Payroll by William James Johnson Chapter 11

The robbery investigation went into high gear the next week. The Sergeants were meticulous in their attention to detail. The deeper they got into the inquiry, the more they were convinced this must have been an inside job.
"I can't agree with you fellows," said Colonel Watts. "There's no way this could have been done by one of my men. Look around you for Chrissake. Riel 's gotta be one of the smallest bases still open. I know my men. If there was something going on, I'd be the first to know."
"Sorry you feel that way Colonel," replied Broom. "You've got to admit, whoever pulled it off, sure knew the exact routine..."
"Even that regulation about opening the bus door before crossing the railway tracks," added Henry.
"We've always done it that way. Anyone with their eyes open could've spotted the routine. He didn't have to be in the Army," said Watts, defending his men.
"And that thing about opening the bus door?" continued Broom.
"It's a provincial regulation...as far as I know, it's probably a rule right across this country, wherever there's a level crossing."
"But the guy was waiting at the precise time the payroll arrived...Maybe the bus driver was in on it too?"
"Come on guys...What the hell. I was there," said Captain Sayer. "It was just a beat up van stalled at the crossing. It could happen to anyone. As far as the driver was concerned, it all happened so fast. He was as surprised as we were."
"Did you notice any of your staff acting strange on the morning of the robbery?"
"I don't have a strange staff...but wait a minute. Now that I think about it...Zylkowski wasn't in on time that morning, and he's never late."
"You think we should bring him in?"
"Hell no. He had an excuse. His car stalled on him, something like that. He's always bitched about the problems he has had with his old British sports car. But he was here when we arrived back from the robbery. He was just as surprised as all of us," said Sayer.
"Could he have pulled it off, and got back here before you returned?"
"I can't see how, unless he could fly."
Major Perkins decided this was a good opportunity for him to get into the discussion, without leaving himself open to criticism. .
"Besides gentlemen, Corporal Zylkowski is one of our finest NCOs. He's been selected to go to OCS, that's what we think of him. I'd back him a 100 percent."
"What about your other Corporal...Wayne Tilly?"
"Do you think Tilly could have done it?" asked the other Sergeant.
"Tilly couldn't plan it, let alone carry it out. No I'm afraid you men are looking in the wrong direction. For my money..." Sayer stopped in the middle of his phrase. "For our money, I think it was done by some professional loner. Maybe even one of the militia guys."
"You got militia troops in the Pay Accounts Section?" asked Sergeant Henry.
"Not working directly in our section, but it could be some guy who's been coming here every summer, and has learned the routine from one of our guys. Shit! How do I know? I'm just tryin' to be helpful."
"That's not such a crazy idea Captain. Our man seemed to realize that if he waited until the summer soldiers showed up, he could more than double his take. So don't put yourself down suggesting anything that might help. We've got to start somewhere."
"Also Captain," said Sergeant Broom, "The fact that the thief waited until summer, shows us he had a precise plan. I don't think he would have tried to use a dog as an accomplice unless he felt this was the best way to gain himself some getaway time. The whole robbery has the elements of a perfect heist which got screwed up on the way."
"And there's another thing that concerns me," said Broom. "All the men on the bus say the robber went around to the driver's side of the bus and put his arm in the window, and selected the switch that automatically closed the door... How do you account for that?"
"Most buses have doors that operate that way. It's just something any observant passenger would spot after a short time," said the CO.
"But this guy obviously knew what to do. No trial and error. It was part of his plan...probably something he noticed on several previous bank runs."
"Hold it..." said Sayer. "We don't know for sure it was one of my guys, and they're the only ones who go on the bank run."
"Don't forget the Military Police, and the driver..." added Henry.
"So what do you want to do now?" asked Watts.
"How many men have you taken on these bank runs Captain?"
"We use a roster system so all the guys will get experience dealing with the local bank...About ten guys in all."
"That's not such a large list. If it's okay with you Colonel, we'd like to interview each of them, one at a time," said Sergeant Broom.
"How do you want to start?" asked the CO.
