sundowners. Rick covered it all. The money she made and saved up as a stripper, her relationship with Andy Walton, and Andy’s bequeathment to her of a hundred thousand dollars upon his death. He ended this line of questioning with Darla’s current quest to be a restaurant entrepreneur in Destin.

While Darla testified, Tom couldn’t help but glance at Maggie Walton, sitting as stoic as ever in the row behind the prosecution table. If Darla’s testimony bothered her, it didn’t show. She held her Bible and stared straight ahead, not even looking at the witness stand. He wondered if Maggie knew about Andy and Darla, and he guessed that she probably did. Tom took Maggie for the kind of woman who would look the other way if her man decided to stray, just as long as he continued to provide her with the kind of life to which she was accustomed.

Through the entire direct examination, Darla came across calm, confident, and likeable. Best of all, Rick thought, she was believable. It was Darla who had called what she did at the Sundowners “stripping,” making no bones about her role. “My job was to take my clothes off for money, and I was very good at it. I had a regular client list of at least fifteen men . . . and two women.”

Rick concluded his direct examination by covering Darla’s interactions with Andy Walton during the last two weeks of his life.

“Ms. Ford, did Andy Walton ever tell you that he killed Roosevelt Haynes?” Rick asked.

“Objection, Your Honor,” Helen said. “Hearsay.”

Connelly moved her eyes to Rick, and he did not hesitate with his response. “Your Honor, a witness’s statements against interest are an exception to hearsay.”

“Overruled,” Connelly said. “The witness may answer the question.”

“Yes,” Darla said, speaking to the jury and not Rick. “He said he was responsible for the killing, and he was worried that the truth wasn’t ever going to come out.”

“Did he tell you why he was worried about that?”

Helen was on her feet. “Again, Your Honor, the question calls for rank hearsay.”

This time Rick responded before Connelly could even call for a response. “Your Honor, this entire line of questioning will ask Ms. Ford to recall statements made by Mr. Walton against his own interest. Also, we are not offering Mr. Walton’s statements for the truth of the matter asserted, but rather for the state of mind of Ms. Ford.”

Connelly pondered for a few seconds and then nodded at Rick. “I’m going to allow it.”

“Ms. Ford?” Rick prompted.

Again, Darla turned her eyes to the jury. “He had pancreatic cancer. It was terminal. He wasn’t sure how long he had left, and he was afraid the truth was going to die with him. He said he wanted to make things right.”

“And did he ever say what he meant by ‘making things right’?”

Darla nodded. “He was going to confess.”

“When did this conversation with Mr. Walton take place?”

“In early August, about two weeks before he died.”

“Ms. Ford, did you tell anyone about Mr. Walton’s intention to confess to the murder of Roosevelt Haynes?”

“Yes,” Darla said.

“Who?” Rick asked.

“My boss,” Darla said, sweeping her eyes over the jury. “Larry Tucker.”

“And when did you tell Mr. Tucker about it?”

“The same night that Mr. Walton told me.”

“Which was two weeks before Andy Walton’s murder?”

Darla nodded. “Correct.”

“Ms. Ford,” Rick began, moving his own eyes over the jury. “Was Larry Tucker in the Ku Klux Klan with Andy Walton?”