Payroll by William James Johnson Chapter 24

While Silky and Rona were struggling to adapt to their new life style, the robbery investigation was being hampered by one blind alley after another. Reconstructing the fugitives' escape route was the first plan followed by Broom and Furthers. Supplied with a grainy blow-up of Silky's graduation picture from basic training, and a description of Rona from her boss and several truckers that ranged from raunchy to sometimes attractive, they had very little to go on.
"Tiger" Kelly was not amused when the police in Bowbells notified him that the widow Fuerny had deposited money with serial numbers from the robbery given her by Silky for a night in her guest house. He ordered his two ace detectives into his office and leaned on them as only Kelly could.
"Jumpin' Jeezus...I have to get help from a hick police chief in a Yankee farm town because my guys don't bother to check on the accommodation along the escape route. What the hell are you two doing anyway?"
"We would've got to it eventually. We're checking every lead we can. So far no dice."
"No dice...what the hell do you call this money with our serial numbers on it, play dough?"
"Inspector...It was the customs officer who probably put us off in the beginning." Constable Furthers tried to take some of the pressure off her partner. Once they had gotten past the problems about their sexual preference, they were becoming a good investigative team.
They both recalled their interview with the young custom's officer and tried to recount what he had said.
"Sure I remember them. We don't get a lot of traffic through here. I thought they looked like students. In fact I think that's what they said they were. I'm sure of it...they said they were students, and they were going to Las Vegas on a holiday. I remember I said if they were going to Vegas, they should take bags of money." He began to laugh hysterically. "That's what I said. And they had that payroll with them. That's real funny don't you think?"
"Oh! And there's another thing. I'll always remember their dog. I didn't see him at first when they drove up. I stuck my head inside their window to take a look around. We do that sometime just to check on what they might be bringing into the country. Suddenly I heard this low growl. It was a Doberman. Stuck his head between theirs. He had the meanest set of teeth I ever saw. Scared me I don't mind telling you. I told them they couldn't take the dog into the States without a permit. That's the law. So this guy shows me his vet papers, and was I ever surprised. The dog used to work for DEA...that's the Drug Enforcement Agency."
"We know about the DEA...go on please," asked Broom.
"Oh yes, there was one other thing."
"What's that?"
"They said something about driving all night because they didn't want to waste too much of their vacation time on the road."
When she finished recounting what the customs officer had told them, Furthers waited for Kelly to respond.
"And that's the reason you didn't check the accommodation?"
"Yes sir."
"My gawd...What the hell's this world comin' to."
"He said they told him they were going to drive all night," repeated Broom.
"I know he said that...I'm not doubting what he said. If you were Zylkowski would you be giving everyone you met an itinerary of your movements. For Chrissake! The guy was a robber on the run. When are you two going to start acting like Mounties, instead of Keystone Kops."
"We got a description from a Mountie who stopped them when they were heading for the border."
"So!"
"Not much. Stopped them because they had a defective rear light. Said they seemed friendly enough. He gave them a warning and let them go."
"Jeezuz Jeezus...You call that a description. One balls up after another. Have you any idea how bad this is making me look?"
"We're sorry Sir. Becky and I are doing our best."
"Well that's not good enough. Next thing you know, I'll have to go back into the field and do the job myself."
"We have word from Vegas that they may have Thistlegrow's plane locked up in a compound," said Furthers, hoping to defuse the "Tiger".
"What do you mean they may have his aircraft...they either have it or they don't."
Broom tried to clarify her statement. "Becky got the serial number of his plane when we were in Bowbells and we put out an all points bulletin on it. The boss at the Vegas airport says he's got the plane and we can go down and check it."
"That's more like it. It's about time we started getting a break on this case."
"We're doing the best we can Inspector," said Becky again.
"I know...I know. Investigating can be a real pain in the ass. Why I remember when..."
This trip down memory lane took over an hour. But when the "Tiger" had a flashback, everyone around him got in the time machine. This time he told of the exciting prohibition days, when a small bathtub gin enterprise in Yorkton, which used the same border crossing at Portal, grew into one of the world's largest purveyors of booze. The way he described it, he made it sound like he was taking credit for their success. He finished with one of his famous one liners, "Of course those were the days when you shot first and asked questions later."
That afternoon a limousine picked them up at the terminal and took them to James Deeks office in the administration building.
