Detective Tumbler and the Man in Brown (Detective Tumbler Trilogy Book 2)

by Jason Balistreri

  “She? I was shot by a man. The only one that knew Catherine Shield was behind it was me. So, how did you know?”

  “The webs we weave are dark and mysterious. I told you that I knew you and I meant it. See a family like theirs is why society will fail, they elect leaders who are corrupt because the society is corrupt, it’s like it just wants to hold up a mirror to itself. The people that they hold up are all compromised because the people themselves are selfish and weak. Now I know you are a man that searches for truth yet you strive to protect those sheep when none of them deserve it, eventually you’ll see that I am right. You walk a solitary path and you trust no one because deep down inside, in the pit of your being, you know that there is no one out there who is trustworthy anymore.”

  “There are still good people out there.”

  “You say that but you know they are getting harder to find, it’s not a coincidence. You and I are outcasts and you’ve surrounded yourself with outcasts, even your friend Detective Spoiler while it may appear as if he’s part of the system, as were you until they turned on you, when he turns his back, they all talk about how he’ll be fired soon. Now if they’re willing to cast a man like you out, what does that say about them?”

  “You tried to kill my friend, you wanted to kill a boat full of tourists, you’ve killed too many people to count. You then wanted to blow the three of us up. Yet now you want to tell me I’m a good man that should join you and society is the true evil?”

  “Their ship is sinking and there is no captain.”

  “I will go down with the ship.”

  “Then you are not as smart as I thought you were.”

  “It has nothing to do with intelligence. It has to do with what’s right. You say I don’t trust anyone and while I cannot argue with that, I’ve said it too many times myself, I have not lost my faith in people.”

  “You’ve had a taste of what life is like out here away from civilization, a part of you naturally doesn’t want to go back to it. The people are merely sheep, all being led to slaughter.”

  “Then I will be the person standing between men like you and them, making sure that doesn’t happen.”

  “You can’t save them all and the ones you don’t will haunt you.”

  “I have to get back to my friends. It has been interesting.”

  “Farewell detective, maybe someday I’ll see you again.”

  “I don’t think you’ll be seeing daylight for a long time.”

  “You could visit me in prison.”

  “I can think of much better ways to spend my time.”

  “Well, if not in this life, then perhaps in the next one. You might not recognize me and I might not recognize you but our souls will remember. It was a grand game we played, perhaps in another life you will not be the one who wins.”

  “It was never about winning, it was just about stopping the killing.”

  “Well, you may have stopped me but you’ll never stop them all. When you stop to think about it, it makes the whole endeavor, your struggle, seem rather futile doesn’t it?”

  “No, not really. I almost forgot, you never revealed your real name. I don’t suppose it would hurt to tell me now.”

  “I am not my given name, what I am is nameless, that is why you merely know me by my title, I shall always be the man in brown.”

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN: THE MYSTERY OF THE VAULT

  “So what happened with the vault?” Marshall asks Princeton as he picks him up from the hospital two days later.

  “Funny you should ask. Well, I’s paid that ol’ codger the owned the land, he went about asking me questions like what I aimed to do with it, I’s tol’ him I is a nature boy who wanted to live like a hermit, build my own house, all that shit, he says the tract of land is too small which it isn’t, greedy ol’ bastard wanted five grand for it ‘til I tol’ ‘im I could pay him three grand in cash, we had to go down and sign paperwork before a notary to make it all official-like, then the old dame at the bank said it would take a few days before it would be official, at that point I had made up my mind that I would help you and Chester defeat the brown wizard, I tol’ the old man I’d be back in a week to collect the deed, I still went out to that vault but there’s nothin’ there but a rock cliff that’s been tagged by kids with graffiti, I could not make hide nor hair ‘bout it. Then I came back to help you, lost my bronco to them savages, got beat half to death by the wizard with a big stick, and my face ain’t fit to court a whore. Now you’ve saved my life so I feel like I’m beholden to you and despite what I’s said earlier about not having you nor Chester accompany me in retrieving said gold, I have recanted that statement and decided the two of you can be trusted. The fact is, detective, I need you, because other than blowing a hole in that cliff with dynamite, I is perplexed.”

