After the waitress took our order, we began to talk in earnest. Lurch drew circles on the tabletop with his finger.
“I heard Indiana is still in the pen. He couldn’t get anyone to bail him out. The guy’s life is so messed up, Ben.”
“I know, but he is on my prayer list now. And besides that, I do believe he is innocent.”
“I know you do. Have you learned anything from the Mad Russian concerning the near miss?”
“That’s what I wanted to talk to you about. The Mad Russian admitted to me that he released the brakes on the car. He said he wanted to really mess up the night for Jesse. He claimed he didn’t want to kill me or anybody. MR added that he thought I would be fifteen minutes behind my conductor as usual. He even apologized for the near miss.”
“That’s some dangerous stunt, Ben. He could lose his job.”
“I have to think about that one. Two things bother me. One, he didn’t speak the truth about his whereabouts the night of George’s demise. He really thinks it is okay to lie when it suits him. Two, he took the chance of endangering others—me, or somebody else—just to get back at Jesse. I thought I knew him better. I had thought well of him for trying to keep his kids from his wife when she was on drugs. I guess I never knew him that well at all. If the Russian was angry with Jesse and released the car in the yard, what might he do to George if he were angry with him? I also think the Russian was here in the yard in the timeframe that would have allowed for him to throw the spike maul back into the M&W truck. MR isn’t the least bit sorry that Indiana was arrested for George’s death.”
“So you think the Mad Russian did it, Ben?”
Just then the waitress returned with our food. I watched as she placed the hot breakfasts down in front of us. We thanked her and occupied ourselves with our food until she had left.
“It’s beginning to look as if the Mad Russian is the most likely suspect. I want to find out more about his relationships with both Jesse and George on my return trip.”
As Lurch placed a gob of jelly on his toast, he cautioned, “Take care, Ben.”
We both needed to think about the Russian and ate our breakfasts in quiet thought. Finally, Lurch broke the silence. “Did you ever find out who the Russian’s new girlfriend here was?”
“When he first confessed to being in St. Louis, he said he wouldn’t tell me her identity because I would have known her. He still hasn’t told me.”
“Ben, this may be way off, but could his girl be Jesse?”
I crunched on a slice of bacon and rolled this through my gray matter. I hadn’t thought too much about his girlfriend, but what if it were Jesse? I glanced up at Lurch’s huge forehead with admiration and said, “You know, Lurch, your big head may be worth more than a big hatrack. I will be thinking on this some more tonight.”
Lurch smiled and drank down his orange juice. We finished our food, left a good tip, and crossed back toward our hotel. Lurch said he was looking forward to sleep and once again cautioned me to be careful on the train trip home. I thought I needed some sleep, but when I got back to my room, I slumped into the only comfortable chair. My mind was in a whirl.
If indeed the Russian’s girlfriend was Jesse, that fact would place him in the yard office the night of the murder. He lied to Henderson concerning his whereabouts. For some reason, he released the brakes on the coal hopper, a very dangerous move. He was in the yard at the proper time to throw the maul in the truck. The more I thought about the facts, the more the Russian looked like a murderer. I didn’t like thinking this one bit, but the facts! I couldn’t avoid it. After an hour or so I thought I should call Henderson and tell him what I knew.
It was late when I dialed Henderson, but surely he was used to railroad hours.
Henderson answered, “Mr. Time, I haven’t heard from you in a few days. I thought our conversations would be over now.”
This man sure didn’t know the meaning of gracious. I answered with, “Mr. Henderson, I’m sorry to call so late, but I have some information about George’s murder that may interest you.”
“I have that case all sealed up, Mr. Time.”
“Well, you still don’t have a timeframe that Indiana could have returned the spike maul. I have some additional facts concerning my conductor, the Mad Russian. He was Indiana’s conductor when Indiana threatened George. Perhaps if you interrogated him again in my presence you could obtain some new facts that are pertinent to this case. Interrogating Jesse as well may shed some light on the case.”
“Why do you need to be present in the interrogation?”
“I think you are more likely to get the truth if I am present.”
“When will you and your conductor be in the yard office?”
“I’m now one time out. Probably when they call the E133 train.”
“Do you know if Jesse is working tonight?”
“You can call and check.”
“I will. See you tonight, Mr. Time. This better prove worth my time.”
He hung up. I hoped I was doing the right thing. If I was correct, the right man would be put behind bars. If I was incorrect then I would have lost a friend. I was much too edgy to relax and go to sleep.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
SAINT LOUIS,
NOV. 20, 0100 EST
I received the work call at 2300 for 0100. I was still awake thinking about how the upcoming interrogation would go. Even though all evidence pointed toward the Mad Russian, I had the nagging feeling that there were some facts still missing. I attributed the uneasy feeling in my gut to my initial fondness for the Russian. He had his share of problems at home. His wife had become addicted to drugs and was an unfit parent. He did all he could to help her and try to keep the family together. His effort wasn’t enough, and then he had his hands full keeping his kids. He only managed with the help of his mother. Somehow the picture of a faithful husband, dedicated father, and dutiful son did not fit with the picture of a liar and malicious avenger who murders or even risks murdering someone.
