The six-month time jump is here!
Guest from Chapter 1 who wanted me to note scene changes…I will admit, I did not notice what you were referring to because in my head I saw the shift, but I did pay attention, and this chapter, I saw it BIG TIME! So thank you for making me aware, because had you not, this chapter might have been extra confusing.
There are multiple perspectives AND covers mainly two different time periods End of April (current time)-and Middle of April AND it jumps around between times and perspectives. So I added headings. When you read the headings, picture a freeze frame and people dramatically striking a pose with a loud slam attached…lol…I Did…. Let me know if the headings make the chapter a little less confusing.
FYI-I will not be able to post chapter 10 next Monday morning. I will be out of town, and I won't have time to edit it. For your trouble, I did not edit this chapter down for length, only content, so it's way, way longer than it should be to make up for no post next week. I apologize for the delay! I will resume posting on Monday morning, May 1st.
Chapter 9—Surging Forward
RICK AND MICHONNE-KING COUNTY SIDE ROAD-TWO WEEKS AGO-APRIL 15TH
"RICK! THIS BOY IS GONNA BE THE DEATH OF ME!' Michonne shouted through the phone loud enough for Rick to pull the phone away from his ear.
Rick drew a long, deep breath and prepared for the worst.
RICK AND HERSHEL-SHERIFF'S STATION—CURRENT-APRIL 27TH
For the latter half of the last six months, Michonne was spending just as much time in King County as Rick was in Atlanta. King County was the talk of the whole state of Georgia and the town's industry was booming thanks to four people: Ella, Letty, Sasha, and Andrea.
Serenity Woods, Ella and Letty's new business venture, was getting loads of publicity, and Sasha was the major catalyst in growing their name recognition. Sasha dusted off her marketing expertise that helped put her mother's bakery Triple Threat in the spotlight and she used the same tactic with Serenity Woods. Sasha planted the seeds that grew like wildfire, and within just a few months, there was at least one interview in every newspaper, news show, and online news site all over the state and was quickly gathering steam beyond Georgia too. Everyone was excited and people were making reservations before the concrete foundation of the retreat was even laid. The sleepy little town of King County was waking up. New businesses were popping up all around King County in preparation for the influx of new community members a whole heck of a lot sooner than Rick anticipated. Ella's and Letty's idea created a massive amount of interest from all types of companies. King County was growing fast, and Andrea was a huge part of its evolution.
"You hear about the new Tech company that bought land between here and Atlanta?" Rick asked Hershel in amazement.
"Yup, I heard they were planning on building in Atlanta, but Andrea convinced them to split the difference between there and King County because it would not only be more cost efficient, but family friendly for their employees. Give em a choice of city or county life, I guess. It worked. It's already bringing more people to the area. I saw three new subdivisions going up on the outskirts of King County on Atlanta's side, one of them looks like it's high end," Hershel responded.
"Yeah, and another is going up where that old trailer park used to be on the northside of town, and one outside of King County going towards Manville. You see all the sold signs on em already?" Rick added in wonder as he thought back to how accurate Michonne was about expansion.
"Yup, and my farm is getting more business too. I had to hire another hand. People also started calling about horse tours Rick! Maggie is already setting that part of the business up. It has been amazing," Hershel grinned thinking about something he always wanted to go back and accomplish and now it might just be possible.
"Alright, I'm gonna patrol around downtown with Shane," Rick uttered as he walked out of Hershel's office.
Once Rick left, Hershel went online for a little information about his possible new future.
SASHA AND ANDREA-SUPER ATTORNEYS AT LAW-JANUARY TO CURRENT-APRIL 29TH
One thing that made all the growth more palatable for Rick and the rest of the OG King County community were the regulations Andrea Harrison set forth. The main covenant being that if a new business or residential property was inside of King County proper, although modernized, must have a small-town look, and feel. There were no exceptions. Andrea, the corporate lawyer recommended by Michonne, took King County to a whole new level.
After a few months of working with Ella and Letty, Andrea became the intermediary for all the new commercial and professional businesses who wanted a piece of the town. Business was so lucrative that by mid-January, Andrea fully moved to King County and opened a law practice that was making a killing. She was working with Dale who was more of a small-time general lawyer, and he did not exactly know how to deal with the commercial aspects and growth in King County. Dale was great, but Andrea needed particular assistance, specifically an excellent business attorney who knew how to manage the interactions between businesses and people.
"Darryl, Andrea just offered me a job to partner with her in King County," Sasha informed and watched her husband's eyes shoot up.
The idea excited Darryl who preferred living in a smaller town surrounded by woods, but he kept his opinion to himself until he heard what Sasha thought first.
"And," Darryl grunted as she sat next to Sasha at their kitchen table.
"I love it there Darryl. The town is growing and there will be more places to go and things to do, but it will still have that easy-going, laid-back country feel. I want to take the offer. What do you think?" Sasha inquired and watched Darryl grin.
Sasha had already been working closely with Andrea, but everyone was still stunned when Sasha quit her Atlanta law firm to partner Andrea in King County. Sasha realized just how much she loved the great outdoors after her trip to the Chattahoochee Nature Center, then two weeks later when she and Darryl took Carl to King County for the weekend back in November. Sasha figured her negative trip to the petting zoo when she was eleven must have been an off experience. But what sealed the deal for Sasha was not only the expansive growth of King County, but her work hours would be drastically reduced. The late nights and weekends at the firm did not make Sasha a happy camper, especially with the baby coming. She wanted a nice balance between work and family. By the end of February, Sasha and Darryl were fully moved to the Greene Farm until they sold their condo and found a more permanent home.
Andrea also recruited her high-end real estate agent to move to King County and Aaron Marquand had his hands all over the buying and selling of KC properties. He assisted Darryl in finding the perfect location for his new auto mechanic and motorcycle retail shop. Since Darryl and Abe were close friends, Eugene offered to design and build Darryl's shop at a deep discount. Darryl was excited about going into business for himself.
Things were moving fast, and by the middle of March, Andrea transitioned into the newly vacated position of City Manager leaving Sasha and Dale to run the law firm. Andrea could not pass up the unexpected opportunity. The position would give her more authority concerning the direction of the town and she assured Sasha that she would help out at the firm until she hired a replacement. Andrea immediately hated working with Mayor Greggory, and thought there was something off about him, criminal even.
When Sasha took over the law firm, it was hectic, and Dale's decision to run for Mayor against Greggory in the May election left Sasha in a pickle. To keep the progress and growth of the town trending upwards, Andrea needed to get the current lazy, no-good, scheming Mayor, Greggory Denton, run out of office and hopefully out of town too. Andrea noticed small amounts of money going missing and was sure it was Greggory lining his own pockets. After Andrea convinced Dale to throw his hat in the ring, Greggory knew his days were numbered when current residents started calling him by his new name.
"Good Morning Soon-to-be Former Mayor Denton," community members would greet, and it made Greggory furious.
With Andrea gone and Dale leaving soon, Sasha had a staffing problem and she picked up the phone to remedy her situation.
RICK AND SHANE-DOWNTOWN KING COUNTY-CURRENT-APRIL 27TH
The residents, at first, were nervous and skeptical about the new direction of the town, but soon jumped onboard when they witnessed all the improvements. Every time Rick stepped downtown, it looked completely different than the time before, but it still held the same charm and small-town values. There were more stores, more restaurants, more people, which meant more deputies. Hershel hired four more, including Shane, which brought the count up to nine, ten if Hershel included himself. At the rate King County was growing, the Sherriff figured he would be hiring even more and looked around the cramped station. He would need to speak with Andrea about upgrades and renovations.
"They are building an entirely new downtown Rick. They got a whole new block of shops halfway built at the edge of downtown on all four sides! Shane exclaimed, "That place over there looks different, weirdly shaped at the top?"
"Yeah, that's Sasha's brother's bakery. Their family owns a chain of em in Atlanta. I saw it and went to look at the plans for it. It's a cupcake, the design fits small town better than the one they use in Atlanta. After Andrea showed me, she told me not to question her judgment again. She's a feisty one. Hey, you know who Sasha's brother is?" Rick asked with an eyebrow quirked and a small grin ready for Shane's reaction.
