Excerpt:
She cocked her head and looked at Johnny sideways. Johnny intrigued her but she guessed she would be better off to go home to her two cats than to ask him out on a date. She guessed he would never ask her out. And she wasn’t sure if she would have the nerve to say yes, even if he did. She normally dated punkish boys who she could manipulate and control and even kick in the shin. There was something about strong men that frightened her.
Hearthville Serial: Book 7
Episode 21
Any Truth, Proper Grammar, or Correct Spelling is totally coincidental if not accidental.
All characters are fiction. This story is fiction. This story makes no claims about any real person.
By Charles Peters
Copyright 2021
All Rights Reserved
Preacher Pat Pialo and Stewart made their exit from the Preacher’s house. Jack and Judy noticed them walking in their direction. Some reporters ran up and Preacher Pialo told his story of how he had got locked in the cellar and Stewart had rescued him. Jack and Judy had run in time to hear the story.
Jack wanted to hug Preacher Pat and let him know how thrilled he was that Preacher Pat was okay. But he knew such a public display would not be welcomed. Judy saw the pain and desperation on Jack’s face. Jack had never been the kind to sneak around or hide his feelings. But there he was.
Preacher Pat also saw that Jack was about to explode with emotions. Preacher Pat said, “Jack Minx is my good friend.”
The reporters looked at one another. Then a female reporter said, “Jack is also good friends with Victor Duddley who reported the bio terrorist in the church. Victor may have been exposed to what was being sprayed in the church. Have you or anyone seen Victor since he went after the terrorists?”
A male reporter looked at Judy. Then he looked at Stewart. “Yes, and Judy and Stewart are the sister and brother of Victor. Have either of you seen him?”
Jack said, “We saw him briefly and then…”
Judy said, “He was in a hurry to go somewhere. I don’t know where.”
Stewart and Pat looked at one another. They remembered what Kristen had said. She had said, “What the hell do you mean that Winston and Rabbit are in Witch City and with Sam’s parents? Victor did something with them. They can’t be found. If that son of a bitch has sent my son to hell, I will, I will, I will make all of his friends and family wish they were in hell.”
Preacher Pat said, “I am sure Victor is working at getting to the bottom of who is behind the terrorists’ attack.”
The female reporter asked, “Isn’t that a job for the police detective Daniel Bare?”
Daniel Bare walked up with his father Mayor Hollis Bare. His cousin Johnny Bare who runs the Bare Detective Agency also walked up. Daniel was not a small man though there was something about him that looked less threatening than his cousin. Johnny was a big man and when he wanted to look threatening, it was easier for him than Daniel. Although Daniel was a total asshole at times, he had a more charming appearance.
Daniel said, “We believe there was no terrorist attack on the church. We believe Victor was mistaken. It was an honest mistake.”
The female reporter said, “If the men were not up to no good, why would they run? Have you captured the two men?”
Mayor Hollis said, “We understand that the FBI captured them, questioned them, and then released them.”
Judy said, “And meanwhile the January 6th Selfie Protestors are being tortured in jail. What a world?”
The female reported asked, “Do the think the FBI may have been involved on the attack on the church the way they were involved in that protest?”
Daniel said, “Not proven and that is something of a crazy conspiracy theory.”
People had started to gather. The crowd was growing.
The female reporter said, “There is evidence.”
Stewart put his arm around Judy. He spoke over her and whatever she had been about to say became hushed as she read the expression on her brother’s face. Stewart said, “Let us just be glad that Preacher Pat is okay and that no one was hurt. I am sure if the FBI was doing a false flag attack there would be bodies all over the place so I am inclined to believe they are innocent this time.”
Daniel Bare patted Stewart on the back. “The FBI are the good guys. They do not do false flag attacks.”
Judy said, “Sure. Tell that to gun maker Remington and …”
Mayor Hollis said, “We are all tired. We don’t need to say things that will cause lawsuits against us in the heat of the moment. We just don’t need that. Judy. I am sure your brother Victor would agree.”
Judy nodded. “I am tired. Where is Steed?”
The male reporter said, “Steed Ramsey. That is right. You date a gangster. I guess it is natural for you to hate the FBI.”
The female reporter kicked the male reporter in the shin. He began hopping around and screamed, “God damn. Bitch.”
“Pansy. Can’t take a little kick.”
Daniel said, “Stewart. Judy. Let me get you home.”
Stewart looked at Preacher Pat. It was a look of desperation. The female reporter looked at the outline of Stewart’s hard cock in his pants.
Preacher Pat said, “Stewart. We will talk later. And thank you so much for rescuing me.”
Stewart nodded. “I am glad that I was able to find you. We need to get the latch on that door fixed.”
The female reporter grinned. “Indeed.”
Two men flashed their badges and introduced themselves as FBI agents. One of the agents pulled handcuffs from his belt. He smiled at the other FBI agent as he put the cuffs on Judy.
Stewart screamed, “What the freak do you two think you are doing?”
“We need to take your sister in for questioning.”
The anger in Johnny Bare’s eyes was obvious to Daniel. He knew his cousin and knew he didn’t have much use for the FBI anyway. There were some agents he respected but those were the exception and not the rule.
Daniel said, “If you try to arrest Judy Duddley I will take the two of you in for questioning.”
“No one said arrest. Just questioning.”
Johnny said, “No.”
“What do you mean no?”
“I mean, no. You have produced no warrant. You have no probable cause. And I am not even sure the two of you are actually FBI Agents. Those badges look like they came out of cereal box. If the two of you do not want your arms broken, get those cuffs off Judy this second.”
The FBI Agent did as Johnny had directed him. Daniel quickly got Judy and Stewart in his police car. The agent screamed, “You haven’t heard the last of me.”
Johnny made a call. Each of the FBI agents got a call seconds later. They both scrambled away from Johnny as fast as they could.
Hollice pulled out a cigar. He chewed on it a moment and then spit. Then he look at his nephew Johnny. “How does it feel to have a license to kill?” Hollice winked at the reporters.
Johnny Bare grinned but did not answer. [correction from previous post.]
The male reporter looked around as he stopped rubbing his leg. He asked, “What makes the Duddley family so special?”
Hollice said, “If you don’t know that, then you must be a yankee.” He walked away.
“Will you Southerners ever stop fighting the civil war?”
The female reporter said, “Just be glad he didn’t say you must be a damned yankee. He onced called me that and my boss put me on desk duty for a month. And hell, I was born in Florida.”
Johnny winked. “Yeah, but your family always vacationed in New York, didn’t they.”
She laughed. She wondered what Johnny might be like in bed. Then she put those thoughts out of her head. “I understand you spend a good bit of time in New York.”
“I get there some. Mostly business. I haven’t seen a Broadway show in forever.”
“Yeah. This covid insanity.”
Johnny nodded. “Yeah. Agree. But they are opening some shows. From what I can tell though, mostly they are opening the same shit they have had going forever and I did not want to go see most of that crap even when the shows first opened.”
She cocked her head and looked at Johnny sideways. Johnny intrigued her but she guessed she would be better off to go home to her two cats than to ask him out on a date. She guessed he would never ask her out. And she wasn’t sure if she would have the nerve to say yes, even if he did. She normally dated punkish boys who she could manipulate and control and even kick in the shin. There was something about strong men that frightened her.