“I dunno, boss.” Orien’s hat continued to make slow circles. “This seems like a nice town. Nice people. So what if they have small-town politics? And it’s not like cops have never been spanked in public by some freshman city-council member, before.”
“That’s different,” David growled.
“No, it’s not different here. It’s only smaller.”
David scoffed. “And the least popular freshman city councilor in history probably got more votes than Cobi winning by a landslide. He’s a big fish in a small pond kind. I don’t much care for people who throw their tiny sliver of weight around that much.”
“I was just surprised he called you a kiss-ass. What would you have to gain? He seems used to people doing it, obviously.”
David blinked twice, then grinned widely. “Ha. I’d forgotten about that. Yeah, whatever he has to tell himself. I believe in order and rule-of-law, or I wouldn’t be a police officer. That little Napoleon Dynamite’s voters must do about as much thinking as those grass-eating cows we passed by, if they believe his crap story of butt-kissing cops.”
Before Orien could respond, however, the office door creaked open. Cobi stuck his head out into the waiting room. “Officers. I have a few minutes, now. You wanted to talk to me?”
David’s smile vanished, replaced by a hard, neutral expression he used with criminals and miscreants. He stood, cap crooked in his right arm neatly. “Yes. Thank you for seeing us, sir.”
He walked to the door, Orien right behind him, and strode in, then waited for Cobi to make his way behind his desk—an old, solid-steel desk that would have looked at home in a Norman Rockwell schoolhouse painting—and only sat when the HOA president did.
Cobi smiled his plastic smile. “So, how can I help you, gentlemen?”
David took a deep breath. Did they mint these guys at a factory, or something? Bureaucrats… He forced what he hoped was a polite grin. “Sir—”
“Please, it’s Cobi.”
David paused. Another tired, old power play. Maybe they did mint these guys from one mold. “Yes, well. Cobi. My partner and I are here only because we escorted a young lady and her family back to the home of one of your citizens, Fran Thatcher.”
“So I’d heard. It is a small town, after all. New arrivals are noticed. Go on.”
“Unfortunately, our situation is such that we can’t be certain of reaching the nearest known operational area before using all the fuel in my vehicle. We looked for a gas station here, but…”
“There isn’t one.”
“Yes, I found that out after a thorough, five-minute search of the town.”
Cobi nodded. “I’m fairly certain you didn’t come here to tell me things I already know. What is it you need from me, then?”
“We need about ten gallons of fuel, if we’re to make it back to a duty station within a safe margin. That’s not a lot. I don’t intend to force the issue, regardless of the rights given officers of the law, when under command of the state government, during times of emergency—”
“Nor could you. But I appreciate your decision.”
“I beg your pardon?” David cocked his head. That wasn’t at all what he expected to hear, after his veiled threat.
Cobi kept smiling. “As a jurisdictional matter, you lost that authority when you stopped operating within the mandate given you. You’ve already said you left your operational area—I think that’s what you called it—which shows you came here on your own initiative, not under orders from the state government.”
David froze for half a second. Cautious, he said, “And as a practical matter, when the governor declared Martial Law, local law enforcement was usurped by the state, so my authority extends beyond just Denver. Sir.”
“That’s nice, but you have none here. Authority, that is. If you disagree, of course, the courts will have to settle the matter in the long term. But in the best of times, that could take years, and these aren’t really the best of times.”
The weasel wanted something. David could almost smell it, the sense was so strong. But, like all his kind, the mayor wasn’t going to make it easy by just saying what he wanted.
Very well. David did have one card he could play. “I disagree with your assessment, and if I simply take the fuel, you’re right—it’ll take years for the courts to work it out. Years of burdening your little community with legal fees that will have to come from some spring farm festival, I imagine. But…”
Cobi leaned back in his executive chair and rested one hand on the table. “Yes?”
“But, if you give me ten gallons of gas so I can get back to my duties, I’d be happy to let the governor know how you assisted his efforts during this trying time. I’m sure that, if you have items up for budget consideration, the governor would take that into account when deciding the next budget.”
Cobi paused, cocking his head, tapping one finger on his lips. Making a big show of considering it. David already knew the answer, just by that display, and it was difficult to sit still waiting for the denial to come.
At last, Cobi said, “I’d love to give you ten gallons of gas, just to get you back to your duties. But without a mandate from my people, I can’t just order someone to give you what is theirs, not for something as ephemeral as a vague promise of budget considerations for a budget that, frankly, may never get made. People will want something more concrete, something tangible.”
Crap. David suspected he was about to find out the real thing Cobi wanted. He’d already been outmaneuvered, and had hardly realized it until it was far, far too late. “For the sake of argument, let’s say you aren’t blowing smoke up my backside. What sort of tangible returns would your people find acceptable? I’m asking for ten gallons of gas so two officers can return to duty. Officers who, by the way, risked life and liberty to escort one of their own people’s family home.”
“Hm.” Cobi tapped his chin. “Just between you and me, I wouldn’t put much weight on the community’s sense of solidarity with Fran Thatcher. She does things differently, and in a town like this, that stands out. But, for the sake of argument, let’s say I need to select someone among my people to be the next sheriff. Or new police chief. I’ll have to look up the nomenclature best suited to our situation.”
