Payroll by William James Johnson Chapter 13

Standing beside Colonel Watts, the open file on his desk, Sergeant Broom was reluctant to speak. His partner Sergeant Henry could feel the negative vibrations emanating from the Commanding Officer. Nothing was said until Major Perkins, and Captain Sayer entered his office.
"Well Jack...got a little surprise for you."
"Surprise Colonel?"
"Weren't you the guy who told these fellows you'd stand behind Zylkowski a 100 percent?"
"I believe my exact words were, 'I'd back him a 100 percent'. That's what I said Colonel."
"Well you better be prepared to eat crow my friend. We're all going to look like idiots when Command hears about this."
"What's the problem sir?" asked Captain Sayer.
"It looks like our new OCS candidate is the most likely suspect to have pulled off the payroll robbery...that's the problem."
Sergeant Broom explained, giving the CO a chance to cool off. "The old guy who owns the General Store in Forbes gave us a positive identification on your Corporal Zylkowski, as the man who bought the poison...the same stuff we found in the meatball that was left on the bus."
"Well I'll be a sonofabitch," said Sayer, who then burst out in laughter. "The little bastard had the balls to do it. I've been suspicious of him all along. He's just not what I call real Army."
"I'm terribly disappointed in him," said Perkins, followed by gails of laughter from the CO, and Sayer.
"Terribly disappointed, Christ Jack, the scheming little polack stole over half a million dollars, and you're terribly disappointed. What the hell does a guy have to do to ring your chimes?"
"There's only one thing that puzzles me Colonel," said Henry.
"And that is?"
"Why didn't he take off with the money. If he is the crook, why is he still here?"
"You mean there's a chance the Corporal isn't the thief?" asked Perkins, grasping at straws to vindicate his appraisal of Silky.
"It all depends on what he's got to say for himself. But I can assure you Major, this is more than just circumstantial evidence. The fellow in Forbes even gave us a description of his old grey van, the one which was torched on the county road. With your permission Colonel I think we should call him in, and challenge him on the evidence."
"Of course...of course. I'd like to sit in on it if that's okay?" asked Watts.
"That's fine sir. If you other gentlemen don't mind, I think we would do better with fewer in attendance. He might clam up if there's too many of us."
Major Perkins' pin striped moustache was still twitching as he left the CO's office, Sayer grinning behind him. As he passed the Major on the way to Silky's office, he said under his breath, "terribly disappointed," chuckling to himself.
Sayer resented being made to look like a fool by a scheming loner, especially since he had been suspicious of him all along. He stopped outside the Corporal's office and shouted.
"Silky."
"Sir."
"Get your ass into the CO's office, on the double."
"Right away Captain."
He straightened his tie and tucked in his summer shirt. He would have preferred to be in full uniform. He could be very impressive in full uniform. But casual was the order of dress because of the prairie summer heat. Another couple of minutes with a brush brought back the lustre to the boots he was so proud of.
"Come in Corporal...Have a chair. You know our RCMP investigators?"
"Yes I do sir."
"They've got some questions they would like to ask you."
"Of course sir. Ask away."
Sergeant Broom took the lead.
"Corporal, do you know what Slug Bait Poison is?"
"Sure do. Its chemical name is Methaldehyde. I have some myself. It's for killing those worms that attack potatoes."
"What's your job here at CFB Riel?"
"Clerk accountant Sergeant."
"Then can you explain to me how the hell you know about potatoes and poison?"
"I have some potatoes. Remember the night of my party, the CO told you about me living on a small farm so that I can concentrate on my University courses. I've tried to raise a few potatoes and other stuff, since the land is available...This has been a bad year for slugs, and I got some of that poison to see if I could get rid of them."
"Where did you get your poison?"
"In Forbes...at the General Store there. Funny old man runs it. A real busy body if you know what I mean."
The two Mounties had not expected this turn of events. Colonel Watts sat quietly waiting, with a smug expression on his face. He had to hand it to Silky, he was either one cool sonofabitch, or he wasn't involved in it, and his openness would prove his innocence. In a way, he hoped he hadn't done it. He liked the young fellow. It had been a long time since he had come across such a unique person in the Army. It was refreshing.
"Why did you call the old fellow a busy body?"
"Tried his damnedest to find out who I was, but I never told him. I don't think he liked it."
"And what did you do with the old van?"
"What old van?"
"The one you were driving when you went to Forbes and bought the poison?"
"I don't have an old van."
"That's true, because you torched it on the county road by that abandoned garage."
"I don't know what you're talking about Sergeant. I like foreign sports cars. That's what I drive. Why would I want a van? Gawd I'm only a Corporal. Having one car is enough. As a matter of fact on the day of the robbery, I had trouble with it, and had to call Wayne...Corporal Tilly...to tell him I'd be late for work. I don't like being late for work...ask him. He''ll tell you."
