The ride is a silent one. Everyone is deep in thought. I’m sure it’s not the first thing on Ricky’s mind but I can’t stop trying to figure out why take the car? I can see how it could have been used to get Ricky’s dad into the truck without a fuss, they could have offered him a bunch of money for it and then said they needed him to help them unload, or gave him a ride to pick up his wife’s car. There are all kinds of things wrong with that idea but even so, they would have left the car in the abandoned truck. Why would anyone want that old rusted out thing? There has to be a connection between the car and Ricky’s dad but I need a lot more information. I’m eager to get this police business done and start getting some answers. Number one on my list of questions is: Just what does Ricky’s dad do for a living? Is he working on some top-secret government project? But how could a government project involve a nineteen-seventy Honda N360? So did he invent something in his garage and it has nothing to do with his work? I’m starved for information as we park in front of the police station. The police have a room saved with a table for us to sit around, there is no two-way mirror but there are plenty of places to hide a camera. I smile at each likely place just in case someone is watching. I may watch too much TV.
“So you did not see him leave?” the police officer asks for the third time while re-reading his notes.
“No he was already gone,” I answer for the third time.
“So how do you know he just left?” again for the third time.
“We saw a car parking in his spot,” I’m losing my patience.
“So you don’t really know when he left,” the officer really wants to make this point, I’m not sure why.
“Traffic was backed up clear around the whole town! We talked to the guy who saw the truck and trailer! You know, that empty trailer you found by the side of the road!” I’m pretty sure that if this goes on much longer it’s me they are going to lock up.
“But you don’t have a name for this person you presumably talked to?” the officer smiles like he’s really onto something.
“I didn’t presumably talk to him, I really talked to him. Ricky talked to him too. But how does this even matter?” I think the police officer is getting tired of talking to a kid.
He turns to look at Ricky’s dad and answers my question, “ we are trying to establish a time line here and it’s important that we not include speculations.” He turns back to me looking very satisfied. I let my forehead rest on the table and wish for the end of this meeting. My wish comes true two full hours later. We stumble to my father’s car all of us completely exhausted.
david blankenship 