Andy helped Moses dress over the protests and attempted interventions of Nurse Carless, and then helped him into the wheelchair.
“I’ll wheel you out to the car, ” Andy said. “We don’t need your help, ” he warned the nurse, who was getting put out and more aggressive.
“It’s hospital policy that a nurse must roll the patient out, ” she protested.
“And it’s state police policy that someone in protective custody will be transported by an officer of the law, ” Andy replied. “I suggest you don’t interfere, Nurse Care-less. ”
“It’s Car-less!” she declared, defiantly putting her hands on her big hips.
Big nurse’s shoes sounded after them as Andy rolled Moses swiftly through the hallway.
“I’m reporting you to my supervisor!” Nurse Carless called out as she shoved an intern out of her way and caused another nurse to swerve and almost crash an IV stand that rolled precariously into a potted corn plant.
Major Trader was not the sort to ride the bus unless he was desperate. But when he read the latest
Trooper Truth essay, he thought it might be a good idea to stop by the Trailways station and get a one-way ticket to Key West, where he had relatives who shared his pirate heritage and would never turn him in to authorities. Clearly, an intensive investigation was underway that would reveal many facts that would not serve Trader well.
Governor Crimm would be no friend when he learned for a fact that Trader had been poisoning him for years. Nor would the governor be happy to learn that Trader had, as a matter of course, lied, withheld and blocked information, forged notes when needed, been lazy, framed colleagues, manipulated news releases to his egotistical and financial advantage, used an Internet alias to conduct illegal business with pirates, was in fact born of pirate stock, was a pyromaniac as a child, and had murdered the fisherman on Canal Street, to mention but a few of Trader’s failings.
He left the bus station, the ticket in his pocket assigned to an assumed name, flagged down a taxi, and headed to Canal Street. Realizing time was running short, Andy had asked Moses if he minded riding along with him on an assignment.
“That nurse slowed us up, ” Andy explained. “And I’m supposed to meet a suspect at two-thirty, which is just fifteen minutes away. ”
“I’ll be glad to go with you, ” Moses replied. “I been cooped up for what seems like a month. A little fresh air and activity would do me good. Can I help with anything?”
“Can you remember anything else about being assaulted?”
“Nope. All I recollect is an angel saying her car broke down and promising me something unique. ”
“Unique?” Andy puzzled.
“That what she say. ”
“Do you know how to fish?” Andy then asked.
“Is a pig’s ass made of pork?” Moses replied.
Andy parked several streets down from the predetermined location, which just happened to be the place where Trader had murdered Caesar Fender. When the so-called Captain Bonny had exchanged e-mails with Andy, who was really signed on with Possum’s screen name (although Andy didn’t even know Possum’s real identity yet], Andy had suggested the location of the drop. He thought it might add insult to injury if he not only lured Trader back to the scene of his crime, but rewarded his evil deeds with a suitcase full of iron and a free ride to the city lockup. Andy popped the trunk and lifted out the suitcase. He put on the same fake beard, ponytail wig, and frumpy clothes he’d worn undercover on Tangier Island and handed Moses a fishing pole.
“All you got to do is fish, ” he told Moses as they walked in the direction of the retaining wall at the river’s edge. “You just fish and don’t pay any attention to me. What will happen is a man will show up and try to pick up this suitcase, as if it belongs to him. He won’t be able to move it an inch and will struggle with it. I’ll volunteer to help him, and next thing he knows, he’ll have on handcuffs and will be on his way to jail. “