Ch. 9 Copperhead Road

[Mr. Handy]

"I don't think he'll swallow that either," says William. "Look, we can tell him that James died in a burning truck as we were fleeing from kidnappers. There will be enough in the papers about this that we'll have evidence to back us up on it."

[Bullfrog]

"William is right, but we're still gonna have to explain to the cops why there's a corpse floating in the ditch." Lawrence responds, his temporary wave of panic somewhat subsiding. "And we can't burn the letters; just wouldn't sit right with me."

[HoneyDog]

Howard shakes his head angrily.

“Evidence? We burned the damn truck! We killed James!” he shouts. “And yes! What about that old man we beat to death? How the hell do we explain that? Wake up, for chrissakes!”


He points at the remains of the truck for emphasis.

"The easiest explanation is that we didn't find him. He's gone and there's no trace. There's no right thing to do here. Let's go!"

[Mr. Handy]

"We can discuss what we'll tell Mr. Fraser later, on the way back," says William. "Brophy is a wanted fugitive who betrayed us and tried to kill us. I may not be a criminal lawyer, but I can make a pretty good case for self-defense. The only living witnesses are right here, so there's nobody to contradict us. As for the cops, we can't go to them in this parish at all. Remember, the sheriff's in on it. He'll just turn us right back over to the kidnappers, and they'll kill us. We need to get on a train and get back to Massachusetts as soon as possible. The sooner we cross a state line, the better. If we're picked up in Louisiana, they'll just send us back here to the sheriff. Once we're in Mississippi, Arkansas, or Texas, they'd have to extradite us, and I can fight that in the courts."

[Philulhu]

Oscar fetched a pocket watch from his pants pockets. “Ah can run you up to Baton Rouge station if your ready to go but ah reckon you gennelmen have a few hours wait ahead of you afore the morning trains running,” he said.

[HoneyDog]

"You need to get to a hospital William" says Howard. "Let's get to Baton Rouge and get you seen to."

[Mr. Handy]

"All right," says William. "After the hospital, we can catch a train in the morning."

[Bullfrog]

"Sounds good to me." Lawrence sighs, already walking towards Oscar's car. "I say we keep discussing this in the car. There's no sense in staying here, not with our situation right now."

[Philulhu]

Friday March 7th, 1930 9.00am.
Our Lady of the Lake Sanitarium, Hennessy Blvd, Baton Rouge

Thomas took the front seat next to Oscar, with the other three in the back. With one final glance at the ebbing flames of the truck, Oscar pulled away and headed north, through Pointes-aux-Chene and north to Baton Rouge.

The sun was beginning to peek over the horizon as he pulled up in front of the Lady of the Lake Sanitarium and when the extent of William’s injuries became known, he was swiftly taken inside where a junior houseman could take a look at him and apply dressings to his burns. A nurse checked over the other three while they waited to see William but it wasn’t too long before they were reunited in a side ward. Outside they could see Oscar smoking a cigarette as he spoke to one of the hospital orderlies.

In the distance, the chime of the chapel bell announced it was 9.00am.

[Mr. Handy]

"Let's go to the train station now," says William. "The sooner we leave, the better."

[HoneyDog]

"Yes, let's get out of here."

Howard is in full agreement.

[Bullfrog]

"Let's leave this all behind and be done with it."
Lawrence concurs, relieved to be returning home.

[Philulhu]

Oscar had already fetched what remained of their belongings from Mrs Sykes’ boarding house so once they were in his car, they were underway. As he waited to pull onto the main road, a police car with its siren blaring, raced down the road and turned into the drive leading to the sanitarium.

“You gennelmen think that’s anything to do with you?” said Oscar, looking straight ahead as his passengers shrank into their seats and tried to appear innocuous. He looked back in the mirror and continued, “Ah’m guessing you don’t wanna find out!”. He checked for traffic and accelerated, pulling out onto the main road and in the direction of South Central Station.

Ten minutes later, they pulled up in front of the station and Oscar brought the car to a stop. “Here you go,” he said. “Is there anything more I can do for you gennelmen before you go?”

[Mr. Handy]

"Just don't tell anyone you saw us," says William. He pays Oscar and gives him a generous tip. "Thank you, Oscar. I don't know what we would have done without you."

[Bullfrog]

"Oscar, you've done us a real good favor. Thank you." Lawrence offers his thanks, giving Oscar his payment along with a nice tip. "Just don't tell a single soul what happened."

[HoneyDog]

Howard shakes Oscar’s hand.

“Thanks for everything, Oscar. You’re a swell guy.”

[Philulhu]

Oscar pocketed the tip with a wide beam of gratitude. While the four friends had been in hospital overnight, he had secured tickets for their journey home and picked up what was left of their belongings from Mrs Sykes’ lodging house. He now he set about the task of finding a porter to unload the car.

He returned shortly with a well-built man sporting the livery of the ralroad company. The porter pushed a trolley before him and it wasn’t long before their luggage was neatly stacked and being pushed onto the platform in search of their train.

Following directions, they headed to the far side of the station to a short and somewhat nondescript platform, at which sat a gleaming black train of just a couple of carriages and and engine. Steam rose gently from the engine, drifting on the morning breeze. A tall, sallow guard ushered them onto the train and indicated to Oscar where the cases could be stowed. The whistle sounded and steam could be heard huffing from the engine, and the conductor gently but firmly ushered Oscar from the train so the friends’ journey home could begin... ... ...

The adventure will continue soon in Black Train Blues.

[Philulhu]

And we’re off..

Black Train Blues