67 (11)

Mabel sat motionless. Old man B sat and looked all around the bare room. Officer Laura Black tapped her pen on the table, just like she had been for the past few minutes. After a long, heavy sigh, she posed the question again. “Mr. McGillcuddy, I don’t know why you’re covering for Anderton and Fulton. Just tell us where they might be and we’ll drop the charges for trespassing. We have a pretty good idea you put them on a train, so just point us in a direction.”

“I’m not telling you anything. I have my reasons.”

Mabel looked at him, then looked at Laura. “Excuse me, but why am I here? You haven’t asked me anything.”

“Ms. Gravley, we would appreciate anything you offer this investigation. Since you manage the building that Mr. McGillcuddy, Mr. Anderton and Mr. Fulton live in, you’re a person of some interest in this case.”

“Person of interest? I was held at gunpoint and you’re treating me like the criminal.”

“Ms. Gravley, we don’t have any evidence at the apartment of anyone being there besides you last evening.”

“What about all the missing discs?” Old man B asked. “That must seem rather peculiar, since I’m guessing you didn’t find any at Mabel’s.”

“Mr. McGillcuddy, we don’t want to keep either of you any longer than we have to, especially you.”

“Then let us go.”

“Mr. McGillcuddy…we know you were in the rail yard. We have a statement from Julio Perez saying you indicated that you helped one, maybe two or more men onto a freight car. Your record indicates a few citations for freight hopping in the sixties and seventies.” Mabel looked at old man B’s face, which remained stoic. Laura saw that Mabel was conflicted, and now was a time to drive a wedge between them. “Your record is a…colorful read. I’ve seen assault, theft, battery, trespassing, speeding, public intoxication, public urination, and most of those in ample supply. You’ve had quite a busy life since you received your dishonorable discharge from the Army.”

“Excuse me” Mabel said. “Are you telling me that B was in the army?”

“You don’t talk about that, do you Bartholomew?” Laura was pushing ahead, sensing she could isolate B in the interrogation.

“After Korea, there wasn’t much to tell. The war was over and the army didn’t want me anymore. The feeling was mutual.”

“You fought in the Korean war?” Mabel’s attention was now only on old man B.

“It was a long time ago. There isn’t much to tell.”

Laura stood up and walked towards the door. “Excuse me” she said, slamming the door as she left. She had been outplayed for now, but she wasn’t ready to give up.

***

Phil had flattened himself on the wall of the boxcar. He looked out the narrow slot as the trees and houses flew by.

“Anything?” Bob was hanging onto the door, ready to close or open it on a moment’s notice.

Phil was scanning everything. The cars, the trees, the houses, but nothing told him where they were. “I don’t see anything. Wait. Wait a second…” Phil moved to the opening and started to push the door open. Bob slid the door all the way open. The big, blue sky was highlighted by a water tower in the distance, a tower with one word on it: Warner.