Tim pointed my attention to the black Scion xB cruising towards us. We sat in front of our county line sign.
TOPEKA, TEXAS. POPULATION: 1,247
I rolled my eyes as the wheels of our Police Interceptor charged to catch up. The man wasn't speeding, just in the wrong place, at the right time, being himself. That was enough for the Sheriff, my best friend since high school, Tim.
"C'mon Timmy, ain't worth it. Not today, not now. Guy ain't even speeding," I pleaded with him, but not too much. Didn't want to sound like a coward, more like what I actually felt. Tired, frustrated, bored. Happens in a town the size of a shoebox.
"Nope, we're gettin' him, on something, for sure. You know these type of people. They always got something illegal, just gotta look hard enough. Plus, I'm not waiting a minute longer. Haven't had many pass by today, I need something."
He stepped out the car and walked towards the civilian. I listened to the conversation through the radio. Recorded everything for the Sheriff to make sure we were following the rules. His rules, anyway. I couldn't see the man's face, but it sounded young, about 25, maybe 30. I could tell there was a smile on his and a beat to his voice. I felt jealous. I remembered a time when I was that age, 20 years ago. It was 15 years ago the last time I smiled the way that guy did. Yep, been on the force for that long, and after my first year, I was done laughing, and smiling. I was just like Tim, just like the others. Hell, it was the Sheriff back then that started all this shit. Tim just got the joke. He got it, I didn't. I didn't want to, more so. Never understood was "Red" was thinking when he made the deal.
***
"Alright boys, gather around, got an important announcement, straight from the Mayor," shouted Sheriff Rudy "Red" Rutherford. The vets took all the comfortable chairs towards the back of the small station while me and the other rookies sat to the front. That's where I headed before Tim tapped me on the shoulder to sit with him in the middle. He'd been working as a cop for 2 years, and his daddy and the Sheriff were good friends, that's the way Tim got the job, and that's how he got me a shot at being a cop too. Tim and I had been friends since high school, but I never committed to a local job, just took small ones to save money. I was promised a big payoff when I took the spot. Here it was. "Red" was about to spill it. "Now, I got a nice little math lesson from old Willy today, while I was down there at town hall, he's got one of those nice new offices and it seems he wants to share the wealth, but he needs our help. Today and during the week, I'm gonna brief all of you during your shifts about Mayor Williams idea. Should bring in a nice little bonus for you boys. I'm gonna start with the rookies and work my way up, take you guys out on the beat, one-on-one, and explain the details. Any questions?"
Tim raised his hand, I turned and saw a straight face. "Red" pointed at Tim and he had everyone's attention.
"Yeah, so, we expected to put out at the end of the date?" The room burst into laughter and Tim looked around and gave people high fives, the final one being towards me. I half-heatedly met Tim and gave a smile. Never understood the brand of humor that was going on around here. "Red" chuckled and dismissed everyone. I was scheduled to work the night shift and "Red" joined me. I was eager to hear what we were about the plan. I was young, still full of life, I wanted a piece of action. I wanted something to help me get out of this toilet sized excuse of a town. "Red" and I drove up to the county line, sat, and waited for some law breakers. I turned to the sign.
TOPEKA, TEXAS. POPULATION: 936
I was hoping that'd be one less in a few years. A car sped by, going about 15 miles over the limit. I flipped the siren and followed protocol. When I got back in the patrol car to finish writing the ticket, "Red" told me to let them go. I asked him why.
"Well, see, part of the Mayor's plan. We let these nice people go with no ticket, but we give'em these nifty little brochures, bring them back. Maybe they will come back. Nice, huh?"
I was a bit disappointed, to say the least. I put on a forced smile, grabbed the pamphlet, and handed it to the nice folks. The man's hair was orange, and the freckles on his wife's cheeks added character to her small frame. They thanked me for my kindness and drove into the darkness. "Red" and I went back to the county line and I stared out the window, out into the nice clear night. "Red" asked me about my life, just trying to get to know me. I answered him directly, telling small stories. I wasn't much of a talker back then. Finally, he asked me an important question.
"Where do you see yourself in a few years, my boy?"
I thought for a few seconds. I couldn't really answer him. I didn't want to say "not here", but I didn't want to lie. I was unsure.
"I-I don't know. I'm just worried about tonight, right now, honestly," I answered with confidence. It was the best I could think of.
"That's good boy, good good. Especially what the mayor wants for his plan." I turned away from the violet sky and looked to "Red", perplexed.
"I'm not following?"
"Well, see, these little brochure's are only half his plan. We ain't gonna see shit with this, it's just a formality, for the real dirt. See, we gotta get money flowing in this city. We gotta get people, these rich type that come by and laugh at our tickets. They ain't doin' shit but pollutin' our air! Don't we deserve something more? Don't you want something more?"
"Well, yes, but, how?"
