In the Heat of the Night

him. And while he did not like to admit it to himself, he knew that Tibbs had something on the ball. How much he was not yet prepared to estimate, but the unhappy suspicion lurked that Tibbs might be better than anyone on the local force, which included himself. Gillespie felt much as a student pilot does who is sure he knows how to fly but who, faced with an unexpected situation which he has never before been called upon to meet, dearly wishes to have his instructor take over the responsibility. Gillespie had never had an instructor on whom to rely, which made it just a little bit worse.
    “I see by your card, Mr. Gottschalk,” Tibbs began, “that you are a field-test engineer.”
    “That’s right,” Gottschalk replied in a reasonable tone of voice. “We’ve heavily tied in with the work at the Cape. I was on my way down there when I passed through here.”
    “To be at the shoot they had yesterday?”
    “Yes, that’s right, Mr. Tibbs.”
    “What’s the Cape?” Gillespie interjected.
    “Cape Kennedy.”
    “Oh, of course.” Gillespie nodded to Tibbs to go on. Then he glanced over at Ralph. The counterman was standing with his mouth partway open, as though struck by the fact that the man at whom he had pointed the finger of suspicion had something to do with the spectacular events about which he had read in the papers.
    “After you stopped at the diner, Mr. Gottschalk, did you continue on south through the city?”
    “Yes, I did. I stayed right on the highway. In fact I didn’t stop until I needed gas about a hundred and fifty miles or so down the line.”
    “What is your security clearance, Mr. Gottschalk?”
    Tibbs asked.
    “Secret and Q.”
    “Then you have done, or are doing, nuclear work.”
    ”Yes, that’s right. Our company has several contracts in the field.”
    "To clear up a point, may I ask why you were driving at that hour instead of flying down or possibly taking the train?”
    “That’s a reasonable question, Mr. Tibbs. I drove down this time because I hoped to have my wife join me and we would take a week on the Keys after the shoot. That is, if it went well. I can only say generally that after the shoot it was necessary for me to go back to the plant, which is why I am here now.”
    “In other words, you drove down so you would have your car available in case Mrs. Gottschalk could join you for a week’s vacation?”
    “Exactly.”
    “And the reason for driving that late?”
    “The heat. It was fierce. I don’t have air-conditioning in the car, so I chose to drive at night, at least as much as I safely could, in order to be a little more comfortable.”
    “Then the only thing left to ask you, sir, is whether or not, in driving through Wells, you noticed anything unusual in any way. I’m assuming you didn’t see a body in the road or you would have stopped. But did you see anything else that might be helpful? Any pedestrians? Any signs of any sort of activity?”
    Gottschalk shook his head. “I’m not trying to hold out on you to avoid involvement, but I truthfully didn’t see anything at all. In fact, if you will excuse my saying so, the town appeared completely dead to me.”
    Tibbs rose. “You have been very helpful, sir, and we appreciate your willingness to take the time on our behalf.”
    Gottschalk swung to his feet. “Am I free to go now?”
    “Of course, sir. Technically you were free to go at any time and did not need to come here. I hope it was made clear to you that this was strictly a request.”
    “Frankly,” Gottschalk replied, “that wasn’t the impression I got. I thought I had fallen into one of those local speed traps or trick-ordinance gimmicks that you hear about. I fully expected to have to pay a fine.”
    “Chief Gillespie and the other responsible leaders of this city don’t do things like that. Let me say officially that you are not under suspicion in any way.”
    “That’s a relief; I wish all cops were like you. And if I may say so without offense, I’m glad to see that democracy has hit the south in something besides the political sense. Good-bye, gentlemen.”
    The office cleared, but Gillespie motioned to Tibbs to remain. He did not invite him to sit down again, so Tibbs stood waiting until the others were well out of range. Then Gillespie picked up a pencil and began to roll it between his fingers. “Virgil, I let you go ahead with the interview since you are supposed to be handling this case, but do you think it was the