{"id":6022,"date":"2020-11-04T21:28:02","date_gmt":"2020-11-04T13:28:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.benjamincheah.com\/?p=6022"},"modified":"2020-11-04T21:28:02","modified_gmt":"2020-11-04T13:28:02","slug":"sheriff-of-the-swamps-chapter-9","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kitsuncheah.com\/?p=6022","title":{"rendered":"Sheriff of the Swamps Chapter 9"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Liars and Thieves<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Clarks and the Woods crammed themselves into the living room. The couch overflowed with squirming children. The elder Clarks and Woods grabbed the remaining sofas. The others brought in chairs from the dining room.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

James and Kayla stood, him presiding over the meeting, her watching the front door.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wordlessly, Janet spread out photographs over the coffee table. Two dozen of them, a selection of shots taken from the ferry terminal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cTwo hours ago, I told Sheriff Smith that I was going to take you to Babylon by ferry. Five minutes later, these men showed up,\u201d Janet said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWho are they?\u201d Grandpa Clark asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSoldiers of the New Gods. The Singularity Network and the Guild of the Maker. You can see the cyborg\u2019s third eye here.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThey came here to kill us?\u201d Grandma asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMe. But they wouldn\u2019t care if you got caught in the crossfire.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ed gritted this teeth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThose mother\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

His children looked at him. He caught himself and exhaled sharply.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe New Gods have done so much to build Moreno Island,\u201d Naomi Clark, Ed\u2019s wife, said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou know that they\u2019ve done in Babylon. They\u2019ll do the same over here,\u201d Kayla said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBut\u2026 but this is our home!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Janet hadn\u2019t been kidding when she\u2019d called them civilians.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWho do you think sent the bikers who attacked us?\u201d Kayla asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThose are criminals. These are\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMonsters in men\u2019s skins,\u201d James said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBut they look so\u2026 normal<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat part of having an eye implanted in your forehead is \u2018normal\u2019?\u201d Kayla asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI mean the others.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe New Gods reach into your soul and corrupt you from the inside out. By the time someone outwardly manifests this corruption, it\u2019s too late,\u201d James said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWho sent these soldiers?\u201d the Wood patriarch asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe shooters arrived at the Golden Star Hotel this morning. After they settled down, these people visited them,\u201d Janet said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She laid down another set of photos. Stills from the hotel camera footage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNu Theta Eight-Nine-One, Moreno Island Sysadmin of the Singularity Network. Caleb Anderson, Director of the Moreno Island Branch of the Guild of the Maker. And Sheriff Joshua Smith.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A chill fell over the room.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMotherfuckers!<\/em>\u201d the older Mr. Wood shouted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The children\u2019s eyes widened. They huddled up against each other. The baby fussed. Naomi held her daughter\u2019s hands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou\u2019re saying the Sheriff sent killers after you?\u201d Grandpa Clark said, his voice freezing to ice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt looks that way, doesn\u2019t it?\u201d Janet said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou should send this to the PSB, to the press, to the Temple Commission.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe will, that\u2019s for damn sure. But for now, there\u2019s something more important we need to take care of.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s that?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAny second now, the MISD will pay us a visit. Maybe even the Sheriff himself. They\u2019re going to ask for James.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

