Dead Poor

by M. K. Coker

  His chin jutted out. “It’ll still come.”

  “Not happening.” Karen didn’t bother to hide her pleasure, though Biester couldn’t know that was only because Connor benefited. Biester would think it was all about winning. Well, in a manner of speaking, it was. “The county commissioners revoked the application for Grove Park.”

  “You’re lying.”

  Marek stirred. “No, she’s not. It’ll soon be public knowledge.”

  That finally cracked him. Biester’s head hit the table with a thud. “It was all for nothing.”

  Marek didn’t take any pleasure in the man’s shaking shoulders. Or the prospect of a man of nature caged for the rest of his life away from all he valued.

  Where was Mother Nature in all this? Connor had been healed there, Biester had been bent there, and Bunting had been felled there. A toss-up.

  As for Marek, he was going home.

  CHAPTER 45

  Karen followed Marek out of the interview room and directed Walrus to take their prisoner down to the jail.

  “I’m going home,” Marek told her when the downstairs door slammed shut. His tone brooked no opposition.

  Karen grabbed his arm before he could leave. Doc Hudson had charged her with keeping Marek awake. But she decided that was a losing battle, so she looked for any sign of bleeding in the brain, like unequally dilated pupils. “Let me see your eyes.”

  Marek turned, and she looked into steady, if bloodshot, eyes that said: enough. But before she could give him her yea or nay, King Lear burst into the office in all his theatrical finery, his face drawn, his hair sticking up in tufts.

  Karen checked her watch. Her reserve deputy had rushed his entrance. “It isn’t midnight yet, your majesty. It’s barely past ten. Was the show canceled for tonight?”

  Adam cleared his throat. “No, I ran off right after curtain. Because I got a text from a friend of a friend who lives in Aleford asking me if I needed a new job, now my boss was dead.” He pursed his lips. “Looks like reports of your death were exaggerated, Karen. What just happened here?”

  With a few short sentences, Marek outlined the night’s events. He had a knack for brevity that Karen lacked.

  “‘Allow not nature more than nature needs, man’s life is cheap as beast’s.’” Adam fingered his velvet cloak, back in character. “But the world’s rid of Bunting, so that’s all to the good.”

  “He wasn’t as bad as billed,” Karen said grudgingly.

  “Do tell.”

  She did, still keeping a hold on Marek.

  Adam mimed shock. “‘The prince of darkness is a gentleman!’”

  Karen rolled her eyes. “When does this run end? Be gone, evil spirit.”

  “That’s not King Lear,” Marek said wearily.

  Karen dropped her hand from his arm. “Your marbles are still working. Go.” When Marek headed straight for the door, she said to the mad king, “Since you’re here, Two Fingers could use the support. Bork won’t be back until next week.”

  “Gone. Exit, stage... down.” Adam swirled his way down the stairs, the hinge-sprung door slamming shut behind him—but somehow, he managed to whisk the cloak away before it was caught. One of the tricks of the trade, she supposed.

  Unlike Marek, Karen had gone beyond tired to wired. And she wasn’t in the mood to do paperwork. That would wait for morning. She snapped on the radio to hear the tail end of Nails’s on-the-hour recording.

  —folks think that everyone gets what they deserve. The poor will always be with us. The more cynical among you will say that’s just a statement of fact, nothing more, and dismiss the poor to their misery without another thought.

  Used to be what elevated us beyond the animals was our minds... and our hearts. Ted Jorgenson had one. Alan Digges didn’t. Biester lost one. Chee Connor gained his.

  And Bunting? He’s a mix, from what I hear. Good and bad. When all is said and done, though, what can I say but... poor Baby Bunting.

  Karen turned off the radio when the cell phone charging on her desk pinged. She’d missed a number of texts, but the newest one was from Larson. That her heart could leap, could beat, was a treat that she wouldn’t be tricked into almost losing again.

  Blood on knife: animal. Sorry.

  She texted back. No. Good. Almost died tonight. Marek hurt but okay. Connor, the hero.

  A lengthy pause. Coming with ball.

  My Cinderella, she texted back. He knew her so well. She needed to play. Hard. Of course, she’d prefer something a bit more primal than the hard floors of a basketball court. Well, why not? Almost dying put things in perspective in a hurry.