"Seems Mayor Williams and his people have been reading state laws. One in particular. Says we can take property that's criminal. Ya know, drug money, bongs, anything else that might be considered contraband or evidence. Stuff we could use, even. Don't even gotta have a reason, other than goodwill."
"But, that's stealing, ain't it?"
"Oh c'mon boy you're smarter than that! We're the law, we can't steal! Hell, we're just evening the playing field! We're just fucking them before they can do it to us! They speed through here, they use that money to buy drugs, they smoke up and kill someone back home. That money, we could've built a damned hospital with it, other than that little shit for a clinic we got! Don't you deserve better?"
I thought for a moment. I wondered if I even cared, that a city with less than a thousand people could have something better. I didn't know what they deserved, and didn't know if it was my place to decide. "Red" sealed it for me, though.
"You don't wanna be stuck here for the rest of your life, do ya?"
I shook my head from side to side.
"Then, let's get you some escape money, you're too good for Topeka, my boy."
I smirked. Last time I felt good. Last time I could see the stars.
***
Tim hopped back in the car, discouraged.
"Anything good?" I asked.
"Nah, you were right. Only got about 200 outta him. Thought those were nice cars, expensive kind?"
"Don't matter, the more expensive the car the less he has to spend, you know that. I always say it."
"Whatever, I guess. Damn, let's head back."
After a few minutes of silence, I got the nerve to talk to Tim about what had been on my mind lately.
"I'm done, Tim. Putting in my two weeks when we get back. Just letting you know, as my best friend. I can't do it."
"Hah, what? You can't quit on me," he chortled a bit.
"Got no choice, I don't feel the magic anymore. Gotta get out of here."
"Still don't get it, do ya Charlie? Alright, well, whatever you gotta do, I guess."
I thought he'd put up more of a fight, but I was a bit relieved he didn't. Especially since I noticed an out of state car hitting about 5 miles faster than he should've been.
"Look, there's one more now, Charlie. Pull'em over, Captain America. See if you got the balls to do the right thing."
I flipped on the siren and we pulled to the side. Tim pulled out an iPod he had swiped from a family a few weeks ago. I didn't get why he still had it, especially since he didn't know how to work it. I figured that young girl from the high school he was sleeping with liked the music on it. I didn't have a heart to tell his wife about the affair, but it was hard to keep quiet, since she was my first girlfriend. Oh well. I walked over to the car and went through the motions.
The man's name was James Ashby, from Chicago, Illinois.
"Long way from home, ain't ya brother?" I asked him. I was trying to be nice, but I guess arrogance is in my blood.
"Oh yeah, I sure am. Ya know, while I got here you, care to help me with a story I'm writing?"
"You one of them news reporters, eh? Thought so, with that nice laptop and all those notepads you got there. Now, buddy, what help can a cop from the middle of nowhere be to a college boy like you?"
"Plenty help, ?buddy', plenty help. You can tell me how much money you're little scam's making you guys."
I looked up from the ticket tablet and stopped writing. I hadn't felt my blood rush like this since that day when "Red" talked to me.
"You look surprised, officer? Did I say something wrong? Better yet, maybe you can tell me what my brother from Houston, just south of here, did to you last week, as he drove through here with his family? Maybe you can clear up a few things, like why my niece doesn't have her Christmas gift I gave her? Figured Steve Jobs back there could shine some light on that for me, don't you?"
He pointed back at Tim. I looked, noticing Tim with his head back and his eyes closed. It was a hot day, and that old car didn't have air condition. He probably took a quick nap, unknowingly. I turned off my radio and leaned into Ashby's car.
"Now brother you listen and you listen good. You don't know what you're messing with here, you don't know what you're saying, and you don't know what you're doing. You best just keep on driving and never mention this dusty fleck of a town, got it?" I whispered.
"Is that a threat, officer..what's that say? Charlie?"
"No, ain't no threat. It's a warning. Get outta here."
I got back in my cruiser and Ashby turned his car around and headed back towards Houston. He passed me by and waved. The sound of me slamming the door woke Tim up.
"Wha-What happened? You get him?"
"Nah, just a warning, that's all. He had nothing, nothing you'd want."
"Fuck Charlie, no fucking balls man. Let's get back, I need a cold one. Fucking "Red", why couldn't he fix the damn AC in here before he kicked the bucket. Good for nothing."
"Good for nothing? He got you this job, he recommended you in his will, ain't that enough?"
"Nope, never enough. Never."
Weeks later, I stared out my window at our old station that was down the street. I looked at the parking lot of our new building. We had just purchased two new Interceptors. I still used the old one though; the same one "Red" took me out in. I didn't mind, I didn't care. After 20 years, it just doesn't matter anymore. My desk was blank. My mom and dad had both died, and I never married. The local girls were either married or disgusting pigs. I usually went to a bar that sat 50 miles out of town to find action. Not much, but closer to the city. Closer to where I wanted to go. I noticed a familiar car pull up. It had Illinois plates.