All eyes turned on him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat did you do?\u201d Mr. Wood asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cKayla and I gathered intelligence on the subjects, including visiting the hotel. Sheriff Smith might be planning to arrest me on trumped-on charges. At the very least, he\u2019ll be looking to fish for something he can arrest me with.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou shouldn\u2019t be here,\u201d Mrs. Wood said. \u201cI can arrange for you to stay with the neighbors\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat just makes me look guilty,\u201d James interrupted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe have a plan. But we need all of you on the same page,\u201d Janet said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat do you need?\u201d her father asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cTell them what we\u2019re going to tell you. And no more.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The adults in the room digested the sentence. Stacey Clark, still holding her mother\u2019s hands, kicked her feet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAre you telling us to lie?\u201d Stacey asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m saying you should just tell the Sheriff what we want you to tell him.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBut that\u2019s a lie, isn\u2019t it? You told me that we shouldn\u2019t lie to others.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Janet shifted uncomfortably.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIf we tell the Sheriff the truth, he\u2019ll hurt everyone in the room,\u201d James said gently. \u201cWe can\u2019t let that happen, can we?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBut he\u2019s the Sheriff! He\u2019s a policeman!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cA policeman\u2019s job is to protect the people. When he sent those killers after your aunt, he stopped being a policeman.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s okay to lie to him?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Janet crouched, looking at the children in the eye.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cStacey, honey, most of the time, lying is bad. But sometimes, to prevent an even worse harm, we have to lie.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBut you said we should never lie just to avoid punishment.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis isn\u2019t punishment. We didn\u2019t do anything wrong. But those men want to hurt us. To kill us.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Janet didn\u2019t say anything.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

James knelt next to her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMen like the Sheriff, when they have high posts, they want to hold on to their positions. They want the power and the money that comes with these positions. Your Aunt Janet wants to replace him, so she can help people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe Sheriff, the Guild and the Singularity Network don\u2019t want that. They want the power and the money for themselves. They see Aunt Janet as a threat, so they want to get rid of her.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThey want to kill her?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBut why?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cShe is running for elections. The only reason they want to kill her is because they think they can\u2019t win.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBut that\u2019s wrong!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAnd we have to stop that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBut the Sheriff shouldn\u2019t kill people just for that!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat\u2019s why he\u2019s not a policeman anymore.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHe\u2019s still the Sheriff.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNot for long,\u201d Janet vowed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhy is he the Sheriff in the first place?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHe won the election.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBut he\u2019s a bad man. How did he win?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBad men win sometimes. But not always. We\u2019re here to make sure he won\u2019t win again.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAre you going to kill him?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

James said nothing. Janet said nothing. The civilians said nothing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat is up to him,\u201d Kayla said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

#<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Every cop in his career had to contend with no end of liars and thieves. Clark, James and Kayla had learned from the best on both sides of the law.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The best lies were based on the truth. Simple, minor distortions of the truth, a retelling and reframing of facts, just enough to hide what must be hidden without telling a tale too complex to be kept consistent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It only took a few minutes to coach the adults what to say. The children needed a little more practice. Over dinner, they repeated the story over and over, feeding off each other, until everybody knew what everybody else was going to say.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As the parents and grandparents cleaned up, the protectors made their final preparations. Kayla walked the farm, studying the terrain and its defenses. Janet cleared away the photos, compiled a report for the PSB, and waited for the inevitable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

James grabbed his shotgun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The first weapon he\u2019d ever owned, it was a gift from his father when he\u2019d come of age. The walnut stock was faded, the bluing thin and dull, but the pump was still as smooth as butter, the tritium dot of the high-viz ghost ring sight still glowed bright against the night. No tactical accessories. The kind of gun a farmer would own. Innocuous in the countryside, deadly in close quarters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He didn\u2019t think he\u2019d need it. But wearing it would send a message.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He dressed around the gun. Long-sleeved blue flannel shirt, worn-out jeans, comfortable boots, all of them stained with old dirt. The kind of clothes a farmer would wear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The kind of clothing that concealed the pistol in his waistband and the folding knives in his pockets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After that, he puttered around the house, doing this and that, the little chores that always needed doing\u2014while watching the windows and the protectees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At nine in the evening, the Clarks sent their children to bed. That eliminated the greatest vulnerability in their defenses. They were children, after all, and would crack quickly under pressure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

James relaxed. But only slightly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There was still one more possibility they hadn\u2019t discussed. One that he, Kayla and Janet knew was inevitable. But there was only so much civilians would tolerate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They didn\u2019t have to lie to them. They just didn\u2019t have to tell them anything about that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At a quarter to ten, headlights blazed in the night, working up the lonely road to the Wood Family farm. Two, four, six, eight of them. The light revealed a trio of police cruisers in the lead, an armored gravtruck in the rear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The MISD was bringing in the big guns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Seated on the porch, shotgun on his lap, James saw them coming. He tapped the call button on his eyeshields.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThey\u2019re here.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The cars drove right up to the gate. Bright white lights washed over him. His lenses darkened to save his sight. Eight men spilled out of the truck, dressed in green uniforms and tactical kit, their chest patches reading SRT and SHERIFF in brilliant gold.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

