Sunfall (Book 3): Impact

by Gideon, D.

  “If they make me out to be the scape goat, they can justify a lot of things,” Simon said. “There’s not much I can do about the rumor mill.”

  He’d gone back to looking out over the fog, silently swinging the porch chair back and forth.

  The waiting was driving Dotty crazy. They’d made all the preparations they could, and discussed what reaction they’d have if Cindy and her goons actually showed up today.

  The houses both had their front first-floor windows covered in plywood. Thick blankets covered the other windows. The doors were being kept locked, and everyone had to use their keys when they wanted to go in or out. Seth’s reasoning was that if a door was unlocked, the City could say it was open, and that was a clear invitation to come inside.

  Marco had wanted to line both porches with people and guns, but Dotty had nixed that idea. She didn’t want anyone getting shot. Besides, they had no idea how many people Cindy would bring with her. It might just be the few she had last time. Maybe Frank and his new officers would come with her. Maybe they’d bring the Guard.

  It was just too risky.

  Over the past two days, she’d personally visited every remaining neighbor on the street. She’d asked them to keep an eye on her house, and if they saw any activity, to come and be a witness.

  If the City showed up and both she and Seth refused to allow them to enter the houses, having witnesses here might keep the City from doing something rash and lying about what led up to it.

  Most everyone had said they’d come if they saw anything.

  And now the fog’s so thick you can’t see past the neighbor’s yard, Dotty thought. Murphy’s law.

  She rubbed her cross pendant between her fingers and prayed for a peaceful outcome.

  Marco came jogging across the street from the Cobbs’ house. He thumped up the porch stairs, causing Jax to go nuts barking inside.

  “I’ve got Thomas’ cellphone recording in that upper window,” he said, pointing. “Both houses are in the picture. Lily has a phone over there, and I’ve got one here. Whatever happens, we’ll have video proof.”

  “I’m supposed to sit here and pretend I didn’t just see you come from that house, which isn’t yours, and hear you admit to being inside?” Simon said.

  “They gave Miss Dotty a key,” Marco said, holding up a silver key. He handed it to Dotty. “Said if she needs anything, to feel free.”

  Dotty pocketed the key in her apron and glared at him, but didn’t say anything.

  More lies by omission, she thought. I’m starting early today.

  “Mm-hmm,” Simon said. “That’s certainly...convenient.”

  The front door opened at the Miller’s, and Mel stepped outside. She stood fanning the door open and closed, trying to get some air into the house.

  “It’s hot as balls in there,” she called. “We could have all the windows open and have this cool air moving through if it wasn’t for this twunt and her crusade.”

  “Twunt?” Dotty said.

  Marco started to speak but the Sheriff sat forward suddenly, making a loud buzzer noise.

  “It means nasty woman,” Simon said, raising his eyebrows and looking at Marco.

  Marco nodded. “Nasty woman,” he repeated.

  She looked back and forth between them. They obviously weren’t telling her the whole truth.

  It must be the day for that, she thought, gave a mock glare to them both, and let it go.

  “I hear an engine,” Marco said.

  The Sheriff straightened and turned, looking into the fog.

  “I hear more than one,” he said.

  “Guys? Guys! Someone’s coming!” Mel shouted into the Miller’s house. Footsteps pounded in both houses and people emptied out onto the porches. Dotty stood as everyone jostled for a good view, locked the big door, and pulled it shut. Next door, Seth was doing the same thing.

  Dotty moved to her front steps and scooted over when Simon moved up beside her.

  “I appreciate you being here today, Sheriff,” she said. “No matter what happens, I want you to know that.”

  “Let’s just hope my presence is enough to make them turn around and leave,” Simon said.

  Marco leaned against the railing and held up a phone. “Start recording!” he called out.

  “Already started,” Lily called back.

  Pickup trucks rolled through the fog and lined up in the street.

  Dotty’s heart sank. They’d come in force.

  The trucks emptied out, with so many people milling about that Dotty couldn’t keep count. All of them had rifles or shotguns. Frank Stalls started calling out orders, splitting the group into two.

