Free And Then She Killed Him by Robert Scott Page B

lie. In fact, Portia adamantly stated, “To my knowledge, he does not lie, and, to the contrary, dislikes people who do lie in business.”
    Portia told Norcross that Miriam had made arrangements for Portia’s nine-year-old daughter to have riding lessons at the Helmicks’ Whitewater home every Tuesday at noon. Portia’s daughter had her first lesson on June 3, 2008, and all went well. Alan and Miriam had picked up the girl the night before, and the girl spent Monday night there in Whitewater. The next day, Portia’s daughter had her riding lesson at noon, as scheduled, and then she was driven back to Portia’s home after the riding lesson.
    But on June 9, 2008, Portia had tried calling her father to ask if he was picking up her daughter for the next lesson, which was scheduled for June 10. Portia could not get through to him, so she left a message on his cell phone. Portia next called Miriam’s cell phone and also left a message on it. Miriam later called Portia back and said that the new horse trainer was having a problem with a horse named Billy, which her daughter rode. Miriam then added that she wanted to cancel the ride slated for June 10 and reschedule it for Friday, June 13.
    Norcross made a note about this horse trainer, Julie, but actually found out later that the horse trainer was named Sue Boulware. Portia added that when she got Miriam’s message, she was very upset, but she said it was okay to do the new plan for June 13. Portia also said that she wanted to speak with her father right then. Miriam replied that Alan had gone to an appointment in the town of Montrose at 2:00 P.M. and planned to stop off at Portia’s home on the way back. Portia now told Norcross that this was also strange, since her father almost never popped in unannounced.
    Alan Helmick did not stop off at Portia’s house on June 9, and Portia phoned Miriam once again. Miriam said this time that she had told Alan to phone Portia. That phone call never came, nor did Alan stop by Portia’s home by five o’clock, as Miriam indicated he would do. Concerned about this, Portia phoned her husband, Josh Vigil, since she knew Josh had plans to spend the night at the Helmick residence after his workday with Halliburton. Once Josh got there, he said that this whole scenario was strange. He phoned Portia from the Helmick residence in Whitewater and said that from where he stood he could see both Miriam and Alan out by the barn.
    Miriam phoned Portia later that same night and told her that Alan had stopped by the Elks Lodge in Delta to pay his dues on his way home. Then, according to Miriam, Alan had arrived home “really drunk,” so she put him to bed. Portia said that this was unlikely. She had never known her father to drink to excess and drive.
    Portia did not question Miriam at the time, but she did phone Josh once again. Josh said that Alan did not appear to be drunk when he saw him by the barn. Portia did not pursue this matter because all the kids were planning to visit Alan on Thursday, June 12, and have their riding lesson the next day. Portia related that she would talk in person with her father on that occasion. Of course, by then, he was already dead.
    Portia tried calling her father on the morning of June 10, but as usual, the call went immediately to voice mail. Portia next phoned Miriam’s cell phone and spoke directly with her, telling Miriam that she needed to speak with her father right away. There was some important business he needed to attend to. Miriam responded that she was at Walmart and Alan was not with her. Then Miriam said that Alan was picking up a car and they were supposed to meet and have lunch at a Mexican restaurant later that day. Portia told Norcross that was the last time she spoke with Miriam before she heard about the murder of her father.
    Portia Vigil learned about a murder in Whitewater and got online on a computer to see what it was all about. There was mention of a robbery out at her father’s house