"Sounds like a conflict-of-interest to me,” Paul said.
"Why? Because he tried to buy the resort? It was never for sale. So it can't be a conflict. If Sadie uses that as a defense, no one will believe her. Who'd believe a crazy woman who babbles to invisible friends?"
"Her sister isn't crazy. Did the judge think about that?” Paul said.
"It doesn't matter. It won't come to that anyway."
Paul nodded his head toward an office near the dispatch desk. “What's Deputy Friborg doing in the sheriff's office?"
"He just finished a phone call. Apparently he wanted privacy.” Carl flung the glass-paneled door open. It rebounded with a bang. “Hey, Lon. Did you see the front page of the newspaper?"
Startled, Lon Friborg pulled his feet off the sheriff's desk so quickly they hit the floor with a thud. “Holy balls. You scared me. I thought you were the sheriff."
"If I play my cards right, I will be.” Carl leaned against the door frame. He crossed his arms and waited for Lon's reaction.
"You? The sheriff?” Lon put his feet back on the desk.
"If you'd pick up a newspaper once in a while, you'd see I threw my hat in the ring.” Irritated at Lon's look of disbelief, Carl knocked the deputy's feet off the desk.
Carl was fed up with the shock everyone expressed over his entering the election. Lon was the third person this morning who acted surprised, and not one of them said it was a good idea. Stupidity. That's what it was. They weren't intelligent enough to understand the big picture. He absolutely refused to tolerate the laughter that gushed from his wife when he told her his plans. What did she know? She was so ignorant she couldn't remember to wear her underwear.
Lon bent to pick up the scattered papers. “Are you serious? You're running for sheriff?"
"Damn right I'm serious.” Carl followed Lon back into the deputies’ office. “I've planned a platform that'll guarantee victory. And in case you haven't noticed, I've started parking my squad car in my driveway instead of in my garage. It'll be good advertising. Kind of an ‘in your face’ approach."
"Your platform better include proving the Fossum crash wasn't an accident,” Lon said.
Carl's jaw stiffened. “I thought I told you to drop it. The sheriff said it was an accident. Fossum hit a deer. That's all it was. An accident."
"And if you remember,” Lon said, “I told you why I disagreed.” Lon held up an index finger. “Skid marks for starters. I've known Richard for years. He was a good driver. The skid marks indicated a sharp wheel turn to the left. Richard knew better than that. He knew to tap on the brake and ride it out. Those skid marks didn't indicate braking."
Carl rolled his eyes. “That's lame. That's no reason to investigate. People swerve after hitting a deer all the time."
"What would it hurt to investigate a little further?” Lon said. “Did you see deer hair on the car? Or blood or skin? I didn't."
"You're blowing smoke out your ass,” Carl shouted. “It was an accident. Get over it."
"Did you tell Paul about my concerns?"
"No he didn't,” Paul said, looking at Carl for clarification.
"Paul's got enough grief right now. Losing his partner was bad enough.” Carl glared at Lon as he returned to his desk. “And besides, it's bullshit."
"This needs to be investigated. If you're not going to do it, then I will."
Carl inched closer to Lon. “You do, and you'll jeopardize my chance of winning the election. People will think I'm not doing my job. I'm not about to go on a wild goose chase just because you've got a hunch."
"I'm telling you, Carl, Richard hadn't been himself before the crash. I'd never seen him so withdrawn,” Lon said. “There's got to be something else going on."
"Richard was prone to mood swings,” Paul said. “There was nothing else going on. I should know."
"Listen to yourself, Lon. You're just as loony as Nan 's ex.” Carl looked toward Angie as another dispatch call blared over the speaker. “When he made up stupid stories, everyone wrote it off to the booze. You're going to lose credibility just like he did."
Lon turned his back on the men and walked over to the coffee pot. He pulled three mugs off the rack and filled them with coffee.
"You need to hear my campaign strategy,” Carl said. “It's based on what the people need.” Drawing a sip of hot coffee, Carl spit it back into the mug. “Has this been brewing all morning? It tastes like mud. Make a fresh pot so we can have something decent to drink."
"Yes sir, Mr. Sheriff,” Lon said. “Whatever you say."
Carl ignored Lon's remark. “I'm bored with being a deputy. I need a challenge. I happen to know what the bigwigs in this town want. That will be my platform. If I act like I believe in what they want, I'm guaranteed a victory."
Grabbing the brim of his cap and raising it off his head, Carl scratched his scalp with his little finger. As he replaced his cap, he elbowed Paul. “Word has it the sheriff isn't going to run again. He's useless anyway. If I'm lucky, I'll run against some dumb stiff who thinks he can do a better job."
Lon slipped his Kevlar duty vest over his head. He reached around the corner and grabbed his shirt from a hanger.
Disgusted at Lon's lack of interest, Carl waited while he buttoned his shirt.
"Once I'm elected, I'm going to do what I want. I'm going to put them damn Indians back on the reservation where they belong.” Carl sat forward in his chair. “Our current sheriff,” he emphasized the word ‘sheriff’ by making quotation marks with his fingers, “isn't making them a priority. I know several council members who are upset with his attitude."
"You're not going to build a campaign on an issue like that. Pinecone Landing's got one of the biggest diversity groups in the state. Besides, the Indians have their own judicial system. It's federal law. You'd be a fool to think you can change it. And why would you? It works."
Paul piped in, “I think Carl's right. The sheriff is too lenient. We need someone in that office who's got big balls."
"That would be me,” Carl said with raised eyebrows and a big grin. He watched Lon secure a wide leather belt around his waist and check the loops containing his cuffs and pepper spray. “I don't intend to change any laws."
He jabbed his thumb skyward. “You know how them Indians talk about Father Earth and all that other holy crap. It won't be God they fear, it'll be me. That's the key. It'll be a cold day before they break any more laws in my jurisdiction."
"You're going to get in a whole lot of trouble,” Lon said. “You mess with the tribal council and you'll be pulled from office before you know what hit you."
"That's the trouble with you, Lon. You're such a pussy you've lost the ability to think on your feet.” Carl leaned forward and grabbed his mug. “That's why I'm going to be sheriff and you're not."
"I don't want to be sheriff."
Surprised at the anger in Lon's voice, Carl said, “Nobody's going to miss a few renegades from time to time. I know enough to cooperate with the tribal council. I'll even help them locate their missing brethren."
"What makes you think they're the only ones who commit crimes around here?” Lon demanded. “Seems to me a few of your cousins were arrested last year."
"So?"
"If you look at the statistics, more crimes were committed by our locals than by the Indians."
"Then I'll just have to deal with the jack pine savages, too, won't I?"
"I guess,” Lon said. “It seems to me you're seeking revenge on the whole tribe because of an indiscretion on your wife's part. You'd be better off cleaning up your own backyard first."
Carl was sick of Lon's blase attitude. Nothing ruffled him. Yet he knew under that calm facade, Lon's brain churned nonstop. “Give me some credit. I intend to deal with all the crime. My plan will get press in the local paper. That'll make me look good. If everything goes the way I expect, there won't be a criminal left in Pinecone Landing.” Carl nudged Paul. “I like the sound of that. Don't you?"