by D. Gideon
Scott didn’t care. It was the best feeling in the world.
Chapter 39
Thursday, September 6th
Snow Hill, Maryland
Dotty adjusted herself on the Recreation Center’s wooden bleachers, trying to get more comfortable. She sat between Lily and Father Bill, with Seth on Lily’s other side. Cathy and Dan sat next to Bill, and while Dan had smiled and nodded at her, Cathy hadn’t so much as glanced her way.
The bleachers on both sides of the gymnasium were packed, despite the pouring rain outside that normally would have kept people at home. This crowd was many times larger than the one that had attended the first Town Hall meeting in the park. She saw folks from the far reaches of town, including some that lived across the bridge, and out towards Newark. Even accounting for those people though, Dotty still couldn’t come up with the numbers filling the gymnasium tonight. She said so.
“That’s Simon’s doing,” Bill said, keeping his voice low. “He made sure to get word to all the other Mayors in the county that Mayor Wilhelm had spoken with the Governor. The Chief Deputies worked hard to spread the news about this Town Hall.”
Dotty caught sight of Farmer John and Charlotte down in the front, near the doors to the rest of the complex. Their little girls weren’t with them. All of the children had been herded into the Rec Center’s daycare and play areas, where volunteers watched over them.
“Simon wanted as many county residents here as possible to witness this, and I support him in that,” Bill continued, watching the front of the gym, where Wilhelm was shuffling papers and conferring with council members. “So when the time comes, all these people can make an informed decision on where they stand.”
Dotty cut a sharp glance at Bill. “Where they stand? Why don’t I like the sound of that?”
Bill gave her a weak smile and looked down at his clasped hands. “You’re liable to hear a lot tonight that you don’t like the sound of.”
Dotty watched him for a moment, knowing from his words and the tone of his voice that something weighed heavily on him. She was about to ask, when a hushed murmur spread through the crowd.
Bill looked up. “They’re here,” he said, nodding to the doors.
Simon stood holding the door open, and striding past him were a number of men. Half of them wore uniforms in Worcester County colors, but Dotty didn’t recognize any of them. The other half were plain-clothed. As they entered, they spread out in a line, standing shoulder to shoulder. There were so many of them.
“Who are they?” Dotty said. “New deputies?”
“The ones in uniform are the Chief Deputies from the rest of the county, and I’d assume the ones out of uniform are all of the other mayors,” Bill said. “From Bishopville to Ocean City, all the way down to Pocomoke. Every single one of them.”
Dotty blinked. “I didn’t realize Worcester County had Chief Deputies. I knew about Frank being the Undersheriff, and I assumed there was someone out in Ocean City overseeing things…but I didn’t know what he’d be called.”
“All of the bigger towns have one,” Bill said. “With a county this large, it’s a necessity. I hear in New York City alone there’s at least five Undersheriffs, each overseeing a handful of Chief Deputies. New York City isn’t much bigger than Snow Hill itself.”
Simon let the heavy gymnasium door slam and walked over to join the line of men. He looked towards Frank, standing by his wife near the Mayor. Frank stepped towards them, but the Mayor caught his arm and spoke into his ear. Frank looked at Simon, then back to Wilhelm, and nodded. When the Mayor stepped forward to the waiting microphone stand, Frank took a position just behind him and to his left. Cindy moved to the Mayor’s right, and the council members spread out behind them.
Simon shook his head and looked down for a moment before raising up and staring straight forward. The Chief Deputies shifted a bit, then nearly as one, crossed their arms over their chests. The tension between the two groups was palpable.
“It looks like a stand-off,” Lily murmured.
“But he, knowing their thoughts, said unto them, every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation,” Bill said softly.
Mayor Wilhelm turned on the microphone and everyone winced as the speakers adjusted.
"Thank you so much for coming," he said, flashing a smile. "I have to admit, I didn't expect quite this many people to show up." He turned to face the line of men with Simon, still keeping his mouth close to the microphone. "And welcome, to Worcester County's other Mayors. I don't think we're missing a single one. What a treat. If you see your Mayor or Lieutenant Mayor down here, how about giving him a round of applause?"
