The thankless part of police work: check and eliminate anything and everything a running criminal might think of. Try to anticipate his thoughts, his movements. But in this case the trail was a good eight hours old. A man on the run will think of a great many angles in eight hours. We might have trouble gaining on him. The phone rang and I grabbed it. It was Al.
"Hello. Yes, Campbell here--What?--Oh, hell!--Well, don't feel too bad. Those things happen; that's all. Anybody else hurt?--Well, that's one consolation. Look, Al, I don't think anything will come of this down your way, but --"
I gave him Junior's description and told him to keep an eye out, just in case. Then I turned on Brown.
"One in your favor. Mercer won't be testifying against you. He made a break, ran out on the ramp. Al fired in the air to stop him, but when Mercer looked around he didn't stop. He was crushed between a bus rolling into the station and another one standing on the ramp. Spread him like jam, Al said. The driver felt the impact and pulled away from the standing bus and hit his brake; but Mercer was dead before the ambulance arrived."
"Jesus Christ," was all Brown said.
Well, I had to get on with it. "Miss Dixon, I'll be going now; but I'll leave a couple of men here at the house. Mainly for your protection."
"We don't want it."
She meant what she said, apparently. I shrugged. "All right, Miss Dixon. We'll try to get your car back." I threw a dig at Brown. "I have an idea Bill Brown just might be your real name."
"Sure. Why would I use a phony?"
"I think I'll check it out with the boys out in Lancaster, California--and surrounding areas."
"Check for what?"
"We'll see for what. Consider yourself under arrest."
Miss Dixon got huffy. "Why should he? He's done nothing but help you. Is that the thanks he gets?"
"He's a very material witness," I said, trying to mollify her. "Also, he admitted to outright theft of a suitcase from a locker in the bus station. We can't allow that sort of thing, Miss Dixon. Not in Dallas." I edged to the door. "Well, I'll keep you informed, and would appreciate your doing the same for me."
"Good-by, Lieutenant," she said in a flat voice.
I went downstairs, out the front door, and got into my official Buick.
"Anything new come over?"
My driver, Bob, shook his head.
I picked up the mike. "Fred Campbell. I'll be at headquarters for the next hour. For the next hour." I racked the mike.
Bob let the horses take hold and we started downtown.
This entire case was nothing less than a studied insult to Dallas.
Chapter 17
Junior Knowles
THE tires on that Cadillac sounded like a hundred screech owls when I busted out of the driveway and took out up the street.
I never knowed which way to go. I just knowed my brother Donald had to git some doctoring and he had to git it P. D. Q. or it wasn't gonna help him none. When I looked at the speedometer I jerked my foot off the gas and slowed down. This here shore wasn't no time to have no police chasing me and git us both. I pulled over and stopped and messed with the jiggers on the dashboard till I found the right one, and I got the top raised up over us and fastened.
From here on out everything I done would be cram-full of danger. First I made up my mind to git Donald in a bed in some tourist camp. Then I could git a doctor to come and take care of him. Driving the big shiny car and macked out in new clothes, and with all the money I could flash around, I figgered gitting into a high-class camp would be a dead cinch. By now I was sort of in the edge of town, so I started watching for a place that would suit me.
That big black-headed thief might of called the police by now if he wasn't scairt to. They might be looking for the Cadillac, so it would be a good idee to git it out of sight. After driving around a little and passing up a couple of cheap-looking places, I seen one that taken my fancy.
The office building was rimmed in blue neon lights. The brick cabins was built around a green yard in the middle with a big fountain right in the center with water shooting into the air and colored lights a-flickering all through the water. I turned into the opening through the trees in front.
Nobody couldn't see Donald nohow, but I went past the office before I stopped. I walked back and punched the night bell. A tall lanky feller with patches of gray hair on his head opened up the door. He was in fancy pajamas and acted like he was mad.
"The sign yonder says no vacancy, Mister. Didn't you read it?" the man asked me.
