Haggerty

“Sit down Sgt” said inspector Carroll, “Now tell us again what you saw”
“I was on my way home and I was lining up for tickets at that temporary station the Grand Trunk has in Montreal.” Haggerty shifted uncomfortably. “I really don’t want to get Mr. Sharp in trouble”, he said.
“We’re just trying to find Mr. Sharp”, Carroll assured him, “Go on”
“Well, I was waiting in line and looking around at the station they’d put up temporarily until they build the new one. I guess some saboteur torched the original one”
“We don’t know that Sgt”, said Carroll, “please continue”.
“Well, as I said, I was looking around and then I thought I saw Mr. Sharp and a lady in a checkered coat walk along the station floor toward the trains. They seemed to be so causal about it. I almost didn’t realize who it was. Sharp was in civilian clothing.
Carroll said, “How would you know Mr. Sharp?”
“Oh, he was my Captain when we left Kingston in 1915”
“So you’d know him by sight?”
“Certainly, although he’s a lot thinner than when I knew him, but it definitely was him”
“Where in the terminal did you say you saw him?’
“Over by the entrance to the trains”
“No idea what train?”
“No, that’s only the second time I’ve been in Montreal, No “
“What did the lady look like?”
“About the same height, wearing a summer straw hat and checked coat”
“Did they have any luggage?”
Haggerty closed his eyes as he tried to re-picture the scene. “I think Mr. Sharp had a Gladstone bag”
“What about the lady?”
“Not sure about that sir”
Carroll looked at the Sergeant and then, folding his note book carefully together, stood and said” Thank you Sergeant. I’m glad to see you are home. Are you on leave or…”
Haggerty looked at Carroll but didn’t say anything for a moment. “They thought it best I come home for a rest”, he said. He stood up, put his forage cap squarely on his head. Carroll saw his hand tremble as he reached to pick up his stick from the desk. As he strode from the room Carroll muttered “Poor bastard”,

“George” he called
Corporal George Pethswitherick opened the door and stepped in. “George, we have to go to Montreal”
“Yes sir”, George answered “When do we leave?”