John Ball: Johnny Get Your Gun

It was almost an insult to tell her that, as though she did not know the first thing about her own child. She opened her mouth to say something and then quickly shut it again when she saw that her husband was about to speak once more. When he did, his tone was low.

“I went down this noon to pay that ticket that I got. Well, Maggie, it ain’t so good; the cop put me down for reckless driving and I’ve got to go to court. The boss belongs to the motor club so I called them and they said that it could cost as much as five hundred dollars.”

Maggie’s breath stopped dead in her throat.

“Mike!” she gasped.

“I know,” her husband answered. “It was my damn foul luck that that cop was up on the bridge and saw me. He didn’t see the other guy of course, when he did what he did-they never do. Anyhow his car hit the divider, I didn’t know that, and it was bent up some.”

“Will we have to pay for that too?”

“We’ve got insurance.” Awkwardly he reached out and took her hand, something he had not done in years. “I’m gonna tell the judge that I thought the fellow in the lane to my left was goin’ to pull over and that I moved to get out of his way. That may help.”

“Will he believe you?”

“He might. Anyhow, I can’t go to court and admit I was just after that guy’s scalp. You know what that would mean.”

“Mike, if he doesn’t believe you, what’ll we do? You’d have to sell the car, then how’d you get to work?”

There was silence for several seconds. “I’ll go to a loan company,” he answered finally. “Maybe you could get something to do, part time while Johnny’s in school. For long enough to pay back the loan, that’s all.”

Maggie blinked, she had no skills she could use to get a job. All she had to offer was herself and besides, Johnny came home just a little after three.

Johnny.

They both remembered at the same moment. “He oughta be here,” Mike declared, as though by the statement he could make him appear.

Maggie got up, opened the outside door, and remained there for a long minute. When she turned back, her face was lined with anxiety. She said nothing, because there was nothing to say.

“He might be asleep in his room.” Mike spoke quickly, then led the way for the few steps to Johnny’s little sanctuary. He was not there. His bed was smooth and undisturbed, just as Maggie had made it for him that morning. They both stood and looked at the narrow empty bed.

“Is his radio there?” Mike asked.

Maggie did not have to search for long to determine that it was gone. While she was looking she came across his little strongbox, which was actually made of light metal and held shut with a toy lock. She left it strictly alone because it held a secret which she shared with her son.

Mike turned toward the other bedroom. He swung the door open quickly, took one look, and saw that it too was empty. He smothered his disappointment with the thought that if his son had been asleep it would have been in his own room. But it had been worth a look.

Then he thought about kidnappers. They picked up children, sometimes without any knowledge of who their parents were or how much they might be able to raise to get them back. Another idea hit him: Johnny was nine now and there were people who were looking for young boys of just about that age. He clamped his teeth together and for one hot instant saw himself throttling to death anyone who would attempt such a thing with his son. Then he forced himself to calm down and remembered that Johnny had only been gone a little more than an hour past the time when he should have been home.

He turned to his wife. “It’s light now to past eight-thirty. He’s forgotten about what time it is; he’s probably playing baseball somewhere. Kids are like that. Let’s finish dinner.”

Reluctantly Maggie accepted his judgment and went back to the kitchen where the beef stew she had prepared was now cold and congealed. “It’s all right,” Mike said. “I like it this way.” He ate a few mouthfuls in silence, listening for the sound of footsteps on the concrete walkway outside. When he heard them he jumped, although he knew at once that it was not his son who was coming. When he heard the sound of the doorbell he was already on his feet.

He flung the door wide and found himself looking at a slender but well-built Negro who appeared to be in his early thirties.

“Well?” Mike demanded.

“My name is Tibbs,” the man said. “I’m from the Pasadena police. It’s very important that I talk to you and your son immediately.”

“Well Johnny ain’t here!” Mike blazed out the words. Then his chest tightened at the sudden thought that perhaps this black man had news to tell him. “What’s happened?” he asked.

“Nothing-yet. May I come in, please?”

Mike let him in, hostility forming an aura around him. He disliked all policemen automatically, today more than usual.

Maggie looked up and saw the visitor was wearing better clothes than her husband owned. She was dubious of his color, but anxiety overrode her other feelings and she said, “Won’t you sit down, please.”

Virgil Tibbs seated himself quietly at the table and then waited for Mike McGuire to calm down enough to join them.

“As far as we know now your son is all right,” Virgil began. “Can you tell me when you saw him last?”

Maggie pressed the back of her hand against her forehead. “He came home this afternoon after school. He poked around a little while in his room. I didn’t pay much attention; I was ironing. Then he went out again.”

“Has he been out late like this before?”

“Never,” Mike answered.

“Has he any close friends he might be visiting?”

Maggie unwittingly confirmed what Billy Hotchkiss had already said. “He don’t really have any friends here yet. We’re new.”

Tibbs said, “You left Tennessee in February I assume.”

Mike tightened so that the veins of his muscular forearms stood out. “You been checking up on us?” he demanded.

Virgil shook his head. “When I came in, I noticed the cars parked downstairs. There were seven-four with California plates, and one each from Canada, New Jersey, and Tennessee. Your manner of speaking suggests that the Tennessee car is yours. And most people with young children plan their moves, if they can, at the end of school terms.”

Mike rubbed his fingers hard against his jaw. “I guess it’s all right, I just never like to have people prying into our business.”

Tibbs studied him. “I don’t pry, Mr. McGuire, I’m a police investigator and it’s my business to notice things. Right now I’m trying to use what abilities I have to help you.”

“I’m sorry,” Mike said.

Virgil produced a notebook and opened to a clean page. “I’d like a description of Johnny,” he requested. “And please tell me what he’s now wearing.”

Maggie responded. “Johnny has just turned nine. He’s a little small for his age, but he’s a nice-looking boy. His hair is still light and he has blue eyes. He’s got on a pair of jeans from Penney’s and his black school shoes.” Then she remembered. “He has his jacket,” she added a little lamely. “A red one. It’s out at the elbows and we’ve been meaning to get him a new one.”

“Do you have a picture of him?”

Maggie got up. “I’ll try and find one,” she said.

As soon as she had gone Mike leaned forward, enough to be heard softly, but not enough to bring him too close to the black man who was a cop in the bargain. “You think he’s been kidnapped?” he asked.

Tibbs shook his head. “I’m very confident that that isn’t the case, for a number of reasons.”

“Such as?” Mike asked.