Toward Night's End Read Online Free PDF Page B

in the truck, and then unload the truck. Why not just go over in the boat?”
    The young cop just stared at Johnstone as if he had asked him to explain the mineral composition of Mars. Finally, he admitted, “I don’t know much about how they manage their catch, I guess.”
    “See if it’s unusual.” When Stanton gave him a baffled look, he added, “See what the other fishermen around here do with their catch.” And with that, Johnstone headed for the car.
    “Hey!” Officer Stanton called out. When Johnstone turned around, he asked, “What about him?”
    “He’s not going anywhere. Call the coroner and get him out here.”
    The young man looked at the body, then trotted after Johnstone. “We don’t have a coroner!”
    Johnstone stopped in his tracks, turning to the officer. “So what happens when someone dies like this?”
    “I’m not sure there’s been a murder before.”
    “Okay, what happens when someone dies?” Johnstone asked impatiently. “People do die on this island, don’t they?”
    “Well, yeah. Then we tell Dr. Charlie.”
    Johnstone turned and headed for the car. “Fine, call Dr. Charlie. Get him to fetch the body. And be sure he leaves the knife where it is.”
    ***
    Matthew had seen the ferry crossing the bay and knew it had left on time. He took that as good news – they weren’t holding up the departure to search for him. He also knew his mother would be telling everyone that her eldest son was missing. He knew this stemmed from his father’s car accident, when he had driven off the road, hit a tree, and slowly bled to death while trapped in the mangled heap. She would be thinking the same fate had befallen him.
    Of course, this also meant that the Army and maybe the police would be looking for him. He thought of going down to the dock and telling them that he had been in an accident – which would explain the large lump he could feel on the back of his head, but he knew he couldn’t account for Mr. Porter’s truck. This alone would lead to further questions he couldn’t truthfully answer. All of which meant that he had to get off the island.
    It was just a matter of time before he was spotted. Besides, there were two bodies that might turn up soon. Though no one would normally link him to the man he had stabbed, he was now a wanted man, which automatically would make him a suspect. And as for Tom’s body, too many people – including all of Tom’s family – knew that they were best friends. Naturally, he would have to be questioned. And he knew he didn’t have the right answers.
    He also knew that using his own fishing trawler would be risky. But he reasoned that trying to sneak aboard the ferry or someone else’s trawler would be equally risky. Besides, all those boats would be heading to Seattle. In his own boat, he could go anywhere. The more he thought about it, the more he wanted to control his own destiny and get away in his own trawler.
    Having been born on the island, he knew every inch of it. And he had used this knowledge to make his way home, bypassing the roads and neighbors that he knew would be home. However, now concealed behind a tree fifty yards from the rickety dock, he was astonished to see two people on his boat. It took him a minute to realize that one was wearing a police uniform. Damn!
    ***
    “I don’t understand why we’re here,” Officer Stanton said.
    But Johnstone just knelt beside a large fishing net on the stern, inspecting it with great care.
    “I mean, the Jap took the truck to the mainland,” Stanton went on.
    “And how do we know that?” Johnstone challenged, standing up.
    The young man hesitated for a moment, then explained, “The truck hasn’t shown up. This isn’t a big place. Everyone thinks he took off. Afraid to go to a relocation center. Or like I said, he’s working for—”
    “The real Japanese. I remember.”
    “Right. I mean, he’s not on the boat. I’m sure the Army looked.”
    Johnstone didn’t respond.