PART ONE

I sat huddled in the farthest corner of the bedroom. The Dogs were sound asleep on the king-sized bed oblivious to the world . The fan kept turning and sending out cool air. But none of that air seemed to reach me. I was dripping with sweat.

All the while I kept thinking,” What the Hell have I gotten myself into?”
Being on the wrong side of Paco was not the place anyone wanted to be. But That’s were I am going to be if I am not careful. This Is turning into a nightmare.

Two weeks before I was doing my housewife thing, something that seems not to be in my genetic makeup. Vacuuming the floors with the dogs watching from the outside because the oldest one, Freebie attacks the vacuum and had already torn off the rubber bumper guard. The day was great , weather was cooperating, We had money in the bank, and I was starting another temporary job at the Army Base soon that paid pretty good money.

A car I have never seen pulled into the driveway. The driver got out. Turns out I had worked with him when I was employed By the County nine years ago. That was until the new Sheriff had a bigger jail built and decided he didn’t need civilian deputies.
“Hello Jon, see you made detective.”
“ Thanks. Some one wants to talk to you.”
“ O,K, who?”
He pointed to the passenger side of the car behind the driver seat. I walked over and the window slid down. The door opened and I got in. Another deputy was sitting in the back. Jon got in the driver seat and the car eased out of the driveway. I looked at the scenery . Finally we drove down a winding driveway to a nice farm house set back from the road. The lawm was well manicured and the house it self was surrounded by brightly filled flower beds. “ Well I’ll be dipped!” I muttered under my breathe. I got out and the car parked next to the garage. The man at the door led me into his study. He was just a shade taller than me. And he still looked the same. His mustasche was a bit grayer and he seemed a little balder but he still carried himself with that air if cockiness that had irritated me years ago. He motioned for me to sit in a nice green chair by the large white oak desk that took up most of the space in the room.
“I had you brought here because I wanted to ask for your help.”
“ Really?
“ you know this person we are after his name is Paco, and it would take too long to get some one inside.” I stared at the Sheriff and waited for the rest of it.

“ A few days ago we received an anonymous tip that Paco was responsible for the murders of two people and that he was the head of the meth lab that was cranking out drugs somewhere here in Juneau County.
Then yesterday I received a letter with directions to the bodies and a place where the drug lab had been. They enclosed a photo of some one who looked a lot like Paco with a gun standing over the bodies. One of the bodies was the cousin of the district attorney’s wife. I want him.”
“ You are running for the governor’s job right? And this would really make good press for you. So why me? I don’t have the experience of a undercover guy.”
“No, I means yes I am but This would really do the County good.” As he looked out the window avoiding looking at me. I knew this was for him more than the County.
“ Here’s my cell number. Call me I really could use your help”.
He opened the door and I walked down the hall passed the kitchen. Some one was baking and the smell reminded me that It was getting late , I and needed to get dinner going and the dogs needed to be feed. Jon appeared at the door and we walked to the car. I sat and looked out the window on the way back. The trees were a nice green and you could see the leaves rustle with the light breeze that made the day comfortable.
We pulled up to the deck and I got out. Jon asked if I was going to help.
“I’ll think about it . Its scary stuff and I don’t know if I want to be in that kind of place.” He smiled and soon the car disappeared down the road.
The dogs were ging nuts so I hurried up the steps and let them outside. They ran down the drive way barking . When they were satisfied that the car was gone they trotted back as if they had chased it away. Standing there they looked for attention. How could I not love them.
I finished vacuuming with the dogs barking. Freebie the oldest had already taken the rubber guard off and given the chance she would do her best to “kill” it. So there she sat barking her foolish head off on the other side of the screen door. Raven the lab was another matter. Tired of barking she had laid down on the deck in the afternoon sun and was sleeping. As far as the vacuum she could care less if it was running or not. Now take out the weedwacker and you had better watch your ass.


Part two

Paco had sent his cousin’s kid over to the garage to put the tar paper rolls away. As he looked down from the roof of the apartment building he could see that they were still where they had been left and Flaxo was missing. He walked close to the edge so that he could see better. There on the bed of the truck was that no good fuck. He was boiling mad . He had hired him to help his cousin Emmo out. But the kid was late every day and this was only his fourth day. Climbing down from the roof he marched over to the truck. Picked up a roll of tar paper and slammed it down on his chest.
“ What the hell are you doing!!!!!” Flaxo sputtered under the weight. “Get up and unload this shit, now.” As he started to walk away , “ Oh you can work tomorrow and clean this place up too.”
Flaxo had gotten his voice back,” Hey, I had a late night. And I have a date with that little Greek chick for the weekend.” “ Not this time. you screw-up, you either work or you can go to jail. I hired you to help your dad keep you out of the county lockup. So get your self straight or become someone’s play toy! I really don’t care which. Don’t fuck with me you will lose!!!!” He got in the truck and drove off barely giving the kid time to get off.