"Who?" Shane wondered.
"Tyrese Williams," Rick stood with his hands on his hips waiting for realization to hit Shane and when it did, Rick grinned wider.
"Tyrese Fucking Williams who just retired at the age of thirty from the Atlanta Falcons? The greatest Falcon that ever played the goddammed game. The greatest football player with unbelievable stats and is sure to be a hall of famer. THAT Tyrese Williams?" Shane hollered excitedly as he stood on the sidewalk.
"Yes, that Tyrese Williams. Their mother owns the Triple Threat chain in Atlanta. Tyrese went to work for her after retirement. Now he's building a franchise here. He is moving here Shane. So, practice not being a lunatic fanboy," Rick laughed, "He and Sasha's mother Jacque have been meeting with Mama and Mrs. Letty on first steps of running a successful business. That's how mama got Carol, through Jacque."
"Goddammed Rick, your mama and Mrs. Letty have singlehandedly put King County on the fucking map!" Shane exclaimed as they strolled by an empty storefront with a sign that read Rhee's Pizzeria Opening Soon!
"Yeah, they did. I'm headed out there now to see the progress of Serenity Woods. I kinda like the name of it," Rick admitted, and Shane agreed, "and to also be a buffer between mama and Abe's cousin, the architect that Michonne suggested. Eugene Porter is a weird one, but he knows exactly what he is doing. That's the only reason mama has not cussed his ass out and fired him," Rick laughed.
"How is your and Michonne's house coming along?" Shane asked and noticed Rick blow out a frustrated breath."
"Michonne is so picky. I just stay quiet, but I am about to tell her to calm the hell down. Every time she goes in there, she changes something. It's never gonna be ready!" Rick exclaimed, "It was supposed to be done end of next month, but now they pushed it back to end of June."
"What changed now?" Asked a curious Shane with a chuckle.
"She changed her mind on the floors and went back to all stainless-steel appliances instead of the, what Michonne called, "the country looking ones," Rick shook his head, "and a few other thangs. I'm ready for Michonne and Carl to be here full time, even though I know they ain't moving officially until August."
"Now explain to me again how exactly your house, here in King County, was supposed to be done next month, when Michonne only decided to move here last month? What are you building? A magic house?" Shane laughed and Rick sucked his teeth because he knew Shane knew the story and liked to tease him for it.
RICK AND MICHONNE-MICHONNE'S CONDO-MID-MARCH
Rick had progressed well beyond boyfriend status with Michonne. He was now her fiancé, and he could not wait until they were married. They planned a small ceremony on the Greene Farm for early August. When they got engaged the previous month, Rick had begun searching for job opportunities in Atlanta because he wanted to be living with his wife and child, not commuting. After a month of job searching, Michonne informed him about a job offer from Sasha. Rick held both his breath and his excitement. His heart was beating so fast that Rick could barely hear Michonne's words.
"I'm gonna take it Rick. I'm gonna partner with Sasha. She is overwhelmed. King County is growing so fast, and honestly, I can't find an excuse not to," Michonne declared and anxiously waited for a reaction from an unmoving Rick.
"Say again," Rick asked after a few seconds wanting to make sure he heard correctly before celebrating.
Rick wanted to stay in King County, especially with all the expansion. Living in King County made sense now, but he was going to let Michonne lead, and he would live wherever she wanted him to be.
"It makes sense Rick. Besides, Sasha had it right. I want to enjoy my family and I can't do that working at the firm," Michonne reasoned and smiled when she saw Rick break out into a huge grin, "And I am loving the new and improved King County. Every time I go down there, it gets harder for Carl and me to come back home."
Michonne decided to move for the same reason Sasha did, her child. Carl was her priority, not a job that kept her continuously working more and more late nights and weekends. With Sasha and Darryl already living in the small mecca, it made sense for her and Carl to transition there instead of Rick moving to Atlanta.
"Ok," Rick smiled.
"I am going to give notice for the end of July Rick, before the wedding. I have three cases that I am working on that I would like to see through to the end," Michonne negotiated, "Are you good with the decision? If you want to move here, we can stay Rick."
Rick's smile faltered just a bit. Rick was ready to rent a U-Hall and drive his family to King County immediately. But Rick figured July was not that far off and perked back up.
"No, I want you and Carl in King County. Ummm, I hope you ain't gonna get mad, but I got so excited after we got back together in January, that I started building us a house," Rick admitted and hoped Michonne did not think he was a lunatic.
Which he was.
"What?" Michonne asked in confusion.
"It was for us for when we visited King County so we would not have to stay at the farm. My mama gave me some of the land she owns, and I'm building us a house on it. It's on about four acres and will have five bedrooms and a big kitchen, and if you want a pool we can get a pool, and…" Rick babbled and Michonne laughed.
"It sounds like a main house Rick, not a house to visit every now and then," Michonne giggled at Rick's foresight, "How far along are they on the house? Why didn't you mention it?"
"Not too far. They started on it the third week of January. So yes, I guess it's pretty far in the process. In a few weeks they will be ready for me, well us, to pick out the inside stuff like the tile and cabinets and thangs. You can do all that. It should be complete by the end of May, first half of June at the latest," Rick admitted to a humored Michonne.
"Ok," was all Michonne thought to say to the man that was building her a whole damn house.
"I didn't tell you because I didn't want you to think I was trying to get you to move to King County. It really was just meant to be our King County house when we visited," Rick assured and Michonne nodded.
"Ok, well Carl will be down with you for Spring Break all next week. You can take me to the house when I get down there Thursday," Michonne replied, "And Rick, please do not make another major purchase for us without me, ok?"
"OK!" Rick agreed happily, "I thought you weren't coming until Saturday morning because you have to work all next week?" Ricked asked confused.
"Well, since I'm leaving the firm to spend more time with my family, AND I will be a King County resident again soon, might as well start now and take a few extra days off to get some practice," Michonne chuckled, "Besides, i am gonna need to spend more than one day inspecting our home.
Rick was thrilled at the turn of events. Although he would have moved to Atlanta at the drop of a dime, like Sasha and Darryl, Rick preferred the small-town life. Well small enough, but even with the expansion, King County was still no Atlanta, but Rick was excited about how similar it would be with all different cultures and races moving to King County. There was going to be a lot more to do in town too. Rick thought back to Andrea's theory that King County's small-town charm was the main attraction to move to the town, and she was right.
"Thank you Michonne," Rick smiled sincerely and pulled her into a deep hug, "I will come get you Wednesday evening once you get off work. Ain't no reason for you to drive your car. I will bring you both back Sunday."
Michonne giggled at Rick's impatience.
RICK AND SHANE-DOWNTOWN KING COUNTY-CURRENT APRIL 27TH
"I aint telling you about the house again Shane, you just want to laugh," Rick grinned and looked at Shane who was trying to keep a straight face.
"And you would be correct asshole. Building a secret visit house? Man, what kind of shit is that. I can't believe Michonne fell for that crazy bullshit," Shane chuckled.
"She didn't. Michonne is too smart for that. She called me on it when she came down and looked at the house during Carl's spring break," Rick laughed, "She shook her head at me, but I swear that it all it was! At least that what I thought at the time, but I guess I was hoping deep down we would eventually make King County our home."
"Well buddy, despite your girl's pickiness, it sounds like it will still be ready well before her and Carl move here in July," Shane affirmed hoping to help Rick feel a little better.
"Yeah, but I would have liked to be in the house when Carl comes up for the summer after school is out. It's kinda cramped on the farm," Rick exhaled thinking about all the people currently living there.
"You just want to be alone with Michonne when she comes up on the weekends," Shane laughed and slapped Rick on the back.
"Yeah, I love Darryl and Sasha, and mama and Hershel, but I also like privacy. Darryl's house won't be ready until August or September, I think. Maggie will be there for part of the summer too. And Michonne don't like to fool around with everybody at the farm, not that we could anyway, seeing as Carl usually has to bunk with me and Michonne when they are in town. I should have kept my apartment a while longer, but hell, I was never there to justify the rent," Rick uttered with frustration.
