Job Out West by Bruce James Wilkinson

Author:Bruce James Wilkinson
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Bruce James Wilkinson
Published: 2021-03-30T00:00:00+00:00

17

We established a rhythm during the first three interviews. I fell into the role of relaxing good old boy. Rick evaluated our subjects’ soldier qualities, positive and negative, and Malcolm sat still and watched people with an expression that reminded them of fire and brimstone.

It was after three when we finished. Shirl was in her lair. So was Denise, with Mindy beside her and Caroline behind them. Denise, Mindy, and Caroline said goodbye to us. Shirl shook her head and watched them file out us take their places. “Do you believe it? That was a social visit. My daughter actually wanted to come see me. She even told me it was her idea, and she dragged Denise and Mindy along. Admitted that to me. Astonishing.”

“That’s something, isn’t it?”

“It sure is. You guys have candidates for me? Come in.”

I handed her a list of twenty-four men and eleven women. Eleven women plus Linda, Sylvia, and Sylvia’s partner Glad. There was no need for us to interview Linda or Sylvia, and Sylvia left no doubt that her participation included Glad’s at no extra charge. We’d added brief notes after several of the names, and a much smaller list of people we did not recommend, and why, at the bottom. Rick pointed out several candidates who had military or experience or other training he considered relevant. She read through it all quickly and then put the list down on her desk. “Good work. What was your overall impression?”

“It’s a strong core,” Rick said. “No dummies or hotheads.”

“I was a good detective. I got the job done, and I didn’t violate the law or the Constitution to do it. I was senior by the end, and that meant leading some major arrest operations sometimes, but I’ve never been in a command position like this. Do you really think these people will accept that?”

“You’re the sheriff,” Rick said. “They don’t have a choice. The sheriff is for when things go wrong. If they don’t like the way the sheriff fixes things, they elect a new one.”

“Your mouth sounds a lot better.” She went behind her desk and sat down. “During your time in the service, did you command?”

“On a minor scale, yes.”

“Then tell me how.”

“With your background, you already know. Same as you umpire a game: make your calls and brook no argument. You fuck up and sometimes you know it and fix it in time, but your call is your call. You don’t change it because your troops don’t like it, and you don’t apologize for anything to anyone until the battle is over.”

“We need a warrant,” Shirl said, “so we can put these good folks to work.”

*

Merkel, Bicker and I started out at quarter of seven as usual. The birds were busy in the trees on both sides of the river, their discussions broadcast in stereo at the middle of the bridge. Making fun of creatures who can’t fly, like us, crossing toward coffee, bellies pulling us along.

“I have shit to do today,” I said, “if the sheriff allows me time to do it.

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