  “Group 1 at that house, Group 2 at that one,” Frank said, pointing. “No use of force without my order. You’ve all got your zip ties?”

  “I guess that’s my cue,” Simon muttered, and moved to the bottom of the steps.

  “Lord God, watch over us and protect us,” Dotty whispered. “Watch over Sheriff Kane as he stands up for us. Watch over the men that have come here today to trespass against us, for we know not what lies they’ve been told.”

  Marco had heard her. “It doesn’t matter what they were told,” he said. “What matters is that they’re choosing to come here prepared to shoot us, without proof. Without trial. They don’t deserve your prayers.”

  “Everyone deserves a prayer now and then,” Dotty said. She looked back over her shoulder, past Thomas. “David, sit down. You’ll make them nervous looming over them like that. You too, Corey. Dang tall men.”

  Preacher lowered himself onto the porch swing and crossed his arms. Corey scowled at her, and when she raised her eyebrows, he grumbled and took her chair.

  In the street, one of the men patted Frank on the shoulder and pointed. Frank looked up and frowned.

  “Didn’t expect to see you here, Sheriff,” he called out.

  “I heard there’s been some trespassing going on,” Simon said. “I came by to make sure it doesn’t happen again. These people don’t want strangers on their properties.”

  Frank’s face broke into a wild grin and he shook his head. “So you’re gonna cowboy up against the big evil posse, is that it?”

  “Is that what this is?” Simon said. “I see a bunch of town residents, armed, preparing to illegally trespass. I can’t speak to your motivations, but if you want to call yourselves evil, well...”

  “I’m not calling-“ Frank stopped and took a deep breath. He scanned the two porches, his eyebrows drawing down.

  “Mr. Seth Miller, Ms. Dorothy Parker,” he called out. “I have here in my possession two warrants giving my men and I authority to search these residences. If you, your family members, or anyone on your property attempt to obstruct our lawful search-“ he plucked some folded papers from his shirt pocket-“those people will be arrested and charged.” He held up the papers.

  Warrants? Dotty’s heart raced. Where did they get warrants?

  Next door, Seth strode across the yard towards Frank. “Let me see that,” he said, holding out his hand.

  Dotty was down the steps and across the grass before she realized she’d taken the first step. Frank turned from handing a paper to Seth, checked the remaining piece, and handed it to her.

  “You’ll find everything’s in order,” he said. “Men, pro-.”

  “Now you hold on,” Dotty said. “I haven’t agreed to this yet.”

  “You don’t have to agree, Ms. Parker,” Frank said. “You just have to stay out of our way. Are you going to comply, or not?”

  “Give her a damn minute to read the warrant at least, Frank,” Simon said from right behind her. “I don’t know how you managed it, but if this is legal, it doesn’t give you cause to be a pompous ass.”

  “I’m not being an ass, I’m doing my job,” Frank said. “Maybe that concept is something you should re-acquaint yourself with.”

  Dotty scanned down the paper. There was her name and address, a lot of mumbo-jumbo, and Judge Kenneth Wilh
elm’s signature at the bottom.

  “It’s signed,” she said. “Judge Wilhelm signed it.”

  “Same on mine,” Seth said.

  “Now that we’ve established that,” Frank said, “men, proceed.”

  Seth handed his paper to Simon. “We’ve got no recourse, Sheriff?”

  The two groups of men split and approached the houses, weapons drawn.

  Ripley stood on her porch stairs, holding her arms wide.

  “Wait, wait!” she shouted. “There are dogs inside. Let us get the dogs!”

  “Not my problem-” Frank started.

  “Oh for christ’s sake, let them get the dogs, Stalls,” Simon said. “You’re being recorded. You want video going around of men shooting dogs on your orders?”

  “Hold up,” Frank yelled. He glared at Simon. “Secure your dogs and bring them outside,” he called out. “Keep them away from my men. You’ve got one minute.”

