by C. C. Wall
“Then let’s hurry to your office for some bourbon,” Otis said.
The two scurried through the station into Reagan’s office chuckling like little kids. They shut the door and drew the blinds.
Reagan poured a couple of drinks and handed one of them to Otis.
Otis took a sip. “Oh, that’s good,” Otis said.
“I know it,” Reagan said. He finished his and poured himself another. “You want seconds?”
“No, this is fine,” Otis said. “But, I do have some questions about this mess Jonathan has gotten himself into.”
“Okay, shoot,” Reagan said.
“I’ve known Jon and his wife for years,” he said, “are you sure he did this?”
“I know the press has had a field day linking him to everything wrong that’s been going on here lately, but the only thing I think he actually did, was kill Michael Goodman,” Reagan replied.
“You have proof of this?” Otis asked.
“I do,” he said.
“Is it solid?” Otis asked.
“Anyone in there right mind, after seeing the footage, will know he did it,” Reagan said. “I can give you a copy of the surveillance tape, to take with you to review, if you would like.”
“I would like that very much,” Otis said. Otis finished his drink. “Let’s go get this over with.”
The two of them left the office and went onto the conference room that was set up as a make shift court house. In the room was Jonathan, Francine, Donald and Connie Roth on one side of the room and on the other was Lukas and Sue. Otis walked across the room to a table on the other side.
“Would you all rise for Judge Otis T. Judge…” Reagan said.
“Oh, that’s not necessary,” Otis said. “Thank you anyway sheriff.” He sat down and opened his tattered briefcase. “The first item on the agenda is the arraignment of Jonathan Kensington.” He looked at Jonathan and nodded. “Hello Jon, Francine.” They nodded back. “Let’s start with the bad news first. Jonathan, the state is in fact going to proceed to trial with this case.”
“You have to be kidding me!” Jonathan shouted.
Donald put his hand on Jonathan’s shoulder to calm him down. “I object your honor…”
“On what?” Otis said. “There isn’t anything to object to. I am just informing you on what is going to happen.”
“Can we recommend a bail be set,” Donald said.
“You didn’t let me get to the good news part,” Otis said. “Jonathan, I have known you many years. One thing I know about you more than anything else is, you love this town.”
Jonathan nodded his head and held back tears. “I do.”
“I think you love it so much,” Otis said, “that if you were to be released, you would stay put, do everything you could to clear your name and get back to becoming mayor of this beautiful piece of Earth.”
“That is very true, your honor,” Jonathan said.
“So, I am going to release you on your own recognizance,” Otis said. “You will have to report to any court dates and you will have weekly meetings with Sheriff Reagan. You miss any of those meetings or break the law in any way, you go right back to the cell and do not come out until after your trial. Understood?”
“Yes, sir,” Jonathan said. “Thank you.”
“Thank you very much, your honor,” Donald said.
“Now, let’s look at the shooting involving Detective Lukas,” Otis said. “All parties not involved can leave the room.”
Only Jonathan and Francine exited.
“I’m sorry,” Otis said. “This is just for Detective Lukas. Your client has been released.”
“Yes, your honor,” Donald said. “But my wife and I are the parents of the girl that Mr. Lukas murdered. We would like to be here.”
Otis was shocked. “Okey-dokey, then. I am very sorry for your loss.” Otis opened a file. “Now Detective Lukas, I read your statement and the statements of the other officers involved. I also read a letter of recommendation from your sheriff. It says here that you have been demoted to deputy status. Is that true?”
“Yes, sir,” Lukas said.
Otis scratched his chin. “Since you are still working on the case, have you made any ground on your claims of the gunman you were after?”
“Yes, sir,” Lukas said. “I have.” He handed Otis a stack of pictures. “The man there in that black sweatshirt. That is the man that took aim in the crowd.”
“Who was he after? Do you know?” Otis asked.
“He was aiming at Jason Harker,” Lukas said. “A local guy. His father owns the town paper.”
