by Eric Flint
Jürgen seemed sad when he answered. "They're not engaged. But they are 'going steady.' Dawn explained what that meant to me. Marvin, I can't try to take a soldier's girl while he is out of town in the army. It just wouldn't be right."
"You're a good man, Jürgen," Marvin said. Maybe a little too good.
* * *
"They must be close." Jürgen brought the car to a stop.
Once they were out of the car, Marvin and Jürgen could see two horses placidly chomping on the new grass. Beyond the horses, a woman was seated on the ground and surrounded by children. Other children playing on the grass nearby. They had found the class field trip.
As they walked down the slight embankment, Marvin noticed that Jürgen was walking proudly. He was almost strutting, with his shoulders held high and his back stiff as a poker. Marvin shook his head. Yeah. You got it bad, you poor guy.
"Allo, Fraulein Jenkins," Jürgen called out.
Marvin saw Dawn jump a bit in surprise. Then he noticed the thirty or so young faces that surrounded her were smiling.
Dawn appeared a bit flustered when she answered. "Hello, Officer Neubert, Sergeant Tipton. What brings you out this way on this beautiful day?"
A couple of the young girls behind Dawn were whispering and pointing toward Jürgen. Ah, leave it to kids to know what's going on before anyone else. Since Jürgen seemed to be a bit tongue-tied, Marvin spoke up. "Miss Jenkins, we're sorry to interrupt but we have to check on a couple of your students. Are Crystal and Zachary Cooper with you?"
Dawn pointed to a group of three boys who were nearby. "There's Zachary with Aaron Craig and Gerd Schultz. Crystal is down by the creek, cleaning up the pot we used to cook lunch. And you're not interrupting. We're finished for the day. We were just waiting for the children's parents to come for them."
Marvin smiled. "Well, if you're sure the kids are with you, we can be on our way."
Jürgen interrupted. "We don't have to leave so soon. We should see Crystal. That way we can report that she is all right."
Marvin took pity on his partner. "Okay, Jürgen. I'll walk down and check on Crystal. Why don't you show Miss Jenkins and her class the police cruiser? Give them the same tour we gave the first grade class last week." Marvin found it hard to believe that Jürgen could smile any broader, but he did.
Marvin whistled one of his wife's favorite songs while he walked toward the creek. "Matchmaker, matchmaker, make me a match."
All thoughts of matchmaking were driven from his head by the voices he heard coming from behind a clump of bushes. A voice he clearly recognized as Wendel Schultz's said, "We shouldn't be doing this. We'll get into trouble." He was answered by a female voice which said, "Hush. If you don't slow down, you're going to mess up. Just like the last time."
Expecting the worst, Marvin stepped around the bushes. He was greeted by the sight of Wendel Schultz and Crystal Cooper standing on the creek bank with fishing rods in their hands. Crystal was reeling in her line and pointing to what looked like a large trout that was dancing on Wendel's. "Work him in closer to the bank, Wendel. But take it slow. We've already lost two hooks."
Marvin Tipton, you have a dirty mind.
Wendel started reeling in the line. "He's tiring out. Get the dip net." Crystal grabbed up the net and slid down the bank. Her and Wendel's jeans were wet and muddy; this wasn't their first fish. She plunged the net under the fish and soon held it aloft.
Marvin stepped up beside Wendel. "Now that's a nice fish. Have you two caught any more?"
His comment shocked Wendel enough that he almost dropped his fishing rod. "A . . . A . . . Hi, Sergeant Tipton," Wendel stuttered.
Crystal held the fish up proudly, her fingers through its gills. "Shoot, yes, Sergeant Tipton. You should see our stringer. We got five more. This is the biggest though."
"Sergeant Tipton, it's all my fault. I made Crystal help me catch the fish. You can arrest me, but she is innocent," Wendel said.
Crystal and Marvin stared at him in disbelief.
Marvin managed to ask, "What are you talking about, son? I'm not going to arrest you. There's nothing wrong with you fishing."
Wendel looked relieved, but doubtful, "Do you mean no one owns the fishing rights? We didn't ask permission."
