The Doomsday Spiral by Jon Land

Author:Jon Land
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Open Road Media
Published: 2008-05-31T00:00:00+00:00

Twenty-three

“WHAT THE HELL are you doing, Sheriff?”

Mayor Jim Layton’s demand was preceded by his stormy entrance into Bugsy Tyler’s office with Dave Dean by his side. Tyler, sitting comfortably behind his desk, did not have to ask the mayor to explain himself.

“My job, Jimbo,” Bugsy said simply, his expression unwavering.

Layton’s thighs brushed up against the front of the desk. He was trembling with rage. Dave Dean stood off to the right a bit, his features screwed up into an angered stare.

“Does your job include harassing men who are trying to do something good for this town?” the mayor asked harshly.

“Why? Ya’ know any?”

Layton’s lips puckered. “Don’t get smart with me, Bugsy. We been friends a long time. But lately I just haven’t been able to figure out your behavior.”

“I guess Lou Marshall’s been in for a visit.”

“With a list of complaints against you longer than a cow’s tongue.”

“Did he mention anythin’ ’bout his calluses?”

“His wha—… What the hell are you talking about?”

“Ask him.”

“I’m asking you.”

“But you’re not listening, Jimbo,” Tyler said, still sedate.

“No, Bugsy, you’re the one who’s not listening,” Layton accused, thrusting a finger menacingly forward. “I’m telling you that these guys are working their butts off trying to discover the black ooze that just might keep this town going. And it isn’t making their job any easier to have a lamebrain sheriff jumping on their backs like a frigging dog in heat, badgering them with questions and accusations that just plain aren’t called for.”

“So what do you want me to do?”

“I want you to lay off them.”

“Lay off? You want me to lay off? …” Tyler rose slowly from his chair, resting his massive hands on the desk top. “Now hold it just a gawddamned minute there, Jimbo. It seems you and your silent partner here are a little mixed up when it comes to duties in this shithole of a town your five oil buddies are makin’ such a streamline effort to save.” Tyler stuck his finger into the center of his badge. “My duties as sheriff include investigatin’ any person or persons actin’ suspiciously. And Marshall and his pals fit into that category just as tight as a ten-incher in a whore’s ass.”

“Bullshit,” muttered Dave Dean, looking away.

Tyler swung his eyes toward him. “That might well be what they’re diggin’ for, Dave, ’cause it sure ain’t oil.”

“Bugsy, will you just try to be reasonable,” pleaded the mayor.

“Jimbo, these guys’ story stinks more than an old whore’s breath.”

“Prove it,” challenged Dave Dean.

“To begin with, there ain’t no oil in this town,” Tyler shot back. “A guy at the Resources Department told me the rocks is all wrong.”

“An opinion.”

“A fact, gawddamnit!”

Layton shook his head. “Marshall says there’s no way anyone can know whether there’s oil here or not until they do some exploratory digging which is what he and his boys are doing now.”

“Then why hasn’t anybody in the oil industry ever heard of ’em, huh? Answer me that, Jimbo.” Tyler thrust his index finger in the mayor’s direction.

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