Limbo

This Is Just Weird

RACHEL:

Everyone whips around to look toward the door, and there's a constable standing just inside the room. He's short, chunky, and dark haired, with a walrus-like mustache, a bald spot down the center of his head that's almost like a reverse Mohawk, and a surly, suspicious look on his face.

"What the hell is that supposed to mean?" Bob blurts, looking confused, angry, and worried all at the same time.

"Oh, come on, everybody knows how things work with you Hollywood types," the deputy sneers, as the EMT's shove past him and rush over to Ashley. "I bet I can tell you exactly what happened here. One of you, or maybe more, got into it with this fella here, probably over some little chippy. Or maybe drugs, who knows? Anywho, things got a little out of hand, somebody got a little carried away, and all of a sudden, somebody hadda make an 'anonymous' call. So why doesn't whoever did it just own up right now, and mebbe it'll go a little bit easier on ya?"

As everyone just gapes at him, like they can't remember how to form words, another voice comes from the dining room doorway, saying, "And you need to stop puttin' your mouth in gear before your brain gets into the car, Klement. I had three calls on my way up here from people that saw a pickup comin' from this way like a bat outta hell right after they saw these folks hoofin' it up the road from Fred's place."

"Well, if they didn't do it, they most likely know who did," the first guy shot back. "Most likely somebody what didn't get paid for a little sumthin' sumthin', if you take my meaning. Whaddya bet if I go look through some of the rooms I find us some illegal substances?"

He moves toward the door where the other officer is standing, as if he intends to start going through the house, and Charlie says, "Don't even think about taking another step unless you have a warrant."

"This is a crime scene, I don't need a warrant. And if you start tryin' to interfere, maybe I'll just run you in."

"And maybe if you keep flapping your gums, you'll finally give me a justifiable reason to fire your sorry butt," the other guy retorts. "Everybody knew that Chief Hubbel didn't much give a rat's ass about anything before he retired, but I don't think anybody will ever be able to figure out why the hell he hired you in the first place. Now if you're actually interested in continued employment, get outside and get some casts made of those tire tracks."

"But I was first on scene, I should be in charge!"

"But you're not, because you aren't worth a lawsuit. Now get outside and get those tracks, or go home and consider yourself on suspension. Am I clear?"

"Yeah, whatever," he mumbles, and his superior looks directly at him.

"Excuse me, what was that, Klement?" he inquires.

"I said yes sir, Chief. I'll get on it right away."

As he starts out the door, the chief turns to another officer and says, "Jurgens, you go with Herb, there, and make sure he doesn't screw anything up."

The guy nods and follows the jerk out the back door, as the medical guys pop the legs of the stretcher up and wheel Ashley through the archway toward the front door. The rest of the guys start to follow, and the police chief says, "Whoa there, not so fast! I still need you all to answer some questions before anybody goes anywhere."

"Then who the fuck is gonna give these hospital people the information they need about Ash?" Andy explodes. "It's not like he's in any fuckin' condition to talk to them himself."

The EMT's pause momentarily, and one of them says, "It'd definitely be helpful, Chief. We can get his name and vitals out of his wallet, but it might be useful to have somebody who can tell us about allergies and stuff like that."