Category: The Boaz Scorekeeper

The primary aim of the "Novel Excerpts" blog category is to showcase my creative writing, specifically from the novels I've written. Hopefully, these posts will provide a glimpse into my storytelling style, themes, and narrative skills. It's an opportunity to share my artistic expressions and the worlds I've created through my novels.

The Boaz Scorekeeper, written in 2017, is my second novel. I'll post it a chapter a day over the next few weeks.

I hadn’t spoken to Greg Gambol, my first boss out of law school, in five years. In 2012, he was still a practicing criminal defense lawyer in Atlanta.  The world-famous criminal defense attorney Gerry Spence, of The Trial Lawyer’s College, had chosen Greg to serve as an instructor at the annual Capital Defense workshop that is held every July at Thunderhead Ranch outside Dubois, Wyoming, 100 miles or so from Jackson Hole.  Like Greg, I also attended this 2012 workshop.

Gerry had represented many high-profile clients.  He gained international notoriety in the Karen Silkwood case.  As to Karen, I could nearly quote the back cover from Gerry’s book: “Karen Silkwood was a chemical technician at the Kerr-McGee plutonium-production plant, where she became an activist and vocal critic of plant safety, as what would now be known as a whistleblower. On November 13, 1974, Silkwood died in a one-car crash under suspicious circumstances after reportedly gathering evidence for her union. Spence represented Silkwood’s father and children, who charged that Kerr-McGee was responsible for exposing Silkwood to dangerous levels of radiation. Spence won a $10.5 million verdict for the family.”

Gerry never lost a criminal case that was presented to a jury.  Ruby Ridge is included among Gerry’s many high-profile cases.  My memory from another of Gerry’s books: “Spence successfully defended Randy Weaver on murder, assault, conspiracy, and gun charges in the Ruby Ridge, Idaho, federal standoff case, by successfully impugning the conduct of the FBI and its crime lab. Spence never called a witness for the defense. He relied only on contradictions and holes in the prosecution’s story.”

Other high-profile cases were Gerry’s acquittal of former Filipino First Lady Imelda Marcos in New York City on federal racketeering charges, and a 2008 acquittal of Detroit lawyer Geoffrey Fieger, who was charged with making unlawful campaign contributions. Before returning a not guilty verdict, the federal court jury deliberated 18 hours over four days.

I had spent a month at the College in 2007 learning Gerry’s criminal defense philosophy.  Its purpose is to show you how to “become a real person.”  It describes how “only then can you crawl into the skin of your client, your witness, the DA, even the judge.”  Gerry taught that the more an attorney understood himself, the deeper he could understand clients, opposing counsel, judges and, ultimately, the jurors.  Psychodrama was the key tool the College taught its students.  Gerry describes psychodrama as “an archaeological dig of the soul.”  During the month I spent in Wyoming’s open air and endless sky at the peaceful and secluded ranch, I took time for myself, enabling me to self-reflect. 

In 2012, I had returned to the ranch and the Trial College for a graduate course in capital defense, one that focused on Voir Dire, Opening Statement, Direct and Cross Exam, and Closing Argument.  There I learned a lot more about how psychodrama worked and discovered how to identify the real and compelling story of my cases that hopefully helped resonate with my jurors.  Greg had led several of the sessions.  This two-week course also gave me an opportunity to connect with Greg more than I ever had during the 17 years we worked together in Atlanta.  Nearly every day, after an early breakfast, we walked the unpaved roads up towards either the Absaroka or Wind River mountains, or sat together beside either the East Fork or Bear Creek river that flowed through the ranch.  And, at night, after the last session of the day, we sat with other lawyers around the infamous fire ring that had spun much folklore of Gerry and the College.

The two attorneys that I thought embodied more of Gerry Spence’s traits than any other lawyer I had ever known were Greg Gambol and my own law partner and criminal defense attorney Matt Bearden.  Today, I would meet with both these fine lawyers.

On Tuesday, and after Matt had met with the DA and learned that he was in no mood to lock down a full waiver of his right to pursue the death penalty against me, Matt had called Greg and someway motivated him to drive up from Birmingham.  Even though it was Friday, only four days after my arrest, Greg ignored his hectic schedule and was on his way to Gadsden, Alabama. 

In 2014, Greg, at 82, had switched sides, as lawyers like to label it.  He gave up defending those accused of a crime and began prosecuting federal crimes. At the time, I thought it a rather odd move for Greg but after learning that his father had made a career with the U.S. Department of Justice it made a little more sense.  Greg was appointed U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Alabama in 2015.  I had spoken to him by phone shortly after Gina uncovered Club Eden’s sexual trafficking activity.  He had quickly solicited the help of the FBI and it quickly ordered two of its Special Agents to Boaz to spy on the four police officers that were involved.

At 1:30 p.m., I was already sitting in Interrogation Four when Matt and Greg walked in.  I reached out to shake his hand as he brushed it aside pulling me in for a bear hug.  After a few minutes of pleasantries over our families, Greg said the information that Gina had secured and that Matt had shared was persuasive and was already feeding his and the FBI’s investigation. 

“Micaden, you know that I cannot be directly involved in your case here in Etowah County, but I trust that if we are able to bring a case against James Adams and Wade Tillman, maybe others, that such federal prosecution will have an indirect affect upon your case.  Nothing would be better than for both James and Wade to be convicted in federal court before your case comes to trial.  You could then use their felony convictions to impugn their credibility in your case.  I’m not telling you anything you don’t know of course but I would bet that neither of them will give testimony in your case.  They will both plead the Fifth.”  Greg said.

“Here’s a thought.  What if James and Wade had strong motivation to testify in Micaden’s case?”  Matt said.

“Right now, I don’t see that happening.  I feel I know for sure they will not testify in my federal case, again, assuming the U.S. Attorney’s office is able to get an indictment against them.  Further, if we can obtain convictions for kidnapping for committing sexual crimes, the Judge is required to impose a life sentence with the possibility of parole.”  Greg said.

“Is there any feasible way to charge James and Wade with a federal crime that carries the death penalty?”  Matt asked.

“The crime would have to be for treason, terrorism, espionage, federal murder, or large-scale drug trafficking.”  Greg said.

“Seems like the only possibility would be for terrorism, but that might be a stretch.  What is the federal definition for terrorism?”  Matt asked.

Greg was unable to quote the definition but pulled from his briefcase a copy of the Federal Criminal Code.  After five minutes of flipping between sections and scanning, he said, “terrorism is ‘the unlawful use of force and violence against persons or property to intimidate or coerce a government, the civilian population, or any segment thereof, in furtherance of political or social objectives.’”

