‘Oh, so why don’t I let the two of you smuggle me into your dormitory for the night?’
‘I’d be willing to try – and I’m sure Dennis would, too.’
‘Oh please! Both of you are like over-protective mother hens. Now give me a kiss and get out of here. I need to get ready for bed.’
As soon as I put on the coffee pot and fed the kitty the next morning, I stepped outside to see if Tom had left a note under the jar. No note on my porch, but out in my yard, I spotted a pup tent. A hand stuck out and waved and someone said, ‘Good morning, Libby!’
‘Dennis? What in heaven’s name are you doing out there?’
‘Teddy, wake up,’ Dennis said. ‘Did you sleep well, Libby?’
‘Both of you?’ I asked.
‘Yeah,’ Teddy said. ‘We took turns watching your house.’
‘Are you trying to earn Boy Scout badges or something? You’re both crazy. But if you want a cup of coffee, come on in.’ I was annoyed and pleased at the same time. Despite the mental turmoil, I could not suppress the grin that trespassed on my face.
I served coffee and the three of us sat in the living room. ‘Did you plan this ahead of time?’
‘No,’ Teddy said. ‘I just got lucky. As I walked up to the dormitory, a car pulled up and Dennis and Ruth got out.’
‘Ruth was insistent that you weren’t left alone last night. She suggested that she should go over and spend the night,’ Dennis said.
‘But then I said that you were probably already in bed and Ruth would wake you and so …’ Teddy added.
‘So, I have a lot of camping gear. I went in and got my tent while Teddy and Ruth waited. We walked Ruth to her dorm and set up here in your yard,’ Dennis said.
‘And we didn’t disturb your sleep, did we?’ Teddy asked.
‘No, that was good,’ I said. ‘But you’re being over-protective.’
‘You didn’t see Tom the other night,’ Dennis said. ‘And besides, Ruth gave her blessing.’
‘I guess I’ll have to have a talk with her, too,’ I said.
‘Good,’ said Dennis, ‘she’s coming over to spend the night after work today.’
‘Well, gee, did anyone think of asking me first?’ I griped.
‘You were asleep,’ Teddy said.
I shook my head. ‘It is heartwarming to know you all care about me but sometimes you make me feel smothered.’
‘Better smothered, Libby, than completely nuts like Tom,’ Dennis said.
‘Or here by yourself when an even further unhinged Tom comes calling,’ Teddy added.
FORTY-THREE
The hours dripped by like a slow leak. I wanted nighttime to descend and herald the arrival of Tom at my door. I knew that wasn’t a given but I couldn’t even hope until the sun went down. My constant glances at the clock made the day feel longer but I couldn’t seem to stop myself.
Just the same, I spent a lot of time wrapping things up in the lab at the end of the work day, mostly due to my absence for a good chunk of the week. I arrived home a bit late and stepped inside to the smells and sounds of cooking emanating from my kitchen.
‘Libby! Hope you don’t mind. I was as hungry as a hog that ain’t been slopped for a week. I messed around till I found fixins for supper. I’ve got spam and onions frying in the skillet, green beans heating and potatoes cooking on the back of the stove.’
‘Mind? I’m deeply grateful. I’m hungry, too. Did you bring those green beans with you?’
‘No, Libby! I found this jar in your pantry tucked behind some other canned goods. It might be the last one, though. Hopin’ that don’t bother you much.’
‘Not at all, Ruthie. What can I do to help?’
I set the table while Ruth hummed songs I didn’t recognize as she finished preparing dinner. I know my Aunt Dorothy would be appalled but although I turned my nose up at spam at the beginning of the war, I’d now grown quite fond of it. Still, I would never dream of serving it to Aunt Dorothy. She would instantly embark on a project to refine my palate.
After devouring our meal in record time and cleaning up in the kitchen, we curled up on opposite ends of the sofa to listen to the radio and chat. Ruth was over the moon about her date with Dennis.
‘Libby, I know he’s lots smarter than me, but I still think he likes me. I mean, you’re lots smarter and you like me so it’s not impossible, is it?’