Dialing the phone he waited for the other end to answer. “Where is the stuff?” The voice said police impound. “What? Do they know what's in the SUV?” The voice said no. The driver was hit by a drunk driver and the cops pulled it to the impound. They have no idea. The driver died.
“ Damn!" Paco hung up the phone. He now had no driver and no drugs. First things first he needed to get the SUV back.

He looked into mirror in the motel room’s bathroom. He was getting older. He could see the wrinkles starting. He was not that popular kid who was the quarterback, and the star wrestler back in high school anymore. His parents had made sure that he had a good education. He graduated top of his class. Got a academic scholarship for a good school. Got a teaching certificate that made his mother proud. No one in his family had ever gotten that far. But after the last game in high school he had gone water skiing and the broken leg that never healed right. That ended his athletic endevours. And when he decided to start his own construction company instead of teaching his mother cried and turned her back on him. But he was not hurting for cash. Along with two childhood friends he decided that drugs was the best way to get ahead.

He put on a white silk shirt with a pale blue dragon down on side and a pair of dark blue Italian silk slacks. Sitting on the edge of the bed he put on the dark blue leather loafers. He put the Saint Christopher cross his mother had given him when he turned sixteen around his neck and the large gold college ring on his right pinky. He left his wedding band on the dresser. That would not do for the evening. He had a date with a” friend”.
She was a tall full figured woman and she had connections in the other business he was involved in. Paco was tall and muscular and he even seemed taller because of his larger than life attitude. And when he rose from the chair at the club you could see that even though she was tall he still towered over her. Her dyed blond hair was fashionably styled to complement her face. He bent down to kiss her cheek. Then he whispered.
” So Baby, you got the money?” She kissed him and smeared lipstick over his face and cheek.
"You're drunk!"
"No I am a little high that's all!" she mumbled. They had a drink then went back to her room.
"What Mia doesn’t know." He muttered and closed the door. The next morning he got dressed and tried to sneak out before she woke up. He closed the door and hurried to the truck. At the motel he made sure there was nothing left behind. Grabbing his ring off the dresser he but it back on.

Part three

I sat on the deck watching the dogs just sleeping. The late afternoon was warm and They really needed the rest. Barking through the screen door was very tiring. What in The world was I going to say to Dave?
“ Hi honey guess what? I was asked to be a undercover informant .”
"Yes sir ree, that’s a winner." Then I'd have to pick his unconscious body off the deck. I puttered around the garden while I thought over the situation. I avoided thinking about the conversation I was going to have when my loving spouse found out I might consider working undercover for the County Sheriff.
The dogs began to bark before I could see the red neon. As it pulled into the driveway the welcoming committee ran along side the car I smiled as I watched the circus. As he got out they mobbed him, not because they we're glad he was home but for the treats he usually shared after work. As I smiled and leaned in for a kiss he pulled back ,"What's wrong?"
"Nothing" I tried to sound innocent.
" I know that look." but he let it drop for now.


"Hurry up. Grandma's waiting" Mia dragged a brush through her curly brown hair. Abby, her six year old, grabbed a banana and slippped into her pink Hello Kitt flipflops. She put her daughter's hair into a yellow pontytail that bounced when she ran. They got into the minivan and backed out of the drive way.
The house was empty when Paco got home. He put his dirty laundry in the wash . The lipstick and perfume was thick on his clothes. He stained the shirt and turned the washer on. "What Mia don't know', he whispered as he went upstairs to take a shower.

Those six days at the Army base were like a vacation. One you got paid for. One day we were made up to look like we had been in a bombing so that the We ran those soldiers ragged and by the time we were all done I hoped that they were ready to go overseas. But today is fish fry. And I just can't get worked up about it. Dave had to be to work by four a.m. so I got a luxury of sleeping past six a.m.
I hadn't spent much to much time on the problem at hand. And the grace period was almost over. I called the cell phone. Some one else answered. "I want the sheriff."
"I speak for him"
" Not for me" and hung up.
"She called. "
"Well?" He told him that I hung up. They discussed what to do.
"She wants some financial security. And I promised it." The sheriff twirled a pencil in his fingers.
"Look I want your image to be sharp and clean. Paying for and promising things won't look good."
" I don't care Kyle do it."
He went through the patio doors to see his girls were setting the table and the BBQ ribs simmering in that sweet sauce he loved. He kissed his wife who was spotless in her white tanktop even after all this time she still had the figure if a cheerleader. His oldest son was home from school and was playing football with his cousins. The whole family was here to celebrate his first foray into politics.

Kyle took out his cell and called his office. He was not going to let anyone come between him and the govenenor's office. He had been close before but this time he felt that he could be the man behind the man.
He set things in motion. Then he lit the cigar that he had been holding in his hand.
"Fuck you." With a snide smile on his face he lit it and let the smoke fill the room before he joined the party.

