Payroll by William James Johnson Chapter 28

A trucker spends a lot of time alone. Unless he's operating out of a fixed address, he becomes one of the thousands of modern day gypsies who call home, any place they settle for a month or so.
When Rona left, Russ gave up their small flat in Garry and moved into the sleeper in the cab of his eighteen wheeler. His life was now on hold, with a routine of fast food and showers in truck stops, and the occasional brawl in a beer joint. Her sudden departure sent his personal magnetism into a discharge mode. The big fellow's ego was as low as stale beer.
To maintain some sense of reality, he had cultivated the habit of checking in occasionally into the general delivery section of the Post Office in the town he was calling home. By sheer coincidence, Estevan, Saskatchewan had the honour of his presence that month.
After breakfast at Mable's Emporium, he walked down to the small federal building to check his mail. He had hoped that Rona would've had her fill of Silky by now, and might drop him a line asking to come back. He had decided if it came to this, he'd make her beg a little. That of course was his plan during the first few weeks of her absence. Now that it was going into the third month, he had mellowed and was actually looking forward to giving it another shot. What the hell...it wasn't all that bad.
Slightly dejected as he left empty handed, he almost missed the poster on the bulletin board inside the front door. There, looking smug in his corporal's uniform, was a large photograph of Silky, with an RCMP reward of $5000.00 for information leading to the capture and conviction of Stanislaus Zylkowski, payroll robber and army deserter.
"Five thousand dollars! I don't believe it."
He rushed back to the postal clerk, anxious to get more information. "That sign out front...that for real?"
"About that crook who stole the army money?"
"Yeah."
"Of course it's real. We wouldn't put up a phoney wanted poster. This 'is' a government building if you hadn't noticed."
Russ was in no mood to take that kind of sarcasm from a so-called public servant.
"Look...what I don't need right now is a smart ass pencil pusher lecturing me. Just tell me where I go if I know something about that guy."
The clerk stiffened, throwing his head back like an old maid school teacher. He was making the most out of an insignificant job.
"You'd get along a lot better sir, if you showed a little respect."
Things like this pissed off Russ real quickly, particularly when it came from a smaller guy, who was all alone.
"I'll show you some respect you little creep. Answer my question, or I'm gonna jump over this counter and rearrange your face."
The wimpy clerk suddenly became frightened and tried to close the metal bars that provided security for the office. Russ pushed against it, preventing him from locking the barrier.
"You can be charged with illegal entry you don't stop," his voice becoming shrill.
Russ backed off, always more bluff than substance.
"To hell with you. I'll find out myself.
Storming out of the Post Office, he returned to Mable's and spotted two Mounties having coffee.
"Can I talk with you guys for a minute."
"Of course. Sit down. Mable...bring us a coffee for our friend."
This was more like it. This is the way government types should treat people. What the hell, wasn't his taxes paying their salaries.
"So what's the problem partner?"
"Got some information you guys might want."
"What kinda information?"
"About that guy on the wanted poster...you know, the one who stole that army payroll."
"You mean Zylkowski?"
"That's him."
"Give me a minute to check in." The officer picked up his hand radio and reported what Russ had just told him.
"Inspector Kelly says to bring you in right away."
"Don't I get a chance to finish my coffee?"
"Of course, but hurry. He's really anxious to talk with you."
Constable Cathy Stopych was taking down a statement from the ruffled postal clerk as they entered. Russ was even more annoyed to find the RCMP detachment was upstairs in the Post Office.
"That's him. He's the brute who threatened me."
"What the hell's goin' on?" asked Russ.
"He's the guy who said he was going to rearrange my face."
The two Mounties grabbed Russ and handcuffed him, pulling back on his arms until they hurt.
"What the hell you tryin' to do? I only came in here to help you for Chrissake."
"What did he do to you Wally?" asked Brutus Kline, one of the big Mounties.
"I was trying to help him, and he got angry and threatened me. He wouldn't let me lock the cage. He's a madman."
"Is that right sir?"
Russ hated it when Mounties called him sir. Must be part of their training. Pretend to be polite then throw the book at you. He wasn't sure how to play this one. If he admitted he threatened the clerk he might find himself living indoors again, at the Queen's expense.
"Look...it's all a misunderstanding. I guess I got impatient a little."
"He said he was going to jump over my counter...that's what he said."
"Did you say that sir?"
"I might've. I don't know for sure. I was askin' him how I could report about that guy in the poster, and he was downright bitchy. There was no need for him to be so pissed off. I just asked a simple question."
"What about it Wally?" asked Brutus.
"Well...He didn't actually jump over the counter."
"That's for sure," said Russ, relieved they gave him a chance to tell his version.
"I'm willing to drop the charges if he says he didn't mean to threaten me like that."
"Well sir?"
"I'm sorry Wally. I didn't mean to scare you like that."
Kline undid the cuffs and Russ extended his hand to the clerk, who moved quickly behind the Mountie for protection.
"Okay...I accept your apology. Thanks Cathy for taking my statement. You can tear it up now. I won't press charges."
