Sabotage in the Secret City

by Diane Fanning

  ‘And she churns her own butter, too. She’s a marvel. But the farm women in my family work so hard day after day. I’m sure glad I married a city man. I doubt I’d have the energy to be a farm wife. But then I heard about you running this place when you were just a kid. I don’t know how you managed.’

  ‘I don’t know either. And I couldn’t imagine spending the rest of my life tied to the countryside, tending livestock and crops and making jelly.’

  ‘Not me either. When my husband enlisted, I got a job at the Radford Ammunition Plant. It keeps me busy all day and gives me less time to worry about Sonny.’

  ‘Is he overseas?’

  ‘Yes, darn it. He saw some fighting in France and when that war was over, I thought he’d be coming home. He did for a short leave but then he got orders to ship out to the Pacific. I’m getting mighty tired of spending every day wondering if he got his head blown off,’ she said, punctuating her remarks with a sigh. ‘You do war work, too, I hear.’

  ‘Yes, I do. But I’m not allowed to talk about it. In fact, I’m not supposed to let anyone know where I am. My aunt figured out my general location thanks to her connections, but she doesn’t know exactly.’

  ‘That must be hard. My big sister Justine would throw a fit if she didn’t know where I was. Even if I was sent to a secret place, she wouldn’t give me a moment’s peace until I let her know.’

  FORTY

  I was amazed at the turnout for my mother’s funeral. It seemed as if every farm family in the county was represented in the audience. Many stepped up to say a few words about her, mostly anecdotes that dated back before my father’s death. Although more than a few mentioned my father, not one person mentioned Annabelle’s second husband, Ernest Floyd.

  Then, Ernie stood up at the podium with a sheaf of papers in his hand. ‘To me, my mother was the best mother that ever walked the earth. I know this is not true for my sister, Libby. She would have been if not for my father, a despicable human being who deserved to die.

  ‘Yes, he died at my mother’s hand. But my mother took his life to protect mine. Some say it was not extraordinary, any mother would protect their child. It was, however, an act of incredible courage for her. For years, that man oppressed my mother, oppressed my sister and ran the farm into the ground. He tried to oppress me, too. When he went too far, my mother stood up to him and refused to be bullied any longer.

  ‘I ask you all to keep a close eye on the women in your lives: your mothers, your sisters, your daughters, your neighbors. If you see them under the thumb of an angry man, speak up and act before it’s too late. Don’t let another woman be forced to go to the extremes my mother did.

  ‘I love my mother. And I miss her. I am just grateful that there still are three strong women in my life who I know will be there for me for as long as they live. My Aunt Dorothy, my sister Libby and my foster mother, Justine Early. Thank you.’

  Ernie bowed his head, gathered his notes and looked down at the floor as he returned to his seat. The chapel was hushed – not a whisper, not a rustle, not a cough. A moment later, it erupted. Everyone jumped to their feet and applauded. I was impressed and shocked speechless by my little brother’s performance. I sat down beside him and wrapped an arm around his shoulders. He turned, looked at me and burst into tears.

  I stood next to Ernie in the receiving line at the back of the church. Listening to the comments from the attendees, I could tell the community would rally around Ernie once he was old enough to run the farm on his own. He was anxious to do just that but I hoped he would see the value in furthering his education. Virginia Polytechnic Institute had an excellent agricultural curriculum that would serve him well in the future. I made a mental note to talk to Justine and Aunt Dorothy about that before I went back to Tennessee.

  Saying goodbye, the next morning, was difficult. Aunt Dorothy and Justine were emotional but nothing topped Ernie.

  ‘Please, please, don’t go, Libby. If you stay, I’ll give you my share of the farm as long as you’ll let me help you work it.’

  ‘Ernie, I’m sorry I have to go and I wish I could say that I want to stay and run the farm, but it’s just not where my heart is. Yours is here and I understand that and think it’s wonderful. I hope you will try to accept that it is different for me,’ I said.

  ‘It’s not fair,’ Ernie said.

  ‘I really don’t know what fair has to do with it,’ I said, ‘but I will make you a promise. I will apply for a visitor’s permit for you to come and visit me when school is out for the summer.’