“To me that sounds a lot like what Club Eden has done for years against Hispanics in Boaz.  When Boaz Poultry sold out to Platinum Foods, it spawned an unprecedented growth in Hispanics.  Club Eden created its own plan to discourage them from living in Boaz.  The four officers it hired started targeting Hispanics, stopping their vehicles with a pretextual reason.  Later, the Club directed the officers to start planting illegal drugs and alcohol.  When these tactics didn’t work to the degree the Club wanted, it struck a deal with the Russian mob to start furnishing it with pretty Hispanic girls.  But, underlying all of this is the Club’s hatred of Hispanics and its willingness to use force or violence to, what does the code say?”  Matt asked.

“To intimidate or coerce a segment of the civilian population.  My paraphrase.”  Greg said.

“So, if you and the DA were to agree to waive the death penalty on both the federal and state levels in exchange for James and Wade’s testimony in Micaden’s trial admitting they had abducted and murdered Gina, they might have the needed motivation?”  Matt asked.

“Yes, but that is a long shot.  We would have to obtain an indictment for the terrorism case, and that will necessarily involve many more defendants than just Wade and James.”  Greg said.

“Therein may be another strong dose of motivation for Mr. James and Mr. Wade.  What if the Flaming Five fathers all were indicted?  You know that since they are also Club members, they had to be involved in this whole scheme.”  Matt said.

“It’s at least something to consider.”

Matt and Greg spent the next hour with me reviewing, at least in summary version, all the evidence the DA had against me and the evidence we had on my behalf.  We all agreed our case could possibly hinge on evidence that sure appeared problematic from an admissibility standpoint.

Greg had to be in Birmingham by 4:15 p.m., so he left a little before 3:00.  I told him how much I appreciated him coming and I would do everything I could to help him make his federal cases.

After Greg left, Matt and I sat in silence with me pondering the best approach to my Preliminary Hearing which was set for Monday the 27th.  I’m not sure what Matt was thinking during my silence, but around 3:35 he said, “we must find a way to show Gina made two phone calls to you on Saturday morning, where these calls originated, and where Gina’s phone was located when it went silent.  That should be at the Club Eden cabin when James and Wade opened the trunk of James’ car and saw Gina on the phone.”

“Matt, I’m thankful once again for your help.  I am so sorry to put such a burden on you at this late stage of your career.”  I said.

“It’s something to do.”  Matt said.

That was always his default response no matter how overloaded he was.  Matt then gave me a hug while tapping on the window for the deputies to let him out of Interrogation Four.

Friday night was another long night but I did have something positive to think about.  Karla and Kaden were coming to see me tomorrow morning.  For that, I was thankful.

The primary aim of the "Novel Excerpts" blog category is to showcase my creative writing, specifically from the novels I've written. Hopefully, these posts will provide a glimpse into my storytelling style, themes, and narrative skills. It's an opportunity to share my artistic expressions and the worlds I've created through my novels.

The Boaz Scorekeeper, written in 2017, is my second novel. I'll post it a chapter a day over the next few weeks.

Sunday night I finally slept. I had been operating on pure adrenalin since Saturday morning and had only caught a few quick naps.  It wasn’t like I was now rested when my phone alarm went off at 5:00 a.m.  I had preferred to stay in bed but, of all days, I had two court hearings in Etowah County.  I got up, showered, grabbed my coffee, and headed to the office to review my two files while leaving Karla in bed.  School was out today for some recently created City holiday.

Three hours later, I pulled into the parking lot beside the Courthouse and across the street from both the Judicial Building and the Etowah County Detention Center.  It was there that I would be incarcerated since Gina’s body would be found in Etowah County, so it would have jurisdiction.  I should have felt a little relief since the Center was a modern, well-maintained facility, unlike the Marshall County Jail where I had stayed for six months when, at only age 18, I fought my first battle with the criminal justice system.  As an attorney, I had visited many clients in both jails over the years, and always got the creeps every time inside the Marshall County Jail.  The reality is that both places equally accomplished their mission: to keep criminals and their cousins penned up and locked away from the common and elite citizens walking the streets. Each jail also was a place to slowly but surely whittle away at a man’s mind, daily piling little slivers of hope beside the bunk of every man whether he was laying down staring at the ceiling or pacing back and forth across his six by eight-foot cage.

To my surprise, my court appearances before two different judges went smoothly.  I didn’t see a single eye give me a suspicious glance.  I met Matt for lunch at the Blue-Collar Diner on 4th Street.  He had spent the morning in Bankruptcy Court in Anniston and visiting a client in the Calhoun County Jail.  We spent the next two hours continuing our conversation from late yesterday afternoon with him once again demanding that I not say anything at all to law enforcement after I was arrested but to wait to be interviewed in his presence.

After lunch, I drove the Noccalula Falls route back to the office.  I wouldn’t dare turn down Dogwood Trail but after passing the turnoff, I met two police cars, noting in my rear-view mirror, they turned toward Oak Hollow. I decided not to return to the law office but to go home instead.  I wanted to get outside and enjoy a long walk among the trees, many still brilliant with red, orange, purple, and an assortment of other multi-colored leaves.

It was nearly dark when I returned to the house.  Karla had accompanied me for an hour or so but had returned to the house around 3:30 after failing to gain control of her crying.  I should have not waited so long to tell her the inevitable.  I had just changed my clothes and was heading to the kitchen for supper when the doorbell rang.  Two middle-aged, but well-muscled, deputies wearing grim faces were standing shoulder to shoulder as I opened the front door.  I knew both, having dealt with them on several occasions either at the jail or in the courtroom.  “Mr. Tanner, we have a warrant for your arrest.  Please step out on the porch.”  I complied and after they allowed Karla to bring my most comfortable shoes, I was in the back of their squad car heading to the Etowah County Detention Center.

It was nearly 8:00 p.m. before I was fully processed and locked in a private cell.  Many inmates want to be in, what is known as, ‘General Population.’ This is where you can mingle with other inmates during the day in a large room with bolted down tables and chairs, and then at night be locked up with another inmate in a six by eight cell along the outer walls of the central room.  I preferred being alone, all the time.  After getting my wish and sitting on my bunk for an hour or so, two deputies came to my cell door and one of them said, “get up Tanner, you’re needed in Interrogation Four.”

After my hands and feet were shackled, they led me to one of four interrogation rooms just outside the main lockup.  I was familiar with each of these rooms having spent many hours in each one interviewing my own clients over the years.  Matt and Detective Pete Morrow both stood when the deputies opened the door and gently nudged me forward.  Morrow agreed to Matt’s request that I be unshackled.  That was nice.

