traffic got a little heavier as they approached downtown and the park.
It was easy to look at the people walking by.
“there is a guy with a blue jacket,” taft said, pointing to a man on the right sidewalk, with his back to the passengers in the car. “is that him?”
“he could be,” grundy answered. “i can’t see his face..”
“pull over,” taft ordered roselli.
roselli moved up and pulled over to a spot about ten yards ahead of the man in the blue jacket.
taft got out of the car. he told grundy to get out too.
the man in the blue jacket approached, apparently oblivious to taft who had stepped out on to the sidewalk.
“excuse me, sir,” taft said to the man.
“yeah?’ the man stopped.
taft showed him his i d. “i am from the secret service.”
“so? what’s that got to do with me?” seen close up, the man was “just a guy”, about thirty years old, with short hair and brown eyes and no distinguishing characteristics.
grundy had kept behind taft. taft turned to him. “is this the guy?”
“um - he might be. i didn’t really get a good look at him.”
“didn’t get a good look at him! didn’t you talk to him?”
“well, i was, uh, trying not to look at him, you know, you know how you do with bums, you just want to get past them.”
“who are you calling a bum, little man?” the man in the blue jacket showed a little annoyance for the first time.
“i was just saying,” grundy said. “in a manner of speaking.”
taft was annoyed too. “can you say for sure it isn’t him?” he asked grundy.
“no, i can’t say for sure it isn’t him.”
“all right, get in the car,” taft told the man.
“what! i didn’t do anything! i got my rights! “ the man looked at grundy. “i never seen - “
“yes?” taft asked him. “you never seen what?’
“i was going to say i never seen this little guy before but maybe i have .”
“oh? where?” taft asked.
“selling newspapers. on the street. down by - down by somewhere - i don’t know - “
“it looks like nobody knows much of anything,” said taft. “just come along, and we will figure out what everybody knows.”
the man in the blue jacket looked around. nobody in the street had stopped to watch the encounter. everybody who had approached them had picked up their pace until they were well past them.
“this is crazy. i got my rights,” he repeated.
“we know all about your rights. you don’t have to say anything right now. just get in the car, ” taft told him.
with a classic “last despairing glance” the man followed taft into the car.
“keep your hands where i can see them,” taft warned him. he pulled his coat back to show his holster. “we don’t want to have to cuff you.”
roselli started the car. he looked at the man in the rear view mirror. “ he fits the description anyway.” he said. “he looks like just a guy.”
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