Ann was quiet for a few seconds then said to the reporter, “I think it’s time we talked.”
“I wondered when you’d get around to it,” He said.
Ann opened the door to her room and told Prosser to come in. She walked to the kitchen area and plugged in the coffee pot.
She would add instant coffee to the cups when the water got hot. She went back into the living area. Prosser was still standing,
just inside the door. Ann motioned to a chair.
“Have a seat,” she said. Prosser took a chair at the table. Ann understood he wished her to sit at the table,
also, and she obliged. She watched for him to take a note pad from his pocket but he didn’t. She felt pleased about
that.
She looked at him closely. ‘He is a handsome man,’ she found herself thinking. That thought coming from her, surprised
her and she felt her face redden slightly. She hoped he didn’t notice and he gave no sign he had.
“Thank you for not asking any questions about what we discussed, - that is, what I said on the phone when I called you.
I have to tell you up front, when we finish our talk, you still will have questions un-answered but you’ll also have
a news story.”
Ann’s voice softened slightly and she continued, “I need your help but there are some things I cannot divulge
or even discuss. You must agree to this right now or we can’t talk anymore.”
The water had heated in the coffee pot and Ann walked to the kitchen area to fix her coffee. She looked at Prosser and asked
if he wanted a cup and he said he did, black.
She mixed the coffees and brought the cups to the table and placed them
on beverage mats.
She sipped hers immediately, preferring her coffee almost too hot to drink.
“Hot lips,” Prosser said with a wry grin.
Ann chuckled aloud, surprising both of them. She was even more surprised when she felt herself begin to relax. She had been
extremely uptight and this new feeling was an unexpected relief.
“I’ve always liked my coffee hot, even when I was a kid.” She said. “My Daddy used to say, ‘if
you burn your mouth on that hot coffee, you lips will blister and freeze up into a pucker and stay that way!’”
“Score one for your Daddy,” chuckled the reporter.
Ann walked back to the kitchen area and opened a cabinet and brought some napkins and a box of donuts to the table.
“Help yourself,” she said and she picked a large, glazed donut and broke it in half and dipped it into her coffee.
She quickly removed it and slurped as she took it into her mouth.
The next few moments passed quickly and pleasantly as they enjoyed their coffee and donuts. Prosser loudly blew on his coffee
before sipping it.
“Thin lips,” he said, and they both laughed. They were enjoying themselves.
After a while, Ann said, “This has been fun but I suppose I’d better get to the point. I have decided I can trust
you to abide by my rules, as crazy as they seem to be. I’ll tell you all I can and guarantee you’ll get a very
good story for your effort.”
Prosser said nothing, just listened. He knew this was the way she wanted it. He could tell this was very difficult for her,
even though he didn’t understand why. He was content to abide by her rules. He knew it would be worth it. He would have
his story.
Ann said, “I know who killed the mayor of Tulla City. I can’t explain to you exactly how I figured it out but
I know I’m right. I thought about how to approach the killer and decided I needed someone with me when I did it. You
came to mind because you are a top reporter and appear to be physically fit and mentally alert; and curious. And you have
paid more attention to Tulla City than any other reporter, at least as near as I can tell.
I have to tell you up front, there could be some danger involved, also. I hope not but it’s possible. I need someone
I can depend on with me, not as a body guard but as a witness to whatever I say and whatever the perp says. If you think you
want to be the one I can count on, now is the time to say so. If you decide not to, say so and I’ll find someone else.
Either way, you have given your word not to divulge any of this and I trust you to keep your word. I know you have questions
you want answered before you decide so go ahead and ask them.
Prosser, of course, had questions to ask. He said, “Why will this be dangerous? Who is the person?”
Ann said, “It’s Detective First Grade Tom Watson of the Tulla City Police Department.”
The reporter asked, “Why not just go to the chief and have him arrested? Why not use the police as your backup?”
“I considered that,” said Ann. “The problem is, I don’t know if he is alone on this or has someone
else in it with him. I couldn’t take a chance on it. What else do you need to know?”
“That’s it,” said Prosser. “When do we start?”
“I’ll call my boss and let him know I’m on my way home, and why. It’s a bit late now. How about first
thing in the morning? It’s a good day’s drive.” Ann said.
Prosser said, “I’ll do the same. Where do I meet you?”
“Why don’t you go to your room and get whatever you need and make your call and I’ll do the same and I’ll
call you and let you know. “
Prosser agreed then added, “One thing, though, if it’s all right with you, I’ll ride to Tulla City with
you. I can take a bus back.”
Ann thought about that for a moment, then, more quickly than she expected, agreed to the idea.
“Shake on it, then?” he said, extending his hand?
“Shake on it,” said Ann and she took his hand and shook it.