The crowd dutifully broke into applause, though it was weak. Some of the mayors lifted a hand in acknowledgement, others just nodded.
"I have some exciting news for you this afternoon," Wilhelm continued as the clapping subsided. "Very exciting. Yesterday I traveled to Annapolis and spoke personally with Governor Malloy. After the shock we all received at the last town meeting, I'm sure you'll be as thrilled as I am at what I’m about to tell you, and the solutions the Governor has presented for us."
“Get on with it!” a voice in the crowd yelled.
“The first good news is that, as you can see, the Recreation Center’s array of solar panels was not damaged by the…storm that occurred Friday night. The Center still has full power, enough to run the lights 24/7 and even air conditioning in some of the rooms. Not here in the gymnasium, of course; it’s just too large.”
“Well obviously,” Lily muttered. “We didn’t think you were talking into the microphone with magic.”
“The next bit of good news is that the Governor has agreed to send a contingent of National Guardsmen here to the County seat, and they’ll be bringing water, food, and medical supplies.”
The crowd burst into applause and cheering. Wilhelm nodded and smiled, soaking it all in. Dotty thought he looked like the cat that ate the canary. The Mayor gave them a minute, then motioned his hands for them to settle down.
“Now, of course, we will need to make some concessions,” he said. “With no power, fuel is a precious commodity, and we can’t have the Guard going out to the furthest reaches just to take one person some water. So the Guard will be staging right here, at the Rec Center, and handing out supplies.”
“So we’re supposed to use our gas to come get it? I’ve got just enough to get back home after the church dinner tonight,” an older lady in the front row said.
The Mayor flashed her a benevolent smile. “Actually, we’ll be turning the gymnasium here into a temporary shelter for anyone who needs it. The Guard will have cots, pillows, and blankets. You’re welcome to come stay here for the duration of the power outage.”
“We’re supposed to live in this gym for years? Have you lost your ever-loving mind, Wilhelm?” Teddy shouted from his seat near the top of the bleachers. Dotty couldn’t help but smile.
“About that…what Ms. Stapleton from Dominion Power told us Tuesday night was…incorrect. The Governor assures me that this outage is temporary, and things will be fixed and back to normal in a matter of weeks,” Wilhelm said. “The President has mobilized the military to provide disaster relief under a national State of Emergency, and they’ll be working hard to restore the power. It will be a couple months, at the very longest.”
“That sounds like a load of horseshit,” Teddy shouted. “You’re blowin’ sunshine up our-”
“I assure you, it is not horse…manure,” the Mayor said loudly, cutting Teddy off. “I cannot speak as to why Ms. Stapleton would purposely give us the wrong information. Perhaps she was just hysterical. You saw how she accused the town of kidnapping her, when she had willingly come down to speak to us. We’ll never know. But the point is, Governor Malloy has also declared a State of Emergency, and that will allow us to get things done, and get the electricity turned back on. Until then, I’m asking all of the residents to come here, to the shelter.”
“Asking
, or telling?” Seth called out. Beside him, Lily took his hand and squeezed.
“Well, for now, I’m asking,” the Mayor said. “We saw the riot that took place at the Food Rite on Monday morning. There was more rioting after the meeting Tuesday night. Last night the looting and vandalism continued. There are a lot of strangers stranded in our town, and obviously it’s not very safe at the moment. And with the 911 system down, it’s impossible to call for help. So coming here to the Rec Center, where the Guard will be providing security around the clock, would be in the best interests of everyone.”
“So we just leave our houses vacant for these people to break into?” another voice called out.
“You can think about it over the weekend, and Sunday the Guard will be here, and they’ll be able to answer any questions you have,” Wilhelm said. “Now I have some official legal stuff to read, if you’ll bear with me.”
He pulled a pair of glasses from his front pocket and slid them on, and gave the papers in his hand a quick snap.