  Dotty watched both Ripley and Corey disappear inside the houses. She looked around. Next door, Cathy had come out onto her steps and was watching, arms crossed and a large smile on her face. It occurred to Dotty that someone was missing.

  “Where’s Cindy?” she asked.

  Preacher

  Preacher leaned forward in the swing, tapping his foot.

  He didn’t like this. At all.

  “Pardon me?” Frank asked.

  “I want to know where Cindy is,” Dotty said. “This is her show, isn’t it? Shouldn’t she be here?”

  “The Lieutenant Mayor’s whereabouts are none of your concern,” Frank said.

  Dotty pointed at the neighbor’s house. “You’re here, her assistant is here watching, but she-“

  The rest of her words were drowned out by Corey banging through the door, Jax in his arms. He rushed to Preacher and held the dog out.

  “Hold her,” he said. “I can’t find a leash. I gotta go back in for it.”

  Preacher grunted a bit as the big dog’s weight landed on him, and he scrambled to keep hold of her as she saw all the strangers and started barking. Corey was back inside in a flash.

  Jax pushed against the swing and nearly launched herself out of his arms, so he hoisted her up and stood. Her feet scrabbling in the air for purchase, she continued to bark and growl. When those men started to come up on the porch, he wouldn’t be able to keep hold of her. He moved down the steps to put some distance between the dog and the so-called officers. The movement caused Jax to shut up and start wagging her tail. She must have thought he was taking her to Dotty.

  “Jesus christ,” he heard one of the men say. “Look at that frickin’ thing.”

  He looked around Jax’s head to see Ripley coming down her porch steps, leading King with a skinny joke of a leash. King was walking against her leg, lips drawn back and a low growl rolling out of his chest.

  “That leash ain’t gonna hold him if he tries to come after us,” the same man said.

  Ripley gestured to Preacher and pointed to her Beetle. “Over here,” she called. “We’ll put them in my car.” She unlocked the passenger door and coaxed King inside, shut him in and ran around to the driver’s side.

  “Here, I’ll get the door,” she said. As she opened it up, heat rolled out.

  “Too hot,” he said, stepping back. He wasn’t going to cook the dogs just to keep that damn cop happy.

  “I’ve got it,” she said, and cranked the window down about a third of the way. “That’ll be enough. If they’re here too long, I’ll start it up. It’s got air. It’s not the greatest, but it’s got it.”

  He deposited Jax on the driver’s seat and slipped out of the way as Ripley shut the door.

  “I don’t like this,” Ripley muttered. “It wasn’t supposed to go down like this.”

  “He’s got warrants,” Preacher said.

  “Those warrants wouldn’t have meant shit if he didn’t have all these men,” she said.

  “Okay folks, I want everyone down off of the porches. Let’s give these people room,” Sheriff Kane called out.

  Translation, Preacher thought. Get everyone out of arm’s reach so they can’t say someone was being aggressive.

  The two families emptied off the porches and gravitated to the driveway between the houses.

  “This is some bullshit,” Mel said, stomping to the Bug and leaning on it.

  “Keep recording, Marco,” Lily said.

  “Yes ma’am,” Marco said.

  There must have been some agreement, because Dotty and Seth both went up onto the porches and unlocked the front doors. When they got back to where Frank and the Sheriff were standing, the Sheriff made an after you gesture.

  Stalls blew a piercing whistle and circled his finger in the air, then pointed forward.

  “What’s he think he is, a war general?” Mel asked as the two groups surged forward.

  “Keep it down. Don’t give them a reason to come over here and arrest you, Leandra,” Thomas said, using the fake identity Mel had been hiding behind. He raised his eyebrows and made a pushing motion with his hand. Behind him, the groups pushed through the front doors at the same time, clipboard-holders bringing up the rear.

  Jax was whining, wanting to be outside with her humans. Preacher stuck his arm in through the window and scratched her behind the ears.

  Ripley made a frustrated sound of anger, and then started waving her arm in an exaggerated gesture.

  “Hi Miss Cathy!” she yelled. “Nice to see you out here this morning! Enjoying the show?”

