by Alan Black
Doc Brown asked, “I also saw a body over by the men’s tent. I haven’t checked it yet. That yours too?” He opened his medical bag and began to repair the cut.
Sno nodded with a look at Hunter, “Yeah, it is as much my fault as anybody’s.”
Doc Brown said, “You got the whole place in an uproar. Half of the town is outside the gates waiting for something else to happen. Half of the town is down on your docks. The other half of the town is down at city hall clearing things up for a mess of arbitration hearings. Though it doesn’t look like we need as much arbitration as we did an hour ago.”
Ben laughed, “Doc, you got three halves in there.”
Doc Brown harrumphed, “That is a figure of speech. Didn’t they teach you nothin’ in school on Earth?”
Ben laughed, “Nope. Nuthin’.”
Doc Brown said, “All done, Sno.”
She looked at her arm. “No stitches?”
Doc Brown shook his head. “Not this time. All you required were some coagulants to stop the blood flow, some anti-scar gel and a little duct tape to hold the edges of the cut closed.”
Sno said, “Yeah, it looks like duct tape.” The doctor had taped the cut shut with a clear strip of three inch wide tape.
Doc Brown replied, “Quack, quack. And what about the man in the medbox? Did you put him there?”
Sno shook her head. “No. It was probably my fault, but I didn’t touch him…yet.”
Doc Brown leaned over the med-box. He punched a few of the buttons on the control panel. “Yeah, well. It looks like you can get out of there anytime, sir. This box has done all it can for now. You have a full load of nanos working their magic on your injuries. Let’s see, knees, right? Well, they are going to take a few days to heal. Your legs hurt?”
McNally said, “Yeah, Doc. They hurt like someone drove a tank over them.”
Doc Brown nodded. “Good. That’s how you know the nanites are working. Just stay off your legs for at least four days. Use the wheelchair in the corner.”
Kramer stepped into the tent. “Boy howdy! This is the busiest day I have had since I don’t know when. Even money bets are to see if I don’t’ quit this mess and go get a real job.”
Sno said, “Problems, Deputy?”
Kramer said, “It has been that kind of day. Doc, if you are done here, I need you to check on a woman prisoner. She says she is having a heart attack, but it just looks like a panic attack.”
Doc Brown said, “You a medical man now, Kramer?”
Kramer shook his head, “Nope, but she has the same look Mabel got when she heard my mother wanted to move in with us. And Doc, when you are done with her check on the body by the men’s tent. I need you to certify cause and time of death.”
Doc Brown asked, “Cause?”
Sno said, “Cause is most likely a skillet to the skull. Last we saw the skillet was still in the grass. The whole thing should be on video for review, if you need it.”
Doc Brown said, “Skillet, huh? At least it is not a boring day.” The man closed his medical bag and hurried from the tent.
Kramer nodded, watching the mea cut across the compound to the women’s tent. “Getting more exciting by the moment.”
Sno said, “What’s up, Deputy? More problems?”
Deputy Kramer replied, “Nope. Hopefully, we just got a way to fix all of our problems all at the same time. An arbiter has been chosen already. They are setting up folding chairs down at the city hall for some of the crowd.”
“An arbiter has been chosen already?” Sno asked. “We haven’t had time to call for arbitration yet.”
Ben said, “I beg to differ, Miss Whyte. You called for arbitration between you and the sheriff back on the docks.”
“I did?” Sno looked baffled.
Ben nodded, “When you arrested Sheriff Bob. If you hadn’t, then one of our fathers would have done so to clear the air as soon as possible.”
Sno said, “Well, so be it. Hey, Kramer, did they say who the lottery picked?”
Arbiters were selected at random by drawing a name out of a hat. The city kept a list of qualified civic-minded individuals willing to listen and pass judgment. Arbiters could only disqualify themselves if they felt there was a conflict of interest.
Kramer said, “Yep. It should be good for you…I think. Therese Cleasemount drew the lot.”
“Damn,” Sno said.
Ben nodded, “Damn, indeed. There isn’t a person in Arizona City who doesn’t know she badmouths you every chance she can. I don’t know why, but she really doesn’t like you.”
Sno said, “Well, it is kind of embarrassing, but she was my second grade teacher.”
Ben smiled, “Mine too. Although, I seem to remember finishing the second grade. You didn’t finish if I recall.”
