“Stop right there, or you’ll be on the next bus out of town.”
Wiley muttered, “You have a bus route out here?”
Cobi snorted. “It’s a figure of speech, as you probably know. All three of you can stop showboating for the audience. We’re here to solve problems, not glorify ourselves.”
Christine’s eyes went wide. Of all the hypocritical, self-serving, downright ironic crap to say…
He continued, “I mean, really. Did you help bale the hay that fed our cows?”
Christine said, “Ours? Or theirs?”
Cobi ignored her and continued, “Did you even help cut the hay at harvest time? Or were you getting your nails done and sipping a latte, while the real residents worked? You know, we’d have a gaggle of less mouths to feed if you and your brood high-tailed it back to Denver, since you obviously think it’s so much better there and the people are so much smarter. I don’t think you’ll do the right thing and leave, though, since you haven’t done one thing for other people so far, not without expecting a gold star for it.”
More irony. That sonovabitch. And he had her cornered. If she argued, she’d look like the self-serving Denverite he painted her to be.
David’s voice surprised her as he said, loudly enough for everyone to hear him clearly, “Chrissy has roots here. Her mother moved here when she was a kid, and when she retired, she stayed here. Her ideas on farming have turned from her crazy hobby to the only way you all might survive the year, if things don’t go back to normal soon. When she says she’s done more to help Weldona than you, is she right? If you’re honest, you’ll agree. If you’re a self-serving weasel, you’ll find some way out of admitting what everyone already knows.”
Christine’s eyes widened, and she had to remember to close her mouth, snapping it shut with an audible click. Had he lost his mind? He was old enough to know better than to call a spade a spade when the bureaucrat held all the cards.
Nervous, she glanced over to Cobi. Maybe a miracle happened and he hadn’t heard David…
Cobi’s face flushed pinker for a moment, but quickly faded, and he smiled—not at David, but at her.
A shiver ran down her back. What did the man have to smile about? Only if he thought he still held all the cards, though how he could think that after being so heavily trounced, in public no less…
Cobi cleared his throat. “Addendum Code 141.3.72 of the Weldona town charter, encompassing ‘all residents within the township and surrounding environs’ not already under other lawful authority, authorizing the creation of the position of Weldona mayor—”
“What the hell are you trying to pull, Cobi,” Christine snarled.
“—defines ‘actionable sedition’ as actions or expressions, in writing, spoken, or through other means—”
“You can’t be serious.”
“—which undermine essential support of and confidence in the town charter and the ideals, concepts, and statutes it so embodies, as determined by… well, me.”
Christine’s eyes went wide. “What kind of legal baloney is this? When was that written, a hundred years ago? No one will take that seriously and you know it.”
Cobi, still smiling, continued without pausing, “And, while it may be outdated in modern times, the fine folks of Weldona have never thought it necessary to revise the penalty for such acts, so it still stands.”
David took one step toward Cobi, but stopped there. “What penalty?”
Cobi’s Cheshire Cat smile widened to reveal two rows of perfectly even, pearl-white teeth. “Such persons shall, if deemed necessary in order to maintain the honor and dignity of the town and the lawful authority of its mayor, at the discretion of such mayor or by a quorum of the people governed, be subject to expulsion from all lands under the charter’s authority, ‘they and all those who subsequently support such persons in violation of such edict.’ Basically…”
“Exile?” Christine’s voice rose high as she half-shouted the word. “Are you insane? That’s medieval. No one could possibly enforce that. Who’s going to kick me out, you?”
Cobi shook his head. “As much as I would enjoy that, it could create a scene that’s not very flattering for me.”
“That’d be a real pity.”
“It would. But, as much as it pains me to enforce that code, it’s the law here. It’s my duty to enforce the will of Weldona’s people, right up until the State Supreme Court deems it unconstitutional.”
Christine slammed her palms onto the long table between them. “You know damn well that’s not even possible, right now. So, null and void. You don’t have the authority.”
