Free If You Only Knew by M. William Phelps Page B

this from Rose: “The time Billie told us she came home is different from what she told others.”
    Tullock asked what Rose meant by that.
    â€œShe told us she came home with [Vonlee] at eleven—we know she told you and others it was more like four A.M. ”
    That was quite true, Tullock considered.
    The detective asked Rose to write out all of her thoughts and drop them off at the TPD. He’d take a look at it all. Get back to her.
    â€œI’ve done that already,” Rose said.
    Rose provided the TPD with a four-page, single-spaced account of what she believed to be “skeptical” information surrounding the death of her father. The document was clear in its contempt for certain parties, but the information was extremely revealing.
    Near the top of the document, Rose wrote, Dad HATED Billie’s kids. From there, Rose painted a picture of these kids (from another marriage) always being a thorn in Don’s side when money came into play. Rose recalled conversations with her father about the kids borrowing Don’s money and his credit to sign leases on buildings for businesses that failed, leaving Don with the bill. She accused Billie Jean’s kids of stealing money and jewelry; of charging up a “huge cable bill” while staying at the house; how Billie Jean’s son, the one who got into the car accident, would need round-the-clock care and Billie Jean needed to pay for it; finally the kids were “the cause” of the divorce of Billie Jean and Don.
    As far as the autopsy, Rose insisted, the fact that there “was no autopsy done” seemed suspicious in and of itself. Also, when Rose tried to ask for a copy of the will from Billie Jean’s daughter, she was met with great scorn, and the daughter shouting, “You have been so demanding! You wanted a certificate of the death. It’s not like we’re going to change it or anything!”
    Rose also said her stepmother lied about meeting with the attorney to get a copy of the will and told Rose “she couldn’t remember when she met with the attorney.” She had “no idea” if the will Don left, dated May 7, 1993, was his last will, or if his widow was actually hiding any amendments he had made. Just getting simple information from Billie Jean and her children about the will was frustrating and difficult. No one wanted to help them, not even the secretary from Billie Jean’s attorney’s office.
    Rose talked about how Don would complain about his wife never being at home when Rose called to speak with her father. Rose would ask where she was and Don would say, “Back home, visiting her sick mother. . . .”
    We knew what that meant, Rose wrote. Billie has had numerous affairs.
    Rose went over to her father’s office after the wake to look through his files to see if she could find anything of value. Don’s partner allowed her in and Toni, the receptionist Rogers had loved like a daughter, even helped. When Rose found a file marked “estate,” she was shocked to open it and find that it was “completely empty.”
    Tullock thanked Rose and told her they would look into all of the allegations. Then Tullock got together with Zimmerman and discussed what they should do next. It certainly seemed as though the case needed to be looked at more closely. A cop has to follow his gut. So Zimmerman and Tullock decided to head over and have a chat with aunt and niece. See where they were at, maybe they could offer more information.
    â€œYou mind if we come in and talk?” Tullock asked after Billie Jean answered the door.
    â€œYes, come in,” she said. She seemed cordial and apparently wanted to help any way she could.
    Both men entered the Rogers home.
    As Zimmerman and Tullock started talking to the recent widow, they asked about her marriage to Don.
    â€œWe were married in 1985,” she explained. “It ended in divorce.” She said a few