“As I said, the Governor has declared a State of Emergency, and the President has declared a National State of Emergency. The entire nation has been named as a Disaster Area. Until those declarations are lifted, there will be a dusk-to-dawn curfew in place for all of Maryland, including Worcester County.” He lowered the paper and peered over the rims of his glasses at the crowd. “There are significant fines involved for breaking the curfew, so I suggest you don’t do that.” He held the paper back up and continued on.
“Under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, Title IV, Section 466, subsections 4 and 5, the President is granted the power to supercede the Posse Comitatus Act and utilize the Armed Forces to help restore public order in times of serious emergency. I’m sure you can agree, my friends, that this is most definitely a time of serious emergency.”
“You mean we’re under martial law?” a voice yelled.
“Now don’t be getting dramatic,” Wilhelm said, his voice chiding. “That just means that the Guard has the authority to enforce the curfew, that’s all. With the good Sheriff’s forces spread as thinly as they are, I’m sure we’ll welcome the additional help with security. Won’t we, Sheriff Kane?”
Dotty saw Simon’s eyebrows raise, and he gestured to the microphone. Wilhelm smiled and stepped back, inviting Simon forward. Simon strode to the microphone, cleared his throat, and looked out over the crowd.
“What the Mayor says about our forces being thin are true,” he began, giving a nod to the Mayor. Wilhelm beamed. “We’ve had a number of Deputies abandon their posts, and the responsibility for that lays squarely on my shoulders. I’m the one who hired them. If any of you would like to talk to me about volunteering for ride-alongs or to supplement our Department’s activities to keep the town safe, I’ll be at the Baptist church on Washington Street immediately following this meeting. I suspect most of you will be headed there for another of Miss Betty’s delicious suppers.”
The crowd chuckled, and Simon waited for them to settle down. “I’d also like everyone to know that we’ve made copies of the Orders that the Mayor is reading from tonight. Each of your town Mayors and Chief Deputies will have those available at their offices first thing in the morning so you can go over them in detail yourself. I’ve already posted copies at my station, and each of the heads of the churches here in Snow Hill have copies that they’ll be posting.”
“That was mighty…thoughtful of you, Sheriff Kane,” Wilhelm said, a tight smile on his lips. “Thank you for that. Now-”
“Just another moment if you please, Mayor,” Simon said, his face friendly. “Just a little reminder about safety, that’s all.”
“Oh, of course. Go right ahead,” the Mayor said, stepping back.
“The Mayor’s right when he talks about strangers in town, and how things are becoming unsafe,” Simon said, again nodding to Wilhelm, who beamed again. “And he’s spoken of concessions that we’ll all have to make during this emergency. I have a few concessions I’d like you to consider as well, and I’ll go over those at the church. I’ll also have copies of these to hand out,” he pulled an envelope from his back pocket and held it up. Seeing it, Wilhelm’s eyes went wide.
“These are two orders I received, one signed by Governor Malloy, and the other signed by the President himself. They speak of the National Disaster, the State of Emergency, and the government’s inability to distribute resources necessary to keep the prisons running. They give the Mayor here the title of Civil Officer, under the Maryland State Constitution Article II Section 10, that basically makes the Mayor the Governor’s right hand here on the Eastern Shore. He’s in charge of seeing that the Governor’s orders are followed.”
The Mayor jumped forward and slapped his hand over the microphone. It did little to muffle his voice, however.
“Those are private orders,” Wilhelm hissed. “They’re not for public dissemination-”
Simon wrenched the microphone from Wilhelm’s grasp and spoke quickly. “The strangers the Mayor is speaking of aren’t the travelers stranded here without gas. They’re the strangers that he has agreed to put onto our streets. Together, these orders,” he shook the envelope, “fully pardon, and demand the immediate release of, every State and Federal prisoner within my jurisdic-”
The Mayor slapped the power button on the side of the microphone and yanked the stand away. The crowd sat stunned as Simon lifted the envelope high.