‘I was delighted you two were going out, Ruthie, because I thought you’d be very compatible,’ I said.
‘You did? Really?’
‘Yes, I did. And don’t short change yourself. You might not have the education that Dennis and I do but you are very smart about life and people. And you are probably the most loyal friend I have ever had.’
‘Aw, gee, Libby. You’re gonna make me blush. But, still …’
‘But nothing. If things got serious between you two, how would you feel about moving out west with him?’
‘Honest, Libby, I’d follow him anywhere. But don’t let him know that – at least not yet. Could you talk to him? See if he likes me a little? Could you? But don’t let him know that I asked.’
‘If the opportunity arises, I will be glad to talk to him, Ruthie. But I can’t just blurt it out or he’ll know you asked.’
Ruth sighed. ‘I sure hope he asks me out again.’
A knock startled us both. Ruth was the first to recover. She bounced up and ran toward it. ‘Must be Tom.’ Instead, when she pulled the door wide open, two smiling faces looked in at us: Teddy and Dennis.
‘We wanted to make sure you two were okay,’ Dennis said.
‘Come on in, fellas,’ Ruth said.
Teddy sat down beside me and Dennis took the chair caddy-corner from Ruth. ‘We brought a little surprise,’ Teddy said as he pulled a pint of brandy out of his pocket.
‘Brandy?’ I said. ‘Where in heaven’s name did you get that?’
‘One of our dorm buddies managed to smuggle in a case, don’t know how he pulled that off,’ Teddy said.
‘And he was asking triple the price he paid for it, but considering he brought it down from New York, I guess he was entitled,’ Dennis added. ‘I’ll get the glasses.’
Everyone sipped the first swallow without a grimace, except for me. I didn’t think I’d ever get a taste for hard liquor. I swallowed my first three sips like cod liver oil. After that, it seemed to go down smooth.
We sat and talked and somehow it seemed natural that Teddy’s arm encircled me and Ruth cuddled up in Dennis’ lap. Then the bottle was empty, the clock struck midnight and a round of yawns overrode all attempts at conversation.
After Teddy and Dennis were gone, I said, ‘Ruthie, I think you have your answer. I don’t think I need to ask Dennis about anything.’
‘He kissed me goodbye.’
‘Yes, he did.’
‘Do you think …?’
‘No doubt about it, Ruthie. He certainly didn’t come over here looking for me.’
Ruth was still grinning when we climbed into bed. Although I had a terrific time tonight, now that Teddy was gone, I began to worry. Tom had not shown up. What did that mean? Was he still here in the woods or had he run away? We needed to send out a search party tomorrow.
FORTY-FOUR
I fixed breakfast for Ruth and I, planning how I was going to communicate with the men to gather a search team when I wasn’t allowed inside the dorm. By the time I was dressed, though, they were all gathered in the street by my house: Teddy, Dennis, Rudy, Gary and Gregg. Ruth insisted on joining us and no one objected.
The light rain that fell overnight intensified the smell of the moss and rotted leaves beneath our feet. The air was crisp and fresh. We couldn’t have picked a better morning for a walk in the woods if only we could forget why we were there.
Spots in the trail were muddy and some patches were overgrown making our forward progress a bit slow. Eventually, we made it to the shack. The path to the rickety door remained clear indicating that Tom or someone h
ad been here on a regular basis. Inside, the wild unstoppable growth of vines over and through the walls dimmed the light and tinged it green.
We stood still for a bit allowing our eyes to adjust. Dennis was the first to spot the note nailed to the wall. He pulled it away, taking care to rip it as little as possible. He folded it open, stepped outside and read it out loud.
Libby, I didn’t think I could fool you for long. I thought sooner or later, you would call my bluff and come back to the shack. Thanks for what you tried to do. I’m sorry, I just can’t face losing my freedom for the rest of my life. Like I told you before, it would be like being trapped deep in the coal mine, always hoping for salvation but knowing it would never come. I don’t know what’s wrong with me but I sense something is. One moment I’m feeling energetic and optimistic about the future, the next I am consumed by dread, fear and a sadness that my father’s death can’t explain. I decided it would be better to pay a tribute to Marvin. Tom.
