Going Back

by Gene P. Abel

  “Get him before he gets away,” Agent Hessman ordered. “Whatever it takes.”

  “I’ll lead,” Lieutenant Phelps said, pushing past her. “A black woman chasing someone in‍—‍”

  “Okay, I get it,” she snapped. “Just go.”

  With the lieutenant now in the lead, they bulldozed through the crowd, everyone else riding his wake. A passing bus and two taxis slowed them down, but they came as quickly as they could to the alley, where a lack of foot traffic allowed Agent Harris to break into a run past the lieutenant. She did not, however, have to run long. When she stopped abruptly before a large mound on the ground, Professor Stein held Claire back before remembering that she was probably better around bodies than he was.

  Agent Hessman jogged up to join Agent Harris, while Lieutenant Phelps stayed at the rear to guard against anyone else coming into the alley. The rest gathered round to see what had stopped her, and though they already had their suspicions, there was still something to surprise them.

  “Two bodies,” Agent Hessman noted. “Who’s the other one?”

  Agent Harris bent down to turn over the first one. It was indeed Eiji, a hole in his forehead being all the autopsy that was needed. When she turned over the body next to him, she gave a startled look of recognition.

  “The German? Lou, this is the same guy we tried to chase down before.”

  “And that brings up a very good question,” Agent Hessman said. “Who would want to kill both teams?”

  Two men with matching holes in their heads, one Japanese and the other German. A puzzle indeed.

  20

  Another Body, Another Puzzle

  Captain Beck and Dr. Weiss stayed out of the way as Agent Hessman knelt down to examine the two bodies. Lieutenant Phelps stayed to his post at the entry into the alley, while the only reason Professor Stein was near the body was that he couldn’t pull a curious Claire away from it. Agent Hessman pulled out a pocketknife and started digging for the bullets, an act that actually got Claire to flinch a bit.

  “Okay, so maybe this part I don’t need to see,” she said. She averted her gaze while he went to work, operating first on Eiji’s body then the German’s.

  “Okay, messy part’s over with,” he soon announced.

  Claire went back to standing over the scene, her eyes absorbing every detail she could, while Professor Stein was ready to pull her away from anything she shouldn’t be seeing.

  “They both look like the same type of bullet,” Agent Hessman noted. “Sue, what do you make of these?”

  Agent Harris carefully took them both in hand and looked them over, mulling to herself some of the details. “Same type of ammo all right, and from the looks of it, same gun. The problem is . . .” She paused, looking back to Claire without saying a word.

  “Okay, I know my cue,” Claire said with a roll of her eyes. “Just let me know when there’s something I’m allowed to hear.” She turned away but grabbed hold of Professor Stein’s hand in the process and jerked him along with her.

  Agent Harris waited until they were far enough away before continuing. “The problem is that these bullets came from a forty-caliber Smith & Wesson.”

  “Which means what, exactly?” Agent Hessman asked.

  “Smith & Wesson didn’t start manufacturing this bullet until 1989. These two men were killed with a modern weapon.”

  “Hmm . . . so we have someone working against both the Japanese and the Germans that brought back with him a piece of modern weaponry. One wonders what other types of artillery this unknown assailant brought back.”

  “Sir,” she said, “this complicates our problems considerably. For instance, if they’re after President Wilson‍—‍”

  “Then who needs to get near him when you can just use some plastic explosive or rocket rifle or something,” he said, completing the thought. “But who would be working against both Japan and Germany?”

  “And us, I might add. They haven’t shot at us yet, but since no one’s come forward announcing themselves as allies‍—‍”

  “Then we have to assume the worst. But there are only three installations running: us, Japan, and Germany. There is no one left it could be.”

  “Well, it’s gotta be someone.”

  Agent Hessman thought for a moment, then, taking the pair of bullets back from Agent Harris, carefully placed one on top of the exact center of each body’s chest. “A message for our counterparts back in the present,” he told her. “This should kick-start their own investigations on their ends. Now make sure that Miss Hill’s back is turned while I search for their beacons.”

  Agent Harris jumped to her feet and quickly stepped over to where Professor Stein was keeping Claire busy by evading her small talk, which consisted mainly of trying to find out more about his personal history.

  “Exactly what sort of a consultant are you, anyway?” she was asking. “What’s your field?”

  “History,” he replied innocently. “I like studying the past.”

  “Interesting for a mission like this to have a history consultant on board. What period of history do you specialize in?”

  For a moment he simply looked at her, catching a glint of cunning behind her pretty blue eyes. He’d not thought that the answer he gave could lead to such a suddenly uncomfortable position. “Uh . . . modern history,” he ventured.

  Fortunately, that was when Agent Harris came stepping over. She briskly grabbed Claire’s shoulders to spin her around while talking in a level tone. “Why look, such an interesting pattern on this alley wall. What do you think it might be?”

  “Oh, come on,” Claire said. “There is nothing here to see. Now what is it you don’t want me to see this time?”

  “Just thought you’d want a good view of that wall there,” Agent Harris stated flatly. “Now why don’t you just keep looking at it for a bit longer.”

