The Serpent and the Crow

Book 1: Chapter Twelve

The Camaro pulled up to the Armadillo County Sherriff's Office on the state line that separated Armadillo County, New Mexico, and Trepidation County, state or whatever.

Douglas hated Armadillo because they were a bunch of know-it-all, high fahlooting, college grads. They had no sense of what policing is and should be. But because the Governor lived there, and their law enforcement budget showed it in their twenty-story principal office.

Wade and Douglas strolled up to the front desk receptionist.

The receptionist said, "How can I help you?"

The detectives introduced themselves, and the receptionist stared at them.

The receptionist asked, "Please login with our self-serve scanner."

She pointed to a contraption next to the desk. To Douglas, it looked like that God-awful shit they have at MacDonalds where you push the screen a bunch of times, pay your money, and the guy gets the fucking order wrong, anyway.

Douglas grunted, "Can I sign in with ink instead? I'm too old for this shit."

Wade laughed, "It's easy. Let me show you."

Wade planted his face on the touch screen.

The receptionist exclaimed, "Excuse me, Sir. That is not the correct way to operate that there machinery."

"Do you clowns answer your fucking cell-phones this morning, or what?" Chief Hank Kelly said.

Wade and Douglas turned to see Chief Hank Kelly standing there with his hands on his hips. He scratched the cowboy moustache that made him look like an authority figure. What was he doing down here?