DALLAS — Rufus Shaw left a phone message with a friend before he killed his wife and then himself Monday evening.

State Sen. Royce West has been close to Shaw since they met in junior high school. The call he received on his voice mail around 6 p.m. may have been one of the final messages from Shaw or his wife, Lynn Flint Shaw, prior to their deaths.

A grieving Sen. West described Shaw's tone of voice on the message as one of a man who didn't sound self assured, as he usually was.

"He basically said that by the time I got the message, he'd be dead — they'd be dead," Sen. West said.

He said Shaw left instructions for West to assist his college-age son and to take care of the affairs of the family.

Sen. West said Shaw also left a cryptic clue about what happened: "His enemies would make sure that they were dead before the end of the day," Sen. West said, adding that he did not know who these "enemies" might be.

Sen. West said he learned of the deaths about 12:30 a.m. Tuesday, then remembered that Shaw had called earlier. Only then did he retrieve the message.

The senator declined to speculate about what may have prompted the tragic shootings; he said he is baffled just like everyone else.

Sen. West said he doesn't know whetehr Lynn Flint Shaw's recent legal problems could have been a factor.

Sen. West said he provided a copy of the voice mail message to police.

With deep regret, West said he should have returned Shaw's call immediately.

E-mail bwatson@wfaa.com