  She typed in, Come with slippers.

  Her finger hovered over Send. Choices, they were a killer. It was a school day. And when she’d agreed to take on Mary Hannah, there’d been an implicit contract with Elder Mock: don’t shock the young girl’s sensibilities. Booking into a hotel, which wasn’t to be found in Reunion anyway, was just rife with problems.

  And, really, just how well did she know Larson? Not very.

  Like Biester’s bur oaks, Larson wasn’t pretty, but strong and resilient, with branches that twisted and turned down roads she hadn’t yet traveled. Unlike her, he’d weathered the drought, the chilling cold, of poverty. Did that make him a poor second?

  Or a second chance?

  CAST OF CHARACTERS

  Bayton, Albert Cram. Also known as Not-Johnson, as he gave his name as John Johnson, an obvious pseudonym. One of the homeless living in Grove Park.

  Bayton, Michelle. Lawyer from a powerful Sioux Falls family. Wife of Alan Digges.

  Bechtold, Kurt. Senior deputy in the Eda County Sheriff’s Office. Unmarried. Lives with his unmarried sister, Eva, who bakes goodies to stave off her many phobias.

  Biester, Jack. Park manager for Grove Park in Eda County. Formerly worked for the National Park Service.

  Bjorkland, Travis “Bork.” Swing-shift deputy in the Eda County Sheriff’s Office. Unmarried. A native of Minnesota.

  Bridges, Nancy Kubicek. Widow who waitresses at the truck stop in Aleford in Eda County. A cousin of Marek Okerlund and of Nadine Kubicek Bunting Early. Mother of Tanner Bridges, an aspiring veterinarian who attends college in Brookings.

  Bullard, Mindy Hansen. Lost the family farm after her husband was sent to the state penitentiary. Mother of two children. Now lives with her brother Jeff Hansen near Fink in Eda County. Supported Bob Bunting at the recount.

  Bunting, Robert Leonard “Baby.” Also known as Bob. Elected sheriff of Eda County over Karen Okerlund Mehaffey until a recount gave her the victory. Former deputy under Arne Okerlund. Son of Rachel Dutton and nephew of Alice Dutton.

  Cantor, Tricia. Pastor of the Congregational Church in Reunion. Former psychology professor from Chicago, Illinois, who lost her family in an accident. Informal profiler and consultant to the Eda County Sheriff’s Office.

  Connor, Archibald “Chee.” Cousin of Laura Connor Russell.

  Dahl, Harold. County commissioner for Eda County. Husband of Janet Dahl and son of Mayor Greta Dahl.

  Dahl, Janet. Register of deeds for Eda County. Standing in for the ailing county auditor in this story. Wife of Harold Dahl.

  Digges, Alan. Nephew of Ted Jorgenson and husband of Michelle Bayton. Lives in Sioux Falls and was appointed administrator of Ted’s estate, including the trailer park.

  Donahue, Pat. Rover of the highways and byways, a retired firefighter from San Diego, who parks his RV at the Grove Park overlook.

  Dutton, Alice. Sister of Rachel Dutton and aunt of Bob Bunting. Retired legal secretary who lives in Aleford. Never married.

  Dutton, Rachel. Deceased. Sister of Alice Dutton, mother of Bob Bunting, and ex-wife of Ed Johnson.

  Early, Kaylee. A developmentally disabled young woman who works as a prostitute and lives with her brother Kyle in Valeska in Eda County.

  Early, Kyle. A dealer of opioids and other vices who lives with his sister Kaylee in Valeska in Eda County.

 
Early, Nadine Kubicek Bunting. Ex-wife of Bob Bunting and of Jim Early. A cousin of Marek Okerlund and of Nancy Kubicek Bridges. An alcoholic who lives in the old Kubicek homestead near Valeska in Eda County.

  Farley, Gus and Marlene. Campground visitors at Grove Park. Husband and wife living on Social Security. Natives of Chelsea, Vermont.

  Fike, Jordan. Nightshift dispatcher and jailer for the Eda County Sheriff’s Office.

  Hageman, Blanche. Principal of kindergarten through 12th grades in Reunion schools.

