Free The Insanity Plea by Larry D. Thompson Page B

door. Then
he stopped, looked back and asked, “Who have you got prosecuting?”
    “Katherine Rasmussen. Robinson
insisted on her.”
    “Shit!” Wayne replied, his voice
rising again. “What chance does Dan have with a public defender and her on the
other side?”

CHAPTER 19
     
     
    Wayne left the garage and drove
slowly back to Broadway. Instead of turning right toward Houston, he found
himself headed toward Seawall Boulevard where he turned west. The overcast day,
its slight mist coating the windshield, mirrored his mood. When he reached 21 st ,
he found the beach deserted as surfers, joggers and fishermen took shelter, awaiting
the return of the sun. He climbed out of his truck, turned up the collar on his
coat and walked to the edge of the seawall. Wayne tried to picture his brother
killing a woman, and the picture would not come into focus. Hell, he doubted if
his brother even owned a knife, particularly one sharp enough to slit Debbie’s
throat. And, where was the knife, anyway? What happened to the murder weapon?
Harry didn’t say anything about it. From the papers, Debbie was strong, a black
belt. Dan was never muscular, not even in high school. Surely, he wouldn’t have
gained strength from living on the streets. The only thing that made sense was
that Dan visited this jetty regularly. Maybe it brought back memories of their
good times. Maybe the wide expanse of the Gulf calmed the demons that raged
through his mind.
    Wayne considered asking for a visit
with his brother and immediately nixed the idea. He didn’t want to talk to his
brother or his mother until he sifted through all he had learned and reached a
decision. Instead, he got in his car and was soon driving north on Broadway. When
he got to the Old Galveston Cemetery that covered several square blocks
adjoining Broadway, he swerved across the boulevard and drove through the
cemetery entrance. A mixture of memories flooded his mind. He remembered as a kid
how he and his buddies would sneak over to the cemetery to hunt ghosts that
were said to frequent the old graveyard on moonless nights. More importantly,
he remembered burying his father there.
      He got out of the car and walked to his
father’s grave. Bending over, he picked a few twigs and leaves from the grass. Then
he sat down, leaning against the tombstone as he fought to make a decision. Time
passed. Wayne had no idea how long he sat in the cemetery until he realized
that it was growing dark. When he rose to his feet, he knew what he had to do.
    “Thanks, Dad,” he said as he glanced
up to the heavens. “I knew I could depend on you for the right decision.”

CHAPTER 20
     
     
    Wayne opened Rita’s door and was
greeted by the aroma of gumbo simmering on the stove. It reminded Wayne that he
hadn’t eaten since early that morning.
    “Hi, sweetie,” Rita hollered from up
the stairs. “Let me save this stuff on my computer and I’ll be right down. There’s
some Chardonnay in the fridge. Help yourself.”
    Wayne did as Rita suggested and took
a slow first sip. On an empty stomach, he chose to take it easy. Rita came down
the stairs wearing a green halter top and matching shorts. Her feet were bare
and she carried her own half empty glass of Chardonnay. She crossed the living
room to where Wayne was seated on a barstool and kissed him lightly. “You don’t
look so good. Tough day? You ready to talk?”
    “How about a bowl of gumbo first? Then,
I’ll see if I’m up to it.”
    Rita sat two bowls on the counter and
joined Wayne on a bar stool. Wayne sat in silence as he ate. Rita left him with
his thoughts, rising only once to put a Sinatra CD on the stereo.
    Wayne managed about half of his gumbo
and placed his spoon in the bowl as he finished off his one glass of wine.
    “Okay, I’m ready to talk.”          
          Rita took his hand and escorted him to her couch. She sat as close to
him as she could, thinking that the radiation from her body might improve