Once Upon A Half-Time 2(132)
“Hellhole?” Josie sounded hurt. “It’s vacant now.”
“Yeah, a nuisance property. Got rules on the books to prevent that sort of mess from happening.”
Now the tides turned. A few people grumbled at Bob to sit down, and even his son-in-law urged him to take his seat. Bob didn’t move, but he stumbled, good and drunk for the meeting.
“Ordinances, gentleman.” Bob called to the council. “Someone’s gotta maintain that land. The grass is over three inches tall.”
“By whose measurement?” Delta asked. Her uncle told her to quiet down.
“Mine,” Bob said. “I can measure three inches.”
Delta’s grin earned another murmur through the crowd. “With the ruler in your pants, I’d wager.”
Nolan pounded the gavel. “You promise to mow the grass if it gets high, Josie?”
She played the game. “Sure, before it gets to a nuisance level.”
“It already is!” Bob was losing the crowd, but his voice crackled and spit. His face burned red. “An unkempt property is a breeding place for vermin. Think the Davis’s ever cared?”
Delta boo’ed. A few others joined in.
Chief Craig sighed. “Bob, sit down.”
“Goddamn it, no! That lot is next to mine. I need to get my own damn customers, and I won’t let them get chased off by weeds and rats.”
Nolan frowned. “There are no rats on her property.”
Bob sneered. “No. But we got plenty of coons.”
A moment of shocked silence passed over the meeting.
Adrenaline surged through me.
I hadn’t murdered yet, but that didn’t mean I wouldn’t. Josie grabbed my arm before the meeting turned into a massacre. Fortunately, the rest of the town sprung to action. They all stood, shouted at Bob, and effectively silenced him before his racist ass spouted off again.
Josie stared, as if Bob had hauled off and smacked her—or at least her dark skin. Chief Craig ordered his officer to open the back doors, and Benjamin Ducacas and Councilman Grossi grabbed Bob’s collar and dragged him from the meeting.
Benjamin called after him. “Sleep it off, Bob. You’re goddamned drunk.”
The town clapped as the door shut, but Josie stiffened. Despite the apologies from the council and the support of the town, she stood. She stormed after Bob, slamming the door in a rotten fury that silenced the hushed whispers.
I followed, smirking at the gossiping townsfolk. “And you thought I was trouble.”
Nolan pounded the gavel as the new accusations and murmurs let loose. Chief Craig called after me as the door shut.
“Bob gets home in one piece tonight.”
I couldn’t guarantee that, but it might have been the first time the town would turn a blind eye to any black eyes or lost teeth found in a puddle.
Josie had caught Bob by the time I reached her side, but the conversation shifted the instant he spotted me.
“Hell no.” He pointed a shaking finger in my direction. “I’m not getting fucked over by him again!”
“You got something to say to her?” I edged close. Josie leapt before me. “Why don’t you and I have a go? I’ll teach you how to treat a lady.”
“Maddox, stop! I’m talking to him.”
“Don’t think you’ll like what he says.”
She ignored me. “Bob, I know our families had their differences, but we’ve always tried to be kind. My Granddad even chipped in when your father died and you didn’t have enough for the funeral.”
Bob spat on the ground. “I’m not going to be intimidated by him again.”
“Intimidated?” Josie ran a hand through her hair. “I don’t understand?”
Bob pointed at me.
Shit.
“You sent your asshole boyfriend after me once. Gonna do it again?”
“What?” Josie shook her head. “I never…what are you talking about?”
“Last year. That bastard there tossed me against the goddamned wall of my store and broke half my windows.”
Son of a bitch.
Josie’s mouth dropped open.
“I was trying to buy your goddamned property, to settle this fucking dispute once and for all. Then this asshole rammed my head into the wall.”
I should have shut him up, but Josie sputtered, confused. Bob grunted.
“Don’t try to play dumb. You sent him to intimidate me into paying more money, and it damn well worked.”
So much for him not telling a soul like he fucking promised in exchange for leaving his jaw unbroken. Not like I wanted to waste my energy on the town drunk, but I was hired to send a message. Christ, the money I got for the job was spent before I earned it anyway.
Josie stepped away from both me and Bob. “Maddox threatened you?”