Murder and Misconception Page 5

  As I backed out of the office, I saw Lurch with our papers in hand. I told him I had to wait for Henderson to summon me, so it might be a while before we could get the van to the hotel.

  “What does Henderson want with you?” he asked. Then he mumbled, “Wonder if I’ll be next.”

  Looking for a place to sit and rest, I thought it would be hard to predict what Henderson might want next.

  Lurch fiddled with his papers. “Oh, is Tim back from inspecting the engine?” I was pretty sure that Tim was still inspecting and hinted that maybe he could go out and check on Tim. It wouldn’t hurt to keep an eye on the progress of the inspection. Lurch went back out the door into the night.

  I sat for some fifteen minutes before I heard my summons. I took the chair in front of the detective’s desk thinking maybe if I answered some questions I could also get some answers to my questions.

  Henderson was a short man, shorter than I. Also much thinner. He wore wire-rim glasses somewhat out of date. His dark eyes were also small, but intense. He had made me wait until he was ready. He seemed to move constantly. He stood while I sat, and he made it obvious he was forcing me to wait until he was ready to begin his interrogation. I recognized the signals of a man who insisted on control.

  He began by telling me that he represented the railroad police department and was in charge of the murder case of George Berry. He continued, “I am currently interviewing all parties who were present in this office on the night of George’s death. I have asked you to come in to give me some insight into Indiana’s personality. Indiana mentioned your name, and I am curious to know the relationship between the two of you. So, what is your relationship?”

  “I’m a fellow engineer, in the same union, but that is basically it.”

  “Why would Indiana throw your name around during our interview?”

  “I don’t know, we certainly aren’t close. Ask him.”

  Henderson paused his pacing. “Did George ever hold you out, away from home terminal, longer than you thought necessary?”

  I could answer that one easily. “Yes, a good many times over the past fifteen years. George seemed to like to control people and ruffle feathers. I’m sure most of the guys will answer yes to that question.”

  “Do you think a man might kill over that, over being held away from home?”

  “A man might murder for far less. It depends on the nature of the man.” I noticed I had the attention of the man who insisted on being in charge. He had leaned against the wall.

  It seemed like a good time to ask a few of my questions. “Mr. Henderson, have you discovered why George was out at the switch that night?”

  He peered at me through his wire rims, making his beady eyes even smaller.

  “I hear that while George and Jesse were talking that night, George said he thought he spotted the W123 pass through a switch through the yard. He told Jesse he was going out to check the switch’s position, that maybe he would need to pull that crew out of service. But Mr. Time, I’m asking the questions. Were you present in the Indianapolis yard when Indiana returned from that trip?”

  “No. I was not.”

  “Have you overheard at any time any other trainmen threatening George?”

  “I have to think about that one. Conversations about management, especially those who enjoy pulling the guys out of service, are often threatening. Most of the conversations are just a way to relieve steam. Probably healthy in some way.”

  Henderson gave me a hostile glare and said, “You can go, Mr. Time. I may have some more questions later.”

  “I understand. Mr. Henderson,” I replied, thinking that I could “Mr.” with the best of them. “Is it true that you thought this case was not a switch accident because of the switch position and that the skull markings were not consistent with other switch accidents?”

  “True but . . .”

  I interrupted again. “Mr. Henderson, I was seated on the tailgate of Joe’s M&W truck a half hour ago. Joe, the M&W guy, has not been around for a week. He never leaves anything out of place.”

  “So?” Henderson spat out, clearly perturbed by my continuing the conversation beyond his summons.

  “So, as I was saying, I was trying to get comfortable in the truck and felt the working end of a spike maul in my flank. I looked it over. It was covered in mud and some weird stain. You may want to look it over yourself. It’s hard to prove murder without a murder weapon since you are negating the switch as the culprit.” Before I got the word culprit out of my mouth, Henderson was up and out the door.

  I guess that ended our conversation. I walked out too and saw Lurch talking with Tim. They said goodbye, and Lurch and I walked out to the limo. It was early dawn. I liked this time of the morning, but I was feeling the weight of the past twenty-four hours. I asked Lurch, “Did Tim agree that we were not negligent in the engine damage, but the tree, now toothpicks, was at fault?”

