Chapter 29
It was Monday morning and the start of another week of work for the majority of the folks in Gibsland.
Cindy was still in her nightgown while she placed two plates of scrambled eggs, bacon, and toast on the dining room table near two cups of coffee.
James entered the dining room in his security guards uniform. He had a spring in his step, and Cindy noticed while she sat down in front of her plate of scrambled eggs.
"You sure look chipper for a Monday morning. Normally you hate Mondays," she said then picked up her cup of coffee and took a drink.
"I know, but last night, I had a great nights sleep," James replied while he sat down in front of his plate of scrambled eggs. He picked up his coffee cup with a smile, then took a drink.
"I thought that maybe you decided to mail out one of your manuscripts to a publisher," she replied with hopeful eyes, as she always thought James was an excellent writer.
"Oh no, not yet. But I had a new adventure type of dream," he said then ate some scrambled eggs while he recalled last night.
"What was that?" she asked and looked curious then took another drink of her coffee while she waited for his story.
"Well, in my dream I was kidnapped by a gangster who forced me into his trunk while he and his partner planned to rob a bank," he replied then took another drink of his coffee.
Cindy thought about his story so far. "You could use that for one of your future stories," she said and looked serious.
James thought about her reply for a few seconds. Then he smiled at her idea. "That would work," he said then ate some eggs.
"Oh, I'm going grocery shopping in the morning," she said, then took another drink of her coffee.
"How come you're not going to work? Today is Monday," James asked a little confused.
Cindy looked a little irritated with James. "Didn't you listen to me on Saturday night?"
"Saturday night?" James replied and looked like that deer staring into headlights.
"Yes, Saturday night. I told you that since Doctor Spangler was closing down the office for Monday and Tuesday, I was going to run over to mom's house in Evansville. I thought it would be nice to spend some time with her."
James thought about what she said then he vaguely remembered something to that effect being announced on Saturday. "That would be nice," he replied.
"Anyway, do you deed anything at the grocery store?"
James thought for a few seconds. "Nope. I'm fine."
James continued to look happy while he munches down on some eggs. Then he got extra comfortable knowing Cindy would not be around while he continued to spy on Bernard.
After breakfast was over and James gave Cindy a good-bye kiss and hug for her short trip, he headed out the front door.
James walked over to his car with a spring in his step and whistled a happy tune.
His eyes widened when he remembered something important.
He rushed over to the side of the garage.
He opened up the side door and rushed into the garage.
Once he got inside the garage, he rushed over to his workbench. He reached under the bench and grabbed Steve's Science Shop shopping bag.
He rushed back to the side door of the garage and went outside.
James rushed over to the trunk of his Impala. He quietly unlocked the trunk and set the shopping bag inside. He quietly closed the trunk.
He rushed over and got behind the wheel of his Impala. He started up his car, backed down the driveway, then turned left and drove off down Montvale.
James discreetly gave Bernard's house The Finger while he drove past it. "You're days are numbered, old man."
He turned on the radio and the song I Fought The Law by the Clash started playing.
"Bernard fought the law and the law won," he sang way off-key.
He tapped his fingers on the steering wheel while he hummed to the song and made a left turn then drove down another street.
Back in Bernard's kitchen, he sat in a chair at the table in his white boxers and an athletic tee shirt. He drank his third cup of coffee while he watched Wendy in her slinky red nightgown while she fried up four eggs at the stove. He was still angry with himself.
Wendy looked over at Bernard. "Your cupboard is bare. We need to shop for some grub today."
"Okay, I also want to show you around town to plan our little job," he said, then took another drink of coffee.
Wendy placed two fried eggs each on two plates.
She walked them over to the table and sat down next to Bernard.
"You know, after all these years, I regret never marrying you. You were the only man I could trust," Wendy said while she cut up her fried eggs with her fork.
Bernard thought about her comment while he took a bite of his eggs. "I know, but I always felt it was safer for us if we went our separate ways," he replied and looked sincere.
Wendy thought about his response for a few seconds. "Yeah, I guess you're right. Less risky," she said then took a drink of her coffee.
A little while later that morning, James strutted around the lower concourse. He whistled a happy tune while all he could think about was his success from last night.
He saw a woman with a shopping bag in hand. "Good morning, ma-am," he told her.
"Good morning," the woman replied and thought that was strange as James was never this friendly before during his rounds.
James continued to strut off down the concourse still whistling his happy tune.
Back at Bernard's home, he was dressed in his suit with his Fedora hat while Wendy was dressed in a cute blue dress.
