I wanted.
I hung up and thought of calling Riley. But what would I tell him? That Shipton was more dangerous than I’d figured? Besides, we weren’t supposed to be on the Kitty Hawk at all-supposed to go through channels for that sort of thing-and I didn’t want to mention our little naval adventure if I didn’t have to.
We walked around the compound for the next couple of hours, keeping our eyes open, until the PX manager unlocked the front door of the store. Korean dependent wives streamed in, along with a few GI’s, but nobody who looked like Shipton. Ernie found a secluded spot across from the parking lot, and I went in the back door to use the nervous manager’s phone.
He wasn’t happy to see me again but was relieved that this time I didn’t want to go through the cards. I borrowed his copy of the AAFES phone directory and started calling PX managers in the compounds leading north from Ptisan.
At each place I got a raft of shit, but gradually I convinced each manager that he’d be in serious trouble if he didn’t cooperate. If someone else was murdered, I promised to put the blame directly On him. In the end, each consented. Most even gave me a Korean secretary, who took down the four stolen RCP numbers Shipton was using and promised to check all the ration cards before they left the store. If they found anything, they would call me here at the PX manager’s office.
The calls took over an hour. When I finished, I told the manager that if I received any calls he should keep the person on the line and bring me to the phone right away. I’d be in the parking lot or in the store somewhere.
He frowned but agreed.
I grabbed a couple of paper cups, filled them with coffee from the manager’s large urn, and carried them out into the parking lot.
Ernie was still slouched against the cement wall.
“If we were on the black market detail,” he said when he saw me, “we could make a year’s worth of quota today.”
I handed him the coffee and turned to look at the GI’s and Korean women pushing carts of merchandise out of the store toward the line of PX cabs. ‘They’re at it hot and heavy.”
“This is a big city,” Ernie said. “Only one military base. A big demand.” He sipped on his coffee. “I think we’re wasting our time here.”
“I do, too.”
“After a big score like the Kitty Hawk,” Ernie said, “Shipton wouldn’t take any chances. He’d leave Pusan.”
“You’re probably right. But where would he go?”
“Depends on what he’s after.”
“Yeah.”
We finished our coffee. As goods were loaded into the backs of taxis and customers climbed aboard and sped off, more people filed into the end of the cab line. It was endless.
“Maybe I ought to call Riley,” I said.
“Maybe you should.”
“You want to go in? It’s cold out here.”
“No. I’ll wait. You’re better with the bureaucratic bullshit.”
“Thanks for the compliment.”
“You deserve it.”
I went back inside, and after my talking to the Korean female operator and listening to a lot of clicking and buzzing, the phone rang and someone picked it up.
“Criminal Investigation,” the voice said, but it wasn’t Riley. It was the First Sergeant.
“This is Sueno.”
“Where in the fuck are you?”
“You know where we are,” I said. “In Pusan. Doing our job.”
“Is that what you call it? Now listen to me carefully, Corporal Sueno…” The First Sergeant always used our ranks when he was busy trying to cover his own ass. “I want you and Sergeant Bascom to hop on the first train heading north and get back to Seoul ASAP! You understand that?”
“Understood. But why?”
“Because I say so! That’s why. The head shed is just about to shit a brick. Two army investigators aboard a goddamn naval vessel!”
“What are you talking about, Top?”
“Don’t give me that innocent shit! I know it was you two shitheads. Nobody else would be stupid enough to pull such a stunt.”
“But we’re onto something here.”
“Who cares? Get your tails back here!” He paused. “What are you onto?”
At least the First Sergeant was enough of a cop to suppress his bureaucratic instincts for a moment and show some interest.
“We know Shipton is here. He could turn up any minute.”
“The MP’s down there have his photo and they’ve put out an alert for him. You’re not needed there, Corporal. If he turns up, they’ll find him.”
Not likely, I thought. Not unless he jumped up and down and shouted his name and the date he went AWOL at them. They mostly had their thumbs up their asses.
“We’re more effective down here,” I insisted.
“You’re more effective where and when I tell you to be goddamn effective.”
Another phone rang. The Korean secretary picked up, listened for a moment, and glanced at me. She pointed at the receiver and mouthed the word “Taegu.”
“Just a minute, Top. I have another call coming in.”
“No ‘just a minute’ about it! You and Bascom get your asses back here and you get them back here now! You read me, Corporal?”
“Yeah, I got it, First Sergeant.”
Something slammed and the line went dead. I sighed, set the phone down in its cradle, and grabbed the other one from the secretary’s hand.
“Agent Sueno,” I said.
“This is Miss Chong from the Camp Henry PX. We found one of those numbers you gave me.”
“When was it used?”
“This morning. He must’ve been buying something at just about the time you called.”
“Have you told anyone else about this?”
“No. Just our manager.”
“Please don’t mention it to anyone, Miss Chong. How late do you stay open?”
“Until six this evening.”
“We’ll be there as soon as we can.”
To my surprise, Ernie didn’t seem excited by the news. Instead, he leaned against the brick building, a few droplets of perspiration dotting his upper lip. He acted as if he hadn’t even heard me.
“The Nurse’s funeral,” he said. “They’re holding it tomorrow, at a Buddhist temple. I’d like to be there.”
“You’d be about as welcome as a rat in a kimchi pot,” I said.
“Yeah,” he answered. “Still, I’d like to go.”
For the first time that morning I looked at him carefully. He seemed more pale than usual.
“You never went back to the One-twenty-one Evac for those tests, did you?”
“Who needs ‘em?”
“You do,” I answered. “You don’t look well.”
Ernie rubbed his stomach. “Probably just that cut bait we ate last night.”
Suddenly, his cheeks bulged and he swiveled and lurched away from me, clutching his stomach. He barfed his guts up, retching painfully. Finally, he wiped his mouth and turned back to me.
“So much for those scrambled eggs and hash browns.”
