Conversation · Tommy Le Homme

There's no denying it -- your body needs to feel the touch of some good performance-wear.

"That's your machine behind you?"

"This rockin' beauty?" He points at the lorry with his thumb. "Sure is, like a rash you can't get rid of. You interested in heavy duty cargo machinery?"

A motor lorry, also called a camion on Caillou and neighbouring islands. This one looks roughed up enough to be some sort of a FALN rust-bucket, maybe the A-6?

"Yeah, these lorries are pretty neat."

"Neat -- for carrying large quantities of cargo a long distance. These FALN tracksuits need to find their way to the kids way out in Uamrao and L'Iramburde somehow..."

There it is again -- a little touch of sadness beneath his cool. He thinks he's spent too long in this lorry.

"That a FALN A-6 you got there?"

"Good eye, my man. Yup, she's an old one, but reliable." He gives the side of the lorry a friendly knock. "Me and her spent a long time together."

"Interested? Not really, I just asked because... I don't know, must be a cop reflex."

"Yeah, must be -- your job's to know all those little things isn't it? While my job..." he pats the back of the lorry, "is to deliver tracksuit trousers."

"So, nothing illegal then?"

"Not unless they've illegalized sports equipment while I was on the road."

Never! They would never illegalize sport. Sport is the most wholesome thing known to man.

"Wicked. I've always wanted a friend in the underworld."

"Okay. And what are you actually hauling?"

"Can't even get a few jokes past you, my man." He grins. "I've got another haul of FALN cargo. Mostly sporting goods. Tracksuits and that kinda thing."

"I heard that one of the drivers is a woman, but I haven't seen her around. Do you know this lady driver?"

"I don't want to talk about that..." He shifts around, suddenly uncomfortable, then looks away.

This guy knows Ruby, no doubt. Just play dumb for now. Get everything out of him you can.

"Why, do you know something? What is it?"

"Man, I was hoping it isn't gonna be her..." He bites his lip. "All I can say is -- she isn't around here anymore; she isn't some evil drug-trafficker; and I don't know where she is."

"Who is this person. What's her name?"

"Thank god I don't know. People here call her 'the lady driver.' She kept her name a secret. From me, too. Now I see why."

Again -- not a lie as far as you can tell.

"I asked you who's conducting the drug trade. You said you didn't know. Now you're saying you do."

"I didn't, man -- I told you, I was hoping it's not her. That she wouldn't be mixed up in it."

He still is -- hoping. It's just wishful thinking on his part, not trickery.

It's true. We would have caught a lie. But... a kind heart is tricky.

Bah. Emotional rhetoric. He knew something and he didn't share it with you. That's a fact.

"When did she leave?" (Move on.)

"Damn, I don't wanna..." He looks you straight in the eye. "Please just let it go. Whatever she did, it can't be that bad. She's not a bad person, I know that much."

"We can't just let it go. It's part of a police investigation."

"That's how it always is with you, isn't it? All part of the investigation..." He shakes his head. "The girl's troubled -- if you hunt her down, she may not survive it. I can't have that on my conscience."

"It won't come to that. We won't pursue her on this. This is information only."

"I don't believe you."

"You said she's troubled -- how?"

"She's got the darkness in her. That young person's darkness when you think it's all over. And you're looking for a way out."

"She shared this with you?"

"Yes, which is why I don't want to snitch on her."

"I was told everyone's afraid of her. You're not?"

"I heard the rumours. I saw the others drivers looking at me strange when we talked. And she told me too -- that she's had a violent life. But I wasn't afraid of her, more like for her."

"Did this violent life include drug trafficking?"

"Well..." He sighs. "It looks like it did now -- but we didn't talk about that. We talked about life, you know. She talked about her mind..."

"Hold on. Her mind?"

"The way it worked. The trouble it was giving her."

The pain it was causing her.

"When she left, did she leave her lorry behind?"

"Fuck, man... Go grill someone else with these questions, okay? There are plenty of drivers here who couldn't stand her. Or were afraid of her. They'd be more than happy to rat her out."

He's right, there are other options -- the raceman, for one.

Wait. This guy says they're friends, then acquaintances. And he's okay with others ratting her out?

Push Tommy and it will break his heart -- and his spirit. Don't expect you to be pals.

Now is not a time to focus on feelings -- you need that info, son.

It's right here. The answer is right here. You just need to ask him. C'mon -- do it!

Hmh... the grey haired woman. Maybe she knows something?

One of them you haven't even questioned yet. Maybe the third driver knows something?

"Did this violent life include drug trafficking?"

"It's not snitching. It's just a few questions."

"It's snitching, man. I know what it is."

"C'mon, man. Life is just a joke."