“Whatever you say. Whatever helps you sleep at night.”
The G-Man play-punched Simon in the upper arm so Mary Lou knew they were buddies kidding around.
“You in transit or on the hunt for a master criminal mastermind?”
“Out hunting - and keep your voice down: this is serious.”
Mary Lou strained her ears yet again as the men leant into each other to carry on a private conversation in the middle of the train. She heard ‘Baltimore’ mentioned and ‘couple’ which was enough for her to know the Feds were on their case.
A bead of sweat dropped off her ear and landed on her neck; she hoped this wasn't visible to anyone but herself. A train cop was one thing, but the Feds operated in a different league. With all the whispering she couldn't tell if they had her likeness plastered over local news. They might even have Frank in custody already.
Another drop of perspiration on her neck and a sinking feeling in her stomach. The rational part of her brain processed the information which was panicking her. If they knew what she looked like, they’d have grabbed her by now: they were unlikely to have spotted her and were waiting for her to lead them to Frank. That’s not how cops operate.
Mary Lou took a deep breath and considered her options. The longer she stayed in the seat the greater the chance one of these lunks would notice that bag and try to do something about it. She checked her watch and saw she had another hour before she reached Cincinnati. Time to hide in the washroom again.
She shuffled past the two cops and hustled down the aisle hoping her movement wouldn’t catch their attention. They’d have to check everyone: the amount of talk could not exceed their efforts to find the felons. The question was how she could avoid their attention. Despite her strongest desires, Mary Lou knew the washroom was not the long-term solution she craved.
Instead, she considered the problem from every angle until she arrived at a conclusion. The train guard was a pushover and not worth consideration. Simon was a local cop: greedy but fundamentally lazy otherwise he’d have got a promotion and moved on in his life. The only dangerous guy among them was the Fed and he was the one she’d need to charm. But how?
Mary Lou left the washroom and carried on until she reached the baggage car - and walked through. There were a series of cages either side of the usual central aisle. Each cage door was on a latch with bags packed in behind them. There were no locks: the entire system kept the baggage from floating around during the journey and to speed up disembarking.
Flipping the lock mechanism enabled the doors to swing open and for bags to fall out of their secure lodgings. Mary Lou bent down and unstrapped a couple of cases to make sure a proper mess was made. She dragged a case along the floor until it was right by the carriage door and visible from outside the car.
Back to the washroom to catch her breath and a wait until the guard spotted the chaos she created. Ten minutes later and she caught the stomping of feet and only then did Mary Lou return to her seat. Simon stormed past her making for the baggage and she knew her plan had worked. She banked on the suspicious flatfoot believing someone had caused the mess as they rushed through the car. He was close but no cigar.
The Fed was slowly walking along the car and stood between Mary Lou and her seat. He was leaning over people, asking them questions and moving onto the next row of seats. She swallowed hard and headed back past him.
“Excuse me, ma’am.”
Mary Lou stared at him to give the impression she wasn't in the habit of talking to strange men on trains just because they looked like cops. The train juddered to a halt and she stared out the window.
“Sorry, but this is my stop.”
He lifted his hat and stood aside. Mary Lou rushed past and tried to reach the holdall on the shelf but Frank’d pushed it to the back to prevent it falling and now it was too far away to get any purchase. She only had a minute or two before the train would set off again.
An arm stretched up and took the bag, resting it on a seat. She turned her head to thank the stranger and saw it was the Fed.
“Safe onward journey, ma’am.”
“Thanks.”
Mary Lou picked up the holdall and got off the train. She stood there desperately wanting to find Frank and, at the same time, not wanting him to be within a thousand miles of this place until the train - and the Fed - had carried on their way.
FRANK STOOD THE other side of the gate for platform two and saw the train pull in. He waited but there was no sign of Mary Lou. Where was she?
Just before the train pulled away, Mary Lou appeared on the platform with a single black bag and headed toward the gate. The station guard had already explained that Frank was not allowed on the platform without a ticket so he remained where he was until Mary Lou got past the gate by herself. Then he rushed towards her and picked her up and squeezed. He put her down and they hugged and kissed.
She smelled vanilla around his neck but thought nothing of it because she was so relieved to see him again. Mary Lou didn't want to let go because she had missed him so but eventually their bodies parted.
Frank and Mary Lou held hands as they sauntered out the station while he led her to the car.
“How was the train?”
“Surrounded by cops.”
“Kidding me.”
“Not at all. There was a city cop and a G-Man.”
“Jeez. What happened?”
“The Feds know there’s two of us and that we’re a couple.”
“How?”
“No idea. They didn't say.”
“But they know we’re a couple?”
“Man and a woman they said.”
“Any descriptions?”
“None that I heard.”
“But we don't know.”
“No clue. We need to get the hell out of Dodge.”
Mary Lou put her bag in the trunk and sat in the passenger seat while Frank got behind the wheel.
“Take me away from this place, Frank.”