"Fool around? What are you thirteen?" Laughed Shane, "What you got planned for Carl this summer?"
"He is going to go to the community center during the days and play some summer league baseball. Most of the kids on the team will be at his new elementary school, most likely in his same class, so he won't be so new when school starts back up in September," Rick explained excited to have his boy in King County full time.
"I doubt Carl will be the only new kid Rick. They are gonna have to build a second elementary soon. Hey, speaking of, Lori is gonna be the new first grade teacher next school year!" Shane divulged and Rick smiled, "She wanted to be a stay-at-home mom with Vivian for a few years, but she also wants to move into one of those fancy new neighborhoods, so that means she is going to have to work. I can't afford those new houses on just my salary."
Shane shrugged it off. It bothered him that he could not afford to give Lori both the opportunity to stay home and a new house.
"Oh yeah? Good for her!" Rick congratulated and patted his friend on the back.
"Thanks man!" Shane grinned and took another look around the new and improved town.
Despite the small setback with Lori having to work, life was good for Shane and his wife. The only thing that was awkward was the socializing part. Shane's friends were Rick, Darryl, and even Abe, along with a few of the new deputies, but mostly, Shane hung out with Rick's crew of people. Shane fit into the group well, Lori not so much. Lori preferred to hang out with her own friends that she reconnected with after her move back to King County. She spent many a weekend in Manville too. The first time Rick and Shane, and the rest of the crew hung out together was over Carl's spring break, and it was uncomfortable. Abe and Rosita drove down that Saturday for a barbeque where Abe flexed his skills. Everyone was laughing at the red-headed fool putting ribs in people's faces forcing them to take a bite and review on the spot. Shane had them all laughing when he tried to wrestle to the tongs from Abe in an effort to prove his BBQ skills were far superior to Abe's. Andrea had everyone cackling when she egged on the tomfoolery between the two competitors.
Lori felt out of place as she sat and watched everyone having fun around her. Michonne felt weird that Rick's ex-wife was there, and Rick overcorrected by asking if Michonne was okay every few minutes, which made the atmosphere even more tense. Michonne of course was friendly and courteous, and so was Lori, but the whole afternoon felt off, and Lori ended up making an excuse to leave early. Lori knew Shane wanted to stay, and she convinced him to do so after Rick offered to drive him home. Once Lori left, the tenseness that was in the air was lifted. Shane even felt the difference and he prayed that one day soon everyone would be comfortable with Lori and Lori the same with them. Shane figured they all just needed time to put the past fully behind them before they could all move forward comfortably.
"Darryl is visiting his brother in prison. He's getting out end of May, and he wanted to clear the air between them with Sasha being here and the baby on the way. He don't want any trouble from Merle," Rick shared, and Shane shook his head.
"Man, I remember that damn Merle. He was one of them borderline racists," Shane chuckled wondering how Merle was going to react to Darryl's black wife and their impending child, "When is he going up there?"
"He's there now, I think," Rick informed.
DARRYL AND MERLE-GEORGIA STATE PRISON- CURRENT—APRIL 27TH
Darryl wanted to be proactive and fix shit with his brother because now that he and Sasha and their baby had moved to King County, it meant they had to share space with Merle. And although King County had grown much larger than just a year ago, it was still a small enough town where run-ins with Merle would be unavoidable. Darryl was clueless that going to see his brother was also going to put a permanent stop to Merle's crazy ass revenge plan. If the reconciliation worked, Darryl might never even know there was a revenge plan to begin with.
Merle was stunned when he saw Darryl sitting on the other side of the plexiglass window.
"Little brother, I never pected to see you here," Merle grinned widely, and Darryl fought the urge roll his eyes.
"Look, I moved back to King County and…" Darryl started before being interrupted.
"Didn't work out with that little black girl huh," Merle laughed pretending like he did not know what Darryl had been up to for the last eight years.
"Anyway, I am moving back, and it did not feel right seeing as I left with something of yours that I need to return," Darryl declared and eyed the surprised look on Merle's face.
"And what's that little brother," Merle spat still angry at losing both his hand and his money all in the same day.
"Three-thousand dollars," Darryl answered, "soon as you get out, it will be waiting for you, with interest attached. And I am here to tell you, I'm sorry for taking it."
Merle was even more shocked, but he tried to act as if he was not, but Darryl saw the stunned expression flit across his face. The apology affected Merle more than he was willing to let on, so he ignored it and refocused on the money.
"How much interest?" Merle asked, eyeing Darryl.
"Enough for you to be more en satisfied. I'm also opening an Auto shop. Should be up and running in about six months," Darryl added.
"Looks like my money made all your little dreams come true while I am stuck in here with nothing but the little bit of money that you stole from me in the first place," Merle spat, "Maybe if I had it back then, I might not be in here today!"
Darryl did roll his eyes this time but fought the urge to correct Merle's illogical thought process. They both damn well knew Merle would have pissed that money off buying more drugs and eventually went right back to jail in less than a year. Darryl taking the money had no effect on Merle's predicament one way or another.
"You were always good with three things, big brother. Drugs, committing crimes, and fixing cars. If you think you can see fit to stay clean, and keep out of trouble, I can offer you a steady income too," Darryl offered after convincing Sasha it was easier to keep an eye on Merle than to always have watch his back wondering where Merle was going to pop up next.
Merle was slightly touched, but he was damn well not gonna show it.
"I need specifics about this job. I am a free-spirit Darryl. I can't be tied down to no nine to five!" Merle groaned and Darryl shook his head.
Merle liked to secure easy money without the potential of him serving hard time for it. Merle did not comprehend that the two were not often mutually exclusive. Although not fully happy about the job offer, Merle was glad to talk to his brother after almost nine years.
"You will get specifics once you get out of prison and start the job," Darryl rose from the chair, "Let me know what you decide Merle. It would be nice to have my brother back."
Merle was almost grinning from ear-to ear then decided to clarify an issue.
"Hey, was it true you were fooling around with that black girl behind Rick's back in high school? Is that kid yourn?" Merle asked even though that kid looked like Rick spit him straight out.
"Nope. Ain't none of that true. Oh, but my wife is black Merle. I don't want no shit you hear me? Or there will be hell to pay. I don't play when it comes to my wife," Darryl threatened, "And especially since we are having a baby soon. I will not hesitate Merle."
"Aw hell little brother. You went native too!" Merle shouted to Darryl's back with a grin, "I'll get over it! No need for threats. I can't hate my own chocolate nieces or nephews now can I!"
Darryl sucked his teeth and figured he would need to keep interactions with his brother to a minimum. Last thing he needed was his wife on trial for the murder of a racist prick. Merle was going to be Merle and Darryl was not going to have that type of talk around his family. Darryl figured once Merle was out, he would keep dealings with his older brother as far away from his home and family as possible and by any means necessary.
MERLE DIXON— GEORGIA STATE PRISON- CURRENT—APRIL 27TH
As Merle walked back to his prison cell, he pondered his new situation. With his kidnapping plan off, he needed a new way to make some money and he could not foresee working a nine to five with Darryl, although he would try to maybe go to work a few days a week to give him something to do. But Merle needed something easy, and he smiled to himself when he thought of Greggory, while he plopped down on his dirty prison mattress.
"His greedy ass prolly has some major shit lined up with all that King County new King County money my brother told me about," Merle uttered grinning at his proclivity for criminal activity, "Surely my brother don't think I can go cold turkey now do he? Gonna take a while for me to get on that straight and narrow."
"You are gonna be right back in here man," Merle's cellmate chuckled.
Merle's cellmate shook his head and Merle smiled to himself. Things were looking up. He had his brother back in his life and he supposed he could get used to the interracial thing eventually. He had a some-time, part-time job he could go to when he was in a pinch for money and he had his previous chunk of stolen change back in his pocket, with interest added no less. Merle grinned as the thought about ways to force Greggory to help him make more money under the table.
"Nah, things are looking up for good ole Merle. Once I'm out, I won't see these bars again anytime soon," Merle corrected and laid back with his arms behind his head happy that his future was looking brighter.