Otis sat for second processing the information. His eyes widened. He looked at Reagan with urgency. “Tom’s boy?”
“Yep,” Reagan said.
“But he never got the shot off?” Otis asked.
“No,” Lukas replied. “He got away in the chaos after I discharged my weapon.”
“What else do you have on this guy?” Otis asked.
“He was the one who abducted and attacked Elizabeth Kensington. He also had something to do with Henry Goodman’s heart attack, but as of now, we haven’t been able to find anything concrete. He was also spotted at the funeral of Michelle Roth earlier today.”
“Yeah,” Connie shouted, “and this yahoo completely destroyed my baby girl’s funeral!”
“Please calm down Mrs. Roth,” Otis said. “If you want to be in here, you must remain calm during the proceedings.” He turned his attention back to Lukas. “Did you catch him?”
“No, sir.” Lukas hung his head. “He got away.”
Otis sat back in his chair, thinking.
Connie stood up. “Aren’t you going to tell him about your overdose, you junky! You should’ve died!”
Otis spoke up. “I have been informed about the overdose. Can you tell me why you did it, Lukas?”
“I just couldn’t believe that I took an innocent life. I couldn’t believe that. I couldn’t live with myself. I was in shock, I think.” Lukas lifted his head. “Then I thought to myself that if anything, I needed to catch this guy and take him down. I know it won’t change what happened, or bring any peace to the Roth family, but at least her death wouldn’t have been in vain.”
“How dare you,” Connie said.
Donald put his hand on her. “Please Connie, stop.”
Otis thought some more about it. “Reagan, is there an investigation into this matter against Lukas?”
“There is,” Reagan said.
“Is he a good copper?” Otis asked.
“One of the best,” Reagan said.
“Then I say, until the investigation is over, we have nothing to talk about,” Otis said.
“What?” Connie shouted.
“Give him his detective shield back while the investigation is going on. Let him get back to what he does best,” Otis said.
“How could you?” Connie asked.
“Listen, ma’am,” Otis said. “I am very sorry for your loss. But, do you think, for one second, that Detective Lukas went in that bar to shoot and kill your daughter?”
Connie didn’t know what to say. “Well…”
“Of course he didn’t,” Otis said. “It was an accident as far as I am concerned. A horrible accident. He was doing his job, which is not a safe one might I add, and he did the best he could under the circumstance. Should he have cleared the room first? Probably, but we have no idea how close this guy was to opening fire on the room. There could have been many others killed. Many other parents in here upset that their babies were dead. I know that doesn’t make you feel better, but my job is not to make decisions based on how it makes me feel, it’s to make them on what I know is right. Dismissed.”
62 - Birds Of A Feather
“Doesn’t anyone work here?” Jonathan shouted as he slammed his fist down on the counter.
“Calm down, honey,” Francine said. “You get to come home.”
“No, it’s fine,” he said. “There are always people here when you need to be
locked up, but when you get released, they all go out for tea!” His voice echoed through the empty station. “Hello?” Jonathan yelled.
“Hello!” said a voice from the back. Chuck came around the corner sucking the glaze off his finger while trying to devour the rest of a doughnut.
“I have been released and need my belongings,” Jonathan said.
“Well that’s super!” Chuck said. “Good for you!”
“I’m not cleared you idiot,” Jonathan said. “Not yet anyway.”
“That’s good,” Chuck said. He leaned in and whispered to Jonathan. “I think you did it.” He smiled.
Jonathan lunged at him and tried to get over the counter, but Francine held him back.
“Now, that’s what I like to see!” said Eugene who just walked in the station. “I love to see you struggling.”
“What do you want?” Jonathan asked.
“I came to see the show?” Eugene answered. “How much is your bail gonna set you back? I know you don’t have a job anymore,” Eugene rolled his eyes, “so I guess, I could lend you a few bucks to get you out of the slammer.”
“You’re too late!” Jonathan shouted. “I have been released on my own recognizance. I don’t have to pay anything.”
