The Silent Lands Boxset

by E. A. Darl

  “Naw, I gotta get home. I promised my parents I’d help them out tomorrow.”

  “Okay, but I’ll see you at school on Monday, right?”

  “You betcha.” Cory gave him a thumbs-up and continued on to his car.

  Mitch glanced both ways and hurried across the street, jogging to catch up with the police car. As he got closer, he saw that it was his father, sitting in the driver’s seat and writing something in a notebook. Mitch leaned down to the passenger window and tapped on the glass.

  Harvey tapped the button to lower the window, and his face lit up when he saw his son.

  “Taking a break officer?” Mitch grinned at him.

  “Hey Mitch, what are you doing down here this time of night?” He unlocked the car doors and Mitch pulled open the passenger door to get in.

  “Cory and I went to that big theatre a couple blocks down to see a movie. We caught the late showing.”

  “Was it any good?” Harvey flipped his notebook closed.

  Mitch climbed into the passenger seat. “I’ve seen better. So what’s on the agenda for tonight?”

  Harvey put the car into gear and pulled away from the curb. “Not much, but you know the drill. Not a word to anyone that you were in this car, and if I’m on the radio, you’re quiet.”

  Mitch drew his forefinger and thumb across his lips, mimicking pulling a zipper closed. Dad never let him ride along before he turned sixteen, but when he finally reached that age and was allowed to ride along on his dad’s route, neither of them mentioned this fact to Mitch’s mom. It was easier that way. Besides, the risk of danger was minimal.

  Harvey pulled down the street and turned left, heading for the edge of town.

  “You gotta see this,” he said.

  He turned right into a largely abandoned industrial park, and then left into a dark back alley. Shutting off the squad car’s lights, he rolled the car along slowly until they could see light at the end of the alley where the buildings ended. He drove just far enough until they could see what was going on beyond the warehouses and office buildings. Harvey shut off the car. Before them was a massive construction site, lit up at all angles by large floodlights. Work was going on, even in the middle of the night, as they could see bulldozers and backhoes breaking up the dirt and loading it into over-sized dump trucks. One massive demolition machine was tearing up the remains of an old warehouse, picking up the debris and dropping it into another huge dump truck. No signs or company logos could be seen anywhere, nothing that would indicate the outcome of the project.

  “What are they doing here?” Mitch whispered, even though there was no way anyone in the construction site could hear them.

  “We don’t know. We only get close enough to get an idea of what they are doing. They just showed up a couple weeks ago and started tearing down buildings.” Harvey paused then pointed off to the right. “Look over there. Can you see them?”

  Mitch narrowed his eyes, squinting in the direction his father indicated, before he saw them. Even with the floodlights, it was hard to pick them out in the shadows. “Armed guards? For a demolition site? That doesn’t make sense.”

  “No, it doesn’t. The police have been told nothing about this project. They haven’t asked us to keep an eye on things, and as far as we know, no one has filed any permits for the work. All we know is that six months ago, a private buyer bought up all these buildings for three times what they were worth. They paid cash, so we don’t know who they are. This is completely outside of the city’s control.”

  Father and son watched in silence for a few moments, and Mitch shuddered with a sudden chill that raced down his spine. “Why are there no jobs in this town, if this huge construction project is happening?”

  “Yeah, that’s the question. Also, why are farms being sold off or abandoned? If a big company is moving something into this town, then we shouldn’t be in such dire straits.”

  Out of the corner of his eye, Mitch saw a pickup truck pull up to a group of men wearing hard hats. That wasn’t what caught his eye, though. It was the logo on the door of the truck.

  “These people are from the federal government,” he murmured under his breath. “This isn’t a company. This is a government operation.”

  Harvey looked where Mitch indicated, then picked up a small pair of binoculars on the dashboard to study the truck closer. “You’re right.”

  “Maybe that explains the armed guards.”

