Death By Rodeo Part XI
My name is Sunny Alexander. And I’m Henry James and we’re writers for Dark Sides of the Truth Magazine.
When we walked in Charles Throckmorton’s office Monday morning we weren’t planning on seeing Justin Throckmorton standing beside his father’s desk glaring at us. We don’t think he planned on seeing us again either.
“What the hell are you two doing here?”
“Ya’ll know each other?”
“Yes Mr. Throckmorton we’ve already had the pleasure. I had an opportunity to teach your son some manners at 8 Seconds Saturday night.”
“Old timer, you ain’t so big now without your posse are ya? How ‘bout we take it to the parking lot and finish what you started?”
Charles Throckmorton stood and stepped around the desk giving us an opportunity to see how big a man he was. He towered over his son, a pair of thickened tree branches for arms jutting out his short sleeved shirt. His blockhouse face had turned crimson as he faced his son, their noses almost touching.
“Boy, I’ve about had enough of your shit. If it wasn’t for your mother, I’d beat that cocky ass attitude right out of you. Now get that ticket receipt report down to financials and get your ass back to work.”
“But Dad, they…”
“I don’t want to hear it boy. Go now while I’m still just thinking about firing your ass.”
We endured the sour look of hatred on Justin’s face as he clenched the paperwork he was holding in hands and walked out.
“I’m sorry you folks had to see that. He’s really a good boy, just don’t always make good decisions. And Lord does he have his mamma’s temper. So come on. Sit down.”
“Mr. Throckmorton we’re here about the death of Randy Culpepper.”
“Do I know you sir? You look awful familiar.”
“My name’s Henry James. This is Sunny Alexander.”
“I know where I seen you. You come running out in the arena with that doctor trying to help Randy.”
“Yes sir. The doctor’s name is Damen Alexander. He’s brother to this young lady.”
“Nice to meet you ma’am. I know your brother did everything he could to help.”
“That’s why we’re here Mr. Throckmorton. We believe someone killed Randy.”
For several seconds he fixed us with a grim look, his gray eyes boring into us as if he’d just heard the worst news he could have possibly imagined.
Maybe his expression was telling us he realized we were on to him.
“Why would anybody want to kill Randy? Everybody loved that boy.”
“Well, I’m just going to come out and ask this Mr. Throckmorton…”
“Call me Charlie please.”
“Okay Charlie, who would stand to gain the most from Randy’s death?”
“Oh, I see. You think I killed Randy so I could have the rodeo for myself, is that it? Any other day Mr. James I would have your ass thrown out of my office fer making that kind of accusation. But I’m going out on a limb here and assuming you two don’t know about the arrangement.”
“Arrangement?”
“Yes ma’am. You know, me and Daniel went to school together. We was thick as thieves. He and I put our last dollars into this rodeo and busted our asses to make it work. Randy was fifteen years old when his daddy died. And me and the missus took care of that boy until he was old enough to hold his own, but he never wanted any part of the ownership.”
“Hang on. You said he didn’t want to be an owner?”
“Yeap, always said it was holding him down. He wanted to be a rodeo clown just like his dad. So on Randy’s twenty first birthday we all had us a hell of a party, and that’s when Randy signed over his part.”
“Let me guess, Randy transferred ownership to you.”
“No ma’am. He transferred his part of the ownership to the corporation. Same as me. A corporation I just happen to be the chief operating officer of. The arrangement was the corporation would pay Randy a healthy salary and he could do whatever he wanted. I can show you the paperwork if you’d like. It’s all on the up and up for sure.”
“So you really had nothing to gain by killing Randy did you Charlie?”
“Nope. Not a damned thing. Besides I loved that kid like he was one of my own. I’m sorry you folks wasted your time when you could have been trying to find the real killer.”
“Charlie, how well do you know Brent Davis and David Norris?”
“Strange question Mr. James. Hell, I’ve known Brent since he was a pup. His daddy would bring him down to the rodeo ever chance he got. Just stood to reason that boy’d end up a rodeo clown. Brent ain’t got a lick of scared in his body.”
“Typical for a clown.”
“Yes sir, brave and stupid.”
“What about David Norris?”
“I do know he comes from pretty good stock. His dad’s some kind of doctor in something. David got his start in the circuit around Dallas and Fort Worth. He and his parents and sister moved to Houston about four years ago. Shame about his sister.”
“What happened?”
“Sunny right? She went and killed herself about two years ago. She was always a kind of sulky filly, you know, dark and broody. But Randy seemed to like her.”
“They were an item?”
“Oh yeah, Ms. Sunny. Them two hit it off real quick.”
“A few more questions then we’ll get out of your hair Charlie.”
“Better be quick Henry, I’m loosing my hair fast these days.”
“I hear ya. So you said David worked the circuit up in Dallas and Fort Worth right?
“Yeap. That’s right.”
“Your riders ride bulls and horses from other rodeos, especially the best performers right?”
“Ah, you ain’t new to this game are ya Henry? Yeah, they tour the circuits just like the riders do.”
“When Randy died was the bull local stock?”
“No. That was Warrior outta Fort Worth.”
“Anybody know how Warrior was going to react when he came out the chute?”
“Don’t see how they could have unless they’d seen him in action before. Where ya going with this Henry?”
“Too early to say, but thanks Charlie. I hate to trouble you but could you do one last thing for us?”
“What’s that?”
“Could you get hold of Brent and David and have them meet the three of us at the arena around six thirty this evening?”
“Really? Why would I do that?”
“Tell them you’ve got a big announcement to make which will put some serious money in their pockets and you want them to be the first to know. We’ll meet you there at six.”
“Six o'clock right?”
“Yes sir.”
“Okay Henry. We’ll see ya at six. Don’t have the slightest clue what you’re up to, but I always like me a good mystery.”
“Me too, Charlie. I think we’re all going to figure this one out together. See you this evening.”
As we left Charlie’s office it was pretty easy to tell one of us had no idea what the other was planning. Sometimes it just works out that way.
“Henry what in the hell is spinning around in your head?”
“David Norris. We don’t have much time Sunny. We need to find out everything we can on this kid.”
READ ON — DEATH BY RODEO CONCLUSION
Part I, Part II, Part III, Part IV, Part V, Part VI, Part VII, Part VIII, Part IX, Part X, Part XI, Conclusion
Let’s keep in touch: [email protected]