The Hunter in the Shadows

by Joab Stieglitz

  “Is it always like this?” Anna asked.

  “I’m afraid so, ma’am,” the policeman replied. “It breaks my heart to see so many people left with nothing,” he indicated the people now milling about on the other side of the street, “but other folks have the right to go about their business unmolested.”

  “Indeed,” Anna replied. But then she thought about the two girls in the park. They were caught in the tide of misfortune as well, and they had done nothing to deserve it. “How do these people survive?”

  “Various charities — funded by good people like yourself — provide bread and soup and such, but there are only so many that they can serve, and what they get is barely enough to call a meal.” He shook his head. “I’ve seen a lot in my years on the beat, but it’s never been as bad as this.”

  “I suspect that things will get worse before they get better,” Anna said grimly.

  “I wish it weren’t so,” the policeman said, “but I think you’re probably right.” He tipped his hat again. “Good day, ma’am.”

  Anna watched the policeman walk away and turn the corner. As soon as he was out of sight, she noticed the dispersed people eying her with bitterness, or perhaps envy.

  Chapter 10

  March 11, 1930

  Anna entered the Western Union office just as a neatly dressed young man was walking toward the door.

  “I’m sorry, ma’am,” the man said with a respectful smile, “but we’re just closing up for the day.”

  “I did not realize that Western Union shut down at night,” Anna said with disbelief.

  “There are still people here to receive messages, but we don’t send them out at night, except for emergencies.”

  “May I ask you then to send one last telegram before you close up?” Anna smiled hopefully, and Cletus wagged his tail with a doggie grin.

  “Who’s a good boy?” the clerk said as he knelt down and patted Cletus’ head. “Do you know what you want to send?”

  “I have it written out here,” Anna said, withdrawing the paper from her purse. The clerk scanned the page.

  “All right, ma’am,” he said as he stood and locked the door. “This won’t take too long.”

  A few minutes later, the clerk locked the door behind Anna and Cletus again. She arranged for any reply to be delivered to her hotel.

  ◆

  Anna glanced into the luncheonette. The diners looked up when they noticed her, but quickly returned to their food. Her appearance did not disturb them. She entered the establishment with Cletus and walked up to the counter. A matronly waitress behind the counter shuffled back and forth, attending to numerous customers as she said, “Can I help you, miss?”

  “Yes,” Anna said politely. “I was wondering what quantity of sandwiches you could prepare in perhaps 30 minutes for me to take with me when I return?” The waitress stopped and took a good look at Anna. Several of the diners at the counter glanced her way as well.

  “What kind of sandwiches?” she asked.

  “An assortment of simple fare,” Anna replied. “Nothing too fancy.”

  “I’ll have to check with Louie in the back,” the woman said, indicating the doorway at the rear of the crowded dining room. “How many would you like?”

  “Let’s say fifty,” Anna replied evenly. “Perhaps more, depending on what you have available.”

  “This on the level?” the waitress asked.

  “Yes,” Anna said. “And I will pay for them in advance.”

  “Wait here.” Then as an afterthought, “Would you like something while you wait?”

  A few minutes later, Anna sipped Coca-Cola through a paper straw whole she sat on a stool at the counter, and Cletus rested at her side with his eyes poking over the lip of the counter, when the waitress returned.

  “Louie says that if you can wait until tomorrow, he can make as many sandwiches as you want.”

  “I would like to take them with me,” Anna replied. “What could you produce today?”

  The waitress glanced back toward the kitchen. Anna followed her gaze and saw a squat man wearing a stained white apron looking back. The waitress shook her head, and the man shrugged. He turned to the side, but she could see his lips move as he counted something. A moment later, he turned back and held up six fingers.

  “He says he can put together about sixty simple sandwiches with what we’ve got in stock.” She did some calculations in her head and said, “That’ll cost twenty bucks.”

  “That is acceptable,” Anna replied with a smile. “I will collect them at —

  “It’s going to take a little while to prepare,” the waitress interjected. She looked at her watch. “We’re pretty busy right now. Can you come back around seven? It should all be ready by then.”

  “Very well,” Anna said. She reached into her purse and withdrew two five-dollar bills and three one dollar bills and assorted change. “I am afraid that this is all I have at this time.” The waitress took the bills and started counting the change. “I can get more and give you the remainder when I return,” Anna added with a smile.

  “That’s close enough for now,” the woman replied. “Let’s see how many sandwiches he actually puts together.”

  “Thank you,” Anna said. “I will come back at seven o’clock.”

  ◆

  “I’m comin’,” Orville Shroud’s irritated voice said in response to Anna’s knock on his door. After a long moment, it opened and the bleary-eyed soldier gazed at Anna from half-closed eyelids.

  “I am sorry if I have awakened you,” Anna said, leading Cletus past him into the room, “but we have work to do.”

  “Huh?” Shroud said with a yawn.

  “I happened upon two girls on our walk,” Anna said, sitting at the foot of the bed, “who have inspired me to provide food for the unfortunates in the park. Once we have gained the good graces of the poor souls in Hooverville, we will be able to learn of any strange occurrences in the area.”