"Read this here yoreself," I told him. I poked a crinkly new twenty into his bony hand. He could read it, awright. He stuffed it in the pocket of his pajama coat.
"Just a minute, sir; I'll get some keys and see what we can do."
Money shore put that feller into high gear--he come up with a big key ring, throwed on a thin robe, and come out. He taken me down to the third cabin. He sort of giggled when he swung the door open.
"Here you are, sir; lucky, that's all I can say. Thought maybe this couple would be gone by now--heh, heh, heh!"
I never liked that there laugh of his'n and wished I had time to teach him to mind his own business. But I couldn't have no truck with nobody. I walked into the cabin with him and wrote Zeb Rice on the card he told me to sign. Then he asked if they was anything else he could do for me.
"Yeah, they is something else. You can git me a dang good doctor up here, quick. A eye doctor would be best.'
"Eye doctor? This time of night?"
"Eye doctor's what I said. My eyes is hurting something awful."
"But I don't know any eye doctors, Mister. Why not wait till morning and go to a doctor's office?"
Only one way to deal with this feller. I peeled off another twenty for him to read and handed it over. Then I hunted for a one and give him that, too.
"Here, feller--now do like I tell you, you hear? Git a handful of change for that dollar and start calling up some eye doctors in the phone book. I ain't asking for nothing I cain't pay for, and doctors likes money--same as you. Now hurry up."
"Yes, sir! I see. I'll do my best."
Rate we was going he'd probably sew on more pockets and hope I'd fill them up for him. That last twenty slid into his robe mighty quick. He lit out.
I drove the Cadillac into the fancy lean-to next to the cabin and lifted Donald out real careful and toted him into the cabin. I fixed what was left of him as comfy as I could on the bed. I fetched some wet towels and laid one over his face so's he wouldn't be bothered by the light and so's I wouldn't have to see his face. It was cut Tip worse than his back and the rest of him.
He never had come to hisself and was breathing hard out of his chopped-up nose. At least he was alive, and maybe the doctors could fix up his face some. It made me sorry I'd killed that old man Dixon so easy and quick. I should of drag it out and give him what he give Donald and then let the old cuss die slow and painful.
I started walking the floor and wondering what was taking the manager so long. I went to find out, but first I locked the cabin door.
He was phoning, awright. Must of been waiting for a answer when I got there. He helt the receiver against his ear and started talking to me.
"Fourth one, Mister. Don't seem like they want to come."
"Who's that on the phone now?"
"This is a Doctor Mercedes--or rather, his wife has gone to get him."
"Gimmie that phone." I taken it and waited till the doctor answered.
"Doctor! You got to come and help me! Quick! I'll pay you good, and you got to come. I'm going blind-- my eyes feels like fiery coals and I cain't see. Don't even know where I'm at. The manager will tell you."
I jammed the phone into the manager's hands and give him a hard look.
"Give him this here address and back up what I said to him."
He done what I told him, but he give me a awful funny look when he hung up.
"He won't like us telling him lies. Says he don't live far and will come
right over--but it's gonna cost you."
"I can stand it, feller. You mind yore own business. I never give you that there money to mind mine. Keeping that doctor happy won't be hard.
"When he gits here, send him to my cabin--don't bring him. I don't want nobody hanging around to see iff'n I holler when he pokes around in my eyes."
"Don't worry. I'll just be glad to get some sleep, Mister."
"You better git at least forty dollars' worth."
Donald wasn't breathing so hard when I got back. I never knowed if that was a good sign or not. I soaked another towel in warm water and started washing some of the dried blood off his neck and hands, being gentle as a cow licking her calf. Then I happened to think of something and I run out to the Cadillac.
Here I'd done let all my money lay around in the car while I was messing around! I was snore gonna have to be more careful and keep my mind on my business. Gawdamighty! Leonie!
She would be in Dallas in the morning! I'd had me so dern much trouble a-hounding me, I'd plumb forgot about her. Well, there was a few hours yet before she'd pull in, and I'd just have to cross that there bridge when I come to it.
