by B. Groves
Then there was Hal Larson, who was Mark’s other uncle, his mother’s brother with the family name. Hal’s wife was named Ginny, and the couple still had school age children.
After going over reports that Mark had to approve he sat back and listened to complaints about the department, pay, overtime, and the usual. There was never enough coffee, and the department was getting cheap with freebies. The State Police always got everything they wanted, new cars, equipment, guns, but the state always forgot about them in the budget. He hoped when he got to Seattle this would all go away, and never had any of these kinds of headaches again.
Finally, after a little while Hal turned to his nephew and asked, “Did you hear the news?”
“What?” Mark asked looking for patience from the usual complaints. They would never understand that his hands were tied when it came to budgeting.
“The Coopers’ kid is having her big homecoming party in two weeks,” Hal answered.
Mark looked up to the ceiling again, which was leaking- again. “I heard, and expect it to be her biggest, because it’s her senior year right?”
Hal nodded. “Yeah, and she is inviting rival schools to attend.”
Mark looked at his uncle. “Well, get ready to put your boxing gloves on gentleman.”
Hal shrugged. “Do you think her parents care? They will clean up the mess, and pay everyone off like they always do.”
Mandy Cooper’s father was the County Prosecutor, and when Mandy got into any trouble he would bribe anyone who was willing to listen, or he would pull the strings he needed to pull to get her out of trouble.
“Well, no payments here, right?” Mark asked, his eyes darting to each of his deputies.
No one answered, and Mark could feel his anger rise at the reactions. He knew Dale Cooper had paid them all at one time or another, and he was trying to stop that.
“Right?” He asked, again, getting angry at their silence. He was left with a huge mess after he was elected, and these guys weren’t the most helpful sometimes.
“Sure Sheriff,” Paul finally answered, his eyes wide in fear of being yelled at by Mark.
“Good. I will notify the other counties, and the state police in case we need back up that night,” Mark said, calming a little after a moment.
Dale and Mark had butt heads many times over other cases besides his daughter. He did not like Dale Cooper; the man threw his power around whenever he needed to.
Dale would call him a wet behind the ears redneck cop whenever he had a chance. While his wife was half-decent to speak to, Mandy was turning more and more into her father.
“The kids just want to have fun. What are we going to get them on?” Paul asked after a few minutes.
“Nothing. We just patrol the area until they get rowdy, then get them on underage drinking….disturbing the peace…..”
“Maybe some drug paraphernalia,” Bill offered.
Bill was one of the ones who also hated Dale, and stopped taking bribes from him years ago, after Dale had pulled the rug out from under him a few times.
“That’s right,” Mark said.
“Any follow up on that fire, Mark?” Marge finally asked, pushing her glasses up her nose.
Mark let out a breath suddenly thinking of Jessica Winters.
He tried to push her out of his head, and said, “Nothing. The girl I picked up said she saw a bear not the fire.”
Hal frowned. “What girl?”
“When I was investigating the fire a girl came running out of the woods claiming she spotted a bear, but didn’t see the fire,” he answered knowing they wouldn’t believe it either.
Hal had his suspicions, and asked, “She didn’t see anything?”
“That’s what she said. Since nothing happened, I just dropped it,” Mark answered.
“She had to be lying,” Hal insisted. “The smoke was spotted, and smelled around the area.”
“Yeah, well the fire department couldn’t find anything, so what do you want me to do?” Mark asked, more annoyed that she was on his mind again.
“Sorry….” Hal muttered.
“Is that it?” Mark asked, looking around ignoring his uncle.
“That’s it Sheriff,” Marge answered, mumbling over her notes.
All of them got up, and Mark was patrolling that night. Another long and boring night, he thought.
“Paul, are you dispatching tonight or do I need to call the state?” Mark asked.
“I’m staying,” he replied.
Mark shook his head, and wondered when he would find the guy dead in a chair.
Paul walked past him mumbling something about dishes being thrown the night before, but Mark ignored it for now.
He just wanted to get out and get on patrol. He hated the bureaucracy of his job, and sometimes wished he hadn’t run for election.
Hal walked up to him as Mark was holstering his gun, and said, “Ginny wanted to know if you wanted to come have dinner with us tomorrow night before you patrol.”
Mark scrunched his eyebrows, but smiled. “You off tomorrow or something?”
“Funny, I should whip your ass, but since you’re my superior and all,” Hal answered, laughing.
Mark chuckled. “That would be great.”