  “What kind of ‘strange occurrences’?”

  “People disappearing, violent deaths, strange people lurking in the shadows. That kind of thing.”

  “Well ya don’t need to bribe folks to hear about that,” Shroud said. “A bunch o’ folks from Hooverville have been killed or disappeared in the past few weeks. A couple were found all torn up. But the bulls ain’t interested in homeless folk. They’re too busy protecting the fat cats.”

  “You are saying that there has been a string of violent murders in Hooverville? When did this begin?”

  “Don’t know for sure,” the soldier said with a shrug, “but it’s been goin’ on for a couple o’ weeks.”

  “That sounds like the work of our alien,” Anna said with confidence. “Get yourself together. We have a delivery to make.”

  ◆

  Anna, Cletus, and Orville stood outside the luncheonette. It was exactly seven o’clock, but the door was locked and the lights in the dining room were out. From around the shade covering the window in the front door, Anna could see light coming from the kitchen. She knocked on the door, and shadows danced back and forth from the back room before the waitress hurried to the door and opened it.

  “I’m sorry, ma’am,” she said with labored breath. “We closed early to get your order together. Had to send the boy out for more bread too.” She stepped aside to allow the three to enter, then closed and locked the door behind them. “Louie managed to cobble together seventy-five assorted sandwiches. They’re nothing special, so no extra charge.”

  “Thank you,” Anna said with a smile. “The unfortunates in the park will appreciate whatever we can provide for them.”

  “I kinda thought that’s what you were up to,” the waitress said. “I threw in some old fruit too. It’s still good, but it won’t sell before it goes bad anyway.”

  “You are most generous.”

  “Well it’s just about ready. Have a seat and we’ll pack it all up for you.”

  “You bought sandwiches for the people
in Hooverville?” Orville said with dismay after the woman disappeared back into the kitchen. “That wasn’t smart.”

  “Why not? Those people have nothing. It is the least I can do.”

  “Well, when word gets out that a rich lady is throwing away money on the lost souls, people will be coming out of the woodwork looking for a handout.”

  Anna contemplated his words. She had been impulsive, and word of the grand gesture was likely to spread quickly. She looked sheepishly at her companion. He sighed loudly.

  “It’s a wonderful thing to do,” Orville said, “but we’re gonna need to be careful. Some folks are desperate enough to do violence. Like them folks at the train station. Some of them might even be there tonight.”

  The swinging doors from the kitchen struck the walls to either side with a bang as the waitress and the man in the apron emerged carrying wooden produce crates overflowing with paper-wrapped bundles. They placed them on the counter and then returned for three more crates.

  “Here you are,” the woman said, handing the last crate to Orville. “Seventy-five sandwiches and some fruit.”

  “You will help us take these to Hooverville?” Anna asked. The waitress looked away sheepishly.

  “Can’t do that, ma’am.”

  “If people see that the food came from this place,” the soldier explained, “they will come here begging for more.”

  “We can’t have those people scaring away our paying customers,” the waitress said, wringing her hands.

  “I understand,” Anna said.

  “Tell you what,” the waitress said with a bloom of inspiration. “You send your boy back to get the rest, and I’ll wait here until it’s all picked up.” Anna was about to speak, when she added, “but only him. Don’t send any of those other folks.”

  “That is most generous of you,” Anna said, a little less congenially. “We will not detain you too long.”

  Anna juggled one of the crates while keeping hold of Cletus’ leash. The waitress unlocked the door. They exited the luncheonette, and the door was locked noisily behind them.

  Chapter 11

  March 11, 1930

  A crowd gathered around Anna and Orville as they entered the collection of temporary shelters that was the Hooverville in Boston Common. Anna sought out Susan and Clarabelle Miller, aiming to feed the children before offering the sandwiches to the adults. When they reached the Soldiers and Sailors Monument, Anna set her crate down on the steps. Her companion followed suit and then assisted Anna onto the steps herself.

  “I have brought fruit and sandwiches for the children,” she said loudly.

  An older patriarchal man wearing a soiled but well-maintained suit emerged from the crowd and stood before Anna. His face was worn but vibrant, firm but friendly. He gazed into Anna’s stern face.

  “That is very generous of you, miss,” the old man said in a deep, clear voice that resounded over the din of the assembly. “Do you think that this meager offering will atone for your own sins? Or do you seek penance for your own good fortune?”

  “I seek neither atonement nor penance,” Anna replied in a loud, clear voice. “I seek merely to offer a meal to people in need.” The man’s gaze was unchanged. “I came upon two girls earlier today, and their story moved me to help them. But I could not provide just for them when there are so many others in the same predicament.” She appraised the old man more closely and added, “It was the Christian thing to do.”

  “I don’t think Christ was in your heart,” the man said privately to her, and then said for all to hear, “but your gesture is truly appreciated. Thank you.” He looked through the crowd until he found who he was looking for. “Luke! Josiah! Gather up the children so that they may partake of this generous repast.” He glanced at a pair of women in the crowd. “Edith! Rosemary! Help this nice lady distribute this fine fare.”

  “And what about the rest of us, Joseph?” a rough young man shouted.

