Chapter 12
Three days had passed.
Hud, Ester and the gang still camped out in the woods sleeping under the stars with blankets.
Ester drove off in the Hudson to get some supplies an hour ago.
Hud and the guys sat around a campfire while they waited for her.
Ester finally drove up in the Hudson.
She got out with two grocery bags in hand, and one of them had a newspaper sticking out.
Hud got up and walked over to Ester. He grabbed the newspaper out of the bag.
While she placed the bags in one of the tents, Hud opened up the newspaper. He saw nothing of interest on the front page. He turned to the second page, and he looked pissed. "Fuck!"
Jack, Harold, and Willie rushed over to Hud and looked at the paper.
Ester walked over from the tent. "What's wrong?"
"They now have all of our names. We're no longer unknown bank robbers," said Hud.
"What do we do?" asked Jack.
"Do we quit and high tail it hide across the country? Maybe in Montana? Become mountain men?" Jack asked as he always wanted to live in the mountains.
"And mountain women," Ester added while she glanced over Hud's shoulder and looked at the article.
Hud thought about the article for a few seconds. "Let's continue. We'll just have to make sure we don't get caught. So any cop that gets to close will have an early grave. I'm not ready to quit. We need some more jobs to make sure we're set for life. It's up to you if you guys to split and hide," Hud told everybody.
Jack, Harold, and Willie thought about Hud's response for a few seconds.
"I'm with you Hud. The last few months have been an adventure. What will I do from now on? Nothing?" said Jack.
"Me too. I've never had this much fun. And besides, this is the only job I can get. You remember how it was when we got out. Don't you Hud?' Harold replied.
Willie looked at the other guys. "Aw hell, why not. I love shooting my Thompson," he said.
"How about you Ester? You want to run or tag along?"
"I'm not going back to another whorehouse. I'm staying," she replied.
"Good. We'll continue. Now, let's plan our next jewelry job. They're looking for a bank robber, not diamond thieves," Hud said.
Jack, Harold, and Willie nodded in agreement.
After a week in the woods, Hud decided they needed some excellent lodgings.
It was April 6th, 1933, and to help prevent the cops from picking them up, Ester would get a room from the Peabody Motel in a town called Union Park.
The guys would sneak in her room when it got dark and park their Chevy in a business lot nearby. It was crowded in the room, but Hud decided they can tolerate it until a more suitable and safe haven was found.
The weeks rolled on, and it was now April 18th, 1933.
Hud had picked the next jewelry heist to be in the town of Conway located north of where they were camped. The guys were itching to get out since they only stepped out of the motel room late at night to avoid being seen.
After leaving in the early morning before the sun rose, Hud and the gang headed to Conway.
They arrived there in the late afternoon and camped out in the woods until it got dark.
Darkness fell, and Hud and Jack drove the gang drove into the town of Conway.
Jack finally parked the Chevy down the street from Jackson's Jewelry Store that was in the bottom of a two-story brick building.
They got out of the car and rushed around to the back of the store.
Willie successfully unlocked the rear door to the store without a problem.
Hud, Harold, and Willie snuck into the back office of the store.
Willie found the safe located in the back room. He immediately placed his ear on the safe and started turning the combination lock. Hud tossed the potato sack on the floor by Willie
Hud and Harold walked to the door leading into the store area. They watched the windows of the area for any signs of cops from the street with their Colt 45s in hand.
Things were going really quiet.
Willie had success with the combination lock and had three numbers so far.
He got the fourth number and opened the safe. An alarm started blaring.
"Shit!" Willie called out then he started shoving diamond rings, necklaces and bracelets into the sack.
Hud and Harold got antsy while they watched the street for any signs of cops.
They did not hear footsteps coming down the stairs on the other side of the room.
"Put your hands up!" Jason Jackson, the fifty-year-old owner of the store who lived upstairs yelled.
Hud and Harold turned around and saw Jason in his pajamas at the bottom of the stairs with a 38 Special aimed in their direction.
Harold immediately fired his Colt 45 at Jason out of instinct.
Jason looked stunned when he realized he was shot. He dropped to the floor and gasped for air.
Hud rushed over to Jason and saw a bloody hole in Jason's chest.
Jason just stared up while he gasped for air.
"Let's go," Willie called out from the back office.
Hud and Harold ran into the back office and out the rear door. They left it opened.
Once they got outside, Hud, Willie with the sack in hand, and Harold ran to the Chevy.
No cops were coming yet.
They got inside the car, and Jack immediately floored it and raced off down the street.
Jack made a screeching left turn with the Chevy down another street.
It was quiet inside the car while Jack raced it down that street.
As soon as they got out of Conway and the cops were not on their tail, Jack slowed the car down and went the speed limit.
"How did it go?" Jack asked.
"We got more jewelry," Willis replied.
Harold looked a little stunned.
"Harold shot the owner of the store," Hud added.
Harold still looked stunned.
Hud looked at Harold. "He was ready to shoot you or me. So think of it as self-defense or you saved my life," he said.
Harold felt a little better.
While Jack drove the Chevy farther away from Conway, its Police Chief Jimmy Brown cautiously entered through the rear door of Jackson' Jewelry Store with his 38 Special ready to shoot.
