The Bay Bulls Standoff

by Chris Ryan

  “Sure, everyone in Bay Bulls and Witless Bay will join it. I know Leo won’t get some laugh over that. Too bad his power is cut. Imagine the postings Leo could put up. That would be priceless. All those cops out in his yard trying to get him out of his house and he in there posting freely on Facebook. Wouldn’t that be wild. Yes, and what a slap in the face it would be to the cops. Every time they tried something and it didn’t work, then Leo could post about it. Man, what a laugh that would be. I wonder if we could get a battery in to him? I’m sure he has a laptop. Sure, if he didn’t I’d lend him mine. I’m not using it much this week. There are a lot of people around this community who are not stuck on their computers or watching their TVs this week. I’d be a little nervous, though, that the firemen might get it wet tonight.”

  “Yes, Dutch, that and everything else in the house.”

  “Good point, Brenda. Where’s Sharon?”

  “She said she had to bring Peanut over to be trimmed today. Over to Sharon Pottle’s in Witless Bay.”

  “I heard a few people say that she does very good work on dogs and cats. She’ll prune your bird—I mean your budgie bird—if you want to bring it to her.”

  Brenda laughed. “Dutch, where is she located in Witless Bay?”

  “She works out of her parents’ house, in the basement. She’s down by Mr. Smart’s house behind Alderwood Estates, the retirement home.”

  “Haven’t seen the Smarts in years. Where are they all to now?”

  “Kevin Jr. is in Toronto running a fish-smoking business. He smokes mostly salmon. I guess we’ll have a few beers tonight, it being the weekend and all.”

  “Sure, why not? Sure, even if this standoff wasn’t ongoing, we’d still be having a few beers somewhere in the harbour. Sure, it’s the weekend.”

  “I have to go to the airport tonight for Tina. She’s getting home from New Hampshire, with my credit card probably melted.”

  “Dutch, that’s your own fault for letting her have it.”

  “Well, she was doing a lot of Christmas shopping. Mostly stuff for the girls. So, one way or another I’d end up paying for at least half of it. But her with my card on her own—I have a feeling I most likely paid for more than half this Christmas.

  “But I’m not too fussy about going to the airport. I’m afraid if I go to the airport, with my luck, the second I leave the water starts flowing. Here for seven days and then, when the big stuff starts, I miss it because of an airport run. I don’t think I’ll be going. I may have to bribe Stacie to go. But I hate to have Stacie driving late at night because of the moose on the highway. Hopefully Hollie will go with her, a second set of eyes.

  “I’d like to find someone with a 500 or 600mm lens. Or someone with a video camera with a decent lens on it. Imagine the pictures that would be available to get, spraying water this time of year. With the cold weather there will be a massive fog spray coming off the water. Especially with the construction-type lights that are lighting up the house from the back of it.

  “I may try to get a nap this afternoon. This could be a very long night. Who knows what the outcome will be. The big question is, will Leo just walk out the front door with his arms raised in the air?

  “For some reason, I doubt it. And I bet the cops, or the majority of them, are doubtful that will happen. They spray water on that house tonight, you mark it down, Leo will do something. He’s held his own against them so far. So they do the water thing, he will excel. You mark it down. I’ll say it again, probably for the tenth time since this standoff started, they’re not dealing with the average person.

  “I wonder if the media got news of this yet? I kind of hope they have. At least we’ll have some good pictures of the dousing of the house. And evidence of the destruction they caused. Crockwells may need them for their court case, for when they sue them for destroying a home that is over fifty years old, belonging to a woman in her eighties. I said it sometime this week, this will be a big black eye on the RCMP. Not just the local RCMP, but the whole force. Nationally.”

  “Dutch, I noticed Michael brought over a trailer to block the top of St. John’s Road. When did he bring it over?”

  “Yesterday morning.”

  “Who owns the trailer by the old Foodland?”

  “That’s the recycling company, NLL Recycling, that Don Drew works for.”

