Payroll by William James Johnson Chapter 14

Sandy's barking on the side porch interrupted Rona's digging. The metallic blue Dodge leased by the two Sergeant's moved slowly up the laneway. She knew it had to be the police. It was as certain as tomorrow they would eventually get to Silky, and want to search his place. Carrying the shovel, she ran to meet them, along with Sandy, who was jogging lazily beside their car.
"That's him. I'm sure that's him. That's the dog who was on the bus."
"How can you be so sure?" asked Broom.
"The limp...See how he favours his left hind leg when he's running. The dog on the bus was limping like that. That's one thing I noticed for sure when he got away."
Silky looked at Rona who was trying to understand what his eyes were saying, as they motioned towards the house. She knew he was trying to tell her something...but what. Then she remembered he had hidden his revolver in the small back room. Maybe he wanted her to get it. She was reluctant to make a move which would worsen their situation.
"Hi Silky. Ask your friends to come in. I'll put on a pot of fresh coffee." With this, she left them and went inside. Locating the weapon, she put it under a towel just inside the small room, where she could get it easily if she needed it.
"I don't feel like sitting here all day," said Henry. "But I sure as hell don't want that dog all over me. I had a bad experience when I was a kid. A German Shepherd did a job on me."
"You don't have to worry about Sandy. It seems someone must have spent a lot of time training him. He's a very disciplined animal. He only attacks on my command. Let's go inside fellows."
As they opened the car doors, Sandy spotted Captain Sayer, and jumped at him, knocking him back into the car.
"Jeezus Silky. Get this sonofabitch off me...I thought you said we had nothing to worry about."
"Sandy...Sit."
The dog immediately came to his left side and sat on the ground facing the men, a pleasant smile on his face.
"What made him jump at me like that I wonder?" asked Sayer.
"Probably recognizes you from the bus," replied Silky.
"The bus...You just said this was the dog that was on the bus," said Broom, stunned by Silky's remark.
"That's right. Sandy was the dog I used, when I held up the payroll bus. No use trying to delay this any longer. I did it. That's what this is all about isn't it. Come on. Let's go inside."
As they entered the small cabin, Sandy remained close to Sayer, making him very uncomfortable. Rona had started the coffee and the aroma eased the tension.
"Gentlemen, I'd like to introduce my lady, Rona."
"The girl from the diner?" asked Sayer.
"That's me. Nice to see you again Captain."
"Look Corporal," said Henry, "Let's stop stalling, and get to the bottom of this. You said you're the thief who stole the payroll?"
"That's right, only I don't like you referring to me as a thief."
"You took the money didn't you?"
"Yes."
"Without permission, using a weapon?"
"Yes...but."
"So you're a thief."
"But let me explain."
"Watch it guys. When Silky says he wants to explain, you can bet he's setting us up for another con," said Sayer.
"Not this time Captain. I know what I'm going to tell you now is going to blow your minds, but it's true...every last word of it."
"Too bad you got mixed up in this Silky. I'd love to see how those officers at OCS would handle a fox like you."
"I'll make a believer out of you yet Captain."
"Go on Corporal," said Broom.
"Let me get my file out of the back room."
As Silky moved towards the back room, Sergeant Henry drew his pistol, and was startled as Sandy attacked him, knocking him to the floor. His pistol fell out of his hand as he frantically tried to cover his face.
"Holy Christ! Get this bastard off me."
"Why'd you pull your gun out? That was stupid," said Silky.
"How do I know what you've got in the back room?" said Henry, grabbing his gun, getting up from the floor.
"I've got a report about the robbery, which should explain everything. If you want, come in the room with me and you'll see I'm telling the truth."
"Can you put that animal outdoors?" asked Sayer. "I don't want anyone getting shot because of a goddamn dog."
"Here Sandy. Come on boy. Go on to your house." He opened the screen door, and Sandy waited on the side porch, looking at the men.
"Get that file of yours," said Broom, slightly embarrassed by the way his fellow Sergeant had overreacted.
Silky took only a few seconds to return with an official looking manilla file cover, which he passed to Captain Sayer.
"It's all there Captain."
"What is?"
"My reason for the robbery. I did it on purpose for the Army."
"You what...?"
"You must remember several months ago, when we were on the bank run together I told you I thought the routine for picking up the money was vulnerable to attack."
"I seem to recall it, vaguely."
"Well...I decided to plan a way to do it, to prove my point. It's all there, every detail, even my reason for using a dog as an accomplice."
Sayer flipped through the pages, noticing he had prepared it in triplicate. "Jeezus...I can't believe it. You've always get a frigging excuse...pardon me Rona...but you know what I mean...this guy is unbelievable."