He was the opened safe door and knew there had been a robbery. "Jason?" he called, knowing he lived upstairs.
He heard a gurgling sound coming from the store area. He knew something was wrong.
He saw Jason on his back with a bloody chest wound.
"Jason!" he called out fearful for his life.
Chief Brown knelt down by Jason's left side.
Jason glanced up at Chief Brown. "Big nose," he strained out.
"Big nose? I don't understand."
"Robber. Big nose," Jason strained out again then he had this blank stare.
Chief Brown felt Jason's neck for a pulse and knew he died. He was pissed.
Hours had passed and Hud, Jack, Harold and Willie arrived back at the motel room.
Two days had passed, and Hud and the gang read in a newspaper that that jewelry store owner had died during the robbery. The article did not identify the robbers but stated that one of them had a big nose. Hud knew it would eventually be traced back to them. But he did not care.
A few more days passed and Ester went into the town to buy some groceries and other items from the drug store.
It was an overcast day with a hint of rain in the air.
Ester was in Tony's Grocery Store with a few items for the guys. She stood behind a sixty-five-year-old man named Jesse Newman. He was a tall and lanky farmer that wore worn coveralls with a ragged shirt. Jesse was buying a loaf of bread, milk, and eggs.
Tony Tompkins was the fifty-year-old owner of the store. He looked down at Tony's items on the counter. "Do you have money, Jesse?"
"Can't I put it on my tab?" Jesse asked.
"Jesse, you already owe me twenty dollars. When are you going to pay for that?" Tony replied and sounded irritated.
"Please Tony. The bank is about to take away my farm. I just want one last meal before I'm kicked out of my home," Jesse pleaded.
Tony looked at Jesse and did not show any signs of sympathy.
"I'll pay for it, and I'll pay his tab," Ester offered.
Tony looked at Ester not sure he understood her. "You'll pay his tab and for this food?"
"Yeah."
"Why?"
"My mom and pop lost their farm. So I know what he's going through," Ester replied and sounded sincere.
"I guess this is your lucky day, Jesse," Tony replied then after Ester placed her eggs, bread, coffee on the counter, he rang up the bill.
After Tony bagged their groceries, Ester walked out of the store with Jesse.
"Thank you so much for this food young lady," Jesse told Ester.
"My name is Ester Walker."
"I'm Jesse Newman."
There were a few seconds of silence between them.
"Well, I better get walking back to the farm before it rains," Jesse told Ester then he walked away.
Ester watched him, and all of a sudden, she had an idea. "Jesse, I can give you a ride."
Jesse turned around and looked back at Ester. "I don't want to be a burden. After all, you bought me some food," he said.
"Oh no, it won't be a bother. I don't want you catching a death of a cold if it rains," she replied with a warm smile.
"I am tired from the walk down here," he said.
"Then let me drive you."
Jesse nodded in agreement, then walked back to Ester.
Ester drove Jesse in the Hudson through the streets of the town.
"This is one mighty fancy car you have. I had a twenty-three Ford pickup, but lost it when I missed two payments," said Jesse then he coughed.
"Sorry to hear that."
"Now that bank manager might take my farm away if I skip another payment. Bastard!"
Ester felt sorry for Jesse and pondered if she should make a win-win proposal. She waited.
A little while later, Ester drove Jesse to his farm located two miles outside of Union Park. Ester loved the fact that his farm was secluded.
She drove down his long dirt driveway and headed to the house.
"Thank you for the ride kind lady," Jesse said when Ester stopped the Hudson near his front porch.
"Ah, Jesse. Where are you going to go if the bank throws you out of your house?" she asked when she looked at the house and saw his barn in the back.
"Oh, I guess I can live in the woods," Jesse replied and did not look happy with that thought.
"I have a proposal that will let you keep your house for a while longer."
Jesse looked curious. "What kind of proposal? Kill the bank manager? Because that wouldn't bother me," Jesse replied.
"No," Ester replied with a chuckle. "I have four friends that desperately need a place to stay. And your farm is perfect. We can pay you good money to live here with you. We'll even buy all the groceries, and I'll do all the cooking," she said and looked sincere.
Jesse thought about her proposal for a few seconds. "My wife died four years ago. She was a great cook. I'm a terrible cook," he said while his eyes welled up thinking about his deceased wife. "I don't know what I would eat if I lived in the woods," he added then paused for a few seconds. "Okay. You and your friends can move in anytime you want."
"We'll be here tonight."
"I'll be waiting," Jesse said then opened up the passenger door. He stepped out with his grocery bang then looked back at Ester. "Thank you, pretty lady. You saved my life," Jesse said then closed the door.
Ester turned the Hudson around and drove back down the dirt driveway.
Jesse stood on the front porch and looked back at the Hudson while it drove down his driveway. "They must be bank robbers or something," he said to himself and could care less. He coughed then went inside his house with the grocery bag in hand.
A little while later, Ester drove back to the motel room.
She entered Hud's room with the grocery bag in hand.
"What the hell took you so long?" he asked from the chair.
She walked over to the counter with a smile. "I have some good news on our living situation," she said while she placed the bag on the counter.
