Fortunately, Adele handled it well, smoothly steering her automobile into a parking space between two other cars. I realized we parked in front of the Kress 5-10 store.

“Did you see something?” Sally looked around.

“No, but I had a thought. Maybe this is nuts, but why not get on the train from the other side of the line? Is there a way to pay for tickets after we get aboard?” I pointed to a mostly open field between the next street from Depot and the twin sets of tracks.

The women looked over the area, then turned back to me. I hadn’t convinced them.

“Yes, we can pay onboard if they aren’t full. Your idea might work at night. But if someone sees us from the platform, we’re as good as dead,” Adele pointed out. “We’re running out of time. It’s only twenty minutes before the train leaves.”

“Yeah, too many unknowns,” I replied, as I liked my idea even less. “But I’m assuming they are waiting there. They’ll just get onboard to put us in a spot where we can’t escape if they see us go in the front way.”

“Still, your idea might work if we have a diversion,” Sally said as she glanced at Adele.

“What are you getting at?” I didn’t like how the woman’s eyes lit up at the thought.

“I mean, we have someone create a diversion inside the building while the others cross the field.”

Adele and I glanced at each other.

“Well, it’s worth a try, but what is the diversion?” Adele’s question matched my thoughts.

Sally frowned, trying to think of something.

“We can always start a fire or a fight, I guess.”

“Too bad I don’t have fireworks,” I joked. “I remember a TV series when somebody used that.”

I heard a gasp and noticed Adele’s eyes light up. She suddenly opened the car door and got out, closing the door behind her. Sally and I watched her hurry inside the store.

“What is a TV?” Sally asked me.

“Oh, it’s something I read about in a magazine. You know those fantasy stories they have in them,” I lied while hoping she wouldn’t press for more. Fortunately, Sally withdrew back into her shell.

Did Adele know what a TV is?

A few minutes later, Adele came out with a small bag in her hand. She came to the passenger door on my side and motioned for me to roll down the window.

“Give me my suitcase,” she ordered. “You drive Sally to the next street on the other side of the tracks. When you hear the diversion, head across and get on the train. Even if it’s moving, get on it. I’ll watch for you from the car.”

“Wait, what are you doing?” I held on to her suitcase as she reached out. “You can’t get caught and stuck here.”

“Nobody’s looking for me and I won’t get caught,” she held up her bag like a trophy. “The train won’t wait on us. Trust me, I’ll be fine. You’ll know it’s time when you hear it.”

She leaned over and kissed me, then took the case from my hand. I got out of the car and watched her get on the sidewalk before following it along Depot Avenue.

I went around to the driver’s side and got in. Starting the car, I backed out, then did a U-turn.

“Are you sure about this?” Sally’s worried voice carried up from the back seat. “She could get caught.”

“Nope, I’m not sure at all. I’m flying by the seat of my pants,” I said honestly.

After I turned to take Main Street across the tracks, I glanced back in the rearview mirror at Sally.

“Thing is, I trust her. Just like I trust you. We’ll be alright.” My words were for myself as much as for her.

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After turning on to the next street, I stopped the car in a parking area near a closed building with a rusty sign above the door. From our vantage point, the train cars mostly hid the train station platform. I got out of the car and opened the back door as Sally slid out.

“I’ll know it when I hear it. Do you have any idea what she’s talking about?”

I asked the woman next to me as we watched the train across the narrow field between us. Sally shook her head, clutching the other suitcase tightly. I put my hand on her shoulder.

It’s going to be alright, I thought to myself. Then I heard the diversion start.

Inside the women’s restroom in one stall, Adele lit a match. She placed it under several torn pieces from a newspaper that she purchased outside the terminal. As the paper caught fire, she placed the flaming sheet inside the bag of firecrackers that she purchased inside the 5-10 store. Adele hurried from the stall, throwing the package into the wastebasket as she went out the door. She slowed, calming herself as she headed to the train car about ten paces in front of her.

“Excuse me lady,” a man’s gruff voice caught her attention, but she continued on her path.