  ‘Really? That’s a gas. I don’t understand why I have to get a permit to go to your house. I’m your brother.’

  ‘It’s war time, Ernie, and I’m in a secret facility where things like that are necessary.’

  ‘Are you a spy?’

  ‘No, Ernie, I am not. I am a scientist.’

  ‘So why is that a secret? What do you do?’

  ‘After the war, I’ll explain it all to you. But right now, I’m not allowed to tell anyone.’

  He gave me a sidelong glance as if he thought I were making it all up. ‘Well, whatever you say. Just let me know as soon as you get permission, okay.’

  I assured him I would and gave him a kiss on the cheek which made him blush and squirm. I waved as I boarded the train. Alone, I brooded about what might have happened at Oak Ridge while I was gone.

  The dining car was nearly full when I arrived. I was seated at the last empty table. After I ordered, the waiter approached and asked if a gentleman could join me. I agreed, hoping conversation with a stranger would pull me away from anxious thoughts.

  He was of average height for a man but his intensely blue eyes with long dark lashes were hypnotic. As he slid into the seat opposite me, he asked, ‘Are you sure you don’t mind me sitting here. I can wait if you do mind.’

  ‘No, please, have a seat.’

  After he ordered, he asked, ‘Are you headed for Knoxville, too?’

  ‘Yes, I am. Do you live there?’

  ‘I live everywhere. I’m a traveling salesperson. Do you work at the city behind the fence?’

  ‘Why do you ask?’

  ‘Just curious. Do you?’

  Was that just a lucky guess because of my lack of a Tennessee accent? Or was this the same man who spoke to Tom? Unless I admitted to the truth, I could never find out. ‘Yes, I do.’

  ‘I thought you people weren’t allowed to leave the area.’

  ‘We don’t do it very often because of the work demands but they do make exceptions.’

  ‘What was yours?’

  ‘The death of my mother.’ I looked away from him and out on the passing landscape, not interested in continuing the conversation or gazing into his penetrating eyes.

  He muttered his condolences – for what they were worth – and then said, ‘What do you do there?’

  ‘I am a scientist.’

  ‘Really. I doubt that there are many lady scientists there.’

  ‘I don’t know another one but I wouldn’t necessarily be aware of anyone working outside of my immediate area.’

  ‘What kind of science work do you do?’

  ‘I am not at liberty to discuss that.’

  ‘I think I have a general idea of your work and I hope you are as concerned as I am that the decision to implement its use is now in Truman’s hands.’

  That confirmed it for me. He was either the same man or one working from the same agenda. ‘What’s wrong with the president?’

  ‘You have to ask? Roosevelt didn’t trust him. He told him nothing about what you are doing at your installation. Truman will feel he has to prove himself and what better way than by dropping the biggest bomb ever created on a bunch of yellow savages. Because of that, people in your position have a moral obligation to prevent another human disaster in the East by slowing down production.’

  I pushed my plate to the side, replaced it with my elbow and leaned my chin into the palm of my hand. ‘Tell me, who do you work fo
r?’

  ‘The Acme Button and Sewing Notions Company.’

  ‘Who doesn’t need a few buttons? Why don’t you show me your wares?’

  ‘Sorry,’ he grinned. ‘All in my checked baggage.’

  ‘Who do you really work for?’

  ‘Excuse me?’

  ‘Are you a Soviet agent? Or are you working for the Japanese?’

  He laughed hard, slapping the tabletop. ‘You crack me up.’

  ‘I do not see any humor in my question, sir.’

  ‘You’re serious? You’ve flipped your wig,’ he said as he stood and hurried out of the car and through the passageway.

  Was I delusional or was he exactly what I thought? I closed my eyes to cement the memory of his appearance and the sound of his voice in my mind. I would report him to Crenshaw. Something sinister was afoot or I should say something sinister was riding the rails.

  Happiness and gratitude filled me when we pulled into the station and I saw Teddy standing on the platform waving for all he was worth. With him here, I wouldn’t have to worry about that unpleasant man confronting me again when I disembarked.

  Teddy threw his arms around me the second I was close enough. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw that man stepping down onto the platform. ‘Wait, Teddy. Look. Look at that man in the gray suit who just got off the train.’