I grabbed my grip and started toward the hotel lobby, my mind working on overdrive. When I reached the lobby, I saw that the limo was there with the Russian waiting in the front seat. I threw my grip in the back seat and greeted Betty and the Russian with a brief “Good morning.”
Betty’s gravelly voice was even deeper at this hour of the morning.
She replied, “Do you need any food for the trip, Ben?”
I really wasn’t interested in food; must be the worry and the fact that I had several packs of peanut butter crackers in my grip, so I answered, “No, not this trip.”
Both the Russian and Betty turned around and looked at me with the “I don’t believe it” look.
“I got crackers,” I said. “Trying to lose weight before the holidays,” I added.
They both laughed, and off to the yard we went.
The Russian beat me out of the limo and headed immediately for the yard office door. I told Betty goodnight, hefted my grip, and followed MR to the yard office. As I entered, I saw Henderson sitting in the extra office with Jesse and the Russian already seated. Henderson wasted no time. He motioned me in as well.
The Russian immediately started complaining. “Why am I here again? I thought this thing was over.”
MR looked straight at Henderson. He didn’t glance at Jesse or me. I looked over at Jesse and noted that she was watching the Russian—not Henderson, not me. Her brow was furrowed, and there was a fierce look in her eyes. “Why are we here?” she asked.
Henderson didn’t seem the least bit moved by their anger and said, “I need to clear up a few things.”
He began with questions addressed to the Russian. I was pretty sure they were the same questions asked of him the first round. Most of the questions were about the day that Indiana threatened George. Then Henderson turned to Jesse and asked her why George had not assigned the first train to leave the yard, my train, to Indiana and the Russian.
Jesse responded, “I don’t know. That’
s not my concern. I don’t assign trains. I just want them out of the yard.”
Henderson continued, “Wouldn’t it make more sense to have assigned Indiana and the Russian to Ben’s train because they would have had more time to work and not exceed federal regulations?”
“As I told you, assigning trains is not my job.”’
Henderson addressed Jesse again. “Did George ever mention to you that he had a problem with Indiana?”
Jesse looked down and responded, “No.”
“Did George ever mention having a problem with the Russian here?”
Jesse looked straight at Henderson and said, “George didn’t discuss his feelings toward trainmen with me.” This time her voice raised in intensity and pitch. The Russian turned and stared at her, and if looks could kill, she would have been laid out. As Henderson stared at her, his small eyes somehow became even smaller.
Something about her answer made me question the assumption that George was trying to make Indiana’s life miserable. Perhaps George was trying to make the Russian’s life miserable instead.
Henderson questioned the Russian again. When He asked, “Where were you the night of the murder?” I looked straight at the Russian. He glanced at me and looked down. I wondered whether he would tell the truth this time. He seemed to go into a temporary coma. Henderson waited. I waited. Jesse squirmed in her seat uncomfortably. Then he said, “Here, in the yard office.”
Henderson jerked his heard up, and this time his eyes were as big as saucers. I must have been staring a hole into the Russian. Jesse dropped her pen. That got my attention, and I looked over at her. Her fingers were shaking as she picked it up.
Henderson said, “You know that statement contradicts your initial statement, Mr. Stravinsky.” Henderson glanced at me as he said this.
The Russian stared at the floor and nodded.
Henderson looked over at Jesse and asked, “Did you see Mr. Stravinsky in this office the night of the murder?”
Jesse appeared to be quite flustered and stammered, “I don’t know, the trainmen come and go, one night is the same as another here, and I’m concerned with the trains, not the crews.”
“Are you telling me that the night George was murdered seemed the same as any other night, Ms. Rikes?”
She didn’t respond, and Henderson looked over at the Russian. “Why were you here at the yard office, Mr. Stravinsky?”
“Listen, Henderson. I am telling the truth now. I was here to speak with Jesse. We were seeing each other for a long time. We had an argument, a misunderstanding. I wanted to clear things up. I was here for one hour, and then I left for home. George was alive and well when I left. I heard him yelling into the phone. I didn’t want to be suspected, because I didn’t need the hassle, and I did not kill George.”
Henderson scribbled something on his tablet. Then he looked up and asked, “Will you two gentlemen please sit in the locker room while I speak with Ms. Rikes alone, and under no circumstances leave this yard office.” We exited his office.
I went and grabbed a cup of coffee while the Russian went to the locker room. I heard the clear sound of a locker getting pummeled so I decided to remain out next to the computers for the time being.
I started thinking about the possibility that George was getting even with the Russian that night and not Indiana. I think we all assumed George was getting back at Indiana because Indiana is such a loudmouth. But if George was jealous of the Russian and Jesse, he could have kept Indiana and the Russian here in St. Louis longer just to be nasty. It came to me that Lurch mentioned the possibility of something between George and Jesse, because he, Lurch, had observed George being rather too familiar with Jesse one night by hitting her on the behind
What if the Russian was jealous of George and came back to put an end to his rival?