"That's okay Captain. Silky is telling the truth."
"Okay...let's say I buy it. Where's the money?"
"That's the problem Captain. I don't know where it is."
"What!" exclaimed Sergeant Henry, frustrated with the run around.
"I haven't a clue. I wish I knew. I would have returned it with this report shortly after I carried out my plan, if I had any idea where it was."
"It's true Captain. Silky told me all about it, and I've been trying to help him find the money."
"Find it. I don't understand."
"I buried the money pouch in the bush out back, and my damn dog dug it up and buried it somewhere else, and so far, we haven't been able to find it."
"The dog hid the payroll somewhere? " asked Sayer.
"See for yourself. Look out back gents, and you'll see what a busy little bugger he has been."
As the three men went to look out the back window, Sandy jumped off the porch and ran to his house and began digging, throwing dirt out the doorway.
"He's at it again," said Sayer. "This is really incredible. You're smarter than average dog screwed up your whole scheme."
As they continued to watch, it suddenly hit Silky that this was the only place they had failed to search. Sandy's hind quarters squeezed through the opening, followed by a dirt covered pouch in his jaws.
"My gawd...He buried it in his house," said Silky.
They all ran out the side door where Sandy dropped the money bag at the feet of Captain Sayer, who bent down and patted the animal, his stubby tail vibrating wildly with approval.
"Well there you are Captain. Just like I wanted to do in my report. You've got the money, and you know why I did it. I hope this isn't going to mess up my chances of going to OCS. I really did it all for the good of the service."
"Not so fast Corporal," said Sergeant Broom. "I don't buy your story."
Sayer wasn't sure any longer. Every time he thought he had the goods on Silky, something would happen to cause some doubt.
"What's the problem now Sergeant?" asked Sayer.
"The poisoned meatball...I think this report was written after the screw up during the robbery. Corporal Zylkowski had every intention of killing the dog at the scene, but for some reason or other failed to carry it out."
"But if I wanted the dog dead, why wouldn't I have killed him after the robbery, after he came back here?
"Obviously because you felt you needed him to locate the money. No...I don't buy your story Corporal. You are under arrest for the..."
Before he finished his statement Silky gave Sandy his command.
"Attack Sandy..."
The dog charged at Broom grabbing him by the throat, forcing him to the ground before he could pull out his pistol. Henry obviously remembering his last experience with the dog, was slow getting out his weapon. Suddenly a shot was fired into the midst of the men. Standing on the porch, Silky's revolver still smoking, Rona pointed the weapon steadily on them.
"Take their guns Silky and bring them in here.
It took several minutes to tie up the three men, but Silky wanted to be sure they would have great difficulty getting loose. Each man was bound by nylon cord used on parachutes which he had scrounged from the supply section at Riel. He also made sure they were fastened to parts of the cabin which made it almost impossible for any one of them to help the others.
"The hole you're digging for yourself is getting bigger and bigger Silky," said Sayer. "Come back with us, and I'll go to bat for you. I promise."
"Don't listen to him Silky. He'll lock you up and throw away the key."
"You realize your girl is a fugitive too don't you? She almost killed a guy in town. You want to tie in with that kind of bitch?"
"Why you..." Rona stopped him from striking Sayer.
"Don't waste your time on them. You've got 'em tied real good. It'll be hours before they get away, and by then we'll be long gone."
They changed their clothes and tossed a few things into a suitcase.
"Gawd! I forgot. My car is back at the station."
"Forget it. We'll take theirs. Besides it's better. It's a rental. We can drop it off wherever we like. And it has more room for the dog. We couldn't have taken him in your car. Winnipeg and east...here we come."
"Right...you're right. Kinda glad you guys dropped in today. Probably would never have thought of digging in the doghouse for the money...'Everything comes to those who wait,' so the saying goes. Oh...if and when you get loose, there's coffee, and buns. Help yourselves."
When they got inside the car Silky asked Rona, "Why Winnipeg...and east?"
"Wanted to give them something to screw up their chase. Anything that can buy us time to get to our private air plane."
The keys were in the ignition where Broom had left them. Sandy sat on the back seat of the Dodge, his face thrust between the two fugitives.
"Damn good shooting Rona."
"First time I ever did it. I was shaking like a leaf."
Silky patted the dirty pouch between them. "Doesn't look like much, but our future is inside this bag."
"Have you any idea how much I love you Silky?"
"I love you too. And Sandy...we both love you, you crazy old mutt."
"I just thought of something. How we gonna get the dog across the border?"
"Easy. He's American. I've still got his papers when I brought him from Florida."

view original art work by William James Johnson at www.noozoon.com