Cicada Song

by Bradford Combs

  Chapter 43

  “Arthur,” Stan said just loud enough to be heard.

  Arthur Harris came from the front room and stood outside of Stan’s cell.

  “What do you need, Stan?”

  “Did you know about Dad and Office Clem?”

  Arthur shook his head. “No, Stan. I had no idea. I still don’t want to believe it, but I guess you and Phil would know better than me. Like everyone else in Anderson, I took your word for what happened. You had us all fooled.”

  “I’m sorry,” Stan said. Guilt turned his stomach. “I’m sorry I lied to you and everyone else. I just knew what Dad meant to everyone, and you know what he meant to me. I didn’t want to mess that up.”

  “Frankly, Stan, it makes me sick.” Arthur said sternly, but then his eyes softened. “It makes me sick, but I also know why you did it. You lied because your father told you to lie, and he could do no wrong in your eyes. The way I see it, this is all on Stanley Sr. You and Phil were just two minors who got caught up in his mess. The town will understand that.”

  “Do you think they’ll understand what I did last night?”

  “No,” Arthur said softly, “and that’s why I won’t be telling them.”

  Stan looked at Arthur incredulously and saw conflict in the officer’s eyes.

  “The way I see it,” Arthur said, “your mother’s been through a lot already, and more’s coming with what we know about Stanley Sr. No one got seriously hurt last night, and I’m willing to sweep it all under the rug as long as Sara, Phil, and Ellis Barnes don’t object.”

  “But the gunshots?”

  “I spoke with Percy this morning. He said the gunshots were Phil shooting at a coyote; God knows we have enough of them things around here. His tussling with them also explains his head wound and broken finger.” Arthur raised a sly eyebrow to make sure Stan understood the lie, but then he nodded as if just remembering something else. “You also lied under oath during the Office Clem trial; you and Phil both did. Well, I did some research and Clem had enough charges before coming to Anderson to put him away for life, and that’s true. Turns out, he killed a man and his wife in a shootout down in Georgia and kidnapped their son while fleeing from the scene. The boy was recovered a few days later just prior to Clem’s coming here, and that’s not including the drug trafficking charges. Guy was a real piece of work. Due to this, I’ve decided not to report your crime. Some people in Anderson might know what happened, but that’s as far as it goes if I can help it.”

  “You’ll lose your job, Arthur!”

  “Then so be it, if not for the tainted memory of Stanley Sr, then for the respect of Melba Acres. She’s done a lot for people around here, and she needs you right now. I’m willing to gamble my career on that. Besides, I know you won’t let me down again. You’re already punishing yourself for the lies you told and for what you did last night. Prison won’t teach you anything new.”

  Stan shook his head and closed his eyes. The headache pounded behind his eyelids, and he felt sick to his stomach. “I don’t deserve that, Arthur.”

  “Everyone makes mistakes, Stan. You’ve bounced back after one drunken tirade, and you’ll bounce back from this one too, but this is your last reprieve with me. You got that? I got some other stipulations for you to follow, but you won’t have a problem with those. You’re free to go when that hangover’s done, but don’t expect any pain meds from me. You’re going to have to man through it.”

  Arthur left, and Stan thought about what was said. It was all wrong. His father covered up something horrible, and now Arthur Harris was doing the same for him. He tried to kill a man last night. He beat Phil into a concussion and broke his finger. Attempted murder, assault with a deadly weapon, let alone public drunkenness and other crimes; he should be sent to prison.

  A buzzer sounded and Stan could hear Arthur talking to someone in the front room. Then he and his guest came back and Stan was surprised to find Ellis Barnes with him.

  “You two behave now,” Arthur said. “I’ll be up front if you need me.”

  He turned to go and neither man spoke until he was gone.

  “How’s the hangover?” Ellis finally asked.

  Stan shook his head. He didn’t want to laugh or joke or pretend last night didn’t happen.

  “I’m sorry, Ellis.”

  “I knew you’d be remorseful even while you had the gun on me. That wasn’t you out there.”

  “That doesn’t make up for it.”

  “I know. Arthur says he’s going to get you some help, and you need it, but you’re going to move forward. I’m not pressing charges.”

  “But I tried to kill you.”

  “And you failed.”

  Stan shook his head and lay back down, covering his eyes with his forearm. People were being much too kind to him. It was more than he deserved.

  “Listen, Stan. As much as you wanted me to dislike you when I first got here, and as much as I wanted to dislike you myself, I couldn’t because you were obviously a good guy. Fact is, you’re still a good guy—as long as you’re sober. Phil’s going to rehab, and maybe you should join him. Truth is, though,” Ellis continued cautiously, “I’m hoping you won’t need me.”

  “Why’s that?”

  “I brought a friend—Buck. I mentioned him last night, but I doubt you remember. Anyhow, it might be nothing, but there’s a drug that we want to try on Jake. There’s a possibility it won’t do anything, but there’s also a chance it might...”

  Stan sat up slowly. “Might what?”

  “Well, it might wake him up.”

  “Jake can’t wake up. It’s impossible.”

  “Yeah, that’s what I’ve been told.”

  Stan laughed and shook his head. “What are you trying to pull, Ellis?”

  “I’m trying to pull off a miracle, Stan. Buck’s going to administer the drug today. I just thought maybe you’d want to be there.”

  Stan didn’t answer at first. This was all too much. Could it really be true? Could this miracle drug really work? He began to feel excited, but then the guilt hit him.

  “I don’t belong there.”

  “You belong there as much as anyone else,” Ellis corrected him. “If there’s even the slightest chance of Jake waking up, don’t you think he’d want to see you?”

  “I’m not the same person I used to be.”

  “So what?”

  Stan groaned. What would Jake say if he heard about what Stan did? The lies he told. He could have shot Sara just last night.

  “Just think it over, Stan. Buck’s going to give him the drug in about an hour. I hope to see you there.”

  “What would everyone say?”

  “I don’t think it matters what they say. You’ve been telling Sara that Jake needs her for seven years now. Well, now I’m saying that Jake needs you.”

  “But what if he doesn’t wake up?”

  “What if he does?”

  Stan rubbed his eyes and released a long, reluctant breath. “Okay, fine. Just let the others know so it’s not a surprise.”