7

Enter Miss Hill

Come on, just a single statement, something I can send to my editor.”

“Sorry, Miss Hill, but he’s a dangerous criminal. Now please be on your way. We’re trying to clear the street to get traffic flowing again.”

The young reporter exhibited a brief look of indignant frustration before calling back to the departing policeman, “It’s just because I’m a woman, isn’t it?” Another glance showed that she was now the only one left still standing on the street, while a couple of waiting cars gave her some impatient honks.

“Okay, I’m leaving,” she shouted out to the streets in general. “But I’ll get my story.”

She turned to storm away from the direction the police were taking the criminal, only to bump into a group of several others coming right for her.

“Miss Hill, was it? I’d like to speak with you, if I could.”

Standing before her was Agent Hessman, Professor Stein a step behind him, while Agent Harris came up to stand on her left and Lieutenant Phelps on her right. The captain and Dr. Weiss stayed at the rear. Claire took one look at the setup and immediately switched from indignant to cautious. “You aren’t with one of those Italian gangs, are you? Because I’m just trying to get a story.”

“No, Miss Hill,” came the quiet response. “We’re with the federal government. I’m Agent Hessman.”

“FBI!” she gasped. “Well, that changes everything.”

If anyone there had expected Claire to cower in the presence of the federal government, they would have been greatly disappointed. Instead, she grabbed Agent Hessman by one arm and guided him on a swift walk over to the nearest curb and away from the protesting cars. Her manner was brisk and insistent.

“Well then, Agent Hessman, I have a few questions for you. Was that an anarchist, and is he associated with one of the gangs that I hear Mussolini’s backing? Well, it must be, or why else would the federal government be involved?”

They made it to the sidewalk, behind them traffic and the flow of pedestrians resuming their normal course, the incident already forgotten.

“And how did the FBI know about this? I mean, you were already on this street corner when he came by. Somehow you had to have known he was headed this way and were lying in wait. Observers, is that it? Hoping to spot his companions in the crowd? I need something to tell my editor.”

Lieutenant Phelps took one look at the babbling reporter, then glanced to Agent Harris with a quick suggestion. “I could drop her.”

“Naw,” Agent Harris replied. “I think I like her. She just needs to tone it down a bit.”

“Miss Hill,” Agent Hessman said, “if you will permit me, we need your assistance.”

The woman paused long enough for a cough to escape her throat, before continuing in a quieter tone, “What would the FBI need my help for? I’m just a reporter trying to break into the big time.”

Here Agent Hessman glanced over to Ben. Professor Stein took the hint and control of the conversation. “Miss Hill, my name is Ben. We’re here on a very important mission, but the one thing we lack is what you might call local knowledge. As a reporter, you seem to be‍—‍”

“I’m hooked into everything that’s happening in this town, and that’s what you need,” she bluntly summed up. “A reporter who knows the gangs by name and what’s happening in every seedy little section, is that it?”

“In essence, yes,” Ben admitted. “If you could just come along and help us out a bit. We won’t be asking you to get into any dangerous situations, just‍—‍”

“And why not?” she asked. “That’d be where the story is. Nellie Bly was on the battlefronts getting the news of what our boys were going through. If I’m to make it with some of the big papers, I can’t be afraid of getting into the thick of it.”

Agent Hessman stepped over and whispered a question into Ben’s ear. “Nellie Bly?”

“Famous female reporter from World—the Great War and before,” Ben whispered back.

Claire briefly narrowed her eyes at the almost-slip Professor Stein had made, but immediately got back to the subject. “Okay, I’ll help you out, but under one condition. If the FBI is involved, that means you’re hooked up to some really big news. I’ll come with you if you give me an exclusive to what’s going on. No other reporters, just me alone. Agreed?”

Agent Hessman glanced around at the others, receiving a slight nod from Dr. Weiss and another from Captain Beck. Professor Stein was still looking at Claire, a little intrigued by something about her.

“Agreed,” Agent Hessman told her. “You get an exclusive on everything the FBI finds out about this matter.”

“Perfect.” She grinned. “Now, what’s the caper?”

