October 7, 2018
Galveston TX
Chris and Marnie arrived at Bubba’s Sports Bar ten minutes early for their appointment with Savannah. Located across the causeway on the mainland, on a patch of sand named Tiki Island, the bar was a five-minute drive from the newspaper. The clientele included some regulars from the nearby refineries, newspaper folks, and curious tourists. Outside, the smell of the Gulf bordered between earthy and dead sea life.
Inside, the smell was of fresh seafood and deep fat frying. The walls were a random display of aquatic animals, nautical paraphernalia, and Texas license plates from the 1950s. A stuffed alligator head wearing an Astros cap and a grin greeted guests at the entry. Marnie noticed that its tail was mounted above the bar, curled around a Shiner Bock. A thin young woman in Island attire looked up from her phone and welcomed them from behind the bar.
“Nice spot,” Marnie said as she took in the eclectic décor and patrons. Her stomach growled in anticipation of some fried appetizers.
They slid into a booth by the window with a view of I-45, with Galveston Bay as a backdrop. Patches of sea grass dappled the shallow water in a cow print pattern. The sun was still high, lending a silvery sheen to the still surface. Chris stole glances at Marnie, rerunning the conversation from on the beach. He grinned and was rewarded by her smile.
“I hope I’m not interrupting anything,” Savannah said as she approached their booth.
Chris stood up to welcome her. She gave him a hug and a kiss on the cheek. He quickly introduced Marnie and the women shook hands. Big blonde hair, full face of makeup and a healthy bust line. Savannah looked as tough as nails.
The young woman behind the bar came to take their order. Three draft beers and a fried appetizer plate. Savannah pulled a folder out of her oversized purse.
“Okay, then,” Savannah said once the drinks arrived, and the barkeep had drifted back to her stool and cell phone. “Let’s start with Dr. Drake’s research assistant, William Stanton, who goes by Billy. He’s on the Gulf National Lab payroll as a half-time employee and receives a stipend from the National Institutes of Health, altogether bringing in a total of about $60,000 a year. With his now stay-at-home wife, he’s let it be known that he would like to be hired full-time and get benefits and funding so that he can pursue his own research.” Savannah stopped for a sip.
“He sure seemed broken up by Gen’s death,” Marnie added. “Rudderless, I’d say.”
Chis nodded in agreement.
Savannah continued, “I did a little more digging. Billy Stanton hasn’t always been an eagle scout kinda guy. He played a bit fast and loose with his undergrad funding and did some double dipping. The financial aid folks let him off the hook under the condition that he pay the overpayment back with interest. This is how his credit rating got trashed. I’m sure he’ll be paying for quite a while.
“Then, there’s the division’s administrative staff. All are full-time employees of the lab. Kathy Walsh is an administrative assistant to the division chief, Roy Williams. Ms. Walsh has been at the lab since it opened. From what my sources tell me, she’s the go-to person to get anything done. Ms. Walsh is married to Glenn Walsh, a local realtor. Glenn has taken some big financial hits over the last ten years, especially after Hurricane Ike. There’s not much appetite for vacation homes on The Island these days. It looks like he wants to diversify but if something doesn’t happen soon his business will go under.”
“I know Kathy pretty well,” Marnie said. “There is no way she would jeopardize the lab’s success. It’s more than just a job for her.”
Savannah raised her eyebrows, then continued. “Then we come to Julia Green, the division’s IT support. I found out she’s getting treatment at U.T.M.B. for some kind of blood problem. She has to get transfusions every month. She’s a full-timer with benefits. She definitely needs those benefits. Apparently, she’s been overheard talking about stem cell treatments that cost big dollars.
“Still with me?” Savannah said, looking up.
Chris and Marnie nodded in agreement.
Chris was jotting some notes.
“You’re not going to need those notes, Sugar. I’m going to leave you this whole packet,” said Savannah.
Chris looked up. “Old habit, I guess.”
Savannah continued, “Maria Gallegos is the division’s finance supervisor. She basically lays the budget out for Williams before it’s submitted upstairs. Then, according to my guy, she holds onto the purse strings pretty darn tight after it’s approved. Staff joke about how stingy she can be, even when it comes to basic office supplies. Maria is past full retirement age but still working full-time. It looks like she’s supporting her granddaughter and two great-grandbabies. Lord, may that not happen to me!”
“Second that sentiment!” Marnie said.
“I’m leaving out a string of grad students and postdocs who are on the part-time payroll of the division and/or any number of funding agencies. Some of these organizations are…let me see,” Savannah said as she shuffled some papers. “Yeah, NIH, already mentioned, CDC, the Environmental Protection Agency, several outside universities including Louisiana State, Texas A and M, Woods Hole Oceanographic… The list goes on.”
“That’s a lot of folks,” Chris interjected. “Many of whom could use cash infusions.”
Marnie nodded in agreement. “Good work bringing all the actors more clearly into focus. I’m trying to wrap my head around all the ways messing with Gen’s research could lead to financial gain. Any ideas about that, Savannah?”
“Beats the hell out of me. You hear a lot about theft of intellectual property in certain circles, Big Pharma, competing government agencies, foreign actors. But that’s above my pay grade.”
“Thanks, Savannah, this helps. You probably guessed that this is about more than a headline story,” Chris said.
“I’m starting to catch on. You two are working on something. I don’t need to know any more. It’s better that way. I’ve got more, but before we go on, let’s review the terms of our agreement, hon.”
Chris groaned. Since quitting her job as an insurance investigator, Savannah preferred to be reimbursed in a way that benefited the youth group activities at First Baptist.
“You owe me a field trip to the Daily headquarters for my middle school group and a week of vacation bible school next summer for the Pre-K group. A deal’s a deal, Sugar.”
Marnie burst out laughing. “Vacation Bible School! You better get cracking on your scriptures.”
“I’m a man of my word,” Chris muttered, and the three clinked glasses.
“Let’s move on,” Savannah resumed. “I have a few more lab folks to go over with you.”
Savannah’s report was interrupted when Marnie’s phone hummed.