Not My Solution

by T. E. Killian

  After that, Floyd left, and Nicole crawled back into her recliner to wait for Nick.

  At first, her thoughts were still on Floyd, and his investigation into whoever was harassing her. For the three years she’d been in Crowleyville, she’d had minimal contact with Floyd and she’d never been impressed. He had struck her as a hick the way so many sheriffs were in movies and TV.

  But, now that she was really getting to know him, she’d had to readjust her opinion of him. His methods weren’t always the rigid by the book ones she’d been taught in the Army, but they seemed to be effective for Crowley County.

  Not only that, but she was finding out that civilian police work in general differed vastly from military police work.

  She decided that she’d give him a chance and see how well he did.

  Then she thought about the threats on her life. Was it really someone from one of the families of her men in the Army? She really hoped it wasn’t, especially since she knew she’d done nothing that could have caused their deaths.

  * * *

  After Nicole left, it took Roger ten minutes to get his mind back on his work and by then, Gina knocked on his door and poked her head in.

  “It’s six and I’m going home if you don’t need anything else.”

  He looked at his watch and was surprised it was that late already.

  “No, I’m fine. Have a good evening. Don’t worry about locking the outer door. I’ll be leaving in just a few minutes too.”

  Once she left, he organized his desk and threw a couple files into his briefcase to look over at home.

  He was passing through his office door into the outer office when the outer door opened, and Vance Robertson stepped in.

  Roger thought about going back into his office to talk but the man had barged in after-hours, so he decided not to give the guy that much courtesy.

  “What can I do for you Mr. Robertson?”

  Roger noticed the guy seemed a little nervous. He kept looking over his shoulder at the open door behind him. Then he reached back and closed it.

  Roger placed his right hand on his hip to get it closer to his lower back where his Glock was holstered. Something wasn’t right, and he didn’t want to take any chances.

  Finally, the guy made eye contact with Roger. “I’ve got a proposition for you McCracken.”

  Roger waited. He didn’t want to encourage the guy or give him any idea that he trusted him.

  “If you drop out of the race, I’ll appoint you as the city magistrate after I’m elected. That way you could continue your law practice most of the time with no conflict.”

  Roger didn’t want to answer even though he knew he could never make that kind of deal with the man. There was more to this than Robertson was saying. If he held back, as nervous as the guy was, it would come out soon enough.

  When Robertson said nothing else but continued to stare at Roger, he figured he’d better say something now.

  “Somehow, I sense an ‘or else’ in all that.”

  Robertson held up both hands. “Oh no, no. There’s no threat involved. I just know I’ll beat you so you might as well get a little benefit from it.”

  Roger shook his head. “No thanks Mr. Robertson. Once I decide to do something, I don’t back out. We’ll just have to wait until November fourth to find out which one of us will win.”

  Robertson’s face grew red, and he opened his mouth as if to say something else but closed it quickly and turned around toward the door. He opened the door and was gone, slamming the it behind him.

  Well, what was that all about?

  Roger waited five minutes to make sure he didn’t run into Robertson outside then left. Before, he’d been planning to go home and relax for the evening but no more. Now, he was headed for Floyd’s office. Something told him they needed to know more about Robertson, a lot more.

  As Roger was walking down the long hallway toward Floyd’s office, Floyd came out of it wearing a scowl. When he saw Roger, he backed up into his office to wait for his brother to get there.

  Once they were both inside, Floyd closed the door and pointed at the stuffed chairs and they sat down.

  “What’s up little brother?”

  “Floyd, as part of the process of filing for any city or county political office isn’t there a background check done on each candidate?”

  He could tell Floyd knew where he was going. “There sure is, but I didn’t do the one on Robertson if that’s what you’re going to ask. I don’t do them all and that one was done while I was taking time off when Mary Ann was born.”

  Roger had hoped Floyd would volunteer the information without him having to ask for it.

  Floyd looked closely at Roger and that was when he realized that his confrontation with Robertson had made him angry enough for it to still be showing on his face.

  “What happened Roger? Did the guy do something?”

  That was more like it. “Yeah, I guess you could say that. Robertson must really want that mayor’s position pretty bad. He came into my office a half hour ago and offered me the city magistrate job if I’d back out of the race.”

  Floyd shook his head and whistled. “Something’s cooking little brother and it smells rotten.”

  He turned around and reached onto the front corner of his desk and punched a button on the phone. “Crystal. Could you find the background check on Vance Robertson for me please?”

  He replaced the receiver and turned back to glare at Roger. “What do you think’s going on Roger?”

  He shook his head. “I’m not sure but I’m convinced there is something going on below the surface and Robertson doesn’t want any competition for mayor.”

  There was a soft knock at the door to Crystal’s office. She opened the door and stepped over to Floyd with a folder in her hand.

  Floyd took the folder, thanked her and opened it. It only took him a short time to look up at Roger with a grin on his face.

  “Yep. That’s it Roger. You sure guessed right. It says right here that his brother-in-law is a commander at SPD.”

  Roger laughed. “Do we need to guess who the first chief of police would be if Robertson got elected?”

