Once Upon an Equinox

by Dovie Ruth

  All the roads that led to the residential neighborhoods were barricaded. Officers were stationed at each point.

  Chad was annoyed when his plans to drive through the shantytown were thwarted by the reflective barriers.

  Sergeant Gullett manned the barrier that blocked Chad and Delaney’s access. The officer was a tall and substantial man. He had to bend over his beer belly to aim his eyes at Chad through the open window of his SUV. “You’re going to have to turn around and go the other way. We’ve got a standoff situation going on up the hill, and we can’t allow anyone in.”

  “Have you happened to see Detective Travis?”

  “That name doesn’t ring a bell.” The officer rubbed his chins. “Are you family?”

  “No, Detective Travis is working on our case in Tulare County. It’s related to the same perps who are causing all this hoo-ha.” Chad swept his hand in the direction of the fleet of squad cars parked within eyeshot. “Those lowlifes stole my wife’s car, her credit cards, her identity, and then tried to break into our house.”

  Sergeant Gullett leaned further into the open window and grinned at Delaney. “Is this the little lady?” With his thumb and his pointer finger of his right hand, he fished into the corners of his mouth for the two mucus balls that had formed there.

  Chad leaned in the opposite direction. “This is my wife, Sergeant, if that is what you mean. Are you sure you don’t know Detective Travis from the Tulare County Sheriff’s Department?”

  “Like I said, the name doesn’t ring a bell, but I can’t possibly be expected to know everyone who’s shown up today. We’ve got all kinds of officers from various departments here. We’ve got a SWAT team. We’ve got the bomb squad. We’ve got deputies from Shale County and Tulare County.” Sergeant Gullett stood upright and adjusted his hat. “All I know is that I am the expert when it comes to western Shale County. I know all the roads and escape routes through the boonies around here. Until this situation is wrapped up, no one goes anywhere without my permission.”

  “So you’re the chief honcho here?” Chad verified.

  “You bet. I’m the sergeant at the Roughneck substation.” The officer rocked back on his heels and pushed his chest forward. “I’ve worked in this area for almost twenty years, and I know every nook and cranny. There is no way those two crooks are going to get away from me.”

  Delaney kept her head down. She recognized Sergeant Gullett from her younger days in Roughneck, and she wasn’t wanting to rekindle that casual acquaintance. If she was lucky, her married last name and lavender hair would throw him off.

  Gullett wasn’t finished boasting. “I would be up on the hill with the other fellas, but the department has assigned me to be their spokesman. Right now I’m waiting for a deputy to relieve me so I can go talk on TV.”

  “So where can we wait this thing out?” Chad asked.

  “You might as well go back to Tulare County,” Gullett barked. “The entire residential district of Gusher Flats is under evacuation orders.”

  “Where are the residents going?” Delaney asked.

  “They’ve either gone up to the evacuation shelter at the local elementary school, or they’ve gone down to the business district on the main street. Or they’ve left town all together. Those are the three choices.”

  “If you happen to see Detective Travis, tell him that Mr. and Mrs. Fox are down at Sally’s Pies having some dessert.” Chad rolled up the window and put the SUV in reverse. He grumbled under his breath as he navigated toward the main drag. “Like I really expect that pompous twit to relay a message to anyone.”

  CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

  Delaney looked up and down the main street at the people coming and going. “At least half of Gusher Flat’s one hundred thirty-four citizens must be here today.”

  “It's amazing they can all fit,” Chad teased. “Like you said, the business district is only two blocks long.”

  "Well, they've got a post office, two cafes, some antique and secondhand stores, and a mini-mart. What else do you need?"

  Amid the bustle were three mobile units from the county’s predominate television stations.

  One was parked directly outside of Sally’s Pies. The news media’s presence was driving hordes of customers right in the front door for a delicious snack. The dessert haven probably hadn’t seen that much business since a mammoth gusher had blown its top not too far down the road. That was close to eighty years ago. And that was when the original Sally was baking the pies. Her great-granddaughter was now in charge of the vintage establishment. Her name was also Sally.

