Kanker Sore

Chapter 5 - Trailer park girls

The image above was created by "gryce_allergies" (you can find it on DeviantArt). 

Rick was nearing the trailer park. As he got closer, a barbecue smell began to waft through the air. Merguez and pork chops, my favorite, he fantasized for a moment. In the end, he wondered if it was all worth it. After all, he didn't even have a plan to begin the investigation. Yesterday evening, from his bedroom window, he had spotted at least fifty trailers. He wasn't going to rummage through them all, it would take him forever. Moreover, the residents would eventually notice his unwanted presence, and things could quickly turn sour. In any case, he could not imagine adults like Mike or Lupo doing this kind of frivolous robbery. Rick could be wrong, but usually it was people his own age who did it to piss off the younger ones and sometimes blackmail them. So the Flicker had to direct his search to locals who shared his age range. And since there aren't many of them, it should be possible to do it.

So, let's recap : sixteen to twenty year olds who look like they're up to some nasty tricks... The noose seems to be tightening, but that's just a guess... As he went along the river, Rick came across a fisherman slumped in his chair, a hunting guide in one hand and his fishing rod in the other. He grumbled that things would go much faster if he could use a stick of dynamite or a bug zapper. But such practices were illegal and severely punished in this state. The Flicker lost interest in him and continued to walk. A little further on, the front of a bar appeared before him. It bordered the Park 'N' Flush entrance. Hanging just above the doorway, a wooden sign swayed limply. It read, "The Cock and Plucker (unaccompanied minors are not allowed to smoke or consume alcohol)". Cheerful, greasy laughter wafted from the open windows, along with the smells of tobacco and wiskis. Country music could also be heard. It seemed like a lot of fun in there. Exactly the kind of place his uncle must enjoy.

Suddenly, the door of the bar opened wide, and a large man with a beard was violently tossed out. Rick stepped back quickly to dodge the fellow, who fell flat on his face on the grass. As he struggled to get to his feet, half groggy, an intimidating figure appeared in the doorway, a huge cigar stuck between his teeth. The Flicker immediately recognized Derek, the Peach Creek Sheriff.

« And watch out if I catch you looting drunken customers' pockets again ! » He shouted, spitting out his chew.

Just then his gaze fell on Hooper's nephew, and he suddenly became much more affable.

« Well, Rick, we meet again. » Said he while ejecting a thick grayish smoke of his mouth. « What do you come to make in this area ? »

« Uh... Nothing special. Just visiting the place a bit... »

« Ah, okay... Anyway, avoid the RV park, it's not really the best place for tourism. Plus it's crawling with Slumber Spiders. We had to call an exterminator again. » Replied Derek before turning around and heading inside the bar. « Hey guys, whose round is it ? »

« Yours ! » Echoed a voice whose owner seemed on the verge of an alcoholic coma.

« What, again ? Well... Can someone hand me a fiver ? » The Sheriff asked as he closed the door.

Rick nodded briefly and made his way through the maze of trailers. To avoid getting lost, he made sure to stay as close to the river as possible. As soon as the passage was not crowded, he went along the shore. Here too, there was no crowd outside. He had only met an old man dozing peacefully on his deckchair, with a mountain of empty beer cans piled up at his feet. I guess everyone else is at the bar, but still... I expected the area to be a little more lively.

Maybe because the sheriff was nearby, the whole community was keeping to themselves until he left. Still, for the moment, there was nothing really scary around here. At first, Rick almost expected that a horde of money-hungry thugs would come after him as soon as he showed up. But to his delight, this park seemed as quiet as his old high school library. The Flicker ducked under a clothesline that had been stretched between two trailers. A flurry of wet laundry hung limply. It was then that Rick saw something familiar. Among the t-shirts and pants was Jimmy's stuffed rabbit dangling by its legs from two clothespins. Or at least, it looked just like his description. Apparently, someone had had fun mistaking this poor animal for a dartboard. Mr. Yum Yum was mangled all over, but with a little sewing, it was still fixable. Cheer up friend, your ordeal ends here. Rick thought as he picked up the purple rabbit and put it in his pocket. One of found, still two.