  Lurch said, “Tim seemed to agree to our innocence and also agreed that we probably got one heck of a scare out of this one.”

  “Good.”

  “What did Henderson want to know?” Lurch asked. “And will I be next in the line of questioning?”

  “I don’t think so. Indiana brought up my name in his interview, so I guess Henderson wanted to get a better feel from me about Indiana. Indiana really gets my goat. He hates anyone with any degree of morality, especially me, then uses my name when his name comes into question. Oh well. But listen to this. When I was setting on the tailgate of Joe’s truck to watch Tim’s inspection I noticed some interesting things. Number 1. Joe’s tailgate was down. Number 2. His tools were a jumble. Number 3. There was mud and I think blood on the end of a spike maul. Oh, and Number 4. Joe has been on vacation for the week. I let Henderson know that the spike maul could be the murder weapon, and he jumped up like his tail was on fire.”

  Lurch was thoroughly impressed by the news and was getting a charge of renewed energy. I, on the other hand, was sinking fast. We pulled up at the hotel none too soon. I told Lurch that I would see him later and went on up to my room.

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  SAINT LOUIS,

  NOV. 12, 1900 EST

  I started to come to. I slowly became aware that I was in a hotel room, once again. I reached for the TV controls and found a rerun of Gunsmoke. I love westerns. The good guys and the bad guys are clearly defined. I was chuckling at Festus when the phone rang: “Railroad calling.” I plugged in my numeric information and received the news that I would be on the E156 at 1900 hours with my buddy, Lurch. I showered, packed my grip, and went downstairs to see who I might have dinner with before the trip home.Downstairs I ran into both Indiana and his conductor, Ty. I felt I would rather not partake of nourishment with Indiana, but I wanted to learn why he was throwing my name about and where he was during the time of George’s death, so I waved cheerfully at the both of them.

  “Hi guys. Are you coming or going?” I asked in my friendliest tone.

  Ty waved back. “How are you doing, brother? When do I get to conduct for one of your exciting tree trimming specials, Big Ben?”

  “I see good news travels fast. Any time you want a real toothpick you can come with me, Ty. Do you guys want to get a bite to eat?”

  Indiana yawned. “Guess so. How about Rondinellis?”

  “Sure,” I said. “I can drive.” Since I shared the cost of keeping an old Honda here at the hotel with three other guys and everyone knew it, I always offered to drive. The two of them said they needed to check in and put their grips in their rooms.

  I went around to the back of the hotel to get the Honda and bring it to the front like any good limo driver would. Parking in a spot miraculously available near the door, I wondered how I might pry some information out of the wily Indiana. While waiting, I called Deb to let her know I was safe and ready to start back home after dinner. She acted excited that I had a new story about tree trimming to regale her with upon my return. I had just hung up when Ty and Indiana appea
red at the front door of the hotel. They climbed in, and we drove the three miles to Rondinellis. It is a railyard favorite that serves great Italian food and crispy broasted chicken. We were seated in the corner nearest the kitchen. Indiana complained about our seats, not unusual for him.

  I said, “Sit down. I only have about an hour to make my train.” He reluctantly sat. Ty just rolled his eyes.

  While we gave the waitress our orders, Indiana flirted in his usual unseemly manner. I wondered if dinner with him was worth the opportunity to get some information.

  As Lurch leaned back in his chair, I told them felt pretty sure everything would be fine after Tim turned in his inspection report and my speed tapes. When I said, “I usually go about five miles under speed, just in case,” Ty laughed and said, “Yeah, you do have the reputation of being one of the slowest engineers out there.”

  “Not like me,” Indiana said. “I’m Mr. Fast and Furious.” Ty and I just rolled our eyes again.

  “By the way,” I said, “I had an invitation to speak with Mr. Henderson himself.” I sort of hoped Indiana would take it from there. And he did. Indiana dominated the conversation from that point on, both fast and furiously, living up to his reputation.