  A bubbly teenage waitress stood just inside the front door. She smiled brightly. Her dark eyes were sparkling, but she was clearly overwhelmed. “We don’t have any tables left,” she informed Chad and Delaney, “unless you don’t mind sharing with another party.”

  The hostess motioned toward an elderly couple who sat right next to one of the front windows. They had a prime view of the news unit and all of the happenings on the street. If they got tired of watching the events unfold through the window, they could always turn around. Live news breaks were airing on a large flat-screen television over the counter.

  Delaney smiled sweetly as she read the greeter’s name tag. “We’ll be happy to share, Nikki.”

  “Follow me!” Nikki called out as she shimmied between the crowded tables and chairs. “I have some company for you,” she informed the elderly couple.

  “Oh, how nice,” the lady replied. “Since my daughter and her family moved to Nebraska, I sure miss visiting with her and my grandkids.” She glanced at Delaney’s swollen middle. “When is your baby due, honey?”

  “In less two months.” Delaney eased herself down into a chair. “It’s a boy.”

  “And this is the expectant father?” The woman nodded at Chad.

  “Yes, I’m Chad. And this is my wife, Delaney.”

  “I’m Hannah. This handsome fellow sitting next to me is Roger.”

  Even though the waitress was visibly tired, she smiled. “Are you ready to order?”

  “Peach cobbler for me,” Delaney chirped.

  “The peanut butter pie sounds great,” Chad remarked. “Any left?”

  “Coming right up! Drinks?”

  “Iced tea for me,” Chad ordered, “and water for the wife.”

  “You’ve got it.”

  Roger looked at the young couple over the top of his glasses. “I don’t believe I’ve seen you two in Gusher Flats before.”

  “Just passing through.” Chad winked at Delaney. “What’s all the excitement out there?”

  Hannah patted her fuzzy gray curls. “Well, I don’t know about you, Roger, but I’m pretty tired of this mess. A sheriff’s deputy woke us up before seven o’clock this morning and told us to evacuate. That’s why my hair looks so terrible.”

  “You’re always beautiful, dear.”

  “No, Roger, I beg to differ. This big old floral smock is something I only wear around the house. It’s embarrassing to wear it out here in public.”

  “Not any worse than these ugly Bermuda shorts and worn-out house slippers,” Roger countered. “My legs are as white as toothpaste.”

  Chad casually steered his inquiry back on course. “Why were you evacuated?”

  “Apparently, some trespassers moved into an empty house up on the hill,” Roger explained. “Of course, with Gusher Flats being Gusher Flats, it took no time for the neighbors to figure that out. They notified the owner, and he called the police. Turns out those two are wanted criminals.”

  “Can you imagine?” Hannah propped her sunglasses up on top of her head. “We have famous criminals here in Gusher Flats. They killed that romance writer, Mavis Beasom, you know.”

  Chad’s eyes twinkled. “I can’t say I read romance.”

  “Well, you don’t have to with that pretty wife of yours,” Roger said. “Oh, what I would give for Hannah and I to be your age again!”

  Delaney blushed. She was relieved to see the waitres
s coming toward their table with a tray balanced above her head.

  “Peach cobbler and peanut butter pie!” Nikki announced as she handed out the sweet treats.

  “Looks like they’re setting up for another news break out there,” Hannah interrupted. “That’s Kay Cee Bennett from KHEK – the one in the houndstooth jacket and black skirt. Doesn’t she look stylish in those black heels?”

  “Who’s she interviewing this time?” Roger asked.

  “It’s Sergeant Gullett again,” Hannah moaned. “It’s always Sergeant Gullett. You’d think he owned this town.”

  “He needs to stay over in Roughneck where he belongs,” Roger grumbled.

  Hannah pointed at the big screen television above the counter. “Let see what Sergeant Gullett has to say this time.”