“What?” Eugene said. “What a horrible justice system. Am I right?”
“Yeah,” Chuck said.
“Would you get out of here and gather my belongings?” Jonathan shouted.
“I’m the coroner,” Chuck said. “So unless you’re dead, no.”
“Who can help me then?” Jonathan said. “I need to get out of here!”
“Oh, these guys can help you,” Chuck said.
Dyer and Reed walked through the doors. Dyer was walking Reed over to his desk. Reed’s head was bandaged up almost in a comical way. The wrapping, with drops of blood, made his head look three times its size.
“Great. Black Star Canyon’s finest,” Jonathan said.
Dyer ignored him. “Are you gonna be okay here?” Dyer asked Reed.
“Yeah, fine,” Reed said. “I just can’t see anything and need you to stop spinning my chair around.”
“I’m not spinning your chair around,” Dyer said. “You are sitting still.”
“Oh,” Reed said. “Then, I’m good.”
“Can. You. Help. Me?” Jonathan spoke loudly.
Dyer turned to him. “What can I help you with today?” Dyer put on his phoniest smile.
“While you were out playing doctor with Mr. Potatohead, I was being released from custody,” Jonathan said. “I would like my belongings now, so I can leave here and never, ever come back.”
“Sure thing,” Dyer said. “As soon as I get your paperwork from the judge. Just have a seat.”
“Blast!” Jonathan cried.
Eugene had a huge grin on his face. He loved seeing Jonathan at the end of his rope. “What’s the rush? It’s not like you have a job to get to. You’re retired. Well, you were forced into retirement, but same thing right?”
“Shut your mouth, Eugene,” Jonathan said.
“Why?” Eugene asked. “Are you going to attack me in the Sheriff’s Station?” Eugene laughed. “Are you going to jump the next mayor of Black Star Canyon in front of a deputy?”
“He’s not going to jump me, as you call it,” Francine said.
“Jump… jump you?” Eugene stuttered. “What are you talking about?”
Francine stood up tall and held her head high. “I am announcing my candidacy for the office of mayor of Black Star Canyon.”
Eugene’s face went from shock to laughter. “Are you serious?”
“Yes,” Francine said.
“Oh my goodness.” Eugene shook his head in disbelief. He reached out his hand to shake hers. “Well, I look forward to running against you. Beating two Kensingtons in one week would be a record for me.” He smiled.
Francine slapped him. Everyone gasped.
Eugene rubbed his face. “Birds of a feather…”
The conference room emptied into the lobby. The room was silent.
Francine stormed over to the door. “Listen to me everyone, I am going to mop the floor with you Wellington. You thought you won, but you were way wrong, buddy. You unleashed a sleeping giant. A sleeping giant!”
Just then, a dog started barking. Confused, they all looked around. Francine looked out the door and saw little Prince Harry, wagging his tail, so happy to see her.
“Harry!” Francine squealed. She opened the door and took Harry into her arms. She walked back into the lobby where everyone was still at her attention.
Harry sniffed the air. He started growling. He looked to the group and started barking uncontrollably.
“Harry, no!” Francine said. Every time she tried to turn Harry away from the group of people, Harry would climb up on her shoulder and begin barking again.
“Is that dog barking at me?” Chuck said.
“I’m not sure,” Dyer said. “I think he’s barking at me.”
“Probably,” Jonathan said. “He must hate cops. Good dog.”
Chuck, Reed, Dyer, Sue, Lukas, Donald, Connie, Reagan, Eugene, Jonathan and Otis all looked back at one another trying to see what was agitating Harry so much.
“I think he’s barking at Donald,” Sue said.
“Is that supposed to be some sort of lawyer joke?” Donald snapped.
“I didn’t know you let all kinds of animals in here, sheriff,” Connie said.
“Get him out of here Francine!” Jonathan said. “Speech is over, go wait in the car!”
63 - Riding Into The Sunset
“Now, I’ll take seconds.” Otis sighed as he and Reagan walked through the door. “Do you always have that kind of show to watch?”