Sno grimaced. “Yeah, Miss Cleasemount and Dad kind of started a thing that year. Dating, you know. It had only been a short while since my mother had left us and I guess I was kind of a snot.”
Ben gave an obviously fake look of surprise, “No! Really? Chastity Whyte acting like a little snot? How shocking!”
Sno stuck her tongue out at Ben, “Yeah. I guess I came between them. Dad even had to take me out of school and home school me from then on.”
She turned to the deputy. “Hey Kramer, you said this would be good for me. Everybody knows she hates me. Shouldn’t she excuse herself from the duty?”
Kramer laughed, “Bless me, no! Your history doesn’t go back far enough on Therese Cleasemount. She was married when she and your dad had a thing going.”
Sno looked surprised. “Married? I didn’t know that. I guess I was too, well…too young to know.”
Ben laughed, “Young? Yeah, we could go with that or we could say that you were just caught up in your own problems. Your dad knew, but he was going through a rough patch of his own.”
Sno chuckled, “Yeah, I am beginning to realize my mother left us both, not just me. Okay, so Miss Cleasemount was married, so what?”
Kramer began laughing so hard enough his eyes were beginning to water. “She is Sheriff Bob’s ex-wife. She was messing around with your dad because Sheriff Bob had some little hoochie on the side. I’ll be creamed, poached and scrambled if I know for sure who Therese hates worse. You for messing with her plan to humiliate her husband or Sheriff Bob for publicly humiliating her. I put my money on Bob losing that bet.”
Sno laughed. “Oh man! I love living in a small town. Everybody knows who did who if they didn’t do them themselves. Yeah, Kramer, I think I would bet I come out on top. But, as much as she doesn’t like Sheriff Bob or me why doesn’t she excuse herself?”
Ben said, “Civic duty, Miss Whyte. Just like you said this is a small town. There probably isn’t any long time resident who hasn’t bumped heads with you or Sheriff Bob over the years. Plus, Therese Cleasemount didn’t back down when she got called up about six years ago. I remember when her sister was under warrant for spousal abuse. She put her feelings aside and rendered a true judgment. Even her sister would agree that she got what she deserved. Right Kramer?”
“Oh, yes. Mabel hasn’t hit me since her sister Therese threw the book at her. And Therese don’t like me much either.”
Sno laughed, “Miss Cleasemount is your sister-in-law? Really gotta love a small town.”
Kramer wiped his eyes, “And as for McNally and Hunter, Therese Cleasemount determined this whole ball of wax is too twisted to separate each warrant. She has issued a proclamation that everyone involved is going to go into arbitration at the same time. That means everybody gets to City Hall in half an hour. I am going to go unlock the gates so you can all just get the heck out of my jail.”
A wild screech filled the air.
Sno bolted from the medical tent followed closely by Ben, Hunter and Deputy Kramer.
Across the compound, Evelyn Queene was tearing at Sheriff Bob. Doc Brown was unsuccessfully trying to get in between the two.
“You stupid pig,” Queene shouted, “If
you had done your job this wouldn’t be happening.”
Sheriff Bob was sputtering and backing away from the woman’s claws.
Sno looked at Deputy Kramer, “Aren’t you going to help your boss?”
Kramer shook his head, “And then what? Get wrapped up in this mess for attacking a woman and dragged before my sister-in-law who don’t like me already. No thanks. It doesn’t look like the sheriff wants to put hands on her either.”
Sno sprinted across the jail compound. She reached the trio just as Evelyn Queene’s nails raked across the sheriff’s face and he stumbled over the doctor and fell to the ground. Queene was about to pounce when Sno grabbed a handful of perfectly sculptured hair and yanked Queene backwards off her feet.
Queene rolled up to her feet and slipped into a crouch. Her nails and fingers were ready to claw into anyone close enough to reach. She jumped toward Sno.
Chapter 23.0
Instead of backing away from the flailing woman, Sno calmly stepped into Evelyn Queene’s attack. She knocked Queene’s hands away from her face and balled up a fist and drove a straight armed jab into the older woman’s nose.
Blood spurted. Evelyn Queene sat down hard in the grass.
Sno said calmly, “Time will come, Queene, when you and I can go at it. But, now is not the time.”
Queene sobbed, “You bitch. You hit me.”