“Miss, hold up,” the man’s hand came down on her shoulder.

Adele turned to see a large porter holding her suitcase.

“You left this for me to watch,” he said. “I didn’t mean to frighten you.”

“Oh, I’m so sorry. Here, thanks for your help,” Adele pulled change from her purse for his tip and handed it to him.

As the porter handed her suitcase to her, a pop went off, followed by a series of pops. A frantic yell came from the women’s restroom as the fireworks suddenly exploded inside the trash can. The porter ran over as two women came out of the restroom, holding their hands to their ears. Smoke soon poured out of the door when another man opened the door and the fireworks continued to explode.

Adele scanned the platform and noticed everyone’s attention on the scene. She smiled to herself and moved aside for a large man with a scarred face who moved toward the growing crowd. She glanced back at him before she stepped on to the train. Inside, the car attendant took her suitcase and Adele followed him, happily looking at the people on the train watching the spectacle on the train station platform.

“I have two more joining me. Can you get us a quiet place? We’ll purchase tickets from the conductor. You’re not full, are you?” she said to the man as he asked about her tickets.

“Oh, no, ma’am, the run to Sacramento isn’t usually full. I recommend the observation car, right next to the club car,” he told Adele. As they passed from one train car into the next, she leaned out to look for Lane and Sally, who were close to the middle car. She waved at them, and they re-routed their path towards her.

The attendant led her to the corner of the observation car, where Adele gave him a tip. She took a seat while looking out at her handiwork, which still had people’s attention on the platform. However, she could no longer hear the fireworks explosions. Before long, two winded passengers arrived inside the observation car. They spotted her and looked down as Adele gave them a smug grin.

“Well, you know how to create a diversion,” I told my wife as I took the seat next to her.

After our quiet laughter stopped, I reminded them we needed to keep our guard up.

“I’m going to see who’s on this car all the way to the back of the train,” I warned. “Sally, you keep an eye on people coming into this compartment.”

When I stood, I looked at them and winked.

“Scream like a banshee if someone tries anything.”

My tour of the observation compartment and the club car revealed only a few passengers. As I started back to where the women sat, the train moved forward. When I entered the observation car, an attendant came down the steps from the deck above. He asked if I needed assistance, and his question gave me an idea.

“Actually, you can help me a lot.” I pulled out a ten-dollar bill and handed it to him.

“I’m a shamus on a case. You see those women in the corner?” He looked at the table where I pointed and nodded. “They have a strange man stalking them, so I’m getting them out of town. Let me know if you see anyone asking around about that blond.”

“Mister, I’ll make sure they don’t have any problems,” the man smiled at the money. “I’ll let the conductor know as well.”

“Thanks. Make sure they get to Sacramento alright.” I told him when I thought about the last time that I tried to leave town.

When I got back to the booth, the two women stopped talking. I told them everything looked good.

“The back car has a bar and snacks. How about we get something?”

They agreed, and we went to the last car on the train.

A few minutes later, the train is picking up speed, and we have drinks in our hands. I decided on a beer since I don’t like most cocktails. Adele had her favorite, which she called a stinger. I noted that for the next time we went for drinks. Sally ordered a Manhattan and drank half the glass in one long swallow. Adele and I glanced at her, but my attention went back to the window. I wondered how soon we’d reach the city limits.

Adele must have noticed my unease, because she called out my name.

“Honey, I wanted to ask you about our trip. Any ideas on where to go for our second honeymoon?”

Adele’s face turned red when she realized the implications of what she said as Sally sat next to her.

“Please, don’t act that way. You’ve done nothing wrong,” Sally told her. She sighed before lifting her glass. “We can only go forward, right?”

“Still, it was insensitive of me,” Adele said. Then, she changed the subject. “Let me order us some snacks. A couple of these will go straight to my head.”

Sally smiled to herself, then drained her glass.

“That sounds good to me.” She reached out and touched Adele’s hand. “There’s no need to walk on eggshells. I’m sorry for putting you in this situation.”

“No, that’s what happens when you marry a detective,” Adele gave me a bitter smile.