Cliffhanger Theater!

Thank goodness he stopped banging on the door.

Phil’s mind was unusually clear for the situation he was in.  His hands and fingers were clenched as hard as they could be to the edge of the boxcar’s roof.  The roar of the wind past his ears was deafening.  His right arm was numb and throbbing all at the same time.  Phil looked into the direction of the train, and saw a town coming up fast.  Phil looked down.  The rocks around the track were going by like a rosy, jagged blur.  He looked up a bit and saw the latch.  It was just out of the reach of his outstretched leg.  Phil took a deep breath and slid his right arm to the right.  It was over as far as he could stretch it.  The shoulder and elbow were numb, and he had a feeling of dread as he readied himself for the next step.  He pulled himself up slightly and shifted his weight to the right before his body came down.  Pain shot through his right arm into his head, his chest and his lower body.  The pain was making him nausous, and he was starting to see spots and stars in his perephial vision.  He kicked at the latch, missing it.  He took another breath and kicked at the latch again.  His foot hit the latch, but it didn’t move.  Phil shook his head rapidly and stared at the latch.

You can do this.

Phil swung his foot to the latch.  His foot was bent downward, and as the top of his foot hit the latch he curled his lower foot and toes upward.  The latch lifted and tumbled back down, leaving the door locked.  Dammit, if only I could talk to Bob in the damn car. Phil repeated the process, except he lifted the latch as high as he could.  Phil’s arms were burning and he was losing his grip.  His ears heard the faint sound of metal tinkling.  Phil started to black out, and he felt the train car melting away and his body being pulled into the darkness.

***

Geoff kept his arms crossed.  Jeremiah did the same.  Jebediah had his hand inside his jacket.  Frank’s eyes darted all around.  “Look, I just want to get on my flight.  What does it matter what I say?”

“It matters.”  Geoff said dryly.

“I think you’ll be happier with us than anyone you might find in Las Vegas.  I can make a call and make sure  your stay goes very smoothly.  I’d hate for y-”

“I faked it, alright?”  Frank was now standing, waving his arms around.  “I called the police department and used the name of an officer who was with the Highway Patrol who was on vacation as of that morning.  There was never a body.  The money went into my account the night before.  I called it in and filled out all the paperwork.  If you people weren’t looking for him no one would have noticed, alright?  If you’re the cops I confess!”  Geoff stood up and pushed him back to his seat as Frank mumbled “I confess” over and over.  Geoff looked with sad eyes at Frank, but when his gaze turned to Jeremiah and Jebediah it was pure anger.

“Well, that changes things.  The question is, where is Gerrard?”