Five days later, he received a telephone call from McGurk. It was the first that he heard from him since this whole caper had begun. “Barkley? This is McGurk, I think we might be on to something.” he was whispering as he spoke. “Your pal has been some help to me, narrowing down things. I almost thought we had her.”
Ocarina’s sucked in his breath like a kid pulling on the straw of a chocolate milk shake. He could barely speak. “What do you mean almost?’
“Well, it was a good lead, but it wasn’t her. I cased a bowling alley, there was a lady who went by the name of Corey Schups. She was bowling cleanup on a Monday night mixed league. Her boyfriend was on the team and he was a truck driver too. She was a hell of a bowler, she really made those pins fly, but it wasn’t her. She turned out to be originally from a small town in Montana and was on the run from her farmer husband. I had to buy her a number of beers to be sure we were in the wrong lane, so to speak. So we struck out. But I think we have a really good lead on another dame. One of your buddy’s workers at a car wash in Alba, gave us a line a pretty good match. I might need you to come up with a couple more bucks and also might need you to come along with us to make the ID.”
Ocarina emotions were like an out of control baby buggy rolling down the side of a ski run. He was excited, but worried that it would all end in a big crash at the end.
After a number of hurried calls between Shakey and McGurk, he was to meet up with them at a diner down a side street on the other side of town. Ocarina found the place and parked in the lot next to the joint. The lot was pretty expansive and looked to be popular with truckers, as a few big rigs were parked in the back of the lot. There was a big EAT sign flashing over the front door. He went in the door and was met with the aroma of frying bacon and eggs with a hint of strong coffee. He looked around the place and saw McGurk and Shakey sitting in a booth. He walked over and decided to sit next to McGurk as Shakey and his dangling limbs seemed to control one whole side of the booth.
“So, what’s the big news? Are we going to find her or just have a plate of waffles and sausage to share? “
It was Shakey who spoke first. “After I heard something positive from one of my guys here in town and further conversations with Dick Tracy here, I think we may be close to the end of the rainbow, literally.”
“Yeah, your friend Mr. Shakey was some help to me on this case, I have to admit, sort of” said McGurk, giving Shakey a half hearted stink eye.
“Ok boys, no arguing now, if we are finally getting to the bottom of this.” said Ocarina and then handed McGurk an envelope with some cash in it. “This should cover your recent expenses and for all those beers in the bowling alley. And I will cover this lunch too.”
“Good, I’ll have the huevos rancheros with a steak and small stack of hotcakes.”
“I’ll just have a hot dog with chili cheese fries, if you’re buying .” said Shakey
The waitress came by and took their order. Ocarina just had coffee with a side of water, he was too nervous to contemplate eating anything right now.
“So here is the scoop Jackson. I think we have the lady in question all lined up for you. Of course you will have to make positive ID, but we think we have Corey….Burlington!” said Shakey
McGurk nodded and said “yep, same name, doesn’t sound like she is currently married. Not sure about her status vis a vis a member of the male persuasion attached to her at this time, but it sounds positive so far.”
“When can I see her? Is she coming in here? Tonight?” said Ocarina excitedly
“Not so fast my man” said Shakey “We decided to meet here because the food detective you hired detected that this joint had the best huevos rancheros for miles around and he wanted to mix business and the chance to fill his gut at the same time. And I can say its a tax deductible business expense. The possible meet up will be early tomorrow afternoon. We’ll give you the set up, so don’t get too excited. It should all work ok.”
“Right, we have done the surveillance and believe we have the scenario prepared for you. You just need to be waiting outside the truck stop when she comes into work. Maybe figure out some way to delay her from getting inside the place, but from our sources, it looks like she and the boy friend are no longer inhabitants of Romance City.” said McGurk
Ocarina’s mind began to race, his thoughts running in every direction like a broken compass. What if she didn’t care about him or even have charitable thoughts towards him. What was their last conversation? What kind of romantic gesture could he come up with to break the ice or at least melt it a little? He would have to case the joint before she was due to come to work. Get the lay of the land and plan his campaign. He had to make his first contact perfect or maybe there wouldn’t be a second chance. He finally was aroused from his paranoid reveries by McGurk.
“Hey, wake up over there! You are not listening to anything we are trying to tell you.” said the detective as he began to shovel in some apple pie and ice cream while washing it down with a big tumbler of Mountain Dew. McGurk was now looking again at the dessert menu for a possible piece de resistance pie.
“Yeah” said Shakey “you can’t blow it this time Ocarina, its put up or shut up time. Not to make you any more nervous than you probably are already. But you aren’t some junior high punk on his first date with little miss hubba-hubba. You’re a big man now. So like Archie Bell said: Tighten Up now! Okay?”
“Right. I appreciate everything you two have done for me, and I will get this right the first time. Give me the info on where to go and what time.” said Ocarina trying to sound confident and assured as a soldier on a secret mission.
“Okay here’s the layout. The place is called Big Ted’s Express Stop just a block off the highway. She starts her shift at 4.00. One of my car washes is right behind the place. That’s how we got the line on things pretty quick.” smiled Shakey “I took care of you this time.”
“Well, it wasn’t like I was sitting around like a broken doorknob, I did my part too” sniffed McGurk, being sure to make himself considered for at least best supporting actor and deserving of his cash award. “I helped narrow down the candidates and this fellow just got lucky.”
“Don’t worry, when this whole thing is done, I will take care of both of you guys. Now I have to get going and get my plan figured out and fool proofed before she gets there tomorrow. I’ll be sure to let you know how it goes. Either way. ‘ Ocarina said a little hesitantly.
“Buck up, man” said Shakey “you have this nailed, we have complete confidence in you.”
McGurk choked on a piece of pie crust, but said it was just because it was a little dry. Ocarina walked up to the counter and settled the bill for the food, before McGurk decided to start on his next meal.
copyright @2020
bill melnik