CHAPTER SIXTEEN
“What’s all this about, Ernie?” asked one of the farmers.
“I’m not sure. We were told to show up because they had some news for us.”
“Please take your seats,” said Chief. The sheriff and mayor were both seated at the head table, men behind them and beside them.
“What’s going on?” asked Pat.
“When the schools were suddenly closed today we wanted to check things out. Turns out, your mayor and sheriff are both involved in this little scheme.”
“I believe that about Carter but Jerry?” frowned Pat.
“We heard them talking about how this was supposed to all be wrapped up and it wasn’t. It seems your mayor and sheriff were playing good cop, bad cop. Pun intended,” frowned Major.
“Jerry, what the hell?” asked Ernie. “You were supposed to be on our side.”
“Do you have any fucking idea how much money I make? Do you?” he screamed.
Patrick squeezed his shoulder, forcing him to stay seated and quiet down.
“I make practically nothing. Nothing! I make sure your little brats are safe and sound, that your wives can walk through this town without being afraid. I do it all. Me!”
“That’s what you signed up for,” said Ernie. “You ran for office over and over again, knowing what this job was all about.”
“You’re all so stupid,” laughed Carter.
“Shut up, Carter!” yelled Jerry.
“Get over yourself, Jerry. They know. We should have left town when they showed up. We did what we could. It’s done. You think you’ve won but you haven’t. This is all so much bigger than you.”
“Why don’t you explain it to us?” said one of the men, now standing with his hands at his belt.
“Calm down, Hank,” said Carter. “You don’t have to prove to everyone that you’re big enough to wrestle a bull.
We get it. The two of us are making shit for money.
We can’t retire any time soon because we have nothing to retire on.
Mr. Santori offered us a way out. A retirement plan, shall we say.
We took it and we did our best to give him what he wants.
But he won’t stop. Even with your stupid legal documents, he won’t stop.
He’s got people way bigger than all of you on his payroll. ”
“Tell us more,” said Brix.
“Fuck you,” smirked Carter. “You’re going to throw us in jail until you can get federal or state authorities here. It will be our word against yours.”
“Not really,” smiled Brix. “You’ve been recorded this entire time. It’s a little something we do to ensure that nothing is ever miscommunicated. State authorities will be here shortly.”
“I can’t believe you were willing to sell out your own people,” said Ernie staring at the two men. “You were working with Grant and Morgan and you acted like nothing was wrong. You destroyed part of my crops and others too. We thought of you as friends.”
“Guess there’s a lesson in there somewhere,” said Jerry.
The door to the hall opened and Grant and Morgan stepped in, shocked at seeing the community and the anger on their faces. When they realized that Carter and Jerry were not there willingly, they tried to leave.
“You started this!” yelled Carter. “You two said you’d protect us.”
“Wh-what are you talking about?” asked Morgan, stammering.
“You asshole!”
“Don’t worry, Carter. Those two will get what they deserve as well,” said Major. Before anyone could get near them, the two left the room, two farmers attempting to follow.
“No. Just wait,” said Brix. “We’ve got this covered. One step at a time.”
“What do we do about a mayor and a sheriff?” asked one of the men.
“I vote for Ernie as mayor and Pat as sheriff,” said another.
“Sounds like a good pick to me,” smirked Chief. “What do you think gentlemen?”
“I don’t know anything about being mayor,” said Ernie.
“You got a college degree,” said another man. “That’s more than most of us. We’ll help you. Maybe it’s a community mayor-ship.”
“You can do this, Ernie,” said Pat. “I can manage the duties of sheriff if you can manage the office of the mayor.”
“All those in favor?” grinned Chief. The cries of ‘ayes’ was loud and clear. “Congratulations, Mayor Ernie and Sheriff Pat.”
“You’re an asshole,” smirked Ernie. “But thanks. I guess we need to figure out what’s been left undone. What about those two that ran out of here?” Chief nodded to the two men.
“Leave them to us.”