“Not always,” Reagan said, “but more so lately.” Reagan poured big, full glasses of bourbon. “Here you are, your honor.”
Otis took the glass. “Knock that crap off. I feel terrible. I don’t want to be Judge Judge right now, I just want to be Otis.”
“I know that feeling,” Reagan said. “Being the sheriff lately has been quite the buzzkill.”
“I’m sure your man Lukas out there, was doing the best he could,” Otis said. “It’s horrible that a young girl died. I just hate giving awful news like that to folks.”
“Yep,” Reagan said. “I have been telling a lot of folks horrible things lately, too.” He took a big gulp of his drink. “What do you say we get us a couple of horses and ride out into the sunset.”
“As long as we ride to a place with a beach,” Otis said.
“Here, here!” Reagan said. Their glasses met and they drank.
“I’m gonna talk to Jon’s lawyer, and as long as they want this taken care of in the next week or two, and don’t try to pull that continuance crap, I think I’ll stay in town,” Otis said.
“That would be great,” Reagan said.
“Have you met the prosecutor?” Otis asked.
“No, I haven’t,” Reagan said.
“She’s a real bitch,” Otis said. “Be glad she is on our side.”
“Why wasn’t she here today?” Reagan asked.
“She is on vacation for another week,” Otis said. “She’s sky diving somewhere or something. She wanted to wait until she got back, but I thought Jon would want to be home with his family. Came out early as a kindness.”
“That’s big of you, Otis,” Reagan said.
“Innocent until proven guilty,” Otis said. “Or some shit.”
There was a knock at Reagan’s office door.
“Come in,” Reagan said.
The door opened and there stood Joan Harker. She looked like she had been crying, but tried to hide it.
“Joan…” Reagan said.
Otis smiled. “Joan Harker, as I live and breath!” He stood up and hugged her. “Look at you!”
“I had no idea you were in town Otis,” she said. “It’s really great to see you. Will you be in town long?”
“I hope so now,” Otis
said. “Where’s Tom?”
“That’s actually what I’m here about,” Joan said. She was nervous and fidgety. “Do you mind Otis? I’m so sorry. I just need to talk to Wayne.”
“Wayne?” Otis laughed. “I forgot you had a first name, Reagan!” He gave Joan another hug. “I’ll be right outside. Take your time.”
Just as he was shutting the door behind him, Reagan and Joan heard Chuck running up. “Hey, Judge Judge, I thought of another name / job thingy. Judge Judge? Where are you going?”
Joan made sure the door was shut.
Reagan leaned forward in his chair.
“No,” she said. “Don’t get up. I’ll sit. I know you’re busy.”
“What is going on, Joan?” he asked.
“Tom is gone,” she said. She choked saying the words.
“What do you mean, gone?” Reagan asked.
“He left,” she said. “He put me in charge of the paper. He said he was going to find Jason and that he thinks he knows where he is.”
“What the hell?” Reagan said. “Did he tell you where?”
“Not really,” she said. “He said that he was going to be staying with Moe Eastman for awhile until he figures it out.”
He slammed his hand on his desk. “Unbelievable. I told him not to do anything stupid and that I would handle it.”
“But you aren’t, Wayne,” she said. “That’s that problem. It’s been a week. What have you done?”
He took a deep breath. “I have done all I have the authority to do.”
“It’s not enough and you know it.” she sniffled. “Is he in any danger?”
Reagan shook his head. “Probably not, but I told him not to do anything.”
“Why would he think that Moe could help him find Jason?” she asked.
Reagan took another drink. “Moe came in here talking about a monster that broke into his cabin. Tom thinks that the monster was Jason.”
“He’s with a lunatic chasing a monster and you think there isn’t any danger?” she said.
“Look, I sent Reed up there to look around and there was nothing out of the ordinary,” he said.
She reached over and grabbed Reagan’s drink and finished it. “The way I see it, my husband is out there, unprepared and in over his head, to find our son because you have found it inconvenient.”