Chapter: 3 A Good Guy

"Man what a day." Helga sighed as she picked up speed.

Gently using her hand, she turned the knob on her radio trying to find something to listen to.

A few talk show hosts could be heard clambering about politics and static could be heard as she kept flipping through the channels.

"Forget it." She muttered to herself as she just turned her radio off.

Needing some kind of noise, she rolled down her window to head the wind whipping up beside her car. Just soothing enough to calm her in the moment.

Passing by Jamie O's she glanced out into the parking lot to catch a glimpse of a black pick up truck parked out front.

"You know, he stops by there everyday. It must be pretty good." Helga said aloud to no one.

'Maybe I should check up on the football headed cutie. He did have a rough day today.'

Helga smiled at the thought. She had only known Arnold for three months and she could feel herself getting more and more attracted to him everyday. Almost to the point of where he was on her mind all hours of the day.

"He treats me like no one ever has before." She said aloud, breaking the silence." He doesn't raise his voice hardly ever . He actually makes me feel like someone. It's a big change from my entire childhood."

Helga looked up at herself in her rearview mirror for just a moment. She let out a sigh." Not yet. I'll make things awkward. I've known the guy for three months. Plus he's my boss."

...

Helga turned left into Jamie O's. Putting her car into park, she unfolded the sun visor.

She never wore much makeup so there was no time for that. She let her golden blonde hair down and ran her fingers through it.

She got out of her car and closed the door behind her. Looking back in the mirror, she unbuttoned the first button on her uniform. Revealing just a slight bit of cleavage.

"I can't look like a total slut." She said in a low tone." That home grown country bumpkin might not like that."

After double checking she didn't have anything stuck in her teeth she locked her patrol car and walked up to the entrance. She observed the old house place." Looks like my grandma would live here." She said with a sigh

"Pretty empty." She said to herself as she turned to observe the few empty cars in the parking lot. Parked directly in front of the door was a black four door sedan. The car was still on but no one sat in it.

"That's weird." Helga stated in a low tone as eyed the car for just a moment." Must be getting take out." She shrugged as she turned back to the wooden front door.

"Okay." Helga sighed as she ran her fingers through her hair once again." It's now or never." She reached forward towards the door handle.

...

A few moments earlier...

"I ASKED YOU ASSHOLES A QUESTION!" The man continued to wave his gun around the restaurant. A woman could be heard starting to cry in the back of the room.

"I have to stop this." Gerald whispered, giving Arnold a serious look.

"No." Arnold whispered back."Ger-"

Before he could even speak Gerald stood and Arnold stood up beside him. Before Arnold could think he drew the 1911 out of his belt and pointed it at the man.

"Drop the gun!" Arnold yelled at the man, causing the man to stumble back a few steps and point his gun back at Arnold.

"WATCH IT MAN!" The guy yelled back." I WILL SHOOT!"

"No you won't!" Arnold said in a louder tone again. Gerald eyed Arnold as his friend walked out from behind the table to face the man." You said you want to find out what happened to your brother and we can help you."

The stranger's eyes wandered towards Gerald for just a second as Gerald also started to move from behind the table.

"Keep your eyes on me." Arnold said in a calmer voice now." Nobody has to get hurt here. You want help, right?"

The stranger's eyes went back to Arnold, along with his gun pointed right at Arnold's chest." Back up." The man said in a lower tone now. Revealing a deep and raspy voice, hidden behind all the yelling.

"Look man." Gerald said as calmly as he could, causing the man to point his gun in Gerald's direction now." You're scaring people, let's just talk about this."

"I-I." He stammered as he looked back at Arnold who still had his gun pointed at the man.

"We just want to help." Arnold said as calmly as he could as he took a step forward.

"Not another step!" The long haired stranger said in a louder tone again as he clicked the hammer into place, effectively cocking his gun.

"Okay." Arnold said calmly." You have my attention. Who is your brother?"

Looking at Arnold, the man sucked in a huge breath and released it in a huge sigh." You should know. You found his body today."

"Where did you hear that from?" Arnold took another step.

"I said back up, asshole." The man lifted his gun pointing it right at Arnold's head now.

Arnold could feel sweat on his right hand as continued to grip his sidearm. He nodded his head as he looked up at the man.

"What's your name?" Arnold asked not daring to move a muscle.

"Aiden." The man said almost instantly." And my dead brother, his name was William."