  “We will go with you and we’ll figure it out, but we don’t have time for much else. I have to make it back for the trial.”

  “You just help me open the vault and I’s will take care of da rest.”

  “Let’s go get that deed from the old man, get in the car.” They drive out to the rural home of the old man outside Perryville, they knock on the door. The old man opens it.

  “I’s come for da deed,” Princeton says.

  “Who’s these people?” the old man asks.

  “We’re his friends, we’re just here to help him get back on his feet,” Marshall says.

  “You look like cops,” the old man says as he looks at Marshall and Chester.

  “We’re not cops,” Chester explains.

  “Whatever you say, his money’s good so here’s the deed,” the old man replies.

  “Thank you kindly,” Princeton replies. “If you heard a lot of racket or explosions, don’t you worry.” Marshall elbows him. “Ow, what da hell? I’s like to play with explosives on account of being ornery and ill-tempered,” Princeton says.

  “Well, all right den,” the old man says before he shuts the door, his eyes are a little wider, he shakes his head.

  “What the hell was you elbowin’ me for? I’s still sore on account of the wizard ninja.”

  “You were giving him too much information, you’ll make him suspicious,” Marshall says.

  “You do have a tendency to run your mouth,” Chester says.

  “You know you both finds it entertainin’. Besides, it don’t matter, I’s got their deed. We can do whatever we want now.”

  “But it is best not to draw attention in delicate matters like these,” Marshall says.

  “Detective, you worry too much.”

  “It is true but it’s for good reason. An analytical person tends to worry a bit; it allows me to be effective in my occupation.”

  “See that would be a handicap in mine,” Princeton says.

  “You have an occupation?” Chester asks.

  “Hey, being an outlaw is a full-time job, I’s an outdoorsman too. You’s have to work at both, I mean I makes it look easy but it ain’t, it takes a lot of work to survive on your own, engage in illegal activities, and not get caught.’

  “Let’s get to the vault,” Marshall says as they enter the car.

  “I didn’t tell you this earlier but west of here, there were children that found gold coins in the river and we are west of Perryville, the vault has to be here,” Marshall says, he parks the car, they all exit the vehicle, Marshall asks for the map and Princeton hands it to him along with the journal. “You see, it’s this way,” Marshall says as he leads them to the cliff that has been tagged with graffiti. “It’s here,” Marshall says, he feels the rock and hits it, it’s solid. He steps back to look at it from a distance, he sees the vines and moss that are growing along the edges of the cliff. “Dynamite wouldn’t have done you much good here, that overhang would just topple over, it wouldn’t make an entrance.”

  “I tol’ you, I couldn’t make any sense of it. Mebbe you was wrong. At least we didn’t spend ma money,” Princeton says.

  “No, I wasn’t wrong, it’s there,”
Marshall says, he begins removing vines and feeling around the moss, after twenty minutes, he discovers a crack in the edge of the cliff, its just one of many but he can see this one opens up more than the rest, he reaches his hand into a recess and grips a stone rod. He tries to turn it but it won’t budge, he grips it and puts his weight into it, it is a tight fit but it begins to turn slightly. “Chester, come here for a second,” Marshall says. “Stick your hand in here and turn the rod in there.”

  “My hand ain’t gonna fit in there. Then if it gets stuck, how am I going to get it back out?”

  “Your hands are big but your hand and part of your forearm will fit, barely, just reach in and give it a turn.” He does so reluctantly, Marshall hears a loud squeal as he turns it but nothing happens.

  “What do you suppose it is?” Princeton asks.

  “I should have thought of it before, we need to find two more cracks like this with rods in them. Even if you would have found this out, you wouldn’t have been able to open it. There needs to be three for it to work.”

  “Why three?”