  Roger left Floyd’s office convinced that there had to be still more things going on with Robertson that they hadn’t found out yet. But how could he find out more? He was no detective. He couldn’t follow Robertson around trying to catch him doing something wrong.

  No, he couldn’t do that, but he could ask around to find out who the guy hung out with and where.

  As he was driving home, he noticed that every time he glanced into his rear-view mirror, he saw the same black SUV. He made an unscheduled left turn, and the SUV followed him. Okay, now, he was sure he was being followed. But who?

  He had no idea what kind of vehicle Robertson drove, but he’d bet it was a black SUV.

  He pulled over to the curb and watched. The other vehicle maintained its speed and passed him by. He was disappointed when he couldn’t see who was driving. Between the dark windows and dusk falling around them, all he could tell was that it was probably a man.

  Determined now, he pulled out and tried to get close enough to get the license number, but the other vehicle speeded up and ran a light that had just turned red. Roger had to sit on his side of the intersection and watch the SUV disappear down the street when it turned right.

  When the light turned green, he headed home and called Floyd on the way to update him.

  * * *

  While she waited for Nick to arrive, Nicole got hungry, so she ate some fruit. She knew Nick would come in with pizza so that was enough to tide her over until he got there.

  After that, she crawled back into her recliner and was dozing later when the doorbell caused her special receiver attached to her wrist to vibrate on her arm.

  She looked at the time and realized it was too early for Nick to be there yet, so she slid out of her recliner and into her wheelchair.

  When she looked through the peephole,
she saw Roger McCracken standing out there. What could he want? The bigger question was why was she smiling?

  She opened the door but didn’t roll back to let him in. When he smiled and looked down at the short space between them, she reluctantly rolled back to let him in.

  She went straight to her recliner and pulled herself back into it. Snowball was gone. She liked no one but Nicole and Nick.

  Nicole pointed at the sofa and Roger sat but he just looked at her without speaking until she’d had enough. “All right. I’ll give in. What are you doing at my house at this time of night?”

  Sometimes, she had to remind people to look at her when they talked but she just realized she’d never had to remind Roger to do that.

  He actually blushed. She couldn’t believe it. Roger was six feet four inches tall and had to weigh much more than two hundred pounds. Yet, here he was blushing. Maybe it was the redheaded, pale complexion that did him in.

  “I don’t live far from here and I thought I’d just drive by to make sure you were all right.”

  She got angry immediately. “I don’t need a bodyguard Roger. I can take care of myself. You’ve seen my M9 and I assure you I can out shoot you and probably your brother too.”

  She was glad she was looking at him then for the look on his face and in his eyes told her a lot about the man.

  He laughed and she could tell it was a loud one too.

  “What’s so funny?”

  He pointed at her. “You. Ever since I first met you, I’ve thought of you as being much like a porcupine. You’re so prickly and don’t want anyone to get close to you.”

  Now, she was really angry.

  “And what’s wrong with that? Every person I’ve let get close to me since I was injured has done nothing but turn my stomach. They’re either too sweet or they ridicule me.”

  He had a shocked look on his face now.

  “Is that what you think I’m doing?” He shook his head. “I’m sorry Nicole. I never intended for you to get that impression of me. I neither feel sorry for you nor will I ever ridicule you.”

  She continued to glare at him.

  “In fact, I’ve told you this before, but I admire you more than any other woman I’ve ever known.”

  That threw her. She had to think about it for a bit. She looked away and was certain he wouldn’t say anything else while she wasn’t looking at him. He was that aware of her condition.

  She was saved from having to respond to Roger’s declaration when the doorbell flashed.

  She looked up in time to see Nick come through the door carrying a large pizza box just as she’d expected. He waved at her as he headed for the kitchen with the box.

  Halfway there, Nick stopped and turned to stare at Roger sitting on the sofa.

  Nick looked at her and saw that she was looking at him. “Who’s that?”

  She looked at Roger who had a curious look on his face too. She had a feeling that if she didn’t do something soon, the two men might go at each other.

  “Roger, this is my brother Nick. Nick, this is the lawyer I told you about, Roger McCracken.”

  Roger stood and stepped up to Nick with his hand out. “I’m glad you’re here Nick. Although Nicole can take care of herself in most situations, I think she needs you right now.”

  Nick reluctantly shifted the pizza box to shake Roger’s hand. Without a word, he turned and went into the kitchen where he put the pizza on the table and got plates and glasses out.

  Nicole looked back at Roger who smiled at her. “I’ll let you and your brother be alone now.”

  She watched him leave without saying another word, but he stopped at the door, looked toward the kitchen where Nick was watching him and turned to face her. “I mainly wanted you to know I saw a black SUV following me earlier. I shook him off then when I drove by here, I’m sure the same black SUV was sitting across the street from your house.”

  He left then with Nicole turning to look at Nick who shrugged his shoulders.

  “I’m here now. We will get this guy before he gets you. Come on let’s eat.”

  When she joined Nick in the kitchen, he looked at her. “I’ll get my bags after we eat. I’m starving.”

