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-Sailor

The next morning, I woke up at the crack of dawn and pulled the window open, the early morning air instantly waking me up. There wasn't a soul on the streets, when the police should have been out doing the morning rounds. I got dressed and stepped out onto the streets and watched the dust move after a long night of rest. I marched over to the station that was still locked up. I banged on the door loudly waiting on a response. After a few minutes I heard someone bundling down the stairs. The local sheriff arrived at the door still in his pyjamas but his sheriff hat on his head, stupid hicks.

"What you think you're doin' makin' that God awful racket at this hour?" he yawned.

"This place should be open! Where's the rest of the force"

"Probably at home in bed, like I should be!"

"Well from now on this place opens at 6a.m and the force are gonna be here waiting for my orders"

"You listen here now little lady…"

"No you listen, I'm in charge here from now on and I want this place open! And if you don't want to follow what I say then I'll make sure you never work in this state again"

I saw him gulp slightly. He knew I could have his ass fired faster than he could spit his disgusting tobacco out.

"How are we supposed to get the jump on those Bondurant boys when we're just opening at lunch?"

But then I remembered who I was talking to, he was probably getting a cut out of them too.

"What you got against them Bondurant's?" he yawned stepping back as I barged through.

"I was brought down here because you country boys don't realise the damage all this moonshine is doing in the cities"

"Obviously you don't realise what you're up against…those Bondurant boys don't roll over for no one"

"We'll see"

"No you don't get it. Those Bondurant boys are the stuff of legend…nothin' ain't gonna stop them. Hell, Forrest managed to fight off Spanish flu when it wiped out the rest of his family"

"So what you're saying he's invincible?" I laughed brushing the dust off the table.

"Well…legend goes…"

"Oh what?!" I snapped wrinkling my nose in disgust. "Legend?! He's just one man!"

"Yea but ain't no one gonna make Forrest Bondurant stand aside"

"Look I get it, you live in a little one horse town, you like to think you're a whole lawless state unto yourselves but you're messing with the big boys now and we don't listen to myth and legends. Now why don't you get the rest of the force down here now, we're already late" I said taking a seat behind the sheriff's desk.

"Hey, hey, hey that's my desk"

"Correction; was your desk. I'm in charge now"

His lip twitched and he stormed back upstairs to get dressed I assumed.

An hour later, they all finally arrived not looking too happy at being awoken at this hour and dragged into work.

"Ok, this is the plan boys you are to be here at 6a.m every morning. Today will be an easy day because well you were all late when I stupidly assumed you'd be here"

I saw some of them roll their eyes, other spat on the ground just at my feet. Clearly taking orders from a woman bothered them more than they said.

"Is she jokin'?" I heard one remark.

"No I'm not jokin' this is what every other police force does. Now, I want everything regarding those Bondurant boys on my desk by this afternoon, some of my boys from the city will be joining us as well today. They're on their way down as we speak"

"What? We not good enough?"

"Well no, because I'm hearing you're all in on it with those Bondurant's, gettin' cuts on their moonshine while turning the other cheek"

Some smirked at each other, proving my point exactly.

"So when we are done here" I said sternly "I want you four to stay here and wait until they arrive. You and you are coming with me"

"Where are we going Deputy?"

"To Bondurant country" I said sticking a cigarette between my lips.

We drove up a back dust road leading up to the back of the Bondurant place. We parked the car in between the trees, hidden but there didn't seem to be anyone around anyway. I rolled down the passenger seat window letting what little breeze there was circulate the car. I noticed a shed just to the right of their old pickup.

"So what we just sit here?"

I knitted my eyes together sighing heavily.

"Yes, is that a problem?"

But we weren't sitting there long when I saw someone step out into the morning sun. It was Forrest, in that god awful grey, tattered cardigan. He strolled out holding that same mug I saw him with yesterday taking the occasional sip.

"We're not gonna sit here all day watching Forrest, are we?"

I ignored his comment, my eyes watching every move Forrest made. He stood deathly still on the step staring out in front of him. Against everything I held there was something mysterious about Forrest that made me think about him more than I should.