JOE KOBER- GEORGIA STATE PRISON- CURRENT-APRIL 27TH
While Merle was laying in his cell smiling, Joe was a few cell blocks over doing the same thing only for more nefarious reasons. Joe's whole kidnapping plan was still on, and not because of any ransom, but more of a diversion to keep Rick Grimes and the rest of the KC Sheriff's department off his trail. Rick would be so focused on trying to find his son, they would not notice Joe robbing the city blind with the help of that scheming ass Mayor Greggory. Joe was already pissed Greggory was trying to underplay all the money that could be made in the heist. King County was overflowing with loot. The mayor was not forthcoming about all the progress and new money in King County since that blond took over and Joe figured Greggory was planning to keep most of the stolen money for himself.
"Damn devious asshole," Joe spat.
"Who me?" Joe's cellmate nervously uttered.
Joe looked at the pathetic man and shook his head in disgust, then shifted his mind back to King County. A few Claimers, who were out of jail, had been keeping Joe abreast of all the new developments, as well as on the King County deputy on his payroll. Joe was still pissed that the deputy did not warn him of the raid even though Deputy Dumbass, Joe nicknamed, claimed there was no prior warning. It made Joe wonder if the deputy was playing both ends, then figured he was not. Too much money was exchanged for that, and Deputy Dumbass would surely go to prison if caught. Joe laughed at how easily a so called "man of the law" could switch to criminal once he got a sniff of the wad of money Joe waved under his nose. Joe laughed harder at the moment when that greedy Deputy Dumbass realized he would not survive long enough to get his share of the heist. That heist made Joe think about the new City Manager who was in charge of all the budgets and finances and had access to all the funds at her fingertips.
"I need to get the Manager too," Joe figured thinking there would be two kidnapping victims, because both the boy and the blond were essential to his plan.
This time Joe's terrified cellmate stayed quiet and minded his business. Joe laid back on his prison cot and grinned that by the time they found either of his victims, the boy, and the pretty blond, dead, or alive, Joe would be long gone with his bags of money.
Two hours later, Joe got a visitor that forced him to put his devious plan into motion. First, Greggory was not going to be Mayor for much longer, so Joe's window of time was drastically shortened to just two weeks. Second, bud had just been released which made Joe happy. Bud was his ace in the hole. Joe grinned from ear-to-ear that his kidnapping scapegoat was free and just in the nick of time. Joe stood up and walked over to the bars and yelled for a guard.
"I need to make a phone call," Joe grinned as the guard radioed for the tower to open jail cell fourteen.
On the way to the phone bank, Joe was whistling that his plan was finally being swung into action.
BUD—SHACK HOME-—CURRENT AFTERNOON OF APRIL 27TH AND MORNING OF APRIL 28TH
When Bud was released from county jail, the first thing he did was go straight to his trailer and get a drink trying to figure out the best way to get in touch with Darryl Dixon. Charlene, his employee, made his efforts much easier when she filled her boss in on all the goings on King County.
"I said maybe you can get that rattrap of a car fixed once Dixon Motors opens up. I had to walk to the construction sites when I couldn't get the car to start! I had to offer a free service to that piece of shit three trailers down in exchange for him fixing it!" Charlene complained and Bud perked up, "I'm worth more than fixing your shitty ass broke down car!"
"Where now?" Bud asked, his full attention now on the upper half of Charlene's face.
Bud could not bear to look at that damn lip for too long.
"I said I had to walk to work Bud! There are men at those places that might want my services!" Charlene clarified and Bud shook his head.
"No the other thing? What shop?" Bud asked, now standing, and placing his drink on the side table.
"Dixon Motors. One of the new people that moved here. Darryl Dixon. He got a shop opening soon. He ran me off once, but I know he secretly wants me," Charlene giggled and watched Bud bolt out of the house.
Bud went looking but the man in question was not there and was in fact at the prison talking to his brother Merle. Bud went back home and waited relieved that Darryl was close. The next morning, Bud started his day with a beer to calm his nerves and before he could finish, Charlene stormed over demanding he do something about the law always interfering with her ability to make a living. Bud rolled his eyes and was just about to inform his employee that the reason she never made any money was not because of the law, but rather that lip, but a visit from Claimer Clyde interrupted their lively conversation. After listening to Joe's plan via Clyde, Bud went straight to Dixon Motors, his mind heavy with fear with what Joe wanted him to do. Bud prayed Darryl was at work this time, and once he got to Dixon Motors, Bud got his wish.
BUD AND DARRYL -DIXON MOTORS —CURRENT-LATE MORNING-APRIL 28TH
"Darryl. Darryl Dixon?" Bud called out nervously as he looked around the site.
There were a lot of construction workers around and Bud figured if pressed, he could always say he was there inquiring about a job. Bud even came prepared to prove his lie. Darryl stepped out from his temporary office tent.
"Yeah," Darryl called eyeing the man he had not seen since his teenaged years.
At first Darryl did not recognize the man until he spotted the scars on Bud's hands and grinned.
"Hey Darryl," Bud stated with hesitance and looked around to see if he recognized anyone, or more importantly, if anyone recognized him.
"What? You come back for some more Bud. I ain't got firecrackers, but I got something else for your ass if you want to start some shit!" Darryl exclaimed as he slowly walked towards Bud.
"Nah, I'm just here to talk to you about something important. Can we talk somewhere in private. Not out here in the open," Bud requested still looking around nervously.
Bud had a piece of paper crumpled in his hand with the word Resume, handwritten across the top in black ink. Darryl laughed at the reason for Bud's visit and invited his childhood nemesis to follow him inside the tent. Darryl figured he could use a good laugh before he kicked Bud out.
"You here about that herpes-lipped girl? She said Bud was her pimp, that you? You and her stay away from my business or we are gonna have a problem!" Darryl started figuring he could solve that little issue first.
"I ain't here for that," Bud uttered embarrassed and began his story about Joe, Merle and their separate schemes.
After Darry heard the story, he called Rick and told him to hightail it over to Dixon Motors before Bud interrupted and reminded that he could not be seen talking with the law in public. Darryl thought for a minute and remembered that dilapidated cabin in the middle of the woods that he and Michonne spent the night in before they left town almost nine years ago and told Rick to meet him there instead. Rick knew the place. The day after Michonne picked up Carl in King County back in September, Rick went to find the cabin her and Darryl stayed in before they ran away. Rick wanted to visit the last place Michonne was before she left town. Rick stayed awhile and cried. Rick hoped he would be able to keep his emotions in check, being inside that cabin again. Bud knew where the cabin was too. He used to play there as a kid.
"Bring Shane and the Sheriff with you," Darryl told Rick over the phone, "Don't tell nobody you coming. You got a rat in your department."
When all three men walked out the station together, one particular deputy asked nervously what was happening and if he was needed too. All three eyed the deputy suspiciously before Hershel answered.
"No, we are just running over to my sister's place. Hold down the fort here till we come back, will ya?" Hershel requested with a smile and watched the deputy nod and walk back over to his desk.
HERSHEL, BUD, RICK, DARRYL, SHANE-DILIPATED CABIN—CURRENT-NOON-APRIL 28TH
When Bud relayed the story to Rick, he was livid and ready to kill every motherfucking Claimer within a fifty-mile radius. Rick thought about his machete that was now stored inside the Greene barn and figured he would be paying a visit to his old, red-handled friend very soon.
"And your brother Darryl…" Rick started, and Darryl interrupted.
"I'm going back right now Rick," Spat an angry Darryl wondering how his own brother could do some messed up shit like kidnapping his nephew.
"What else Bud, is that everthang?" Rick demanded and Bud shook his head no.
"The mayor is in on it. Him and Joe are going to rob the city blind. Mayor has access to funds. But he can't get to the money without that purdy city lady signing off. Greggory is going to lure that new blond city manager to his office and Joe will be there waiting for her transfer the money. While you and the rest of the deputies are looking for your kid, he will stroll right into city hall whistling," Bud relayed Joe's plan, "oh, and one of the deputies is in on it too."
