The sun started peeking above the horizon on this Tuesday morning of June 15th, 1971. But today there was rain in the forecast for later in the day.
It was now eight in the morning.
Back at the police station, Chief Hanson was in his office drinking his third cup of coffee while reading the arrest report from the attempted rape and murder of Sheryl Watson down a Lake Willow last night.
He read the names of Kenny Woods and David Thomas that were arrested. But there was nothing strange about the David Thomas name but he wondered why did this old hippy suddenly show up in his town. Why did the escapee, run to the woods by the lake and just happen to get there at the exact time to stop Kenny Woods’s rape of Sheryl Watson? Chief Hanson couldn’t figure that out, and it nagged him.
Officers Sam Earl and Daniel Eastwood sat behind their desks drinking coffee stalling to go on their first patrols around town.
The office was quiet when Mayor John Watson entered the station. He had the police uniform shirt that Officer White gave Sheryl last night in his right hand.
“Good morning mayor,” said Officer Eastwood, and he stood up from his desk at the same time, Officer Earl stood up.
“Good morning, is the Chief in?” said Mayor Watson.
“The Chief’s inside his office,” said Officer Earl.
Mayor Watson nodded and walked off through the area and headed to Chief Hanson’s office.
“Chief Hanson,” said Mayor Watson the second he stepped into the Chief’s office.
“Good morning, Mayor,” said Chief Hanson while he stood up.
Mayor Watson walked over and placed the shirt on the Chief’s desk. “Thanks for the use of the shirt.”
“How’s Sheryl doing?”
“I just came from the hospital, she’s doing fine. They wanted to keep her there overnight, and she should be released within the hour,” said Mayor Watson while he sat down in the chair in front of the Chief’s desk.
“I’m reading the report and will send it off to Philly so we can expect to have Kenny Woods in court in a few months,” said Chief Hanson.
“Good,” said Mayor Hanson, then he paused. “Sheryl wants that old hippy David Thomas released. She said he actually saved her life,” said Mayor Watson.
“I’m not done with my investigation.”
“Sheryl said he wasn’t involved and saved her, so I believe her. That’s what your report better state,” said Mayor Watson and he looked dead serious.
Chief Hanson knew Mayor Watson was his boss, and he always obeyed his boss. “Yes sir, I’ll release him,” said Chief Hanson, and he got up from his desk and walked to the doorway.
“Sam, go release that old hippy, David Thomas, in cell two,” called out Chief Hanson.
“Yes, sir,” called out Sam from his desk in the office area.
Back in Cell Way, Darin was sound asleep in his cell.
Kenny was sound asleep in his jail cell at the end of the hallway.
Earl walked up to Darin’s cell and unlocked the door.
“Thomas, you’re free to go,” called out Officer Earl.
Darin stirred in his bunk and opened his eyes. He saw Sam standing at the open cell door.
“You’re free to go, Thomas,” said Officer Earl.
Those words were sweet music to Darin’s ears. He jumped up from his bunk and rushed over to the door.
He left the cell, and Sam escorted him down the hallway.
Mayor Watson waited at the front desk when Sam walked Darin out of the hallway.
“So, you’re the one that saved my daughter,” said Mayor Watson.
Darin looked at Mayor Watson and recalled that the last time he saw him was during high school graduation night. “Yes, sir.”
“Thank you,” said Mayor Watson, and he extended out his hand.
Darin shook his hand, and a strange feeling overcame Mayor Watson.
“Do I know you? I mean, you feel mighty familiar,” said Mayor Watson.
“No, sir, we’ve never met before,” Darin lied through his teeth.
Mayor Watson smiled and accepted Darin’s answer, but there was still a feeling in his gut that he knew this old hippy. And he was glad that he was able to get him out of jail.
“Can I give you a lift somewhere? After all, you saved my daughter’s life,” said Mayor Watson.
“Sure, I’m staying at the motor court off Marshall,” said Darin.
“Well, let’s go,” said Mayor Watson and motioned they should head outside.
Chief Hanson stood in the middle of the office area. He heard their conservation, and he still had a gut feeling there was something wrong with that old hippy.
Mayor Watson and Darin got into Watson’s 1971 Chevrolet white with white interior four-door Impala.
The Mayor started up his car and drove out of the police station turning onto Primrose.
“So, you’re David Thomas?” said Mayor Watson.
Darin glanced over at him. “Ah, yeah, I’m David Thomas.”
“What brings you to our town?”
“I wanted to check out your university. For a teaching job.”
“What do you teach?”
“History.”
Mayor Watson glanced over at Darin then he made a left turn down Marshall Avenue and headed east.