More deputies stepped out their cars, hands on their waists, orienting towards James. They keyed on him, his hands, the shotgun in them, and tensed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The door of the lead cruiser opened. A rotund man in an ill-fitting uniform eased himself out with surprising grace. He slipped on a Stetson hat, slammed the door shut and swaggered up to the main gate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cEvening, Mr. Woods.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cEvening, Sheriff,\u201d James replied.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cExpecting trouble?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cLots of trouble around here lately. Best to be prepared. And you?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve got bikers, killers, Husks, God knows what else running around the island. We can\u2019t be too careful.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

James stood, approaching the gate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat do I owe the pleasure of tonight\u2019s visit, Sheriff?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThere\u2019s been a spot of trouble in Saint Lucille earlier today. Hoping you could help answer a few questions.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat\u2019s a lot of manpower for just a few questions.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAs I said, can\u2019t be too careful.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

James halted two arms\u2019 lengths away from Smith.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s real late, Sheriff. And I\u2019m still on the job.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cProtecting Janet Clark?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYup.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAnd your friend? Kayla Fox?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAlso on the job.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAs it happens, we\u2019d like to talk to all three of you at once.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou\u2019ve got to do this now?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cGot a busy day tomorrow. The sooner we do this, the easier it\u2019ll be for everyone.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDo I need a lawyer?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI was hoping we could keep it friendly.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s not an arrest?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNothing like that. Just some quick questions, that\u2019s all.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThen you can leave your boys outside.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s going to go quicker if I have them with me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou don\u2019t need SRT for \u2018quick questions\u2019, do you?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThey can stay outside.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAnd the other deputies?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThey go where I go. That won\u2019t be a problem, would it?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019ve got civvies and kids inside the house too. Don\u2019t want to scare them.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019ll be on our best behavior.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cGive me a second.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

James waved his finger in front of his eyeshields\u2019 cameras, working the haptic interface. The device patched him through into a conference call.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe Sheriff is at the gates. He and his three deputies want to come in for \u2018some quick questions\u2019. The SRT is hanging around outside. Want me to let them in?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cGo ahead,\u201d Kayla said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cRoger that.\u201d To Smith, James added, \u201cWe\u2019ll let you in. But only you and your uniformed deputies. Not SRT.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThank you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

James opened the gate. The deputies drove in the rest of the way and parked their cars by the main door. Smith ostentatiously strolled around the gravel patch, checking the other two vehicles parked here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSaw something interesting?\u201d James asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThese are the Clarks\u2019 cars, aren\u2019t they? They\u2019re staying with you?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI was hoping I could talk to them.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThey\u2019re all inside.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAlright,\u201d Smith said, and gave James a once-over. \u201cYou sure you need that weapon?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMy client was attacked twice in two days. Got to be ready for a third try.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt might make some people nervous, carrying artillery like that around.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s just a plain old shotgun.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Smith laughed. James grinned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cKeep it pointed somewhere safe at all times,\u201d Smith said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOf course.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kayla opened the main door. She, too, had a shotgun similar to James\u2019, slung around her shoulder, pointed safely at the floor. This one was borrowed from the Woods\u2019 arsenal, chosen for its combination of plain looks and lethal potential.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cEvening, Sheriff,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cEvening, Ms. Fox. Hope you don\u2019t mind the intrusion.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou caught us just as we were going to bed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe won\u2019t take up too much of your time. I promise.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cLet\u2019s get this over and done with.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Clarks and the Woods were waiting inside the living room. The Woods offered seats to the cops. The Sheriff and his men demurred, and so Kayla and James remained standing. Smith looked around, his gaze lingering on the doors, the stairs, Janet Clark.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s all this about, then?\u201d Janet asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThere was a disturbance earlier today at the Gold Star Hotel. I was hoping you could assist with our investigation.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMust be a major crime for you to look into it personally.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe had reports of armed men at the hotel. Know anything about that?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI wasn\u2019t anywhere near it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAnd the rest of you?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe were here all day,\u201d Grandpa Clark said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOh? What were you doing?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHiding,\u201d Grandma Clark said bluntly. \u201cSince someone<\/em> couldn\u2019t protect us from hitmen.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019re chasing down every lead. It\u2019s a complex case, and I can\u2019t reveal any additional details, but we\u2019ll get to the bottom of it,\u201d Smith said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDoes it have anything to do with the scene at the hotel?\u201d James asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMaybe it does. We also think you might have been there too.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOh?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAt five twenty-four pm, a man matching your description was seen entering the hotel. He talked his way into a suite. A few minutes later, he ran out and hit the fire alarm. As the guests evacuated the hotel, he escaped in the confusion.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