"Okay great." Arnold said, somehow managing a smile." You're already helping with my case. We can help you find who did this to your brother."

The man's mean demeanor left him for a second as he lowered his gun back down to Arnold's chest." You can?" He said almost calmly now.

"Yes." Arnold replied." I'll tell you what. Let's make a deal."

"What kind of deal?" Aiden asked with confusion on his face now.

"I'll lay down my gun." Arnold said, keeping a smile on his face." And if you lay yours down too then we can talk about this whole mess."

Arnold eyed Gerald to see him giving him that crazy 'you're a bold kid, Arnold' kind of look.

"Okay." Aiden nodded and motioned his gun towards the floor." But you first."

"No problem." Arnold said with a sigh of relief." I'm gonna go nice and slow." He slowly crouched down to lay his gun on the floor. Arnold continued to look at the man as he slowly crouched.

Slowly, Arnold laid his pistol on the floor." Okay, now you." Arnold replied as he stood up and raised his hands above his head now.

"Nah." Aiden replied as he shook his head." I think I'll keep mine."

Arnold's smile disappeared." We had a deal."

"Yeah, we can talk and I'll keep my gun." Aiden replied, his mean demeanor coming back.

Arnold kept his eyes on Aiden, contemplating his next move. That's when something caught his eye.

A blonde figure could be seen slowly approaching the man from behind. Arnold took his eyes off of Aiden for just a moment.

That gave Aiden just the right amount of time to notice what Arnold was looking at.

Aiden whipped around but not quick enough before Helga grabbed the gun in his hands.

Trying to wrestle the gun away from him and keep it pointed away from civilians, Helga jerked his arms away from the bar.

Aiden grunted and took the moment to elbow Helga in the face! However, his moment of fighting back weakened his grip as Helga yanked the gun from his grasp.

Arnold rushed the man and grabbed him from behind." Calm down!" Arnold said in a strict tone as the man tried to wrestle out of Arnold's grip.

"Go to hell!" Aiden yelled back as he suddenly jerked his head back. Arnold felt a ray of pain in his forehead as he stumbled back from the headbutt.

He looked up just in time to see a right hook out of his left eye. Somehow, Arnold dodged it and countered the move by punching Aiden in the gut with his left fist.

"OOOF." Aiden spat out and took a step back but loaded up to take another swing at Arnold.

Arnold saw it coming and caught the swing with his left arm. Before Aiden could react Arnold hit him with a strong right hook that sent Aiden spinning.

Spinning right on to the floor of Jamie O's as he passed out cold.

"Ah." Arnold grunted as he shook his now sore wrist.

"You okay?" Helga asked as she ran over to Arnold.

"Yeah." Arnold replied as he clicked the cuffs on Aiden's hands behind his back.

"How are you?" Arnold asked as he looked up. His small smile turned into a face full of concern. Streams of blood ran out of Helga's nose as she smiled at Arnold.

"Helga you're hurt!" Arnold announced as he stood up to take a look at her.

"I'm fine." She said as she swatted his hand from her face." Really, Arnold, it's not my first busted nose.

"Are you sure?" Arnold asked, still concerned for Helga.

She wiped the blood from her face with the sleeve of her uniform and winced in pain.

"I'm good." She said through a grunt as she looked back down at Aiden who was still knocked out cold." How about we go question this guy.

"Is everybody okay?" Arnold asked as the few people in the restaurant.

"Yes." A young African American man nodded at Arnold as he stood up off the floor." And what people say about you and how you police the county. Well, I think you're doing a damn good job."

"Yes!" Gerald announced as a small round of applause surrounded Helga and Arnold. Arnold smiled as he looked around him.

"Thank you." Arnold said as he looked back at Helga who was also smiling back at him." Me and deputy Pataki both appreciate it."

"Huh." Aiden announced from the floor as the applause from everyone brought him back to reality.

"Get up." Arnold grunted as he helped Aiden stand back up." You're coming back to the station with us."

Walking over to the table he was sitting at, Gerald walked up to Arnold with a white to go bag in hand." Something for you and Helga, on the house."

"Thanks man." Arnold smiled and grabbed the bag from Gerald." Can I help you clean up before heading back out."

"Nah." Gerald smiled and patted Arnold on the back." You and Helga helped us out big time. Go question that crazy hippie lookin' fool."

"Thanks." Arnold replied with a smile as he placed his hat back on his head and went to grab Aiden.