Prosser left and Ann immediately got on the phone and called Tulla City. The chief answered and Ann got right into it. She
explained what had happened, making sure to keep an edge on her voice to impress upon him that she was, indeed, through with
this seminar. She assured him she had much more important business to attend to in Tulla City than what was here.
To her surprise, the chief agreed and told her to start back whenever she wished. Then he added, “Lassiter called and
told me what happened. I want you to know, I had no idea you would be called on. I think you know that. I’ll see you
when you get here.” Then he hung up.
Prosser called the paper and spoke to the editor. He said he had a chance to get what might be a really important story and
needed a few days off. To his surprise, the editor told him to take whatever time he needed. Then he said, “Just don’t
get into anything you will want out of later!” and he chuckled knowingly.
After they had made their calls, they went to the restaurant and had dinner. They chatted some but said nothing else about
what they were planning to do. After they had eaten, they shared the elevator and said good night in the hallway.
Ann called Prosser and asked if he could be ready at five the next morning. He assured her he could and they agreed to meet
in front of the hotel. Ann was there with the car when Prosser got there. They started off immediately.
They rode silently for a while, each in their own thoughts, enjoying the ride and anticipating the chore that lay ahead. They
stopped at a rest area after several hours to answer the call of nature. About mid day, they stopped in a small town, found
a Dennys and had a light lunch.
Surprisingly to Ann, the trip was pleasant and relaxed. She was enjoying Prosser’s company more than she anticipated.
What talking he did was interesting, not the least boring.
After they had driven most of the day, Ann saw a familiar roadside sign. It was the truck stop she had shared with her two
trucking friends and she told Prosser she needed to stop here for a while. She briefly told him about her trip and her new
found friends, Pistol Pete and Two Shoes and their agreement to stop here on the way back and wait for an hour. He assured
her he was happy to stop. He needed a stretch.
Ann parked the car right in front of the café. She looked over at the truck parking lot and was sure she saw a familiar truck;
one with a 2001 trailer on the back. She grinned as she walked into the café and started toward the booths.
Pistol Pete was sitting in a booth near the rear of the room, watching the front. He saw Ann smile broadly as she started
toward him. Just before she reached him, he stood up. He didn’t speak. He didn’t smile. He just stood rigidly.
As Ann reached out to him, she saw his eyes mist. He took her hands and pulled her to him. He hugged her gently and Ann felt
his body quiver ever so slightly. She hugged him back and a terrible feeling came over her.
After a moment, Ann stepped back. Neither of them had spoken. She held his hands and looking into his eyes, said, “What
has happened?”
Pete’s chin quivered ever so slightly and tears began. He said, “It’s Two Shoes. He’s dead.”
All of a sudden, Ann’s legs felt weak and she sat down in the booth. “What happened,” she asked. “We
just left him,-he was fine!”
Pete shook his head and looked out the window. He bit the inside of his lip nervously, shaking his head and finally said,
“It was crazy. After you left, we left, too. Les,- Two Shoes name was Lester Dowling,- Two Shoes pulled out first. I
came out right behind him. We got up to speed and were trucking right along, talking about you and us and out trip together.
He said he sure hoped he would see you again. This had been one of the best times he ever had. I agreed, for me, too.
Then a pickup pulling a U-Haul trailer came all the way across the freeway median and crashed head-on into Two Shoes truck.
He tried to stop and pull to the side but it happened so fast he couldn’t get out of the way. I pulled right over and
barely got stopped when the pickup exploded and caught fire. Les’s truck was engulfed in a ball of flames. By the time
I got there, it was too late. Everything was burning. Everything was gone.”
Ann was stunned. She couldn’t speak. She felt tears start from her eyes. She felt a sob. She took a deep breath and
leaned back. Pete gently covered her hands with his.
Pete said, “I came back here and called my boss and told him what happened. I told him about you agreeing to stop here
when you came back through and I wanted to be here. I thought you’d want to know. He said there was no hurry for this
freight and to take all the time I need.
I am going to arrange for a memorial service somewhere for Two Shoes. I don’t know where yet or when. Maybe here. I
wanted to be the one to tell you about Two Shoes. He loved you and so do I. And I loved him like the brother I never had.
He was a good guy. I really miss him a lot.”
Ann took out a ball point pen and rummaged in her purse for a scrap of paper. She wrote her phone numbers and her name on
it and handed it to Pete.
“Let me know, Pete. I’ll be there no matter when or where you decide,” Ann said. “We’ll make
it. We will always be friends and we’ll always remember Two Shoes,-Lester Dowling, as part of us. Pete, call me if you
ever need someone to talk to.”
“Pete said, well then, that’s it. I guess I’d better go on and get unloaded.”
He stood and Ann stood and faced him. She reached out and touched his shoulder and pulled him to her and hugged him. Then
she kissed him gently on his cheek and said, “I’ll see you down the road.”
“Damn tootin’ you will,” he answered. “That’s a plan!” Then he turned and walked away.