  “But why guard the demolition? You can see them all around the perimeter. See over on that side? And over here, just past that end building. They are stationed to watch anyone entering or exiting the site, but not visible enough to see them at first glance.”

  “So it’s a highly sensitive government operation?”

  Harvey tossed the binoculars back on the dashboard. “Could be. The odd piece of this puzzle is the involvement of the private buyer. Why is the federal government involved, if this is a private contract? ”

  “Maybe to cover up what they are doing. If the government doesn’t technically own the property, then they can work around regulations or manipulate the records. I’d guess it gives them another layer of protection.”

  Harvey turned and smiled briefly at his son. “You’re good at this. You’ve noticed things I didn’t. Too bad you don’t want to be a cop.”

  “Yeah, could you imagine mom’s reaction if I did? I wouldn’t want to be around to witness that.”

  Harvey chuckled and started the car. Shifting into reverse, he inched the car backwards, staying in the shadows. When they were clear of the alley, he turned on his headlights and drove the squad car back to town. They didn’t speak again until they were under the streetlights of the main drag through town.

  “Wow, that’s crazy,” Mitch finally spoke, breaking the silence. “Who else knows?”

  “The Captain, some of the other guys I work with. We’ve spoken to the mayor in private and he agrees we need to keep this under wraps for the time being. Just until we know a bit more about what’s going on. Maybe the government will come forward and fill us all in on their plans when they get a little further along. At any rate, you’re not to say a word to anyone, do you understand? Not to Mom, not even to Cory or Kendra. We don’t know what’s up so we need to just sit on this for a bit. Got it?”

  “Got it.”

  At that moment, Harvey’s radio crackled to life.

  “Unit One-Nine, we have a possible robbery or break-in at Pelman’s Pharmacy at fourteenth and sixth east. Can you do a drive by and assess the situation?”

  Harvey picked up the radio receiver and clicked it on. “I’m not too far. I’m on my way over.”

  “Acknowledged. Call for back up if you need it.”

  “Will do. I’ll radio in as soon as I’m on the scene.” He switched off his receiver and glanced over at Mitch. “Where’s your car, son?”

  Mitch pointed. “A couple blocks that way. Not too far from the theatre.”

  “Okay, I’ll drop you on my way. Can’t have you on a call, you understand.”

  “That I do. Not a problem.”

  Harvey stopped the cruiser at the curb close to Mitch’s car, and he opened the door to get out.

  “Just be careful, okay,” he told his dad. “You know I worry about you, too.”

  “I know. Probably the same way I worry about you, your mom and your sister. Now get going. I’ll see you in the morning.”

  “You promise?”

  “I promise.”

  Mitch grinned and got out of the car.

  “Just remember,” Harvey called out. “Not a word about anything to anyone, right?”

  “Right. Have a good night, Dad.”

  Harvey raised his hand and sped away as soon as Mitch slammed the door shut.

  Mitch watched his father pull away and turn right at the next intersection. Shaking his head, he pulled out his keys and made his way to his car. When he turned the ignition, the digital clock on the dashboard blinked on. The time was 1:15 a.m. I
t had been less than an hour since he hopped in his father’s squad car. The surreal quality of the realization left an uneasy feeling in the pit of his stomach. Why did it feel as if many hours had passed? Perhaps the sudden knowledge that there was something going on in the city. An unknown. Mitch couldn’t help but feel that this unknown was going to shift the balance of things somehow.

  The government had plans for their small city. Plans that were going to change everything.

  Chapter 8

  Graduation

  MITCH SAW CORY AT HIS locker and hurried to catch up to him.

  “Hey Cory, you heading over to the gym?”

  “Yeah. My guess is that you are too.”

  “We all are. The whole team.” Mitch hoisted his backpack onto his shoulder as they hurried down the hallway towards the gymnasium.

  “What do you suppose Coach called this meeting for?”

  Mitch shrugged. “Wish those of us who are graduating good luck, post his team lineups for next year. The usual, I would guess.”

