“Twenty-second of March, 2003, interview with Frank Maloney on the subject of the unseen anomaly widely reported in Franklin County. Okay, Frank, go ahead.”
“Starting where Fred went out to pick up drinks, and George went with him?”
“Yes, if you would. That was two days ago, on the 20th.”
“Right. So Fred and George were heading down road 68, and they were having a bit of a disagreement.”
“Well, they were having more than a disagreement.”
“What’s that?”
“You told me they were having more than just a disagreement.”
“Right.”
“It wasn’t just that they disagreed–it was more than that.”
“Right. Whatever that means. So as they were going down the road, they were having a bit more than a disagreement. That make you happier?”
“No, I’d be happier if they were only having a disagreement, but you said that they were yelling and threatening each other.”
“Right. So in the middle of this ‘more than a disagreement’ Fred slams on his breaks because there’s something in the road, and, you know, he didn’t see it ’cause of his disagreement and more thingy.”
“And they ran into it.”
“And they ran into it, yeah. Thing is, they didn’t know what it was. They didn’t hit it too hard, but they couldn’t see it, you know, under the bumper and all. So they get out and go to take a look, and there’s nothing there.”
“But they definitely saw something.”
“Oh yeah. And they felt it kind of bump like, when they ran into it.”
“So they went searching for it under the car and behind, and on the sides of the road.”
“Right. What am I doing talking into this thing if you’ve got the whole thing down already?”
“Well, I’m recording your story, as you told it to me before.”
“So what do you need me for? Seems like you remember more than I reckon I told you.”
“No, no. I’m only trying to make sure you don’t leave anything out. I need to have the actual record of your testimony in this matter, and recording it is the easiest way.”
“Right.”
“If you really prefer, I can take your statement written out, with your signature to attest to it.”
“That’s all that happened. I already gave you what happened in this recording thing, unless you have more to put in.”
“Well, what happened after that?”
“After they didn’t find anything?”
“Yes, after they searched around.”
“They got back in the car and went to the store, like they were doing before.”
“And they didn’t see the thing again?”
“No, never seen it after that.”
“And were they arguing after they got into the car again?”
“No, they plumb forgot what they were arguing about. Couldn’t tell me when they got back. But apparently they had been pretty riled up about it before.”
“And was there a dent on the car, or any evidence that they had run into something?”
“Oh, I don’t know. Fred swore that the bumper bowed in the middle more than it used to, but I didn’t see nothing. They’ve tapped it into a few things already, so I don’t think they could tell one way or another where it came from anyhow.”
“Thank you, Frank. And just to conclude, you would certify that everything that we just said is true to your memory of what happened, as it was related to you by Fred and George when they go back?”
“Certify?”
“Well, just that everything we discussed was the truth–the way it really was.”
“Sure. I mean, it’s not like I can ask them again, since they went missing right after that, but I reckon that’s all I know about it.”
“Thank you.”
“You’re not going to ask me about them disappearing like that? One moment there talking to me, and the next moment gone?”
“No, that’s a job for Chief O’Connor and Missing Persons. I’m just looking into the anomaly they bumped into that day.”
“The officer don’t think I’m just making up the whole part about them coming back and telling me this thing about running into something?”
“I’ve got 27 separate accounts of people reporting vanishing lights on the road or the field, and several that report that it knocked over crops or made tracks before it disappeared. Many of those witnesses disappeared abruptly, for known or unknown reasons. Either there’s something going on here, or there’s a lot of copy cats making up stories. Right now I’m just gathering up as much evidence as I can.”
“So you do think I’m making it all up.”
“No, I don’t think anything right now. You seem convinced enough to me, but I’ve still got more leads to track down before I can draw any conclusions. I appreciate your time.”
“Huh. Time is all I got now, seems, since we had to close the shop, and the cops won’t let me go nowhere.”
“Well, thank you.”