  ‘What about him?’

  ‘Just get a good look. You want to remember what he looks like.’

  Teddy’s eyes followed the other man until he disappeared into the station. ‘Okay. Now why?’

  ‘Let’s get my suitcase and I’ll explain in the car.’

  I was anxious to find out if he and Dennis had seen Tom while I was gone but needed to answer Teddy’s questions first. I described the encounter and explained how it closely resembled Tom’s experience. Then, I asked, ‘Have you seen Tom?’

  ‘Phew! Yes, we did. It didn’t go well.’

  ‘Why what happened?’

  ‘It’s a long story.’

  ‘Tell me.’

  FORTY-ONE

  According to Teddy, in my absence he and Dennis had got along far better than anyone aware of their recent conflict would have believed possible. They shared an innate curiosity about the world around them and spent most of their first evening together speculating about the inevitable scientific and technological breakthroughs they anticipated once the energy to win the war was channeled into peace time endeavors.

  Cleaning up the dishes from their bachelor supper soon turned to horseplay with swats of the dish rag and towel turning both of them wet. It ended when they both slid to the floor, doubled over with laughter. They cleaned up the puddles on the counter and floor before settling down in the living room to listen to the news. They’d almost forgotten all about Tom when he burst through the door. He bounced back and forth on his feet, looking from Teddy to Dennis and back again. His eyes were in constant motion. He jerked his hand through his hair again and again with no noticeable result. ‘You got any leftovers from dinner?’ he asked.

  Dennis exchanged a troubled glance with Teddy before saying, ‘We just made grilled cheese and tomato soup. We’ve got enough bread and cheese and another can of soup if you want me to fix that for you.’

  ‘Yeah, do it,’ he said in a tone that reminded Dennis of that sour adolescent phase he witnessed his little brother going through a few years ago.

  Dennis went into the kitchen and pulled out the supplies and materials he needed. He wasn’t certain if Tom had regressed or was exhibiting symptoms of serious psychiatric illness. Placating those with mental breakdowns didn’t seem much different than manipulating around an adolescent’s bad attitude. With that realization, he treated Tom just as he had his sibling, knowing catering to it often worked better than agitating in hopes of altering his current state of mind.

  Tom stepped toward the sofa and bent his knees as if he were about to sit down, then shot straight up. ‘Where is the girl?’

  ‘Girl? What girl?’ Teddy asked.

  ‘What girl? Are you pulling my leg? That girl you staked your claim to? Where is she?’

  ‘I have made a commitment to a woman named Libby Clark, not a nameless girl,’ Teddy said.

  ‘Girl, woman, what’s the difference? Where is she?’

  ‘She’s not here.’

  ‘You sure?’ Tom said as he rushed around the corner to check the bedroom and bathroom. ‘Then what are you doing here?’

  Dennis stepped into the doorway of the kitchen. ‘Come on, Tom. Settle down. Go sit at the table. Your food is almost ready.’

  Tom stepped toward Dennis and said, ‘What are you doing here?’

  ‘Libby asked us to keep an eye on her cat and look out for you while she was out of town,’ Dennis said.

  ‘Out of town? She abandoned me? She said she’d help me and she just ran off.’

  Teddy walked up behind Tom and placed a hand on his shoulder. Tom jerked sideways and put up his fists.

  ‘Easy, Tom,’ Dennis said. ‘Libby had to go to her mother’s funeral …’

  ‘She abandoned me,’ Tom wailed, his arms falling useless to his sides.

  ‘No, Tom. She and I spoke with Crenshaw before she left.’

  ‘What did he say?’

  ‘Go sit down. I’ve got to go take care of your grilled cheese before it burns. I’ll tell you everything.’

  Tom backed up, his eyes jumping from one man to the other as if he couldn’t trust either one of them for a moment. He sat in the chair sideways, his eyes moved as if following a game of tennis.

  Dennis set the plate and bowl in front of Tom who gobbled half of the sandwich in three manic bites. To wash it down, he picked up the soup with both hands and slurped from the rim. Teddy and Dennis looked at each other, both shocked by the further loss of Tom’s table manners.

