Julio Perez looked at the clock on the wall. His boss was always reminding him to put up the new BNSF clock, but he found the faded Burlington Northern logo comforting. The clock was one of his first gifts from the railroad company, back when Julio had started working here after coming to America a few decades ago. Julio had that clock with him at every rail yard he’d worked at, and he was content to have it here, where he was hoping to retire. Right now, the clock was telling him to get some sleep. He dug into his pocket for the keys to his truck. He stopped at the door, and flicked the light.
*RING*
Julio froze for a moment. He was so very tired, but the phone ring called to him like the voice of an abusive partner, who just wanted a little more time together. He threw his keys onto his desk and picked up the receiver. “Railroad security, this is Perez.”
“Julio?”
“Yes?”
“This is Mitch Hanson. I think we’ve talked a few times in Sioux Falls?”
Julio sat down in his chair. He waited for it to stop creaking before he continued. “Yes, I remember you. What can I do for you?”
“I heard you were looking for some odd boxcars?”
“Excuse me?”
“I made an unscheduled stop in Ortonville because we had a call come in that one of our boxcars was wide open. Sure enough, the roof hatch has been pried open, and the boxes were moved all around. There was definitely somebody in there.”
Julio sat up and started jotting down notes. “Where did you leave from?”
“We went down to Canton last night, but we haven’t stopped since.”
“Did you slow down anywhere for someone to jump out?”
“Not really. Well, we did slow for the usual towns, but jumping out at that speed is usually too fast for the freight hoppers that we usually have.”
“How long can you stay in Ortonville?”
“Not long. I’m at the town elevator right now.”
“Can you get that boxcar off your train?”
“I think so?”
“You’d better know so, so get to it. I have to call the police.”
***
The doors swung open into the afternoon air. Tina Vig looked all around, but she didn’t see B or Mabel anywhere. Will was right behind her, but didn’t know what to look for. “How did she get here? Wouldn’t we have to give her a ride back to her place?”
“The officers last night let her drive in. She was in willingly to answer questions and get protection.”
“Protection?”
“According to the report from the officers on the scene, she said two men held her at gunpoint and proceeded to steal all the CDs and DVDs and such from an apartment rented by Phillip Anderton and Robert Fulton, then left her there to lock up. Oddly, Laura Black’s report doesn’t mention them at all, and adds a note that she thinks it was all made up.”
“That must have been who she saw in the elevator.”
“And they were in the police station, right under our noses.”
“I’ll be honest Tina. We’re not doing our best work this weekend.”
“Well, she drives a blue Toyota, but I don’t see one anywhere in the lot.”
“No” Will said, as he walked towards the side of the building. “None here.”
Tina walked to the other corner. “Hey Will, come take a look at this.”
Will walked over and looked around the corner, and saw a black Cadillac parked in a loading zone.
