“What about you, sir? Where do you come from?”
I sighed. It wasn’t often that I opened up but I felt an affinity with this kid. “My father was very wealthy, so wealthy that I was spared a normal childhood by spending all my days at private boarding schools. I probably saw my parents three times a year. It wasn’t until the war came along and I was drafted that I finally found a real family.”
“Sounds terrible. I spent every waking moment with my family.”
I shrugged. “It would be ridiculous to complain. I had the best of everything. I wanted for nothing. By the time I was eighteen I’d already seen Europe.” I glanced at him. “Good thing, too, because it all changed after the war.”
“Is that why you’ve never married, sir?”
The words bit and I couldn’t help but give him a look that said he’d gone too far.
He immediately backtracked. “Sorry, sir. It’s just that me and the boys wondered.”
“Let’s just say that I think the head of a family should be committed to it. Right now, Special Unit 77 is my family.”
“Yes, sir.” Then he pointed out the windshield. “Look, sir. I think they’re opening up.”
It was about time. I was beginning to feel uncomfortable even though it was me who’d opened the conversational door. We got out and went inside. I paused at the door to Mannetti’s Catering Company but didn’t detect any wards. The inside was cool. Across the black and white checkerboard floor were glass cases displaying cakes and various desserts.
A man behind the counter beamed when he saw me. Then his face fell as I began asking him questions and he realized I wasn’t a customer.
Thus began a fruitless effort.
The next place on our list was closed, with a note saying they were busy at The Grove.
In the third place a young man with dirty fingernails and a gold watch on his wrist sat behind the counter reading comic books. On the counter next to him were several Where Monsters Dwell, their covers gaudy with creatures Special Unit 77 would be after had they really existed. In his hand he held an issue of the Silver Surfer – another alien with different ideas of right and wrong. The kid was absolutely non-responsive, mumbling something about no one being around right now, despite the fact that he was around.
The fourth place held a nice older woman who apologized for not being able to answer my questions because, like the boy at the place before, she was merely there to greet visitors, but unlike the boy at the place before, she was willing to get back to me later if I’d only leave my name and number.
By the time we got back to The Grove, I was tired and hungry and upset at our lack of progress. Back in Everett’s office, I phoned Doris for an update. Four of the seven caterers had been checked with nothing to show for it.
I was just putting the phone down when Everett and Montesonti entered.
“Where’s Chan?” I asked Everett.
“We caught them.”
“You caught who?”
“We know who it is? A catering company from San Rafael. Fitzsimmons Catering. They had several dozen chairs which set off all my wards. I’m not sure what was going to happen, but by the greasy feeling I got, they couldn’t be good.”
I felt myself listening in slow motion. I replayed what he said in my head. “Where’s Chan?” I asked again.
“He’s with Major Harold putting the whole crew in custody.”
“Did you recognize one of the men in the catering company?”
Everett shook his head. “I didn’t. But remember, I said his face changed, so it could be any of them.”
Montesonti clapped Everett on the back. “Good work, kid.”
Everett beamed.
Burgess interrupted the happy fest with an odd question to Montesonti. “Where’d you get that watch?”
The large man regarded the gold watch on his wrist. “This old thing? Got it off a dead Kraut during the war.”
“What model is it?” Burgess leaned down to inspect it. “Lange & Sohn. Never heard of them before.”
Montesonti chuckled, the sound like a low rumble. “You wouldn’t have. Jeweler friend of mine said this baby is worth about three grand.”
Everett interrupted. “Looks like the good guys came out on top.”
“It looks that way,” I said, getting out of his chair. I glanced at Burgess. I didn’t know what he was up to with the watch, but I was interested. “Come on. Let’s go find Gunnery Sergeant Chan.”
Things moved pretty quickly after that. I met Gomer outside the welcome center. Major Harold and his men had put the Fitzsimmons Catering company in confinement, then came to escort me and my crew off the premises. I thought everyone was acting a little hastily and I said so, but no one was listening. So it was at six in the evening that we found ourselves at a local diner eating burgers and drinking coffee with the feeling that things were far from over.
Burgess was on the phone at the end of the service counter.
Gomer and I sat in a booth by the window.
“You know this isn’t over, right?” I said to Gomer.
He nodded. “It was a pretty convenient setup. You should have seen the look on the face of Mr. Fitzsimmons. He couldn’t have been more surprised.”
“Did you see any of the spells?”
“They were sophomoric and hackneyed. A sea otter could have spotted them from a mile away,” Gomer said.
“Doesn’t sound like the elegance demonstrated by the man who took down Everett. Do you think it could be real? Do you think Fitzsimmons might be a second threat?”
Gomer Pyle shook his head.
“I think the only thing Fitzsimmons can cast is a fishing pole.”
“Then it was a setup.” I shook my head. “Something’s going to go down, I can feel it.”
Burgess returned from the phone and sat down beside Gomer. The young American Indian had a wide smile on his face as he took two huge bites of his burger that had been waiting for him.
I couldn’t help ask, “What’s up with the smile, kid?”
He held up a finger as he chewed.
Gomer and I exchanged glances.
Burgess took two more hurried bites, which sort of infuriated me, but the kid was hungry. He finally put the burger down and took a great sip of Coke to wash it down.
He said, “So that watch Montesonti wore is the same brand as the watch worn by that kid reading the comic books.”
“The expensive one?” I asked.
He nodded.
“What watch are we talking about?” Gomer asked.
“Lange & Sohn. It’s the only luxury watch manufactured in Glashutte.”
“And where’s Glashutte?” Gomer asked.
The kid grinned. “East Germany.”
I stared at Burgess for a moment, then said, “Damn. Good work.” I stood to go, tossing enough money on the table to cover the bill and a tip. “Let’s go.”
As we hurried out the door to the car, Burgess said, “Now you know why I ate most of my hamburger and made you wait.”
It was a short drive to Gerhardt’s. We parked a block away then made our way on foot. The sun was going down and most of the businesses were closed so foot traffic was at a minimum. Regrettable because three men in black suits walking down a California street at dusk was about as conspicuous as could be.
I sent Gomer to the front to check if it was still open. If he was seen, no one would recognize him. He came back.
“Locked up tighter than a drum, boss.”
We went around back. Where the front had been devoid of supernatural taint, the rear loading dock and doors reeked of it. I could see wards glowing everywhere. Whatever was inside, no one wanted us to get it.