"Son, I'm not the game warden, but under West Virginia law it's all right for a minor to fish in public waterways. If you're worried about it, go by the city offices and get a fishing license before you go fishing again. Right now, we'd better go up to the road and join the other students. It's almost time for you to head home."
Wendel ended up with everything heavy, the big pot from the lunch and the stringer of fish. Crystal carried the rods and reels, along with the dip net.
Marvin couldn't help overhearing Crystal's words to Wendel. "You dummy. You were trying to take all the blame and keep me out of trouble, weren't you?" When Wendel nodded, she continued, "That's about the nicest thing anyone has ever done for me." Her free hand came up and linked with Wendel's.
That song was running through Marvin's head again.
* * *
Jürgen had gotten to the part of the tour where the kids were taking turns being locked in the back seat of the cruiser. "I hope this is the only time I see you in the back seat." It was hard for the kids to take him seriously since he had a silly smile plastered on his face.
"Okay, Jürgen," Marvin called out. "Let's wind it up. I see some cars and wagons on the road and I'll bet they're the parents."
As they watched the children being loaded into their parent's vehicles, Marvin nudged Jürgen. "Did you offer her a ride home? It's a bit of a walk and I think we can spare the fuel."
"No. I asked and Dawn said she was going to ride home with Wendel. That's how she got here."
After the last child was picked up, Wendel loaded his charges in the wagon. In the back went Zachary Cooper, Aaron Craig and little brother Gerd. Marvin noted that Wendel did not look at all unhappy that having Miss Jenkins riding on the seat of the wagon caused Crystal to sit closer to him.
As the wagon pulled out of sight, Jürgen commented, "Marvin, what would you bet that Crystal moves over when they drop Dawn off?"
Marvin smiled. "Not one red cent, Jürgen. That little girl will stay right there. And Wendel will enjoy every minute of the ride. Come on. Let's head for the office. It's getting on toward quitting time. This has been one wasted day."
* * *
Marvin was correct in his prediction. Not only did Crystal stay in the middle of the wagon seat after they dropped Miss Jenkins off, she convinced Wendel to teach her to drive the wagon. Not that he minded. It gave him an excuse to put an arm around her to help guide the reins in her right hand.
It was just after they rounded the curve in the road and the Cooper house came into sight that they realized something was amiss. The driveway had four trucks and a wagon in it. Indeed, one of the trucks was half blocking the road.
Wendel took the reins back and slowed the horses. "Look at the crowd at your dad's house, Crystal. Do you think something is wrong?"
"Oh Lord," Crystal exclaimed. "I hope Dad and Grandma Cooper aren't fighting again. She's been on his case since Uncle Tommy died. Don't tell anyone, but I'm glad he's dead. He was always sneaking around looking at me, if you know what I mean. I was afraid of him."
Wendel guided the wagon past the parked truck and brought it to a stop at the end of the Craig's driveway. "Are you going to go over there?"
"I should. I haven't seen Grandma and Grandpa Cooper all week. Yes. I guess I have to go over. I'll take my share of the fish and use them as an excuse to leave as fast as I can."
"That sounds like a plan." Wendel tied the reins around the brake lever. "I'll get your fish out of the cooler. Gerd, hold the horses. I'm going to walk Crystal across the road."
Crystal sounded a bit doubtful. "You don't have to do that. You know how my grandparents think about Germans."
"I will just walk you to the door. They will never see me."
Wendel grabbed the stringer of fish out of the cooler and followed Crystal across the road. He caught up with her after a few steps and took her hand. They had just started up the walk when he noticed the crowd on the porch. Then a voice from behind pulled his attention to the men standing in the shadow of a large tree. "Hey! That's the Cooper girl. That must be the kidnapper." Wendel found himself surrounded by older men. The smell of beer and old sweat was almost overpowering.
"What?" Crystal shouted. "Wendel is just bringing me home from a school trip; he's no kidnapper."
A man Wendel recognized shoved his way into the circle. It was Ape Hart. "Get on up to the house, girl. Your grandmother is worried." Then he turned to Wendel. "We know how to handle this."
"No. I'm not leaving. Wendel didn't do anything wrong and . . ."
Ape roughly shoved her into the arms of another man. "Monkey, take her to the house."