“Great! She says you look like you need a home cooked meal,” Hal said.
“The diner is getting old,” Mark answered.
Hal looked down for a moment, and said, “Damn, I miss your Mom.”
Mark sighed and tried not think about it. “There are days…..”
“I know, but she is looking down on you, and proud of you. She always was,” Hal said, putting his hand on Mark’s shoulder.
Mark smiled sadly. “Thanks.”
Hal turned to leave, and then thought of something else.
“Ginny wanted to know if you were bringing a date, if you said yes, so she can cook extra,” Hal said with a smirk.
Mark chuckled. “Negative, and tell her not to try to set me up neither.”
“I will, but don’t be surprised if she gets on ya about it,” Hal said smiling.
Mark scoffed, and walked out of the door telling Paul he was leaving for the night.
The Sheriff’s station right smack in the middle of town now. It used to be an old factory, and the old Sheriff’s station was located in a small business office building right down the street. After Mark was elected, he was able to win over the powers that be to move them to a bigger location, and have cells installed, along with many renovations.
Mark looked around and spotted the usual people out shopping, or dining.
He adjusted his belt and put on his hat of his uniform. He never thought beige and brown were his colors, but what could he do? It was going to rain tonight, so he had his rain gear ready just in case.
He opened the cruiser door, and looked up, spotting the one and only Jessica Winters.
He shook his head wondering why he kept bumping into this girl.
She had left the local florist with a half dozen roses in her hand.
Mark stood there with his hands on the door as she made her way to the pickup truck parked on the street.
He breathed in slowly, and despite his better judgment, he began walking towards her.
“Miss Winters!” He called.
She looked up to see who was calling her name, and he saw she was stunned when she spotted him.
As he got closer she looked around, and he had to smile to himself, because she was considering getting into the truck and driving off. The color drained from her face, but she didn’t move, thankfully.
He kept a safe distance for a moment as he stopped on the sidewalk.
She was beet red, but she lifted her chin defiantly, which surprised him, because the first time he met her, she kept putting her head down trying to hide her emotions on her face.
“ Hi Sheriff,” she said in greeting.
“Good evening, Miss Winters,” he replied with a smile.
For once her hair was dow
n, and fell to her shoulders. She looked so much better with it down. He noticed she did not wear the typical style of the eighties; lots of hairspray and teased to death.
She’s just a kid, he thought trying to suppress the thoughts that kept nagging at him regarding how pretty she was, even though he guessed she didn’t think of herself as a pretty girl.
“Can I help you with something?” She asked hesitantly.
She seemed to be in a hurry, but he wanted to talk to her for a moment.
“Is everything alright?” He asked, eyeing the roses.
“Huh?” She was confused and then realized he noticed the roses.
She laughed uncomfortably, and said, “Oh yes. My Mom wanted some for the dining room table, we’re having guests.”
Mark nodded and said, “As long as everything is fine.”
“Yes it is,” she said, finally deciding to get into the truck.
Mark walked closer, and Jessica sat there staring at the steering wheel. He knew he was making her nervous, and thought this would be the last time he bothered her.
He coaxed her to roll her window down, and she did, but did not look happy about it.
“Jessica, you didn’t have to lie to me about the fire…..”
Jessica looked at him sharply and asked, “Am I under arrest? I know my rights.”
Mark chuckled amused by her sudden outburst. “No, I just want the truth from you. Did you and some friends do something that night that you couldn’t tell me?”
To his surprise Jessica snorted. “I don’t have those kinds of friends, Sheriff.”
“Mark,” he corrected.
“What?”
“Call me Mark,” he responded, not knowing why he wanted her to call him by his first name so badly.
He also didn’t know why he kept asking Jessica about the fire, but knew it gave him an excuse to keep talking to her. He knew he should just let it go, but he wanted the truth from her.
“You were alone?”
“Yes, very much so,” she said, getting flustered, her face turning bright crimson. Whether it was from just him or the questions, he didn’t know.
She finally turned to him and looked him straight in the eye. He knew she was finally going to tell him the truth.
“I like to take walks in the woods behind my house, and just prefer to be alone sometimes. I did see the smoke, but nothing else. When I ran out of the woods, I ran into you,” she explained, anxiously.
He could tell she was a little embarrassed about her so-called walks alone in the woods. It was obviously something she liked to keep private.
“And then?”
“I made up the bear story, because I didn’t want you to think I started the fire,” she finished.
She was still keeping something from him, but she was telling the truth about the fire. At least he got that out of her.