After a few not so pleasant pleasantries, Morrow got down to business.  “Tanner, let me be clear.  I am here for one purpose and that is to get your confession.  I have just come from a meeting with the DA and after a long briefing he has authorized me to extend a very generous offer.  In exchange for your confession to the abduction and murder of Gina Culvert Tillman, the DA will waive his right to pursue the death penalty.”

Matt looked at me and slightly shook his head sideways. “Detective Morrow, my client has no intention to plead to anything.  He is not guilty and we can prove it.”

“I figured it was going to be this way, even told such to the DA.  Your client’s tough guy stance is admirable right now, before knowing what we know.  Let me brief you on the evidence we have.  Gina’s body was found where an anonymous tip said it would be.  Even though you do not own this property, we have eyewitnesses who saw you and Gina go there just this past Friday.  We also know that you have been using this property, the house that is, as an office of sorts.  So, we know you had full access and use of this property.”

“If your investigation has been thorough then you know that two of your eyewitnesses are Franklin and Danny Ericson, two enemies of my client.”  Matt said.

“We are aware there has been some bad blood between them over the years.  But, Mr. Tanner and the Riggins are and have been on friendly terms.”  Morrow said.

“Here is Micaden’s statement that covers virtually every minute of his comings and goings since last Friday morning.  It includes full details of the visit he had yesterday with James Adams and the victim’s husband, Wade Tillman.”  Matt said.

Morrow took the statement and spent ten minutes reading it, twice.  Matt had encouraged me to prepare a written statement.  He said that my memory was the best it would ever be concerning what had happened since Gina called me Saturday morning.  At first, I was against giving the DA anything so tangible, so quickly, but ultimately, I yielded to Matt’s advice.  I would have been a fool not to listen to the man who had single-handedly pulled off a miracle nearly 50 years earlier.

“Sounds like we have the wrong man and that we need to arrest James and Wade.  I’m sorry Mr. Tanner, but we are not quite so gullible.  I forgot to tell you that not only did we dig up Gina Tillman’s body, but our dogs alerted us to two other graves right beside Ms. Tillman’s.  The bones our backhoe operator unearthed are being examined at the State Forensic Lab in Montgomery as we speak.”  Morrow said.

Matt looked at me and again motioned me to keep quiet.  I got the clear impression that if Matt had been in a boxing match his look would be a mirror image of a dominate boxer having just experienced an unexpected and mighty left hook.

“Is there anything else either one of you would like to say?” Morrow asked.

“As my client has stated, he knows nothing about how Gina’s body wound up at what he calls Oak Hollow, nor does he know anything about any other bones.  I urge you to pursue the clues clearly laid out in Micaden’s statement.”  Matt said as though he had no choice but to use all his powers to get back to his feet and sling out some type of punch.

Morrow stood, walked to the door, looked through the window, and caught the eye of the deputies who had been standing outside Interrogation Four. As they were chaining and shackling me, Matt said he would come see me tomorrow after meeting with the DA.  By 10:00 p.m., I was laying on my back on my bunk anticipating a very long and restless night.

The primary aim of the "Novel Excerpts" blog category is to showcase my creative writing, specifically from the novels I've written. Hopefully, these posts will provide a glimpse into my storytelling style, themes, and narrative skills. It's an opportunity to share my artistic expressions and the worlds I've created through my novels.

The Boaz Scorekeeper, written in 2017, is my second novel. I'll post it a chapter a day over the next few weeks.

After James and Wade left, I knew that I only had a short time, maybe a day or two at the most, before I would be arrested.  I also knew that I could not let fear rule my thoughts and actions.  I had to start developing a plan.  One that would both defend myself, and expose James and Wade as the real murderers of Gina Tillman.  Thinking logically would also enable me to realize that it was more than possible that investigators would dig up John and Randall, while they were uncovering Gina’s body.

Someway I had to gain access to Gina’s email account, the one she had set up for her hidden audio-recorder to send transcripts of voices from Wade’s semi-secret study.  I pulled Gina’s file and found the transcript she had given me, the one where James was red-hot against Wade and Fred for continuing the sex trafficking.  The transcript was simply an email.  Gina had told me that the audio-recorder automatically sent her a full transcript of everything said, 30 minutes after the last voice activation.  I had suspected that she had set up a unique Gmail account to receive the transcriptions.  I was right.  At the top of the transcript was Gina’s name, Gina Tillman, and beside it, her Gmail address, unvarnishedtruth_finally1972@gmail.com.  I had to give it to Gina, she was spot-on in naming the account that received verbal communications from Wade’s secret study.  I couldn’t help but gloat a little about how Wade, James, and Fred thought they were so clever in holding their secret meetings, locked away from the world.  They were confident in knowing they could be totally open, even brass.  Yet, truth be, they were being recorded all along, every word, to be exposed to the world at some future date.

I was confident that Gina had used her Google account to create this new Gmail account.  I was aware that one could create multiple Gmail accounts within his own Google account.  Gina had shown me how she had set up a unique Google account and one email account each for Wade, James, and Fred.  She had done this handy-work on Wade’s home-study computer.  Somehow, I needed to access Gina’s Google account and unvarnishedtruth_finally1972@gmail.com. 

I walked to my desk and accessed my Gmail account which was already open.  I clicked on my photo in the top right corner and clicked the ‘Sign Off’ button.  A new screen appeared giving me the option to sign back into my account or ‘another account.’  I clicked on the last option.  Next, I was asked for either an email address or phone number.  I looked again at Gina’s file for the law firm’s standard intake form.  Matt and I had always been very careful to complete this form with every new client.  It contained empty boxes for us to fill in contact information.  One such box requested the client’s email address.  Gina’s intake form revealed her email address as ginaculvert1972@gmail.com.  Pretty standard method she had used, other than using her maiden name instead of her married name.  That probably said more than I could ever know.  I entered this address.  I knew I would get stumped.  Google was asking for Gina’s password.

I tried to guess several times, for nearly an hour.  I got frustrated and was about to give up when I remembered something Gina had said when we were together during our trip to Gadsden.  For some reason, Judith Ericson’s name had come up and I got the courage to ask Gina about her relationship with Judith.  I had told Gina what Nate Baker, the New York Times reporter, had said his investigators had learned.  I shared with Gina that Nate had said she and Judith took frequent trips, every Wednesday in fact, to Huntsville and that they always wound up at the Huntsville Hilton. After I told Gina this, what to me now seemed a bizarre story, Gina had burst out laughing.  “So, you and Mr. Nate thought that Judith and I were lovers.  That is hilarious.  I guess his investigators never followed us inside and to the employees’ locker room where we changed clothes and became waitresses for the next six hours.”  Gina had explained to me that she and Judith so wanted to be normal people that this was their way of escaping their carefully choreographed lives in Boaz, enabling them to rub shoulders with people they didn’t know, those who only expected them to be great waitresses.