  Harkness, Doris. Disabled resident of the trailer park and grandmother of Zoe Harkness.

  Harkness, Zoe. Teenage granddaughter of Doris Harkness and resident of the trailer park. Friend of Bobby Jansen.

  Hudson, Doc. Longtime family doctor who works in Reunion at the only medical clinic in Eda County.

  Jansen, Bobby. Son of Lori Jansen.

  Jansen, Lori. Struggling single mother who works at a gas station and at Grove Park, cleaning the outhouses. Mother of Bobby Jansen.

  Johnson, Ed. One of Rachel Dutton’s husbands and stepfather of Bob Bunting. Worked for the South Dakota Highway Patrol at one time.

  Johnson, Eyre. Archivist for the privately funded Eda County Archives housed in the old Carnegie Library in Reunion. Biological daughter of Karen Okerlund Mehaffey. Adopted by Karen’s old basketball coach, Darrin Johnson, and his (now ex-) wife Professor Anne Leggett in Vermillion. After a fire destroyed her apartment, Eyre now lives with Karen at 22 Okerlund Road.

  Johnson, Mary. One of the homeless living in Grove Park. Works in a school cafeteria.

  Jorgenson, Ted. Deceased. Original owner of the trailer park adjoining Grove Park. Died from a stroke about three months prior to the start of the story. Uncle of Alan Digges.

  Kubicek, Dr. Blaise. Professor of education at the University of South Dakota in Vermillion. Cousin of Janina Marek Okerlund.

  Kubicek, Don. Farmer and brother of Nadine Kubicek Bunting Early and owner of the Kubicek homestead where she lives.

  Larson, Dirk. Agent with the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) in Sioux Falls. Divorced with children. Formerly a homicide detective in Chicago, Illinois. Once a professional basketball prospect. In a tentative relationship with Karen Okerlund Mehaffey.

  Lindstrom, Josephine. A transplant from West River (South Dakota) who married a man from Reunion. He died in Vietnam and she became a secretary for the Eda County Sheriff’s Office. After initially retiring, she has returned to work part-time. A champion barrel racer.

  Marek, Jim. Deceased. Brother of Janina Marek Okerlund and uncle of Marek Okerlund. Worked as a carpenter for many years before he was killed in a traffic accident. Never married. Trained Marek early on in carpentry.

  Marek, Lenny. Deceased. A carpenter and abusive alcoholic. Married Vera Kubicek. Father of Jim Marek and Janina Marek and grandfather of Marek Okerlund, who strongly resembles him. Killed two men in bar brawls. Convicted of manslaughter for the first and murder for the second. After being sentenced to life in prison for the latter, he jumped from the third floor of the courthouse, killing himself. Like his grandson, he likely had severe dyslexia.

  Marek, Vera Kubicek. Deceased. Wife of Lenny Marek and mother of Jim Marek and Janina Marek and grandmother of Marek Okerlund. Worked as a seamstress and lived at the old Kubicek homestead until her death.

  McGurdys. Campground visitors at Grove Park. Father, mother, and son Hugh, who plays ultimate Frisbee. Natives of Canada.

  Mehaffey, Karen Okerlund. Acting sheriff of Eda County. Widow of Patrick Mehaffey, a Bosnian War casualty who lingered in a coma for many years. Daughter of former sheriff, Arne Okerlund, and half-niece of Detective Marek Okerlund, who is four years her junior. Biological mother of Eyre Johnson. Was an outstanding basketball player at the University of South Dakota in Vermillion. Former Army officer in Bosnia and police dispatcher in Sioux Falls. Took over as acting sheriff after her father’s stroke. Lives at 22 Okerlund Road in the bungalow where she grew up.

  Mehaffey, Patrick. Deceased husband of Karen Okerlund Mehaffey. An Army medic, he drove over a landmine in Bosnia and was in a coma for many years before his death.

  Miles, Akio. Campground visitor at Grove Park. Works as a coder and travel blogger. Owns a drone. Native of Los Angeles.

  Mock, Mary Hannah. Teenage cousin of Karen Okerlund Mehaffey. Daughter of Elder Sander Mock of the Eder Brethren, an Amish-like sect in Eda County. She is attending high school in Reunion and plans to eventually become a certified midwife. Lives weekdays during the school year with Karen at 22 Okerlund Road.