"I'd like to assure you, we'll do whatever we can to help. I have the ground crewman who met the aircraft in question waiting in the outer office."
"Thank you Mr. Deeks. We'd like to speak with him."
Ralph Hodgins was in his mid-twenties, dressed in white coveralls.
"Ralph, I'd like to introduce Constable Furthers, and Sergeant Broom of the Mounted Police."
"Canadians?"
"That's right."
"Always get your man, and things like that."
Deeks smiled at his man's attempt to be humorous.
"This is a serious matter Ralph. These men, sorry...these police are trying to get whatever information we might have about that Cherokee we have in the compound."
"So how can I help?"
"Tell us everything you remember about the people who came in that plane," said Broom.
"Not much to tell. The guy was nice enough. And so was the girl. I'd say she was older than him. Not bad lookin' if you know what I mean. Some'd say she had some miles on her, but she was still the kind of woman who'd make you look twice."
"How come you still remember them after all this time?"
"A couple of reasons I'd say. They had an accident when they landed for one."
"Accident?"
"The controller said their approach was good, but when they were about to land, they gave it a shot of speed and it hit pretty heavy. Smashed the nose wheel."
"And the second reason you still remember them?"
"That's right...they landed without a clearance. In fact the tower was concerned because they had no flight plan on them. Oh!... and there was another reason. They had this neat dog. A Doberman, really well trained. If I remember correctly, I think he had a limp when he walked."
"Anything else Mr. Hodgins?"
"I got this strange feeling this wasn't their plane."
"What made you think that?"
"They seemed to be in too much of a hurry to get away. If you had smashed your plane, wouldn't you be concerned about getting it fixed before you went into town. That seemed fishy to me."
"Did you ask them about why they landed without a clearance?"
"Sure did. They claimed their radio was busted, but that was a crock. The radio worked fine. I think they didn't bother to use it, or they didn't know how to use it."
"What about the old man who was with them?" asked Becky.
"What old man? There was just the guy and his girl and that fine looking dog."
Becky opened her brief case and pulled out a file.
"What are you looking for?" asked Broom.
"I want to see if there's anything in his file that says he was a pilot."
"So?"
"Nothing."
"Maybe the girl is the pilot."
"No way," said Becky.
"Now who's being sexist?"
"She was a waitress. That's all she ever was. She'd never have a chance to be a pilot. And if for some reason she had to land the plane, it would have to be in the most drastic situation. No, she couldn't have done it. This whole scheme was too carefully planned to risk it on someone who has never flown. It had to be him."
"Can we go and have a look at the aircraft now?" asked Broom.
"Certainly. Ralph...stay with our visitors and help them anyway we can."
"Okay Mr. Deeks. Follow me folks."
As they headed for the compound, Broom was still puzzling over Becky's question about the old man. "If he wasn't with them when they landed, what did they do with him?"
"Could be we've got a murder on our hands as well as a robbery," said Becky.
"You still wondering about that old guy you were asking about?" asked Ralph.
"That's right. We sure would like to know what happened to him."
"Funny you should be talking about him like that. There was some old guy who was on TV a few weeks ago. Claimed he was pushed outa his plane by a young couple who hired him to take them to the coast. Had a strange last name if I remember right."
"Thistlegrow?"
"Hey yeah. That's it...Thistlegrow."
His confirmation was the lead they had been looking for all along.
"Where did you say this guy was?"
"Up in Nebraska...Let me think. If I remember right, it was a small place called Alliance. That's right...Alliance, Nebraska. He was found by some Indians who took him to the hospital. He was pretty weak. Spent three days in a desert with a broken ankle. Feisty old bugger."
At the Cherokee Becky unfolded the map that straddled the co-pilots seat. Drawn in pencil was a track from Bowbells to Alliance, Nebraska.
"What do you make of it?"
"If someone was going to get rid of their pilot, why would they mark it on a map."
"Maybe it was Thistlegrow who was going to get rid of them."
"Beats me partner...but I think we should go and hear what Ivan Thistlegrow has to say for himself."
"That's the way I'd play it."
"Shall we call Kelly and give him the good news?"
"To hell with Kelly. I want something solid before we give him another chance to stomp on us."
"Then I guess we head for Alliance."
"Are you kidding. Vegas is my kinda town."
"You'll like it here," said Ralph. "Vegas has got everything."
"Good looking women?"
"You better believe it."
He was surprised when they both said, "good".

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