I pulled out a phone book and found a number for John and Judith Ericson.  I called Judith and told her what was going on.  She said that she had heard that Gina was missing.  I could tell by her voice that she was frantic.  Before I could tell her, Judith said that Gina had told her that she was leaving Wade and that I was helping her.  I told Judith I desperately needed her help.  I gave her a very short and top-level version of why I needed Gina’s password to access her email.  Judith said she didn’t know.  She asked me to give her a few minutes to ponder and if she thought of something she would call me back.  I thanked her.

I sat back down at my computer and kept attempting to guess Gina’s password.  Within five minutes or less Judith called me and said that she had an idea.  She said that both she and Gina had to set up an online employee account at Hilton.  It wasn’t an email account but just a place on the restaurant’s internal system to use to communicate with its staff.  Judith said she remembered twenty or more years ago when they were setting up their accounts how they had laughed about how creative they were in completing Hilton’s online form.  Judith said she chose her nickname as ‘Sugar’ and Gina chose ‘Spice.’  And, they used these nicknames within their passwords.  Judith said hers was sugarbaby1972 and Gina’s was spicebaby1972. 

With Judith still on the phone, I typed in spicebaby1972 in the slot where Google was requesting the password for Gina’s Google account.  Bingo.  That was it.  I profusely thanked Judith for her help and told her how much Gina loved her.  She was crying when we hung up.

Looking at the computer screen, I realized I wasn’t home free by any means.  There was Gina’s email account, her regular one, ginaculvert1972@gmail.com.  I walked up front to Tina’s desk and used her computer to toy around with my own Google account.  I learned that when I signed out of my active Gmail account it showed my other Gmail accounts.  I returned to my desk and signed out of Gina’s regular account.  There was a listing of her other Gmail accounts including the unvarnishedtruth_finally1972@gmail.com.  I clicked on it and once again was faced with needing a password.  I tried ‘spicebaby1972’ but it didn’t work.  Think Micaden think.  When Gina first came to me she talked about being ready to be released from prison.  When Gina dropped by Hickory Hollow she was wearing a flowery blouse.  During our ride to Gadsden we had talked about how she loved flowers and her intentions of moving to Atlanta to work in her Aunt’s florist.  Gina had even said that her favorite flower was a red rose.  Prison, flower, rose.  I typed in every combination of these three words and as expected came up with total failure.  I glanced again at Gina’s intake form and saw that I had written ‘Ginja Ninja’ in the box labeled ‘Other Names.’  I remembered when I had asked her that question she said that this was a nickname from High School and that as far as she knew she had not been called that, at least to her face, since she graduated.  I recalled that she had been rather sympathetic toward that name, at one point saying, “if only I had pursued this character.”  When I asked her what she meant she said that during High School she had a reputation for being, as she put it, ‘loose’ or ‘easy.’  She admitted that she was. She explained that her cheerleader teammates started referring to her as a Ninja because she was so limber, flexible, and overall athletic.  She said the Flaming Five started calling her Ginja Ninja, with the insinuation that she was good in bed.  She hated that reference and secretly hoped that she could someday become a real Ninja, not a warrior really, but someone who stood her ground and wouldn’t take crap off anybody. 

For the next hour, once again, I tried every combination of Ginja Ninja, prison, flower, and rose.  I was just about to give up when I again became extremely lucky.  After typing in ‘ginjaninjarose2017’ my computer screen opened to the sought-after email account, unvarnishedtruth_finally1972@gmail.com.  I took Gina’s password to mean that the abused Gina became a real ninja, and rose to confront her demons.  I noticed that the very last email that Gina had received from her auto-recorder was Saturday morning, November 4, 2017, yesterday morning. I read the transcript of James and Wade’s conversation in his church study.  Just as Gina had told me during that frantic call yesterday morning when I told her to flee, James and Wade were on to her snooping.  They were now clearly aware of the threat that she posed.  I reread the transcript again and again imagining I was Gina reading it for the first time.  I felt just a sliver of the terror she must have felt as she realized the transcript was at least thirty minutes old, and that James and Wade were likely coming for her any minute.  I sat back in my chair, shut my eyes, and tried to visualize Gina rushing and desperately trying to grab Wade’s ‘Missions Money’ Journal and get to her car. 

After a few minutes, I stood up and remembered what I had told James and Wade just a few hours ago.  “You two idiots have my full permission to bring your best shot.  But, you better be ready to pay the piper if you’re going to play this song.”

I knew I was facing another long and difficult road.  I would be arrested and charged with Gina’s murder.  But, this time, I had some solid ammunition to return fire.

At the time, I couldn’t have known how silly I was, how ignorant, no, stupid, to think I could ever stand up to the two remaining members of the Flaming Five, and to their families.

The primary aim of the "Novel Excerpts" blog category is to showcase my creative writing, specifically from the novels I've written. Hopefully, these posts will provide a glimpse into my storytelling style, themes, and narrative skills. It's an opportunity to share my artistic expressions and the worlds I've created through my novels.

The Boaz Scorekeeper, written in 2017, is my second novel. I'll post it a chapter a day over the next few weeks.

After church, I told Karla I had to go to the law office for a couple of hours but that I would see her by 3:00 at the latest.

I swung by McDonald’s for a sandwich and pulled in the parking lot by 12:20 p.m.  James Impala was parked in my usual spot and he and Wade were walking towards the office stoop.

I parked and got out.

“Micaden, we need to talk. It is in your best interest and ours to talk this thing out.”  James said.

I should have refused, simply told them to get lost.  No, I should have told them I would spend the rest of my life making sure Gina found justice.  But, I didn’t do either.  Instead, I allowed them to follow me into the office and on into the conference room.

James did most of the talking.  “We suspect you are behind the disappearances of John, Randall, and now Fred.  Yes, we know we will never see any of them again.  Fred has been gone for nearly ten days.  Even though Fritz originally told us Fred was away on a little trip we know he has gone the way of John and Randall.  It has to be you.” 

I didn’t respond.

“Wade and I have a deal for you.  We will not tell the police where you buried Gina if you will not tell them what the two of you found out about the business operations of Club Eden, including our little sex trafficking ring.”