We couldn't live in Dallas now on account of me being hunted for stealing a car and shooting old man Dixon. People was beginning to know me by sight. I was hoping I'd git one more chance to kill that feller what started all this trouble. I still couldn't see how no man could have a head so hard he could git around after the way I beat on it. That there Dixon gal, too, ought to be killed--and she got off with only a bump on her noggin.
And just look what they done to my brother! Now me and him was like mad dogs. Anybody that seen us would start shooting on sight, most likely. Soon as Donald could be jostled some, we was gonna run for it and git out of Dallas.
I'd manage it all some way--nobody hadn't hurt me none yet and I still had my money. Figgered I was about to spend some of it, too. A car come in the camp and stopped at the office and I could hear the manager talking. I shut off the light and opened the cabin door a crack.
The manager was pointing out the cabin to a feller carrying a little handbag, so I felt easier. I switched the light on and waited and when he got there I let him in.
"Come on in, Doctor."
He grunted and looked around, blinking. He seen my brother and walked over by the bed, looking down at him. He taken the towel off Donald's face and it fell out of his hand onto the floor.
"Holy Mother of God!" said this here doctor. I never knowed doctors was that squeamish, but this one was.
Donald wasn't moving, not a quiver. He was still out cold, but in a ugly sort of a way he kind of looked happy to me. Reckon that was 'cause a lot of his face was missing, and I could see his teeth plumb to the back of his mouth. Put me in mind of a big wide grin.
That there doctor wasn't grinning when he looked up at me.
"What on earth has happened to this boy?"
"Telling you that wouldn't do him no good a-tall, Doctor. I'm awful worried about him. Please hurry up and fix him, hear?"
"Fix him! Man, are you crazy? I can't touch him! Phone for an ambulance. He'll have to go to a hospital immediately!"
"Naw, Doc. Fix him here. He's lost too much blood to go gallivanting around some more."
"He'll have to--If it's money, there's a County Hosp--"
"It ain't money, Doc. It's time. And you ain't doing nothing for him."
He bent over and opened his little bag.
"I'll do what I can first, certainly; but that won't be much help. His condition's critical--You must believe that--Get him to a place for proper care."
He started messing around with Donald's face. Pretty soon I seen what he meant about him not doing near enough. He dabbed and bandaged and dabbed some more. Looked like he was scairt to do anything.
"Doc. Ain't you gonna sew up them rips in his face?"
"I can't do that work here! It'll take time, equipment, assistants--he must go where they are available!"
"You got that sort of stuff in yore office, Doc?" "My office is in my residence. Quite well equipped, but it's no hospital."
"Then we'll take him to yore place. That would be better than this, I reckon?"
He straightened up from behind over Donald. "Try to understand. This boy's life is in the balance. You're the man I talked with on the phone. Your whole attitude reeks of secrecy. You may as well know I have to report this to the police."
"Shore, Doc, shore-- I'm gonna report it myself. But he needs help first. Then we'll do the reporting, however you say."
"Dammit, man, nothing more can be done!" He bent down to hold Donald's wrist. While he wasn't looking I poked a hand into my bag and helt it behind me.
The Doc had me in a stew. And now Donald come to hisself a little and started groaning. His fingers twitched like he wanted to reach for help but was too puny. Made me plumb desperate.
"Doc, we'll carry him up to yore place. We can put him on a cot or something. You could give him some shots--whatever you got--and put him to sleep while you worked on them cuts. Look at him! He's suffering terrible!"
"Take the boy to a hospital. That's my last word."
This here doctor had asked me if it was money kept me from taking Donald to a hospital. I'd see if the doctor hisself could use a little extra. After all he'd dumb out of a soft bed to come out and make a few dollars. I brought the hand I'd been a-hiding out where he could see the stack of ten-dollar bills. I eyed the Doc and riffled the ends of the bills like a deck of cards. They made a nice noise.
"Doc. Would you help us for money?"
He looked at them bills, close. But his head was shaking from side to side.