"Son of a bitch."
Ashby walked inside and I quickly went to meet him. He had a newspaper and his hand but I paid no attention to it, instead grabbed him by the shoulders and pushing him outside.
"What the hell are you doing here? Didn't I tell you to leave?!"
"Nice to see you again, Officer Charlie, and I thought I'd personally bring you today's paper," he presented the newspaper to me.
CHICAGO TRIBUNE
"I don't need to know what you all are doing up there in monkey country."
Ashby laughed and pointed his finger down the page to the second biggest headline.
"Well, not everything we write is about ?monkey country', Mr. Charlie."
The headline read, "TEXAS TOWN PLAYS RACIST ROBIN HOOD". I skimmed it. It named me. It used my words, in the first sentence of all places. "Dusty fleck of a town".
"Get the hell outta here."
I threw the paper in a trash can outside and went back inside. Ashby drove off. I looked at the clock. I was going to quit in 5 hours. I just needed Tim to come in and relieve me. The end of my shift came, and Tim never showed up. I waited a few more hours, as the night crew came in. I tried calling Tim. He didn't answer. I looked in my desk at the things I had. A cell phone I had taken from some lawyer from New York. A few hundred dollars from a couple of kids. I shut the drawer and the phone rang instantaneously. Startled by the timing, I answered. It was Tim. He asked me to meet him down by the river, just a few miles from the county line.
As I drove down there, I thought about that article. I couldn't get it out of my head. I wondered how much shit this would stir, and if I should warn Tim. I didn't know what to do. We had been met with lawyers before, people that threatened us, but nothing like this. No one reputable, and no one we couldn't handle. No cop before had admitted to the wrong doing. Not like I did. No one had been named, before me.
I got to the river and saw Tim's truck, with a cooler in the bed. He had a beer in his hand and he singled for me to join him. I walked up to him, noticing he was still in his uniform. I hadn't seen him all day though.
"Here you are Tim, whatcha been doing all day?"
"Just thinking?.Oh shit, Charlie, today is your last day, ain't it?! Sorry buddy, totally slipped my mind. Ironic, though," he handed me a beer and I took a gulp before replying.
"Nah, forget it man. You okay?"
"Course, never been better. Just had to make a tough decision tonight. Hope you're okay with it, though?."
"Can't say unless you tell me what it is?"
"Hell, I'll do you one better, I'll show you. Follow me."
Tim strolled to the river bed, and I chugged my beer and followed him. He took out his flashlight and shined the light on the bank. My face went pale.
"Charlie, you remember Mr. James Ashby, don't you? You all had a nice little talk a few weeks ago, remember?" yelled Tim as I stared at Ashby's taped mouth and tied up hands.
"Tim, what the fuck are you doing?!"
"Oh Charlie, don't be such a fucking pussy! Ya know, I saw a movie once. It said cigarettes kill 1250 a day. Imagine that! Topeka, gone! In one fucking day! Crazy huh?"
"Tim you gotta let him go?"
"You think one, little, tattle-tailing nigger is gonna matter, Charlie? Fuck, you're no better than him. Or any of them. They rape our town, pollute it, fuckers. Deserve to die, in the middle of nowhere. Deserve to suffer. But, I'm not cruel."
Tim pulled out his gun and shot Ashby between the eyes. He chuckled a bit as he looked into Ashby's face, now forever frozen in fear.
"Should've kept quiet. But he didn't, so now you've killed him Charlie?"
I turned to Tim, confused.
"What? Me?!"
"Yeah, why hell, he named you. Imagine how depressed you are now. He betrayed you, you had to go. It was your running the show, after all. You got him to come back too! You found out about the story, called him back, killed him because of your guilt of ratting us out. Then, you turned the gun on yourself. Had one too many to drink, but it'll be mostly gone by the time I find you too, down by the old station, tomorrow morning. Tragic, really."
"You mother fucker?" I tried to run, but Tim shot another bullet and hit my leg.
"Damn, now I gotta make you look incompetent and say he took your weapon. Fuck Charlie, didn't want you to lose your pride. Oh well."
The pain was intense, I couldn't move. Tim walked over to me and shot me one more time, right in the stomach.
"You wanted to suffer; you hated yourself, so you wanted to bleed to death. Should've gone out the easy way, like Ashby. Damn shame, Charlie?"
Tim walked back towards his truck and placed blankets on the bed of his truck, he loaded us up one by one. I felt the night go cold. I saw the stars. They were bright. I laughed.
"What you laughing at boy?"
"Tim, I get it. I get it now?"
"Oh, yeah?"
"Can't get out."
"Funny as hell, ain't it?"
Tim chuckled and turned on his car. I turned my body to look at Ashby, laying there, same look on his face. Now completely dead, but I was sure he could still hear my last words.
"I warned ya, brother...."
rating: 5
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