  “Good afternoon, this is Kay Cee Bennett reporting live in Gusher Flats, California for KHEK. We have been monitoring a standoff situation here between authorities and two suspected murderers. They are refusing to come out of a house they’ve been squatting in for a few days. The man and woman team are believed to be responsible for the demise of Mavis Beasom, the celebrated romance novelist.”

  “The residents of Gusher Flats were evacuated from their houses early this morning. Most are becoming impatient while wanting to go back home. Many have gone to stay with family and friends in nearby Roughneck. An evacuation center is also open at the local elementary school for those who need a place to spend the night.”

  “With me this afternoon is Sergeant Rodney Gullett, who is the department’s spokesman today. Do you have any progress to report, Sergeant Gullett?”

  “Well, the good news – so far – is that everyone is safe.” The officer smiled smugly at the camera.

  “Have you been able to make any contact with the suspects?”

  “No, ma'am. There are no working phones in the house. No one has lived there for a few months.”

  “Are the suspects armed?”

  Sergeant Gullett puffed out his chest. “We have to assume they are. At one time, Bucky Dobbs was incarcerated at Avenal State Prison for armed robbery. When he was released three years ago, he was supposed to be on probation, but he slipped off the radar within months.”

  “Do the authorities have any idea where they could have been?”

  “Well, it appears he and his wife, Rhonda Buffalo, have been squatting in Mavis Beasom's mountain home in Three Rivers, California. After they murdered Miss Beasom, Ms. Buffalo assumed her identity. Mr. Dobbs has been posing as a handyman and caretaker for several estates nearby. They lived on the Beasom property until about two months ago when they accidentally set a brush fire, then fled.”

  “Does the SWAT team have any plans to breach the house in Gusher Flats where they are currently hiding?”

  “All I can say,” the officer said, “is that we plan on keeping the citizens of Gusher Flats safe.”

  The reporter teetered on her heels. “Do you have any idea when the residents will be able to return home?”

  “They will return home once the suspects are apprehended.”

  “Very well, sergeant. I will let you get back to your duties. This is Kay Cee Bennett reporting for KHEK. We are keeping you up to date with the latest developments in Gusher Flats, California. It looks like it’s going to be a long night, folks.”

  “How’s your cobbler, Delaney?” Chad had already polished off most of his pie.

  “Delicious. Do you want a bite?”

  Hannah smiled at the two lovebirds. “I think we are going over to Glennville tonight and stay with my son. I can’t imagine sleeping on a cot in an evacuation center.”

  “If that’s the case, we’d better get going.” Roger rose from his seat. “It won’t be all that long until dark.”

  The two couples exchanged handshakes and said their goodbyes.

  Delaney felt a pang of sadness as she watched the two seniors totter out of Sally’s Pies. “What about us, Chad? We can’t sit here all night.”

  “How long has it been since you talked to your Aunt Jeannine over in Roughneck?”

  “Not too long. Mary Carol is home from college for a little while recovering from that bad car accident.”

  “Yeah, she’s lucky to be alive,” Chad noted, referring to Jeannine’s only child and Delaney’s first cousin. “Do you want to drop by there? Or should we head on home? I can see this standoff with Bucky and Rhonda going on indefinitely.”

  “Let’s take a drive over to Roughneck. I know Mary Carol is lonely. She would appreciate the company.”

  Chad reached into his pocket for his wallet and took out enough money to pay their tab. He included a generous tip. “Are you ready to go, Delaney?”

  “Ready.”

  As soon as the couple stepped onto the sidewalk, the energy outside the café seemed to pull sideways like static bands on a television screen.

  “What was that?” A roustabout bounded across the street and toward the doorway of the café. “Gunshots!” he called above the sudden panic that was erupting on the street. The few people who were still waiting to go home ran for shelter in the businesses.

  Chad shook his head. “I don’t think those were gunshots. Besides, that guy can’t see anything from here.”

  “What should we do?” Delaney asked.

  “I think we ought to go back inside Sally’s Pies until we find out.”

  CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

  Kay Cee Bennett and her news crew stood so they were shielded by their van.

  Chad pulled Delaney to the back of the dining room.

  All of the customers in the eatery were silent save the whispers between a mother and her two frightened children.

  The wait was on. It went ten … twenty … thirty minutes. Nothing else was heard. At length, a police cruiser came down the gentle hill from where the fugitive’s shanty stood. The squad car stopped just short of the news van.

  “Sergeant Gullett again,” Chad whispered as he held his wife close.

  They watched as the portly officer stood head to head with the news reporter, giving her an update.

  “I wish I could hear their conversation,” Chad mumbled.

  Delaney squeezed his hand. “We’ll know soon enough.”

  At length, the newscaster stepped up to the microphone.

  “Good afternoon, this is Kay Cee Bennett of KHEK TV. We're reporting live from the standoff situation here in Gusher Flats, California. Fifteen minutes or so ago, citizens heard what they thought were two gunshots. The noise seemed to have come from up the hill. That is where two suspected murderers are thought to be holed up in a vacant house. All has been quiet since then. As our camera pans toward the structure, you can see a lot of police activity. Officers are entering the building with gas masks. Others are combing the various outbuildings. Sergeant Gullett is here with us to give us an update. Sergeant, I’m turning it over to you.”

  Sergeant Gullett smoothed his tie over his big tummy. He spoke hesitantly. “It’s been a long day. We have been attempting to establish communication with the suspects. We tried using a bullhorn, but have gotten no response. And like I mentioned before, there is no working telephone in the house. Most of the day has passed, and we have seen no evidence of human activity. After much consulting with the various agencies that are part of the watch here today, a calculated decision was made to deploy two tear gas canisters into the structure. The goal was to force the suspects to leave the building. The canisters were, in fact, deployed. Then the team waited for a response. Fifteen minutes passed, and there were no signs of anyone coming out. SWAT officers equipped with gas masks breached the building and found that the suspects were not present.”

  Ms. Bennett’s face was solemn. “So, there you have it, listeners. Bucky Dobbs and Rhonda Buffalo have not been located anywhere in or near the vacant house in Gusher Flats.” The newscaster shifted her attention back to Sergeant Gullett. “Do you have any idea where the investigation will be focused now?”

  “My deputies
are following up on some leads.” Gullett bluffed.

  “When can the residents of Gusher Flats return to their residences?”

  “In an hour or so. We still need to wrap up our operation.”

  “Thank you, Sergeant Gullett. I’m sure the citizens will all be happy to get home.”

  The officer backed away without responding.

  Kay Cee Bennett faced the camera and continued her spiel. “Just to let you know, a hotline has been set up in case anyone happens to see the suspects. Do not approach them. They may be armed. It is unknown how they are traveling. The stolen vehicle they were previously driving was found inside one of the outbuildings behind the house. Apparently, the suspects were forced to leave it behind because it wouldn’t start. The battery was cracked.”

  “And there you have it,” the newscaster continued. “Everyone in Gusher Flats is safe for the time being, but it looks like our criminals are still on the run. This is Kay Cee Bennett of KHEK TV, signing out from Gusher Flats, California.”

  “Yippee!” Delaney threw her arms up in delight.

  An oil worker scowled her way. “What are you cheering about?”

  “That’s my car,” she sobbed with joy. “Two months ago, those lowlifes stole my car. I’m going to get it back.”

  “Gotcha.” The sun-weathered man stepped toward the couple’s table. “Congratulations on your car. I thought you were cheering because those two murderers got away.”

  “Oh, no,” Chad clarified. “We want them to be caught more than anybody else.”

  “I'll bet somebody else is missing their car right about now.” The roustabout pointed his toothpick at Chad and Delaney as he talked. “I’m telling you. Leave it to Sergeant Rodney Gullett to give two dangerous criminals almost a day’s lead on the cops. That entire cadre of officers on that hill could have been out searching for those scoundrels today. Inexcusable!”