by Josh Olsen
Jason shrugged, “Must have missed me, it has been quite a morning.” as bored of a tone as he could safely execute.
Grease Hair’s snide grin turned into a violent scowl, he stepped aside, allowing other agents inside.
“Tear the place up, pat him down,” he said staring at Jason, grinning once again.
About five men entered, and like a machine they moved from one end of the room to the other. Investigating every inch of the office. Pulling open drawers, ripping photos from the wall, tearing files from folders. The papers floated down to the trash covered floor, muddy work boots stamping on them.
A stocky man turned Jason around, patting him down.
Jason smiled to himself, they wouldn’t find anything, however, not wanting to seem suspicious, he protested.
“Can your men be a little more careful? I’ve got personal items in here.” Jason said.
Grease hair piped up first, “You don’t have anything personal Arndt, We own you.” he said chuckling to himself, “You’re our bitch.” he continued chuckling.
Jason scowled at the man, his mind raced with images of cracking this dirtbag’s skull with his fists. He smiled, imagining him on the ground coughing, as he choked on a mixture of his own blood and powdered teeth. Nothing would have stopped him either, save the better judgment of himself as he thought of his family.
The room now stood in shambles, “Are you done here?” Jason asked.
Grease Hair stood smiling, casually, he strolled over to the window, opening it, he produced a long black cigar, putting it into his mouth, “Not quite,” gesturing to his men, “Strip search him,” said Grease Hair, his voice muffled by the cigar he held in his teeth.
Jason’s heart stopped, “Fuck you! How is this necessary?!” Jason yelled, fighting off the armed men grabbing at him.
“We at Sanders Corp.” Grease Hair said, puffing on his cigar. The room filled with the freezing air outside. “Like to leave no stone unturned.” he said grinning ear to ear as if he were reciting each word from memory.
The men tore off Jason’s coat, revealing the torn up rag he wore underneath, dried blood stains and all, they tore it off him, throwing it to the floor as they continued.
Grease Hair laughed to himself as he strolled over to Jason;
“What the hell is this Arndt?” he said stooping as he grabbed the ragged coat off the floor.
Jason, now naked, stood shivering, his heart pounding.
Grease Hair laughed deeply, “You people never cease to amaze me, squatting in your shacks with these rags you call clothes.” He threw the coat down to the floor in disgust, gesturing for his men to follow him as he exited leaving the door ajar.
A few of the other officers still sat outside, staring at Jason in his office.
Jason grabbed broken door and slammed it hard, he shook with anger. He stood bathed in the cold that wafted in from outside, though Jason didn’t shiver, he stood steaming in the cold air, hot with fury.
“Motherfucker!” Jason yelled out, Punching a hole deep into the wall.
Chapter 25
After collecting himself, Jason redressed, throwing the coat back into the closet. He shut the broken door hard, forcing it back into the cracked and splintering frame. He barged out of his office, staring down any officer that dared to look at him.
Leaving the police station, he noticed a crowd gathering around the outside of the drug store, if Macklin was still at his post outside of the shop Jason couldn’t see him, the crowd would have absorbed him completely. Jogging up the road, he reached the store, pushing through the crowd, he found that stapled to one of the wood beams outside of the store was a notice. it read;
Notice to All Citizens of Whiteridge
Last night, as some of you may hear from employees or your local law enforcement officers, there was a break in at the Paradise Hotel. We have already found the party responsible with help from the local police force and will hold them responsible to the fullest extent of the law.
As many of you know, the tourism in the winter months helps all business here in Whiteridge, both local and corporate alike. We at Sanders Tourism and Traveling Inc. would appreciate you to refrain from discussing this incident with any guests or tourists
in the town. It is unnecessary as it may cause a disruption in profit in some of the local businesses. This sign will be removed in two days time. So please, let your families and neighbors know of this recent development.
Thank You.
Jason scoffed at the sign, only he and a few of the officers knew what a crock of shit this was. But everyone in town knew that the Sanders Corp. didn’t give a flying fuck about anyone in the town. They knew that they couldn’t be trusted. No one would say anything though, they knew how powerful they were. Jason looked further down, The sign continued;
On an unrelated matter, several tourists have expressed concern about a bear that has been seen near and on resort property. We understand this is uncommon and would like to avoid any unfortunate incidents involving wildlife with any of our guests or townspeople. As we know, our neighbors in the town of Whiteridge have a very rich culture of hunting and trapping, and is home to many local citizens who are well seasoned in hunting and tracking. At this time Sanders Tourism and Traveling Inc. Would like to offer a reward of $10,000 to any person(s) who are able to trap or kill the offending animal.
