{"id":6029,"date":"2020-11-06T21:11:51","date_gmt":"2020-11-06T13:11:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.benjamincheah.com\/?p=6029"},"modified":"2020-11-06T21:11:51","modified_gmt":"2020-11-06T13:11:51","slug":"sheriff-of-the-swamps-chapter-11","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kitsuncheah.com\/?p=6029","title":{"rendered":"Sheriff of the Swamps Chapter 11"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Biggest Fish<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Public Security Bureau was slow to act, but when it finally rolled into motion, it was unstoppable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At daybreak, the PSB descended upon the Wood family farm. Investigators. Special Agents. Crime scene technicians. A team of Enhanced SWAT operators for security.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Clark\u2019s men greeted them. A motley crew of deputies from all over the island, mostly junior men with a sprinkling of veterans, a core of patrolmen backed by a couple of detectives and specialists. With their federal counterparts, they walked the ground, hunted for evidence, and protected the civilians.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Inside the living room, Clark laid down the law. The PSB Special Agent In Charge bleated something about jurisdiction and responsibilities. Clark cut him off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe handle the shooting. You take care of the corruption.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDetective, we can\u2019t\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m giving you everything. The bodies, the weapons, the wonderweapon, the Godtech, the cherry on top of the cake, Sheriff Josh Smith and his crew of merry men. You get to go after the biggest fish on this little island. We\u2019ll take care of the rest.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe shooting is wrapped up in this case.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe shooting took place on private property, involving private citizens and Moreno Island law enforcement. It\u2019s got nothing to do with the Peebs. We can investigate it ourselves. We\u2019ll work with you here on aspects pertaining to corruption, but otherwise we are in charge here.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe saw evidence of railgun fire from the upper floors. Can you comment on that?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAre railguns illegal?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWell\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThey\u2019re not considered firearms, or any other kinds of prohibited weapons,\u201d Kayla said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThey\u2019re not even mentioned in the law,\u201d James said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThere you have it. The shooting is MISD business.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe have the technical capacity to assist you\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe have our own crime scene unit.\u201d She leaned forward. \u201cLook at it from the big picture. You\u2019re looking at attempted assassination, terrorism, and high-level corruption involving the Sheriff and the New Gods. You do this, you\u2019re sweet with the Temple Commission forever. Leave the chickenfeed stuff to us.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSpecial Counsel Temple is going to want to know about the shooting.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019ll talk to him about it. But there\u2019s no reason for PSB to get involved. You get everything but this, and that\u2019s final.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The SAIC threw up his hands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFine. But remember: if there\u2019s any blowback for this, it\u2019s coming straight at you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When the PSB set their hearts to it, they could move efficiently.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

By noon, headlines flashed across the newspapers. It began in Moreno Island, rippling outwards to encompass Babylon, then the rest of the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SHERIFF JOSHUA SMITH ARRESTED<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Temple Commission alleges corruption, murder-for-hire<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The news replayed the same five-second clip across countless channels. Head lowered in defeat, still dressed in his uniform, a group of ESWAT operators escorted Smith out of his office in heavy shackles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Variations of the same story flooded the Net. The brave reformer Janet Clark versus the caretaker sheriff Josh Smith. When Clark grew too popular, Smith tried to have her killed. With the help of her bodyguards, she survived no less than three<\/em> separate assassination attempts, and tied the final batch of hitmen to Smith.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There was no mention of who these bodyguards were.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The evidence was slim. Circumstantial, even. But for the attack on the farm the PSB might not even have cared at all. Which was why, three hours after the arrest, emails appeared in multiple PSB inboxes\u2014the crime tipoff page, SAIC\u2019s, the principal agents assigned to the investigation\u2014originating from a one-use only email address. Attached to each email was a series of video clips from the Gold Star Hotel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Clips that showed the shooters, the Sheriff, and the representatives of the New Gods meeting in the same room.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With Smith eliminated from the race, and the registration deadline passed, the election was as good as won. Nonetheless, regulations still had to be obeyed. Janet Clark would remain a Detective Sergeant until the day after the election.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She\u2019d won by default. Which wasn\u2019t as decisive a victory as being acclaimed to the office. But Kayla knew she\u2019d find a way to make it work. After what they\u2019d just handled, this was nothing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kayla wouldn\u2019t be around to see it, though.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Woods family home was totaled. The Woods had put out the fires, but the damage was deemed too extensive to be easily repaired. As the engineers, insurance company and architects argued over what to do next, the Woods relocated to a small town deep within the heart of the island. The Clarks went with them. So, too, did the ESWAT operators.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This wasn\u2019t the end. The end of the beginning, perhaps, but not anywhere close to the finish. Until the New Gods were driven from Moreno Island, the Woods and the Clarks would always be at risk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And anyone who associated with them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou sure you don\u2019t need me around anymore?\u201d Kayla asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019ve got James and a team of ESWAT operators with me. I\u2019ll be perfectly safe,\u201d Clark said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