  After listening to his tirade during the meal, I took the guys back to the hotel, hurried and retrieved my grip, and met Lurch in the lobby.

  “Hey Big Ben, I looked for you to go to dinner, but you were gone according to the front desk. I walked across the street and had a burger. Who did you dig up to go out for dinner?”

  “I ran into Ty and Indiana. We went to Rondinellis for chicken. But my real intention was to gain some information. Indiana was in the mood to give it. I’ll let you know the scoop later.”

  When the limo showed up, it was Betty. “Hi Betty. How’s the driving business going?” I asked as I climbed in.

  Betty answered between coughs, “Better for me than for some. Do you guys need to stop for food?”

  I had leftover chicken, and Lurch said he had purchased a ham sandwich at the diner, so we skipped that stop.

  “What did you mean by saying driving is better for you than for some, Betty?” I asked.

  “You know the railroad dicks are interviewing Chuck, and his wife is going through chemo again. He’s about to lose it and has taken the last couple days off. Why would the police interview Chuck? He was just waiting to pick up a crew. He was right where the bosses told him to be. Doesn’t seem fair to me. It could have been me there or any of us drivers. It’s just more stress on a man that doesn’t need it.”

  “I agree, Betty. When I get a chance I’ll give Chuck a call. Maybe I can alleviate some of his fears. He’s a good guy.”

  “You do that, Ben. See you guys later,” she called out in her raspy voice.

  We left the van and headed for the office. We were hardly through the door when one of the clerks buttonholed me. I was being summoned to Henderson’s office. As I was hustled away, Lurch went on to get our paperwork. Henderson told me to sit, and I did.

  He said that he was intrigued by the weird stain, which he thought was blood, and he had asked for the blood and dirt on the spike maul to be tested. He expected some results in a day or two. He asked me again how I discovered it. I went over my actions of the night before. I told him again that I was sleeping on an engine some twenty miles from here on the night of George’s demise. Henderson said that had I not had a sound alibi for the night of the murder I would be suspect. Then I asked if he knew that the light over the Mason-Dixon switch and the light over the west end of the yard were out that night. He looked down at his notes, flipped a few pages, and said, “Uh, yes, of course.”

  I wasn’t sure he was telling the truth. I asked if I had permission to leave and board my train. He granted permission, and I left.

  Heading out for my train, I noticed Tim at his office door.

  “Hey Tim, are my speed tapes okay?” I asked. He replied with an affirmative nod of the head but cautioned with, “No more tree trimming, Ben.”

  I replied, “Hope not. I like smooth, easy, unexciting trips myself, Tim.”

  Outside I saw Lurch throwing his grip onto the engine and beginning his walk down the length of the E156. There was no time to loiter. I got busy with my own preparations to leave, and leave we did.

  As we settled in for the run, Lurch asked what I had found out from Indiana. I made him wait for our first siding. I thought I could rehash the conversation with Indiana at that point and also put the notes into my phone.

  The night was another cold one, but it was clear ansd the moon was at half-mast, the stars numerous and bright, so it was nice to watch the scenery go by even if everything was in shades of gray and black. Late fall, early winter has a solitary feel, like a houseguest getting ready to settle in. I like this time of year. I like crisp nights, emptied fields, shadows, and the expectation of warm fires and apple dumplings.

  We traveled some 120 miles before we were ordered to a siding. Lurch and I decided it was time to eat. After finishing my chicken, I took out my phone to enter additional notes. I began by determining the location of the suspects at the time of George’s death. I gave Lurch the rundown as I entered these facts into my phone:

  Indiana: Earlier during our dinner he admitted that, on the night of George’s death, he had been at the casino in St. Louis. The previous night he had gambled away $1600 and was hopping mad, blaming the casino. He had made up his mind to return and win some of the losses back the night George died. That was why he was so furious about getting delayed. He knew he was due some time off by federal mandate, and he didn’t want to miss any chance of regaining his losses.