David grimaced. Nomenclature mattered to bureaucrats, not actual human beings.
His own vehemence startled him, and David took a deep breath to slow his heart rate as he reminded himself over and over that this was a real human being talking to him. Just a man doing the best he could for himself. But some part of David’s mind rejected that notion. He would have to analyze his reaction later to find a cause he could counter, but for the moment, he could only shove the uncharitable thoughts aside.
Cobi continued, “I’d like you to stay. Maybe a couple days only. Basically, put together a group of deputized people to uphold the law, and pick one of them to replace you as sheriff, or whatever.”
David clutched the chair arms, feeling several finger joints pop under the pressure. “You’re kidding.”
“I am not. Why do you say that?”
David leveled his gaze at Cobi, meeting eye to eye. “Where I’m from, I have the support of my brothers in blue, not a ragtag militia with a lawful veneer. Where I’m from, the tiny little politicians don’t smack a cop’s hand for supporting their position. Where I’m from—”
“Is not here,” Cobi interrupted, voice rising. More quietly, he continued to a stunned David, “All the books say that anything I do to foster an us-and-them attitude builds solidarity among my people. They’ll need that to survive. And I can’t be seen sucking up to some Denver cops who brought a problem home for me to deal with.”
David clenched his jaw. Tin-pot dictator… “What do I get in return?”
“If you stay for three days minimum—more, if I decide it’s necessary, but we’ll re-negotiate if that happens—you’ll get your ten gallons. If you don’t stay and work for me like I need you to, then I’ll instruct everyone to
turn you away, to avoid any business with you.”
Orien practically spat as he said, “You’ve got to be kidding.”
David nodded. “He must be. Blackmailing officers of the law to be derelict in their duties is a chargeable offense even without a state of emergency.”
Cobi shrugged. “It’s really more of a bribe than blackmail. And you can try to enforce that, despite this being well outside your jurisdiction but, just between us, I don’t think you’ll get far.”
“My people won’t take this lightly.”
“My concern is for my people, not yours, officers. And this is a chance to make a real difference in the world, for this whole community. Not by arresting the same guy ten times in two months, but by helping us to be able to help ourselves. Because frankly, I don’t see a lot of aid coming our way from Denver. Do you?”
David replied immediately, “No.”
Orien caught his breath, eyes going wide. “Really?”
David nodded. “Yes, really.” He was tempted to tell Orien the rest, that he thought it far more likely Denver would take what supplies the town had, eventually.
He continued, “Fine. I can’t speak for Orien, but I’ll stay—until I’ve earned some gas. Plus, you provide my fuel for any duties I perform while here, and room and board.”
“Fran seems perfectly willing to take you in,” Cobi said. “I’ll send a runner to be sure. If not, I’ll figure something else out.”
“Very well.” David stood, and they shook hands. “I don’t like it, but at least this path helps people. The alternative, where I take what I need and go, does not. But if you don’t live up to your end of the deal, our relationship will change rather dramatically. Are my intentions clear?”
“They are.” Cobi gave an easy, relaxed smile. “I hope it doesn’t come to that. So, for your first task…”
David resisted the urge to tap his foot as he waited for the town leader to decide how to use him.
“I know we need people to deputize,” Cobi continued. “The schoolhouse houses all our local government files, including people who’ve applied for government jobs before. That’s almost everyone. Separate the ones you think might be good for the job and bring them to me.”
David turned on his heels and, without another word, left Cobi’s office. Orien was only a couple steps behind him. When they got far enough away that David felt safe speaking openly about it, he turned back to Orien. “What’d you think?”
Orien rubbed the back of his neck with the fingertips on both hands. “I think they have done okay so far, and they’re cocky about their capabilities. But, they haven’t met a real challenge.”
“The first lesson they get on real preparedness will be their last.” David continued onward, toward his parked SUV.
“That would be tragic.”
David glanced at Orien, but his expression was unreadable. Well, David had no intention of doing his job poorly, not when lives were at stake, even if he’d been coerced into taking the job. “Christine and her kids, and her friend Mary—none of them are bad people.”
“I notice you left out Fran’s daughter’s friend’s cousin’s boyfriend.”
David grit his teeth lightly, ignoring the humor in Orien’s eyes, and said, “Yeah. Just, a weird feeling about that one. I’ve been keeping an eye on him, but so far, he hasn’t done anything to deserve suspicion.”
“I suppose.” Orien took his cap off, ran his fingers through neat, short hair, and then replaced it. “This all makes me wonder, though…would we have done more good where we were assigned than we have done here? If we’d stayed within our jurisdiction.”
David shook his head, only half aware that he did so. His mind was on the related question of why he had escorted that family. The problems that rippled out from one bad decision just kept going—and growing. He replied, “Regardless, we’re going to find gas. We’re going to trade for it, somehow. And then, we’re going home and leaving this no-horse town.”
“You’ve said that before.”
“It bears repeating.”
