The Arrival

by J W Brazier

  “I don’t know, Linda, but those guys told me in no uncertain terms to get back into the house and stay there. They’re not playing, honey. They shot Paul’s dogs. Come on, let’s get inside and check the news. I think we’ve slept through an invasion or something worse. Could be another terrorist attack, and the government declared martial law.”

  Hanging onto Craig’s arm, Linda raced back into the house with him and bolted the door behind them, as if expecting the soldiers might follow. Safe inside, Craig ran to his recliner and snatched up the TV remote with Linda close behind.

  “Once again, Roger Pauley here, and this is a special Sunday morning edition of 13 Eyewitness News. We’ll be on the air throughout the day with updates on the latest breaking news here in White River.”

  “Craig, I’m scared,” Linda said. “I’m going to call the police. Maybe they can tell us what’s going on here.”

  “Shhhh! Quiet, Linda. Listen. He’s about to tell us.”

  Linda frowned, but stood next to Craig and listened as Roger Pauley went on:

  “Repeating what we reported to you at the top of the hour,” he said, “before dawn, American and United Nations military units arrived in White River to begin a joint military terrorist training exercise. The extent and length of the exercises are unknown at this time. In Friday’s edition, Channel 13 News detailed the president’s creation of a new federal agency for domestic terrorist training in light of the recent escalation in domestic terrorist attacks. The president has joined with other world governments to conduct terrorist training exercises and to further develop special domestic combat units. Arkansas is the first state in the US to help with this government-funded training. General McKenzie Phillips, Arkansas’s appointed project coordinator, stated in a press release:

  “‘The Pentagon chose White River for its unique geographical location and terrain. White River offers the types of training these brave military units will need against future domestic and global terrorism.’”

  The file footage of General Phillips stopped and Roger Pauley continued.

  “The general’s staff in their prepared statements emphasized that the citizens of White River are to stay calm. In the coming weeks, White River will undergo inconvenient but temporary changes in their daily activities. The first changes to occur are among local businesses, law enforcement, airport security, and banking. We’ll continue to provide details as they are made available. I’m Roger Pauley, your only source for news. Good day.”

  Craig grunted and clicked the TV off. He and then Linda sat down on the couch, remaining silent for what seemed hours before either moved. Linda could tell Craig was angry.

  Linda hugged his arm. “Honey,” she finally said. “This whole thing frightens me. They’re not telling us everything. Oh, I know! I’ll call the pastor. He may have heard something.”

  Craig rolled his eyes. “Now, Linda, there you go again, twisting this into something weird. Your pastor’s a troublemaker. This is the United States, honey, not communist China. They just told us on the TV what’s going on here, and it’s not the ‘end of the world’ garbage your preacher’s peddling. Besides, look what happened in 2000 and 2001 with the USS Cole and in New York on 9-11. Both times, Muslim religious fanatics caught us with our pants down around our ankles. Today, there’s even more nutcases out there, all with an ax to grind. They’re all itching to blow up something. Heck, we’ve even got home-grown terrorists right here in our backyards. Could be radical Christians next.”

  Linda pulled away from her grip on his arm. How could he? How could he say that? She never doubted Craig loved her, but over time, she’d seen him turn sour and obstinate. He’d never explained to her satisfaction why he held such bitterness and anger toward religious faith of any kind. But she refused to give up on her husband.

  “Craig, honey, what’s going on outside is something bigger and more sinister. The pastor was talking last Sunday about the last days and things like what we’re seeing outside.”

  Craig shook his head. “Linda, you’re a religious woman, and I respect that, but I can’t swallow what those end-times preachers are peddling. It’s always something: their latest book, CD, or special trinket to prop up their doom-and-gloom message. Those snake-oil salesmen pound away about prosperity or hawk healing formulas for only $19.95. Heck, get their special offer for $29.95, and they’ll wrap it in an anointed prayer cloth and sprinkle it with holy oil from Jerusalem. ‘Just believe and you’ll receive,’” Craig mocked. “I don’t trust anything my five senses can’t detect. Besides, those arrogant charlatans live high on the hog in private and fleece their faithful in public. It’s always about money! Religion is a plague on humanity, is what I believe. It’s caused more wars and deaths than anything else.”

