Read Online BULLETS by Elijah Drive - Free Book Online Page A

about it. Lots of people do.”
    “I imagine. The psychological damage of having to watch me get Rodney King’d must have really taken its toll on the good people of Bendijo.”
    “It’s not how we are, the majority of us, we’re not racists.”
    “Enough of a majority to elect a sheriff who is to represent you.”
    Del sighed. “I’m not going to try to excuse his behavior, because it is terrible. Just want to put things in context for you. We’ve had a series of violent crimes the past few years, scary stuff, murders and drugs … life around here has changed in many ways, and people are scared.
    “There was a violent murder the night before, the murder of a beloved member of our community. It was, well, shocking. We’re all shocked by it. Ted knew him, had known him all his life, in fact. They were in high school together. That’s why he was there, to arrest the man responsible. So … he wasn’t himself, yesterday. Maybe not even today. But he’s not really a bad guy. He cares about the community, all his men do, all of them are local, like us.”
    Hah, Slick thought. Del might think differently had he found himself in that interrogation room having his kidneys pummeled by a steroid freak of a deputy.
    “We just want to raise our kids, know that they’ll be able to get good grades and into good schools and do so without getting murdered by gangs of criminals. Ted, for all his faults, and he does have them, is relentless when it comes to confronting criminal activity. He gets things done. Does he get carried away? Sure. But who doesn’t?”
    Slick and Thumper just stared at Del, letting his last question hang there in the air. Del’s smile faded and he sighed, put his hands on the table.
    “I want to help. I know the mayor, I know Ted, I can make some phone calls…”
    “You want to go on record as a witness?”
    “That’s tricky. I live here, my livelihood is very much dependent on—”
    “In other words, you’ll do what you can as long as it’s no risk to you.”
    “I wouldn’t say it in such a bald way, but yes. Going on the record would be sticky for me. I can make some calls, and get other folks to make some phone calls, get you cut loose of whatever they charged you with.”
    “I already turned that offer down.”
    “You did?”
    “Hell yes. I don’t want the charges dropped. I want the sheriff’s ass on a plate, and his deputies, too. You get Ted and his boys to resign, I’ll leave town one happy camper. Otherwise no. I’m staying, I’m going to trial and I’m looking forward to it.”
    “Ted resign? That won’t happen. There’s no way.”
    “Great. Then I plan to see the sights and hang around.”
    Slick stood, as did Thumper, who pulled out a roll of bills. Del waved that off.
    “No, please. Lunch is on me. I insist. I understand how you feel, I do. I’ll make some calls, see what I can do to help you anyway. I just wanted to come over and apologize on behalf of the people of Bendijo. I am truly sorry for what happened to you. Here’s my card, if I can be of assistance just call.”
    Slick took Del’s card, nodded and he and Thumper walked out of the restaurant and into the blinding heat of the afternoon sun.

9
    T humper couldn’t wait to get into the car and get the air-conditioning going full blast. He started the engine and drove off down the street.
    “What do you think? I have Sheriff Ted all wrong, he’s really a cuddly bear on the inside who’s all torn up by the murder of a friend?” Slick asked.
    “Fuck that noise. Maybe THAT guy genuinely believes it, I’d buy that, but I know a racist fuckhole cop when I see one, I used to be one back in the day, for crissakes. Ted and his boys? That there is whole gaggle of racist gangrene-smelling fuckholes.”
    “Yeah, this whole thing smells, and not just the racist angle, I mean I can run into that shit anywhere. No doubt it’s there, but … something else about this bugs me, I just don’t know what it