“No-horse town.” Orien smirked.
“Get in the car, smart-ass.” David stifled a smile. “This will look horrible in your performance review, rookie.”
“Think they’ll dock my pay?”
“Yes. Mine, too.” It was nice, David reflected, to be able to joke about it. Not like anyone was getting paid, until the banks came back online.
23
Across the street from Christine lay only a seemingly endless field. The “edge of town” was, in Weldona’s case, a literal edge, ending where the road shoulder did.
Christine’s walk around town had been long enough to lose the steam she’d built up, but it didn’t make her feel much better about her family’s situation. It was nearly dark, however, and once the flame of anger had left her, it seemed wise to head back to her mother’s.
Even in small towns, it was safer for a single woman not to walk around alone at night. Had she told anyone where she’d gone? She couldn’t recall, actually. She’d been in such a rush to leave the meeting, she might not have. Her pace quickened.
She hadn’t walked one hundred feet when she heard a scuffing sound behind her. She turned to look—and saw nothing. She wrapped her jacket more tightly around herself and started home again, her steps brisk.
Another sound, like fabric rubbing something, to her right. She only saw trees, though—until one moved. It was no tree, leaning against another. It was a man. She looked around for the nearest lights, by reflex.
Wiley’s familiar voice said, “I didn’t mean to scare you. It’s okay; it’s just me—Wiley.”
Christine frowned at the silhouette in the growing darkness. “Damn, you scared the crap out of me.”
“Again, sorry. I just wanted to be sure you get home safely, but you were walking so fast, it was hard to catch up. Mind if I walk with you?”
“Not at all.” Christine breathed a sigh of relief. “I’d be glad of the company, actually.”
Wiley beamed his vibrant smile.
Despite her misgivings about the virtual stranger, he’d held up his end of their deal, and he’d been polite and charming the whole time. Her misgivings appeared groundless. And now, here he was offering to escort her home—certainly for her safety more than his own.
As they fell into step beside each other, walking down the road, she said, “So where are you from, originally? You know I’m from here, unfortunately.”
“Oh, I traveled a lot as a kid. But as an adult, mostly the Denver and Aurora area. Why?”
She glanced over, but his expression remained warm and friendly. She shrugged. “Just curious. Are you going to stay in town, do you think? You could have left by now, so I was just wondering.”
His smile faded a bit, and he shrugged. “I don’t know. No real reason to leave, just yet, so I’m thinking of sticking around. Plus, I dig those kids of yours. Darcy reminds me of my sister.”
Christine scanned the area with her gaze, continually, but so far, she’d seen no other living soul since leaving the town hall meeting. “Must be kind of lonely. Don’t you have family you were trying to get to?”
Wiley’s wan smile faded entirely, and for a moment, Christine could have sworn she saw his eyes glisten. But when she blinked, it was gone, and he just looked passively around. “Not really. It was more of an idea, a ‘something to do,’ than any real plan. Say, there’s Fran’s house. This really is a small town, you know that?”
She smiled as they turned at the short driveway. “Yeah, it’s why I left. Not much has changed since then, either.” She held the front door open for him. “After you.”
“Thanks.” He went inside, and she saw his eyes light up for an instant when he saw Hunter and Darcy sitting at the dining room table, playing Yahtzee.
She got the distinct sense that he really valued the concept of family. So why was he staying over in Weldona, instead of going out searching? She’d have to mull that over before she co
uld decide once and for all whether to trust him, but it seemed she’d have the time. Wiley didn’t appear to be going anywhere anytime soon.
24
Wiley followed Christine up the steps to the front door and then inside. The first thing he saw was her two kids, Hunter and Darcy, playing Yahtzee at the table, despite the late hour. Her weird friend, Mary, hovered in the kitchen where she could keep an eye on both the kids and the front door without being obvious. Weird, but not stupid.
As Wiley shut the door, Hunter glanced over and then did a double-take. “Mom?”
“Hey, sweetie.”
“Where’s Nana? I thought she left before you. Why didn’t she come back with you, if not sooner?”
Wiley felt kind of touched by the boy’s concern for his grandmother. For a moment, a scene played in his mind from when he was six, playing some dice game with his own grandmother. That would have been after Grandpa died, since the man died of old age when Wiley was too young to remember him in anything but photos.
Would life have turned out any differently if his grandma hadn’t died for a few more years? Maybe he wouldn’t be wanted for murder and escaping prison…
Christine shrugged and set her purse down on the counter. “The town hall meeting got a little heated. I left a few minutes before the official meeting and took a walk around town. I’m sure she’ll be back anytime, now.”
Her son was a nice kid; it was endearing that he was so used to a house full of love, or what Wiley thought looked like love, that he didn’t even notice Darcy grinning at him and rolling her eyes until she said, “Don’t change the subject. Just because you’re losing, that doesn’t mean you get to pretend you even noticed Nana was gone.”
His face turned sour. “You talk too much. If you rolled the dice as much as you open your mouth, you might win once in a while. My turn.”
Inception of Chaos: A Post-Apocalyptic EMP Survival Story Page 15