"Alphabetically seems okay. That way we might find our thief before we get to your OCS' Corporal Zylkowski."
"Give them whatever they need Don. But if you want to know what I think, I must agree with Captain Sayer. I think you're looking in the wrong direction."
"Like I said sir, we have to start somewhere."
It didn't take long for the word to spread, that the RCMP felt the robbery had been an inside job. The men who had been questioned briefed their buddies before they went before the two investigators. Then as suddenly as it had begun, the interviews stopped before they got to Tilly and Silky.
"I think the Colonel must have called it off...From the start, I understand he didn't like them trying to pin it on one of us. Which one of us had a chance to do it" asked Tilly.
"I did," said Silky.
"Oh sure...you met the bus in an old van, complete with an attack dog...I mean seriously...none of us could possibly have done it."
Silky felt this was his time to lay the ground work for the alibi Rona had created.
"Can I trust you Wayne?"
"Of course you can...you know that. We're buddies ain't we?"
"I'd like to think so... You've gotta promise what I'm, about to tell you, never gets outa here."
Wayne Tilly suddenly didn't like the conspiratorial tone of his voice.
"Hey hold on...if you're gonna say you were in on the robbery, I don't want to hear it..No way."
"I've gotta tell someone."
"Yeah and I get mixed up as an accomplice...no thank you. If you were a real friend, you wouldn't put such a heavy trip on me. No Silky...I don't know what you want to tell me...if it's the heist, I just don't want to know."
"Even if I say I did it for the Army?"
"Don't bull shit me buddy. What's that supposed to mean...you did it for the Army?"
"I wanted to prove it could be done so that they would smarten up and be more secure about handling the payroll."
"If that's the truth, why don't you just give em back the money and put an end to all this hassle."
"I haven't got the money."
"Jeezus, you know what. You get weirder everyday...Oh I get it. You're a plant or something."
"A plant...?
"Yeah. The Mounties are good at that. I bet they got you and the Captain tryin' to trap all the guys...to see what kinda reaction you can get outa us. Well old buddy, it ain't gonna work. Not with Corporal Wayne Tilly it ain't. Try it on one of the new guys...but for Chrissake, don't try to con me."
Silk let Tilly complete his analysis, then, as was typical with his mental flexibility, made another switch.
"Pretty sharp Wayne. Didn't think you had it in you. Was I that obvious?"
"Is the Pope Polish?"
Silk began to laugh at his response, and his laughter defused the tension which had been building.
"Some guy is probably soaking up the sun in a tropical paradise, all expenses paid for life, while we have to go through this ridiculous charade of an investigation, way out here in the boonies."
"Why did you try to con me Silky? I thought we were buddies."
"I just had to know if you suspected me, that's all."
"Why would you think that?"
"Well I was late getting in that morning, and you did cover my ass for me."
"But you had car trouble. What else could I do after all?"
"You know what they say, 'having the opportunity to do something is almost as important as actually doing it'...or does that make any sense to you?"
"But you didn't have the opportunity. How the hell could you rob the bus and get back to work like you did?"
"I didn't know what you really thought about it. And I had to know."
"Jeezus, if I had suspected you, I'd have turned you in by now. What the hell, I've got as much sense of duty as you."
"I'm sure you have...I have another problem now though."
"You got more problems...What is it this time?"
"My transfer."
"So?"
"I'm supposed to leave in about a week and I've got exams coming up on those University courses I'm taking. I sure could use more time here to finish my work."
"Ask the Captain for an extension, then dig in. University credits are worth a lot to you when you go to OCS. They have courses starting every three months. That's what I'd do if I were You."
"Thanks Wayne. I'll ask him now."
Walking to the Captain's office Silky was glad he didn't reveal anymore of Rona's plan. If it didn't work on Tilly, how the hell did he expect it to work on those two trained investigators.
"Come in Silky," said Captain Sayer when he saw him pacing outside his office.
