Free Corktown by Ty Hutchinson Page B

befuddlement.
    “Let me explain,” he said with a shake of his hand. “I’ve always wanted the big scoop, the front-page knockout. That doesn’t happen too often in my area of focus, but a serial killer—”
    “We didn’t say there was a serial killer.”
    “Okay, a killer taking out auto execs one by one. Now that’s front-page news.”
    “Tell you what; you don’t print or mention anything until we catch our guy, and we’ll give you the scoop… provided the information you give us helps us solve the case.” I stuck my hand out. “Deal?”
    “Deal.”
    Hardin went on to tell us how the GM plant shutdowns affected Flint. I had already heard the same story from Wilkinson. I hoped Hardin had more. “What does that have to do with our victims?”
    “They both worked at GM at the time.”
    Now we’re getting somewhere. “Are you telling us they were responsible for the plants shutting down?”
    “Possibly…”
    For a reporter, Hardin was light on his facts. “What does that mean?” I asked.
    “I need to dig around before I can expand on that.”
    “Okay. Anything else you can tell us?”
    Hardin leaned back and fiddled with his chin until he popped forward, clapping his hands together. “The local newspaper did a story on a man named Eddie Bass. Before the hard times hit, he championed GM, almost like their de facto mascot. He was known around town as The Motor. All he ever talked about was working at the factory, until he lost his job.”
    “I’m sure a lot of people had a beef with the company. Was there something special about him, besides being a cheerleader?”
    “Well, I imagine he was shocked when they let him go. Probably found it difficult to deal with,” Hardin said. “Granted he wasn’t the only casualty, but a lot of people thought he would be safe, being who he was.”
    “Their number one fan,” Wilkinson added.
    Hardin nodded. “He didn’t take it well. The story goes that he took to drinking and eventually drank himself to death. Left behind a little girl. His wife had died a few years after she was born. Cancer, I think.”
    “Where’s the daughter now?”
    “Before Eddie died, he and his daughter moved to Ohio to live with his sister. I’m guessing the sister ended up raising the kid after his death. You’ll have to talk to her for more information.”
    We thanked Hardin, but I wasn’t so sure we were any further along on the case.

 
     
    24
     
     
    That same morning, Katherine Carter drove her two boys to St. Mary’s Grade School at the corner of Woodward and 12 Mile. Eight year-old Lorenzo was starting third grade. He was a pro at school and was excited to be back. Jackson, however, was starting kindergarten, and at four he had not grasped the concept of leaving his mom.
    As soon as Katherine parked the white Land Rover in the school parking lot, Lorenzo got excited. “Mommy, Mommy, look. There’s Marcus and Toby.”
    “Are you happy to see your friends again?”
    “Yes! Yes!” Lorenzo had already unbuckled himself and gathered his things.
    Katherine turned to Jackson. “What about you Mr. Big Boy? See how excited your brother is? It’ll be fun.”
    Jackson sat in the back seat, pouting and wiping his eyes. “I don’t wanna go.”
    “Come on, Jackson,” his brother said. “You’re going to love it.”
    Lorenzo ran ahead to meet his friends while Katherine carried Jackson to the drop-off point. She knelt down and faced Jackson toward her. She fixed his collar and straightened his Mickey Mouse backpack. “I know you’re scared, but you’re going to have a lot of fun, and your brother is here, too. Soon you’ll have plenty of friends.”
    Katherine wiped away the tears that ran down Jackson’s cheeks. It took everything she had not to cry herself as she struggled to maintain a smile. She wanted to hug him and take him home.
    “He’s going to be just fine, Mrs. Carter. We’ll take good care of Jackson,” one of the teachers said. Katherine watched