"Which one?" Rick Spat.
"Not sure, but it can't be one of the new ones. He has been working with Greggory and Joe for a while, since before we all went to jail, since before you hired all of them new guys." Bud informed, and Hershel shook his head in disgust.
"My money is on Warren, he has been acting different. You see how he was acting when we left?" Hershel guessed and Shane nodded.
"That lazy asshole, sum bitch, hates to work and now all of a sudden, he is asking to be involved?" Shane bit just thinking about the damn traitor.
"I could not put my finger on it, but looking back, he has been uncomfortable at work. Always looking over his shoulder. Jumpy-like. Leon is too stupid for it, and Sanders is too old. And the other two don't seem the type. What if the City Manager don't comply?" Hershel asked impatiently.
"Joe is gonna make sure she does. Probably by gunpoint. Probably kill her afterwards too. Joe don't like being told no and he don't like loose ends," Bud theorized correctly.
"And my boy?" Rick spat angrily.
"Joe's plan is to keep you so busy trying to find him until he gets the money, then after, like I said, Joe don't like loose ends," Bud stated, and Rick nostrils flared.
"And what's your part in all this Bud?" Shane asked why Joe would need a pissant low level criminal.
"Joe wants me to go to Atlanta watch the kid then help kidnap him when its time. But I don't want anything to do with that Rick. That's why I came here. I don't want anything to do with hurting your son or that city manager," Bud convinced the men who were all sitting inside the tent furious.
Rick turned to Shane and Darryl and wiped his hand down his face in frustration. Rick was so close. Everything was coming together. He was mere months away from marrying Michonne and her and Carl moving permanently to King County.
"How do you want to handle this, Rick?" Shane asked ready to follow his lead.
Shane was just as angry as Rick and Darryl. Shane was happy to have gotten back what he lost. He was not gonna let some dirtbag take it all away from him again. Shane was just as invested as Rick and Darryl were. He wanted a safe place to live for Lori and his little girl too. Lori was pregnant again, seven months along. Shane's life was coming together also, and he was not about to let another motherfucker ruin it.
"Hershel, can you find out exactly when that piece of shit Joe will be released. And we need to put a tail on Warren. And Darryl…" Rick turned, and Darryl stopped him.
"I know. Merle is set to be released in thirty days, at the end of May. Like I said, I'm headed straight to the prison now," Darryl uttered and picked up his phone to tell Sasha he was heading back to the prison but not the reason why.
"Hey, I got an idea on how I can come to the station to talk to you without raising suspicion," Bud offered, and all four men looked at Bud with blank, skeptical stares.
Bud got an earful from Charlene about her difficulty with the law when it came to her construction site antics and Bud was going to use the situation to his advantage. After hearing his idea, they were a little impressed.
"Alright, Darryl, meet us at the station right after you see Merle," Rick nodded to Darryl.
"We have some time to put a stop to this Rick. Joe is not due to be released until June or July," Hershel informed, "But I'm going to call the Manville Sheriff to verify.
Hershel had a bad feeling about Joe's return to society, and the rumbling in the pit of his stomach told Hershel it might be much sooner than any of them realized. Hershel kept quiet until he confirmed Joe's release date. The last thing he needed was a riled-up Rick Grimes.
"Are you going to tell Michonne?" Shane asked and Rick looked at Darryl and when the man grunted Rick knew they were on the same page.
"Not now. I don't want to her to worry. Joe and Merle are not an immediate threat with them in jail, and the plan ain't happening until Joe gets out. I want to get our plan down first," Rick ordered, and Shane wondered how in the hell Rick got that all from a damn grunt.
BUD—SHACK HOME-—CURRENT-AFTERNOON Of APRIL 28TH
After Bud returned from the cabin, he called for his inept employee.
"I'm gonna need you to get arrested again Charlene," Bud uttered as he took a large gulp of beer.
"WHY!" Charlene shouted and Bud scrunched his nose in revulsion when she licked the sore over her lip.
"How do you still have that? And why is it bigger?" Bud asked in disgust, "look, I need a reason to talk to the Sherriff, "I'm gonna sue em for false arrest and they are gonna have to listen to me, because I will be there on official business bailing you out. They won't be able to just kick me out of the station."
"Let's get em!" Charlene shouted, fully believing the lie Bud told and grabbed her purse off the counter.
"Not now! When I tell you! I need to get my speech down first!" Bud fibbed and watched as his herpes-lipped employee bobbed her head up and down in agreement.
Bud was confident that if he made a big enough spectacle once he entered the station, there would be no doubt about why the sheriff would pull him inside his office and throw Warren, the deputy rat, off his scent. Warren would tell the Claimers Bud was there sure, but they would not suspect the real reason why and simply laugh at Bud's harmless shenanigans.
RICK, DARRYL, HERSHEL-HERSHEL'S OFFICE-CURRENT-APRIL 29th—EARLY FRIDAY MORNING
By early the next morning, Rick was in a panic. Merle admitted to having his own plan, but he dropped the stupid idea as soon as he and Darryl made amends. Merle swore he was not working with Joe and knew nothing about the Claimers separate plan. Merle did confirm that Mayor Greggory was on the take but denied knowing Greggory and Joe were in cahoots together. He also had no clue which deputy was the rat. Darryl believed his brother when he saw how irate Merle became at the news. Greggory was Merle's meal ticket and now that low life bastard Joe was about to ruin it all.
What panicked Rick and Darryl the most was the fact that Hershel had just confirmed that Joe was released the day before on good behavior, one day after Bud was released. While they were talking to Bud in the cabin, Joe was most likely getting his walking papers.
"Seemed someone pulled some strings, and he got out three months early due to overcrowding," Hershel spat knowing that was a made-up excuse, "Parole board had the papers ready claiming the decision was made weeks ago, but Manville Sherriff had no clue about it until I told him, which means it was a lie and was a last-minute decision."
"Or it was the truth and Joe was just waiting for the right time for them to let him out. You think it was Greggory pulling the strings?" Darryl asked looking at the two lawmen.
Darryl was correct. Joe had a particular parole board member in his pocket and told the man to have his papers ready when he called. Joe called.
"Yes, even though the warden made it sound like Joe was just a part of the state's early release program for nonviolent offenders. I'm sure Gregory had a role it," Hershel responded with disgust.
"FUCK!" Rick yelled and punched the wall so hard he hurt his hand.
Rick thought for a moment, and something was off.
"Wait. The Mayoral election is in a few weeks. They must have heard that Greggory is not gonna win, and they needed to move faster than originally planned. Get a list of the members of the parole board and let's see who here in King County has ties to one them or the warden, or Greggory," Rick suggested, and Hershel nodded and started making calls starting with the Manville Sherriff.
"Damn those fucking Claimers," Sherriff Duffy uttered when he heard the detail, "Give me fifteen minutes, and I will call you back after I call my contact at the Georgia Parole office. But look Hershel, I got conditions."
"What conditions?" Hershel asked worriedly.
"Now I am gonna help you whether you meet em or not, just want to put that out there, but after all of this, if you could send down that Andrea to work with us for a little while, hell, Manville wants to expand too! Mayor has been all over my ass about it! That two-bit piece of shit mayor of yours won't take his call, so that left my Mayor wanting me to talk to you!" Sherriff Duffy spat.
"Will do, Walter. Will do," Hershel agreed, "Call me back."
RICK, T-DOG-SHERFF'S STATION- CURRENT-APRIL 29TH—FRIDAY MORNING
Joe was in the wind, and it was two weeks before Carl's big birthday bash. While Hershel waited for Sherriff Duffy to verify what he thought he already knew, Rick put Bud's plan into action. After calling Bud, Rick called in one of the new deputies to implement the scheme. Rick tried to smile and appear playful. He trusted the deputy he was sending, but he still needed to be careful. Rick took a deep breath, grinned, and called for Officer Douglas to come into his new office. Rick was taking the Sergeant exam soon, and Herschel was so sure he was going to pass, he gifted Rick his own office early. When he gave Officer Douglass his assignment, he went dashing out of the station. After twenty minutes, Rick was becoming impatient.