James raised an eyebrow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat wasn\u2019t me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSure. But we have to ask anyway.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWas anything stolen?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNo. So far as we can tell, he stepped in, looked around, then stepped out and set off the alarm.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s the problem, then?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s still a crime, even if nothing was stolen. We have to investigate.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cPretty serious crime for you to send in the SRT.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cEspecially since your resources are tight,\u201d Kayla added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBecause of the armed men. We can\u2019t be too careful.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

James smiled humorlessly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSure.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat does this suspect look like?\u201d Janet asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Smith fished a phone from his pocket and unfolded it into a mini tablet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve gotten stills from the security cameras. Suspect looks a lot like Mr. Wood, doesn\u2019t it?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The screen displayed a top-down view of James Wood, walking towards the elevator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDo I look like I\u2019ve got gray hair to you?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWigs and hair dye are everywhere.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

James pointed at his cheek.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDon\u2019t have a mole here either.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMoles can be drawn in or erased.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cEyebrows aren\u2019t the same, heights aren\u2019t the same, you\u2019re really stretching things, Sheriff.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHe doesn\u2019t even look anywhere like him,\u201d Janet protested.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve got to chase down every lead,\u201d Smith said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHow did you <\/em>know to come here anyway?\u201d Mr. Wood asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSources and means, sir. Can\u2019t divulge them.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJames couldn\u2019t have been in Saint Lucile. He was here all day long.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSince when?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cLast night. After the Clarks settled down, he stayed in the house all day.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Smith turned to James.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat did you do all day?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cStood watch. Did the chores. Protected the Clarks,\u201d James said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat\u2019s all?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat kind of chores?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cVehicle and equipment maintenance. Checking groceries and supplies. Cleaning up. That sort of thing.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou\u2019re contracted to protect the Clark family?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe job is to protect Detective Clark. Since hitmen are going after her family now, protecting her means protecting them too.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDid you leave the house at all?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJust for chores.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIs that so?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Clark turned in place, taking in everyone in the room.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIs this everyone in the house?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe kids are sleeping upstairs,\u201d Ed said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou don\u2019t mind if we look around, do you?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe do,\u201d the Woods said as one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThought you said you were here for some quick questions?\u201d Clark asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI did. Just want to know if there\u2019s anyone else here.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNo one else. And the subject of your investigation is right in front of you, isn\u2019t he?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNo harm looking.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou came here to ask about me, here I am,\u201d James said. \u201cNo need to wake up the kids. Just to let you know, Sheriff, I\u2019m recording this conversation on my eye.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