  Linda didn’t speak, but just listened to her husband’s tirade, as it wasn’t anything new. He’s just scared. Armed military in the streets ordering people into their homes … That would frighten anyone. He’s just confused … and striking out even more than usual. Yes, that’s it.

  Craig got up and planted himself back in his recliner, then clicked the TV back on, seemingly oblivious to her presence, lost in his world of news shows. Linda stood up and left the room. Regardless of a doubting husband, she was going to church.

  Linda, though, paused at the stairs with a hand on the railing. She looked back into the living room at Craig. Her heart ached for him so much.

  He says his trust is in his five senses, but it’s an excuse to avoid the truth.

  She went upstairs, confident in a sixth sense: her faith, her bedrock source of strength … the one thing in her life that her husband couldn’t control. Craig’s choice would be his own. She prayed for him as she climbed the stairs, hoping he’d make the right decision. With what she’d seen outside, she believed her preacher had been right last Sunday. The evidence was mounting. She hoped Craig’s choice would come soon enough.

  Chapter 17

  Monday morning business at the mayor’s office had elevated from routine to turbulent. Calls from concerned citizens swamped the new courthouse phone system—every caller worried about the unexpected arrival of foreign military units in White River. Citizens wanted detailed answers. The troubled callers questioned if White River had come under martial law or was under siege.

  Shelby Smith, a widower, and Joshua’s new secretary, took to the task like a duck in water. She tried to calm their growing fears, as did Joshua, who understood the details but couldn’t disclose the rest of the story.

  Joshua’s meeting with his two top law enforcement officers was winding down when his phone rang. Joshua closed the folder of reports from his chief of police, George Farnsworth.

  “Chief,” Joshua said, “I apologize for the interruption. I need to take this call. Excuse me a moment.” He picked up Shelby’s call, knowing she wouldn’t disturb him unless it was important.

  George Farnsworth was a disappointing election holdover from Ben Archer’s regime. Joshua had hoped they could work together, but it appeared doubtful. Joshua watched as the new sheriff, Billy Joe Frazier, ignore the police chief’s insolent expression at the interruption. Sheriff Frazier grinned and then shrugged.

  Joshua ended his call. “I apologize for the interruption, men. Chief, please continue. You were saying?”

  “Yes, as I was saying, Mayor, before the rude interruption …”

  Joshua forced a smile, but reminded himself to stay calm.

  “Mr. Mayor, merchants are complaining because of your moralistic campaign. My officers have other responsibilities besides being your morality watchdogs.”

  The chief sat back, looking smug and self-satisfied. He’d made his point, as if to say, Now get your priorities right, Mayor.

  Joshua turned to the new sheriff. “BJ, do you think the same way?”

  Sheriff Billy Joe Frazier, or “BJ” as most addressed him, looked to Joshua like a schoolboy caught between to bullies. The sheriff’s head twisted back and forth between the two of the
m.

  “Well, Mayor, you can’t plant a peach tree and expect to get apples.”

  Joshua smiled and leaned back in his chair. George rolled his eyes.

  “Chief,” BJ said, “there’s a direct correlation in crime rate with businesses that sell and cater to pornography. You know this.”

  George grunted and scowled. “I’m not ignorant of those correlations, Billy Joe! Perhaps you’ve forgotten these business owners have a right to sell a product or service customers are requesting.”

  Joshua leaned forward to cut in before the police chief’s temper gathered momentum. “George, this isn’t about business owners’ rights or my so-called morality campaign, as you’ve said. It’s about obeying laws and common sense. Example, a few days ago, I stood in line at a convenience store. Behind the counter, in plain view, were dozens of explicit pornographic magazines. One of your officers and another clerk were thumbing through them, laughing. They made lewd comments while a mother and her two small children stood ahead of me. I asked the manager why the graphic pictures weren’t at least covered or in an adult viewing area. ‘Profit,’ the manager said. The owner’s pornography sales net over two thousand dollars a week. Oh, and that owner is a city council member who owns six of these stores. Bottom line, Chief, its greed.”

