THE DESOLATE SOUTHLAND

CHAPTER 6: MEETING WITH HARLEY

Authors note:
This chapter is for my daughter, Brianna, patience is a virtue. Daddy loves you.

I'm planning to publish Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Stay tuned!

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Riko was on his way to town, deep in thought when his scanner went off.

"Hey sheriff, you copy?"

"Yeah, I copy, go ahead Pinkle."

"We've got a 417A over at Roger's grocery."

"10-4, I'm in route."

Riko's heart raced, his adrenaline peaked, "Shit, Harley!" He stomped the gas, and was doing 110 by the time he slide his truck sideways into Roger's parking lot.

"Mother fucker better hope he hasn't hurt anyone and especially Harley."

He jumped out of the cab and sprinted to the door. Crouched down' he peaked in and saw people laying on the floor face down. Scanning the store, he located the scumbag, holding Harley by her hair, pushing and pulling her around while waving a buck knife frantically and screaming at the top of his lungs.

"I got to take him down Now!" Riko though.

With natural skill and speed, Riko went into action. It too him all of about fourty-five seconds to enter and free Harley. But the guy wasn't going to give up. He lunged at Riko with fierce and deadly intent. Riko side stepped him, and before the guy could turn, Riko attacked, hitting him with a flurry of kidney punches that dropped him writhing in pain. Riko stepped back.

Harley stood about twenty feet away, fear all over her face. She stared in horror, and disbelief. Sarge had came to rescue her. As she watched Mitch, her ex boyfriend reach to pick up his knife, she jumped when Riko yelled, HARLEY, GET THE FUCK OUT OF HERE AND THE REST OF YOU TOO."

Harley and the other patrons scampered out as Riko stood between them and Mitch.

"I'm gonna carve you up soldier boy. Always wanted to fight me one of you big bad jarheads every one is so scared of."

"Then come get you some, son of a bitch," Riko replied with a condescending smirk.

Mitch circled as if he was sword fighting waving his knife left to right. Riko stood his ground. Mitch lunged forward with a stabbing motion. Riko countered with a sidestep, wrapping Mitch's arm up. SNAP, Mitch's arm broke and he dropped the knife and kneeled down on one knee grabbing his arm. Riko, kicked the knife over to him and asked, "Want to try again dumbass?" Mitch shook his head, "no!" About that time, Sheriff Sparks came in, pistol drawn.

"Hold it right there Riko. Put you hands up and back away slowly."

"Right, right, right. I know the routine sheriff."

The sheriff approached cautiously. When he got close to Riko, he looked down and saw Mitch holding his arm and the pain shown all over his face.

'What happened here Riko?"