His cyber eye, not his eyeshields.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Smith nodded somberly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou\u2019ve got anyone who can vouch for you?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe can,\u201d Ed said. \u201cI saw Mr. James walking around the house all day.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou saw what he did?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAs he said. Chores and standing watch. He did a real good job of them too.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCan anyone tell me what he was doing at around five today?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHe was doing one of those security checks,\u201d Mr. Wood said. \u201cWalking around the house.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAnd when did he come back?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAbout an hour later.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI noticed you have security cameras. I\u2019d like to see the footage.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHe was inside<\/em> the house. He won\u2019t show up there. And, no, we don\u2019t have cameras indoors.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAh. So everyone saw him all the time?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe all stayed on the ground floor,\u201d Grandpa Clark said. \u201cHe went upstairs for a while, then came back down.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen was that?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAbout six or so. Wasn\u2019t paying attention at the time.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSheriff, Saint Lucille is over three and a half hours away from here by car. Maybe longer. I couldn\u2019t possibly have zipped down there and back up here in an hour,\u201d James said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat\u2019s a fair point. Detective Clark, Ms. Fox, what about the two of you? What were you doing between five to six in the evening?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cProtecting my client,\u201d Kayla said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAnd where were you two?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Janet Clark smiled like a shark.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFunny you should ask that question, Sheriff. I emailed you where I was going in the early evening. Did you get my message?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYup. Answered it too.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cKayla and I were in Saint Lucille, watching the ferry terminal. A few minutes after I sent that email, we saw something real fishy.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Janet spread out the terminal photos across the table.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWere these the \u2018armed men\u2019 who showed up at the hotel?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Smith\u2019s eyes widened a fraction. Color bled from his cheeks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhere did you get these from?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cEvery time I alerted your office of my location and plans, hitmen followed me there. I decided to run a test. I set up near the terminal, then sent that email. These men showed up. And, as you can see, at least one of them is a cyborg from the Singularity Network.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know who they are.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou\u2019re saying they\u2019re not deputies.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNo, of course not. I\u2019d have liaised with you to arrange a plainclothes or uniformed detail.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBut you didn\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI was checking to see if I had anybody to spare. Then the incident at the hotel occurred.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWere these the same men who showed up at the hotel?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Smith leaned in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI can\u2019t say for sure. Could you send me a copy of the raw photos you took? That could help us.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Janet smirked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCertainly.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhy didn\u2019t you call the MISD?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe same MISD that told these men where I was going to be? Come on. If I didn\u2019t know better, I\u2019d say you sic\u2019d them.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Smith went completely, totally, still for a moment. Then he breathed out and shook his head.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou know I wouldn\u2019t do that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m sure,\u201d Janet said dryly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019ll direct Professional Standards to investigate everyone who works in my office. I won\u2019t tolerate any leaks inside the MISD, especially to a gang of assassins.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201c\u2018Assassins\u2019,\u201d James mused. \u201cHow did you know that?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWell, what else could they be?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIf they\u2019re assassins, then this makes it terrorism. This makes it PSB businesses,\u201d Clark said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019d hold off on alerting the Bureau. We don\u2019t know enough about the situation to make that call.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cToo late for that. I\u2019ve already filed the paperwork. The PSB would be getting back to me soon.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Smith\u2019s eyes hardened.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2026 see.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou\u2019ve got cyborgs, hitmen and terrorists running around. Seems you\u2019ve got more important things to do than to question James,\u201d Kayla said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve got a few more questions and we\u2019ll be through,\u201d Smith said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFire away,\u201d Janet said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cA gravcar was spotted landing near the hotel, shortly before the break-in. The suspect stepped out and headed to the hotel on foot. The gravcar took off, and reappeared near the terminal. It stayed there for about fifteen minutes. Shortly after the suspect entered the hotel room, the gravcar took off. It picked him off a few blocks away from the hotel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDo you know anything about this?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe photos show the suspects at the terminal arrived in four gravcars. Could have been one of them,\u201d Kayla said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cImpossible. The vehicle we tracked was a silver Subaru. None of these vehicles match the description. Besides, we had images of the vehicle from street cameras.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe don\u2019t own any gravcars.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThen where did you take the photos from?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her eyes narrowed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou\u2019ve got a leak in your department, and you want me to tell you where I set up? Why?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhy not?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAre you accusing me of aiding and abetting a crime?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCan you show me you were not in the gravcar?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat happened to innocent until proven guilty?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis isn\u2019t a trial.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThen what is this?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cJust some questions. That\u2019s all.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou\u2019re trying to pin this on us.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe photos were taken at ground level, from long range. Where were you?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAt ground level, a long way from the ferry terminal. And that\u2019s all I\u2019m going to say.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCome on, Janet, work with me here\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHitmen made two runs at my client already,\u201d Kayla interrupted. \u201cWe\u2019ve established that they\u2019re getting information from your office. We tell where she was, we tell them how to track us. No. We cannot afford to cooperate.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cPerhaps you could account for your activities today, then.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe left the house after lunch. We reached Saint Lucille where we set up for the stakeout. When the suspects arrived at the terminal, we snapped away. After that, we returned to the house,\u201d Janet said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDidn\u2019t you say you were home all day?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat was me,\u201d James said. \u201cNone of us said Janet or Kayla stayed home.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAh, my mistake. Could you give me a timeline?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe left at about a quarter past four. We reached Saint Lucille a half hour later. I sent the email and settled down. We abandoned the stakeout immediately after the suspects left.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou reached Saint Lucille a half hour later? How?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI lent them my gravcar,\u201d James said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A smile crept across Smith\u2019s face.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIs that right? Well, aside from the suspect, street sensors showed only one gravcar in the vicinity of the hotel and the terminal.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou also said it was a silver Subaru. Mine isn\u2019t. I could show you if you want.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSure.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