Again, I didn’t respond, but I could tell my silence was pissing off Wade.

“Tanner, the only reason we haven’t killed you is because you are a member of Club Eden.  Have you forgotten the oath you took?  The same one we took.  You do recall the part that says, ‘My duty is to my fellow Club members and therefore I will do everything I possibly can to protect each of them from all harm from every source.’”  Wade said.

“You’re not as safe as you think you are.”  James motioned for Wade to be quiet.  “We found your little hideout down Dogwood Trail.  You know Franklin and Danny saw you as you passed them outside with the Riggins the day after Halloween.  They were not sure but they thought they saw Gina with you.” 

“Were you and Gina having an affair?” Wade asked.

I couldn’t sit silent any longer.  “No, absolutely not.  I was her attorney.”

“Why did she need an attorney?” Wade asked.

“She was leaving your sorry ass.  She had had enough of your hypocrisy and criminal lifestyle.”  I said.

“Tanner, here is why you are going to strike this deal with us.  Gina’s body is now in your third grave on your property at the end of Dogwood Trail.   We suspect you buried two of our brothers in those other two graves.  Wade and I didn’t take the time to dig them up.  If you do not agree to our offer, the minute we leave here I am calling Detective Morrow and telling him that I have just received an anonymous call telling me where Gina’s body is buried.  As soon as he knows that location, his fellow officers will race to your little hideout and you will be arrested for Gina’s murder.  Is that what you want?”  James said.

“It scares me to death to think that I could be back in jail before I see another sunrise.  But, let me be clear with you two criminals.  No matter what you do, what you threaten me with, I will not sway from my commitment to the Murray family.  My life’s mission is to see that the two of you and every other person in any way responsible for their deaths receive real justice.” I said.

“Tanner, you are a fool. You may have gotten away with killing John, Randall, and Fred, but your luck has run out.  You can’t destroy Club Eden.  It is too powerful.  It is too well connected.  This time, you will lose.  You will be convicted and sentenced to death.  You do know that the abduction and murder of Gina will be a capital crime?”  Wade said.

“You two idiots have my full permission to bring your best shot.  But, you better be ready to pay the piper if you’re going to play this song.  Don’t ever forget that Gina was a master of espionage.  She got enough goods on you two and the Club to earn you a lifetime pass to Death Row at Holman Prison.  Now, get out of my office.”  I said walking over to a bookshelf and pulling a Smith & Wesson 357 Magnum pistol from behind a row of Southeastern Reporters, the ones I had put back after the law office was searched in July.

Wade and James walked to the front door, with me trailing and pointing the barrel of my gun towards James’ back.

The primary aim of the "Novel Excerpts" blog category is to showcase my creative writing, specifically from the novels I've written. Hopefully, these posts will provide a glimpse into my storytelling style, themes, and narrative skills. It's an opportunity to share my artistic expressions and the worlds I've created through my novels.

The Boaz Scorekeeper, written in 2017, is my second novel. I'll post it a chapter a day over the next few weeks.

Sunday morning came suddenly.  At daylight, I left the office and went home.  I was exhausted so sleep came easily.  Karla woke me a few minutes before 9:00 telling me she and Kaden were headed to Sunday School.  I told her I would see her for the worship hour.  They left and I continued to lay in bed wondering what Wade’s sermon would be, or whether he would be at church at all.

I guess it was just too much to ask Pastor Wade to abduct and kill his wife on Saturday and to present a powerful and persuasive sermon the following morning.  David Adams introduced our visiting preacher, Brent Danforth from Oneonta.  He was an older man, tall, heavy, and balding with a voice that reminded me of Brother G from Clear Creek Baptist Church.

Danforth preached on slavery, giving credit to internationally known John MacArthur for the primary substance of his sermon. Danforth argued all believers were slaves of Christ.  He did a very credible job of reviewing New Testament scriptures calling attention to how most English versions of the Bible avoided the subject by mistranslating the Greek word as servant instead of slave.  Danforth argued that servants were free, they did a job for a wage, but that slaves had no freedom at all.  They were owned outright by their masters and did what they were told, when they were told to do it.  He did a good job of making our slave-hood to Christ appealing, saying that Christ makes us His sons, and gives us full rights.  He adopts us into His family, calls us joint-heirs with Christ, and finally takes us to Heaven where we join Him as rulers having lavish riches poured out on us, forever enabling us to enjoy unmitigated wonder while basking in the light of His own glory.

I particularly liked Danforth’s take on those who teach and lead the church.  He argued that not only were believers who sat in the pews, slaves, but pastors themselves were slaves to Christ.  He said, referencing MacArthur, that ‘the Apostles took this identification to themselves.  The most noble authors of the New Testament took this signification to themselves.’  Danforth then referenced 2nd Timothy Chapter 2, verse 24: “The Lord’s slave must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged with gentleness, correcting those who are in opposition that perhaps God may grant them repentance, leading to the knowledge of the truth.”

As the choir began singing the invitational hymn, I couldn’t help but wonder if Wade had watched on TV this morning as Danforth delivered his sermon.  If he had, did he believe that yesterday he and James were merely slaves carrying out Christ’s orders?  No sane believer would ever reach this conclusion, not if he focused on the New Testament.  But, what if this hypothetical believer focused more on the Old Testament?  There, God had an entirely different take on slavery.  Or, so it seemed.  There, God gave instructions on what happens to a slave’s family after the slave has served his master for seven years.  It all depends on whether the slave was married when he came to be his master’s slave.  If so, his wife and children could go free with him.  If the slave had taken a wife after becoming a slave then the wife was not free to go with her husband.  She continued to be the property of her master.  But, Danforth hadn’t brought up the Old Testament at all.  And, he hadn’t said anything about how nowhere in the New Testament does Christ condemn the slavery that was an integral part of life in the Roman Empire.  No wonder Wade could be deluded, especially if his primary allegiance was to the God of the Old Testament, who clearly condoned hardcore slavery and even murder of those who gather sticks on the Sabbath, and girls who are not virgins on their wedding night. 

The worship hour ended with no confessions of faith or requests for membership.  It also ended with Wade and James no doubt plotting their next move.

The primary aim of the "Novel Excerpts" blog category is to showcase my creative writing, specifically from the novels I've written. Hopefully, these posts will provide a glimpse into my storytelling style, themes, and narrative skills. It's an opportunity to share my artistic expressions and the worlds I've created through my novels.

The Boaz Scorekeeper, written in 2017, is my second novel. I'll post it a chapter a day over the next few weeks.