  When they finished eating, Nick touched her arm so she would look at him. “I want to see those bullet holes.”

  With that, they both went into the living room.

  He looked at the five holes in her wall first. “Cops dig out the slugs?”

  She nodded. “.223.”

  “That’s what I figured.”

  He turned and looked at the big window, but the drapes were pulled. He looked back at her. “Get the window fixed yet?”

  “Yes. They came this afternoon and my neighbor, Mrs. Wilson, let them in with her key.”

  He smiled at her. “It sure makes me feel better knowing you’ve got a neighbor like her watching things.”

  Mrs. Wilson came in once a week and did the heavy cleaning that Nicole could do if she worked hard at it but she just didn’t want to do it. But her neighbor was much more than that. She kept a watch over Nicole’s house twenty-four/seven and mothered Nicole like she’d never been by her own mother.

  They sat in the living room.

  “Mom and dad are taking another cruise next month.”

  She smiled knowing he didn’t expect a comment. Their parents weren’t the loving, nurturing parents like they’d seen on TV. But they’d both accepted that long ago. Nicole had virtually left at eighteen when she went to college in Oklahoma just to get out on her own. Then having gone straight into the Army after college, she hadn’t lived at home since. And that was just the way she wanted it.

  Her mom had never accepted Nicole’s handicaps, especially her being deaf. Nick had told her that their mom always talked to her in a very loud voice as if that would help.

  Her parents didn’t have a clue about their twin children. Nicole often wished she had other brothers and sisters, but it was just her and Nick. Ha! Her and Nick against the world.

  She suddenly turned to her brother. “Nick, how do you stand working for Dad?”

  He laughed. “I don’t.”

  “What do you mean?”

  His face grew serious. “I may be a vice-president, but I don’t ever want to be the president and I think Dad has finally accepted that and is grooming someone else to replace him when he retires.”

  “Do you think he will retire soon? He’s already seventy-one.”

  “Yeah, I think he will. You’re not around enough to know how much Mom has been pushing him for over a year to retire so they can travel the world.”

  She snickered. “Well, they certainly have enough money to do that.”

  “Yeah, they do. And for that matter, I’ve done quite well with my investments and could retire any time I want to.”

  She laughed. “You could never retire at thirty-one. What would you do?”

  He gave her an evil smile. “I’m sure I could come up with a few ideas.”

  She reached out and slapped his arm playfully. “Even you would get bored with a different girl every month.”

  “I haven’t yet and that’s what it’s like now.”

  They both sat there quietly for a long moment. Then he grew serious. “You know, Lanie, I’ve done just as well with your investments too. You are a wealthy woman.”

  She shook her head. “I need nothing else Nick. What would I do with any of it right now? You know the $3000 a month I get from the VA goes straight into my investment account. Besides, I’m happy doing what I’m doing.”

  She smiled at him. “You’d better not let Mom catch you calling me Laine. You know how she is about that.”

  “Yeah. But your middle name is Elaine, isn’t it?”

  * * *

  On the way home, which was only six blocks, Roger kept watching for the black SUV and didn’t see it until he turned onto his street. There it was, sitting in front of his house now. Again, it took off and was out of sight before he could catch it.
>
  He went into his house and called Floyd right away.

  “Have you ever seen that vehicle before tonight?”

  “No, I don’t think so. At least I never noticed it like I did tonight.”

  “You know I can’t do anything without a plate number.”

  Roger heard him blow out a noisy sigh. “Just be careful Roger. What did Nicole say when you told her about it?”

  “Nothing. Her brother came in and I didn’t get a chance to tell her about the SUV until I was leaving, and she didn’t say anything about it.”

  “What was your take on this brother of hers?”

  He laughed. “He was ready to take my head off when he walked in and saw me there. She had to talk him back. I would say he can help her in a lot of ways.”

  He remembered something. “Oh, by the way, the guy has come down for the duration to help her.”

  “Good. I was debating about assigning a deputy to her. I’m glad he’ll be there.”

  Roger heard Sue Ann’s voice in the background. Floyd spoke to her then back into the phone. “I gotta go. We’re putting Mary Ann to bed.”

  Roger held his laughter until they’d disconnected. Man, Floyd sure had become domesticated. His wild but lonely big brother now had a wife and three kids. Unbelievable.

  Then he thought he was just like Floyd had been until Sue Ann and the kids had come into his life. Not good. No. He admitted that he was lonely. He’d been lonely in KC and moving back to Crowleyville hadn’t really made that much difference. Sure, he had extended family all over the county and had dinner with his immediate family every Sunday afternoon. He was still lonely the rest of the time.

  He spent the rest of the evening going over some files he’d brought home then he was headed for the bedroom when his cell phone rang. It was the alarm company that covered his office.

  “Mr. McCracken, the alarm at your office has been tripped. We’ve alerted the Sheriff’s Department and they’re on the way.”

  He disconnected and quickly called Floyd who said he’d meet Roger there.

  Roger ran out and jumped in his car. It was only a ten-minute drive to his office, but he saw Floyd leaning on his vehicle when Roger pulled into the parking lot.