Sno said, “Yes, I did. But, I didn’t hit you as hard as I wanted. And I didn’t hit you because I have any love for Sheriff Bob. You and I have a date with an arbiter. After that, I am going to do everything in my power to take a measure of justice from your hide.” Queene started to get up. “No, Miss Queene, I would recommend you keep your fat earther fanny on the deck or I will put you back down again as a menace to decent society.”
Queene sat back on the grass and pinched the bridge of her nose to stop the bleeding. Doc Brown tried to hold an anti-coagulant to her nose, but she pushed his hands away. “An arbiter? I am not going to arbitration until I talk to my lawyer. I know my rights.”
Ben said, “No, Miss Queene, apparently you do not know your rights. There are no lawyers on Ceres.”
“Then, you young goon, you misunderstand me. I wouldn’t care if you had a team of lawyers on this jerkwater excuse for a planet. We will wait until my lawyers get here from Earth.”
Ben said, “Miss Queene, when I say there are no lawyers on Ceres I mean we don’t allow lawyers to practice on Ceres. Justice is for the people and people are responsible, not someone whose whole task is to hide, twist and color the truth. You can have an advisor, but they are not allowed to speak during arbitration. So, no lawyers. And I don’t think we will wait until someone shows up from Earth. No. The arbiter has set the time. You can show up or not.”
Sno turned to Hunter, “Mister Hunter, would you be so kind as to help McNally out to the med-box and into that chair so he can wheel himself down to City Hall?”
Hunter said, “Me?”
Sno nodded. “I am sure Deputy Kramer will help you. I would take it as a personal favor if you would make sure McNally shows up in front of the arbiter to testify against Evelyn Queene.” Sno leaned down to the woman on the ground. “I believe two of your former employees have…what is that Earth term?...‘rolled over’ on you. With Franklin and Cooper dead, only Hunter and McNally are here to testify to your part of how you tried to kill me. And they are both going to testify on my behalf. So, I suggest you let Doc Brown stop that leaky beak of yours and you make your self presentable before Arbiter Cleasemount.”
Sheriff Bob exclaimed, “What? Who?”
Sno replied, “I thought you knew, Bob. I have been lead to believe you know Therese Cleasemount.”
Sheriff Bob muttered, “I am so screwed.”
Ben nodded, “I think I agree.”
Sno shook her head, “Yeah, but Sheriff Bob, not by me. You did this all to yourself.”
Sheriff Bob shouted, “No. She did it.” He pointed at Evelyn Queene. “She used me.”
Queene screeched and looked as if she was going to pounce on the sheriff again. But she sat back heavily under a glare from Sno.
Sno said, “Save it, Bob. Your ex-wife will want to hear all about it. But, I don’t think I want to hear it right now.”
Hunter’s voice came from across the jail compound, “Help! Someone help us. Get the doctor.”
Sno said, “What now?” She took off in a sprint across the grass and around the men’s tent. She heard footsteps behind her, but she did not stop to look. She assumed Ben was sticking to her like a good shadow and Doc Brown was there. She was also pretty sure Sheriff Bob was there, since she could hear him wheezing with each step.
As soon as she was on the other side of the men’s pink tent she saw Kramer was sitting on the ground holding his arm. It was twisted at an odd angle at the elbow. McNally’s head was lolling back on its neck, a wide gash cut across his throat.
Sheriff Bob slid to a stop next to Kramer. “Hold on, Kramer. Doc Brown is here. Damn it! What is going on! A deputy attacked in my own jail! I have had it with this garbage. I am going to get my gun. This is just too much BS for one day.” He glared at Sno. “Are you going to try to stop me?
Sno held her arms wide in surrender. “No, sir, I am sorry I put you here in the first place where you weren’t able to do you job.”
Sheriff Bob started to take off, but Kramer stopped him.
Kramer snapped. “No, dammit. I locked your weapons up. Take mine, you idiot.”
Sheriff Bob grabbed Kramer’s gun. Once armed, he looked around. He realized he did not know who to shoot.
Sno turned to Hunter, “What went on, Hunter? You do that?” She nodded to McNally’s body?
Hunter eyes went wide, “No, ma’am. I couldn’t do that if you paid me. It was Wallace, that assistant of Queene’s. He come at us. He got McNally. He would have got me too, but Kramer jumped between us.”