  “Did they tell Michael how long they need it?”

  “I don’t know. I’ll ask him suppertime. I guess these trailers will free up some RCMP members to get some rest. I’m kind of surprised they didn’t think of them earlier.”

  “I agree. They have to be some burnt out. At this seven full days around the clock. I’d say it’s starting to show on them. That’s why I’d say they’re going to use the water. If that doesn’t get him out, what will?”

  “There’s no way that Leo can’t get drenched, Joe.”

  “Why, Dutch?”

  “Well, I’m thinking they will flood the house through the windows upstairs. So that will flood the two lower floors and flood them big time, and in a hurry. So that means Leo will have to hightail it to the top floor. And if they flood the top floor, they’ll be aiming for the full length of the corridor running down the middle of the house. That will fill every room upstairs with water. And I’d say they’re going to pump in thousands of gallons. There will be feet of water on that top level. Leo will have to sit on top of a high bureau. And there’s no way that he expects something like this to happen. Who would?

  “I hope for Leo’s sake that he’s keeping a lookout on Bernie Mullowney’s side of the house. At least, if he is, then when he sees the fire truck coming up the road he can react.”

  “React what way, Dutch?”

  “I don’t know. I guess time to get his oil clothes and rubber boots on. And find something to get his feet and himself off the floor.

  “If they had to do a survey in the harbour and ask people how they would get Leo out of that house, I doubt if anyone would have thought of water. I certainly would never think of it. So we know where this water idea came from. Where? One of the cowboys they brought in from the other provinces. You mark it down. Personally I don’t like the idea. As we all know, it will definitely destroy the house. But it may work. As much as I hate to say it, I’m surprised one of them never suggested setting the place on fire. They may try that next if this doesn’t work. Yes, and then they would really need the fire department. A legitimate fire call. Not something like this.”

  “Dutch, don’t say that out loud either.”

  “Say what out loud?”

  “About setting the place on fire. People will start to wonder about your mental state.”

  “Joe, who ever thought that they would pump copious amounts of water into a woman’s house and destroy it? Now put that in your pipe and smoke it, Joe. That’s twice this week you’ve said that to me and I’m starting to dislike it. So fuck off. I’m going the fuck home out of this.”

  “Dutch, cool down. He didn’t mean any harm in what he said.”

  “No, Brenda. But I hate people talking to me like I’m a child. I’ll see you later.”

  “Dutch, maybe a good nap is needed. You’re stressed out big time after watching this all week.”

  “I agree. And spending this much time with my brother. Any brother, for that matter. I’ll see you later. Brenda, be here by dark, because who knows what time they’ll start spraying the house.”

  “Okay. See you later.”

  I drove home to Witless Bay and called Annie when I got there.

  “Annie, I’m going to lie down for a few hours. Give me a wake-up call around five, please. I’m afraid the alarm on my cell won’t ring.”

  “Okay. I’ll have supper cooked and ready around five or five thirty.”

  “Good. That works out perfect. I’ll eat and beat it ba
ck to the pit. You’ve been some good to me all week since Tina left.”

  “Only returning the favour. You’re good to my grandchildren.”

  “Aww, how sweet of you to say that. That just put me in a good mood. I’m having a rough day.”

  “What put you in the bad mood?”

  “Joe. He analyzes everything I say. Treats me like a youngster. I believe he knows that I’m not ten or eleven anymore. I put up with that bullshit when I was young, but no more. I’m sick of it. This lasts much longer, me and Joe won’t me talking to each other anymore.”

  “But Chris, you’re on the go non-stop since this started. This is taking a toll on you. Get in that bed and put all this out of your mind for a few hours.”

  “It’s hard to. There’s something big going to happen tonight. I’ll fill you in on it when I come down for supper. Okay, don’t forget my wake-up call. Bye.”

  I woke up to the sound of the phone ringing. It was Annie.

  “Chris, time to rise and shine.”

