Big Red's Daughter by John McPartland

Author:John McPartland [McPartland, John]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twelve

IT WAS AFTER TWELVE when they came for me. The jailer opened the cell door and shook me awake. This time it took a few seconds before I remembered where I was and what it was all about.

I slid out of my bunk, rubbed my eyes, and yawned. Billy was asleep in the upper bunk.

“Come on,” said the jailer.

“Lunch?” I was going to wake Dooley.

He shook his head. I had the feeling things were bad.

“More important than lunch. Come on.” This time he held my arm as he closed the door and locked it. For a fat man he had strong fingers.

He walked me down a corridor, up some stairs, and into a room, holding my arm tightly all the while.

“Here he is,” he said to the three men in the room. Clyde, who was probably the chief in Carmel, was sitting at a table with a man in civilian clothes. A uniformed officer was standing near the door.

“Sit down,” Clyde said, motioning to a chair. His voice had changed since last night. It was cold and businesslike now.

The uniformed officer closed the door and stood in front of it.

“This is Mr. Gloster from Burr Scott's office,” said Clyde. “Burr Scott is the district attorney for Monterey County.”

I nodded. The other man didn't nod back.

“Tell us exactly what happened last night. Start yesterday afternoon or evening. Tell it slowly and don't leave out anything.” Clyde spoke carefully, coldly.

“Have you picked up Buddy Brown?” I asked.

“Just tell your story,” Clyde said. He wasn't calling me “son” today.

“I'd like to know about Brown. Wild Kearny is the only witness outside of myself, and if Brown's loose she may be in danger.”

Clyde shook his head. “She's in no danger from Brown. Now tell your story.” He meant it.

“It started with an accident yesterday afternoon. On Ocean Avenue in Carmel. My car turned over Brown's MG. Not much damage, nobody hurt.”

Clyde nodded. “I saw the report.”

“Brown and I had a little fight. One punch. His.”

The D.A.'s man was making notes.

“Then we went to the home of Wild Kearny. She lived there with Pen Brooks.” I went on with the story. The fight back of the house. Wild and I going to Monterey, to the airport to meet her father, leaving out the reason. The dinner at the Hearthstone. Later, the incident at the Mission Inn, Pen Brooks and Pete Barrow. Meeting Buddy Brown, drunk. What he had told me of himself. Going to the Zoo again.

“We went to a juke joint in Seaside. We drank and danced. Talked about things. Then...” I wondered if my face showed anything, if these men could notice.

“Yes?”

“Then I drove her home. She went inside. I heard her scream and ran in.” I told them the same story I had told Clyde the night before.

“That's all of it,” I said.

“You're sure? Nothing left out?”

“Nothing.”

“You'd swear to it?”

There was the squeeze. I'm pretty tough-minded; it's a tough world, where the best you can do is take care of yourself. But an oath is important.

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