Pierce

by Dale Mayer

  He turned with a big smile and said, “The bedroom is fine. The hallway is fine, of course. For whatever reason, Ross moved into Pete’s bedroom.” He shot the sheriff a disgusted look. “Not like there aren’t bedrooms upstairs he could have used without trying to move in on his brother’s property and take over like he did.”

  Before Ross could argue, Pierce launched straight back into an explanation of how he will change out the single glass door in the kitchen so it too was a double door and to cover up that bit of a threshold lip so Pete could get out on the deck and then put a ramp around the back.

  The men just stared at him.

  He looked at them all. “Aren’t you guys Pete’s buddies?”

  Jed just kind of looked down at the ground, and the sheriff ran his hand across his mustache a couple times.

  “Are you or are you not his buddies?” Pierce asked, his tone turning hard with a deadly backlash to it.

  Jed looked at him and said, “Ross is my buddy.”

  “I see,” Pierce said, crossing his arms over his chest. “So you don’t want the owner of the house—who has gone to war, fought for you and your country, been injured, been in recovery all this time—to come back to what’s rightfully his?”

  Jed had the grace to turn a ruddy red. He backed up a couple steps and spat on the side of the driveway.

  Pierce turned his gaze to the sheriff. “And what say you, Sheriff?”

  The sheriff pulled the hat off his head and ran his fingers through his hair. “Well, I’ve known Pete a long time.”

  “I’m sure you’ll tell me that he’s a good man,” Pierce said. He watched another car come down the road toward them. It was a deputy’s vehicle, and he was pretty darn sure it was Hedi.

  The sheriff nodded. “He is a good guy. But I understood he’s a cripple.”

  Pierce’s eyebrows shot up. “A cripple? What the hell are you calling Pete a cripple for?” He turned on Ross. “Is that your words? Would you disrespect your brother like that?”

  Ross opened his mouth and then snapped it shut. “I didn’t say he was a cripple.”

  “I’d be very unhappy to hear you call him that,” Pierce said. “That man needs the help of his friends, and I’m still waiting to see it.”

  “What’s this got to do with you anyway?” Jed said.

  “I went and fought for my country too, so Pete and I are brothers-in-arms,” Pierce said with a half-smile and a hard gaze. “I do a lot of remodeling. So I’m here to help Pete get back into his house. You don’t want to see a man like that stuck in an institution, do you? Not when he can live comfortably in his own home.”

  “I mean, if he’s dragging shit bags and crap like that,” Jed said, “maybe that’s where he belongs.”

  Pierce snorted. “You know what? I wouldn’t be at all surprised if he doesn’t come back walking on his own two feet.” He kept his tone very low.

  Just then the deputy’s vehicle pulled up and parked.

  “That’d be a fine thing to see,” the sheriff said. “Pete is a good man. What happened to him was hard.” He turned to look at his deputy and frowned. “What’s she doing here?”

  “She’s here at my request,” Pierce said cheerfully. He lifted a hand. “Hey, Hedi. Glad you could make it.”

  She flashed him a confused look, then walked closer.

  He didn’t give her a chance to speak. “I’ve been talking to Pete,” he said, “and the good news is, I think we can get his house fixed up so he can get home. It’ll take some money and lots of volunteer hours, but I’m pretty sure his buddies here can give us a hand.” He waved a hand at the two men standing in front of him.

  Hedi’s eyebrows rose.

  He could see the humor flash across her face before she managed to school her features. “Isn’t that right, Jed?” Pierce said. “I know you said you were Ross’s buddy more than Pete’s, but you know Ross will be here helping out too.”

  “Like hell I am,” Ross snapped. “I can’t swing a hammer.”

  “Everybody can swing a hammer,” Pierce said coolly. “Just not everyone can swing it well. And you’re not paying Pete any rent, so living here free of charge, spending your brother’s money, free and clear without his permission, so I’m sure you’ll want to do something to help pay him back for his generosity.” Pierce made sure he injected just the right amount of scorn so Ross would stand up and do what was right. Pierce’s voice snapped across the silence. “Right?”