“My daughter’s boyfriend wants to teach history at the university when he gets out of college.”
“You don’t say.”
“Nice kid,” said Mayor Watson then he glanced back over at Darin. “You kinda remind me of Darin.
“I do?” said Darin playing along.
“You should meet him. He’s going to marry my daughter Sheryl after they graduate from college.”
“That’s nice,” said Darin and he silently prayed that that would come true but he was glad that Mayor Watson liked him.
Mayor Watson glanced over at Darin. His eyes lit up with an idea. “You know something? I should have you over for dinner tomorrow night. That’s the least I can do since you saved her life.”
“Ah, sure. I would love that,” said Darin but he knew that by tonight he would be back in 1995.
“Great, I’ll swing by tomorrow night at five thirty and pick you up.”
“I’ll be there,” said Darin and lied through his teeth.
Mayor Watson smiled then he turned left into the pot of the Burkeville Motor Court.
“I’m at the room at the end,” said Darin and pointed at that 1952 Bel-Air parked at the end room.
Mayor Watson drove his car and pulled into the parking slot next to that Bel-Air.
“Again, thank you so much for saving my daughter’s life,” said Mayor Watson then he extended out his hand.
“My pleasure,” said Darin while he shook Darin’s hand.
Mayor Watson watched while Darin got out of his Impala and headed off to his room. Usually, Mayor Watson didn’t like old guys that had to wear their hair long and sported a beard. But this old hippy was different.
He backed his Impala up, turned it around, and drove out of the motor court lot.
Darin went inside his room. It felt good to be out of jail.
Darin looked at the key to the Bel-Air on the small dresser. He grabbed the keys and left the room.
Once he got outside, Darin got inside the Bel-Air and started it up. He backed up and drove out of the lot.
He drove the Bel-Air west on Marshall Avenue.
Back at the police station, Chief Hanson was busy finalizing the report on Sheryl’s attempted rape and murder.
He heard the phone ringing out in the office area. “Burkeville Police Department,” said Officer Earl from the office area. There were a few seconds of silence. “You’re kidding,” said Officer Earl from the office area. “Okay, I’ll go tell the Chief,” he said, then hung up the phone.
Officer Earl walked into the Chief’s office a few seconds later. “Chief, Eddie over at Eddie’s garage down on Brightwood called. He said that some old hippy, named Sidney Koll, rented a car and the money he used looked to be counterfeit.”
Chief Hanson glanced up from his report. “Counterfeit? How did he know that?”
“Well, that old hippy used three twenty dollar bills that all had the nineteen ninety-five date on them.”
Chief Hanson looked a little baffled with what he said. “Did you say nineteen ninety-five?”
“Yes, nineteen ninety-five,” said Officer Earl. “He used it to rent a fifty-two Bel-Air and should be returning it today,” he added and thought for a few seconds, his eyes widened when he recalled something. “Did Eddie say it was Sidney Koll?”
“Yeah, Sidney Koll, why?”
“I know him, he’s the nephew of Betsy Koll a small time crook. Betsy was my mom’s best friend,” said Chief Hanson, and he didn’t like the sound of this. “I knew there was something I didn’t trust with that old hippy,” said Chief Hanson. He opened up his address book to the K section. He dialed a number on his desk phone.
“Hello,” said Betsy’s voice answering the call.
“Miss Koll, Chief Hanson here.”
“Hello, Chief Hanson.”
“I’m calling about your nephew, Sidney Koll. Is he in town visiting you?” he said.
There were a few seconds of silence. “Oh no, he’s down in Florida. In jail again, I think,” she said.
“Thank you, Miss Koll,” said Chief Hanson, and he hung up the phone.
“Let’s go check this out,” said Chief Hanson while he jumped up from his desk.
He rushed out of his office with Officer Earl.
“I need you to head over to the Burkeville Motor Court. Stake it out for that old hippy. Check with Vince Barnes and see if he used the name of Sidney Koll. We’re going over to Eddie’s Garage,” Chief Hanson told Officer Eastwood.
“What did he do? We just released him,” said Officer Eastwood.
“Eddie claims that a Sidney Koll used counterfeit money. I believe the real Sidney Koll is down in Tampa, Florida,” said Chief Hanson told Officer Eastwood.
“Sidney Koll? I know him,” said Officer Eastwood. “He was into selling pot,” he said while he got up from behind his desk.
The three rushed out of the station.
Back at Eddie’s garage, Eddie sat behind his desk and looked at the three 1995 dollar bills that Darin gave him on Thursday.
The door to his office opened. Eddie glanced up, and his eyes widened with the sight of Darin walking over to the counter.
“I brought your Bel-Air back,” said Darin while he stopped at the desk and set the key on top of it.