  “Claire, trust me,” Professor Stein urged her. “For the security of this nation‍—for your own sanity‍—you do not want to look back.”

  “Yes, sir,” Agent Harris said, with a firm hand still on Claire’s shoulder. “Really interesting wall there. None better.”

  While Claire rolled her eyes at how she was being treated, Agent Harris kept an eye on Agent Hessman as he pulled out the beacons for each of the bodies, placed them on their respective chests, and activated them. Moments later the task was done.

  “Okay, enough of that,” Agent Harris said, pulling Claire back and releasing her. “It’s only a wall.”

  As she spun around, Claire looked ready to voice any of several comments, but then saw where Agent Hessman was now standing and what he was not standing over. “The bodies‍—where’d they go? And if you say, ‘What bodies?’ I swear I’m going to go all unladylike on you. They were there a few seconds ago.”

  “And now they’re not,” Agent Hessman said simply as he walked over. “Sue, we need to track where this guy went. He can’t be that far ahead of us.”

  “On it.” She started by standing directly where the bodies had been found, then looked around, scanning the ground, the alley walls, and the rooftops above.

  “Do you think she can actually do it?” Claire asked.

  “This is the sort of thing she trained for,” Agent Hessman replied.

  “Even in a city this size?”

  “I’m wondering that myself,” Professor Stein added. “Our only leads just got murdered.”

  “Just wait for it,” Agent Hessman assured them. “She’s already realized that whoever it was didn’t leave by way of our end of the alley or risk being seen by us, which leaves only one direction unless he was on a rooftop somewhere.”

  “He’d have to be a pretty good shot,” Claire said, looking up the side of the left-hand building.

  Neither man said a thing. Meanwhile, Agent Harris had decided to continue down the alley,
at which point Agent Hessman motioned to Captain Beck and the others to join in following her. When she came to the far end of the alley, Agent Harris stopped. The alley came out into another busy street. She saw something down at one end that filled her with a new sense of confidence. When the rest joined her, she indicated the direction with a gesture of her arm. “He went that way.”

  “I’m curious as to how you arrived at that conclusion what with so many directions to choose from and all the traffic in the way,” Dr. Weiss remarked. “Might I ask how you did so?”

  She merely indicated a sign with an arrow pointing down the street. “I can’t think of a better place where the killer would choose to hide,” she replied.

  “Good job,” Agent Hessman told her. “Let’s get going before he gets much farther ahead of us.”

  When the others saw the sign that Agent Harris had found, no dissenting voice questioned her judgment as to its being the perfect place for a runner to hide. For the sign read, “Coney Island.”

  21

  Coney Island

  Coney Island isn’t all just one big amusement park and resort community, but it could seem that way, even in the year 1919, especially for the many families visiting its attractions every day. Or if you were trying to puzzle out where a criminal might hide. The fact that most of the crowd gathered in the amusement area acted like a beacon to Agent Harris as she led the way across the bridge and onto the island.

  “Claire,” she asked the reporter, “of all the places on Coney Island, which one receives the most visitors? Has the most attractions?”

  “Oh, that’s easy,” Claire replied. “Steeplechase Park. But there’s also the Coney Island beach, a couple of smaller parks based around some carousels, a couple of coasters . . . but Steeplechase would be the most crowded. There’s the Pavilion of Fun, the parachute drop, the outdoor pool, the horse race‍—‍”

  “I didn’t know they had horses on Coney Island,” Professor Stein interjected.

  “Silly.” Claire smiled back. “Wooden horses on metal tracks. You ride them, kind of like a coaster. At any rate, there’d be any number of places that one could hide. Too many to count.”

  “Then that’s where we head to,” Agent Harris decided.

  “Agreed,” Agent Hessman stated. “Miss Hill, you’re far more familiar with this territory than any of us; lead on.”

  Through the surging crowd she led them, Agent Harris a step behind to make sure Claire didn’t get too far ahead of anyone else, though the reporter seemed willing to keep to whatever pace Professor Stein decided to set. This earned a look between Agents Hessman and Harris but nothing more said. They saw the rides in the nearing distance, joyful crowds pushing along from one attraction to another, and any number of visual treats to greet them as they entered the park with the flow of bodies.

  “I’ll admit,” Dr. Weiss said aside to Lieutenant Phelps, “even in 1919 this place is pretty spectacular.”

  “I just keep my mind on business,” the lieutenant replied. “You should do the same.”

  “Oh, of course, but that’s no reason why we can’t‍—what’s that over there?”

  While Dr. Weiss scurried over to investigate a nearby booth, Agents Harris and Hessman conversed in low tones. “Just wish we could do some sort of facial-recognition scan through these crowds,” Agent Hessman said. “I have pictures of all potential Japanese and German team members.”

  “I’ve seen the list,” Agent Harris replied. “And made a point of memorizing the pictures just in case . . . Over there, eleven o’clock. The guy in the blue fedora. I need a confirmation.”

  Discreetly Agent Hessman pulled out his small pocket computer, Harris using her body to shield it from view as he scrolled through the stored pictures for a visual comparison. In only a few moments he gave a confirmation. “One of the Germans,” he stated. “Let’s keep this discreet. He may not have spotted us yet.”