  I looked over at Lurch and said, “Indiana was in the St. Louis area the night of George’s death. Indiana also indicated that he was certain Henderson didn’t have a case without a murder weapon. And Henderson himself cleared the Mason-Dixon. So the ever-prideful Indiana just brushed Henderson off.”

  Lurch looked over at me, concerned, and mumbled into his ham sandwich.

  Next I entered the Mad Russian. MR was being cagey on the subject of his whereabouts. “MR told me that he has been seeing someone down here. They had had an argument so he came back to St. Louis to straighten things out with her. He didn’t tell me who she was, but he mentioned that I did know her. Therefore, the Mad Russian was also down here on that night.”

  Lurch looked over, ready to choke on his sandwich, and declared, “How in the world could both Indiana and the Mad Russian have been back in St. Louis that night?”

  I shook my head and continued with my list.

  Jesse: She was definitely in the office talking with George.

  Chuck: He was waiting out in the lot for a crew call.

  Ty: He was in the office talking with Jonesy or more likely complaining with Jonesy.

  Jonesy: Was talking to Ty here in the yard office. I need to find out if they were both in each other’s company the whole time.

  Once I had listed where all the suspects were, I started on the “motivation for the murder” column.

  I called out Indiana’s name and looked over at Lurch to see if he had any ideas. Lurch chewed on his sandwich thoughtfully before he said, “With Indiana the motive could be almost anything. He complains about child support killing him, but then he goes and loses $1600 gambling. How does he do it?” Lurch’s usually low voice started to rise. “His motivation could be anger, finances, or just plain meanness.”

  I agreed and entered all three motives for Indiana. “Now the Mad Russian, he also has financial burdens trying to keep his kids and going through a divorce. He doesn’t like George for keeping him from home terminal any more than the rest of us. I also think that George had pulled him out of service two years back. I need to check on that.” I put down finances and revenge for the Mad Russian in the motive column.

  Now Jesse. I looked over at Lurch again to see if he had any ideas. Lurch said he knew that George was divorced. On one trip, about a year ago, Lurch had entered
Jesse’s office to ask a question about a late consist. Lurch saw George give Jesse a swat on the behind, and then he turned to exit her office. George didn’t look at all ashamed or embarrassed for inappropriate office behavior, but Jesse looked very embarrassed. “I couldn’t tell if she was just embarrassed or furious. It’s hard to tell with Jesse,” he continued. “Jesse answered my question, and I left the office.”

  “I agree. It’s hard to tell anything about Jesse’s moods.” I wasn’t sure of George’s marital status, but Lurch cleared that fact up. I told Lurch that maybe a year ago I had thought there was something going on between the two of them but was not sure. I heard later that Jesse was seeing a conductor out of the St. Louis terminal. I continued, “I don’t listen to most of the romance stuff that is discussed over the meals at the hotel. I may try and listen more in the next week.” For Jesse I entered as possible motive “romance?”

  Now Chuck. I told Lurch that last year George threatened Chuck’s position as a limo driver. He was angry that Chuck had stopped for a crew that requested a food stop and then was late for the train. Chuck told me all about it. Luckily, the company said it was acceptable. In fact, they complimented the limo company and encouraged them to instruct their drivers to stop any time a crew requested it. Chuck kept his job. But there was no love lost between George and Chuck due to that incident.

  I believe that Chuck had enough pressure at home with his wife and the cancer treatments. I don’t think there was enough animosity between the two for a murder. But I wrote down “animosity and finances” as possible motives. Chuck had already declared bankruptcy once. He couldn’t afford to lose this job.

  I continued by typing in Ty’s name. Ty is a relatively new conductor. He hasn’t ever been pulled out of service yet. I knew he didn’t care for George. Then I noticed a pattern here: no one cared for George. “While I was eating with Ty and Indiana, Ty sat and listened to Indiana’s tirade just as I did. I don’t know of any possible motive, do you?” I asked Lurch. He said that he knew Ty had a brother and an uncle on the railroad. Lurch suggested that maybe his relatives had had run-ins with George. I wrote down “check out Ty’s relatives.”