  “Mayor, the owners have rights.”

  “Of course, Chief, and I’ll defend them, but then so do pre-teens, teens, parents, and the public at large. My point, Chief, and BJ, is that your officers aren’t enforcing federal, state, and local municipal laws. Their non-enforcement allows this unabated filth to be perceived as legal and normal. Allow me to show you something. It references your comment on my morality crusade.”

  Joshua pushed away from his desk and walked to a closet. He brought out a large mailbag and threw it at the police chief’s feet. George jumped back in his chair.

  “George, you can take that bag with you. There are several hundred letters in it from concerned citizens that you and I represent. If you run out of reading material, I found six more bags like this in the storeroom. They’re all pleading for the city to do something.”

  Joshua sat back down, picked up a thick folder from his desk, and waved it in the air. “These are signed petition drives. Citizens are pointing out ordinance violations by the owners of porn shops, liquor stores, strip clubs, and gambling establishments. Oh, yes, and lest I forget, prostitution. Private sex clubs are now operating in family neighborhoods. One is across the street from a church, and that info comes from one of your officers, Chief.”

  George said nothing, while BJ only gave a little nod.

  “Citizens feel helpless and discouraged,” Joshua said. “They’re thinking nobody hears them, that their representatives ignore them altogether. They’ve suggested law enforcement is on the take, and from what I’m seeing, they’d be correct. Part of the evidence is at your feet. So we’re going to do something about it.” Joshua leaned on his desk and kept direct eye contact with his police chief. “George, I want to ask you a personal question, and I’m not accusing you. Your three in-laws—one owns three adult dance-slash-strip joints, and two have financial interest in several bars and gambling boat casinos. Chief, is there a conflict? Should I be concerned? Your actions or lack of actions appear intent on protecting them.”

  George leaped out of his chair, his face getting redder by the second. Though he was pushing sixty-two, he still looked the man who could handle his own in a fight, Joshua noted.

  “You religious bigots are all the same!” George shouted.

  Now Joshua sprang to his feet in a faceoff with the chief. Billy Joe also stood and took a couple of steps away from Joshua’s desk.

  “I’ve been a police officer a long time, sir,” George said. “You’re no different from the other fast-reform types. You’re all flash-in-the-pan administrations. You speak a good game to the public, but behind the scenes, you’re all just alike—hypocrites, the lot of you! Ha! I’m the one you so-called Christians call to clean up your little dalliances with the prostitutes and the accidents when you’re driving drunk. You raise hell Monday through Saturday and show up looking holy for church on Sunday. Now, if you’ve got probable cause, get a lawyer or else keep out of my way and let me do my job. I’ll run my department the way I know how!”

  George stormed toward the door, but Joshua shouted, “Chief Farnsworth!”

  The chief stopped and turned to face the mayor. Joshua came around his desk, his fists clenched. George looked down at Joshua’s hands. Billy Joe stepped aside for Joshua, probably thinking the new mayor was going to attack the old chief. But Joshua stopped a few feet short from George’s face.

  “You’ll enforce the laws as written, sir,” Joshua said, “to the letter, equally and fairly, with zero favoritism. If I hear of and can prove even a breath of impropriety, you, sir, will be the one needing a lawyer. Are we clear on this matter, Chief?”

  George glared at Joshua. “Yes, sir, Mr. Mayor, crystal.”

  Chief Farnsworth turned and threw the door open to leave, almost colliding with Shelby as she approached the entryway. George tried to sidestep her, but still managed to bump her shoulder as he rushed past—without an apology, Joshua noticed. The infuriated chief mumbled a few obscenities as he marched away.

  *

  Joshua understood politics to be a contact sport, but hated having to play the filthy games—but play he would. He watched the chief leave, then turned and made quick eye contact with Billy Joe. BJ clearly read between the lines and understood Joshua’s resolve.

  “BJ, I need someone I can trust to work with me. Are you that man?”

  Shelby, though, spoke first: “Mayor, pardon the interruption. The sanitation superintendent is in the waiting area and said to tell you.”