For a moment, I couldn’t breathe. The world stood still and silent. Then, I once again heard bird song and the rustle of forest creatures. My lips moved but the words scrambled before I could utter a syllable.
‘Does this mean what I think it does?’ Teddy asked.
‘I hope not,’ Dennis said.
Gary said, ‘What do you mean?’
We all turned and looked at him. ‘Isn’t it obvious?’ Dennis asked.
‘What?’ Gary moaned.
‘I guess we need to go that way,’ Teddy said.
‘I never wanted to revisit that spot again,’ Gregg said.
‘What? What are you talking about?’ Gary asked. But no one could put it into words. Ruth, too, had a puzzled look on her face but wisely, she did not comment. She simply joined us as we walked toward the path that veered off to the tree where Marvin was tortured and killed.
We reached the turn-off and stopped. I didn’t want to go up that trail and I doubted anyone else did. We stood rooted in the intersection. All except Gary who shoved through the crowd and ran like demons were on his tail.
Gary’s high-pitched shrieks brought us around. We raced to his side. By the time we entered the clearing in the deadly spot, Gary had shimmed up the trunk and was easing out on the limb.
‘Gary, come on down,’ Dennis said. ‘We need to contact the authorities.’
‘No, no, he might be still alive,’ he said as he reached the spot where the rope encircled the tree.
‘It’s too late, Gary,’ Dennis said.
‘No. You don’t know that,’ Gary screamed as he hung over the edge and slid his hands into Tom’s armpits and tugged.
‘Gary, listen to me. I’m going to be blunt. You must listen.’ He described the length of Tom’s neck, the swollen tongue hanging out of his mouth – the graphic details of the obvious signs of death.
Gary gave up his struggle, let his arms and legs hang down on either side of the limb and sobbed like a child with a broken heart. We gave him time to express his grief and then Dennis talked him down from the tree.
The effort took so much out of Gary that his knees buckled when he tried to stand on the ground. Rudy grabbed him before he fell, threw one of Gary’s arms over his shoulders and wrapped both of his arms around Gary’s waist. We hobbled down out of the woods, heading toward my flat-top.
By the time we reached it, we all agreed that Dennis and I would go speak to Crenshaw while the others waited at my place for our return. When we parted to go our separate ways, Teddy stopped us. ‘What if Crenshaw won’t let you leave?’
Dennis straightened his posture as if that effort would push the fatigue out of his body and into the ground. ‘If I let Crenshaw keep Libby, Ruth would never speak to me again. I can guarantee you that I will never let that happen.’
Ruth let out an incoherent sound that blended joy and terror in one utterance. She certainly had her answer now.
FORTY-FIVE
On the way to Crenshaw’s house, Dennis and I decided that I’d do most of the talking and he would be there to back me up should Crenshaw doubt anything I said. I hoped that he could get me out of Crenshaw’s grasp but the man could be unpredictable and he was in charge and never let anyone forget it.
I knocked on the door and it jerked open. ‘Again. Can’t I get through one Sunday without you disturbing my peace. Have you no respect for the Sabbath?’ After that outburst, he paused and studied our faces. ‘Oh, for heaven’s sakes, come in. You two look like gray clouds on this otherwise sunny day.’
We sat down in the living room as Crenshaw leaned through the kitchen doorway. ‘Coffee for three, Mother, as soon as possible, please.’
‘Well, what is it?’ Crenshaw said as he sat down.
‘I suppose the best place to start is with the most urgent concern,’ I began.
‘Which is?’
‘We found a body in the woods.’
Crenshaw bowed his head, placed two fingers and a thumb on his forehead and spread them apart hard enough to leave white marks in their wake. ‘I don’t want to hear this.’
‘I don’t want to say it, sir.’
‘Why, Miss Clark, do you always find bodies? Why you? A line of thought endorsed by many investigators is that there are no coincidences. If I subscribed to that theory, I could only assume that you’ve been responsible for all of them.’
I looked down at my hands as I folded them primly in my lap. I could feel the vibrations of Dennis’ anger in the cushions. I darted a look over at him and sharply shook my head.