  Most of the football team was in the gym already, gathered on the bleachers at the far corner. Cory and Mitch joined the group. The last few team members arrived, and the football coach stood in front of the group, hands on his hips and scanning the faces before him anxiously. Mitch felt a twinge of alarm as the man who had been their football coach for many years, cleared his throat a couple times before he could speak. Coach Bryson was never at a loss for words.

  “Gentlemen, I want you know what a privilege it has been for me to be your coach this year, and every year for the last twenty. It has been an honor to work with you boys, and watch you grow in to outstanding young men. For those of you who are graduating this year, I wish you all the best. You’ve made me very proud over the years.”

  He paused and looked at his sneakers and the gathered boys glanced sideways at each other, sharing uneasy glances. This wasn’t the usual end of year speech.

  Coach Bryson raised his head, eyes moving between the boys again and sighed. “I, uh, I have an announcement to make. One I never thought I would ever hear myself make.” He paused again and cleared his throat once more, the sound loud in the absolute silence of the large gym. “You boys gathered here are the finest football team I have ever had the joy of working with. Every one of you is a credit to your uniform and I, um...I’m going to miss you all.” His voice cracked on the last word and the boys tensed in fearful silence, listening hard.

  “I am...heartbroken...to inform you that you are the last football team this high school will ever see.”

  A clamour of voices filled the gym, bouncing off the walls, a sudden outburst of chatter and moans. Coach Bryson held up his hand. “Just give me a few more moments, men. The school board has informed us that all extra-curricular activities, including sports and musical programs are being cut indefinitely. Funding has been pulled from the school - from all the schools in this city - as a cost-saving measure. The, uh, the city just can’t afford us anymore. I’m...um...I’m sorry boys. There won’t be a football team next year. There won’t be any sports. No band, no choir, no art club. There’s nothing we can do about it.”

  “What are you going to do, Coach?”

  Mitch wasn’t sure who called out the question, but his mind was preoccupied with what he had witnessed with his dad several weeks ago. There was going to be money in this town, but it was all related to the government, somehow. Not enough money to save the football team, though, he thought bitterly.

  “Well, I’m going to have to look for work in one of the bigger cities back east. I have some family there, so I’m leaving right after graduation.”

  There was silence in the gym for a moment as everyone processed the news.

  It was Mitch who spoke up first. “It’s not fair, Coach.”

  At everyone’s nods and vocal agreement, the coach held up his hand again. “I know boys, but sometimes life hands you obstacles, and you just have to tuck, protect the ball and weave around them. Do you understand that?” At their nods, he continued. “I want you all to remember that, okay? Remember what you learned on this team, how you worked together, how you trained so hard to move past your weaknesses. Can you do that for me? Can you remember? There is always a way around that linebacker in front of you. Keep pushing, keep working, and keep making me proud of you. You are outstanding young men, and I have been so proud of you. I will always be proud of you. Remember that.”

  The team rose to their feet as one, cheering, then gathered around their coach in a show of support and gratitude.

  Mitch joined them, but the painful disappointment burning in his chest made it feel more like a funeral than a celebration.

  It was so unfair.

  THE DAY OF MITCH’S high school graduation dawned hot and clear, and he and his family were at the hall early. Lacking funding and on the verge of shut down themselves, the oldest performance theatre in the city had offered their space to the area high school graduations at a severely reduced price. The faded wallpaper and shabby upholstery held echoes of grander times, but the elegant theatre was still spacious and comfortable for the gathered students, friends and family.

  Mitch waited in his seat at the front of the theatre with his classmates, feeling a curious mix of pride, joy, grief and anger. He drummed the fingers of his right hand on his knee, as he bounced the heel of his carefully polished shoe nervously on the worn flooring. He glanced over at Cory, where he was seated half a row away. Cory flashed him a grin and a thumbs-up sign. Mitch returned the smile and the gesture, though he didn’t feel as optimistic as he once had. It was the end of an era and his future was still uncertain. His mind kept wandering back to the scene of the warehouse demolition, playing the images over and over in his mind. It wasn’t just his future that was uncertain. It was the city’s future as well. The government had a lot of money to invest, but they weren’t investing in the city. None of it made sense.