"Captain Sayer already told us about your alibi," said the Mountie.
"It's not an alibi gentlemen. It's a fact. Haven't you ever been at the mercy of a car that let you down when you were supposed to be somewhere? How can you call it an alibi. You make it sound like I was trying to cover up something or other."
"Aren't you?" asked Broom.
"Cover up what?" asked Silky, feigning innocence. Inside he was sure he was getting away with it. It was his theory, that if you wanted to sound convincing, you had to believe it yourself. He had done such a thorough job on himself, he was convinced he had been late for work because he couldn't get his car started, and as far as the robbery was concerned, it didn't even happen. He had wiped it from his mind for the time being.
"You're trying to cover up the fact that it was you who pulled off the robbery."
"Robbery?...Me, a robber. You've gotta be kidding," said Silky and he burst out laughing.
Colonel Watts couldn't contain himself any longer. "I know it sounds ridiculous Silky, but I'd like you to co-operate. These men have to check all possible leads. They thought that identifying the poison, and locating the man who sold it, who has positively identified you, was a major breakthrough."
"I understand Colonel. It must be frustrating as hell to try to put all the pieces together and come up with a solution. But I've already admitted I was in Forbes. I'm not trying to hide anything. It's just that the old man was wrong when he described my car. I drive a small red convertible. I don't know how he could say I had a grey van. Like I said gentlemen, on a Corporal's salary, I sure can't afford two vehicles."
"Did you say grey van Corporal?" asked Broom.
"Yes. That's what I said."
"How did you know the van was grey? You didn't hear me say anything about a grey van."
"That's right Sergeant, but Captain Sayer told us about a grey van that was blocking the bus the morning of the robbery. I just assumed you were trying to make a connection. You were trying to connect those two facts weren't you Sergeant?"
The CO covered his face with his hands trying desperately to conceal the wry expression resulting from this jousting match. His man Silky was making points and he was glad for him.
"Okay Corporal...Let's say you're telling the truth about the van. Let's go on. On the small farm you say you are renting, have you got a dog?"
"I sure have."
"A Doberman?"
"How did you guess? Yes. He's a Doberman."
"Called Sandy?"
"You fellows are incredible. What is this? We playin' twenty questions?"
"You call him Sandy?"
"Yes...But how would you know that? Oh I get it, Corporal Tilly must've told you."
"We haven't spoken to Corporal Tilly. It was your boss Captain Sayer who told us."
"Sayer?...I've never told him about my dog."
"Yes you did. When you used your dog in the robbery of the payroll."
Silky suddenly changed his approach. "Colonel do I have to take this kind of abuse? These fellows are accusing me of stealing the money."
"Answer the question Corporal," replied Watts.
"How could I have been involved in the robbery? I was here at work."
"After 11:15. Your friend Tilly made a note of the time, because he was concerned when the payroll bus was late returning."
"It might have been 11:15 like you say. That's no proof I did the robbery. How the hell you expect me to hold up a payroll and still show up at work?"
"All part of your plan," said Henry.
"A very good plan, I might add," said Broom. "What we all would like to know, is why you didn't take off with the money once you had it? Why are you still here?"
"Because I didn't take the damn money. Would I be working so hard on my studies to get into OCS if I had planned to steal a payroll?"
"Wouldn't you?"
"I don't know what I have to do to convince you. I told you I didn't steal the payroll. And from what you have told me so far, you obviously haven't got a case against me."
"Are we forgetting your Doberman called Sandy?"
"The dog wandered into my yard the day after my party, and since he was a Doberman like Captain Sayer had described, and he had said the crook called the animal Sandy, it was the first name that came to mind. All these coincidentals are just that. For all I know, he may be the dog that was used. He seemed to want to stay and he is good company for me living there all alone. My gawd is there something illegal about giving a stray animal a home. He chose me, I didn't choose him."
"Nevertheless Corporal, all these coincidentals as you call them require further investigation. We'd like to visit your farm and have a look for ourselves."
"Be my guest...if you're planning to rip my place apart, you better have a search warrant. I believe that is my right."
"That's no problem. We'll go this afternoon. And Colonel, if you don't mind, I'd like Captain Sayer to come with us."
"Of course Sergeant. You going to need transportation?"
"We've leased a car for this case. We're fine Colonel. Thanks for letting us use your office."
"I just want to get to the bottom of this as soon as possible." The CO turned to Silky and continued. "As for you Corporal, just because you're under suspicion, doesn't mean you did it. Hang in there son. Remember in this man's Army, you're innocent until proven guilty."
"Thanks Colonel. That's reassuring. I'd like to get this over too, so I can begin getting ready for my officer training."

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