\u201cThey\u2019ll be hunting for you. You need to go underground, fall off the radar for a while. Easier for you to do that on the mainland than over here,\u201d James said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat about you?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMy place is here. I need to watch over my family. And my client.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kayla chuckled. Janet smiled. James raised an eyebrow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNothing!\u201d the women sang.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The flight to Saint Lucille was long and winding. The gravcar flitted from town to town, throwing off anyone who wanted to trace their flight path. Once inside the city limits, they made a straight shot for the ferry terminal and landed right outside the main entrance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThanks for everything. You saved this island from the New Gods,\u201d Clark said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAll in a day\u2019s work,\u201d Kayla said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOnce I take office, I\u2019m going to clean up this island once and for all. If you ever get into trouble with the New Gods again, come back here. You\u2019ll find a safe haven on Moreno Island.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThank you. And James?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

\u201cTake care of yourself too. Look after everyone here.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSure. As for you, look after Yuri too.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHey!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Clark grinned. \u201cHe\u2019s someone special to you?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kayla smiled, shook her head, said nothing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shouldering her backpack, she grabbed her duffel bag, her railgun and tactical gear safely stowed within, and entered the terminal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was as dead as ever. A half-dozen people waiting for the evening ferry, none of whom had noticed her. She was still early, at least a half-hour to go. She bought a ticket, sat by a bench, and contemplated her next step.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The distant lights of Babylon beckoned to her. It was her second home. She hadn\u2019t been born there, but she\u2019d spent so much time there she thought of herself as a Babylonian.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But it was too dangerous to stay there. The New Gods would be hunting for her in the city, at least until their internecine conflicts brewed up again. As soon as she made landfall, she\u2019d have to leave for calmer waters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But where?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She didn\u2019t know yet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She had plenty of time to figure it out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But there was one thing she did know.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wherever she went, she\u2019d fulfill Yuri\u2019s final request. To hold the line until he returned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She didn\u2019t know how long it would take. He<\/em> didn\u2019t know either. But it would happen. She was sure of it. In a world of darkness and corruption, he shone. Babylon needed a man like that. Sooner or later, it would draw him back into its orbit, to destroy him or be transformed by him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She knew it would be the latter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She had to guard against the former.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The New Gods would know that too. They wouldn\u2019t leave him alone. They couldn\u2019t. His very existence threatened theirs. There would be a final reckoning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She\u2019d have to prepare for that. And prepare him, and the rest of the team, too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She had her mission. She would carry it out. All the way to the end, whether bitter or glorious.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The ferry docked at the pier. The gate opened for boarding. The passengers shuffled along. Kayla grabbed her things and joined them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Next stop, Babylon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And after that, wherever the mission took her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

This story is over, but there is a wider universe waiting. Check out BABYLON BLUES<\/a> on Amazon.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Biggest Fish The Public Security Bureau was slow to act, but when it finally rolled into motion, it was unstoppable. At daybreak, the PSB descended upon the Wood family farm. Investigators. Special Agents. Crime scene technicians. A team of Enhanced SWAT operators for security. Clark\u2019s men greeted them. A motley crew of deputies from all […]<\/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":[32],"tags":[68,106,143,168,216,253,277,278,284,289],"class_list":["post-6029","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","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\/6029"}],"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=6029"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kitsuncheah.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6029\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kitsuncheah.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=6029"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kitsuncheah.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=6029"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kitsuncheah.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=6029"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}