Wendel decided that no one was going to treat Crystal like that. He spun the stringer of fish off his shoulder and slapped Ape across the face with it. When Ape fell back, Wendel spun the stringer around and slapped it at the man called Monkey. Monkey let go of Crystal and tried to catch the stringer.
"Run to the house, Crystal. Run. I'll be all right." Wendel backed away from the enraged Hart brothers, spinning the stringer of fish over his head. When he saw Crystal had reached the Craig front door, he turned and slapped the fish in the face of the man behind him. This cleared him a path for a moment, and he broke from the circle and ran toward the wagon.
He'd almost made it to the center of the road when he felt hands close on his shoulders. He heard a voice say, "There's the other one by the wagon. Get him."
Wendel yelled to his brother, "Run, Gerd. Run." Just before two large men piling on him blocked his sight; he was rewarded by the sight of Gerd disappearing through the door of the Craig house.
* * *
Marvin and Jürgen had just pulled in to the station parking lot when the radio crackled to life. It was the voice of Jim Watteville, the night dispatcher, "Attention, all units. We have a report of a disturbance at the Craig's."
Marvin picked up the microphone. "Base, this is Investigator one. Put us back in service. We'll go check on the Craigs."
"Clear, Investigator one. All units, Investigator one is going to check on the Craig call. Stay alert for back-up."
"Drive, Jürgen." Marvin switched on the lights and siren. "I knew we should have stayed around the Cooper's a little longer."
* * *
Jürgen was amazed by what he saw at the Craig's house. There were thirty or forty people gathered in front of it and it looked like a small scale battle was about to start. But who was fighting? It looked like the "Rednecks" against the "Rednecks," since both sides had a lot of Club 250 regulars.
G. C. Cooper faced off with Ape Hart, and Slater Dobbs was face to face with Ronnie Murray. Then Jürgen saw Wendel Schultz in the middle of the yard, standing back to back with Marty Craig and surrounded by six older men.
Marvin grabbed the microphone. "Investigator One to base. We've got a mob here and they're fixing to tear into one another. Get us some backup ASAP. It looks like redneck central; every goat-roper in town is here."
"Help is on the way, Investigator One."
Marvin and Jürgen jumped from the car and strode toward the mob on the lawn. Jürgen could tell Marvin was tense and ready for action, but it didn't show in his voice. "Evening, guys," Marvin said when he knew the crowd had noticed their arrival. "Be careful there, Ronnie. You're standing in Effie Craig's flower bed. She'll pitch a fit if you stomp on them."
Jürgen admired Marvin's calm voice as he asked, "Now would some one like to tell us what this is all about?"
Ape Hart walked over. "Marvin, we're doing your job. We caught the man who kidnapped the Cooper girl."
"No, you damn fool." G. C. Cooper pushed through the crowd. "I told you there wasn't no kidnapping. She was at a school field trip. And even if there was one, that doesn't give you no excuse to manhandle my daughter." Cooper almost growled the last sentence as he stood toe to toe with Hart.
Jürgen could see this was about to get out of hand. He stepped between the two. "Herr Cooper, Herr Hart, this is getting us nowhere. You both need to calm down."
Monkey Hart stepped out of the crowd, "You're all lying. I heard it on the scanner. She was kidnapped."
"If you had listened to the scanner a little longer, you'd have heard that Crystal was on a school field trip." Marvin stepped up to cover Jürgen's back. "Have you asked Crystal if she was kidnapped?"
"Monkey, you know my mom isn't right in the head. She's as crazy as a bedbug. It would take a drunk idiot to believe her," Cooper said.
"I ain't an idiot," Monkey yelled as he threw a punch at G. C. He might not have been an idiot, but he was drunk. He missed and ended up sprawled at Cooper's feet. Cooper planted a solid kick in his ribs.
That seemed to electrify Ape. He brought up a punch from his waist that almost lifted Cooper off his feet when it made contact with his chin.
Jürgen drew his baton from his belt. A quick thrust to the ribs and a front spin put the baton in a perfect position to slide under Ape's arm. A quick step forward and a twist and Ape was in a bar hammer lock and incapacitated.