“I hope she ran good for you, Sidney,” said Eddie taking the key.
“She did and thank you,” said Darin.
Eddie watched while Darin turned around and headed back to the door. He waited.
The second Darin left his office. Eddie picked up the phone and called the police station. He listened while the phone rang and rang at the other end. “Answer your stupid phone,” he muttered under his breath while he could see Darin walking off toward Brightwood.
Meanwhile, Officer Eastwood arrived at the Burkeville Motor Court and headed straight into the office.
He walked to the front desk and rang the bell.
Vince Barnes walked out of his office with a cigarette dangling from his lips. “Hello, there, officer. How may I help you?”
“Do you have a guest named David Thomas?”
It took Vince a few seconds to recall the guests he had staying at his motor court. “Ah, yes, that old hippy from Florida,” he said the second he recalled.
“Where is he?”
“In his room, I guess. He should be checking out soon.”
Officer Eastwood’s eyes widened, thinking of something. “Did he use any strange money to get the room?”
“Strange money? What do you mean?”
“Money with a date in the future. Way out in the future.”
It took Vince a few seconds to catch on. “You mean counterfeit money?”
“Maybe.”
Vince opened up his cash drawer and removed the twenties. He looked at them, and his eyes soon widened then he saw the four twenties that Darin used. “The one’s he gave me have dates way out in the future. Two have nineteen ninety-four, and the other two have nineteen ninety-five dates. That sure looks like counterfeit to me,” said Vince then he handed the twenties over to Officer Eastwood.
Officer Eastwood looked the four twenties over. “Yep, he’s going around town passing out counterfeit money.
“Counterfeiter? He told me he was in town looking for a history teaching job at the university,” said Vince. His eyes widened, and he was pissed. “He bullshitted me. A fucking liar,” he said and was furious.
“Don’t worry. We’ll catch him,” said Officer Eastwood, and he rushed out of the office.
“He must be a dumb counterfeiter if he used the wrong date,” said Vince shaking his head while he watched Officer Eastwood get in his squad car and drive away.
Back at the police station, Dr. Bowman and Jimmy entered and walked up to the front desk. The office area was quiet.
“Hello, anybody here?” called out Dr. Bowman.
It was still quiet inside the station.
“David Thomas, are you here?” called out Dr. Bowman.
Dr. Bowman noticed the keys to the four cells that hung on the wall to the right of the entrance to Cell Way. He didn’t think anything of it.
They both left the station, disappointed.
Across town, Chief Hanson and Officer Earl arrived at Eddie’s Garage.
“Eddie,” called out Chief Hanson the second they stepped into the office.
After a few seconds, Eddie walked into the office from the garage wiping grease off his hands with a dirty rag. “Yeah,” he said then smiled when he saw it was Chief Hanson and Officer Earl.
He walked over to his desk, reached down and handed Chief Hanson the three twenty dollar bills.
Chief Hanson looked it over. “Yep, they’re counterfeit alright,” he said.
“He was just here and dropped off the Bel-Air he rented. He left on foot,” said Eddie then something strange dawned on him. “You know, something weird just occurred to me.”
“What’s that?” said Chief Hanson.
“Well, he stated he’s Betsy Koll’s nephew. If that’s true, why didn’t she come over and pick him up?”
Chief Hanson thought about his comment for a few seconds. “He’s a lair,” he said. “Which way did he go?” he said while he shoved the bills into his shirt pocket.
“He headed off north on Brightwood.”
Chief Hanson and Officer Earl rushed out of the office.
Eddie walked to his windows and watched while Chief Hanson and Officer Earl hopped in the squad car, screeched away, and made a screeching turn onto Brightwood Avenue with its bubble gum light flashing.
Darin was still walking north on Brightwood and was two streets south of Marshall Avenue.
The sound of screeching tires behind him got him curious, and he turned around. “This doesn’t look good,” he said the second he saw Chief Hanson and Officer Earl jump out of the squad car with their revolvers in hand.
“I didn’t do anything wrong,” said Darin while the two rushed over to him.
“Oh yes, you did Sidney Koll, or David Thomas, or whoever the fuck you are. You’ve been going around town passing out counterfeit dollars,” said Officer Hanson while he removed those three twenty dollar bills from his shirt pocket.
It took a few seconds, but it finally dawned on Darin that he screwed up with bringing those bills from 1995. “Shit,” he said and knew he couldn’t get out of this one. He placed his hands behind his back as he knew the routine all too well.
Officer Earl handcuffed Darin then placed him in the back of the squad car.
Chief Hanson raced off down Brightwood then made a screeching left turn and headed west on Marshall.