  “Because of Jeremiah’s boys, but I don’t believe they designed the vault itself, based on the journal, this was Hank’s doing.” They begin pulling down vines and feeling along the moss and, after an hour, they have discovered the three cracks in total. “Now, each of you take one, Princeton, you’re smaller so take the one Chester turned.”

  “What’s that s’posed to mean?”

  “I don’t lack in strength,” Princeton says.

  “Just trust me,” Marshall says, he listens, they each put their hands in and grip the rods, Marshall and Chester have to turn theirs repeatedly to get them to budge, Chester turns his first, as does Princeton because Chester had already turned it, Marshall puts all his weight into his and finally budges. “Now, we’re ready. They have to be turned at exactly the same time,” Marshall says. “Follow my lead and turn on three. One, two, three,” he says and they each turn their rods, the two that Marshall and Chester are gripping make a snapping sound and then they squeal, then there is a shudder, the cliff face slides slowly but it opens only wide enough for one person to squeeze through at a time.

  “Well, I’ll be damned,” Princeton says. “How’d the hell did he do this?” Princeton asks.

  “Hank was ahead of his time. A man will go to great lengths to protect his life’s work,” Marshall says. “You first,” he tells Princeton, Princeton walks through the gap, Chester follows him and then Marshall.

  “God damn,” Princeton says as he looks at the piles of coins and stacks of gold bars, there is a tiny tributary in the back that gives off a shine, Marshall turns on his flashlight, they all stare in amazement. Princeton begins to step forward.

  “Stop,” Marshall says, “that’s a pressure switch, it will close the gap again, trap anyone in here.”

  “How’d you know that?” Princeton asks.

  “Observation,” Marshall says. “Should anyone find this without the journal, they would be trapped in here and die. As I said before, a man will go to great lengths to protect his life’s work. Now there is a way back out if that happens, there are rods on the inside too but you’d need three people to open it back up again or close it. So what do you think? Was it worth it?”

  “Was it worth it? All four families will be set for life. So’s yeah, it’s worth it. How do I get past the pressure switch?”

  “See that small trail on the left along the edge of the cavern? That’s your only route to the gold and it’s only big enough for one person to traverse it.”

  “Thank you, detective,” Princeton says.

  “You don’t have to thank me,” Marshall says.

  “If course I do, you found the treasure and you saved ma life.”

  “I’m sure you’ll find a way to repay me,” Marshall says. Princeton heads down the left path and fills up his pockets, then fills up his satchel with all the gold he can carry.

  “How the hell’s I goin’ to get all of this treasure out of here?” Princeton asks.

  “That, my friend, is a problem for you to solve,” Marshall says, when Princeton is done grabbing all he can hold, they exit the vault. “I suggest we close it back up, once you notify your kin or the Wilkins, the Gobbins, and the Dolons, you can get two of them to come back and open it with you. Make sure you get a large truck, maybe a semi if possible; don’t let anyone see you moving that much gold now.”

  “You’re a wise man,” Princeton says, they each turn their rods and close the vault.

  “We have to head back to Kansas City; I need to be back there for the trial. Do you want a ride back to Springfield?”

  “Why, yes, I would appreciate that kindly,” Princeton says, they all walk to the car and they are off. Once they arrive in Springfield, they drop Princeton off at his house; he looks over at the house and looks at Marshall and Chester.

  “We have to head back but tell your mother we said hello,” Marshall says.

  “I was thinkin’ once I get this whole matter settled with the vault and the gold, I will pay you a visit in Kansas City, never been there before, I’ve been to St. Louis but it is knee-deep in assholes.”

  “If we haven’t moved on to pursuing Addler, we’ll be there. Here’s my card, you can call me at home or on the cell.”

  “I know’s I’ll see you again so’s I won’t say goodbye. All I’ll say is thank you again and good luck. The next time you see me, I will repay the debt I owe you and you may not recognize me.”

  “Why’s that?” Chester asks.