"T-Dog," Rick radioed then laughed at himself for using officer Douglas' nickname despite his initial refusal to do so since Theodore joined the force.
"Copy," T-dog responded with a hint of annoyance.
Bud had Charlene go out to Ella's construction site and try to lure one of the workers into paying her for her services then wait to get arrested. Rick felt bad for not letting his mother and Letty know she was coming, especially after his promise to Letty two weeks ago, but there needed to be a degree of secrecy under the circumstances.
"Officer Douglas, you pick up our disorderly yet?" Rick called from his radio wondering if he had the poor man's prostitute in the deputy cruiser.
"You owe me some change Sarge," T-Dog spat as he looked in the rearview mirror and winced.
"Change?" Rick asked, perplexed.
"Yes, change because that nickel on her lip turned into a damn quarter!" T-Dog yelped and tried not to look at Charlene's lips.
But it was like a trainwreck. He could not help to look at it.
"I will give you two dimes when you get to the station," Rick laughed and placed his radio back on the set before returning back to his worried state.
"Hey!" hollered a very insulted Charlene from the back of T-Dogs deputy cruiser.
"Hey, yourself. You need medical attention. I'm tempted to take you to King County General Hospital instead of jail!" T-Dog returned with revulsion, "Sit back and put BOTH your hands over your mouth and be quiet."
Once Charlene was processed, she smirked at Officer Douglass and held her head up high then used her one phone call to call Bud.
"Bud is gonna sue you for all y'all are worth! Which is nothing!" Charlene yelled as they took her to the cells.
"So, you and Bud are gonna get nothing in your lawsuit then?" T-Dog laughed which finally shut Charlene up.
Hershel gave a quick knock-on Rick's door before walking into the office verifying that Deputy Randall Warren has a cousin who works for the Georgia Parole Board, and that same cousin was a deciding member of Joe's release. Rick walked over to his office door and scanned around until he saw Deputy Warren. When Warren saw Rick staring, it made him paranoid. Rick gave a friendly smile to the rat, as he headed to the locker room. Rick almost followed him with the intent of beating Warren to a bloody pulp, but Hershel refocused his thoughts.
"You talk to Michonne yet?" Hershel inquired.
"I was just about to call Abe to pick her up from work and then pick up Carl and bring them here," Rick replied walking back behind his desk.
Rick hated he could not go get his family himself, but he knew he needed to keep watch in King County, and he trusted Abe to get the job done. Besides, Bud was tasked with kidnapping his son, so he knew they were still relatively safe in Atlanta if Bud was still in King County.
"Good," Hershel responded, "I will call my contact in Atlanta PD and advise them of the situation and ask for an undercover escort. I will also see if they can station a few plain clothes officers at the farm. Won't cause any suspicion. Anybody looking will just think they are farm hands."
Rick nodded his appreciation. After Hershel left his office, Rick sat down and wiped the hands down his face before picking up his cell phone. Rick thought he needed to call the security at her Condo too. As Rick was dialing Abe's number, he thought back to just two weeks before when everything was coming up roses. There was a thorn or two, but they were still roses.
RICK, SHANE, LETTY, SERENITY WOODS, TWO WEEKS AGO-APRIL 15TH
"This is the kitchen Rick," Letty grinned, and Rick chuckled at how excited Letty was as he looked around for his mother.
Rick and Shane made a stop at Serenity Woods in between their deputy duties and were stunned that the rough framing of both the bed and breakfast and spa was already being erected. Just a few weeks ago, it was only a concrete foundation. Eugene was making shit happen.
"I see they got the spa frames up too," Shane announced as he looked down a quarter mile from where he was standing.
Letty reasoned that putting the spa closer to the edge of the woods would enhance the tranquil atmosphere and they were even digging up the ground for a man-made lake to add to the ambiance. Rick walked through the property, past the wooden slats from room to room, envisioning the area as if the walls were already up. Rick was a little nostalgic as he surveyed the property beyond the frames to where his childhood home once stood. He was a little overwhelmed with all the old memories that flooded his head of the time he spent with his family on the property. He smiled when he reflected on the time he spent with Michonne too. It was a bittersweet moment.
"Where's Mama?" Rick asked looking around the property.
"She is out with Otis and the assessor at the property line. Otis is ready to fence off his new land. Oh, and he is also going to be our dairy provider, except for cheese of course," Letty informed.
"Of course," Rick grinned.
"Anyway, Ella left me here to deal with that dammed Eugene. I swear that man. I can barely understand what the hell he is saying the way he talks all backwards and all around. I wish he would just say what he needs to say like a normal person! But I can't be too mad. That man's designs are simply gorgeous," Letty admitted tired of Eugene but glad for him at the same time.
"Where is Eugene now? Shane asked with humor in his tone.
"He is inside the construction trailer. I told him he was this close," Letty threatened while pinching her fingers together closely, "to me dragging him by his damn mullet to that empty hole in the ground and tossing his ass inside it!"
Rick and Shane laughed out loud.
"Not by his mullet Mrs. Letty," Shane giggled highly amused.
"We both needed a break from each other," Letty informed with a large breath of frustration before perking up, "But follow me, I want to show you something. I showed Darryl and Sasha a few days ago!"
As Rick and Shane hopped on the golf buggy, Rick looked around then back at Letty. She was a beautiful woman the same age as his mother, but she looked much younger than her forty-nine years. Since the spilt with Richard, Ella did too. There was a new youthfulness in Ella, in both her looks and mannerisms. Both Letty and Ella could easily pass for ten years younger. Rick took note of Letty's skin, free of a single wrinkle on her smooth mocha face. Her hair was bone straight and hung down past her shoulders. Letty was a knockout. And since his mama dumped that dead weight of a husband, Ella was too. Letty recklessly drove the cart over the bumpy land, and Rick and Shane had to hang on tight for fear of falling out. Letty's driving was not as immaculate as her youthful beauty.
"What is it?" Rick asked, stumbling out of the cart staring at an empty acre of dirt.
"You building sumthin here too Mrs. Letty?" Shane asked, perplexed at what they were supposed to be looking at.
"That is our vegetable garden. Our giant vegetable garden in fact. Maggie suggested it a few months ago. Said it would save us money if we grew our own vegetables for our smoothies," Letty giggled, "Ella decided might as well go big and grow as much fresh produce as we could to use in our meals too!"
"Who is gonna farm this?" Rick laughed.
"This is Maggie's project. She is gonna take care of the planting, the tending, and the reaping," Letty stated mimicking Maggie's country accent, "You know she switched her major to agricultural sciences, right?"
"Yes, mama told me, and her father said something about her wanting to become a rancher now?" Rick asked Letty for some additional information.
Hershel only mentioned it before shaking his head. Maggie's original plan was to go to veterinary school, but she told her father the land was calling her name more than the sick animals were. Hershel was a little disappointed but if Maggie was happy, then he would be happy for her too.
"Yes! She wants to buy, or rather she wants her daddy to help her buy, that old, abandoned ranch about twenty miles west of here and see if she can start raising livestock. If she is successful, we can source our meat from her too!" Letty informed.
"Y'all are like a little commune," Shane grinned as he looked over the field wondering what was planted, "That ranch has been abandoned since before I was born. I forgot it was even there. Is that house even livable?" Shane wondered.
"No, she went there and it's a death trap, but she said the bones were good. Maggie is already working with Aaron," Letty informed, "They are trying to figure out who owns the property."
"Ain't that interesting," Rick murmured noting Maggie was always good with animals and anything that had to do with farming and the great outdoors.
"She will graduate next year, meanwhile we hired her part time," Letty finished then smiled widely at Rick.
Rick smiled and shook his head. Everything was falling into place nicely. Rick took the driver's seat from Letty on the way back, and it was a much smoother drive and Rick wondered it Letty just liked to drive crazy on purpose. After hugs and goodbyes, and before Rick and Shane left, Letty informed Rick that Morgan was adamant he would be there for both Rick's wedding and the grand opening of Serenity Woods in late fall.