...

"I didn't do anything wrong man!" Aiden pleaded as Helga opened the creaky cell door behind him.

"Oh like assaulting a police officer?" Arnold motioned his head towards Helga who had a bloody tissue in her right hand.

"Okay." Aiden said calmly as Arnold uncuffed him in his cell." I got pissed, man."

"Yeah." Arnold grunted as he closed the cell door in front of Aiden." It seems you have quite a temper, Aiden."

"Well what would you do if you found out your brother had been shot and killed in this county?" Aiden asked as Arnold placed his hands on his hips.

"Well I don't think I would terrorize a restaurant full of innocent people." Arnold stated in an almost sarcastic tone.

"Okay." Aiden responded, throwing his hands in the air in defeat." I overreacted and I am sorry."

"Don't apologize to me." Arnold said, pointing his finger to Helga." Apologize to my deputy that you assaulted ."

"Fine." Aiden said as he looked at Helga who was giving him a 'I know he just didn't' kind of look." I am sorry."

"You're a dick." Helga spat back at him, causing Aiden to roll his eyes in response.

"Okay." Arnold spoke, trying to prevent an argument." Now, Aiden, let's start by telling us what you know about your brother."

Aiden sighed and faced away from the pair of blondes who were questioning him. He looked at the cinder block wall behind him and contemplated what to say.

"Will traveled for work." Aiden finally spoke." He was a travel nurse. A very smart guy. I don't know why anyone would want to hurt him."

"That's what we are trying to figure out." Arnold said calmly to Aiden." Do you know if William had any patients that may have gotten upset with him?"

"Man, I don't know." Aiden said in a sharp tone as he looked back at Arnold." All I know about him is that traveled a lot. His wife, Cindy, would sometimes travel with him. They were happily married and-" Aiden froze.

"And what?" Arnold asked as he eyed Helga. She looked back at him with a confused look.

"I didn't even think to tell her." Aiden said in a low tone." I bet she doesn't even know her husband's dead. You have to let me call her and tell her!"

"No." Arnold replied bluntly." Me and my deputy will make sure she hears the news in the morning."

"Come on man." Aiden started to plead." She's a real sweet woman. You have to let me tell her."

"Once again, no." Arnold shook his head." Look what happened when you found out today. You came and terrorized people in my county. How can I trust she won't do the same?"

"Cindy Freeman is the nicest woman I have ever met." Aiden said in a low tone as he looked at Arnold with a sad look." She wouldn't hurt a soul."

Helga gave Arnold a weird look as she now spoke." Is there anything else you can tell us about your brother?"

Aiden turned away from them again and scratched his head." Nah, I really don't know. Just find out who murdered him and bring that son of a bitch to justice."

Helga rolled her eyes in response as she looked back at Arnold.

"I promise if you give us Cindy's address we will let her know first thing in the morning." Arnold said calmly as he looked at Aiden.

Aiden turned around and faced Arnold again. He looked like he wanted to spit in Arnold's face." Fine." Aiden said through a grunt, almost like it was painful.

"I'll go get you a pen and paper so you can write it down." Arnold nodded as Aiden turned away from them again.

...

"Do you think Aiden and Will's wife were hooking up?" Helga asked as she and Arnold walked back up the stairs to the station.

"What makes you think that?" Arnold asked, giving Helga an intrigued look.

"He got real weird when her name started getting thrown around." Helga stated as they reached the top." Almost like he was trying to protect her or something."

"I did get that feeling." Arnold agreed as he looked back down the stairs and to the metal door of the cell room." At first light me and you are headed to Colorado to do the death notification and question his wife. If you are up to it?"

"I'll be here." Helga responded as she looked at Arnold.

"I still think you should get that nose looked at by a doctor." Arnold stated as Helga rolled her eyes at him.

"Criminy, Arnold, for the last time, I'm fine. It's not my first time being punched in the face on the job." Helga smiled at the sheriff.

"Alright." Arnold smiled back at his pretty deputy." Well go home and get some rest. I'm going to go get this address and then I'll be headed home too."

"Are you sure you don't want me to stay?" Helga asked.

"I'm sure." Arnold nodded." Go get some rest. I'll see you in the morning."

Helga smiled at the hunk of a man. She loved how noble he was. How he looked out for everyone before he looked out for himself.

"See ya, Arnold." Helga smiled as she walked away and out of the door.