  More than ever, he determined that he and Kendra needed to get out of town as soon as possible and find their fortunes somewhere else. There was nothing for them here. He could see the back of Kendra’s head and the smooth line of her cheek where she sat, two rows ahead of him and down a bit. He wished she would turn around and look at him; offer him a smile or a wink, or anything. He hadn’t seen much of her lately. When he did see her, she was always busy with something else. He got that. This was a busy time of year for everyone. But still. He just wanted to know that she was okay. They hadn’t talked much about their immediate plans after graduation, and he wanted to get some concrete details in place. There was a lot to think about, and he wanted her input.

  He sighed. I’ll find her right after the ceremony, he thought. She was coming to his house for the graduation party later today. He felt a happy, warm rush of feeling at the thought. Maybe he’d ask her to marry him, just for kicks. Maybe not, though. Not yet. The party was going to be fun, and if nothing else, he was looking forward to that. They would have lots of time together after they hit the road. Maybe they would go north, first. The people up north were friendly, he had heard, and the drought wasn’t as bad there. It would be nice to see some forests. His musings lifted him out of his ambivalent feelings for a moment. There was so much to look forward. No sense brooding over the gloomy outlook for this city.

  Mitch rose with the other students when prompted, and waited to hear his name, shifting his weight from foot to foot. He caught a glimpse of Coach Bryson, sitting with some of the other teachers, and felt a stab of renewed grief. How many more losses did this city have to endure?

  When he heard his name, he crossed the stage, smiling at the principal as he accepted his diploma. Twelve years of school and he was finally done.

  But now what?

  Harvey had booked time off work to be at Mitch’s graduation, and fatherly pride shone in his eyes as his son walked across the stage to accept his diploma. He took his wife’s hand in his and turned to smile at her briefly. She returned his smile and gave his hand a warm squeez
e. Just a few more years on the Force and he would be able to finally retire and be at home with her. Safely, the way she wanted. Maybe they would do some travelling. It was all going to work out well. She had waited for a lot of years for him, and had been so patient. She deserved any vacation she wanted. Harvey dropped her hand and applauded as the last graduate crossed the stage.

  This was a good day.

  Chapter 9

  Wrong Place

  HARVEY SHINED HIS HEAVY flashlight through the front window of the pharmacy, but didn’t see any signs of movement. He moved to another window and shined the light in another direction. Still nothing. If he could go inside, he could take a closer look, but dispatch had just asked him to drive by and assess the situation, as usual. He figured it was nothing, but at least he could say he went by and had a look.

  He lowered his flashlight and clicked it off, looking around the empty street for anything unusual. The cool night air brushed gently past his cheek but didn’t carry with it the sound of anything out of the ordinary. The city was asleep this time of night and this was generally a quiet part of town.

  This was the part he liked about his job. These quiet nights when he patrolled alone, keeping watch over this city and its citizens, standing guard so they could rest easily. So many people were talking about moving away, but he loved this town. This had been his home his entire life, and he was proud of the part he played in keeping it safe. He smiled with satisfaction that all was calm. Melina was a good town, really.

  This was the second time this week that he had been called to check on this particular pharmacy. The owner of the shop had reported several incidents of shoplifting, but the culprit had not been caught. They weren’t even sure it was the same person. Things went missing in stores all the time. Then the security alarm had been tripped two days ago, indicating a break in. Since Harvey was on the downtown beat, he was the one who drove by. A bathroom window in the back of the store was open, and further investigation showed that the lock on the window had been broken from the inside. Someone knew his or her way around the store, so this wasn’t a random incident. It was likely that someone had been in the store earlier in the day, and had broken the lock on the bathroom window, planning to come back. It wouldn’t be the first time this had happened.