For any questions on this matter please ask your local law-enforcement officers.
Thank you for your time, we look forward to another successful and fruitful season this year.
Sanders Tourism and Traveling Inc.
The crowd murmured louder and louder as more read over the last lines.
“$10,000” Jason said to himself. “What the hell are they thinking? That’s just what we need, a hundred people in the woods popping off their rifles at the first thing that they see.”
The crowd was getting louder, some shouted to Jason as soon as they had noticed him, demanding answers.
“Is it true sheriff? 10,000 dollars?” some shouted at him, Jason had to gain control and fast. He pulled a chair up near the front of the crowd, standing on it.
“Alright everyone quiet down, I can take questions one at a time!” Jason yelled over the crowd, “But first, let me address this reward.” Jason thought quickly, he had to think of something.
“As you know these woods have many tourists this time of year, we can’t have a high level of people hunting every day near the lodge. As such, you will need to obtain a permit from the station first.” the crowd groaned loudly, some shouting things at Jason, nonetheless he continued,
“And….” he stammered, struggling as he tried to keep his voice above the crowd. “…And schedule a day to go out with either yourself, or a party of up to 4. If there are too many people out it can go from dangerous to deadly real quick.”
“I know that and you know that, any of us could sure as hell use this money, so let’s be smart about this.” Jason breathed deeply, thank god, he had thought of something. Slowly, he continued.
“Now, any questions?”
All at once the crowd erupted into a roar of incoherent noise, everyone trying to shout over the person next to them.
“One at a time Goddammit! One at a time!” Jason shouted over the crowd.
Languidly, the crowd quieted down, “Alright, that’s better,” Jason said, pointing out in the crowd, he said “Alright you, Everett, what have you got for me?”
Everett Becker spoke first, “Well sheriff,” he started, his slow, sauntering voice encumbered by alcohol, projected over the crowd lazily, some strained to hear.
“Just wanted to have you set that 10,000 aside for when me and Elroy go drag that bear out of the woods here tomorrow.”
The crowd erupted once again, Jason, annoyed, shot his voice back out over the crowd. “Quiet!, Dammit Everett!” his voice raised to its limits, he tried to maintain his feeble grip he had on the crowd. “A question this time please!”
The crowd quieted once again, it seemed to be growing larger by the minute, the entire town appeared to be standing in front of the store.
Maggie Bartlett piped up next, everyone knew her throughout the town, as she was always the first to call the police about anything, about whatever was drastically endangering her family’s well-being that day. “I need to know that my children are safe in my own backyard, what are you doing to make sure no one goes out without a permit?”
Jason spoke up almost with no thought, “A penalty of 1,000 dollars and 10 days in jail, I am serious about this! We will have patrols of officers monitoring the trails constantly.”
This time it wasn’t the town muttering, it was Jason’s own officers, Macklin had appeared next to him and even he whispered to himself.
Jason had had enough. “No more questions!” The crowd shouted at Jason as he stepped down from the stool. “He shouted over the crowd as he stepped down from the chair, he now stood eye to eye with them.
“Bring any questions with you when you get your permit at the station!” Macklin and some of the other officers stepped in to break up the crowd.
Jason quietly slunk back into the darkened drug store leaving the noise outside. He sucked in a relieved breath just as a hand grabbed him on the shoulder. He gasped, choking on his air, he turned around.
“Mr. Clawson?!” he coughed out, attempting to slow his heartbeat.
“Nate, Sheriff, call me Nate,” Nate said back in the darkness of the drug store.
“Alright…..” Jason started, exhaling deeply, “Nate. What the hell are you doing in here?” Jason asked trying to catch his breath.
“I stayed behind, they won’t let me in anywhere else, not even the hospital, I figured the best place I could catch you would be in here, owner must have forgotten about me.” Nate continued, his tone growing more serious, distinct. “Listen, Ashley is in that hospital with Owen right now, I know it. I can’t let her take him from me, I can’t lose him, he’s….he’s all I have left now.”
Jason thought for a moment. He didn’t want to interact with the Sanders goons anymore today if he could avoid it, but, he saw….opportunity. Now that that woman had calmed down out of her hysterics, maybe he could get some succinct answers from her. At first it had been merely a gut feeling but this reward business had gathered all of his attention.
The Sanders Corporation were greedy and tight fisted, they would slit your throat for a penny given the chance, they wouldn’t be offering up reward money unless they themselves believed there was a legitimate threat to their cash flow.