Yesterday, when I was driving away from Club Eden, I had called 911 and reported Gina missing.  In a few minutes, I was called by the Etowah County Sheriff’s Department.  I quickly had filled them in on what was going on and provided a description of James’ vehicle. All throughout the day as I drove around looking for Gina I talked with Sgt. Williams. He told me that he had put out a BOLO on the car and that police departments from Boaz, Sardis, Albertville, Guntersville, and Arab were all involved in the search, as was the Etowah and Marshall County Sheriff’s Departments.  Unfortunately, as the sun was going down, no one had spotted James’ 2017 Chevrolet Impala.

Last night I had met with Sheriff Scott Walls and Detective Darden Clarke of Marshall County and their counterparts, Sheriff Belton Saunders and Detective Pete Morrow of Etowah County.  From the moment we all sat down at my conference room table, I could feel their doubts of my story through their stone-cold stares.  Apparently, they all remembered the search of my office and Hickory Hollow only four months ago that had spawned from John Ericson’s disappearance.  But, it was Detective Morrow who reminded the other three that Gina Tillman was one of the four cheerleaders who had given false testimony against me during my trial almost fifty years ago.  Things went downhill from there.

Sheriff Walls told me that it looked like I was pulling their strings.  He shared how within twenty minutes of my call to 911, State Troopers had created roadblocks at every State highway within a 25-mile circle of Aurora Lake, and that Sheriff’s deputies from Etowah, Marshall, Blount, Dekalb, St. Clair, and Cherokee Counties had done the same for County roads. Walls also said that two helicopters from the Alabama Bureau of Investigation had spent nearly five hours in the air combing nearly every spot where there wasn’t a roadblock.  Walls concluded his speech by telling me that if this was a hoax that I would be criminally charged and held responsible for the entire cost of the search.

After Wall’s speech, Detective Morrow said, “Tanner, why don’t you just tell us the truth.  The only evidence you have given us that James Adams and husband Wade Tillman abducted Gina is a diamond ring.  I suspect our deputies who are pursuing that lead will come up dry.  They have not been able to locate Gina’s mother. Although Judith Ericson said it looked like Gina’s ring, she did so from a photograph.  She’s in Palm Beach for a week.”

I again told Morrow and the others that I was Gina’s attorney. I even showed them her legal file.  Morrow said, “that means nothing, actually it could be just part of your plan to dispose of Gina.”  I went into detail describing how Gina had been securing information about Wade’s finances.  I showed them copies of bank statements and transcripts from her audio-recorder.  I retold them every word that Gina had told me over the phone while she was in the trunk of James’ car.  When I finally realized they were not hearing a thing I was saying, I stood up and said, “don’t you get it, Wade and James discovered that Gina knew enough to send them both to prison.  Can’t you see they have a perfect motive to get rid of her?”

Before either of them responded, Sheriff Walls received a call from one of his deputies telling him that James and Wade had just driven up at Wade’s house.  Walls continued to talk for five minutes or so.  When he hung up he told us his deputy said James and Wade had been golfing and fishing all day and had stayed out on Guntersville Lake talking and just hanging out until nearly 8:30 p.m.  Then, they had driven James’ boat back to Alred Marina.  Gina wasn’t with them and, after a search of James’ car, which he volunteered, deputies found nothing suspicious. Walls also reported that Wade had asked where Gina was, saying that her car was gone.

Detective Morrow spoke up and said, “Tanner, it looks like Gina could have simply packed a bag and driven off.  You have been telling us that was her plan, to leave Wade, right?”

After a few more minutes of meaningless talk, the four of them left and I stayed.  After calling Karla and updating her, I made a pot of coffee and pondered everything Gina had discovered since she hired me.  Other than Wade and James, I was the only one who knew what they had done to Gina.  And, I only knew that they had abducted her.  I felt sure they had also killed her and disposed of her body.  One thing I will give them credit for, they sure played their hand well.  Once again, around daylight, I had that same feeling I seemed to be getting every few days now.  My body almost convulsed with terror.  As panic set in and sweat poured from my head and hands the revelation came to mind that once again I was going to be set-up by the Flaming Five, well, what was left of them. 

The primary aim of the "Novel Excerpts" blog category is to showcase my creative writing, specifically from the novels I've written. Hopefully, these posts will provide a glimpse into my storytelling style, themes, and narrative skills. It's an opportunity to share my artistic expressions and the worlds I've created through my novels.

The Boaz Scorekeeper, written in 2017, is my second novel. I'll post it a chapter a day over the next few weeks.

I dressed and sat back down in the study to wait on Gina.  Thirty minutes went by and that horrible feeling came over me, the one where you just know something bad has happened.  It was pure terror, like standing on a gang plank about to be cast into a raging ocean, or with rope around your neck, about to be hung from the gallows.

I forced myself to stay seated for an hour.  I couldn’t sit still and do nothing.  I grabbed my jacket, walked by Karla reading, seated at her spot on the far end of the couch, and told her I had an emergency to deal with and that I would be back as soon as I could. 

As I was backing out of the garage, I felt Gina’s phone vibrating in my pocket.  I pulled it out and answered, “Micaden, the scorekeeper.”

“I’m not coming.  They have me.  I’m in the trunk of James’ car headed somewhere.  I had grabbed Wade’s folder and had just come into the garage when the two of them drove up.  James pulled into Wade’s parking spot inside the garage and I couldn’t get away.  I tried to run toward the street but James grabbed me and Wade watched as James shoved me into the trunk and slammed the lid shut.”

“Do you have any idea where they are taking you?” I asked.

“My guess would be Club Eden, the cabin at the lake.  Micaden, I am so scared.  I know I am going to die.”

“Gina, don’t talk like that, don’t even think that. I’m coming to get you, I’m already rolling.  I can be at the cabin in ten minutes or less.”  I said.

“I think we are already here.  I can feel the bumps, probably from the rough driveway leading up to the cabin.”

“Stay brave my dear friend. I’m coming for you.”

“Oh hell, she’s got a phone. Give me that.”  I heard James say as silence erupted.

They must be at the cabin. They have her out of the car by now asking her who she was talking to.  I pushed the accelerator through the floor as my truck approached 90 miles per hour as it raced through the intersection of Lawson Gap and Mountainboro Roads.

Within another three or four minutes I was at the entrance.  The gate was open.  I turned in and floored it again, the rear end fishtailed almost to the ditch.  As I came out of the final curve before reaching the cabin I could see they had already left.  It was easy to conclude that once they knew Gina had been on the phone their plan was compromised.  They would have concluded that it was too risky to stay at the cabin.  I pulled up where Fred had parked his Camaro last week and started to back up to turn around, when my eye caught a glimpse of a sparkle in the road, about where the Camaro’s bumper would have been.  I got out and walked to the spot and within a few seconds saw a ring.  It was Gina’s wedding cluster.  She no doubt had intentionally dropped it when Wade and James opened the car trunk.  She wanted me to know she had been here. 