  Ross spat on the ground and shot Pierce a disgusted look. “It ain’t none of your business.”

  “I’m moving in,” Pierce said, “with Pete’s permission. So you’re either staying here and helping out, or you’re getting the hell off this place right now.”

  Silence whistled across the group.

  Chapter 6

  Hedi couldn’t believe it when she got a garbled message from her father to Get the hell over here. She knew he was coming too, as well as Roger and a couple other guys. Pete had sent out a call of distress to the old guard, and they’d all taken up the call. But she was the closest and the most available, so she was here first. And just listening to Pierce set down the other men was something to see. She wished she’d been here from the beginning.

  “That’s great news,” she said to Pierce warmly. “I can’t wait to see Pete again. He’s a good guy.” She looked at the front door. “I guess this will all have to change.”

  Pierce stepped up and explained how he would take out the window and put in a double door that opened both ways.

  She nodded approvingly. “He’ll need a ramp, and I guess bathroom and kitchen modifications. All that takes money and manpower. And Pete has his pension, with his medical treatments paid for, so there should be lots there for him.” The silence behind her got even more awkward. She spun around and looked at the three men, her gaze landing on Ross. “Right, Ross?”

  He looked at her resentfully. “Costs money to live here.”

  She narrowed her gaze. “It might cost a little bit of money to live here …” Her voice was gentle and calm. “… but if a large amount of Pete’s pension money disappeared, that would be theft.”

  Ross straightened his back and glared at her, then looked at the sheriff and back at her again. “Sheriff, you won’t let her talk to me like this, are you?”

  She turned and glared at the sheriff.

  He stared back at her balefully.

  That in itself was a shift. She wondered when that had occurred. Then she realized it was in the force of the man in a black truck.

  “Ross already knows his clock is ticking away on that.” Pierce’s voice remained calm and cool as he crossed his arms over his chest and leaned against the front door frame. He looked down at his watch. “By the way, Ross, you’re down to three hours now.”

  Ross spluttered, then snorted and walked back inside. He went to slam the front door, but Pierce’s boot was in the way. Ross turned and said, “You’re not moving in. You get the hell out of my house.”

  “But it’s not your house,” Pierce said.

  “How the hell do you know?” Ross snarled. “It’s my house if I want it to be my house. You get the hell out of here.”

  Hedi was shocked. “Hey, what are you talking about, Ross? This is Pete’s house. You’ve been living here for a few months, but you don’t just get to move in and take over like it’s yours. Pete’s making modifications, and he’s coming home.”

  “You believe this snake here?” Ross sneered. “Of course you would. You’re nothing but a woman. You’ll probably spread your legs for smack.”

  She hadn’t even processed his words before Ross lay flat on the ground between her and Pierce.

  Pierce reached down and, with one hand, grabbed a handful of shirt, lifted Ross up, dragged him out on the deck and plunked him down. “Don’t you ever talk to a woman like that again while I’m around.” His voice was hard. “The fact that she’s a law enforcement officer, who you obviously have zero respect for, is a really bad
sign, not to mention her boss stood here and let you treat her like that. But as for me? Nobody treats a woman like that. Now you got twenty minutes to get your shit packed up and get the hell out of here.”

  “Or what?” Ross said, struggling to his feet, wiping the blood off his cheek. “The sheriff is here. He’ll back me up.”

  Just then three more vehicles pulled into the yard. The sheriff spun around, took one look and said, “Shit.”

  Ross sputtered, “What … what … what’s the matter?” And then he saw four men hop out of the newly arrived vehicles.

  Hedi walked over and said, “Good timing, Dad.” Hedi studied her father. He wore a brushed cotton T-shirt that said he still worked out on a regular basis, plus dark blue jeans, cowboy boots that were cut properly, and a walk, not a swagger, that said this man had seen it all, done it all, and was comfortable doing it all over again. She loved that about him. He’d been a great father and still was her biggest supporter.

  Pierce nodded his head. “Good evening. I’m Pierce.”