I wished I could hear the questions being fired at Jesse. I stepped one step closer toward that office door. I could only hear a male voice. I could not distinguish the words. I decided to stay away from the Russian for the moment and stood there between the computers and the office door sipping my coffee. It seemed there was now even more evidence against the Russian.
The Russian’s lying to Henderson made me first suspect him, but I knew by this time that Jesse lied as well in her initial interrogation. She didn’t admit that MR was here that night. Maybe it was because she was involved and cared for him, but maybe there was some other reason. Something went wrong with their relationship or the Russian would not have set the coal hopper loose. Jesse could have killed George because she was here that night. She had the keys to the M&W truck and could have replaced the spike maul before I found its working end in my behind. I hadn’t thought that much about her because I, along with most trainmen, have the preconception that management sticks together and union workers stick together—just another wrong assumption.
I could now number my misconceptions. Number one: a management employee would never get angry with another management employee. I have seen considerable evidence to the contrary. A management employee could indeed want another management employee fired or dead. Misconception number two: a woman would not commit murder. Again, there is considerable evidence throughout history to the contrary. Misconception number three: a woman wouldn’t have the strength to heft up a spike maul. Most women on the railroad have to be able to lift fifty pounds. A spike maul weighs less.
I realized that I had too many misconceptions, too many prejudices in my thinking. Jesse had means and opportunity. I was unsure of motive, but it could be there as well. She stayed away from work for several days after the murder. We just thought that as a woman she may have been fond of George and needed some time to grieve. This may not have been the case. . . Maybe just an additional misconception.
I needed to ask the Russian some questions about Jesse while I had the chance. I walked into the locker room bolstered with courage to face the Russian.
I sat down across from him. He said, “Do you think better of me now, Ben? I told the truth about where I was. Now, what if Henderson thinks I did it and comes after me? I have to be there for my kids, Ben.” He put his face in his hands.
“Russian, do you know if George and Jesse had anything going on between them?”
He looked up slowly from his hands and said, “Yes, Jesse said that they saw each other for a short while, but she decided to call it quits. George wasn’t very happy and tried some of his power tricks on her, the same way he treated everybody else.”
“When you came back to the yard office the night of the murder, did Jesse seem upset?”
“She sure was. I thought it was because I accused her of being overly friendly with all the guys, George included. I think George held Indiana and me out away from home because he was jealous of me and Jesse, not because he was mad at Indiana. But then he was always mad at Indiana as well, so it’s hard to say.”
“Why were you mad enough at Jesse to put your job on the line and my life on the line the night you set the car loose?”
“Jesse became very distant. She wouldn’t take my phone calls, treated me like dirt. Even after they locked up Indiana for the murder, she still wouldn’t speak with me. At first maybe she thought I did it, but later even after Indiana was looked up, well, I just don’t understand women. The night I set the car free, she told me to get out of her life or she would file a sexual harassment claim against me. I just lost my temper, Ben. I told you I was sorry.”
“Have you noticed any inconsistencies in her overall personality, Russian?”
The Russian was standing now, energized with his testimony, and answered, “She seems to be able to flirt, love, hate, and shut people out on a dime. Almost the same as my ex-wife acted on drugs, now that I think about it. I don’t know, Ben. Maybe I just bring out the worst in women. Or am I just a bad judge of them? I don’t know. . .”
“Last question, Russian. Did you murder George?”
“I can’t believe you have to ask, Ben. Of course not. I didn’t
like the guy, but I did not murder him.”
The Russian walked out of the locker room. I guess he needed a break. I looked up my original notes about the case on my phone. I now had an idea who the murderer was.
I rose and walked to the office door where Jesse was still being interrogated and knocked. Henderson yelled, “Come back later!” I persisted and knocked again. I heard his chair slide across the floor. He opened the door and said angrily, “Didn’t you hear me, Ben? Come back later.”
I replied, “Mr. Henderson, I know who killed George. May the Russian and I come in?”
He opened the door wider and gave me a scathing look. I turned and asked the Russian, who was standing by the computer, to follow me in. He did so with his head down. We both took our seats. I asked Mr. Henderson if I might ask a few questions, and he nodded in the affirmative. Jesse just sat there acting quite perturbed that we were wasting her time. Henderson picked up his pen and said, “You may proceed, Mr. Time.”
I glanced down at my phone notes and asked, “Who is responsible for the lighting in this yard?”
Jesse responded, “I am.”
I continued, this time addressing Mr. Henderson, “Have you recorded that any lights were out in the yard on the night of George’s murder?”
He paged through his notes for several minutes. The rest of us were silent. Finally, Henderson stopped paging and said, “There were two lights out in the yard. One was directly over the Mason-Dixon switch and the other over the west end of the yard.”
I turned toward Jesse. “Why were the lights out? There should have been an order signed by you to have M&W change them, correct?”
She looked me straight in the eyes and said that they had probably just gone out, and in all the commotion she hadn’t had the chance to have them replaced.
“What are the chances that two lights would go out simultaneously?”
“I don’t know, but apparently that can happen. They were both out.”
“Do you know how long the lights burn before they need replacing?”
Murder and Misconception Page 9