  “You are able enough, Enoch Wilson,” the old man scolded. “The sisters of mercy provide for the rest of us. The children need this more than we adults do. And as you can see, there is a limited quantity here. Barely enough for them.”

  Anna glanced to Ogden, who had remained at the periphery of the gathering, and nodded discretely. Her companion disappeared into the shadows to return for the other crates.

  ◆

  The two women the elder had called out smiled appreciatively as they distributed the sandwiches. The older one, Rosemary, inspected the children’s hands and made them thank the nice lady for her generosity.

  “There is an assortment of sandwiches, but I do not believe that they are labeled — Anna started to say.

  “This is a wonderful thing you have done, miss,” Edith added, “and the children are grateful for whatever they get. Lord knows they suffer the most.”

  “Yes, indeed,” Rosemary said. “Out here they are truly vulnerable, both to nature and the predations of their fellow man.”

  Anna noticed that the woman scowled as she spoke, eying a gang of toughs lurking in the shadows at the rear of the crowd. Anna followed her gaze and noted that two of the youths were among those who had accosted her at the train station.

  “What do you mean by ‘predations of their fellow man’?” she asked as she made eye contact with one of the two. The man disappeared into the crowd.

  “Idle men have evil thoughts,” Rosemary said, “and women aren’t their only prey. The young and the aged are equally victimized.”

  ‘Victimized how?!”

  “You don’t want to know, miss,” Edith said, shaking her head. “Desperate men do evil things. Even to children.”

  “A dozen people have disappeared in the recent weeks,” Joseph said, pulling Anna out of earshot of the gathered children. “Of course, some of them just ran off, but four men were found, their bodies torn up like they’d been attacked by animals. The women and the children are just gone.”

  “Maybe they were taken in by some kindly folks like yourself,” Edith said, inserting herself into the conversation, but it was clear from her tone that she did not believe her own words. “Your man’s back,” she added, indicating Ogden, who had returned with another crate.

  “Tell me of these disappearances,” Anna said to Joseph as Ogden appeared at her side. The old man glanced at the two appraisingly.

  “No good deed goes unpunished,” the old man said quietly. “I knew this wasn’t just Christian kindness.”

  “The sandwiches are just that,” Anna countered. “The plight of those girls moved me to action. But my reasons for being in Boston at this time are dire. These attacks may be related to my interests.”

  “What are these interests?” the elder said suspiciously.

  “She’s here to vanquish evil and prevent Armageddon,” Ogden said. The other two glanced at him in alarm. His outburst had drawn attention to them. Ogden glanced about sheepishly.

  The three stood for a few moments until Cletus, who had been sitting at Anna’s side, suddenly leapt into a clump of children and rolled onto his back, tail wagging. The crowd turned to watch the dog’s antics.

  “I am here to locate and dispatch an evil presence,” Anna said to Joseph. “I don’t expect you to believe me, but it is the truth.”

  “I do believe you,” the elder said. “I could tell that there was something about you, about both of you, that was beyond the mundane matters that we must attend to. After the rest of us eat, I will collect some people who can perhaps provide you with some breadcrumbs.”

  ◆

  Half an hour later, Anna and Ogden stood near a fire burning in a metal trash can in an alley off an adjacent street. Joseph and Rosemary had gathered some others who they claimed had knowledge of the disappearances.

  “Dr. Rykov here —” Joseph started to say to the crowd.

  “Anna, please,” Anna said.

  “Er… Anna is investigating something that may have to do with your missing or departed loved ones. Please tell her wh
at you can of anything strange or unusual that you have seen before or after your kin disappeared.” A din rose as many of the assembly spoke at the same time. Joseph silenced the crowd with a wave of his hand. “One at a time, please.” He scanned the faces and stopped at a young woman holding a sleeping baby in her arms. “Mary, let’s start with you, then go around in a circle.”

  The indicated woman glanced around at the others nervously. Anna could tell that she was more afraid of speaking than in what she had to say.

  “Anything you can tell us may save lives,” Anna said. “Please share what you know. Every one of you wants us to succeed in locating and dealing with this menace.”

  Bolstered by Anna’s entreaty and encouraging words from the others, the woman took several breaths and collected her thoughts. She glanced at Anna, who nodded with a smile, and addressed the crowd.

  “My Emil went out one night to find Virginia here something to help keep her warm. When he didn’t come back after an hour or so, I got worried. I thought maybe them hooligans set to him.” The color drained from Mary’s weary face. “But no hooligans did that to Emil. They found him the next morning … in … pieces.” She started to sob. “At least we think it was him. It had Emil’s clothes on.”

  One of Mary’s neighbors put an arm around her to comfort her. Mary looked into the man’s face. He smiled and nodded. Mary composed herself and straightened.

  “What can you tell us of the attack,” Anna asked the crowd. “How was the… poor Emil found?”

  “He was a horrid sight, ma’am,” another man said. “I found him. Emil was a coworker of mine at the plant.” He took a deep breath. “His body was all scratched up, and it looked like something had taken large bites from him.” Mary fainted. The man comforting her caught her, and a woman took the baby, who woke and started screaming.