52stories

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Chief Harry approached his small red office, and frowned. He saw no smoke rising from the chimney, so again his Deputy fell asleep and didn’t properly stoke the fire. Now Harry would have to endure needless cold which his old bones would protest. He daily considered moving to warmer climates, like most his age did. Florida, or Arizona, or someplace like that. The wilderness of Alaska was for the younger folk. Deep inside, Harry knew he’d never leave, except when the time came, in a pine box.

Slamming the door closed made Kurt startle and snap out of his dream. A small stream of drool ran down one sleeve. “Oh! Chief. Is it seven already?” He tried to wipe the moisture from his arm and crust from his eyes discreetly.

Harry didn’t reply, he just got to work on the next brew of coffee. After that he’d see to getting a fire going again. He just waited for the night’s report.

After picking up his clipboard, Kurt began reading back the events of the past eight hours, at least the part during which he was conscious. “Couple of dogs or something got into Mrs. Ellery’s trash last night. I went down there.”

“Make any arrests?”, Harry actually joked.

“Oh, um, oh. No Chief.” , Curt explained then looked around puzzled, perhaps waiting on the next question.

Harry prompted “Keep going.” This was a farce of a job, but for eight dollars an hour it was hard to find quality workers. At least this boy was too dumb to do anything really stupid.

“Some men trespassing on the Vaughn property. Peter himself called in, wanted to tell me he shot at them, in case, you know, they came to file a report.”

“Peter Vaughn couldn’t hit his own face.” Harry commented now the one seated at the singular desk. The coffee was thick and black, or as Harry called it ‘perfect’. “Just out of curiosity, did anyone report getting shot last night?”

“No, Chief.”

“Good.” Harry pulled open the local paper. It was published on Wednesday, a small highlight of his weekly routine. He realized Kurt hadn’t left yet, and was indeed still standing with his report. “Anything else?”

“James and Daryl were getting pretty loud at the bar. Elsie had to toss them both out.” Kurt didn’t have to use last names. These two were the local drunks. Well, the local troublemakers anyways, lots of people got drunk around here, not much else to do. Drink and fish. Drink and fish. Drink like a fish. Fish with a drink.

“And?”

“Well, I couldn’t lock them up, they had all night shifts. But um…”

“Yeah?” Harry wondered why he had to prompt Kurt so much this morning. Usually the kid couldn’t keep his mouth shut to save his or his mother’s life.

“Daryl didn’t make it back in this morning for market opening.”

Harry took this in. The kid had been awake most of the night, had actually been working. The solitude however was making him paranoid. Calmly, Harry dismissed Kurt’s concerns. “He could be late, or had a small catch, trying to pull a double. Give it time.”

For some reason, the Deputy didn’t let it go, maybe he was feeling responsible. “Could be Chief, but them two have been going at it for weeks now, over…”

SLAM! The paper hit the desk. Harry was NOT going to have this conversation, certainly not with this young punk standing before him. “I know WHY they are fighting.”

“It’s just they were both logged as being out near Compass Point.”

Harry had to give the boy some credit, he was growing a spine. Still, it was on Harry’s shoulders to see this through. “Get some sleep Kurt. And don’t be late tomorrow.” Harry watched Kurt leave then heard him outside unplug the cart, the electric line keeping the battery charged and warm. The vehicle made no noise, but many of the planks did as he drove away.

~~~

James staggered back to his boat after breakfast. Of course breakfast was three beers a BLT and then two more beers. After a long night of cold net-fishing he only wanted to get buzzed and sleep off the cold. He’d have to wake up and do it all over again, and again. But that wasn’t so bad. Worse things you could spend you life doing than fishing and drinking. Movement on his own boat caught his attention. Even with five beers in him, James’s senses weren’t completely gone. “Well hello Chief. What ya doing on my boat?”

“Looking for you.” , Harry said, each word followed by a big visible puff of exhalation vapor. “You know this looks like blood on your deck, here.”

“That’s cause it is. Come on Chief, you know every fleet ships looks like this after a big catch. It ain’t clean work we do out there. You aren’t green, you know that.”, James rubbed himself to keep warm. The buzz was surely being killed.

“I heard you and Daryl got into it pretty good last night. Now he’s missing, and there is blood on your ship.” , Harry explained.

“Fish blood is all.” James now had a higher pitch to his voice.

“And you’re about to wash it off.”, Harry pointed to the water sprayer and chemicals lined up on the deck.

“Or it will stink for weeks.”, James replied. “Besides if I killed him, why would I put off cleaning my boat?”

“Before getting drunk? Now THAT would look suspicious.” Harry moved closer, so close on James could hear him speak. “Look, we both know Daryl ain’t coming back, which makes life better for me. Could have been on purpose, could have been an accident. I’m not really sure I care, I am sure no one else will.”

James pulled away. “Chief it WASN’T ME.”

“Okay, but I have enough evidence.” Harry pulled out his camera, “And eye witness testimony to lock you away forever, if I choose to do so. I won’t as long as you leave her alone.”

“Daisy?”

“I know you and Daryl have taken a shine to my daughter for a while now, and just because he’s gone, doesn’t mean I like it any more. So you stay away, far away from her, and we will all get along just fine.”

~~~

“Daddy, you’re home early!” Daisy said from her spot cleaning dishes at the sink. “I just make you some chicken and rice.”

“Thanks honey.” Harry took his customary spot at the table. “So,” he continued the conversation, “have you decided what you want for your sixteenth birthday?”