  “Okay, thanks. Be down to your place in a few minutes.”

  When I walked into the kitchen at Annie’s, she was there tending to the pots on the stove.

  “Hey, how was the nap?”

  “Excellent. I’m not a big daytime sleeper, but I have to say that nap was excellent. Where’s Michael?”

  “Out in the garage.”

  “Who’s over there with him?”

  “Paddy Pullcord. Cecil and Tommy are over having a look at what he’s at. I believe he’s working on one of the tractor trailers. Replacing a rear end, I believe.”

  “Michael replacing a rear end? I thought he was all but retired. Where’s Dean?”

  “He’s gone to Bay Roberts for a load of fish. Mackerel, I believe.”

  “It’s late for mackerel.”

  “They figures it’s most likely the last load for the season.”

  “Did Dean get a chance to go moose hunting this morning?”

  “He was down in Gallows Cove for a few hours.”

  “Did he see anything?”

  “No, but lots of signs of moose. He’s going back down tomorrow morning. Robert is not working tomorrow, so I believe he’s going to go with him.”

  “They’ll get one. They have a little over three weeks left. Lots of time.”

  Michael came into the kitchen in his coveralls, full of grease.

  “Okay, Dutch Ryan, fill me in on what’s happening in Bay Bulls.”

  “Not a lot since the big attack on Wednesday night. But apparently they’re supposed to flood the house tonight.”

  “What?”

  “Yes, using the volunteer fire department. The volunteers are going to bring over the truck and show and assist the police in how to use the equipment.”

  “Who came up with that?”

  “Michael, who knows? I guess one of the experts they brought in from Hali-fucking-fax, Nova Scotia.”

  “Sure, Dutch, that will destroy the house.”

  “Michael, you and I know that. I guess they’re so fed up with nothing working they’ve probably said the hell with it. ‘If we have to destroy the house to get him out, so be it. We’ll deal with that issue down the road.’”

  “Who will pay for that, if and when they destroy it?”

  “I’m guessing the Department of Justice.”

  “Federal or provincial?”

  “Very good question there, Mr. Harrigan. I don’t know what department that would fall under.”

  “Chris, I take it you’re not going to the airport.”

  “Definitely not. I’m going to ask Stacie to go, and maybe Hollie for the second set of eyes for moose. I hate to have her driving that late at night, but I can’t miss it if they hose that house down.”

  “Well, hardly. You’ve been over in that pit for the full week since this all started. What time are they going to start spraying the water?”

  “We don’t know, but we’re expecting anytime after dark. I guess when the volunteers get home from work. A good many of them work in town, so by the time they get home for a bite to eat, I’m thinking an hour or two after dark. Thanks so very much for supper. See ye later.”

  “Bye, Chris.”

  I drove back to the pit. When I got there, Joe was back from supper, too. I got in with him and gave Stacie a call.

  “Hey, Stacie. Can you go to the airport for your mother, please?”

  “Yes, not a problem.”

  “Ask Hollie to go with you. A second set of eyes wouldn’t hurt. Tell her I’ll pay her. I know she’ll want something for going.”

  “I’ll ask her.”

  “Your mother gets in at 12:30 a.m., so you could leave around 11:40.”

  “Okay.”

  “Take your time. If it takes you an extra ten minutes, Mom will still be there when you get there. Okay, thanks. Love you.”

  “Love you, too.”

  “Hey, Joe, any sign of the fire truck yet?”

  “No, but I have my eyes glued on the town hall.”

  “I’m sure they will have to go there to be debriefed. I’d say every one of them that will be on the truck will have to be debriefed, most likely.”

  Jeff opened the back door of Joe’s SUV and hopped in. Kevin Plumber was right behind him.

  “Well, boys, we have a crowd tonight for the waterworks show.”

  “Yes, a show none of us wants to see.”