Cobi shrugged. “The law is the law until it’s not. Far from null and void, I’m the only one who does have the authority. You’re exiled, Chrissy. You and your whole family. Your mom can go, too, if she keeps supporting you despite this unfortunate law’s clear meaning.”
David’s lip curled back on one side. “Ridiculous. I’ll stop anyone who tries to remove her and her kids. It’s stupid, and you know it won’t stand up in court.”
Cobi looked up at the ceiling and clasped his hands behind his back. “You accepted the role of heading Weldona’s law enforcement for the duration of your stay. I think your options are clear: either enforce the law until a higher authority declares it unconstitutional, or be subject to that law yourself.”
Christine froze, staring at David, praying he’d do something. Anything.
Instead, he walked up to Christine and said to her and Wiley both, “Come with me. I’ll drive you home. Arguing with him won’t fix your problem.”
“No, he can’t do this, and I—”
Wiley gently grabbed her arm. When she spun on him, he mouthed one word: “Please.” He continued in a low tone, “Let’s get out of here. We have to talk. Now.”
With one last glare at the asshole grinning at her from across the table, Christine grabbed her purse and strode from the hall, holding her head as high as she could. Cobi wouldn’t get the satisfaction of seeing her cry, much less slumping. “This isn’t over,” she shouted over her shoulder as Wiley gently pulled her through the doorway.
No one said a word to stop Cobi as they walked out.
David turned the key, and the engine roared to life. Christine’s seat rumbled as he slowly edged forward, out of the parking space, and turned onto the road without even looking. She was too wrapped up in her own thoughts to complain about safe driving habits, though. Besides, he would have just said there wasn’t any traffic to worry about, and he’d have been right.
“Penny for your thoughts,” he said from the driver’s seat, beside her.
“They aren’t worth that much,” she muttered.
From the back, Wiley said, “I doubt that. Your thoughts and feelings are valid, too, you know. I can guess.”
She pulled her feet up onto the seat ledge and wrapped her arms around her legs, resting her chin on her knees. “Cobi is a bastard. I grew up here! I have as much right to be here as anyone.”
“Too true,” David said.
She stared out the side window, watching houses creep by. David was driving slower than usual, but again, she didn’t complain. She needed time to think before they got home—in just a few minutes, even at the snail’s pace at which David drove. “He’s punishing my family for my mistakes. My kids, David. What are we going to do? How will we even survive? It’s not right, dammit.”
“You’re right. I’ll try to get him to see reason.”
“Thanks, David.”
Wiley put his hand on her shoulder, reassuringly, and said, “He’s not just playing small-town politics. Exile might as well be murder, right now. Until they get things back under control.”
If they ever did. Christine nodded. “I guarantee he won’t give two damns about my kids’ lives, though. Damn bureaucrap. But thanks for trying.”
The driveway to Fran’s house appeared, and they pulled in, crawling down the driveway. Christine looked for her kids, playing outside, and was g
lad for David’s feather touch on the gas pedal. But they were nowhere to be seen. She used the time to gather her wits and calm down—as best she could—for the ordeal to come. She was certain Fran’s first question would be to ask what she’d done to get herself exiled, and then to lecture her about being responsible. As if that would matter, once she hauled her kids out into the wasteland beyond the town’s small borders…
Her mother came out to greet them. Waving, she smiled and said, “Welcome back. How’d the town hall go?”
David looked at Christine. So did Wiley.
Fran’s smile faded. “Oh, Lord. What happened? What stupidity is that little weasel up to, now?”
Christine looked around to be sure her kids weren’t around. They’d find out soon enough, though. She replied, “Cobi didn’t appreciate someone with a different opinion. He… There’s some legal loophole in the town charter…”
“Spill it.” Fran crossed her arms. “What. Happened. Now.”
When Christine didn’t answer right away, David inserted himself halfway between the two. “Cobi has exiled her and her kids. They have to leave town, or anyone helping them will also get exiled.”
Fran’s jaw dropped. She looked back and forth between each of them, disbelief painted on her face.
Christine gave her a tiny nod.
