Raven 2 by D M Barrett

Author:D M Barrett [Barrett, D M]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781674182599
Published: 2019-12-16T22:00:00+00:00

10.

Mountain Justice

The preacher crossed Highway 70, the road that separated Community Church from Discount Grocery, to await a call from Sheriff Hankins. It was a short distance on the sunny morning of an early spring day.

Both Preacher Mann and Dr. Marcus Whitman were about to enter the store simultaneously. Each invited the other to take the lead.

“Age before beauty,” Dr. Whitman suggested to the preacher.

“You’re just afraid the Lord will send a she-bear after you,” the preacher said referring to a biblical story where some youths killed by two bears for mocking the prophet Elisha.

“I didn’t say one word about your hair or lack thereof,” the physician asserted.

“Looks like the grass is getting thin on that mountain top, too,” Preacher Mann remarked.

Eventually, the preacher relented and took the lead entering Discount Grocery. They were met with a very distasteful, sickening pungent aroma.

“How long has it been since you bathed?” the preacher asked pointedly to the storekeeper.

“It’s probably his feet,” the doctor opined.

“I got this cheese from Frankie’s cousin in Wisconsin. He works for the Chalet Cheese Cooperative in Monroe, Wisconsin,” Jack Wright said holding up a large brick of cheese.

“It ruined. You need to bury it. It’ll kill a possum and they’d spend the winter in a dead horse,” Preacher Mann exclaimed.

“It’s the Brevibacterium linens. That’s the bacteria used to ripen it. It’s the bacteria that is on your body that causes smelly feet,” Dr. Marcus Whitman explained.

“I had some a few minutes ago. You eat it with your mouth – not your nose,” Jack Wright replied.

“My nose tells me to keep that stuff away from my mouth,” the preacher said with a chuckle.

“It likely burned out his olfactory nerve years ago,” the physician said with both men laughing aloud.

“Ok. Did you two jokers need something, or is today your day to be the cheese police?” Jack Wright asked sarcastically.

“Anna Mae sent me to pick up something for the clinic but I forgot what she wanted,” the physician admitted.

“You can call her on that telephone,” Jack Wright suggested.

“Actually, I can’t. She’s in Cookeville today running errands for Joe Scott. I’ll have to come back tomorrow,” Dr. Whitman explained.

“What can I do for you, preacher?” the merchant asked.

“I’m supposed to be waiting on a phone call from Sheriff Hankins,” the preacher replied.

“Why’s he calling?” Jack Wright inquired.

“He thought a dead body had been dumped at or near Discount Grocery,” the preacher said jokingly.

Just as the preacher finished his remark, Deputy Thomas Kelly entered the store and remarked, “Smells like that dead body’s been here for at least a couple weeks.”

“Ok. I’ve heard enough. This cheese is going into the outside storage shed and I’m opening the store windows,” Jack Wright declared.

“You’ve solved the case. I’m going back to my office,” the doctor announced.

“And you’re coming with me, preacher,” Deputy Kelly announced.

“Should I get the shotgun?” the storekeeper said with a laugh.

“I’m unarmed. My pistol is in the car,” Deputy Kelly replied with a chuckle.

“Let’s go, Deputy Kelly. Before he assaults both our noses again with that block of nasty, smelly cheese,” the preacher urged.

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