Ben said, “Wallace was here?”
Sheriff Bob added, “In my jail compound?”
Kramer snapped, “No, dung for brains, down at Tammie’s Topless Tittie Bar and Grill. Of course he was in here. I didn’t know who it was. I never saw the guy before. But if Hunter says that is who it was, that is good enough for me. S.O.B. went that way.” He pointed to the back of the medical tent.”
Sheriff Bob said, “How did he get in here?”
Kramer yelped. “Easy, Doc! That arm is broken, not numb.” He turned his attention back to Sheriff Bob. “Come on, this place isn’t really designed to keep any one in or out. It just is.”
Sno looked at Ben. “Are you going to go get him? Your company is under contract to serve warrants on Wallace, remember?”
Ben shook his head. “I can’t. I am on duty with you and failing miserably at that.”
Sno laughed, “You must be doing alright. People seem to be dying all around us, but I ain’t dead yet.”
Ben said with a straight face, “No, Miss Whyte, not yet. It would just ruin my day to have you killed when you are in my custody. My father would have to terminate my employment for failure to perform. Then my wife would be angry and my son would go hungry. No. It is just not worth the hassle to have you killed right now. Maybe later, okay?”
Ben reached into his pocket and pulled out his comm unit. “Dad? Yeah, this is Ben. That guy Wallace just murdered McNally in the jail compound. Last seen heading north by northwest. Watch who you send after him; this guy slit McNally’s throat like a pro and he incapacitated Deputy Kramer as well.”
Ben looked thoughtful for a moment and saw Sno’s questioning look. He mouthed the word “Earbud.” And pointed at the small receiver in his ear.
“No, sir,” Ben continued. “I am staying with the primary, but if we have any extra bodies I could use some backup. The casualties are piling up.”
After a minute, Ben said, “Okay, Pops. Let the prime contractor know. Maybe he has got some extra help he can send our way. I don’t trust any of Sheriff Bob’s people right now.” He loo
ked at Sheriff Bob. “No offense, Bob.”
Sheriff Bob shook his head, “More offense taken than you know. But you are right. I don’t seem to be doing my job right now.”
Sno looked at him. “No, sir, you don’t. I don’t want to be the one to tell you what to do, but I suggest you try to get Evelyn Queene down to City Hall before Arbiter Cleasemount gets so irritated because we’re all late that she makes us all take a short walk into deep space.”
Bob nodded, “Yeah, she is likely to do that, too. Okay. I will see you three down there?”
Sno looked at Ben. “Yeah, Ben goes where I go.” She looked at Hunter. “And him too. I think I had better keep him with me for a while.”
Sheriff Bob took off across the grass to try and collect Evelyn Queene and get her to the community center. They could hear him calling for back up into his comm unit.
Sno looked at Deputy Kramer. “Are you going to be okay?”
Kramer smiled. “I don’t know what Doc gave me for the pain, but one more and I am going to be ready for anything Mabel can throw at me.”
Sno asked, “Doc, you okay?”
Doc Brown said, “I guess. I don’t know this Wallace guy. I don’t imagine he has a grudge against me, so I should be fine. Besides, I still have to check out Cooper’s body over there. And I want to get Kramer in the med-box to get some nanites working on this arm.”
Kramer smiled, “Med-box? Nanites, yeah, that sounds good.”
Doc Brown smiled back, “It would be except the nanites will strip the pain killer out of your system before they start to work.”
Kramer smiled. “Well, Doc, you just take your time then. You go take care of the late Mister Cooper first. I am just gonna lay here in the grass for a while and stare up at the dome.”
Ben tapped his wrist. “Miss Whyte, we have to go. We have about five minutes left to make a four minute walk.”
Sno nodded, “Plenty of time.”
Chapter 23.1
“Everyone sit down and shut up. And you, this isn’t some kind of wedding where you have to worry about sitting on the groom’s side or the bride’s side.” Therese Cleasemount banged on the table trying to bring order to the room. Instead of a gavel she was pounding on the table with the butt of an old 1854 Navy Colt percussion black powder pistol. She held it up in view of the whole room. “This old piece isn’t loaded, but I can get one that is if I need it to keep control over this mob. Come on people, you are worse than a group of seven year old kids just before a holiday break. Settle down!”