They got inside his Hudson, and he drove it out of the garage.
After the garage door was closed, Bernard drove it down the driveway.
He made a right turned at the end of the driveway and drove off down Montvale Street.
Upon the upper concourse of the mall, James sat inside Dirk's Delightful Donut Shop.
James sat alone at a table with a cup of coffee and three frosted vanilla donuts to celebrate his victory from last night.
Way across town on Crestmont Avenue, Bernard, and Wendy had his Hudson parked in a parking spot of a store that sold lamps.
He and Wendy eyed the First National Bank that was across the street.
"The place looks different from what I remembered," Wendy said.
"I believe they tore the old bank down and built this one back in fifty-five," he replied, then lit up another Camel.
"So, what's the plan?" she asked.
"First I'll steal a car that you can use while you wait for me outside the bank along the street. We'll hit it before it closes during the evening," he replied and looked so sure of himself.
Wendy nodded in agreement and never doubted any of Bernard's plans. Then her eyes lit up. "Steal me a nice one this time. Maybe something sporty like one of those Mustangs or Camaros," she added with a gleam in her eye.
"I can do that," he said then looked at her and gave her a wink that it would be a done deal.
Wendy looked forward to driving a cool car this time.
"Okay, then I'll use this to help hide my face since this bank is using those fancy new surveillance cameras," he said then reached under his front seat and removed a red checkered bandana. He placed it over his nose, mouth, and chin.
Wendy glanced over at Bernard. She chuckled. "Looks just like Billy the Kid and the old western days."
Bernard thought about her comment. "I loved reading those stories about Billy the Kid when I was a youngster. He was my hero," he said with a sparkle in his eyes. "If I were born back then, I probably would have been a loyal member of his gang," he added.
"Pals is what Billy said," Wendy added.
"Pals," Bernard said then shoved the bandana back under his seat.
Wendy glanced around the area. "Bank jobs appear to be a little more difficult these days as compared to forty years ago."
"I know, but this should be a bigger rush than the old days," he said, and the thought about robbing another bank started his heart to race with excitement.
Wendy nodded in agreement, then she remembered something. "Didn't you kill a police officer in this street during that bank robbery in thirty-four?"
Bernard thought about it for a few seconds. "I believe I did," he said and showed no remorse while he started up his car "Let's go check out our next sight of interest," he said while he backed out of the parking spot then drove off through the parking lot.
He turned left onto Crestmont Avenue then drove off down the street.
Bernard turned on his car radio, and the Duke Ellington song Cocktails for Two played on the radio.
Wendy started humming along with the song. "This is a nice station," she said then went back to her humming.
"I believe it's from Saint Louis," Bernard replied then made a right turn down Grant Avenue.
It was lunchtime at the Gibsland Mall.
James walked out of one of the entrances with a McDonald's bag in hand.
He walked through the lot with a spring in his step and headed to his parked Impala.
He walked over to his car door, opened it then tossed the bag inside.
He rushed around to his trunk, opened it, reached inside, and grabbed Steve's Science Shop shopping bag.
He left his trunk open while he rushed back and got inside his car.
While James sat behind the wheel, he looked so excited while he removed the Fingerprinting Kit box from the shopping bag. "I'll have to call Marvin immediately," he said while he opened up the box.
He reached inside and removed one of the cards with the print he lifted off the Hudson. It was smudged and no good. James dropped it back in the box and removed another one of the cards with a print he lifted. It was also smudged.
James quickly glanced at all of the cards from last night. They were all smudged and of no value.
James stared at the cards in disbelief. "I don't believe it. I don't fucking believe it!" he yelled out.
Then he got mad and started pounding his fists on the steering wheel.
A woman walked by his Impala and saw James pounding his fist on the steering wheel. She shook her head in displeasure and walked away and headed over to the mall entrance.
James sat behind his steering wheel and looked like he wanted to cry.
He grabbed the box and got out of his car, closing the door.
He walked around to the trunk, opened it then tossed the Fingerprinting Kit back in his trunk.
He slammed the trunk shut then moped back to the entrance of the mall.
Over on Grant Avenue, Bernard had his Hudson parked in the grass by the street in front of the cemetery.
Inside his car, he and Wendy eyed the cemetery and saw some of the headstones.
"I figured that we would stage the Hudson here for our getaway after the heist. Then we'll ditch the stolen car here and take off to Boone, North Carolina," he told her.