"Oh Rick. I need you to do something about that tramp Charlene. She keeps coming around propositioning our construction crew. They are grossed out by that thing on her lip. Some of them had to take a break due to becoming nauseous. What the hell is that, Rick?" Letty asked with a shiver of disgust.
"Uhhh," Rick stuttered not knowing how to broach the subject of oral herpes with Mrs. Letty.
"Rick, I am forty-nine, I KNOW what it is. What I am asking I guess is how is it perpetually always there? A cold sore is one thing. Lots of people get those, but that is not what that thing is on her lip! And it never heals!" Mrs. Letty laughed at Rick's embarrassment.
"I will take care of the problem, Mrs. Letty," Rick blushed and walked to his patrol car, "I mean I will take care of Charlene coming here, not trying to fix that thing on her face. Just want to be clear."
"Yeah Rick, I kinda figured that's what you meant, at least that I what I hoped you meant!" Letty chuckled as she watched a red-faced Rick and a giggling Shane walk towards the deputy cruiser.
RICK AND SHANE-BUDS SHACK- TWO WEEKS AGO-APRIL 15TH
Rick and Shane drove straight to Charlene's residence to give her a verbal warning to stay away from the construction site. After she cursed Rick and slammed the door in his face, Rick took a deep breath and figured he would need to turn the complaint into something more official.
"Herps just had to make it difficult. Couldn't just accept the damn warning," Shane spat and pulled the radio from its receiver, "Base, this is Deputy Walsh. I need someone to come out and pick up Charlene at this address. I had a complaint about her trying but failing miserably to entice men at Serenity Woods."
"Shane, we are already here! We can do it ourselves," Rick suggested wondering why Shane would call out another deputy.
"I am hungry Rick. It's our lunch time. I don't want to ruin my appetite by looking at Charlene for twenty minutes. Why you think I stayed in the car brother! Besides, I have plans with Lori. I need you to drop me off at the house please," Shane replied with a grin and Rick nodded.
Rick was hungry too and he smiled when he figured one day soon, he and Michonne would have lunch together on random days also. Maybe even use their lunch break to do other stuff and thangs in her new office.
"She must be desperate. Please don't tell me someone took the bait with that thing on her lip?" Inquired a grossed-out Deputy Chambler through the radio.
Tara was the second of the new hires. First Shane, then in February, Tara, and the last two were hired mid and late March respectively, Theodore, and a rookie officer Noah Tyler.
"I hope not Tara. Letty said Charlene keeps coming around and distracting the workers," Rick laughed, "Get Theodore to do it. He has not seen that mess of a lip yet."
"He likes to be called T-Dog sir," Tara chuckled, "And I will send Noah with him. Poor kid will be traumatized."
"I ain't calling a grown man T-Dog Tara, and let's not run poor Noah off just yet!" Rick laughed and put the radio down until he heard Tara's salutation.
"Will do Sarge," Tara responded and waved T-Dog over.
"I don't take that test for another month, I ain't a Sargent yet!" Rick laughed.
"But you already got the office, so it's just a formality Sarge!" Tara responded then signed off.
Hershel and the rest had no doubt Rick would pass the test, so they all took to calling him Sarge. Hershel was so giddy about surprising Rick with the new office, he gave it to Rick about two months early, but decided to keep Rick's new name plate for his desk that read Stg. Grimes, until after it was official.
After Rick dropped Shane off, he went searching for his midday meal.
RICK AND MICHONNE-KING COUNTY SIDE ROAD, TWO WEEKS AGO-APRIL 15TH
After Rick picked up his lunch, he got a call from Michonne, and his fiancé sounded livid.
"RICK! THIS BOY IS GONNA BE THE DEATH OF ME!' Michonne shouted through the phone loud enough for Rick to pull the phone away from his ear.
"That is not new information Michonne. He is gonna be the death of both of us!" Rick chuckled trying to lighten the mood.
Whatever Carl did, for Michonne to be this angry, it must have been serious.
"Rick, is the house almost ready? Carl needs the small town, slower paced lifestyle NOW! He can finish school down there!" Michonne yelled into the phone.
"You know the house ain't ready cuz you keep changing thangs. What happened?" Rick asked worriedly.
Rick blew out his breath. Carl was a month away from turning nine, and although Rick's presence calmed Carl's adult shenanigans, Carl was still Carl. Rick hoped Carl did not do anything to cause Michonne to cancel his birthday party at the farm. Invites were sent, cake was ordered, entertainment was booked. Decorations purchased. Rick was going all out on the farm themed birthday bash. This was the first official birthday that Rick was going to be there for, and Rick was just as excited as Carl was, if not more.
"I'm going to put him on the phone and let him tell you what he did!" Michonne hollered and Rick waited for Carl to come to the phone.
"Hello," Carl answered, and Rick chucked at how innocent his son was trying to sound.
Rick heard Michonne screaming, "tell your father what you did" in the background and Rick shook his head.
Carl was a damn handful, even for Rick.
"Hi Carl. What happened Son?" Rick asked bracing for his son's crazy antics.
"How is everything in King County Dad? How is Grams? How is Ms. Letty? How are Aunt Sasha and Uncle Darryl? I have not seen them in a while," Carl greeted trying to delay the inevitable.
"You saw them all a week ago at Easter Carl. Now stop stalling and tell me what you did," Rick uttered in warning.
"Ok, so listen. I saw a need and I took advantage of it!" Carl started and Michonne jerked the phone from her son's ear.
"He is suspended from school Rick! SUSPENDED! HE IS IN THIRD GRADE! HOW DOES A THIRD GRADER GET SUSPENEDED!" Michonne yelled and Rick took a deep breath and slid his hand down his face.
"What did he do Michonne?" Rick asked as he pulled over to the side of the road so he could give Michonne his full attention.
Rick pulled his sandwich out of the bag. It seemed the conversation might take a while and he was hungry.
"Your son," Michonne started.
"Just my son Michonne?" Rick laughed then took a bite of his sandwich and grabbed his chips.
"YOUR SON RICK!" Michonne yelled back and Rick grinned.
"Ok, what did MY son do Michonne," Ricked asked for a fourth time as he chewed his meal.
"What are you eating?" Michonne asked softly.
"Focus Michonne," Rick laughed at her sudden shift in attitude when it came to food.
"Your son Rick, started an elementary school pyramid scheme!" Michonne hollered incredulously through the phone.
"A what?" Rick asked and sat back in exasperation preparing to listen to what he knew was going to be a crazy ass story.
Carl was something else.
CARL HAWTHORNE-GRIMES—ELEMENTARY SCHOOL SHENANIGANS—MARCH 27-APRIL 15th.
The week of March 27th was a carpool week, and as per the routine, Carl's babysitter would be waiting for him at the Condo. On one particular day earlier that week, the sitter was unavailable. Plan B was whoever was carpooling could watch Carl. Strike one. Mrs. Sanchez had an appointment. Plan C was one of the family could babysit the tyke. Strike two. All were working. Plan D was for Carl to go straight inside, lock the door, turn on the alarm and stay his little ass inside the condo until Michonne got home. It never got to Plan D before, but here Michonne was presented with the option. Hell Naw! Strike three. This was Carl she was talking about. Plan Z was old Mrs. Niedermeyer who lived across the hall. Michonne hated to use the old lady because it always came with a fifteen lecture on Michonne working too much, or not having a good husband and father in the home to help with an unruly Carl, or a fifteen-minute rant on how the newfangled pasta makers are not nearly as quality as the ones made back in the day.
Michonne looked at all the work piled high on her desk and her predicament with Carl solidified her recent decision to relocate to King County. If she had to work late, Carl could always hang out with her and Sasha at the office. No problem. No issue. Rick wanted her to move down right after Carl finished school in May, but Michonne did not want to burn a bridge, and decided to stay and finish the cases that she had already begun. Michonne thought about Mrs. Niedermeyer watching her little stinker of a son, but before she used Plan Z, she tried her family one more time and crossed her fingers.
Rosita: Sorry Chica, I have two bodies waiting for me. I won't be off work for a while.
Sasha: I AM IN KING COUNTY! But if I was there, you know I would!