He explained why he was requesting a delay in his transfer. Sayer listened intently, looking for any physical indication which might confirm his suspicions. The RCMP had made a solid case that it could be one of his men who did the robbery, and he had always felt that Silky would stay in the Army only as long as it would take to get what he was after, whatever that was.
"...and if there's any way you could get my transfer postponed, without jeopardizing my recommendation for OCS, I'd really appreciate it sir. I've got so much work to do."
"I was going to talk to you about it, but I've been so damn busy with those Mounties. It's already been postponed Silky. All transfers have been put on the back burner until they clear all possible suspects...You and me, included."
"That's a relief Captain. How's the investigation going?"
"Don't let it get around, but they had a breakthrough this morning."
"Do you mind me asking what happened?"
"You remember the robber left a meatball at the scene of the crime...on the bus?"
"That's what I hear."
"Sergeant Broom got the results of the analysis...and it turns out I was right all along. It contained poison. Methaldehyde. The bastard planned to get rid of the dog by ordering it to eat the poisoned meat and that way the animal wouldn't be able to be used to find that rotten little shit. Can you imagine a guy using his faithful animal in such a gross way. When the hot rodder almost creamed him against the bus, he must have panicked. The dog wasn't given the command. Strange how the best plans can be fucked up by such an unexpected turn."
Silky interrupted Sayer's theorizing.
"So I don't see how you consider this is such a breakthrough?"
Sayer didn't like the sarcastic tone of Silky's question. "What's wrong? Am I going too fast for you... Methaldehyde is better known as Slug Bait Poison...used by potato farmers."
"I must be missing something Captain...you lost me way back there when you said there was a breakthrough."
"They think they've found the guy who sold the poison to the crook."
"They what?..."
"Ah ha...At last the light is coming on."
"And this guy thinks he can identify the fellow who bought the poison."
"You've got it...some old geezer owns the General Store in Forbes. Described the crook to a tee...even described his vehicle. Turns out it was an old van, burned to the Axel near an abandoned gas station on the county road. The pieces are coming together Silky."
"So when is this character coming to check us out?"
"He's not. The police took a file with pictures of everyone in accounts. That should do for starters."
"What do you think Captain?...is he gonna finger one of us?"
"No way. If it had been one of my men, he would've been long gone by now. What's to be gained by hangin' around?"
"Sure hope you're right Captain."
"Of course I'm right. I know my men."
With this, Silky gave him one of his premium salutes, and left his office. Looking at his watch, he saw it was time to close up for the day. He returned to his office to lock the filing cabinets. Wayne Tilly glanced into his office as he passed.
"Well?"
"He said all transfers are on hold until the cops finish."
"Good. That'll give you a chance to get your work done."
"Yeah...and believe me, there;s plenty."
"Oh hey."
"What?"
"Did you hear about Rona?"
"What about Rona?"
"Disappeared."
"What?"
"Seems her boss tried to come on to her and she put up a helluva fight. One of the other girls said he had to go to the hospital...I guess she gave him such a kick in the balls, she busted one of them."
"Come on Wayne, you're puttin' me on."
"I mean it. They tell me the local cops are tryin' to find her, to bring charges against her."
"What the hell for?..."
"You deaf...I said she busted the bastard's balls. Apparently he almost died."
"What the hell was he tryin' to do to her?"
"Who knows. She's one smart bitch. That chick's been around."
"So what do they think has happened to her?"
"Fucked off I guess...Probably with one of those cross country truckers. Knowing Rona, She's probably workin' the strip on Portage and Main."
"I always liked her."
"All the guys liked her. What's not to like in Rona? She's just one tough wench. No one crosses her and gets away with it. In a way, I think that's what I liked about her."
"Well...wherever she is, I hope she's happy," said Silky, concealing any hint of her real whereabouts.
"You know Rona. She'll make her own happiness."
"Guess so. So what are you doing this weekend?"
"Going to the Peg for a dirty weekend. Guess you're gonna be too busy to come along?"
"You've got it. If you see Rona in your travels, tell her Silky sends his love."
"Have a good weekend Silky."
"You too old buddy."

view the biography of William James Johnson at www.noozoon.com