James led the way to the garage. Kayla, Clark, Smith and the deputies followed. The size of a barn, the garage stood alone, off to the left of the farmhouse. Past the gates, the SRT members congregated around the cruisers, ready to burst in on command.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

James ignored the tac team and pulled out his remotes. With a series of clicks, he opened all four garage doors and turned on the lights.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A pickup truck. A 4X4 utility vehicle. A riding lawn mower.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And a green Subaru.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat\u2019s your gravcar?\u201d Smith asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat\u2019s right,\u201d James said. \u201cGreen, not silver.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThen you don\u2019t mind if we check the license plate and transponder code.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cGo ahead.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Smith squatted by the car, examining the front and rear license plates, and ran them against his tablet. James climbed into his car, turned on the engine, and displayed the transponder code on the heads up display. Smith checked the code too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Smith wouldn\u2019t find anything. Immediately after the flight from Saint Lucille, James had stripped off the license plate stickers, reset the transponder, and peeled away the vinyl wrap. Now the gravcar was back to its original registered configuration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou brought this car over from Babylon?\u201d Smith asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYeah.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDo you use it?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNever had a reason to leave the farm until recently.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNever? Why?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThere\u2019s still a target on my back. And my parents\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou\u2019re paranoid. The New Gods aren\u2019t that vicious.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOnly because they\u2019re too busy scrambling for more power to bother with me. For now.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou\u2019ve stayed here all this time, protecting your family? Being real careful, aren\u2019t you?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat\u2019s how I lived so long.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Smith laughed and shook his head.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAre you STS types always this serious?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe have to be. And on that note, did everything check out?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYup. This ain\u2019t the car we\u2019re looking for. Gotta wonder, though, how come we didn\u2019t see it in Saint Lucille.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWrong guy to ask.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kayla smiled impishly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cTrade secret,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou don\u2019t say,\u201d Smith said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI take it we\u2019re done here?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYup,\u201d Smith said. \u201cThank you for your time.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNo problem,\u201d James said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou know anything about those other<\/em> armed men? The ones at the terminal?\u201d Clark asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIf I learn anything about them, I\u2019ll let you know. But so far as we know, they haven\u2019t committed any crimes beyond brandishing firearms in public.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNot exactly a major crime, is it?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve got lots of bad guys running around. We\u2019ve got to prioritize our resources.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kayla gestured at the deputies and the SRT.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhich is why you brought so much muscle here.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCan\u2019t be too careful.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe live in interesting times, don\u2019t we?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYup. It looks like some serious players are after you. Players with serious <\/em>heat. You should go underground until this blows over.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAnd miss my shot at the elections? No.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Smith shrugged.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWell, we tried to warn you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The protectors led the Sheriff and his men back to the gate. James saw them out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThanks for your cooperation,\u201d Smith said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNo problem.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou stay safe now.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou too.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Smith offered a smile as fake as a three-dollar bill. James mirrored his expression.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The men of the MISD went back the way they came from. Or tried. The road was too narrow for them to turn back ground, and James kept the gate shut. The assembled vehicles trundled back and forth like clumsy hippos, bumping gently up against each other.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The SRT truck reversed well clear of the formation, very carefully and awkwardly turned around, and headed down the road. One by one, the other cruisers followed. James stayed where he was, standing guard until the last of them left.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He returned to the living room to find the adults assembled around the table.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIs it over?\u201d his father asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now <\/em>it was time to drop the bombshell.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe New Gods are coming.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWait, what?\u201d Grandma Clark asked. \u201cThe New Gods are what?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat happened just now wasn\u2019t just an interview. It was recon.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhile the Sheriff asked questions, the deputies were looking around,\u201d Kayla added. \u201cThey were looking at our hardware, our gear, the layout of the house.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe didn\u2019t give the Sheriff a reason to arrest us all. That\u2019s why the SRT didn\u2019t bust in and drag us all away. Since he can\u2019t count on the law, he\u2019ll have to use force,\u201d Smith said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe soldiers of the New Gods will be coming. Soon,\u201d James said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Woods, the Clarks, everybody of interest to the New Gods were clustered in one location. A huge, tempting target. Here was their chance to finish things once and for all. They could kill everyone, burn down the farm, and no one would know.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And when they came, James and Kayla would be waiting for them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

