There's been some grumbling in the squad room.
Apparently not everyone is pleased with the attention Jefferson Chene has been
receiving. So it seemed only appropriate that another primary character
from "Why 319?" get his turn. Here's your chance to learn
about Captain Prescott "Pappy" Cantrell, the man in charge of Squad
Six.
Tell us a
little about yourself.
(takes a drag on
his ever present cigarette) Ah’m from the deep south of Tennessee. After my hitch in the army, Ah moved to
Michigan. Ah met a girl from Detroit when on leave. So Ah came here and started
workin’ as a policeman for the state.
Ain’t never been married. Ah’m
too restless for it.
How did your background get you involved in this novel?
More than twenty-five years chasin’ crooks mayhap
somethin’ to do with it. Me and my squad
close cases. Keeps da Governor happy.
Who came
first, you or the author?
(chuckles loudly) Well, he is ol’ as dirt, so probably
was him. Seems to me he was buyin’
drinks one night and we got to talkin’.
He liked hearin’ bout sum of our cases. He’s awright … for a Yankee.
What’s your
greatest strength? And of course, we
want to know the opposite, your greatest weakness.
(another puff on the cigarette) Ah’m good at pickin’ the
best cops for my squad. They all different. But they git it done. And it bothers me to admit, but Ah’m good at
politics. Ah know how the systems works.
My biggest weakness? Southern
cookin’ and pretty women. Though not always in that order.
What is it
about this mystery that sets it apart from the others?
Damn killings don’t make no sense. Ain’t no connection
‘tween the three girls. There’s more’n 2,000 square miles in them three
counties we cover. And the killer leaves that message on the mirror ‘Why 319?’
The hell is that supposed ta mean? But
don’t y’all worry. We gonna find that sumbitch!
Tell us something about your background that may or may not be revealed in the book?
Tell us something about your background that may or may not be revealed in the book?
(chuckles) Y'all sure Chene ain’t gonna see this? Ah read a lot of legal stuff. Court cases, lawsuits,
government shit, stuff y’all might find borin’. And Ah won a boxin’ tourney
back in the Army. It weren’t pretty, but it was a win. Ah’m also a pretty good
dancer, if it’s real music.
Are you the
type of person who always seeks out the company of others?
Ah do enjoy bein’ around a pretty woman or two. It’s hard work bein’ in charge of the squad. We works together to close them cases. But when the day’s over, y’all need some distance.
What do you do
to relax after a day of fighting crime?
A thick steak, cooked rare, some fine Tennessee whiskey
and… (chuckles) well, y’all figger out the rest.
What’s it like
working with Jefferson Chene?
(hesitates and exhales a plume of cigarette smoke,
watching it drift toward the ceiling) Chene’s awright. He’s stubborn. But my daddy learned me long ago, y’all do
better havin’ good people doin’ the heavy liftin’. Chene’s smart. He kinda sees around the
corners, diggin’ out the answers. He’s awright…for a Yankee.
Which do you
prefer, music or television?
Ah don’t even own a television. Music works just fine. Like this
one.
This blog originally posted on
http://motownmysteries.blogspot.com/
1 comment:
This. Was. Awesome!
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