A Flicker of Doubt - Tim Myers [60]
“If that cretin thinks he’s going to keep me away from my brother, he’s sadly mistaken. Mr. Black, would you be so kind as to escort me to the local police department? I believe it’s time to go in with force.”
“Do you want to talk to a lawyer first?”
She snapped, “I want the Marines, young man, can you understand that? Now direct the driver to the nearest police precinct”
I sat up front and led the driver to Sheriff Morton’s office. I stuck out a hand as he drove and said, “By the way, I’m Harrison.”
“My name’s John,” he said as he took it briefly, all the while shepherding the limo through what passed for early morning traffic in Micah’s Ridge. “So she’s going to sic the cops on them, huh?”
“I think she’d prefer a band of mercenaries, and after talking to her fifteen minutes, I don’t doubt she could raise one.”
“Should be interesting,” he said. When we got to the police department I held Ruth’s door open for her myself:
We found the sheriff wading through a mass of paperwork on his desk. He grunted when he saw me, then came to full attention the second he spotted Ruth.
“Mrs. Nash, I didn’t know you were in town.”
“I just arrived. That’s why I’m here, sheriff. I was rebuffed by some Neanderthal at my own front door. I am still a partial owner of that building. The question is, what are you going to do about it?”
He scratched his head, then said, “Who’s keeping you out? Surely it’s not Cyrus.”
“I haven’t seen my brother yet,” she said loudly. “That’s why we’re here.”
“And why are you with her?” he asked me.
“I’m a concerned citizen,” I said.
“He’s here with me, Sheriff. Now round up your men and come with me.”
I swear I thought he’d refuse her, or at least try to stall, but the sheriff jumped three feet when she snapped at him.
“I’ll follow you in the patrol car,” the sheriff said. “You need a ride?” he asked me, obviously wanting to know how I’d managed to get myself so involved in the situation.
Before I could reply, Ruth said, “He’s coming with me, sheriff. I mean it, I expect reinforcements.”
He nodded. “Yes, ma’am, I’ll make it happen.”
“See that you do,” she said coldly. I was beginning to wonder if there was anyone she liked when she turned to John and said, “Young man, can you find your way back to my ancestral home without Mr. Black’s guidance?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Then do so. Mr. Black, you will ride in back with me.”
I climbed in the back of the limo, and we left to visit Cyrus again, this time with our very own cavalry.
I wasn’t about to sit quietly by for this round. I followed discretely behind as Ruth returned to front door with the sheriff at her side. As we approached, half a dozen patrol cars pulled in behind us. It would be the perfect time to rob any business in Micah’s Ridge, since all the town’s police protection was evidently with us.
The sheriff pounded on the front door with his fist. “Open up.”
I saw one of the bullies who’d run me off the property earlier swing the door back. “What’s with all the racket?’
The sheriff started to push past him, but the man stood his ground. Morton said, “The noise was to get your attention. Now are you going to move, or do my men move you?”
He looked past the sheriff at all of his eager deputies and said, “I don’t get paid enough for that. Be my guest”
He stepped aside, and Ruth moved in, Morton half a step behind her and me on their heels. The guard was joined by his fellow employee, and as they started to leave, I said, “Shouldn’t you stop them?’
Morton shot me a dirty look, then called out “Hang around, I’m not finished with you.”
“We’re just paid employees,” one of the men said.
“So who’s paying you?’ • When neither man would answer, Morton said. That’s what I thought Magnum, Pruitt, keep an eye on those two.”
We walked into the shadows of the house, and Ruth called out for her brother. In a feeble voice we heard him acknowledge our call from the heavily draped living room. “I’m here.”
Walking into the dreary space, I saw the ramp I’d noticed from outside.