  They quickened their pace, and when the rest saw them do so, they likewise walked a bit faster. Seeing everyone starting to move off, Dr. Weiss jogged back over to rejoin them, a half-eaten hotdog in one hand. He came up to the other side of Professor Stein with a big grin on his face. “I just got a hotdog.” He beamed.

  “Not into them much myself,” Professor Stein shrugged.

  “A Nathan’s hotdog,” Dr. Weiss continued.

  “I still don’t—”

  “From Nathan.”

  Professor Stein was about to verbally brush him off again, but then caught the meaning of what Weiss had said. He shot a glance over to the booth from where his friend had just come, and returned a wide-eyed look to Dr. Weiss. Dr. Weiss simply nodded and smiled in response, and took another bite of his hotdog.

  “I don’t understand what the fuss is,” Claire remarked.

  “You’d have to be there,” Professor Stein answered. “Which I guess we are.”

  Harris and Hessman led them through tightly packed crowds, moving more rapidly across an open patch to catch up with the German. Suddenly Agent Harris led them into an abrupt change of course, cursing under her breath.

  “What is it?” Agent Hessman asked as he, too, increased his pace.

  “The guy spotted us. And he’s only one person making his way through this mess, while we’re seven.”

  Seeing what Agent Harris was doing, Lieutenant Phelps ushered the others along more rapidly, sometimes with a look and other times with a hard palm to the shoulder if necessary. First Agent Harris led them through thickening crowds, struggling to keep the German within sight. But the task was not easy, considering the crowd and the general bedlam of the area. Twice they almost got caught in a line for one of the Ferris wheels, once nearly pushed in the direction of the Steeplechase horse ride, and were nearly to the beach itself when Agent Hessman pulled them all aside.

  “All eyes alert,” he said to the rest. “Sue, where’d he go?”

  Agent Harris gave another look around and admitted defeat. “Lost him. Too many faces around here.”

  “What we need is a better vantage point,” Agent Hessman decided. He scanned his surroundings, and as his gaze alighted on one of the rides, he grinned. “Sue, think a Ferris wheel would do the trick?”

  Agent Harris looked over to where he was indicating then answered with a nod. “That should do the trick, all right.”

  “Then it’s you and Ben topside on that thing while the rest of us stay down here. David, on perimeter; Sam and Robert, stay close; Claire‍—‍”

  “First, that’s the Wonder Wheel,” she explained, “and second, I’m going up there too. If Mister University Professor can go up in that thing, then I can too. Besides, I know the layout of this place better than you guys do. I might be able to spot something.”

  “Okay, no time for argument,” Agent Hessman decided. “Sue, Ben, and Claire, get up on that thing. The rest of us will wait around the base.”

  “If we spot anything, we’ll wave our arms or something,” Professor Stein said.

  “No, that might alert the other guys,” Agent Hessman replied. “We’ll keep an eye on you, just nothing too overt. Sue, just pay for the tickets like anyone else; nothing to attract attention.”

  “Barging up a Ferris wheel gets tricky anyway,” she replied.

  “You know this from personal experience?” Claire asked.

  Agent Harris said nothing, just motioned to the pair. “Okay, come on you two.”

  While they got into the ticket line, Lieutenant Phelps kept an eye on their perimeter as the others stayed to one section of the observation railing, pretending to ooh and ahh along with the other spectators. When it came their turn, Agent Harris stuffed a couple of coins into the attendant’s hand, then, in response to the puzzled look he gave her and the other two passengers, spat out a quick explanation. “Takes his maid with him everywhere.”

  Then, stepping in after
her, Professor Stein added, “Hard to find good help, you know.”

  The three were waved on while a confused attendant promptly shook his head and continued on about his job.

  “Well,” Claire said once they were secured and slowly rotated up one position, “nice of you to take on the position of maid for the mission.”

  “Who says I was talking about me?” Agent Harris replied. “I was referring to you. Not my fault the guy didn’t inquire any further.”

  “Me as the maid? But that would mean that you and Ben have the roles of‍—how would that even work? No one would believe that‍—no, there’s just something not quite right about that.”

  Agent Harris grinned.

  “I think you broke her,” Professor Stein remarked.

  “No, you just caught me by surprise,” Claire replied. “I’d never considered‍—are you?”

  As the ride lifted up another position, Agent Harris couldn’t help but chuckle.

  “She’s just joking, Claire,” Professor Stein told her. “It’s as I said before: I don’t have anyone. No matter what her race.”

  “Yes, I . . . sorry, I thought I was open-minded and liberated, but you caught me short with that one.”

  “Simply typical of the time period,” Professor Stein said with an eye to Agent Harris.

  “Enough fun and games,” Agent Harris said after a moment. “Keep your eyes peeled. We were after a German, but that doesn’t mean the Japanese aren’t someplace around here as well.”

  By degrees their bench made it to the top as the ride filled in, pausing long enough for a good look around, but also long enough for a recovered Claire to corner Professor Stein with a few more questions. “Since you can’t run out on me now, how about you tell me which university you teach out of. I might have some contacts there I could check up on you through. Unless of course you’re afraid I might discover something unusual.”