Wendy thought about it for a few seconds. "Sounds like it should go smooth. The cops will think the owner of that car is in the cemetery looking at a departed loved one," she said.
"My exact thoughts," Bernard said then he lit up another Camel. He looked at the headstones while he pondered for a few seconds. "Bruno came through, and we have some new identifications."
"How's Bruno doing these days? He must be getting way up there in age by now."
"He's going good, and he is getting up here in age. He's going retire and live down in Miami."
"A life of soaking up the sun would be nice," she replied with a smile of thinking about those days of sunning at Malibu Beach.
Bernard looked a tad worried. "There might be one small problem," he said then took a drag on his Camel.
"What's that?" she asked and looked a little concerned, as she never liked problems during a job.
"My neighbor has been snooping around a little."
"Is he a threat?"
"Not yet. I gave him a little friendly warning after I caught him rummaging through my trash the other night. I thought he was going to piss his pants when I talked to him about that," he replied, then chuckled a little when he remembered his meeting with James at the mall.
"We'll properly deal with him if the need arises," Wendy replied and would not think twice about putting some lead into James.
Bernard nodded in agreement. "Yep, just like the old days."
"Just like the old days," Wendy added while she glanced back at the cemetery.
"Let's get home, I need a little nap," Bernard said, then started up his car and yawned.
Bernard made a U-turn with his Hudson and drove off down the street.
Back at the Gibsland Mall, James moped around the concourse looking down and out.
He walked by JC Penny's where Marvin walked out in casual clothes and had a shopping bag in hand.
Marvin spotted James. "Hey there."
James looked over at Marvin and gave him a slight nod.
Marvin noticed that James looked so down and out. "What's wrong? Did you and Cindy have a fight?"
"No. Nothing like that," James replied while Marvin walked over to him.
Marvin walked James over to a bench, and they sat down.
"You're not working today?"
"I'm taking today and tomorrow off," Marvin replied.
"Oh."
"The last time I saw you this down was after that incident here at the mall where you thought that Penny's janitor was an escaped felon," said Marvin then thought about that incident. "Didn't he punch you in the face?"
"No, he swung at me, but I ducked in time," James replied and was still embarrassed by thinking about that day.
"Then what's the problem?"
James hesitated while he wondered if he should say anything else about is theory. "I really believe that my neighbor is the real Hud Hudson. I can feel it in my bones," he said.
Marvin actually felt sorry for James. "I'll tell you what, if you find something, like fingerprints or something else that could be evidence, I'll run it up to the FBI. As a precaution," he said and looked sincere.
James looked at Marvin. "Thanks."
"Good, well I gotta go. I have a hot date tonight, hence the new outfit," Marvin said while he held up his Penny's shopping bag.
Marvin stood up then gave James a little pat on his back.
He walked off, thinking nothing will come out of anything James found.
Over on Park Avenue was a Sullivan's Foods store.
Bernard and Wendy walked through the parking lot of Sullivan's Foods, and each had a bag of groceries in hand.
They walked to the rear his parked Hudson.
Wendy noticed two small black smudges on his trunk.
"You have some black smudges there," she told Bernard while she pointed at the smudges.
Bernard looked, and it took a few seconds to dawn on him.
"Grease from the other day when I changed my spark plugs. I thought I wiped them off last night, but must have missed a spot," he replied then opened the trunk of his car.
He coughed a little, so he did not notice the fingerprinting lifting tape on the trunk carpet. He placed his grocery bag on top of the tape. It was actually a perfect print.
Wendy placed her grocery bag in the trunk next to the other bag.
Bernard closed the trunk.
They walked and got inside the car.
Bernard started up his Hudson, backed out of the parking spot and drove off through the parking lot heading to Park Avenue.
Way off on Interstate 64, Cindy drove her Monza off the exit.
She then drove south on Route 44 and headed toward Evansville.
While she drove, she hummed along and danced in her seat to the Shake Your Groove Thing by Peaches and Herb that played on the radio.
"Shake your groove thing, shake your groove thing," she sang out in key with Peaches and Herb.
She was getting excited about spending some quality time with her mom. She asked Marvin to come with her, but Marvin really wanted to go on this hot date.
Back at Bernard's home, he backed his Hudson in his garage.
While he and Wendy got the groceries out of the trunk, neither of them noticed that fingerprint lifting tape that fell off the bottom of the grocery bags Bernard carried.
The tape floated back down the floor and almost landed in the same spot James' shoe picked it up from.
They carried the bags of groceries into the house.