Serialization: "Hawkins County" Chapter 1 - A Novel of the 1970s, The Good, The Bad, And the Ugly

Coming, I'm coming." Stacey opened the door and peered out through the screen at the officers. "What in tarnation do you guys want?"

"Open up, O'Connor," said the sheriff. "We saw him run in here. You know - "

"Know what?" Stacey interrupted. "I know this is still my house, and you law dogs can't just come barging in when you ain't invited."

Ken took a deep breath and stepped up to the screen, knowing that he would end up having to go through the entire routine with Stacey yet again. He did this so many times before that it had become a  ritual between the two men. O'Connor, we saw Pat. I've been looking for him, and you know as well as I do that he hasn't been in school lately."

"I know you're getting me riled, you dumb idiot," Stacey said.

"So far, you're following the script," Ken said. "I'm having deja vu."

"You did what to who?"

 There's a warrant for Pat at the office," Connie said. "But of course, you know that too."

"A warrant, eh?" Stacey said. "There is? The devil you say! Well now, let's have a look-see at that warrant of yours, sheriff."

O'Connor, I got two good eyes that saw Pat run in here less than a minute ago," Connie said, getting red in the face. "That's all the warrant I need. Now stand aside or I'll arrest you for Obstructing Legal Process, a crime you O'Connors are particularly good at." With that, The sheriff threw open the screen door so hard that it banged against the porch, fell off its hinges, and bounced onto the ground.

"Hey, who get's the bill to fix this?" Stacey broke into a broad grin. "Why, of course, gentlemen, do come in," he gestured drunkenly toward the kitchen. "Welcome to my humble abode. If I knew you two were coming all the way out here today, I'da put the coffee pot on and we could've played us a few hands of poker. Call ahead next time, okay?"

The officers pushed past the drunk in bib overalls and entered the kitchen, glancing around the messy room. The sink was stacked with dirty dishes, doors hung askew on the cupboards, and th awful stench of of garbage was pungent in the air. Connie coughed and Ken wrinkled up his nose at the putrid odor. 

"Wait, remember the tree?" Ken said. "You check out back. I'll see if he's still upstairs."

"You got it," Connie said, grateful that he could leave the smelly house. He made it as far as the porch before he tripped on some rubbish and fell flat on his back.

"Watch it, Connie," Stacey teased as he surveyed the fallen sheriff. "It's a little bit slippery out here, and gosh, I'd sure hate to see you fall down and get get your nice uniform all dirty."

The sheriff crawled to his feet and glared at Stacey. He felt like slugging the old man, but was too busy for that now. (to be continued)

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