He squeezed her knee and reversed out the space before joining the road and heading out on the long haul to Oklahoma City. Once they were trundling along in a straight lane, his hand returned to resting on her thigh.
Mary Lou enjoyed experiencing the warmth of his fingers on her flesh and relaxed for the first time since they’d parted in Cincinnati. The thought remained at the back of her mind of G-men catching them and dragging Frank off but, for now, this wasn't her primary concern. Instead, Mary Lou focused her angst on the long car journey ahead and how she needed to get some sleep before she’d have to take over the wheel from Frank. Three hours on, three hours off. Repeat for the fifteen hour trek.
SATURDAY JUNE 21
19
IN THE EARLY hours of the morning, Mary Lou woke up with a jolt. Frank had taken the car off the highway and had parked in yet another motel. They all looked the same: he found the ones which were slightly run down with a dark corner in which they could hide. The run down establishments cared little about their customers provided they paid for their rooms up front.
The other advantages of these low rent dives was that they were surrounded by equally low-rent bars where characters prop up the counters and deals are available to be done. For this reason, Frank and Mary Lou headed off to grab a bowl of peanuts and a beer.
Food was still being served so Frank grabbed a steak sandwich and Mary Lou took a lamb cutlet. When Frank made enquiries to the barman where to go if he wanted to buy some weed, the guy carried on wiping the glass in his hand and nodded in Hank’s direction at the far end of the bar.
“Hi.”
“Hiya.”
“I've been told you’re the man to see if I'm interested in buying some goods.”
“You reckon?”
“That’s what I've been told.”
“You a cop?”
“Nope. Just a guy with his gal looking to make a trade.”
“Well, I'm going to ask if you’re a cop first.”
Hank laughed.
/>
“No. What you looking to buy?”
“Are you in the buying and selling business?”
“I can get hold of stuff, for sure.”
Frank looked into Hank’s eyes. The dude was seventy at least but didn't look like a hippy. If marijuana was his game, he wasn't getting high on his own supply.
“I might have something for you to buy but I need some discretion. Are you up for that or isn't it your bag?”
“I can be cool. What you got?”
“Couple of hundred bucks.”
Hank chuckled again.
“You’re selling money? Man, you've been at the reefers early buddy.”
“I'm serious.”
Hank stared at Frank long and hard, sipping at his drink. Eyes checked out every aspect of Frank’s appearance, judging him at every second.
“The only man who’s going to be selling money is sitting on notes they can’t take to a bank. And the money you can’t take to a bank is the cash that’s come from a bank - without authorization.”
“And?”
“And that’s outta my league. Love to help a rogue in trouble but I don't get involved in business like that. Not good for my health.”
“Thanks for your honesty.”
“De nada. If you’re feeling the heat I can offer you a place to hang if you like. Business is one thing but helping a rogue in need is another.”
Now it was Frank’s turn to stare at Hank. How far can he trust a barfly he’s only just met and whose claim to fame in the local dive bar is that he was the local drug dealer?
“Got space for me and my lady?”
Frank pointed at Mary Lou with his thumb. She’d stayed by their beers so Hank didn't feel crowded out.
“I got me a plot of land in the woods west of here. I live in one shack and a little ways on there’s another hut. You and your missus can hole up there for a day or two if you’d like. Nothing fancy but it’s dry and no-one’ll come sniffing around. And if they do, I’ll shoot the fucker before they get near you.”
Frank raised an eyebrow.
“Don't like trespassers. See?”
“I like people who mind their own business too.”
The two men shook hands. Frank returned to Mary Lou and explained what he’d agreed.
“Do you trust him?”
“A little. He’s smart enough to know we’re trouble and clever enough not to ask questions in case he gets answers he doesn’t want to hear.”
“Will we be safe?”
“Safe enough. Besides if we don't travel at the speed the Feds are expecting that’ll make it harder for them to pick up our trail. Vanishing for a day or two could be just what we need.”
“Or just the opportunity for him to squeal to the Feds.”
Frank kissed her on the lips.
“I got a good feeling about him and besides, if he double crosses us I'll put a bullet between his eyes.”
HANK GOT INTO his car and Mary Lou drove behind him - to give Frank free rein in case matters took a turn for the worse. Instead, they drove for ten minutes until the road burrowed its way through twists and turns in a wood. Hank slowed and then halted.
“Wait for it.”
He ran across the road and opened a gate which was hidden by ivy creepers. Lit by the car headlamps, he gave a thumbs-up and used both arms to point at the now-open space. Mary Lou followed him down the dirt track and they both stopped. This time, Frank got out and closed the gate.
Onwards half a mile until they arrived at a clearing inside the wood. There were two log cabins one to the left, the other to the right. Hank drive rightwards and signalled in the opposite direction so Mary Lou drove to the left cabin and parked outside. They were five hundred feet away from Hank and there was nothing but short grass between: nowhere to hide, nowhere to ambush. On the other side of the cabin were dense trees as the wood continued to choke the world around it. Frank and Mary Lou took their bags inside and Hank appeared a moment later.
