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Chapter 24: 8:00 AM, Sunday, October 10, 2004, Alpine, West Texas
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137 Having slept little, when my Sunday morning wakeup call startled me awake I felt as if I had not been to bed at all. After grudgingly arising, showering, shaving, and packing, I trudged down the stairs, still half asleep, in the same trousers I had worn the previous evening, a hunter green knit golf shirt, and cross-trainer athletic shoes. I stopped on the second floor to pay my bill, and then went downstairs to the restaurant. We had agreed to meet for breakfast, and then follow Charlie to Son’s house for the meeting with Starlene. Billy Rex, Robert Earl, and Charlie were already sitting at a table in the middle of the room. Charlie wore jeans and athletic shoes and a blue with yellow striped rugby shirt. Billy Rex also had on a pair of jeans and a short-sleeved yellow cotton shirt. Robert Earl wore what appeared to be the same trousers he had worn last night, a pair of deck shoes with no socks, and a pullover maroon sweater. There was also a fourth man sitting at the table with them. He wore what appeared to be some sort of uniform, but it did not register with me immediately. Only two other tables were occupied,one by what appeared to be a couple of real estate agents,the other by two cowboys in jeans and work shirts, their hats on the empty chairs at their table. The restaurant that used to be the hotel lobby was large—perhaps sixty feet deep and forty across. The floor was Mexican tile of all different sizes. Large arched windows opened out into what had been a courtyard during the hotel’s prime, but now appeared to be a flower garden. Bright sunlight broadcasted through the windows. Colorful Mexican tile covered the lower portion of the walls, contrasting with white plaster the rest of the way to the ceiling. A huge fireplace with an ornate wooden mantel dominated the rear of the room.Several leather-looking sofas were arranged to face the fireplace. Between the fireplace and the front where I stood were tables of various sizes, all covered with white tablecloths. Baskets hung throughout the room, with erupting plants and ferns.There was an eclectic mix of Indian, Mexican, and modern art on the walls. The decor did not match either the predominant western culture of Alpine or the historic nature of the hotel, but it was a pleasing overall effect. Making my way to the table occupied by my cousins and the unknown man, I dropped my bag beside one of the two empty chairs, and sat down heavily. A large pot of coffee was on the table, and I filled the cup in front of Chapter 24 8:00 AM, Sunday, October 10, 2004, Alpine, West Texas 138 me. It was not until after I had taken a long, eye-opening drink that I finally looked at my cousins. I hoped my eyes did not look as bad as theirs. It was then that I finally noticed the badge on the stranger, and the gun strapped to his hip. “We have a problem, Tom,” Charlie said. “Someone dug up Son’s grave last night.” “What?” was all I could think to say. What he had said just did not register. The uniformed man stuck his hand across the table to me,saying,“Mike Cooter. I’m a deputy sheriff here in Brewster County. I tracked you guys down through Vernon and Starlene and came over to give you the news.” “Come again,” I said, confused. “What happened?” “Well,the simple version of it,”Mike Cooter explained,“is that someone dug up Son’s grave last night.” “Dug up his grave,” I repeated dully. “Did they steal his body or something?” “No,” Mike Cooter continued. “As near as we can tell they just dug him up, opened the coffin, and sat him up in it. We can’t tell that anything was done to the body at all.” “Why would anyone do that?”I asked, still not fully understanding what had happened. Even though he had likely gone through the same conversation with the others, the deputy patiently explained to me that they had no idea yet. “We were hoping you fellows might have some ideas. I actually came to ask if you would come over to the cemetery with me to look around—see if anything rings any bells. Vernon and Star are already there.” “Sure...