Ten minutes had passed, and Darin was back in cell number two.
“I see you also can’t leave this place,” called out Kenny from his cell.
“Fuck you,” said Darin and he sat down on the bunk and pondered how was he going to get out of his mess.
Fifteen minutes had passed, and Officer Eastwood answered the call on his car radio, and he drove over and picked Betsy Koll up at her home.
“Am I being arrested? I don’t recall doing anything wrong,” said Betsy from the passenger seat of the squad car while Officer Eastwood backed down her driveway.
“No ma-am. We need your help with a case,” he said while he placed the car in drive and drove down the street.
“Oh, I love helping the police,” said Betsy.
It was quiet during the rest of the drive to the police station.
Chief Hanson walked Betsy into the hallway with the jail cells.
He walked her up to cell number two. “Is this you, nephew?” said Chief Hanson while he pointed at Darin sitting on his bunk.
Betsy took a good look at Darin. She looked at Chief Hanson then back at Darin. “Oh no, that’s not Sidney. He’s down in Florida. In jail I think,” she said while she looked at Chief Hanson. She looked back at Darin. “I know him. That’s Darin Archer. The kid that lives next to me,” she said.
“Are you sure he’s not your nephew?” said Chief Hanson.
Betsy looked again at Darin. “He’s not Sidney. He’s Darin Archer,” she said and looked confident.
“Thank you, Misses Koll,” said Chief Hanson and walked her out of the hallway.
“Take her home,” he told Officer Eastwood.
Officer Eastwood escorted Betsy out of the station.
Chief Hanson glanced back at the hallway at the cell doors. “Who the fuck is this old hippy?” he said under his breath and knew there was something weird with this old hippy.
Chief Hanson walked through the office area and headed back into his office.
Five minutes passed, and Vince Barnes and Eddie Brown showed up at the station.
Chief Hanson escorted them into Cell Way and up to Darin’s cell.
“Is this the guy that claimed to be Sidney Koll?” Chief Hanson asked Eddie.
Eddie looked at Darin sitting on the cell bunk. “Yep, that’s him.”
“Is this the guy that claimed to be David Thomas?” Chief Hanson asked Vince.
Vince looked at Darin sitting on the cell bunk. “Yep, that’s him, alright.”
“Thank you, gentlemen,” said Chief Hanson, and he escorted them out of the hallway.
Darin placed his hands in his face and felt like crying. He really screwed up and knew he would be spending many years in prison and again won’t have a grand life with Sheryl. His plan backfired disastrously.
After Chief Hanson escorted Vince and Eddie out of the station, he went back to his office and sat down behind his desk. He picked up that report on Sheryl and wondered why did this old hippy suddenly appear in Burkeville, and just happened to save her life. He knew he had to get to the bottom of his strange event, and it was Betsy that made him curious.
“Earl,” he called out.
Officer Earl rushed into the Chief’s office.
“I want Henry Archer here at the station, as soon as he gets off work,” said Chief Hanson.
“Yes sir,” said Officer Earl, and he turned around and headed back to his desk.
Back at the university, Dr. Bowman’s desk phone rang while he graded test papers at his desk.
“Doctor Bowman,” he said, answering the call.
“It’s me, Jimmy. Did you hear the news last night?”
“No, what news?”
“The Mayor’s daughter, Sheryl, was attacked down in the woods down by the lake last night. Darin pretending to be David Thomas broke out of the police station, raced to the lake and arrived just in time to save Sheryl from being raped and possibly murdered. The kicker is that one of Darin Archer’s friend was the attacker,” said Jimmy over the phone.
Dr. Bowman thought about what Jimmy told him for a few seconds. His eyes widened when it finally dawned on him. “That’s why he came back. He wanted to safe Sheryl Hanson’s life.”
“That’s what I was thinking,” Jimmy said from the phone. “But now he’s back in jail,” he added.
“For what?”
“Spreading counterfeit money around town.”
Dr. Bowman thought about Jimmy’s comment. “He didn’t do a good job thinking this time travel out. He used his future money.”
“Yep. What can we do?”
“Maybe we should still bail him out,” said Dr. Bowman.
“We could. But what happens when he doesn’t show up for his court case. Won’t they come after us?”
Dr. Bowman thought about that for a few seconds. “They would, and I don’t know how we could explain that.”
“We couldn’t,” said Jimmy
“But we need to find a way to get him back to the future,” said Dr. Bowman.
“I know,” said Jimmy. “I’ll get back with you if I come up with any ideas.”
“As well, I,” said Dr. Bowman, and he hung up his phone. Dr. Bowman sat at his desk, and he pondered how he could get Darin out of jail.