Fran uncrossed her arms and shoved her fists onto her hips, standing with arms akimbo. “That sonuvabitch. Pardon my French. He can’t do that. Stupid little peacock—”
David said, “Actually, there really is a loophole in the town charter. He’s exploiting it. I got the very real sense that the people there were going to bend over for him and take it.”
Christine said, “And it applies to anyone who violates the order and shelters me. I can’t stay here, or—”
“To hell, you can’t,” Fran cut in. “This is my house, and I’ll be a twice-damned louse if I let that maggot tell me who I can or can’t have in my own home. Get inside, hon. We’ll deal with this.”
“But—”
“No buts. I didn’t give a damn what anyone thought when I moved into town, and I don’t give half a damn, now. Get inside. You just forget about this one, okay? You’re staying. That’s final.”
Fran spun on her heels and stormed into the house, head held high, as though she’d just solved everything.
Christine glanced at her companions, then followed Fran inside. But her heart was heavy enough to slow her steps. Each step felt like another step down Death Row. If Fran put herself on a collision course with Cobi, there were no guarantees it would end well for any of them. And in the back of her mind, she wondered how far Cobi would go with this. What if it came to violence? It wasn’t like she could call the police to enforce the law. The only laws, anymore, were the ones people agreed to.
She let out a heavy sigh, then reached for the patio screen door, and even the smell of cooking Corned Beef & Cabbage did nothing to settle her churning stomach.
31
David’s thoughts were troubled as he cruised through town. Cobi had given him access to the town’s only patrol car, which worked reasonably well, though it was the older Crown Victoria model. At least those were more reliable than the more recent Chevy Impala versions, most of which weren’t even running, anymore.
He passed the town limit, waving to the gateway guardians, and stopped by a few of the outlying farmsteads. Third in line was the place where he’d shot…where someone had died, trying to loot. His pulse quickened, and he fought to keep his hands from shaking on the steering wheel.
Orien had been silent, up to that point. He’d been happy to come along, when David asked so he could clear his head from the fallout of the town hall meeting, but had been content to let David stew. Now, though, he said, “Are you okay, boss?”
“Yeah, why?” David knew why he asked, though.
“You know. What I don’t know is why you’d come back here.” Orien eyed him.
David avoided looking at his partner. “I want to see how he’s doing. Nothing more.”
“If you really want to see what good you’re doing, pull in and see the man who’s alive because of you. But I think if you really want to clear your head, we should stop by Farmer Joe’s.”
David cocked his head. He hadn’t thought of that. “Huh. I wonder how he’s doing with his new farmhands.”
“Ha. Me, too,” Orien said.
David’s mood was much lighter as he drove right on by the scene of his shooting and headed on down the road, which took a few twists and turns, but there was no traffic and the miles flew by.
Ten minutes later, a familiar farmhouse came into view. David pulled in.
Two armed men stepped into the driveway, between him and the house, but they quickly replaced their stern expressions with grins, and they waved as they stepped out of the way.
David raised his fingers on the steering wheel in greeting as he passed, and continued to the house, where he stopped on a stretch of gravel-covered dirt, parking between two old pickups.
By the time he and Orien climbed out, Joe the farmer was already out the front door and heading down his porch steps, waving.
“Good evening, sir,” David said as they drew closer.
The farmer stopped a few feet away, smiling. “Good evening, officers. Good to see you. You’re welcome anytime, you know. But I’m glad you stopped by.”
“Oh? Why’s that? And how is that water situation holding up?”
The man shrugged. “It’s solid. I don’t know where you figured out how to do that, but the new water supply has held up just fine, yep, just fine. So, uh…I heard from someone I know that you’re looking for a way out of this two-horse town. That sound right?”
David paused. Maybe he shouldn’t be quick to be honest. He barely knew the man, and—
Orien said, “Yes, but fuel is an issue. We have enough in the P-O-V to drive to a gas station, but who knows what the situation there would be? Might get stranded out there.”