“You guys should be fine here. Come and go as you please - just keep the gate shut so’s we don't encourage any visitors.”
“Thanks Hank.”
“No need. People like us need to look after each other.”
“Like us?”
“Yes missy. People who work outside the conventions of the law.”
Mary Lou smiled. Hank was alright.
“One thing I’d like you to respect though.”
“Name it.”
“Two hundred feet that-away is a field of vegetation I don't want touched. Reckon you can keep your hands to yourselves?”
“We reckon we can. Is that the weed?”
“Yep. It’s my livelihood.”
“We respect folks who work hard for what they earn, Hank. We won't go messing with the crops.”
“Much obliged. Oh, and one other thing, if you want to have any heat in here, you’ll have to chop wood out there.”
Hank closed the door and was gone.
The cabin comprised a sitting room, a bedroom, a kitchen and a bathroom. All the essentials for life and nothing much more. Mary Lou checked the cupboards in the kitchen and found a tin of condensed milk and some coffee grounds but not much else. The living room and bedroom shared a wall with an open fire.
“It is cold in here.”
“Yep. I'll get some logs.”
Fifteen minutes later, Frank returned with both arms steeped in chopped tree. He threw a match onto the kindling and the fire roared after a moment. They both sat right next to the fire to keep each other company and to gain from the heat of the licking flames. Frank wrapped his arm around Mary Lou and they sat in silence, regaining lost energy from the stress of the day.
“Fancy some coffee?”
“For sure, babe.”
They went in the kitchen and opened all cupboards until Mary Lou found a small saucepan in one and Frank found more matches in another. The faucet produced water and the hob had gas. Within ten minutes two mugs of black coffee sat on the kitchen table.
“There’ll be bits at the bottom but it should be fine until then.”
“Hot and wet. That’s all I ask, babe.”
“Don’t talk dirty. I'm really not in the mood.”
Both smiled and they pecked each other on the lips. Then back by the fire, mugs in hand.
“How was your journey?”
“A long road, diner, more road. The usual. And the train?”
“Too much stress for one day. A local cop and a Fed sniffing around for bank robbers.”
“Trouble?”
“Nearly. I was lucky Cincinnati arrived when it did. I spent far too much time hiding in the john.”
“Do you think they made you?”
“Nah. Way too many people on that train with far too much going on for them to notice me in the crowd. But they were planning on doing a more detailed search just as I got off.”
“And you reckoned they don’t have a description?”
“No, not yet. They’ve figured out we are a couple. That was the Fed; the locals know nothing - just what the G-men tell them.”
“How did they figure out about us?”
“No idea, hon’.”
“I mean, who’s left alive to snitch?”
20
MARY LOU HAD not wanted to open up these wounds so soon after a sticking plaster had been placed upon them but she had no choice if they were going to survive.
“Uncle Frankie. He’s alive and we know he’s double-crossed you once already this week.”
“Makes no sense. Not to me anyways.”
Beat.
“Frankie had more than one heist planned for the same money.”
“Huh?”
Frank thought for a minute.
“Carter?”
“Yes.”
“That’s why he had the bags under his desk.”
“Yes.”
“How long had you known?”
Mary Lou felt the tension in Frank’s shoulder that was leaning i
nto her body.
“A day. Maybe two. I didn't tell you because I was confused. Didn’t know what to do. And I was afraid: scared you’d take your anger out on me.”
“I see. And was the plan for you and Carter to transport the take to Frankie and leave the gang up the Swannee?”
“No. This is why my head was all over the place. Carter intended to steal the money from Frankie and leave both of you high and dry. And I had no idea what to do. Anyone I told would assume I was lying. I couldn't go to Frankie...”
Frank put his arm around Mary Lou and squeezed her shoulders. He understood: there was no way Mary Lou could go near Frankie given what his uncle had done to her.
“... and I didn't think I could go to you.”
The complex unspoken triangle between Frank, Mary Lou and Uncle Frankie conspired to destroy them all.
“I get it.”
Beat.
“How did Carter think he could succeed?”
“Well he didn't know you guys were going to storm into the place first thing. He thought he had all day to take the money and run.”
“And what about you?”
“Carter’s plan was for me to meet him at the back of the bank and drive him out of Dodge.”
“And your plan?”
“Take the money, shoot Carter and get the hell out of Dodge.”
“Nice.”
“I thought so. Heads, Carter escapes with the money and we win. Tails, you leave with the money and we win. I never expected the coin to land on its edge.”
“You and me both.”
“I’m telling you the truth Frank. I don't want any lies between us but I’m also telling you I'm afraid how you’ll react now I’ve told you.”
“What’s done is done, babe. All we have is each other. We all do things we might regret later on. Stand up people are the ones brave enough to admit the truth out loud.”
Mary Lou turned to Frank and they hugged. She nuzzled her head deep against his neck and noticed that vanilla aroma again.
“As we are being honest with each other, I should tell you I missed out a detail about the robbery.”
The Lagotti Family Series Page 34