Darryl: Ditto, stop stalling and call your cranky old neighbor.
Abe: Currently in route to Grady Memorial and by the looks of this guy's heart monitor, I might be on the way to Rosita.
Rick: I can call Mrs. Niedermeyer. She likes me!
"Of course she does," Michonne uttered annoyingly to herself.
It was true. That old biddy loved Rick and Michonne actually caught her batting her eyes at him once or twice. Michonne blew out a breath, rolled her eyes and flipped through her cell for her neighbor's number, and after a fifteen-minute rant on the dangers of leaving a child unsupervised with all the kidnappers running amuck, Niedermeyer agreed and Michonne was finally able to end the call.
The first thing Mrs. Niedermeyer did when she arrived at Michonne's home was turn on her Judge show while Carl slipped off to call his friendly neighborhood pawn broker, Mr. Mohan. Since Rick and Michonne curbed his visits dramatically, Carl took to calling to ask about any interesting stuff that Mr. Mohan received that week, or anything interesting happening on DEM STREETS.
"Hey Carl! Long time no see! So funny story!" The pawnbroker laughed and started telling Carl the new antics on DEM STREETS.
Mr. Mohan told Carl a funny story about how the son of the man who owned the corner store messed up an order, and instead of ordering thirty boxes of various Twinkie products, Ezra ordered thirty CASES. Needless to say, the owner of the market, Jerry Andrews, was up to his eyeballs in honeybuns, powdered donuts, and cupcakes and he was pissed at his son.
Carl had an idea.
Carl called the market and spoke to the owner's son, Ezra, who was desperate to make it right to regain his father's respect. Carl offered Ezra a deal. If Ezra gave Carl some boxes for free, Carl would sell the overstock and would split the profits to help him get back in his father's good graces. Ezra thought for a minute, and figured he had nothing to lose. He knew Carl was smart and agreed to the deal. The owner's son had two cases delivered to Carl's address. The building security delivered the two large boxes to his Condo and Carl dragged the boxes to his room and hid them in his closet right under the nose of his judge-show-watching babysitter.
RICK AND MICHONNE-KING COUNTY SIDE ROAD-TWO WEEKS AGO-APRIL 15th
"Carl sold them individually out of the box Rick, then hired some other kids in a different grade to sell for him too. The kids went wild because they hated the healthy snacks the school sold. Carl told them what to charge and then took seventy percent of their profit and gave the owner's son forty-five percent of his seventy."
"Oh my God," Rick uttered in total disbelief almost choking on his food.
"There's more Rick! Carl figured it would be more profitable if he made the kids buy the FREE boxes that were given to him for two dollars a box, that way Carl kept more money in his pocket after giving the owner's son his share of the seventy percent. Carl was getting rich off the backs of his so-called employees!" Michonne hollered incredulously.
"Wait, so Carl sold the boxes to the kids for two dollars and STILL took seventy percent of their profits?" Rick said incredulously, trying hard not to laugh.
"YES! And it was such a success that after a week, Carl had three more cases delivered to the condo. The school started to investigate because the kids were not buying lunch and they found all the kids' cubbies stuffed with cupcakes and twinkies! So of course, the principal started asking questions and figured out the kids were using their lunch money to buy the snacks and by the end of the day, they were all crashing from the sugar high! All except Carl because, and I quote, "I don't eat the product mom!"
Rich chuckled.
"Did you just laugh? This is serious Rick! It got all the way to middle and high school! Carl had eighth grade students peddling snacks for him too! HE HAD HIS BABYSITTER SELLING FOR HIM AT THE HIGH SCHOOL!" Michonne shouted.
"How much did he make?" Rick asked with interest as he crunched on a few potato chips.
Michonne hung up the phone and now his fiancé was mad at both Carl and him. Rick called right back, and Michonne did not pick up.
Rick: Sorry baby. I was just trying to make you laugh. What Carl did was wrong.
Rick called Darryl, Abe, and Shane all together on a group call to see what they thought. Rick thought it was genius and funny too.
"Now that is some funny ass shit! How much did he make?" Asked Shane.
Michonne: YOU WERE NOT! YOU WERE SERIOUS!
"I asked the same question and Michonne got mad at me," Rick replied, and Abe snorted.
"That little fool sold me some too. Rosita got me on a damn low carb diet again. I am a big man! I need carbs!" Abe shouted and they all laughed hilariously.
Rick: I promise. I am taking this very seriously. Suspension from school is serious. But what were the grounds for suspension?
"So, the school suspended him? For what?" Darryl asked perplexedly as he wiped tears from his eyes from laughing so much.
"That's what I just asked Michonne. We're texting because she hung on me when I laughed and now, she won't answer my calls. Hold on she is texting," Rick chuckled, and Shane snorted.
Michonne: For a pyramid Scheme!
Rick: Is that what the paperwork said?
Michonne: …..
Rick watched the dots. Then they disappeared. Then came back.
"What did she say," Darryl asked again.
"Hold on. I still only got dots." Rick said a little more seriously.
"Still? Oh brother, she is madder than a rabbit with a carrot up its ass!" Abe laughed and Rick was less than amused, "When Rosita gets mad at me, those dots stay dots for a long time. Then BAM! Knife to the ribs. Figuratively not literally," Abe clarified.
"Shit," last time I only got dots like that from Michonne, the text was brutal and by time I finished reading it I was damn near terrified. Then Sasha popped up behind me with narrowed eyes and then I was full-blown terrified," Darryl conveyed then pulled his ringing phone from his ear to see who was calling the other line.
Abe did the same.
"Shit Rosita is calling me," Abe said with a stressed tone.
"Sasha is too," Darryl answered.
Each put Rick on hold and clicked over to another line. In the meantime, Rick tried to call Michonne again. No response. Then Darryl switched back to the line, followed by Abe. Shane was on the line holding and cracking up laughing at their shenanigans.
"Rosita said to tell you that Michonne is pissed at you and that you better come correct with a more suitable attitude or Michonne is gonna lose it," Abe relayed the message that Rosita told him in half Spanish, half English.
All the curse words were in Spanish, and he decided to leave those out.
"Ditto," Darryl grunted after Sasha gave him an earful to pass on to Rick.
"But just between us, it was genius, right?" Rick asked with a chuckle.
"Yup," Darryl replied, "but I will never admit that to the girls."
"So nuff brother," Shane said who could not wait to call and tell Lori.
"Oh, for sure and if you repeat that to my wife, I will deny it and call you a liar to save myself;" Abe chuckled, "tell Carl to save me some of them donuts with the coconut on em;" Abe requested before they all disconnected.
"Shit," Rick stated out loud and called Michonne knowing she would answer because the message was successfully passed and effectively received.
"Hello!" Michonne uttered brightly, "Your son got suspended from school today, Rick!"
Rick held back a chuckle at Michonne pretending this was their very first conversation about the whole situation and Rick took full advantage of her forgiving nature.
"HE WHAT!" Rick hollered with pretend anger, "Send him down here. He is gonna work his tail off every day of that suspension! The nerve!"
"Do you want to know what your son did Rick!" Michonne uttered in pretend shock and Rick knew she was smiling.
"Exactly what did MY son do Michonne? Because YOUR son would never make his mama upset!" Rick exclaimed, fully smiling too.
"Well Rick, let me tell you a story about cupcakes and pyramids," Michonne started with a laugh.
Once he hung up with Michonne, Rick turned the car around and went back to Serenity Woods to beg his mother to help watch Carl for the next three days. Rick knew begging was really not going to be required. Ella loved it when Carl came down and Carl loved to hang out with his Grams at the construction site. Rick also called Darryl back. Carl could spend some of the time with Darryl too. But no matter where Carl was spending his time, Rick was going to make sure they knew to put Carl to work as a consequence of his forced three days off from school.
RICK-SHERRIFF'S STATION OFFICE- CURRENT-APRIL 29th—FRIDAY MORNING
Rick snapped out of his crazy Carl shenanigans from two weeks ago and wished he could time travel back. He took a deep breath and a long exhale. Rick closed his eyes and tried to keep his fear at bay as he dialed Abe's number.