Agent Hessman glanced once around, then pulled her into a walk down the sidewalk, Ben falling into step at her other side, the rest in their usual positions, with Harris and Phelps keeping a watch on their perimeter.

“We’ll start with some introductions,” Agent Harris began. “I’m Lou, and this is Ben.”

“Nice to meet you, Ben. So what’s your bit? You aren’t a regular agent, I can tell that. Consultant of some sort?”

“Something like that,” he admitted.

“This is Sam,” Agent Hessman continued. “The older gentleman is Robert.”

“And the walking muscle?” Claire asked, glancing over to Lieutenant Phelps.

“Call him David,” Agent Hessman continued. “And finally, the black suffragette here is Sue.”

“I’d love to do a story on you. I’ve never heard of a negro working for the federal government before, and a woman? It’d really help the movement, I’m sure.”

“What would really help,” Agent Harris replied, “is if you stopped using the word ‘Negro.’ I’m a proud black lady.”

“What she means is,” Ben quickly interjected, “we look upon Sue as just another member of our group. An equal.”

“Well,” Claire smiled, “how progressive of the federal government. Definitely a story in there.”

“Miss Hill,” Agent Hessman began.

“Call me Claire, Lou.”

“Claire. Perhaps we can start with if you’ve heard of any unusual or odd out-of-towners.”

While Lou questioned the reporter, Ben drew Agent Harris aside for a few quiet words. “Sue, she did not mean any disrespect using that word. It’s just the way they referred to black people at the time. You’ve got to watch things like that.”

“I’d rather wrestle a lion. Which I did once, by the way.”

“Sue.”

“I get your point. Things were different back then, and we’ve got to blend in. I’ll stay quiet. But I will not be subservient.”

“Good enough. Just try not to kill any historical figures.” Ben then stepped back to where Agent Hessman and Claire were talking.

“I would have heard of anyone that unusual,” Claire was saying. “A few anarchists, rumors that Mussolini is using some of the local Italian gangs to stir up trouble, but beyond that‍—‍”

“Ben, what do you know of . . . current events? Could our target be trying to hook up with organized crime?”

“So, crime is organized now?” Claire said. “Not from what I’ve heard. There’s about a dozen major gangs fighting it out.”

Realizing his slip, Agent Hessman let Professor Stein take over the conversation while observing the reporter’s reaction.

“Just an internal designation some people are starting to use in our department,” Ben told her. “Since crime is coming increasingly from these gangs instead of lone individuals‍—‍”

“Got it. So you’re asking if your target might be hooking up with one of these gangs like Mussolini’s doing. I suppose it’s possible, but it would help if I knew more about who or what your target is. Do you have a name?”

“Not exactly,” Ben admitted.

“That would be our problem,” Agent Hessman explained. “We aren’t really sure who our target is.”

“That’s a real problem,” she agreed. “So what do you know?”

Agent Hessman hesitated for a moment, thinking how best to put it while not blowing their cover.

“It could be one of two nationalities.”

“Visiting dignitaries. Well, that’s something, I guess. So, you had a report of some foreign diplomat about to be assassinated, is that it? Or maybe one of them’s a spy, waiting here for President Wilson to come into town. That’s it, isn’t it? Some foreign power has it out for Wilson, and you’re not exactly sure which.”

“Miss Hill,” Agent Hessman began, “Claire, you do an awful lot of supposing for a reporter. Aren’t you just supposed to follow the facts?”

“I follow my instincts,” she corrected, “and I’m not afraid to go where they take me. Just like Nellie Bly.”

“A trait I’ll admit I’ve found useful myself in the past,” Agent Hessman said. “Okay, we’ll stick with the original plan and go poking around at the Japanese Society building.”

“Nice place,” Claire remarked. “But were you planning on walking there?”

“It’s only a couple of blocks away,” Ben said, “according to our maps.”

“A couple of blocks.” Claire smiled. “That’s cute. Ben, a New York block can be a whole lot longer than a regular city block. We’ll hop a BRT; that’ll take us there in no time.”

“BRT?” Dr. Weiss asked.

“Boy, you are new to New York, Sam. Come on, I’ll show you.”

She led the way in a brisk walk down the street, everyone following after a nod from Agent Hessman. They seemed to have found their guide.