“Yep, that’s a quandary. The thing is, I don’t much cotton to the way Cobi runs things. Like the stunt he pulled tonight, with that lady friend of yours—that wasn’t right. She’s the prodigal son, returning, not some stranger freeloading. I’m not the only one who reckons Cobi’s head got too big for his britches, you know?”
David nodded slowly. “Yes… That was rather unfortunate, especially for the young woman’s family. It puts her mother in an awkward position, too.” He shrugged. “But what can I do about it?”
Joe mirrored the gesture, shrugging. “Might be, you could get her somewhere safer for her and her family. You know, if you had a full tank of gas and a trunk full of gas cans.”
Orien smirked. “Yep. Then we could go help a lot more people…in Denver, where we’re real cops.”
Joe rubbed his whiskered cheek. “You know, if a man had some gas gathered up, from a bunch of folks with like minds, such a man might give it to you for the help you gave him. He might not think it’s right for Cobi to keep y’all hostage, here.”
David kept the frown from his face, with effort. “What are you trying to say?”
Joe smiled. “You look tense, my friend. Well, I’ll tell you what, I talked to some other folks around here. Took up a collection, and added it to my tractor tank. There’s enough there to fill up that thirsty girl you drive around, plus all the gas cans people donated. Best part is, Cobi has no idea what we’re up to. If you ever get a hankering to leave town, you just come on by, and I’ll set you up right. It’s the least I could do, and it’s the right thing.”
David’s frown turned upside down, and he held out his hand to shake the farmer’s. He wasn’t certain he’d leave, but now at least it was an option—a mighty tempting one. “I thank you, sir. I’ll have to think on it, though.”
Joe nodded as they shook. “Yep, it’s a mighty big decision, what with everything going on these days. You just let me know, whenever. It’s a standing offer.”
Orien muttered, “What’s there
to think about?”
David ignored his partner, and spent the next half-hour following Joe the farmer around as he showed off his farm with obvious pride, and he had to admit, the man had come up with some very creative, simple ideas for handling the various tasks a farm required. Redneck Engineering at its best. It was a nice distraction from the problems and choices he faced, still.
As David pulled back onto the county road, leaving the farm behind, Orien said, “I know you heard me. What’s there to think about?”
“I don’t know,” David snapped. “But it’s a big choice that affects a lot of people, and I won’t make it lightly. This isn’t a snap decision. I want to go back to Denver, of course.”
Orien visibly relaxed, in the passenger seat. “Of course. That’s home. And it’s the job. I’m relieved to hear you say it. I never wanted to come out here anyway.”
“Why did you, then?” David felt his pulse quicken as his frustration grew.
“For one, you’re my F-T-O. I don’t want my field training officer to give me a bad review.” Orien paused, but when David didn’t reply, he continued, “For another, we’re partners. I won’t let my partner wander into danger alone. That’s not what cops do.”
This time, David found himself nodding. That was a much more compelling reason, and likely closer to the real truth. “I’m glad you came. Having someone watching my back, that’s a big deal. I’m sorry I dragged you away from home for this crap.”
Orien laughed, surprising David. “Oh, I know you are. I wouldn’t be here if you were careless with my life. This is just something you had to do. I know you.”
“Yeah, we’ve spent a lot of time together. I saw a family in need of help, so we helped them.”
Orien began drumming his fingers on the dashboard, lightly, keeping a beat David didn’t recognize. He said, “You wouldn’t be you if that weren’t so. I mean, if you could turn your back on people, you’d be… Well, you’d be your brother.”
“Which one?”
“Either. The mobster turned his back on the law, on society. The priest turned his back on society, and the whole world. They took the easy way out. You wanted to make a difference. I know you better than you think. I see what you do, and why. You value justice, but you need to protect the defenseless. Your brothers don’t care about either of those things. I don’t know why you’re different, but you need to make a difference in your community, and to change people’s future by protecting folks at the worst moments in their whole lives. It’s what makes you the best cop I ever met. I couldn’t let you wander off and get killed alone. Our city needs more cops like you, and it’s the kind of cop I want to be.”
Inception of Chaos: A Post-Apocalyptic EMP Survival Story Page 21