‘Let me see how that coffee is coming,’ Crenshaw said as he rose to his feet and disappeared around the corner.
Dennis hissed, ‘If he keeps this up, I’m going to punch him.’
‘Stay calm, Dennis. You can’t blame him for that reaction.’
‘Oh yes, I can.’
‘It doesn’t help, Dennis.’
Crenshaw returned and his wife followed carrying a tray with a silver coffee server, three cups, three spoons, a creamer and a sugar bowl. ‘There you go,’ she said with a smile as she set it down on the table.
‘Thank you, Mother.’
She flashed a smile at us and said, ‘Let me know if you need anything else. I’ve got coffee cake and cookies and—’
‘Thank you, Mother. That’s all for now.’
We prepared our coffees in silence. After settling back into the chair, Crenshaw said, ‘Where? Where did you find this body? And whose body is it?’
‘Tom O’Malley, sir. We found him in the same tree where Marvin lost his life.’
‘Please tell me he didn’t die the same way.’
‘He didn’t, sir. It appears to us as if it were a suicide by hanging.’
‘Was there a note with the body?’
‘He left a note but it wasn’t with the body. It was in the shack where he was hiding out.’
‘Do you have it?’
‘Dennis, you have it, right?’ I asked.
‘Right here,’ Dennis said, pulling it from his shirt pocket and handing it to Crenshaw.
Crenshaw read it over and asked, ‘What is he talking about? What does this mean?’
‘Tom was responsible for the pranks in the lab and for the sabotage of the train,’ I said.
‘I thought you were going to get him to surrender, Miss Clark.’
‘That was the plan. However, when he learned you wouldn’t agree to meet all the demands, it seems he found an alternative solution.’
‘Are you trying to say I’m responsible, Miss Clark?’
‘No, it’s not … it’s more than that … it’s—’
Dennis interrupted, ‘Sir, Tom O’Malley was not of sound mind when he committed those acts of destruction nor when he took his own life.’
‘That’s a flimsy excuse,’ Crenshaw said.
‘Science is working hard in the field of mental health, sir. One day, we will have a clear understanding of these forms of illness. Look at men who go to battle – some come home emotionally and mentally damaged. One day
scientists will understand how to take care of that.’
‘Any man who can’t take the rigors of the battlefield is a weakling. They just need to grow a spine,’ Crenshaw declared.
‘Actually, sir,’ Dennis continued, ‘scientists are focused on those problems and believe it is far more complicated than that. We can only hope they have a solution one day for the soldiers psychologically injured in the war.’
Crenshaw pushed upward and paced across the room. ‘Do you have any idea of how sick I am of scientists? How tired I am of waiting for science to find the answers to end this war once and for all?’
Dennis and I sat in silence, not wanting to agitate him any further.
Crenshaw stopped and stood in front of us with his arms akimbo. ‘What are you waiting for? Go. You delivered your bad news. My men haven’t forgotten the last body – they won’t have any trouble finding this one. Your services are no longer needed. Now, just go.’
‘I have another development that I need to tell you about, sir,’ I said.
‘Of course, you do,’ Crenshaw said and slumped into his chair.
I told Tom’s story of meeting a man on the train when he was on his way to his father’s funeral. I continued relating the conversation I’d had with the man I’d encountered on my way back here.
‘Was it the same man?’
‘I have no way of knowing, sir. I had planned on talking to Tom to see if it might have been but I never had a chance.’
‘This could be important. I need you to come in with me and give a statement about your meeting to an agent. Once you do that, I’ll get a private to drive you home. You,’ Crenshaw said, pointing at Dennis, ‘you can go now. I’m sure your little friends are gathered together somewhere waiting for news.’
‘I’m sorry, sir,’ Dennis said. ‘I cannot go back without Libby.’
Crenshaw strode over and hovered over the seated Dennis. ‘You think I’m going to do something to her, Mr Jance?’
Dennis slowly straightened his knees and towered over Crenshaw. ‘No, sir. But if I go back without her, no matter what I say, they will believe the worst.’
Sabotage in the Secret City Page 20