Jason hated himself for his foolishness as soon as he though it, but, he reconsidered. Could there really be something in these woods? Something menacing? Something unnatural? The things he had seen these past days made him question everything that he had thought he had known. He needed to know, he needed to protect his home, his life.
“Alright Nate, let’s go pay your wife a visit.”
Chapter 26
Nate and Jason walked towards the police station, the ice crunching below their feet. Nate pulled hard on the officer’s uniform he now wore, just too small for him.
Jason scanned the room, all but a few of the Sanders Employees had left, but there was no sign of Grease Hair. Jason breathed a sigh of relief.
Trying not to rouse any attention Jason went by the book and checked in at the front desk.
Alivia, the receptionist, recognized him immediately and smiled. She had always found him to have a rugged, handsome way about him, the thought of the bristled whiskers on his hardened face brushing against her neck sent shivers through her, goosebumps rose and her cheeks reddened at the mere thought.
Of course, she attempted to gain his attention whenever he would pass through the hospital, ever so innocently of course. She had known his wife, Sandra in school, herself 2 years behind her, she knew she had a temper about her and feared what that woman may be capable of.
Jason was taken aback for a moment, the careful tone of her soft, silken voice, he would avoid the desk normally as much as he could, but now it stirred him deep inside, he could have her anytime and he knew it.
Regrettably, he allowed himself this moment, he gazed upon her, his tired eyes consuming every color, every tone. Her flowing black hair, her tight oil colored skin emanated a satisfying light brown hue. A welcome change in color from this white frozen wasteland. Time had been kind to her, she neared 40 but neither her complexion nor her voice that radiated youth with each word, revealed this secret.
Jason snapped back into his cold reality, cursing himself for being so juvenile, he cleared his voice, “Alivia, we need to speak with some of the patients, police business.”
Alivia was unshaken by his sudden change in demeanor, she had him wrapped around her finger, whether he would admit it or not. It was then that she noticed Nate, “Who is he?” she asked inquisitively.
Jason responded quickly as he had rehearsed through his mind, “This is Nathan Burbank, he’s a transfer from Crestwood, he’s new in town.” He grimaced at his own hollow lie, he could care less what this airhead knew, but he couldn’t risk the remaining Sanders agents picking up on him.
“Mmm…” Alivia sighed, looking at Nate, “I’m very sorry for you.”
Nate forced out a hollow laugh of acknowledgment.
“What patients do you need to see Sheriff?” she said flipping through the clipboard on her desk, pausing for a moment she carefully pulled her hair back slowly, tying it up. Two stray strands of her soft, dark hair still hung freely, grazing her brow delicately.
“Ashley Clawson, and Roy….” Jason slowed looking at Nate, his gaze inquiring.
“Dean” Nate spat out hurriedly, he began shifting further away from the desk. Trying to catch a glimpse of the beds in the other room.
Jason turned back to Alivia, “Ashley Clawson and Roy Dean, both tourists.”
Alivia ran her fingers through the pages, mumbling under her breath, “Clawson…..” “Oh here she is…” she said stopping on a page, “Oh…Sheriff it says here she checked out.”
“What?!” Nate clamored,
Alivia, not noticing, continued flipping through the registry, stopping. “That Roy fellow as well. Sorry Sheriff,”
Nate broke past Jason, running into the next room.
“Is he alright?” Alivia asked confused,
“Yeah” Jason belted out quickly, not giving it a second thought, he followed Nate quickly,
Nate entered the room scanning the beds, he breathed a sigh of relief, Owen was still in his bed, he sat up above the covers reading a book. He looked up,
“Dad!” Owen exclaimed, slowly, he stood up, a hint of pain hid behind his eyes, he began walking slowly towards Nate.
One of the few remaining Sanders Agents quickly stepped in the way, “Please son, back to your bed, we aren’t quite done with our questions yet.”
“Where is my wife?!” Nate demanded,
Another Sanders Agent that sat at the table stood up, a woman, “Wife?” she asked inquisitively, “May I ask who you are referring to officer?” she asked, addressing him with a cold professionalism,”
“Ashley Clawson, she was a patient here today,” Nate continued, his voice still raised loudly.
The woman stared at Nate confused, “I’m sorry, Ashley Clawson departed with her husband Roy a couple hours ago.”
Jason stood in near awe, the cooperation of this agent took him aback.
“Husband?!” Nate yelled, livid. “I am her husband! This is our son Owen!” He yelled gesturing towards the bed.
