Murder On The Mainline - S01 E37

Story 13 hours ago

Murder On The Mainline - S01 E37

Read Story: SEASON 1 EPISODE 37

She climbs down behind him and runs to the convenience. Mike checks brakes and waits for her. She comes running back and swoops up some snow on her way to pelt him with a snowball. She laughs and says, "Have you ever heard the one about the Man from Nantucket? It's written on the walls in there." He catches her in his arms and carries her back to the cab where he deposits her onto the ladder.

"I don't think I have. Tell me more."

"There once was a man from Nantucket, had a cock so long he could..."
"I heard it!" He follows her bare ass into the cab. "It's a... oh, what do you call it, a funny little rhyme. I used to know lots of them. You probably heard the one about the lady from New Zealand?"

"No. Tell me."

Mike pulls the truck into gear and they roll ahead starting the long downgrade to Merrit. "It seems that there once was a lady from New Zealand, who got put in jail for stealing. She laid on her back, opened her crack and pissed all over the ceiling."

Trudy laughs with Mike and cackles, "I think I like the one about the man from Nantucket better. Do you know any more?"

"Can't think of any right now. I could sing you a few verses of North Atlantic Squadron. That would tickle your fancy."

"Oh, I know a few verses of that." She starts to sing, "In Montreal, in Montreal, they line the girls against the wall..."

Mike joins in and they sing the dirty song for miles as the snow peters out and the pavement becomes dryer and dryer. Finally neither of them can think of any more verses and Mike comments, "Trudy, I'm shocked. Where did you ever learn that song?"

"My husband was in the Military and so was my Dad. I remember when I was little laying in bed at night and hearing them partying and singing. I knew the words to North Atlantic Squadron before I knew what they meant. You should have seen the look on my mother's face when she caught me singing that one afternoon in my bedroom. She was shocked and my Dad gave me hell that night." She breaks up laughing and Mike joins her.

As she settles down she reaches into the hamper and breaks off a drumstick. She hands it to Mike and says, "Eat up and I'll give you a slice of bread to get the grease off your fingers... or I could lick them for you?" She watches him with relish as he grins then digs into the leg with his teeth. When he finishes it and hands her the bones she says, "Do you want more or some bread?"

"A slice of bread, please."

"No slices when I'm around. Here." She breaks a chunk off a round loaf of sourdough. He wipes the grease off his fingers on the bread and eats it. He finishes by licking his fingers. "Hey, I was going to do that!" she exclaims.

She proffers a spoon loaded with potato salad and says, "Now open up, baby, here comes some good stuff." She spoon feeds him salad and enjoys some herself until he says enough. "Now, would you like more coffee ...or me?"

"The coffee sounds good ...for now."

The coffee lasts till they're into Merrit. They drive straight through and head for Kamloops. By four they are pulling into the scales just west of Kamloops. As they pull out and head through the city on the bypass, Trudy pours coffee again. "Do you want more to eat, Mike?"

"Not now. Is there quite a bit left?"

"Enough for supper, I guess."

"Let's clean it up at the Husky in Sicamous. If it’s still nice there, we can use the picnic tables or if it's raining we can use the sleeper."

"That sounds great. When are we going to be able to interview Mr. Harrison? We should get to it as soon as we can."

"Your right. I also have to see the Staff Sgt. in POCO. He's got some information I want to know. For instance, why haven't they been holding Scanlon for the murder? Surely they have as good a case against him as they have on Ray. And that's the other thing I want them to explain. What do they have on Ray?"

They talk about the case out through Monte Creek and on to Salmon Arm. By five forty five they arrive at the Husky. Mike spots the Calgary truck sitting by the service center and pulls over nearby. He sees two trailers sitting behind the center, but the numbers on one matches the trailer he's to pick up. He climbs down and calls to a driver coming out of the open bay door. "Hi, Murray. Got your load. Want me to drop it here?" The other driver nods as he walks over to join him. He glances up and grins.

Mike looks back and sees Trudy backing down the ladder from the truck. Her bare ass bobs up and down as she descends. He hears a low wolf whistle from the other man and Trudy must as well, as she spins around when she hits the ground. "I'm going to the can, Mike. I'll see you inside. I'm getting the thermos refilled." She takes off for the cafe. Mike just grins at the other driver.

"Did I see what I thought I just saw?"

"That's my swamper."

"Yeah, right."

Mike cranks down the dollies and pulls the pin. He climbs up between the trailer and cab to remove the air lines. He swings around into the cab and gently pulls ahead then away and parks. He jumps down with the bills in hand. "She's all yours. Checked the brakes on the Coquihalla at the summit. Only needed a turn or two. You got the paper on that one?"

"It's in the pouch. I was going to take the other one if you hadn't showed up in time but I'll take this one now. Another of our trucks is on his way for that one. Have you called dispatch?"

"Not yet. I was going to call from inside and save my cell phone. You been here long?"

"About an hour. Got a small oil leak so we checked it out inside but it's not bad enough to have them fix it here. CPX doesn't want repairs done on the road if we can get her home. You know that."

"Yeah, I hear the same song and dance whenever I have a breakdown. Coming in for coffee?"

"No, I want to hit the road and get this thing home early. See you later, Mike. You see any more swampers around like yours, tell them I'm looking for one." They slap each other on the backs and part as Mike heads inside.

He finds Trudy arguing with the girl at the till.
"...in Laidlaw we only count this as two cups, it doesn't matter how much coffee it takes!"

"This ain’t Laidlaw, honey, and it took four large cups to fill that thing. Are you going to pay or do I call my boss?"

"Mike, tell her how much coffee costs. I got to run to the can." She bounces a bit and runs around the corner.

Mike pays for the coffee and she smiles. "Where'd you find that spitfire, Mike?"

"Easy, we're close," he cautions her.

"Sorry, Mike. I didn't know. She your old lady?"

"No, but just as close."

"Oh. Don't see much of you anymore. Where you been keeping yourself?"

"I've been around. You've just missed me."

"Yeah, guess that must be it."

She goes back to wait on a customer. In a moment Trudy comes out and he says, "Let's get hooked up here then we'll have supper."

She follows him out to the truck. She waves at the other one pulling out then says, "Here comes another one, Mike. Is he from Calgary, too."

The other rig bob tails into the yard tooting his air horn at the one pulling out to the scales. They wave and he drives in along side of Mike. For a moment he's busy talking on the CB then he jumps down and says, "Murray says I have to meet your swamper." He tips his cap to Trudy with a grin.

"Jack, this is Trudy. Yes, Trudy, he's from Calgary and his name is Jack."

"Wow! Our swampers in Calgary aren't built like yours down on the coast. How do I get me one of these?" He gazes down at Trudy's chest.

Trudy pipes up and says, "I grew mine." She grins as he turns red and Mike breaks up laughing. Trudy just swings around and heads for the ladder.