As Wally left the office, Kline suddenly became very apologetic.
"I don't know what the hell got into Wally. He's usually so good with people."
"Must've got up on the wrong side of the bed," suggested Russ, just making conversation.
"The boss is expecting us," said Roly Rainer, Kline's partner.
Cathy pressed the intercom button.
"Roly and Brutus are here inspector."
"Thank you Cathy. Have them come in."
Russ was considered above average in size, but he seemed small between the two law officers.
"My men tell me you might be able to help us in our investigation of the payroll robbery."
"That's right. I think I know where they are.""
Kelly took out a pen and paper. "And you are...?"
"Russ Menard. I'm married to Rona, the woman who took off with that army guy."
His answer was electric. Normally the "Tiger" would've swatted his desk with his crop. His men had never seen this side of the Inspector, composed, professional...cool under fire.
"Have you heard from your wife?"
"Before I say anything else, I want to know about that reward."
"Of course...What would you like to know?"
"Is it for real...like I mean...will I get five thousand dollars?"
"That's what it says. You'll get the reward if your information leads to the capture and conviction of the robber."
"Capture and conviction?"
"That's right."
"You've gotta convict him too."
"Of course. If we don't convict him, we certainly are not going to pay the reward."
"So this guy could get off the hook and I'd get nothing."
"Mr. Menard, there's no fear of that. One of my investigators was there when the man took the money and ran. He hasn't got a leg to stand on. So let's settle that one right now. You tell us where he is, and we'll bring him back to stand trial. There's no way he's going to get out of this. You'll get your money, and maybe even your wife, and everyone'll be happy."
"Look...I don't want you to get the wrong idea. I hate getting Rona involved like this, but I'm only trying to do my duty."
"Of course...I understand. The money means nothing. You want this soldier to be captured and punished for his crime."
"Yeah... that's it...Maybe you could let Rona go. She's not a crook. Not Rona. If she's with this guy, it has to be because he forced her."
"The courts will have to decide that..now can we get on with this?"
"One more thing. Are you gonna give me some kinda proof that it was me who told you where to find him. You know...just in case when it's all over you guys forget I ever told you."
"I'll have my secretary prepare a paper with your statement and I'll sign it...is that what you mean?"
"That sounds okay, that's if one of these guys could sign it too."
"You aren't a very trusting fellow are you Mr. Menard?".
"You'd do the same thing... a guy's gotta protect his ass. We're talking $5000.00 here. You got any idea how many miles I gotta put on my rig to clear five grand?"
Kline and Rainer had never seen the boss keep his cool for so long. The warning red line which went up the right side of his neck and made the vein across his forehead stand out like a finger, was starting to activate.
"Let's get on with it sir. Where are these fugitives now?"
Russ was beginning to feel real good about the treatment he was receiving. He liked being called "Sir", especially by someone who was somebody.
"You know, I've always wondered why you guys are so polite. Know what I mean...like calling people sir...things like that."
The bulging finger across the "Tiger's" forehead suddenly popped out. He grabbed his crop and wacked his desk so hard, it made the three large men jump.
"Jeezus H. Christ!...tell me where the hell these bastards are, and tell me now, or so help me, I'll throw you in the slammer for obstructing justice, and throw away the goddamn key."
This was the Inspector everyone knew and loved. They didn't call him "Tiger" for nothing.
"Tijuana!" blurted out Russ, startled by the sudden explosion of this someone who was somebody.
"Tijuana?"
"That's right. In Mexico...not far from San Diego."
"I know where the hell it is. What I want to know from you, is how you can be sure that's where they are."
"I took them there."
Kline and Rainer grabbed him by the arms like they had done in the outer office.
"Hey! What the hell..."
"Let him go...you were saying, you took them there."
"I was on a run with my rig to southern California, and I spotted them in a truck stop. Seems they had stolen some mobster's limo, and wanted to dump it. So they hired me to drive them in my rig. It was safer that way. No one was tracking them that far south. So I helped them."
"Knowing of course that they were thieves and were on the run."
"Look for Chrissake...the woman was my wife. I thought I might be able to get her to change her mind and dump Silky. What would you do if you were me?"
"So you're saying you took them into Mexico?"
"Not exactly. I'm not licensed for Mexico. I took them to within twenty miles of the place. It was up to them to figure how to get into the country without getting caught."
"But you don't know for sure if they did go to Tijuana?"
"Jeezus...you want me to go over the whole thing again. They're in Mexico believe me. They sure as hell weren't gonna stay in California, so what other choice is there."
"Why Tijuana?"
"Because you can get away with murder in Tij. It's the perfect place to hide out. The Mexicans want your money. They don't give a damn how you got it."
"Mr. Menard...you saw your duty, and you did it. Let me tell you how much I appreciate you coming in like this."
"And the reward?"
"It all takes time. I'll have Constable Stopych make out that paper you wanted, and we'll see what happens."
As he walked back to his rig, Russ held his head higher than he had done for several weeks. He had seen his duty, and he did it.

View original art by William James Johnson at www.noozoon.com