  Mountain Man. Mysterious poacher living in Grove Park.

  Nelson, Rusty “Nails.” Disabled Vietnam veteran who lives above the old Carnegie Library in Reunion that now houses the county archives. Operates the low-power FM radio station YRUN and reports news from Eda County. Native of Bandit Ridge in Eda County.

  Nylander, Tammy. Day-shift dispatcher and jailer for the Eda County Sheriff’s Office.

  Okerlund, Arne. Former sheriff of Eda County, son of Sheriff Leif Okerlund, father of Karen Okerlund Mehaffey, and half-brother of Marek Okerlund. First married to Hannah Mock and second to Clara, the widow of his childhood friend. A stroke ended his career as sheriff. He and Clara adopted Clara’s grandson and babysit Marek’s daughter, Becca. Lived at 22 Okerlund Road until his second marriage. Now lives on Okerlund Road in the old Stan Forsgren house.

  Okerlund, Clara Gullick. Widow of Vern Gullick and mother of Deputy Rick Gullick (deceased). Grandmother of Joseph Jaramillo Okerlund. Married to Arne Okerlund after the deaths of her husband and son. Lives on Okerlund Road at the old Stan Forsgren house.

  Okerlund, Hannah Mock. Deceased. First wife of Arne Okerlund and mother of Karen Okerlund Mehaffey. Died of ovarian cancer when Karen was in the Army. Raised among the Eder Brethren, she fled as a young woman.

  Okerlund, Joseph Jaramillo. Toddler son of Rick Gullick (deceased) and Blanca Jaramillo (deceased). Grandson of Vern and Clara Gullick. Adopted by Arne Okerlund when he married the widow Clara Gullick. Becca Okerlund treats him as the brother she lost.

  Okerlund, Joseph Leif Manuel. Deceased. Stillborn son of Marek Okerlund and his wife Valencia De Baca. Died with his mother in Albuquerque after their car was hit by a drunk driver.

  Okerlund, Leif. Deceased. Former sheriff of Eda County and father of Arne Okerlund by first wife, Kari Halvorsen, and father of Marek Okerlund by second wife, Janina Marek. Grandfather of Karen Okerlund Mehaffey. World War II veteran. His second marriage caused a rift between himself and his elder son (Arne).

  Okerlund, (Leif) Marek. Always called by his middle name. Part-time detective for Eda County. Part-time carpenter. Dyslexic. Son of Sheriff Leif Okerlund and second wife, Janina Marek. Half-brother of Arne Okerlund and half-uncle of Karen Okerlund Mehaffey, who is four years his elder. Moved from Reunion to Valeska in Eda County with his mother after his father’s death. Left Eda County after high school and ended up in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where he was first a carpenter and then a cop, eventually rising to the rank of homicide detective. Lost his wife, Valencia De Baca, to a drunk driver. Their daughter, Becca, was in the car and survived. Lives at 21 Okerlund Road in the bungalow he spent his childhood in.

  Okerlund, Rebecca “Becca” De Baca. Young daughter of Marek Okerlund and Valencia De Baca. A precocious artist, she was mute after losing her mother and unborn brother to a drunk driver but gradually recovered after the move to South Dakota.

  Okerlund, Valencia “Val” De Baca. Deceased. Wife of Marek Okerlund. Daughter of Joseph De Baca and New York artist Adrienne Fiat. Killed with her unborn son by a drunk driver in Albuquerque.

  Peterson, Taylor. Resident of the trailer park. Divorced. Works in construction. Childhood classmate of Marek Okerlund.

  Redbird, Mary. Campground visitor at Grove Park. Elderly Native American woman from one of South Dakota’s poorest reservations. Formerly a teacher and now works in the sugar beet fields in North Dakota and as a tour guide in
the Black Hills.

  Reicharts. Also known as “The Florids” from Florida. Campground visitors at Grove Park. Husband and wife on their way to their daughter’s wedding in Seattle.

  Rudibaugh, Judge John Franklin. Also known as “Judge Rudy.” Presiding judge at the Eda County courthouse.