"I wonder what he keeps in that shed…"

"Forrest keeps to himself mostly" said the one in the back before spitting tobacco out of the window. "Doesn't say a lot. He don't want no trouble neither"

I sensed a warning tone in his voice which I ignored.

"You know…" said the other lighting a small cigar. "I bet if you talk to Forrest…he'd eh, cut you in on it"

"Excuse you?!" I said turning around to face him.

"Nothin'…sorry Deputy"

I shook my head turning my attention back to Forrest. He sipped his coffee and stared out beyond him. I wondered what he was thinking about.

"Right I need you two to drive around front, get Forrest out there and keep him busy while I have a look around"

They silently and reluctantly got out of the car and snuck through the woods out to the front. I watched as Forrest turned back around obviously hearing people and walked back inside. I snuck out and walked to his shed. It was locked up pretty tight. I looked through the cracks in the wooden planks but couldn't see anything. I pulled at the lock a bit…hmm I wonder where he keeps the key. I looked at the beat up old pick up. You'd think if they were making as much money as I've heard they'd buy a new truck.

"Can I help you Deputy?" I heard Forrest's low, gravel voice say.

I turned around to see Forrest standing on his porch, his hat being held to his chest. He walked down the steps and over to me and I heard some low mumblings coming from his chest.

"I was just taking a walk Mr Bondurant" I smiled. "Enjoying the morning air, what has you up at this hour?"

"Hmm"

"What ya got in there?" I said knocking on the door of the shed.

"Nothin' a little lady like you gotta worry bout"

"Can I see inside?" I smirked knowing full well he wasn't about to open it up.

"Forgive me Deputy, but what business have you got in my shed?"

"Just curious is all"

"Um…"

I didn't say anything, I thought he was about to say something but he didn't. Why does he always do that, he looks like he's about to say something and then doesn't. He just stands there staring.

"You got somethin' special in there?"

"That ain't none of your business now is it?" he said lighting a cigar.

"So if I come back with a warrant, it'll be my business then yea?"

"You can come back with whatever you want; you ain't gettin' in that shed" he said in a low slightly threating voice.

I walked over to him, and his eyes lowered towards mine.

"You better toe the line country boy" I sneered. "And if I come back with a warrant, there isn't anything you can do about it"

"If I don't toe the line?"

"Then I'll be making your life very difficult" I laughed quietly.

"Forrest!" I heard someone yell from inside. Then I saw Jack appear at the back door. "What's going on?"

Forrest glared into my eyes for what seemed like forever before turning around, walking up the stairs past Jack and back inside.

"Deputy" he said tipping his hat reluctantly.

"Jack" I smiled.

He stood awkwardly on the step looking everywhere except at me.

"Jack…is there anywhere nice to eat around here?"

"What?" he chirped, obviously thinking it was a trick question.

"Anywhere to eat, food in my hotel ain't great"

He glanced from side to side not answering.

"Jack, it's not a trick question. I'm just wondering" I smiled.

I knew he was suspicious and he was quite right to be so.

"Eh…well there's a breakfast place down the road there…"

"Ah right thank you"

He smiled innocently at me and I took this opportunity to step a bit closer to him.

"Jack…I know you think I'm out to get you and your brothers…I'm not, I'm just doing my job and if you think I'm being cruel I'm sorry" I said softly. I could see the words working through his brain and I saw his eyes flick towards mine. "I don't want to do this…I have bosses in Chicago watching my every move…you know how that is, having someone constantly watching what you're doing…disapproving…" I said stepping closer to him putting my hand on his shoulder.

"I…I should go back inside"

"Well…if one night you wanna meet up for dinner or something, off the books of course, that'd be ok" I smiled.

"Yea…yea…maybe" he smiled nervously tripping over the step behind him.

"Bye Jack" I said watching him as he bumbled back inside. I looked through the slight dusty window to the right and saw Forrest standing there staring at me from under his hat, drinking from his cup. I winked at him before walking back towards my car.