I put it in my pocket and ran back to my truck.  At the gate, I didn’t know which way to turn.  Surely Wade and James would not return to the spot on Little Cove Road.  I had to think before I headed in either direction. I finally decided to drive to James’ place on the brow at Sky Haven Estates.  There were plenty of woods and ledges behind his house.  When I arrived, James’ wife Rachel was backing out of their driveway.  I pulled in behind her, got out, and asked if James was here.  She said he wasn’t, that he had just called and said that he and Wade were going fishing and might play a round of golf.  I asked her where James was when he called.  By this time, she was clearly nervous about me and told me to leave or that she would call the police. 

I obeyed and left.  For the next eight hours, I rode the roads around Boaz and every countryside I could think of.  I went to Pebblebrook on Martin Road thinking that James and Wade might think they could find some privacy on the backside of the Ericson’s development.  No luck.  I even drove to the State Park in Guntersville and up the mountain to the golf course.  I rented a golf cart and rode all over the course.  I knew I was doing absolutely no good.  I didn’t have a clue where James and Wade might take Gina.  But, one thing I knew for sure, Gina would never survive this ordeal.  Club Eden was the master of disposing of bodies.  And, getting away with it. 

Finally, as the sun started to set, I headed back to Hickory Hollow.  I had never been so sad and lifeless.  Just like my heart hurt for Wendi when I learned of her death, my heart was broken over Gina.  For the first time, I realized that I had developed deep, almost intimate, feelings for her.  It was an emotion I had never incurred.  It wasn’t a sexual intimacy, but it was something far more than a brother-sister connection.  Gina had become a friend like I had never had, not even Karla and I had that type relationship.  And now, just like I had lost Wendi, my first love, I had lost Gina, a love that I didn’t even know existed until it was too late.

The primary aim of the "Novel Excerpts" blog category is to showcase my creative writing, specifically from the novels I've written. Hopefully, these posts will provide a glimpse into my storytelling style, themes, and narrative skills. It's an opportunity to share my artistic expressions and the worlds I've created through my novels.

The Boaz Scorekeeper, written in 2017, is my second novel. I'll post it a chapter a day over the next few weeks.

I walked out onto the balcony to enjoy the rest of my coffee and to watch the sunrise.  I sat in a thoughtless trance looking eastward until the sun’s rays teased drops of sweat from my forehead.  I placed my coffee mug on the table beside me and raised the umbrella to block the sun.  I sat back down and closed my eyes.  After opening my eyes every few minutes to watch water drip from the metal railing from last night’s heavy frost, my mind summoned up the memory of the sunrise from the morning I woke up in my sleeping bag just a few short hours after Randall, James, and John had returned to Club Eden without Wendi and Cindi in the back of James’s van.  I fell asleep and dreamed that I was the sun on a man’s body, without a mind, never caring what happened on the earth’s end of the rays I constantly beamed.  As the sun, I was just about to talk with God in my dream when I heard Gina’s phone vibrating on the nightstand beside my bed.  I normally kept it on me but today I hadn’t even gotten dressed.  The only time I had been out of the phone’s reach was a couple of minutes back and forth from the kitchen to get my coffee.

I picked up the phone and answered, “Micaden the scorekeeper.”

“I’ve been caught. They know about me.” Gina’s voice was garbled, frantic, and loud.

“Slow down Gina. How do you know this?”

“I just received an email from my auto-recorder in Wade’s study at the church.  Apparently Wade and James just had a meeting that ended a little over 30 minutes ago.  The recorder will not send me a transcript until 30 minutes has elapsed since the last word spoken.”  Gina said.

“Tell me what’s on the transcript.”

“They have to know I was in Wade’s study here at home last night.  Wade had a wedding at Meadowbrook Farm so I spent nearly an hour snooping around.  That’s what they were talking about this morning. It was like they videotaped me and had watched their tape.  James was so mad at Wade I thought he was going to kill him.  He accused Wade of trying to get caught, of trying to destroy Club Eden by leaving the financial journal unlocked at home.  James also said that I would know about the sex trafficking and that alone could get the two of them a prison sentence.”  Gina said.

“Here’s what you need to do.  Quickly grab Wade’s file, the one with all the bank statements, and come here.  Gina, I don’t think it’s safe for you to stay with Wade any longer.  You must get out of there.  Do it now, don’t worry about packing a suitcase or anything.”

“I’ll see you just as soon as I can.”  Gina said. 

The primary aim of the "Novel Excerpts" blog category is to showcase my creative writing, specifically from the novels I've written. Hopefully, these posts will provide a glimpse into my storytelling style, themes, and narrative skills. It's an opportunity to share my artistic expressions and the worlds I've created through my novels.

The Boaz Scorekeeper, written in 2017, is my second novel. I'll post it a chapter a day over the next few weeks.

I was sitting in my study drinking coffee Saturday morning November 4th.  There was no good reason to be hesitant about checking the Grand Cayman account.  There was no way in you know where that Fitz Billingsley was going to wire $4,000,000 to a Caribbean Island.  I thought it a stretch for him to put together that much money in one week.  I booted up the laptop computer that I had used to write the demand letter and searched for Fidelity Bank Limited’s website.  I entered the login information for Edward Simmons and clicked on ‘Bank Accounts.’  Once again, I was shocked.  The account balance now was $6,005,833.33.  Within the ‘Account Transaction’ section, I saw a $4,000,000.00 deposit had been made Thursday afternoon at 4:30 p.m., Alabama time.  Not only had Fritz wired the requested amount, but he had done it nearly a day and a half early. I felt like celebrating but knew that sharing this information with anyone, even Karla, would end in disaster.

I then checked my law office email account and there was one from Fitz.  He said that he had been instructed to contact me and donate $500,000 to the Boaz Spinning Mill project.  He asked me to call him on Monday.

The primary aim of the "Novel Excerpts" blog category is to showcase my creative writing, specifically from the novels I've written. Hopefully, these posts will provide a glimpse into my storytelling style, themes, and narrative skills. It's an opportunity to share my artistic expressions and the worlds I've created through my novels.

The Boaz Scorekeeper, written in 2017, is my second novel. I'll post it, a chapter a day, over the next few weeks.

