Chapter 8
What Charles Jacobs wanted was information on the whereabouts of Susie McKnight. And something told him that Linda Ralston could give him just the information he needed. The fact that she had just rendezvoused with the kidnapped girl's father in a secluded little restaurant only confirmed Charles' suspicions; although, Charles had initially sent his men to pick Linda up without knowing of Linda's planned meeting with McKnight at El Torro Blanco.
Charles' suspicions had arisen almost immediately upon learning of the McKnight girl's kidnapping. There had been rumors going around for ages that some of the men in the ranks had actually taken the idea into serious consideration. Charles had tried to stymie any such move on several different occasions. As much as he would have liked bringing the present strike to a quick ending that satisfied all of his union members, a kidnapping would have brought in the Federal Government. And, once the Federal Government started investigating a kidnapping in which the Union was possibly involved, then it was only a short step to investigating a few other things-like the Union books. There was just no way Charles Jacobs, or any other Union bigwig, wanted the FBI nosing around certain Union activities that had nothing whatsoever to do with the strike in progress.
But, despite warnings Charles had sent down from on high, some idiot had kidnapped the McKnight brat anyway. And, Charles Jacobs was just as anxious to find out the culprit as was the girl's father. So far, Talbot hadn't gone to the police or the FBI. But, Charles couldn't expect that piece of good luck to go indefinitely. Talbot, although he had yet to receive the kidnapper's demands, had told Charles Jacobs straight out that he believed there was Union involvement.
Charles Jacobs had sent out feelers, letting it be known that he expected answers. If any mine member belonging to the Union had decided to take matters into his own hands and grab the McKnight girl, Charles wanted to know about it-AND FAST.
Charles' men had come up with two names: Ken Jackson and Chris Moore. Both men had been involved in heated arguments over the pros and cons of kidnapping the girl. Both men had dropped out of sight right along with Susie McKnight. If that didn't tell Charles something, then nothing did!
Someone said a woman by the name of Linda Ralston had been living with Ken Jackson. Charles had sent out word to bring the Ralston woman in for a little "gab session."
"Do sit down, Miss Ralston," Charles said, puffing obscenely on a large, fat cigar.. Tin very interested in hearing just what you and Talbot McKnight seem to have in common to talk about."
"I don't know what you're talking about," Linda said, giving a nervous laugh.
"I said, SIT DOWN!" Charles yelled, knowing that his booming bass voice could put the fear into grown men let alone one silly woman.
Linda Ralston sat down.