Jürgen glanced to his right and saw Marvin had also drawn his baton. Marvin was putting on a little show with a series of front and back spins that caused the crowd to draw back. "All right. Everyone move off. The show is over. Effie Craig wants you all out of her yard."
The crowd was just starting to disperse as four police cars, lights flashing pulled up in front of the Craig's.
"That was pretty sneaky, Neubert." Ape massaged his shoulder. "You hit me when I wasn't looking."
Jürgen took pity on the older man. "That's right, Herr Hart. You are a dangerous man. I do not think I could take you in a fair fight." Ape almost strutted when Jürgen walked him to the cruiser.
* * *
"I can't believe it. He won't press charges?" Dan Frost asked.
Marvin shook his head. "Nope. Wendel says he gave as good as he got. From the look of some of those fool's faces, I think he's right. That boy packs a mean punch and they were so drunk they could hardly stand up, anyway. So there are no assault charges against most of them. The only charges were filed by Effie Craig; the mob trampled her flowers. Oh, we filed disturbing the peace and assault charges on Ape, Monkey and G. C. We saw them throwing punches." Marvin laughed. "I did get Ronnie Murray for public intox, but that's it."
"What about Wendel and the Coopers? You think that is going to be a problem?"
Jürgen smiled. "Well, Wendel was with Connie and Crystal when they bailed G. C. out. G. C. was talking about helping Wendel rebuild a junk car when they left."
Marvin laughed. "Chief, old G. C. was so happy that Crystal is dating a nice boy that I think he forgot Wendel is German."
Through A Glass, Darkly
by David Carrico
Magdeburg
March 1635
Lieutenant Byron Chieske dropped into the visitor's chair in Captain Bill Reilly's office with a grunt. Reilly looked up from his paperwork with his eyebrows raised in a mild question. "The day that bad?"
"No, just long. We had to bring Annie Grimmigwald in on assault charges."
"Old Annie? How come?" Bill was surprised. Annie was normally a quiet woman, content to turn enough tricks to get her evening gin at some dive of a tavern before she stumbled out into the night to find a nook to sleep in.
The two officers had been working with the Magdeburg city watch for over two months now. The nature of that work had made many of the city's streetwalkers known to them. The city council ignored them as long as the women were quiet and kept to certain parts of town. Bill and Byron didn't pay any more attention to them tha
n they had to. There were usually more serious issues to deal with.
"She kicked the slats out of another prostitute. She kept screaming that the other woman had stolen her man."
"Who's got magistrate's duty tomorrow?"
"Otto Gericke, I think."
"Good." Bill was relieved. "Maybe he won't be too hard on her."
"Actually, I'm going to try and get the charges dropped. The other prostitute had a knife, so it might have been a self defense situation."
"Mm, yeah, I could buy that. Annie's usually not mean. Do what you can." Bill saw Byron nod. "Where's your partner?"
"Left him in our office filling out the report. I'll sure be glad when someone develops reliable carbon paper. This having to fill out triplicate reports by hand is a real pain. I keep hearing about typewriters in German, but haven't seen one yet." Bill shook his head at Byron's sidelong glance. They were available, but the city council kept ignoring requests to acquire one for their budding police department. "Speaking of Gotthilf, he reminded me again to see if you've gotten an answer yet from Grantville about the possibility of stolen silverware."
Bill started rummaging through the papers on his desk. "Um, maybe. I thought I did." The rummaging ended with a piece of paper pulled in triumph from the middle of a stack. "Yeah, here it is." He passed it to Byron.
"Okay . . . looks like someone actually dug back into the records for this. Several reports of vacant houses being broken into a week or so after the Ring fell . . . kitchens ransacked . . . pans and glassware left behind, but knives, tableware and plastic stuff taken, including Melmac dishes in some cases." Byron scanned through to the end of the report. "Thefts stopped after a couple of weeks. No known suspects." He looked up with a grimace. "And, of course, since the owners of the homes were left up-time, there's no one who can give any kind of descriptions. Not much to go on."
"You still think that guy you saw selling the stainless silverware was selling hot stuff?"
"Well, he was sure nervous about something when he caught me looking at him. He didn't even know I was a cop, but he was sure spooked." Byron changed the subject. "Any word yet on the guys the kids told us about? The two from Hannover?"