  ‘Okay, spill it, Dennis. What did Crenshaw say?’ Tom ordered.

  ‘Libby gave him a list of demands about housing, daily visitation and meals as well as lowering the charges against you down to manslaughter. Crenshaw said he would agree to keep you here for the duration and you would be allowed some visitors, but he wouldn’t commit to how often nor would he agree to anything about your meals or his willingness to influence the criminal charges until he had talked with you.’

  Tom jerked to his feet. ‘Blow it out your barracks bag! Libby would never let Crenshaw get away with that. You got rid of her so that you two could make me your fall guy. You guys have had it in for me for a long time.’

  ‘Tom,’ Teddy said, ‘you know that’s not true. We can only make you a fall guy if one of us sabotaged that train and we all know that didn’t happen.’

  ‘And if you don’t believe us,’ Dennis added, ‘we’re expecting Libby to return Friday evening. You can ask her yourself when she gets back. She thinks you should still turn yourself in to the authorities. We can get her to go to General Groves if Crenshaw doesn’t keep his word.’

  Tom snagged the other half of his sandwich in one hand and pulled open the door with the other. ‘Tell Libby, thanks for nothing.’ He stepped outside, slamming the door behind him.

  ‘Should we …’ Teddy began.

  ‘No, Teddy, just let him go,’ Dennis answered.

  FORTY-TWO

  ‘That doesn’t even sound like Tom,’ I said.

  ‘Dennis and I were rattled, too, when he left. Yes, Tom has anger issues and resentments against women in the workplace but that night was excessive even for him.’

  ‘And he’s usually so logical – maybe in a negative way, a lot of times, but still he used to think things through. I can’t believe his “fall guy” accusation. It makes no sense at all.’

  The conversation ended as they went through security at the gate. After that, they drove in silence until Teddy pulled up in front of Libby’s flat-top. ‘I’ll carry your suitcase inside,’ he offered.

  ‘Thanks. I’m really exhausted from this trip and want to take a shower and go to bed soon. But I’ll be ma
king a cup of tea first, would you like to join me?’

  ‘Sure,’ Teddy said, opening the door for Libby before stepping inside behind her. ‘Dennis moved his stuff out of here this morning but I’ll have to retrieve a couple of things like my toothbrush but that’ll only take a minute.’

  ‘What’s Dennis doing tonight?’ I asked as I put the water on to boil.

  ‘He took Ruth out to dinner. In fact, I dropped them off at the restaurant in Knoxville before coming to the train station.’

  ‘Oh, dear! How are they going to get home?’

  ‘That problem already has a solution. They’re catching a ride back with another fella who went into town for something or another. Anyway, they’re covered. And Ruth said, “Me and Dennis talked it over. What kind of friends would we be if we didn’t let the two of you have some time alone together after she’s been out of town?” I couldn’t argue with that.’

  ‘No, I can’t imagine you would,’ I said with a chuckle as I carried the tea tray into the living room.

  ‘I’m glad they did, aren’t you?’

  Fear clutched my throat. Was I ready to be honest with Teddy? I had to be. I put my legs under me as I curled up next to him on the sofa. ‘Absolutely, Teddy.’

  Teddy kissed the tip of my nose and asked, ‘What are we going to do about Tom? And what are we going to tell Crenshaw?’

  ‘We say nothing to Crenshaw unless he asks. If he does, we tell him that we are working out the timing of Tom’s surrender, which isn’t a total lie. As for Tom, we wait for him to come and see me.’

  ‘For how long?’

  ‘If he does want to ask me about the Crenshaw situation, he’ll show up tonight or tomorrow.’

  ‘And if he doesn’t?’

  ‘On Sunday, we go looking for him. I suspect he might have told us he wouldn’t be at the shack because that is exactly where he will be. We’ll start there.’

  ‘In the meantime, I’m supposed to walk away from here and leave you all alone?’

  ‘Yes, Teddy. I don’t need a round-the-clock guard. I can handle Tom.’

  ‘I’m not sure you’d say that if you’d been here the other night. He’s angry, out of control and making no sense. Dennis is worried about your safety, too.’