"What's that?"
"I met this farmer that has a nice secluded farm outside town. He's about to get kicked out by the bank and will probably live in the woods. So I offered that we pay him to live there," she told him.
"Can this guy be trusted?"
"I believe so. He hates the bank manager. His wife is dead. He's just a lonely old man," she replied, then started taking out the groceries from the bag. "And he has a barn to hide the cars," she added.
Hud thought about her proposal for a few seconds. Knowing that they'll soon pin the shooting of that jewelry store owner on them, he knew this was their best option. "Go round up the guys."
Ester looked happy while she rushed out of the room.
Later that night, Hud, Ester and the gang drove over to Jesse's farm outside of town.
After they parked their cars in the barn, they went inside Jesse's farmhouse.
Jesse welcomed Hud and the gang with opened arms. He knew these guys were gangsters of some sort, but he did not care. He was lonely and was looking forward to having someone to talk with during the day. Plus the money Hud paid him would pay his mortgage and give him some savings for once in his life.
Three weeks passed, and Jesse really liked his guests and started to consider them family. He never asked about their profession, and Hud appreciated that and caused him to trust Jesse.
During this three-week time, Hud, Ester, and Jack drove back to back Springfield to sell the jewelry from the last heist. This take was estimated to be worth $30,000, and they got $15,000. Not much but still a lot of money for the little time it took to steal it.
But this time, Hud kept his share of the jewelry loot for himself in his lockbox.
Then one day, Hud slipped out in the middle of the night and went to the cemetery located in Union Park.
He walked around the gravesites with a small shovel in his right hand and a small leather satchel in his left hand. He walked around until he found a headstone that felt good. He found one.
Hud then carefully removed the topsoil from the middle of the grave for a Bernard Sanders. He placed the chunk of grass to the side. Then he dug a small hole about a foot into the ground and dropped the satchel into it. He covered up the hole and placed the grass back in place. It looked perfect.
He removed a piece of paper and a pencil from his shirt pocket. He then jotted down "Bernard Sanders, Union Park, Indiana on a piece of paper. He tucked the paper and pencil back his trousers pocket. He picked up his shovel.
Hud walked away through the cemetery. He thought this would be the perfect place to hide his jewelry stash for later use when needed in the future. He figured that nobody would ever consider looking at a gravesite for buried loot.
During the next day, Hud and the gang went out to the barn to plan their next bank job. This time it would be in the town of Abberton located in the southern part of Indiana.
"I knew you guys were bank robbers," Jesse said while he walked out of a dark area of the barn.
Hud whipped out his Colt 45 ready to kill Jesse because he figured them out.
Jesse saw Hud's Colt. "Don't worry. I figured this out from the start. I'm okay with it. I mean you're paying me good money to stay here. You saved me. Plus most of the cops I know are crooked sons of bitches. So go about your business," Jesse said they walked over to one of the barn's side doors.
He coughed while he exited the barn.
Hud put away his Colt 45 and had this gut feeling that Jesse was honest. "Okay, let's go over the plan again," he told the guys.
Two days passed, and the sun rose above the horizon. It was May 24th, 1933.
Jesse got up early and made a pot of coffee.
When the coffee was made, he did his usual routine of sitting in his rocking chair on the front porch drank his coffee and looked at the countryside.
A little while later, Ester got out of bed and made breakfast for the guys.
After breakfast, Hud, Jack, Harold, and Willie drove off to Abberton.
They arrived at the bank an hour later, and it started off without a hitch.
Then when they ran out of the bank, four Abberton cops confronted Hud, Harold and Willie cops outside in the street. And these cops looked determined not to let these bank robbers getaway.
A gunfight started outside the bank, and the residents of the town hid behind cars and whatever they could find for cover.
The four cops fired their 38 Specials at Hud, Harold, and Willie.
Jack fired his Thompson machine gun from the Chevy at the cops.
The four cops ran and hid behind their cop car.
Willie sprayed their cop car with bullets from his Thompson.
The radiator of the cop car hissed out steam.
The four cops returned fire.
Harold and Hud fired back with their Colt 45s.
One of the cops got a little too brave and stepped out from behind the cop car.
Hud immediately fired his Colt 45 at the cop hitting him in the chest.
The cop dropped to the street dead.
This caused the other cops to stop firing and check out their fallen buddy.
Hud, Harold, and Willie used this opportunity to run to the Chevy.
Jack slowly drove the Chevy down the street, firing his Thompson to give the other guys some cover.
It worked, as Hud and Harold were able to get back in the rear seat of the car.
Willie jumped on the running board and held on.
Jack floored the Chevy while Willie fired his Thompson at the remaining three cops.
One of the other cops was pissed his buddy was dead and jumped out from behind their cop car. He fired his 38 Special at the Chevy while it raced down the street.
Willie's Thompson ended that cop's life in a matter of seconds.
They gang got away again.
When they got back to Jesse's farmhouse, Hud divided up the money. This time he also gave Jesse five percent of their $42,000 loot.
Jesse was so happy to see this much money. "You guys can stay here as long as you like," he said then kissed his small portion of the loot.