  Joshua nodded and smiled. “Thank you, Shelby.”

  She grinned and closed the door.

  Joshua returned to his desk and sat while the thirty-something ex-Marine stood towering above him. Billy Joe was a big-boned man; his body a solid rock at six feet four inches. He kept his hair cropped short to the scalp, military style. Police training in the armed forces had prepared him to be sheriff in ways others would envy, Joshua knew.

  “Mayor, I’m trained at what I do best: law enforcement. I love it and I’m good at it, and like you, the people put their trust in me. I’m one of many hoping to be part of a positive change to sweep through our community. I’ve said all that to answer your question. I have no agendas other than enforcing the law, and yes, I’m that man. You can trust me.”

  “Good, Billy Joe. I’m glad to hear that, because I believed you were. Now, sit down, please. I’m about to throw you and your deputies into the proverbial fire.”

  BJ sat, but now looked apprehensive. Joshua placed a folded paper in front of his new sheriff.

  “BJ, here is a search warrant. I’d like it served this morning. Our new DA stalled on it until he got a phone call from the lieutenant governor. The LG made it clear in no uncertain terms our new DA had better do his job.”

  BJ reached for the warrant and looked down at the name. He was about to speak when Joshua held up his hand, anticipating the question. Joshua pulled another file from his desk drawer.

  “This is the case file on that warrant. You can read it later. You’ll understand where I’m going with this. When I approached the DA, he gave me the runaround. Between you and me, I don’t trust him. I sent the file to the attorney general’s office for further review. I’ve already spoken with him, and he believes there’s probable cause. Federal Judge Roy Duncan agreed and signed the warrant.”

  “Can we count on the DA when this thing hits the fan?”

  “The people put Thornton into office, so we have to deal with what we got. But he has to obey the law like everyone else.”

  “I agree, Mayor.”

  Joshua nodded. “I want you to pick up the medical examiner. He’s expecting you, and the health department inspector will meet you there. Jim, from sanitation, is i
n the waiting area. Take him with you and explain on the way.”

  BJ opened the folder and glanced at the case highlights. “Sir, I’ve never seen this folder. I haven’t heard of the incident. Think our former Mayor Archer slid this under the table?”

  Joshua let a tight-lipped smile answer BJ. “It appears so, BJ.”

  The sheriff shook his head. “Mayor, are you sure you want to open this can of worms? You’re going to upset powerful money with this. You do realize that the city council will do everything they can to discredit you anyway they can.”

  Joshua leaned back in his chair. “I’d be surprised if they didn’t, but I expect them to raise quite a ruckus, Billy Joe.”

  “You’re either insane or you have powerful allies.”

  Joshua leaned across the desk, resting on his elbows. “I’m not insane, BJ, and, yes, I do have powerful backing.”

  “I take it you’re on good legal ground?”

  Joshua smiled again. “I’ve covered all the bases BJ, and yes, I’m going to open this can of worms. We may not win the battle, but I can sure make it a lengthy and uncomfortable fight.”

  “Mayor, you’re gonna spotlight a rat’s nest. Those profiting off the lives of innocent infants will scurry for cover to avoid jail.”

  “Not if we trap them first, Billy Joe. If we prevent the death of one infant, for even one day, it’s worth any effort.”

  “I’ll read the file later, but could you give me a thumbnail rundown?”

  “The short version: the Family Planning Center on Westside is destroying aborted babies via an industrial garbage disposal in a back-room sink. The Southside clinic, I imagine, is doing the same. These are full-term infants from live births we’re talking about, but it gets worse. I’ve sworn affidavits from several eyewitnesses that they are dissecting fetal parts for sale. I’ve got a price list.”

  The sheriff perked up at that.

  “The medical examiner is holding two infants at the city morgue,” Joshua said. “He said the infants died by suffocation. We may be able to prove murder. I’m bringing in the state forensic guys on this. A city employee found what remained of a dissected little boy and girl in plastic bags behind Westside clinic. They’d dumped their decomposing remains in a city-owned Dumpster. The plastic bags split and their bodies tumbled out when the sanitation truck made its morning pickup.”