“That’s all I needed to know. I never even thought the fire was your fault. Besides, it was reported, but whoever did it, must have put it out anyway. I was just concerned because of our wildfire problems,” he said, accepting her explanation.
That seemed to relax her a little. She turned and smiled slightly.
“Thank you,” she said starting the truck. “I really need to get home.”
Mark took a step back, but wanted to ask her one last question.
“We know about the upcoming homecoming party, so if you’re going then please don’t drink or do any drugs,” he warned.
He had no idea why he needed to say that, but felt compelled to.
She looked at him stunned, and then a realization hit her, and she nodded in understanding.
“Mandy has those every year,” she said thoughtfully.
“Yes, and that’s why I am letting you know ahead of time,” he answered.
She nodded again, and said goodbye after he moved away from the door. She drove away fast, but he didn’t try to stop her.
Sighing, he made his way back to the cruiser. He didn’t know why this girl made him give a shit. He was trying to get out of this town, and that was his main focus. Besides, she was in high school, so what could he possibly have in common with a girl in high school?
He couldn’t understand what he was thinking.
Chapter 8
Jessica calmed her pounding heartbeat while she drove home. She couldn’t help but think of the Sheriff, and how handsome he looked in that uniform. She sighed, and felt kind of relieved she had finally told him the truth….well most of it. She smiled slightly thinking she could get lost in those deep ocean blue eyes of his.
Jessica scolded herself, and tried to calm her thoughts of the Sheriff when she pulled into the driveway of her house. She took the roses from the passenger seat, hiding them behind her back as she walked up the steps onto the porch. She placed them on the patio chair, and went inside so her dad wouldn’t see them and question her about them. She had given him the excuse she had to run over to Tessa’s for a minute about a project they were working on.
Her dad sat in front of the TV with one of those folding tables, eating a frozen dinner.
“I can’t wait till your mother has some time off,” he commented making a face at the food.
Jessica laughed, asking, “She should be off before you leave again right?”
“I hope so. Anyway, did you get what you needed from Tessa sunshine?” Donald asked smiling up at her.
Jessica smiled. “Yes, I did.”
Donald got up and put the plate in the kitchen, and sat back down as Jessica sat on the couch opposite of him.
Donald let out a contented sigh, and Jessica was itching to get out to the woods. She knew she was neglecting her homework, but she wanted to see the Spirit of the Mirror before it got too dark out.
“I hear you’re going to the homecoming party at the Coopers,” Donald suddenly said, as his eyelids grew heavy.
“Yeah, I let Tessa talk me into it,” she answered, not really wanting to talk about partying with her dad.
“Your mother is glad you’re going. Just be careful, all right? Dale and his family can be assholes sometimes.”
“I will, Dad.”
Her dad quickly fell asleep, snoring away in the chair. Jessica quietly got up from the couch and grabbed the roses outside on the porch.
She tiptoed out the back door, and began making her way down the path to the Spirit of the Mirror. She was almost too scared to go back there, but she also wanted proof that this thing was real.
“As promised,” Jessica said, as she approached the mirror several minutes later.
The spirit formed in front of her, and smiled at the roses.
“Beautiful, but you only had to bring one,” he said taking the roses from her. She found his hand to be smooth, hard, and cool to the touch.
“I wanted to make sure,” Jessica said, shrugging.
“You have kept your promise, and I will keep mine,” he said as he admired the flowers.
Jessica closed her eyes in anticipation, making the spirit chuckle.
“It doesn’t work that way Jessica,” he said.
“Well, what do I have to do?” She asked a little annoyed.
“Roses are truly an amazing plant. The color….so much like the blood of humans,” he said softly, and she could have sworn he licked his lips.
Jessica frowned at his comparison, but tried to not think anything of it. It was strange how he talked about the roses, but she dismissed it, because she was anxious to see her changes.
He looked down at her, and his eyes began to glow softly in the growing darkness.
“Now, tell me what you want,” he said.
“I just want my hair easier to manage, less frizzy, and lighter,” she answered, almost giddy with anticipation.
The Spirit stepped out of the way, and said, “Please approach the mirror.”
Even though Jessica was excited, she was still reluctant, and afraid of what was going to happen. All these weird thoughts began to run through her mind.
&nb
sp; “Keep calm Jessica. Now, look into the mirror. What do you see?”
“I just see my reflection,” she answered as he put a hand on her shoulder making Jessica shiver a little.
“Close your eyes,” he ordered softly.