Dave dropped me off and I worked my way to the kitchen. Karla who owned the bar and I manned the kitchenon fridays. I was usually early and visited with some of the regulars. Some one grabbed me and lifted me off my feet.
"Paco!!! put me down!"
"Hey there." he smiled at me. Then leaned over and asked if I would step out side for a moment. As we walked a distance from the entrance he stopped.
" How are things going?"
"O.K"
" Moneywise?"
"Tight" "I have a job offer. But its not all that legal its cash."
" I could do that."
" It's driving a package from Minnesota to here a couple of days a month."
" Yeah I could do that."
" Think about it I"ll be home for a few days." He got in his truck and drove off. I stood there.
"Now what do I do?" This is were its starts to get complicated.
Working a deep fryer is'nt rocket science but you have to pay attention. That would take some doing. But I managed to push the conversation out of my mind. Last time I was distracted I managed to scauld my left hand with the Clam Chowder. Second degree burns are not fun. We were busy and Karla worked the grille. There was no time to think about anything except fish, the deep fried kind. And if I do say so we have the best in town. There were a few pieces of burnt garlic toast but other than that no causualities. By the time we finally cleaned up There was a list of things to replace for me on Saturday. I was so tired that riding home I fell asleep.

As the sun began to shine so did the dogs . They started by joining us onth kingsize bed which after they joined us looked and felt like a single bed. Then if I didn't respond to the vibrating caused by wagging tales they kicked it up a notch with breathing in my face. If I turned over they started whinning. Now there are two humans in this bed but only one seemed to be picked on. How Dave slept through all that I will never know. When I returned from putting them out He was siiting on the side.
"Honey?"
" Yeah?"
" I decided I want to retire as of now. I thought it all out and I know that we can do it. In two years I can get social security and I have enough money in my retirement fund to keep is going . Along with what you make at the bar we should do o.k. I will find some part time work to fill in the gaps. I just can't take the phsycial abuse any more."
I looked at him and my mind went offf like fireworks. HOw in the hell did he think I would react. So amny things flew by as I tried to understand. I knew his health was bad. But I had hoped that he would find a job that he could settle into that would last for the two years until he turned sixty two. On top of what I had to decide now he hands me this.
"Dale? You o.k with it? I have thought it out it will be o.k."
Sure Honey. It will take a few minutes but I will be o.k Really"

My head was spinning and I thought that I might just run screamming but getting myself under control I smiled kissed his unshaven face with a smile I might add and hurried to the bathroom. Throwing the cat out of the sink I brushed my teeth as I heard him put the dogs out. What would life be without a curve now and then. Just another day. Now I knew I had no choice. I would call the sheriff and agree. But I wanted certain assurances that would be my " Cover my Ass" protection.
I waited until he went to bed that night and called the cell number the sheriff had provided. Then I left one simple message on the voice mail.
" I will do it"

A package arrived the next day. It contained he file on the drug runners, specifically Paco and his partners. I decided that I needed help understanding this stuff. So I went to Patsy and Mick's house. They were good friends that ere well versed in all things internet. Patsy worked at the main branch of the Chicago Library and Mick was a analyst.

What next

I spent the morning on the computer looking for information on drug dealing. Then paid a few bills. I knew that on sunday I had to make a call to say yes or no.

This can't be happening

A Mistake?
The next day I felt as if god was telling me something. Someone stole my male german shepherd right from our front lawn.have We had gotten him a few months earlier and now someone who feels that the dog is still his took him and I have to try to figure out how to get him back. All this along with my newest endevour. When it rains it pours. Along with that our oldest, Freebie is going blind and has almost stopped eating.
"How can I manage this?" I have to deal with all of this and if I don't go crazy I might survive. I have concentrated on finding our dog while I wait for the sheriff to call back.
So far I have tracked him thru two counties but have been a few steps behind. He is a scary man of eastern european desent. And so far he has bullied a few into helping him hide the dog. But friends in the same circle have convined them to come forward. Now we are waitng And if things can't be worse each day we see the decline of our first pet. HOw can we put her to sleep? I know that if the vet says it's better for her we will. But this is too much. Then the phone rang. But it was one of my friends helping us find our pet. They had heard thet at least he was alive and safe. So now we wait and continue the search. Hoping that some one will covince him to return the dog. All of this because we would not let him use our dog to breed. Those we have talked to say he is unstable. So what he might do is a big question. Dave is posting flyers and we shall see who will win this pissing match.
Little did I know that My world would as the Ozzy Osbone tune goes" Go off the Rails on a crazy train." Now the Dog, our poor Sarge is somewhere in Chicago and My husband has created a legal mess by going over one last time to try to get Sarge back. He called frantic,
" I have been shot, call the police and ambulance." The phone went dead. I called 911 and told then where I thought he was. Then called back. He said he was on the way to a friends home to have him take him to hospital. I called 911 agin the with my boss driving we went to find him. There up against a tree was the Jeep. He was so gray and blood was all over the front seats. A man had seen the jeep and had put it in park and called 911 also. The frightened empty stare from him shook me to my soul. I saw a case of beer and stupidly removed it. then I leaned in to reassure him that help was comming. The cops were every where along with EMTs. There was blood over his lap and for a split second I thouight that he was bleeding from his stomach. But he raised his left habd to reveal a gaping wound. There was blood all over the front seats.

Impressum

Tag der Veröffentlichung: 10.08.2011

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