"What a woman." Arnold said with a huff as he walked towards the desks in the main room.

After a few moments of gathering the supplies of a pen and paper, Arnold opened up the entrance door to the cell room.

"You never told me." Arnold said as he handed the pen and paper to Aiden through the gray bars of the cell door." Who told you about your brother?"

Aiden grabbed the paper and pen. He sat down on the cot behind him and started to write on the paper." One of my friends from college sent me a picture of his dead body."

"Who's your friend?" Arnold asked as Aiden handed him the paper and pen back.

"Sid Gifaldi."

...

"Boy, Arnold sure is here bright and early." Stinky said as he walked over to his desk and laid down his dark brown police jacket." I'm gonna start some coffee. You want some, Sid?"

"Yeah, I'll take some." Sid responded as he walked in towards his desk and sat down his coat as well.

Sid heard the creaking of a door and looked behind him to see Arnold looking at him from his office.

"My office, now." Arnold opened the door wide and stared at Sid with a serious look.

Sid swallowed a lump in his throat and nodded as he followed Arnold to his office.

"Close the door behind you and sit down." Arnold stated bluntly.

Sid obeyed and closed the door behind him. He walked over to Arnold's desk and sat down.

Arnold sat down across from Sid and just stared. Silence filled the room.

"Is everything okay?" Sid asked nervously as he grinned at Arnold.

"Sid, Helga was assaulted yesterday. Thanks to you." Arnold stated calmly as he leaned back in his chair.

"The hell?" A confused look painted a picture over Sid's face." What are you talking about?"

Arnold sighed as he sat up. He placed his elbows on his desk and folded his arms out in front of him. He pointed a single finger at Sid.

"Sending pictures of dead victims is not how we do our job." Arnold replied strictly as a moment of realization came over Sid.

"Arnold I was just trying to help-"

"Help?" Arnold said in a louder tone now." You helped terrorize innocent people at Jamie O's yesterday. You helped Helga get a broken nose last night."

Arnold picked up his hand off of the desk and pointed his finger right into Sid's soul." You did that Sid. I have a man locked up in a cell. He has evidence on his phone of a photo you sent him of our dead victim."

"Arnold, I was just trying to help solve the case." Sid finally got out. You could hear the clear fear in his voice.

"Sid, what would you do if someone sent you a picture of your dead brother?" Arnold asked, his loud tone not fading.

Sid sat back in his chair and looked over to the window looking out of Arnold's office.

"Exactly." Arnold stated as he also sat back in his chair." Sid, I'm glad you are taking the extra mile to try and help. But going about our work like that is only going to cause trouble."

Sid nodded, still looking away from Arnold." Yeah man, I get it. I screwed up."

Arnold nodded." You did." He replied in a lower tone now." You knew the victim's brother and you didn't tell me?"

"Man, I swear I didn't know they were brothers." Sid said, still not looking Arnold's way." Who was it? Who hit Helga and scared all those people last night?"

"Aiden Freeman." Arnold stated, staring into Sid's soul as he continued to look away from Arnold.

"Aiden is a good guy." Sid replied, still looking away." I didn't ever think he would do anything like that. And I didn't know he was the victim's brother."

Sid reached a hand up on his shirt and fondled with the badge on his shirt. Arnold just stared as Sid took off his badge and sat it down in front of him.

"Sid, what are you doing?" Arnold asked, confused.

"I'm not fired?" Sid asked, looking back at Arnold with a relieved expression.

"Not yet." Arnold replied as he picked up Sid's badge and handed it back to him." Listen man, I think you're a good cop. I'm giving you another chance. Just prove me right."

"I can do that." Sid replied, a small smile on his face now.

"Okay." Arnold smiled back at him." New plan today. You and Stinky are going to head back out the crime scene while me and Helga go to Denver to deliver the death notification today."

A look of confusion came over Sid's face." Why Helga? I know the victim's brother. Shouldn't I go today?"

"You just told me you didn't know they were brothers." Arnold replied bluntly.

"I-I didn't know, I swear." Fear made its way back to Sid's face now.

"Then there's no argument here then." Arnold stood up from the seat at his desk and grabbed his hat." You and Stinky let me know if you guys find anything at the crime scene today. I'll be in touch."

Arnold snugged the cowboy hat on his head and walked out of his office.

NOTE FROM ME!

Thank you again for the continued support as I continue my journey of writing this for you all! I am having lots of fun with this!