James and Kayla had used the civilians as bait. He made that choice, and Kayla knew what he was up to when he didn\u2019t ask the others to evacuate. He hadn\u2019t told Janet, the Clarks, or even his parents about this. Not until now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Someday, he hoped they could forgive him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He knew he couldn\u2019t forgive himself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat do we do?\u201d Father asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cGet everyone into the cellar and bolt the door. Janet, you too. Don\u2019t open it for anyone but me or Kayla. Or the PSB, if they get here. Anyone else tries to break in, blast them.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHow long do we stay there?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cUntil it\u2019s over.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Naomi\u2019s eyes widened.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDo we really have to do this?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cEvery time I spoke to the Sheriff, hitmen came. This won\u2019t be any different,\u201d Janet said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBut are they even coming?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou want to risk being wrong?\u201d Kayla asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe can\u2019t take any chances. We\u2019re in the endgame now. Just hunker down and we\u2019ll ride out what\u2019s coming,\u201d James said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat about you and Kayla? What will you two do?\u201d Mom asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

James smiled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSay hello in a way they\u2019ll never forget.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

This is far from the first time Kayla Fox and James Wood have had to deal with liars and thieves. Check out their stories in BABYLON BLUES<\/a>!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Liars and Thieves The Clarks and the Woods crammed themselves into the living room. The couch overflowed with squirming children. The elder Clarks and Woods grabbed the remaining sofas. The others brought in chairs from the dining room. James and Kayla stood, him presiding over the meeting, her watching the front door. Wordlessly, Janet spread […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[15],"tags":[68,106,143,168,216,253,277,278,284,289],"class_list":["post-6022","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-fiction","tag-babylon-red","tag-cyberpunk","tag-free-story","tag-horror","tag-military-science-fiction","tag-pulprev","tag-science-fantasy","tag-science-fiction","tag-sheriff-of-the-swamps","tag-singlit"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kitsuncheah.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6022"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/kitsuncheah.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/kitsuncheah.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kitsuncheah.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kitsuncheah.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=6022"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kitsuncheah.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6022\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kitsuncheah.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=6022"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kitsuncheah.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=6022"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kitsuncheah.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=6022"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}