  Her father nodded. “My name’s Jessie. Glad to meet you.” He looked at Ross. “What’s this I hear about you not wanting to vacate Pete’s house?”

  Ross looked to the sheriff. “Sheriff, you can’t let them do this to me.”

  The sheriff lifted his hat again to rub his head. “Well, now this is a bit of a mess up.”

  “No mess up at all,” Pierce said. “Sometimes, when you can’t do the job yourself, your friends have to take out the trash.” He turned his gaze on Ross. “I mean it. You got twenty minutes, buddy.”

  “That’s not fair. I don’t have to leave.”

  “If you won’t help do the work and help make up for the rent money you took from Pete, you’re damn right you have to leave. And you’re still on a clock for that other accounting problem you have.”

  Ross gave him a haunted look and stormed inside.

  Jessie laughed. “Nice to see you around town, Pierce. We need a few more men like you.”

  “We need a few more men like you too,” Pierce said. “I hope you guys heard from Pete. Did you?”

  “Yeah. He called not too long ago, said you were here creating a ruckus.”

  “You can say that again,” the sheriff snarled. “Looks like you don’t need me after all.” He walked to his car and turned. “I’m heading back to the office.” He hopped in, and he drove away.

  Hearing the sound of a vehicle, Ross came back outside. When he saw the sheriff leave, he looked like he wanted to cry.

  Pierce turned to him. “If you thought the sheriff would back you up, you’re dead wrong. In this case, the law is on Pete’s side, not yours, and you’re down to twelve minutes.”

  Ross went back inside.

  Hedi said, “You’ll really make him leave?”

  “Oh, yeah, I’ll make him leave. And there won’t be any talk about him moving back in again until we get a clean accounting of what the hell happened to Pete’s money.”

  She was horrified to think anybody would have stolen from Pete, but to think it might have been his own brother, that made it so much worse. “Did he really steal money from him?”

  “Ross has another two and a half hours to make good on the amount that’s supposed to be there,” he said. “And believe me, Pete is checking bank accounts, and so are the accountants. Pete got a lump sum after he got back, for lost wages and to help with medical adjustments. And every damn penny of that had better be there,” he said coolly. “Or none of the law around this area will do anything to help Ross. I’ll make sure he’s slammed into some jail a long way away without any support system for a hell of a long time.”

  “As long as you leave him alive, and you don’t break any bones doing it,” Jessie said, his tone hard, “I won’t argue.”

  “I might break a bone or two,” Pierce said with a fat smile. “But, of course, that’s only if he struggles. If he’s a good boy and behaves himself, then”—Pierce shrugged—“no need to force him to do anything, is there?”

  The two men exchanged knowing looks.

  Just then Ross came back out with a duffel bag and another bag. “The rest of my stuff is still here,” he said. “I can’t take it all right now.”

  “That’s fine. I’ll have a talk with Pete and get an inventory of what belongs here and what you say is yours.” He looked at the two bags. “Make sure it’s just your shit in there because I’ll come back after you if anything from the house is missing.”

  Ross shot him a look full of hatred. “It’s mine.” He threw the bags in the back of the pickup and walked to where Jed was.

  The two men talked, glanced at Pierce, the conversation continued, then they both got into their vehicles and pulled out.

  Jessie and the men with him walked up to the veranda, Jessie saying, “You just made yourself a couple enemies.”

  Hedi laughed. “And yet, it’s you, Dad, who always said you could judge a man by the enemies he makes.”

  Jessie nodded. “I did, indeed. But these are especially ugly ones. They’ll torch this place before they’ll let you have it.”

  Pierce narrowed his gaze as he studied the men driving away. “In that case somebody might want to make sure Jed’s wife and kids go someplace for a few days until we get this sorted out,” he said, “because ugly is what ugly does.”

  Hedi wasn’t sure what the hell that meant, but she understood the meaning. “You can’t get those kids caught up in this,” she warned. “They’re already having a hell of a time.”

