Accused

FORTY-SEVEN

Billie Jean Puckett wore jeans and sneakers and a golf shirt. Her hair was blonde and pulled back in a ponytail. Unlike Goose's ponytail, hers looked very good on a beautiful seventeen-year-old girl. Her eyes were crystal blue and wet with tears.

"Miss Puckett," Scott said, "is it all right if I call you Billie Jean?"

"That's my name."

"Billie Jean, how long had you been involved with Trey Rawlins before his death?"

"About three weeks."

"Did you love him?"

"Yes."

"Did Trey say he loved you?"

"Yes."

"Did your father kill Trey?"

"No."

"You're sure?"

"Yes."

"Did you drive from Austin to Galveston on Thursday, June fourth?"

"No."

"Billie Jean, we know you were there. We have witnesses who can identify you and place you at Trey's residence that afternoon. We've also recovered your father's fingerprints off the kitchen counter at Trey's house, which proves he was in the house. You can tell the truth now, or I can prove you're lying and you can be charged with perjury. Which would you like to do?"

The tears were flowing now. Her narrow shoulders slumped. He felt sorry for this girl. But he had to question her.

"Yes."

"Yes, you drove from Austin to Galveston that day?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

"To see Trey."

"And did you see Trey?"

"Yes."

"Where?"

"At his beach house."

"What time did you arrive?"

"About one."

"Were you and Trey alone?"

"Yes."

"Where was Rebecca Fenney?"

"Shopping in Houston. Trey gave her some money to get rid of her."

"Did you and Trey have sex that day?"

"Yes."

"Where?"

"In his bed."

"After you had-"

"And in the shower."

"After that did-"

"And in his closet where there's a big mirror."

Scott waited a few seconds. "Anyplace else?"

"No, that was all."

"Okay, after those sexual encounters, what happened?"

"My dad caught us."

"Your father-Pete Puckett-caught you and Trey having sex?"

"Well, right after. We were coming out of the closet."

"Your father was already in the house?"

"Unh-huh."

"What did he do?"

"Cussed. Grabbed Trey, threw him against the wall. I thought he was gonna-"

"Kill him?"

"But I stopped him."

"Was your father angry?"

"Yes."

"Then what happened?"

"My dad told me to get dressed, then he took me away."

"You left Trey's house with your father?"

"Yes."

"In your black Mustang?"

"Yes."

"What time was that?"

"Maybe, five, five-thirty."

"And where did you and your father go?"

"To a hotel on the beach."

"You and your father stayed overnight in Galveston?"

"Yes."

"Why didn't you drive back to Austin?"

"My dad said we'd drive back in the morning,"

"And did you?"

"Unh-huh. We got up early and left."

"Thursday night, did you and your father stay in the same hotel room?"

"He got a suite."

"Did you go out that night?"

"No. We ordered room service."

"Did your father leave the room that night?"

She didn't answer.

"Billie Jean, please answer."

"I went to bed, but I heard him leave."

"What time?"

"After midnight."

"Did you hear him return?"

"No."

Scott passed the witness. The D.A. stood.

"Miss Puckett, you knew Trey Rawlins was living with Rebecca Fenney?"

"Yes."

"So you didn't have much future with Trey, did you?"

"He said he was going to leave her for me."

"Really? And did he tell Rebecca?"

"He was going to tell her that night."

"The night he was killed?"

"Yes."

"Maybe he did. Thank you, Miss Puckett."

Scott stood again. "Miss Puckett, were you aware that Trey had had numerous affairs with other women on the golf tour?"

"I knew he had other girlfriends before me."

"Do you think he might've told those women he loved them, too?"

"No. He only loved me."

"I'm sure. Did you know that Trey asked Rebecca to marry him the night he was killed?"

"No, he didn't! He was going to leave her! He was going to marry me!"

"I'm sure he was."

Scott gave the jury a look that said, What a sad young woman.

"What's a five-letter word for a 'gay World War Two bomber'?" Louis said.

"They had gays in the Army back then?" Carlos said.

"Enola," Bobby said.

"Funny name for a guy."

"They mean the plane, not the pilot. Enola Gay was the name of the plane that dropped the first atomic bomb on Hiroshima."

"How do you spell that?" Louis said.

The girls had gone inside to clean up, and they were at the table on the back deck after dinner-Scott, Bobby, Karen, Louis, and Carlos. But not Rebecca. Scott had tried to talk to her about her purchase of cocaine from Benito, but she was too upset after Billie Jean's testimony. She was now pacing the beach alone, as if she had only a few more such evenings left in her life.

Scott had stopped by Benito's office on the way home, but his thugs said he had already left for the day. Scott had then called Benito's number shown on the phone logs, but he did not answer. Benito had sold cocaine to Rebecca, and she had not paid him in jewelry. There was only one possible source of cash: the mob money.

"What's a four-letter word for angry?" Louis said.

"Pete," Bobby said.