rash decision. I dove to my right and into the tall grass of the field. I crouched down, but I knew my head still bobbed up over the top of the grass.
Shots popped from behind me. I wasn't sure how many or how close, but I kept going in the direction of the Hamlet Acres trailer park. From the zipping sound in the air I got the sinking feeling that the guy was a pretty good shot and he was zeroing in on me. Glancing forward at the distance between myself and the split rail fence that separated the trailer park from the grassy field it looked like the guy would find his mark before I could get there.
A bullet zinged very close and I flinched. Suddenly from right in front of me there was a wild commotion. It happened so fast in the dim light I couldn't tell what was going on.
With an odd sqawk and a flapping noise something loomed up right next to me. An emu. I don't know who was more shocked, the bird or me. The moment didn't last long. A dull thud silenced the bird. I face planted into the grass and another bullet whacked into the split rail fence just ahead of me.
“Hey, what the hell's going on out there?” Someone yelled from the trailer park. That was followed by the distinct boom of a shotgun.
Suddenly it was quiet and there was an odd flickering of light. I peeked up over the top of the grass back towards the restaurants.
Russell's cruiser and pulled in behind the big guy's car. I didn't like that. I was pretty sure that the big guy was better shot than Russell was. I didn't think this would go well.
I stood up with the stupid idea of distracting the big guy and maybe giving Russell a second or two of time. I was about to call out when events moved on without me.
The big guy turned as Russell jumped out of his car. He aimed at Russell, but the gun just clicked. Empty. Russell had his gun out and was holding it steadily on the guy. They stared at each other for moment before the big guy dropped his gun and held his hands out where Russell could see them.
Behind me I could hear someone from the trailer park approaching. I ignored a question from the person and walked back towards Russell. I stepped out of the grass and on to the gravel road. Russell glanced over at me as he handcuffed the big guy.
“Well, that makes perfect sense. Every time there is trouble around here nowadays you seem to be involved in it somehow. Sometimes, I think I should just follow you around. It would make my job a lot easier.” Russell said.
I nodded. “It would probably make my life a lot easier as well.”
Russell pushed the guy into the back of the cruiser. Then he turned to me.
“So, mind explaining what's going on?” Russell stared at me.
“Well...” There was a cry from a cat behind me. I spun around and caught a glimpse of the door of Dennis' place slamming shut.
“What was that? Did you see that?” I asked.
“What?” Russell looked puzzled. “What was what?”
“The cat. What happened to it? Did you see?” I asked, anxiously staring back at the restaurants.
“What the hell are you talking about? It was a cat. Someone chased it off. The damned things are all around the trash. Don't change the subject. You've got some explaining to do.” Russell was working himself into a good fit.
I sighed. Maybe. But I couldn't shake the feeling that cat was soon to be adorned with mushrooms and cheese.
.
10
I stared at the slice of pizza. I didn't move and I was trying to convince myself there was no reason to expect it to.
“Just eat it.” Becky said staring at me. We sat on the deck which was essentially the top of the garage of my parents house.
“I will. I will.” I said. “Just thought I saw a piece of fur.”
“What?” Becky asked.
“Nothing.” I said.
Becky took a bite. “You know everyone is impressed with what you did.” She said as she chewed.
“You mean how I managed to not get myself killed by a professional killer. Like, by eluding his shots and forcing him to use up his bullets thus making it a much safer capture on the part of Russell?” I asked, quite proud of myself---despite knowing it was incredible dumb luck.
Becky shook her head. “No. The way you found that emu and got that guy to shoot it.”
I sighed. “Yes, well, that's the important thing.”
Becky patted my hand. “Oh, everyone is happy it was the emu and not you.”
“Only because most of them would find the emu tastier.”
“Oh, you're just being ridiculous...” Becky's voice trailed off. “...well, most of them, anyway.”
The crunch of gravel told me someone was pulling into the driveway. I got up from my deck chair and walked to the railing the overlooked the front of the garage.
It was Wilson. I stood at the railing with a piece of pizza in hand and waited for him to climb down from his truck.
“Sammy.”
“Wilson.”
Wilson shuffled his feet. He seemed to be waiting for me to say something.
“So...you just stopped by to verify our names?”
“I...was kind of wondering...well, if Russell, well, returned the money?” Wilson asked.
I sighed. “Wilson, the money is gone. It's evidence in both a murder investigation and an embezzlement case. That money will be tied up in court cases for years and I have no idea where it will ultimately end up. Just forget about it.”
Wilson stood silent for a moment. “Well, what about a reward for finding it?”
I shook my head. “There's no reward for it. The only reward for that money was a bullet hole. Be thankful you didn't get that.”
Without thinking I lifted the slice of pizza up and started to bite into it. Suddenly there was a loud yelp. I yanked the slice away from my mouth and stared at it.
“Quiet!” Wilson yelled.
“Yeah!” I said still staring at the pizza slice.
“That came from Wilson's truck.” Becky said, appearing next to me.
I looked down at Wilson. “What have you got in the back of your truck?”
Wilson waved back towards the truck. It was an old flat bed truck with wooden sides and a tarp covering the top. “A couple of stray dogs. The town council is paying for every stray animal I find.”
I pictured Wilson's truck quietly parking behind the Dennis' pizza place at midnight and unloading the goods.
Becky slapped me in the arm.
“What?” I asked, surprised.
“I know that look. It involves a truck, a dark night and a pizza place.” She said.
“I...” It was all I could say.
“What do you do with the animals?” Becky asked looking down at Wilson.
Wilson pointed off into the distance. “Tom Crawley has volunteered to let me release them out into his pasture land. He says they can be free range pets.”
“Free range?” I asked. “Uh, you know that generally refers to...”
“Stop. Stop right there.” Becky said. “Just let it go.”
Wilson shuffled back to his truck with a sad wave and drove off.
Becky and I sat back down. I stared at the piece of pizza still dangling from my hand.
“Fine.” Becky said. “If you're going to be like that then go up to the grocery store. Emu steaks are on sale right now.”
I studied the pizza some more. I didn't know if I would enjoy emu steaks so I resolved that I would either eat the pizza or adopt it.
K McConnell
###
Please email the author at:
[email protected] with any and all thoughts or comments about this story (or writing, reading good books, the quirky nature of life or anything that comes to mind).
Other books by this author:
To Not Be In Hamlet, Book 1 in the Hamlet Mystery series
The Art of Hamlet, Book 2 in the Hamlet Mystery series
A Conspiracy in Blood, The Hunt for Dr. Oblique
Symbiotic Puppets, Who are we really? Some Scifi fun...
The Plague, Is our true identity bur
ied on Mars?
The Club of the Bombastic Few
Please visit www.HamletMysteries.com for information about this author, a blog with an odd perspective on life, other stories from this author, including the Hamlet Mystery series and free fiction to download...
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