  “Jennifer!” Lily hissed. “Stop it!”

  “Grams said there’s people waiting to show up if they saw something, but how are they going to see?” Ripley said. “Maybe they’ll hear me yelling.”

  “Well find another way to yell,” Lily said. “Don’t give that bitch more reasons to hate us. When this is all over you’ll go back to the University, but your father and I will have to put up with her.”

  Ripley put her arm down and looked out at the fog in desperation.

  Preacher had an idea. He reached out to touch Ripley on the shoulder, then thought better of it and snapped his fingers. When she turned around, he moved his hand from Jax’s head and pointed.

  Her eyes widened.

  “Yes,” she whispered, and spun back around.

  “Sheriff Kane, do those warrants let these men search our vehicles?” she called out.

  The Sheriff cocked an eyebrow at her, then consulted Dotty’s paper. After a moment, he shook his head.

  “No. The houses and structures only. And they can’t take anything with them. Just search and inventory,” he said.

  Officer Stalls didn’t look happy.

  Join the crowd, Preacher thought.

  “So they can’t touch my Bug?” Ripley said.

  “No. If you’d feel safer inside it you can-“

  Ripley turned, pushed her arm through the window, and slammed her hand onto the horn.

  Preacher was watching Officer Stalls. When the Bug’s horn started blaring, his face went from unhappy to pissed off in an instant. Preacher nearly grinned.

  Dotty turned and gaped. Seth’s shoulders started shaking, and he covered his mouth and turned to face the street.

  Ripley kept hitting the horn. Mel slapped her hands over her ears and started cheering. Corey scowled and shook his head.

  Officer Stalls was shouting something and pointing at them.

  Preacher waved his hand in front of Ripley’s face and pointed into the car.

  She lifted her hand off of the horn. “What?”

  “Get in the car. Hurry,” he said. “Out here he’ll arrest you.”

  “But he can’t open the car door,” she said. He nodded, and she got inside, pushing Jax into the back seat. He shut the door and turned around, bracing his feet and crossing his arms.

  They’d have to get through him, first.

  “Tell her to stop that right this-“ Frank yelled.

  The horn started blaring again. Officer Stalls took a step
forward and the Sheriff moved in front of him. Preacher couldn’t hear a damn thing other than the horn, but it was obvious by their faces and wild gesturing, they were arguing something fierce.

  Another horn joined in, and Preacher looked over to see Thomas sitting in his little truck with the door open, jabbing his steering wheel in opposite time to Ripley’s blasts.

  Boooop. Beeeep. Booop. Beeeep.

  One of the ‘officers’ came out on Dotty’s porch and waved at him. Preacher waved back. The man shook his head and made a cutting motion across his throat, then pointed to his ear. Preacher shook his head.

  You want her to stop blowing that horn? Come over here and try to make her, he thought.

  Something tugged on his sleeve, and he looked down to find Mel. She was pointing back across the driveway and mouthing something. He caught movement out of the corner of his eye. Two more men, this time from Seth’s house, strode across the yard towards them.

  Preacher banged his hand on the roof of the Bug and Ripley stopped. Corey got Thomas to stop.

  “Keep your distance,” Preacher called out. “Warrant don’t cover the cars.”

  One of the men stopped, but the other kept coming. “Is she gonna keep doing that shit? Our team can’t communicate.”

  “Not our problem,” Preacher said.

  “It’s gonna be your problem,” the man said. “I can arrest her ass for interfering.” His partner said something, but the man held up a hand to silence him, and kept coming.

  “Miss Lily, move this way,” Preacher said.

  Lily cast a look back over her shoulder, then backed up around the hood of the Bug. Preacher let her pass him, then stepped in front of the car.

  The man stomping towards them froze when Preacher moved out where he could be fully seen.

  “Sheriff,” Preacher called. “This one’s making threats.”

  “Call your boy off, Stalls,” the Sheriff said.

  “She’s interfering with our execution of the warrant,” Frank said.