“Every warden and prison facilitator on the Eastern Shore has received these orders,” Simon yelled into the quiet. His booming voice easily carried across the gymnasium. “Other wardens have already begun releasing their prisoners. I’ve got a plan to help keep us safe, but I’ll need your help.”
“That’s enough,” the Mayor screeched. “Get out. Get out right now before I have the Undersheriff arrest you for attempting to incite a riot!”
Simon looked back over his shoulder at Frank Stalls. Dotty gasped as Frank stepped forward, face grim and hand on his taser.
“This isn’t how you play ball, Simon,” Frank said. “You heard the man. Don’t make me do this.”
“I’d suggest you take your hand off of that taser, Undersheriff,” said one of the Chief Deputies. “From where I stand, you’re threatening a superior officer.”
“That’s what I’m seeing, too,” another said, stepping forward. “How ‘bout you boys?”
The rest of the Chief Deputies nodded and made noises of agreement, shifting and putting their hands on their own tasers.
“Undersheriff Stalls, I order you to arrest him,” the Mayor said, pointing a shaking hand at Simon. His face was red with rage.
Frank looked at the gathered Chief Deputies and shook his head. “Stand down,” he said. “That’s a direct order.” He turned back to Sheriff Kane. “Hold your hands out, Simon.”
“The Sheriff is the highest elected local official in the county,” Simon said, still projecting so everyone can hear him. “We don’t take orders from Mayors. We take orders from the people that elected us. Frank Stalls, for insubordination and threatening a superior officer, you’re fired.”
He turned to the Chief Deputies. “Gentlemen, relieve Mr. Stalls of his badge and sidearm, if you please.”
“Gladly,” said the man who had first spoken up. He strode forward with his hand out. “I’ll take that taser, too. Hand it over, Frank.”
“You can’t do that,” Cindy said, stepping in front of her husband. “There’s termination procedures to follow, written warnings-”
“Mrs. Stalls, step out of my way before I’m forced to arrest you for obstructing an officer,” the Chief Deputy said. Cindy stammered a response, but Frank’s hushed voice had her stepping aside. The crowd watched, stunned silent, as the Undersheriff handed over his badge.
“If you’re here from another town, go see your Chief Deputies in the morning. If you live in Snow Hill, come see me at the church dinner,” Simon called out. “All I ask is that you listen to what I have
to say.”
He turned and tipped an imaginary hat at the gaping Mayor.
“Floor’s all yours, Wilhelm,” he said, and then turned and pushed his way through the door.
Chapter 40
Thursday, September 6th
Snow Hill, Maryland
“Our outhouse will be a swimming pool by the time this storm’s done,” Seth grumbled, looking through the church’s open dining hall door. “Even with the tarp across it and the 2x4 holding it up, it’s still going to fill.”
“Then we’ll just scoop it out and use that water to flush the toilets,” Dotty said, patting his hand. “I just wish we’d thought to set up your rain barrel idea before the storm moved in, Lily.”
“Me too. Necessity and invention, they say. Sooner or later, we’ll get it all done,” Lily said. “It’ll be easier once Rip and Corey get home.” She leaned forward to see around Dotty and stare at her husband.
“Don’t give me that look. We agreed we’d give them at least a week. And now, with this statewide curfew?” he said.
“Bill says the Sheriff isn’t planning on enforcing that, unless they see someone causing trouble,” Dotty said.
“Those prisoners they’re letting loose won’t obey the curfew,” Lily said, looking back towards the door and twisting her fingers in her lap.
“Then that’ll be the best time to catch them and shoot their asses,” Teddy said from Seth’s other side. “Maybe I’ll go out with my spotlight and get me some target practice.”
“Oh, hush,” Dotty said. “You go tryin’ to drive that old truck with a spotlight and a gun, and you’re liable to shoot your arm off.”
“Well that might get me a few days in the med center with that sweet little redhead,” Teddy said, determined to lighten the mood. “Sounds like a win-win to me.”
“If Nurse Macy didn’t rip off your other arm, her husband would,” Lily said, finally smiling.