City of Castleton

  Lexington Subdivision

  Mayor Gunther's not so humble mansion

  Dave traverses the winding driveway at a painstakingly slow speed. Detective Mackey offers the gardener, Maxwell Edgarton, a polite chin cant. Max returns the gesture. Then, returns to trimming the surrounding hedges into eight-foot leafy leprechauns. James shakes his head with a chuckle, turning to Dave.

  "Someone should tell our wonderful mayor that St. Patrick's Day was yesterday."

  Deputy Newsome issues a loud grunt, using three fingers of his right hand to expertly maneuver a winding turn around the gravel driveway. He rolls his eyes toward the roof of the truck.

  "Yeah. But the contest for 'Most Beautiful Lawn in the City' doesn't end for another two days," Dave playfully reminds his friend. "The judges are still out photographing and taking notes. Until they're done, poor Max is gonna have his work cut out for him maintaining those grotesque monstrosities. Way too tacky for my liking."

  "Come on, Dave. Where's your sense of fun? Hmm. Those hedges around your place could sure use a nice trim too. I seem to remember a time when your yard was the most immaculate thing around. Now, you spend all of your time on that damn ugly truck of yours. Oh...And also on Octavia. So I guess it's not all a big loss."

  "Haha. Whatever, James. We're here. Now, get out!"

  James scrunches up his face, but dramatically jumps out of the truck. He bends backwards, popping his back. Twisting his middle first one way and then the other, James offers Dave a sly grin.

  "There goes your secret admirer, Dave. She must have seen your truck pull up."

  Maryna, the mayor's housekeeper steps out onto the porch. She stands near the top of the staircase, one hand braced over the right side of her lower stomach. Dave offers Maryna a friendly smile.

  Walking towards the front of the house, Dave tries not to stare too long at the young woman. He's never quite understood exactly why so many women tend to hold their stomachs while standing at attention. The gesture has always given him the impression that they were in some sort of extreme discomfort. As if his very presence were enough to give them a bellyache. He's almost certain that's not the impression intended at all. Especially, where Maryna is concerned.

  "You're early," the Ukrainian woman says, smiling warmly at the large deputy as he climbs the steps. "Mayor Gunther wasn't expecting you for another hour...Or two."

  You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

  "That's fine. We like being early," Dave replies. "He'll just have to get used to it."

  "Haha. Yes. I suppose so," Maryna says between a soft chuckle. "Would you like some fresh coffee, Gentlemen? I have some brewing. I can make a special pot for you, Detective. I know you hate black coffee."

  "Hate is a strong word, Maryna," James responds, stepping beside Dave. "I don't hate black coffee. I just like hazelnut better."

  "Haha. Okay. Sure. I will make you some special hazelnut. If you gentlemen will follow me to the parlor, I will make sure that Mayor Gunther knows you two are here."

  -

  -

  Eighteen minutes later

  The Parlor

  Dave leans lazily against the fireplace, staring at a picture of Mayor Gunther's family. Detective Mackey roams the parlor like a caged animal, observing every detail in the room--as if he hasn't done the very same thing dozens of times already. Dave grunts softly, watching his young friend drive himself batty. But if anything about the room has changed, Mackey would indeed be the first person to notice.

  Mayor Gunther sweeps into the parlor, comedically clapping his hands together. He strides swiftly over to Detective Mackey, and then Dave--shaking each man's hand in turn.

  "You're early, gentlemen. I was actually planning to call your respective offices and recommend you not waste your time coming out here. I see no more reason for this silly security detail. The asshole who tried to kill me is safely behind bars and has already been arraigned. I'm perfectly safe."

  "That may be how you see things, Mayor Gunther. But the Chief has a different opinion," James says. "As does the Sheriff. It isn't every day that someone attempts to assassinate an elected official. We need to be sure that this attempt wasn't part of a much larger plot. Until we're absolutely sure that the shooter acted alone...This is the way it's gonna be. Sorry, Mayor."

  Mayor Gunther twists his mouth disapprovingly and waves a hand in the air. He turns away from the two lawmen, intense frustration evident in his rigid body language.

  "Fine. Fine. I hear what you're saying. I just...Molly doesn't like having cops traipsing through her home. My wife likes things done a particular way. I think we're up to three arguments a day now. I can't stand to even be in the same room with her anymore. Molly and I used to never fight. I love my wife, Detective. I hate the arguments. I'm in the doghouse, as far as she's concerned. I just want to go back to the way things were. I like my wife's lovemaking more than I like her cooking. If you know what I mean?"

  Detective Mackey and Dave exchange a brief knowing glance. Yep. They sure do.

  "Well...I think you'll live a lot longer if you just go along with the program, Mayor," Dave interjects. "It'll be much harder to make love to your wife if you're inside a coffin or hooked up to tubes in the ICU."

  "I know. I know all of that, okay? I just. It's been a rough two weeks. I nearly get killed by some raging lunatic and my wife won't even have sex with me. Talk about being between a rock and a hard place. I wanna live, gentlemen. But, I also have needs. Pressing needs."

  "Those...Pressing needs can wait," Mackey says, cutting the mayor off before he can add any further details. "At least, for now. The department is following up on a few more leads. Until we're sure that our perp was truly a lone wolf shooter...We're not going anywhere. Molly will just have to get used to us being around. And you...May have to get used to being in the doghouse, Mayor. For a few more days that is."

  Dave stifles his raucous laugh before it exits his throat. He pretends to clear his throat instead. Mayor Gunther shoots Detective Mackey a harsh glare but remains silent.