Neither one of us said anything as I drove west on Cox Gap Road.  When I turned left on Mountainboro Road, Gina said that she was growing weary of staying with Wade. She said that he was becoming more erratic and unpredictable.

“Explain what you mean.”  I said.

“He’s started carrying a gun.  Something he’s never done.  He is worried sick that something is going to happen to him.  Yesterday, he came home for lunch and said he had spent nearly all morning looking for Fred, including calling his cell phone.  Wade said he had gone to the Bank and spoken with Fritz.  He said Fred had gone to Gatlinburg and should be back by Tuesday.  Wade said that there was something strange about how Fritz looked at him, almost like he was lying.  His eyes darted around and he never did look Wade directly in the eye.”

“Did Wade say why he was wanting to talk with Fred?”  I said.

“He didn’t say exactly but I feel it’s about how James has been acting toward him and Fred.  You remember how mad James was on the transcript when he found out that Club Eden was still selling pretty Hispanic girls to the Russian mob.”  Gina said.

“Have you formulated a plan?  A plan for where you are going, what you will be doing?”  I said.

“I have an aunt in Atlanta, Mother’s sister.  Her two children, my cousins, are also there and own a florist.  You can tell by my blouse that I love flowers.”  Gina said looking over at Micaden and smiling ever so slightly.

“You know you will have to come back, maybe more than once, after we file suit.  The court could order mediation before a trial.  And, either separately or as part of mediation, there will likely be settlement negotiations you will need to attend.”

“Oh, another thing I was going to tell you.  Wade said he has a theory that Fred is gone for good and that, if that is true, there is no doubt that Boaz has a serial killer on the loose who is targeting the Flaming Five.  He said he and James were really in a terrible place.”

“From what I’ve heard, John and Randall’s disappearances could be something as simple as a disgruntled parent.  In a way, it sounds unbelievable that a father would go to such an extreme of abducting his son’s coach.  All to pay him back for his son’s lack of playing time or acceptable attention during Bible study?  Of course, you have heard many stories of people committing horrific crimes over seemingly insignificant things.”  I said.

“You’re probably right.”

“Can I ask you a question?”  I said to Gina.

“Of course.”

“You say you are ready to leave Wade, that you are growing very tired of your relationship with him, yet you continue to wear his wedding ring on your finger. I was just wondering why that is.”

“It’s a valid question.  First, the simple answer is a strategic one.  If I pulled it off Wade would notice and would become suspicious.  The second reason is a little more complex.  You know that Wade and I didn’t marry because we were in love.  Our lives together started with a shotgun wedding as I’ve told you.  This multi-diamond cluster that I’m wearing isn’t my first ring.  Wade’s parents bought us our first rings, just matching bands, just for the wedding, just for show.  You know, love is strange.  I would never have believed that I could be forced into loving Wade.  But, in a real sense, that’s exactly what happened.  Our move to Tuscaloosa right after the wedding was probably the best present we received.  There, we learned to depend on each other.  Wade, back then, was sweet, kind, considerate, much different away from his four buddies.  Four years later, just before we graduated, Wade proposed to me at Denny Chimes on bended knee and placed this ring on my finger.  That night, we went back to the apartment and made love like we never had.  It wasn’t just sex, it was real love.  The next morning Wade asked me if I was still okay with the ring and his idea of proposing as his way of showing me he wanted our lives to have real meaning as a married couple.  I told him I loved it all and that I would wear his ring forever.”  Gina said.

“One thing I have learned since High School is to be careful about swearing and believing that I would never change my mind.  When I was a kid growing up I was, as they say, knee deep into faith and my belief in God and Christ.  To say the least, that has changed radically.”  I said.

I pulled in front of the Gadsden Post Office telling Gina I had a few things I needed to mail.  She stayed in my truck.  With gloveless hands, I carried the ransom folder inside and let the two smaller envelopes slide into the outgoing mail chute being careful not to touch them.

I then drove us to the courthouse and told Gina I would only be a few minutes.  Again, she waited in my truck as I went to the Clerk’s office to kill some time.  I didn’t have any specific business I needed to attend to.  I simply wanted to show Gina I had a reason to drive to Gadsden other than going to the Post Office.

On the drive home, I decided to go the back way through Noccalula Falls.  We talked very little on the way back.  We did talk some about the beautiful Fall colors on the trees surrounding us as we made our way up the mountain.  A hundred yards before I reached Dogwood Trail on my left, I decided I would show Gina my secret office at Oak Hollow.  There was no doubt this was a bad idea.  I had never even mentioned it to anyone else, but someway Gina had broken through my defensiveness and become a trustworthy friend.  What could it hurt?  No one would ever know.  I truly had no ulterior motives, even though I was attracted to her.  I would never have attempted anything sexual or otherwise intimate.

“You got time to see where I do my really serious writing, both for work and for fun?”  I asked.

“Sure, you got a tree house?”

I turned left onto Dogwood Trail and was about half way there when I saw Franklin and Danny Ericson, John’s father and son, standing in the yard just off Blanton Riggins front porch.  His wife, Shelia, waved as I drove by.

“I really hope they didn’t see me.”  Gina said melting down into her seat.

“I suspect the Ericson’s were there talking to the Riggins about selling their house.  I heard a few weeks ago that Blanton was retiring from Goodyear and he and his wife wanted to move to Orange Beach.”

I drove on to Oak Hollow, unlocked and opened the gate, and drove down to the house.  My mind was about to explode.  First, I should never have come here with Gina even without being seen.  Second, I was confident that, at a minimum, the Ericson’s recognized me simply by my truck.  Third, if they saw Gina, it wouldn’t be long until Wade and James knew.  And, most likely, Wade would think Gina and I were having an affair.  But, the most explosive thought I had was I had voluntarily invited a future detective to come snooping around the one place I had, up until now, done everything I could to keep secret.

Gina and I spent thirty minutes inside the house with me showing her a stack of unpublished short stories.  She had been more interested in the wood-burning cook-stove in the kitchen than anything.  I made up a story about how I needed to keep this place a secret and had her promise she wouldn’t tell anyone.  When I told Gina that even Karla didn’t know about Oak Hollow, I could see she felt I saw her as a very close friend.

When we returned to Hickory Hollow, I asked Gina to let me know when she was safe in Atlanta.  I urged her to keep me posted of everything that happened between her and Wade.  She opened her car door, but before she got in, she walked over to me and hugged me once again saying, “I am so glad you are my attorney, but most of all for becoming a faithful friend.  I’m going to miss you.”

I told her I felt the same.  She walked back to her car and drove off.  It was the last time I saw Gina alive.