  “I may be wearing a white suit and white hat, decked out in rings on each finger, classy ladies on both arms; maybe I’ll try walking a proper path, leave my outlaw ways behind.”

  “We will await your return,” Marshall says, Princeton puts his hand on Marshall’s shoulder and bows his head, he taps Chester on the shoulder, then he exits the vehicle, he turns and waves as they drive off.

  “Do you really think we’ll see him again?” Chester asks.

  “Yes, I think we will, in fact, I know it.”

  “Why are you so certain? He has his treasure,” Chester reasons.

  “Because we won over his heart and his mind,” Marshall responds before they speed off.

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN: RECOGNITION OF THE PAST

  “I traced that license plate number for the vehicle, it was stolen, but I know its current location and we will head there. All I need you to do is knock on the door, I will fire through the door if anyone approaches, then I’ll interrogate him,” Marshall explains. They have been back in Kansas City for two days.

  “You’re going to shoot the guy?”

  “Just to wound, I call it the knock and drop. If he doesn’t answer, I’ll pick the lock and we’ll search for clues, either way we will find clues there.” Marshall and Chester head to the residence where Marshall had spotted the car, Chester knocks but no one is home, Marshall picks the lock on the front door quickly, then they enter the home, Marshall finds the gun safe and picks the lock there too using a stethoscope, he examines all of the guns but none match the one that shot him, there is cash hidden in another safe that he cracks, he takes the man’s laptop. “He must be holding the gun that he used on his person,” Marshall tells Chester.

  “That’s quite an armory he has,” Chester remarks.

  “The man is a paid assassin. I’m willing to bet once I look on that laptop we’ll find out who paid him.” Marshall stops at the dresser in the bathroom, he sees a matchbook for a local club, he then dusts the place for fingerprints. “Spoiler will look for matches in the database, I’ll clear up all traces here,” Marshall tells Chester. They stake out the bar where the matchbook was taken, Marshall had examined all contents on the laptop but all business had to be handled in person, there’s no evidence of any contracts or agreements. The assassin’s name was Timothy Finnegan; he had spent a long stint in prison for aggravated assault, no murder charges though. On the third night the car arrives, once Tim enters the bar with three o
ther men, Marshall opens his trunk.

  “What are you doing?”

  “I’m going to disable their car, without the car, there’s no escape. Bleach in the gas tank, that car won’t be going anywhere.” Marshall empties the bottle into the gas tank of Tim’s stolen car, he calls Spoiler to tell him he has Tim cornered with three other men.

  “I’ll come down there,” Spoiler responds.

  “Give me some time,” Marshall tells him. “They’re not going anywhere.”

  “Just be careful,” Spoiler says, “I’m on my way.”

  “The most important skill, well one of them, is staying hidden in a public place, just follow my lead.” They each sit at a table in the back, the four men are up at the bar, when Tim goes to the restroom, Marshall follows him in, he waits until Tim is close to a stall, then Marshall shoves him into it, Tim draws his gun, but Marshall smashes his hand against the door of the stall and disarms him, Marshall hits him in the jaw, then pulls out his own gun. Marshall shoves Tim’s head in the toilet and puts his foot on the back of his neck; he eases up to let him get air.

  “Remember me, asshole?”

  “Detective, you’re alive?”

  “Who hired you?”

  “I can’t tell you that, I never reveal my clients,” Tim says, Marshall looks at his smile and the glean on his white teeth, the same glean he saw before he was shot, Marshall shoves Tim’s head back into the toilet again, he pulls back the hammer on his gun.

  “Either two things are going to happen, either you drown in this toilet, or I shoot you. Either way, you die in a restroom that smells like a cat died shitting in it.”

  “If you kill me, my boys will come for you.”

  “Do you really think that I’m afraid of your boys?”

  “You should be.”

  “Whoever hired you should’ve known I would come for you and for them. They didn’t care if you took the fall or not, consider that because if you don’t tell me who hired you, you won’t be leaving here, at least not alive.”

  “Catherine Shield wants you dead,” Tim growls.