‘I can’t deny that, Mr Coggins,’ Ben said. ‘I really can’t. But right now I’ve got a little girl, and I’ve got to find out who killed her.’ He looked at Coggins determinedly. ‘I got to find that out right now, not a few months or maybe even years from now, when things may be different.’
Coggins eyes returned to the ring. ‘What do you want from me?’
‘I want you to come with me down to Fourth Avenue,’ Ben said. ‘I want to go in some of those poolhalls, bring this ring with me, ask a few questions.’
Coggins looked up slowly. ‘I’m not sure I can do that.’
‘Why not?’
‘Because of the way it would look,’ Coggins said. ‘I mean, working with you. The way it would look to my people.’
‘You think maybe I might have the same problem with mine?’ Ben asked pointedly.
Coggins smiled but said nothing.
‘He’s still out there,’ Ben said, ‘whoever it was who killed Doreen Ballinger.’ He shrugged. ‘That wouldn’t be all that much to think about,’ he added, ‘if more little girls weren’t out there, too.’
Coggins did not speak immediately, but from the look in his eyes, Ben knew that he had won.
NINTEEN
Ranks of fireman in boots, helmets and rubber slicks were lined up in the basement as Ben and Coggins made their way to the car. The Chief paced up and down before them, his voice echoing through the concrete chamber. ‘You all pledged to serve the City of Birmingham when you came to the department,’ he cried. ‘And you are going to be asked to render that service, no matter what.’
Several of the firemen glanced at each other apprehensively, but the rest stared expressionlessly at the Chief.
‘We are all part of the same city,’ the Chief went on, his hand sweeping out into the gray air of the garage, and we’ve all sworn an oath to protect it.’
‘What’s this all about?’ Coggins whispered as Ben ushered him around a concrete column.
Ben shrugged lightly and continued moving steadily forward, one hand gently held to Coggins’ arm, until they reached the car.
‘He’s a dinosaur, that old man,’ Coggins said as he glanced back at the Chief.
‘Get in,’ Ben said.
Coggins pulled himself into the car, his eyes still directed toward the Chief and the lines of fireman who stood in formation before him. ‘He’s like a bug trying to hold back the ocean,’ he said.
‘Think so?’ Ben said idly.
‘Just like a little bug, trying to protect its hole against the tide,’ Coggins added. Then he looked at Ben and smiled, almost tauntingly. ‘You don’t believe that, do you?’
Ben said nothing. He grasped the wheel and jerked it to the right, sending the car in a wide are through the garage.
Coggins returned his eyes to the ranks of firemen and the stocky little man who paraded back and forth in front of them. ‘No sense of history,’ he said, almost to himself. ‘No idea at all of how they’ll be remembered when all this is over.’
Ben kept his eyes straight ahead as he guided the car past knots of city police and highway patrolmen until it nosed up the embankment to the street.
Breedlove stood at the top of the hill, his hat pulled down over his eyes. When the car stopped, he strolled over and leaned in, his arms resting on the open window.
‘Looks like it’s going to be a pretty day,’ he said to Ben. Then his eyes shifted over to Coggins. ‘What do you think, Leroy? Reckon we might bust some ass today?’
Coggins sat rigidly in place. A line of sweat formed on his upper lip.
‘What do you think, Leroy?’ Breedlove repeated in a thin, threatening voice. ‘Think maybe some of us crackers might bust a few burrheads before the sun goes down?’
Coggins did not move. He kept his eyes straight ahead, but as Ben glanced over toward him, he noticed that his knees were trembling.
Breedlove glanced at Ben. ‘Where you taking this boy?’
‘Just going for a ride,’ Ben said.
Breedlove laughed. ‘Bullshit.’
‘I’m checking a lead,’ Ben told him.
Breedlove smiled as he stepped away from the car. ‘Well, you guys have a great time, you hear? But if you get a chance, come on down to the park. It’s going to be real lively down there this afternoon.’ He stepped back from the car and tipped his hat. ‘Have a safe and happy day.’
Coggins let out a quick, nervous breath as Ben pulled into the street. ‘I’m tired of being scared,’ he said angrily, his teeth tightly clinched. ‘I’m just tired of it.’
Ben eased the car on down the street. Lines of helmeted highway patrolmen stood at intervals all along the avenue, their pump shotguns held casually in their arms. To the right the Chief’s white tank could be seen wedged in between two brightly polished fire trucks, and a few feet away Black Cat 13 seemed to be sunning itself lazily in the bright morning light. Teddy Langley sat behind the wheel, his eyes silently following Ben’s car as he muttered into his police radio.
‘You know them?’ Coggins asked. ‘You know the Lang-leys?’
‘A little.’
Coggins’ eyes bore down on Ben. ‘You could be taking me to them, for all I know. This whole thing could be a setup.’