The Pale Man Rises

CHAPTER FIFTY THREE

389

After Special Agent Mabry, and Detectives Farr and Spellman spoke once more with the club owner George Groves and had elicited no new information the police officer that had gone to the bus station was summoned. "Officer Warren this is Captain Mabry from Georgia–he's a police consultant and he's ah....he's assisting us on this investigation." Farr lied to the cop as he approached the group inside the establishment.

The three investigators sat at the bar now as if they were merely patrons in for a libation. When Warren arrived before them they all stood in unison. Mabry then shook the hand of the officer who had an intensely serious face.

"Warren what can you tell us you found out over at the bus depot?" Mabry asked him. The officer removed a small notepad from his shirt pocket then. Mabry thought this young man wants to be a detective some day. Of course most officers aspired to that ambition, but this one was very obvious and he definitely was more determined than most of his contemporaries. Therefore Mabry knew his notes would be very accurate and perhaps it'd save him a trip across the street to conduct his own questioning of the people there. This case was very problematic and anything, which might preserve time, was precious indeed.

Officer Warren pulled back the cover of the pad and began to quote from it. "I spoke with the ticket agent, a Mrs. Levi Twig, and she remembered the soldier in question. She said that after he purchased his ticket for Wilmington he came over here after indicating an interest to do so. She said that he returned to the depot at approximately 7:30 or thereabout and that soon afterward the bus to Wilmington was preparing to depart. She said she then saw the soldier exit with his grip in hand and she assumed that he boarded the bus, but she did not witness him actually getting on the bus.

I then spoke with the two baggage handlers." Warren said now and at the same time turned several pages in the pad. "The handlers, Reynolds and Mixon said that they did see him board the bus, they definitely remembered him because he was the first one on it. Based on this and the time they saw him I think he can be eliminated as a suspect." Warren said succinctly.

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Mabry cleared his throat and looked at the cop like an irritated professor. "Son we'd like to be the ones to make that determination." he said indicating himself and the other two detectives with him. Officer Warren was embarrassed and somewhat blushed, and he was also a bit angry that some out of town Captain was giving him his comeuppance. He briefly fell silent. Mabry thought he needed to learn a little humility before he graduated to the rank of flatfoot. He wanted to tell him that you never make an assumption based on what anyone told you only after a brief probe of the situation. Farr smiled at his words realizing at the same time that he had rendered the same opinion. Spellman had to work hard to keep from laughing out loud.

Seeing how hurt the young officer's feelings were Mabry thought he might have deflated him more than he desired. "Well now I think this young man has a bright future with the Department." he said turning to his two companions who in turn nodded that they agreed with his estimation. Warren appreciated this and smiled his gratitude.

"So is that it?" Mabry now asked him. "Ah....well no sir." He now seemed reluctant to divulge anything else he'd learned for fear the Georgia Captain would once again embarrass him. Mabry could tell this was how he felt and so encouraged him with a gentle smile that was reassuring. "Yes sir....ah these two baggage handlers said that there were two weird characters who boarded the bus just before it departed. They got on with the other passengers. The soldier had been on the bus awhile by then–oh and they remembered these guys didn't come out of the depot like the other passengers and Mrs. Twig doesn't remember seeing or selling anyone that looked like them a ticket.