Chapter 11
Once out in the hallway, Jen closed the door and turned to Andrew. “Thank you for coming to see Silas. I know he appreciated it.”
“I’m glad I did. I know he looks bad, but in my imagination, he was much worse. Jen, this whole thing makes me angry. Nothing like this has happened here for years. To be honest, I can’t remember the last time we had something like this happen. I know this is wrong of me, but I’m convinced that they were some of that group out at the mill. I know I can’t prove it yet, but I’m sure it has to be some of them.”
Jen nodded in agreement, but she decided not to tell him her plans to go out to the mill and confront those in charge.
“I hope you’re wrong, but it wouldn’t surprise me at all. Well, you better get going before Miss Nancy calls to see what is taking you so long.” Jen chuckled when she saw the urgent look on Andrew’s face after he looked at his wristwatch.
“Crap, I have 10 minutes to get home. I’ll check back with Silas later today, goodbye.” Andrew turned and rushed toward the elevator. He reached for the call button and prepared to wait, but the doors opened, allowing him to enter.
Jen was glad that Andrew left. She had plans of her own, and she did not need him interfering.
Jen pulled to the side of the road and parked by the turn leading to the mill.
She had gone over in her head what she would say, but now was beginning to question her decision to come there. She closed her eyes, resting her head against the headrest, trying to decide what she should do.
The sound of tapping on the window brought Jen out of her musing and face-to-face with Frank. He smiled and then motioned for her to roll down the window.
“Good afternoon, Mrs. Greer. What brings you out here today?”
Surprised that he knew who she was; Jen did her best to compose herself. “Ah, I need to speak to whoever is in charge.”
“Well, you’ve found him. My name is Frank; how may I help you?”
Unsure of how to begin, Jen nervously rubbed her hands on the steering wheel. Deciding there was no escape from this uncomfortable situation, she decided it was best just to begin. “Frank, I assume that you are the man my husband has spoken to, correct?”
Frank nodded his head but decided to wait for her to continue.
“I’m not sure how to say this,” Jen paused a moment, trying to gather her thoughts.
“Mrs. Greer, is there a problem?”
Jen looked at Frank, and suddenly the words exploded from her. “I believe that someone from here attacked Silas last night. He’s in the hospital, recovering from a blow to his head and some broken ribs.”
Frank stared at Jen, unsure of how to respond.
“Did you hear me? I believe that someone from here attacked Silas last night. He got called out last night about an attempted break-in at the grocery store. When he came upon them, someone jumped him and knocked him unconscious.”
Frank was not surprised at hearing this news. He had been worried about a few of the younger men in the group. He wanted to tell her of his fears, but he knew it was against orders. “Is Silas okay?”
“Yes, thank the Lord, but we have a problem. They took his gun and extra magazine.” Just saying those words made Jen’s stomach turn. To think of what they could do with a gun made her blood run cold.
This was not something Frank wanted to hear. “Crap, if I remember his gun correctly that means they would have 17 rounds available to them.”
Jen could see the concern on his face as he processed this news. She wanted answers but was beginning to believe she would not be getting any from Frank today.
“You said Silas is in the hospital, right? I need to speak to him before I do anything. Thank you for informing me of this, Mrs. Greer.” Without saying another word, Frank stepped away from her car and hastily walked over to his suburban. Once inside, he pulled out onto the highway and headed toward town.
The news of the attack on Silas spread through the town like wildfire. Several of the local men had gathered at the local Diner, discussing what course of action they should take to protect the town.
“You know they have to be from that group out at the lumber mill. We haven’t had any problems like that in years,” Chuck Wilson said with anger clearly showing on his face.
“We all know they are, but what can we do about it. You heard what Andrew said at the meeting,” one of the other men chimed in.
All the men erupted with ideas of how they would handle the situation. The conversation continued to grow in intensity when suddenly the door of the Diner opened and in walked Andrew.
Suddenly all eyes in the Diner turned and looked directly in his direction, putting him on high alert. He walked toward the counter and took his place on one of the stools without saying a word.
The quiet hovering over the Diner was unnerving, as tempers churned and continued to build to a dangerous point.
Finally, after several tense moments, Chuck broke the silence. “What are you going to do about it, Andrew? They could have killed Silas. We all know who did it, and you want us to welcome them to our town.”
Several of the men chimed in their agreement, all the while, their eyes held fast on Andrew.
The waitress brought Andrew a cup of coffee and sat it on the counter in front of him. He took a sip of the hot liquid, before turning to face the group of angry men.
“I know that everyone is upset and worried. I feel the same way, but until we have proof as to who attacked Silas; we need to remain calm.”
“That’s bullshit! We know who did it, Andrew!” One of the men in the group shouted out.
“We sure do, so what are you going to do about it?” Another one added.
Andrew sensed their emotions growing to a dangerous point, and honestly, he felt the same way. From the day, he learned of their arrival, he knew it was going to be nothing but trouble for the town.
He took a moment to look at the men and saw the betrayal in their eyes. In all of his years living in Sandley, he had never seen such hopelessness in the eyes of its residents. Not even when the window factory and lumber mill closed down.
He was about to speak when a short, but stout Latino man, a woman, and two young children walked through the door of the Diner. The angry glares that just moments before had burned into Andrew now turned to face the new, unexpected customers.