"No. There's something wrong about all of this. I won't be a party to it. Except my report to the police."
I roughed the edges of them tens again. I'd awready learnt to let money do most of my arguing. His eyes watched them bills.
"Listen here, Doc. There's two hundred and fifty dollars in this here little stack. For a hour's work or so."
"No. No."
"Wait, Doc--I ain't through. This here's what you git now, like a deposit. When I leave your place with Don-- with my friend, you git the rest of yore pay. That'll be another stack just like this."
He was weakening! I seen it in his face.
"And nobody'll never know, Doc. We can git out of there before daylight. You can be shore I won't tell nobody nothing." I give a little laugh and he knowed I would keep my trap shut about him.
I tossed the money at him and he caught it almost as slick as old El had done when I run him off. I could of promised him more but I never wanted to overbait the trap. I reckon even some doctors owes debts or bills of some kind. Anyhow, he never throwed it back at me.
He said, "We'll go in my car." He headed for the door with his satchel.
I got my hand on the pistol under my coat and follered him. He was my only chance, and if he tried to git away they'd have him to bury. But he started his car, a old Hudson, and backed it up to the cabin door. We put Donald in as easy as we could, then I gathered up my bag of money and dumb in with the Doc. When we was all set he drove off.
At his place later on, I was satisfied he was trying to earn his pay. He had my brother laid out on a operating table and was working real hard on him. The Doc's old lady had come in to help. She must of helped him lots of times--she knowed what she was a-doing. The pain killer Doc shot into Donald done the trick, too; and he was resting easy when they got done, seemed like to me.
"How about his eyes, Doc? Any chance?"
"I don't think he'll ever see. A very slight chance for the right one, but very doubtful. A better chance he won't live until morning. I'll tell you once more--get him to a hospital."
"Now, Doc, we done settled all that."
"It's up to you if you want him to die of shock. I've done all I can."
"I'm much obliged for that, too, Doc."
"And now I'm going to call and report this case. What happened? You've never told me."
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I grinned at him. "That's right, Doc. I ain't never told you."
He started for the phone but I slipped my gun out. I'd done picked a spot for him and his old lady.
"Hold everything, Doc. You and yore missus stand right over here, facing the wall."
They couldn't argue and done like I said. I taken my money out of Doc's pocket. "Thanks, Doc. Now, both of you git into that there little closet."
I locked them in and hollered through the door. "Now, if y'all are quiet, I won't have to tie you up or stuff no rags in yore mouth. One yell and you both git stuffed." Wasn't no answer from in there.
I flopped down in a soft-chair. It shore felt fine. I was petered out and this had been a long night. We'd be safer here than anywheres else. Me and Donald could both use some rest. I was shore them police wouldn't find the Cadillac till the next day some time. I'd know more at daybreak about if I could chance taking Donald with me when I seen how he made the night. He shore didn't look as if he'd be able to do any traveling.
I went and locked the front door and then the back, and pulled down every shade they was. I found a narrow white sheet of the Doc's and taken all my money out of the new bag and bundled it in the sheet. That bag and Donald's was too well-knowed to be meeting Leonie with it in my hand. When it was ready I stretched out on the couch in Doc's waiting room. I ain't never been as wore out in my life, and Leonie was due in a couple of hours.
I went right off to sleep.
Chapter 18
Leonie Hempel
MY bus didn't get to Dallas none too soon to suit me. It was a hot old ride down there from Sulphide.
All the way to Dallas I couldn't help feeling awful strange, leaving home and Mama and Papa and their young-uns thataway. Mama and Papa was getting on in their years, and according to their talk they was always having pretty serious ailments. But their ailments hadn't got serious enough to stop their bedsprings from squeaking more nights than not. Nor was they too old to stop the coming of a new youngun every year so far, for me to tend to and wash and iron and cook and sew for. But I wasn't getting no younger neither, and I'd loved Junior for so long, and if I didn't grab him now while I could, I might not never get away from home.
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