  “He’s right though,” her father said. “Things will have to get worse before they get any better.”

  She frowned, then turned to face Pierce again. “I talked to Jed’s wife. She said there are signs of a dog out in the back here. She doesn’t know if it’s the same one or not. It’s circling away from Jed’s place, but Pete’s place is also Salem’s last-known source of food, outside of anything it can hunt.”

  Pierce smiled. “Now that’s the best news I’ve heard all day.”

  “How can that be?” she said. “That dog has gone half wild.”

  “But it always was half wild,” he said. “That’s what makes them the best War Dogs. If we could get our hands on her, I can help her.”

  “Do you really think you can?”

  He nodded. “It’s a good thing I did move in here today,” he said. “I’ll work hard to get Salem back in line, see if we can get her rehabilitated in time for Pete to come home. That’s where they both belong—with each other.”

  Jessie nodded. “I can swing a hammer, maybe not as good as you can, but I can certainly do a decent job.” He looked at the other couple guys, and they all nodded. “If there’s anything we can do to help get Pete’s house ready, you just let us know.”

  Pierce smiled.

  Hedi laughed. “Thanks, Dad.”

  He looked at her and smiled. “I wish you had a different job. I don’t know where the sheriff will fall on this issue, but it’ll get bad.”

  “I know.” Her voice was serious and sad. “It’s shitty, but it’s the way it’ll be.”

  “Maybe you should head back into town then,” Pierce said.

  “Why, so I don’t get hurt?” she challenged. “I’m the deputy. Remember that.”

  “Then I hope you’re carrying,” he said, “because you can bet Jed’s gone home to get some firepower.”

  She looked at him, then nodded. “You’re right. He probably has. But Jed is also not the kind of guy who would blast you in the face. He’ll come up behind you, shoot you in the back.”

  “Nice community you have here.” Pierce crossed his arms over his chest again. “I might have to call in some reinforcements of my own.”

  Jessie nodded. “If you got them, call them fast.”

  “I’ll move my vehicle out of sight,” she said. “Just in case.”

  “Good idea,” Jessie said.

  Hedi drove her car around to the side and parked it. She hopped out and walked up to the front of the house
and stepped in without warning. Pierce turned around, surprised, and took note. “You move softly.”

  “I’m a cop,” she said.

  He nodded. “Why are you here now?”

  “Because you’ll need help,” she said. “It could get very ugly.”

  “It could,” he said, hesitating.

  She stared at him. “Unless you’ve got a problem with a female helping.”

  “I don’t have a problem with a female helping,” he said with a grin. “Don’t suppose you can swing a hammer too, can you?”

  She could feel the tension ease in her back. “I can swing a hammer pretty decently. I helped my father do enough renos and fixing up fence posts and barn repairs,” she said.

  “Good enough for me.” Pierce motioned at the kitchen. “I’m sorting out what’s here and what’s been done to the place since Pete was here.” Just then his phone rang. It was Pete again. “Hey, Pete. Yeah, Hedi is here.”

  Through the phone she could hear Pete call out, “Hey, Hedi. Hi.”

  She grinned, leaned forward and said, “Hey, Pete. Pierce has kicked the metaphorical shit out of your brother and moved him off your property, and now you got this big mausoleum of a house waiting for you to get your sorry ass back home again.”

  Pete gave a big laugh.

  She grinned, looked at Pierce and smiled. “If there’s one thing Pete does like, it’s life.”

  “Pete used to like life,” Pete said, still shouting into the phone. “And he’s starting to like life again.”

  “You hit a rough spot,” Pierce said, “and all of a sudden that rough spot became too much to handle. You have to get through it first. Then life is different on the other side.”

  “Now I’m starting to believe,” he said. “You will never guess, but I got a phone call from a prosthetic designer who says she thinks she can help me out.” He spoke with amazement. “I told her that I had to sort out my money first, and she agreed, said she needed permission to get my medical records to see what she could do. Of course I gave her my permission, like Holy shit, yes. If I could actually walk, as in walk on my own two legs, that would be huge.”