The Purging of Bridges Valley

Chapter 6

Diana Bartlett was seated in her Tahoe at the intersection of the Riker Hill Rise and west Mayesford in the middle of eating an Italian sub when her radio crackled with the dispatcher's deep voice.

"Bartlett, Ten, code 16."

"Aw shoot," Diana cursed through a mouth full of rather dry bread. Her lap currently supporting the sub wrapper and sandwich, she carefully scooped up the radio and quickly licked mayonnaise off a finger. "Ten, code 16, go ahead."

"Possible domestic disturbance at the Miller residence, Miller Road and Weetwood. Involved parties likely intoxicated. Assist Officer Gilbert for backup."

The Millers again. This was the third time this month already. It seemed like Arlin and Betty Miller couldn't keep their hands off each other, and not in the romantic way either.

"I'm en route to Miller Road and Weetwood."

Diana tossed the half-eaten sandwich and wrappers to the side and dusted the crumbs off her lap before starting the car. She wasn't looking forward to this. It was always an ordeal with the Millers-- real trailer-trash, stupid redneck stuff. Weetwood was a long dirt road that spanned several properties with the Miller residence at one end and the connecting highway at the other. The Miller family owned a lot of land back there and they lived almost as a commune, with the families all spread about the property in mobile homes and trailers. It was likely one of their relatives who called the cops in the first place. You could always hear shooting and yelling and dogs barking out near Miller Road. Each generation of Millers had at least one or two members serving for crimes like driving under the influence and armed robbery all the way up to a murder back in the 60's. It was safe to say the the Millers had a bad reputation with the people of Bridges county. Because of this, Diana liked to keep as much distance between her and the Millers as possible.

Since Bridges Valley was such a small town, Diana was able to respond in a matter of minutes. The moment she pulled up she knew it wasn't going to be an easy call.

Officer Stanley Gilbert stood with his arms planted on his hips, the six-foot five man a giant compared to Arlin Miller, who was barely five feet tall and stringy, with most of his weight centered on his torso in the form of a beer gut. Arlin was screaming at Gilbert as Diana parked her car and hopped out, instantly at his side.

"Get your fuckin' pig hooves off my property!" Arlin bellowed, only his words were a lot more slurred and came out as one uninterrupted sentence. It was only one in the afternoon and it was obvious he was plastered.

Though his words came slowly he was pacing frantically, waving his arms and jerking his head back and forth. Based on his erratic behavior, Diana suspected narcotic use as well.

"Calm down Mr. Miller," Diana warned as he stalked forward and then whipped around like a trapped animal. Gilbert blocked him from continuing with his left hand-- the right rested on his sidearm.

"What's the issue?"

"I already told you to get," he let a wad of black spittle drop from his lip and gave her the stink eye. There was going to be no reasoning with Arlin today. He was riled up more than usual.

Gilbert turned to Diana. "Arlin's been whupping up on Betty again," he said matter-of-factly, sighing.

"It weren't me," Arlin shouted. "I told you, it weren't me dammit!"

Diana turned to Gilbert and said, "Where is she right now?"

"She's in the trailer," he replied, gesturing to the large, sunken trailer a hundred feet away. It was a dull grey color and had rotted latticework around the base. Windows were boarded up here and there, and an old, sagging wooden porch wrapped halfway around. The porch was strewn with all manner of debris from beer bottles to sun bleached children's toys. "She was crying hysterically when I arrived. Her face was all beat to hell, she had scratch marks down her arms. I couldn't understand what she was saying, she was so distraught. She ran inside when I tried to calm her down."