The Last Train Rider
by
Book Cover & Preview Text
Sean remembering the hobo called Red Dragon, "What about Red Dragon how do you know him?"
Will turning towards Sean, "Let me say this, Red Dragon is not someone you need to meet, every hobo I have met over the years is afraid of him and know that he is very dangerous. He is psycho, acts nice at times and suddenly turns violent and will kill anyone around him. He is a loner and no one runs with this guy. Some say that he is a Viet Nam veteran and that has been haunting him ever since. I don't know that he is a veteran but he is dangerous and never approach or hang around this guy. You will not see him anywhere but near the railroad tracks as he feels secure there. Some of the other hobos I know claim that if he is in the area, they will sleep in a cemetery, Red Dragon will not enter a cemetery, day or night. He sometimes will have a small dog with him, not for protection but when times get tough, the dog becomes his meal. He can always find another one in the next town. Some hobos have even seen him eating road kill. Maybe that's why he kills without mercy."
Sean impressed, "Do you know if he has killed anyone?"
Will looking directly at Sean from his shadows under the live oak tree, "Yes, he kills unsuspecting hobos and train riders usually while they are asleep. His usual method is to carry a large rock in his coat pocket in the winter or his backpack in the summer. When he sees that a companion or rider is asleep, he will bash them in the head with the rock, drag or roll them to the boxcar door and just as the railcar passes over a bridge, he will push or shove the body out. Sometimes he steals their clothes and money from his victims. This guy is dangerous and like I have said before, never get close to him. If you hear of him in the area, sleep in a cemetery. Cemeteries are often found close to railroad tracks, even cops won't look for you there. Remember, just stay a night or two then leave that way no one sees you staying there and get suspicious of your activity."
Will was now leaning back in his lawn chair as if he was tired and trying to stretch.
Sean speaking out, "I know I must sound like a nerd, but this thing about riding the rails is interesting. I hope that I am not boring you with a ton of questions."
Will, "No, you are not boring me, but just understand one thing. It is dangerous as hell riding the rails. You have to contend with the train and its unpredictable movements, the weather can kill you, hot or cold, the police can be rough and not to mention other train riders like Red Dragon and Razor."
Will looking at Sean in the darkness, "Understand that there are about five different categories of train riders. First, you have undocumented aliens and they are the biggest group of riders and are usually harmless but you just never know, Texas Rangers arrested a serial killer by the name of Ramirez riding the rails. Second, you have joy riders, they only ride a short distance like across town and usually are a danger to just themselves when they fall off. Third, you have the hobos, they use the rails as their highways and respect the crews of the trains, some hobos do get hurt but your true hobo just wants to travel and nothing more than that. Fourth, you have mental patients and drug users who travel by rail and do so because they cannot get around any other way, they can be very dangerous. Fifth, you have wanted people who ride the rails to escape detection by the authorities, they are the most dangerous and if you have any indication that a person you are with is wanted, get away from him as quick as you can."
Formats
Book Details
About the Book
Sean, a high school junior struggling to keep both his grades up and his car running. His mother, Abby had to leave for a few weeks to help his grandfather who suffers a stroke, leaving Sean with his alcoholic stepfather.
When a hobo shows up at Sean’s house wanting to work for food, Sean learns how tough it is riding the rails. Sean’s stepfather goes off the deep end when he hears the description of a dangerous hobo and seeks treatment for alcoholism. Sean leaves to find the good hobo after the hobo leaves his diary indicating that he is on the trail of a dangerous hobo named, Red Dragon.
Sean soon learns the rough and tough life of riding the rails and adapts very quickly. After finding many dangerous hobos and some not so dangerous, Sean finds the one who helped him at his home. Sean also finds the most dangerous hobo to ride the rails. The drama and suspense that unfolds will keep you on the edge of your seat.
About the Author
In the nearly thirty years he served as a police officer, eight years with Lampasas Police and twenty-two years with the now BNSF Railway. While with the Lampasas Police Department he achieved the rank of Criminal Investigator and with the BNSF Railway he now carries the title of Senior Special Agent I. Robert F. McCutcheon has witnessed first-hand the devastating results of deviant criminal behavior. During the early seventies, he attended Central Texas College and earned an Associate of Applied Science Degree in Law Enforcement. He later attended the American Technological University majoring in Criminal Justice. From personal experience and through the course of studies, he shares his many years of criminal contacts in this book, The Last Train Rider. Though his book is totally fiction, he links the violent criminal mind with the mobility of today’s rail service to create a suspense novel that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Very few police officers have dealt with the criminal elements as long as he has and this book will keep you guessing as to what will happen next. This is surely the first of many outstanding suspense novels by Robert F. McCutcheon.