The tension in the room was thick and dripping with hate, and mistrust, as angry glances moved from Andrew then to the unwelcome family. No one said a word as the man escorted his family to one of the tables in the rear of the Diner. It was as though time stood still and they all found themselves trapped in a single moment, unable to escape.
Seeing the potential of this ending badly, Andrew decided to break the silence first. He waited for the family to take their seats before he approached them.
“Good afternoon, my name is Mayor Sexton. I’d like to welcome you and your family to Sandley.”
The man looked at Andrew with a mixture of confusion and mistrust in his eyes. He hesitated a moment unsure of what to do. After a few tense moments, he finally relented and accepted Andrew’s outstretched hand, never once breaking eye contact as they shook hands.
“Do you understand English?” Andrew forced a smile and prayed this man understood him.
At seeing the uncomfortable look on Andrew’s face, the man nodded his head and said, “Si, a little.” The man forced a smile, but his eyes betrayed his real emotions.
Andrew was about to speak again when the waitress walked over to the table with four glasses of water and two menus. She sat the glasses on the table in front of each person and then handed a menu to the woman and the man.
“I’ll be back in a few minutes to get your order,” the waitress said then she turned and walked back toward the kitchen.
Andrew watched her walk away then he returned his attention to the family. He was about to speak again, when the
oldest child cried out in Spanish, “Mama, I want French fries, please.”
“Shhh, be quiet; your father is speaking,” the woman whispered in Spanish to the child, letting him know not to interrupt again.
Andrew looked at the young boy, who sat back in his seat with a look of disappointment on his face. He then glanced over at the mother, who was helping his young sister with a drink of water.
“Please excuse mi Hijo, I mean my son. He is just excited to be here in Los Estados Unidos.” The man glanced over at his son who was intently watching the waitress as she strolled back toward the table.
“So have you made up your minds what you want to order,” the waitress asked.
“French fries!” the boy shouted out, startling his sister and causing her to cry.
The father quickly turned and gave each child a stern look to let them know they were to stop this nonsense immediately.
“Well, he does, at least, know how to say French fries in English,” Andrew chuckled.
The man looked back at Andrew with a look of relief in his eyes. He was not sure what would happen when he decided to bring his family to eat at the local restaurant. Several others in the group had told him he was a fool, and how the townsfolk would never accept them. “Yes, he does. I believe it is his favorite English words.”
Realizing this was not a good time to try to get information, Andrew decided to make his leave. “I’ll leave you to your meal. It looks like you have a hungry son there. We’ll talk another time.”
The man looked at Andrew and said, “Gracias, I mean thank you.”
“Okay, Trisha, they’re all yours.” Andrew stepped back allowing the waitress to stand next to the father and then nodded his goodbye.
As he walked back toward the group of men still sitting at the table, Andrew felt a sickening feeling wash over him. Damn, they’re just regular people like any of us. He understood the desire to find a place for a better life for your family. However, you should not do it by breaking the laws of the country you came to for that better life.
No one said a word as Andrew stepped up to the table. Each man wondered how Andrew could walk over there and act as though nothing was wrong. Everyone knew it was someone from their group who attacked Silas, and now Andrew was treating them like long-lost family.
Chuck Wilson was the first to break the silence. “Well, so does this mean we are supposed to welcome them here with open arms? I sure hope not because I don’t plan to be so cordial to them. As far as I believe they are nothing more than trespassers and need to be sent back where they came from.”
Several of the other men chimed in with their agreement.
Andrew understood, but he also knew they needed to tread lightly until they knew what legal rights they had before acting.
“Now, Chuck, I don’t need you stirring emotions and causing trouble. I told you what the Feds told me, so the last thing we want or need is for you to start something that the rest of us will have to clean up.” Andrew looked Chuck directly in the eyes, letting him know that he was serious.
Chuck looked at the other men, who were now realizing that maybe they needed to do as told. None of them wanted to have the United States Government on their backs over a bunch of illegal aliens.
Chuck looked back at Andrew and then folded his hands across his chest. “Fine, but I ain’t calling them undocumented workers. In my mind, they are nothing but a bunch of criminals; no matter what age they are.”
“That’s fair, Chuck. As long as I have your word that you will leave them alone, and not cause any trouble; everything will be okay. Well, I need to get back to the office. I have some phone calls to make and see what steps we need to take next. Good day, gentlemen.” Andrew smiled and then turned to walk toward the cash register at the front of the Diner.
“Aren’t you going to stay and eat some lunch, Andrew?” Carol, the owner of the Diner, asked.
“No, I need to get back to the office, but why don’t you make me a BLT and I’ll have Maggie come and get it for me.”
“Okay, I’ll have it waiting for her.”
Andrew took a ten-dollar bill out of his wallet and handed it to Carol. “Here, and keep the change.”
Carol took the bill from him and put it in the register then pulled out the change and tucked it in her pocket.
“Thank you, Andrew; I’ll make sure the bacon is extra crispy for you.” Carol smiled when she saw the look of appreciation on his face.
Andrew paused for a moment and then leaned in over the counter, getting closer to Carol.
“Do me a favor. Keep an eye on those guys, and let me know if they start anything, okay?” He glanced over his shoulder at the group of men still gathered, talking among themselves.
Carol glanced over his shoulder and smiled. “Sure thing, I’ll let you know if there’s any trouble.”
Both of them exchanged knowing looks then Andrew turned and walked out of the front door.