  “You said that correctly, Jeff. I guess we’ll witness something that we will never see again in our lives. Volunteer firemen helping the RCMP destroy someone’s house because they were asked. I always thought they volunteered to save homes, not destroy them. When the RCMP called them they should have said, ‘No, thank you. We are not going to help you destroy someone’s house because you ask us. We are volunteers. We have no boss. We volunteer because it’s the right thing to do for our community. Go get the professional firefighters from St. John’s or even Mount Pearl to do it. Firefighters that can’t say no.

  “‘Excuse me, Mr. Policeman, we have to live in this community. Fine for you, you’ll most likely be on a plane out of here within hours of this standoff being over. And maybe never to return. We have an oath of office, much like yourself, Mr. Policeman. And our fireman’s oath of office says we will protect life and property, not destroy it. We answer to no one other than ourselves.

  “‘I speak on behalf of all crew, men and women, who volunteer for our regional firefighting brigade. We will, under no circumstance, have anything to do with destroying a resident’s home in our community. We joined this brigade to save homes, not destroy them. Thank you for the invite to the party, but my crew and I will not be attending.’

  “And that should have been the end of it. One phone call. With a respectful NO.”

  “Dutch, you just put that in fine order.”

  “It’s not about putting anything in fine order, Jeff. It’s about using common sense. It’s a fact. This has been on my mind since I heard it. I won’t believe it until I see it.”

  “Well, word on the street is you will see it in an hour or two.”

  “I don’t want to see it, for so many reasons. One, they’re destroying a home belonging to a woman in her eighties. A home she lived in for over fifty years. The home she raised her children in with her late husband.

  “And the second reason is I don’t want them to corner Leo in any more than he is already cornered. There has to be a better solution. Like, lets try some locals again on the PA system. Won’t cost anything to try. They did that for the first day or two. They shouldn’t have given up on it. I don’t care if they have to bring the Pope from Rome to get on the PA system. Do whatever it takes. Too bad we never knew this earlier. I would have organized a protest. With placards saying, ‘Please Do
Not Destroy This Woman’s House.’ There has to be a better solution than this.”

  “Dutch, you’re a shit disturber.”

  “No, I just say what has to be said. I hold nothing back for anyone.”

  “We’re in for a night to remember. Wait and see them turn those fucking hoses on that house.”

  “Leo will retaliate. How, I have absolutely no idea. But he will reward them with something. Hasn’t he every time yet? On my scorecard he’s batting a thousand.”

  “This most likely will be the most exciting and interesting night of this standoff. Tonight will overshadow Wednesday night.”

  “And if this overshadows Wednesday, it’s a night I don’t want to see or to be witness to. A night I don’t want to remember. A night I can live without seeing.”

  “This might just be like the shootout that the RCMP had with Albert Johnson, the Mad Trapper of Rat River. They never had a fire truck to hose him out, so they blasted him out with dynamite. And the dynamite didn’t kill him. He still fired back at them when they flattened his cabin.

  “I don’t expect Leo to fire at anyone tonight. But like the dynamite, with Johnson, I don’t think the water will upset Leo too much. Won’t make him any more upset than he already is.”

  “When the phone went in through the living room window on Sunday morning, that upset him. That was the real start to this. So anything more won’t get to him.”

  “Jeff, here’s twenty bucks—run up to Paddy’s and grab me a half, please. I don’t want to leave, I may miss something in the scope. Joe, you want a Pepsi?”

  “Okay.”

  “Kevin, you want something?”

  “Do not. I’ll be having a beer or two, compliments of Dutch Ryan.”

  “Now, Kevin, there are only six in it. And it will be a long night. So you should grab a half.”

  “No, I’m driving.”

  “Okay, Jeff, half Canadian Light and a Pepsi. Grab something for yourself. Sharon and Brenda just pulled in in front of us. Jeff, ask the girls if they need anything at the store. I bet they’re already sipping a beer or two on a Friday night. And so they should be. Been a long week. Everyone deserves a few beer after a hard week’s work.”