(This series is a collaboration with my good friend Sanchez. His ideas, I ran with it. We will see how it evolves. He has a sound concept, and characters, I'm primarily piecing it all together and seeing how it plays out. We hope you enjoy our efforts.)
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MIDNIGHT Episode 020: FRESH
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1:00 PM... the Santee Rez Civic Center.
"We do not need this outsider's money."
Nodin Merrick sat in order of age on the Board of Santee Affairs. A man of stature standing at 6'3 and groomed as if making a wine commercial, his presence was almost distracting. No whine before it's time! In his steel grey business suit, black tie and gator skin boots his attire was entirely designed by Rez tailors. Hair perfectly styled with an accent of peppered grey at the temples, clean shaven with otherwise chiseled features. A firm musculature for his age he was certainly an all eyes on candidate for any office. However, politics was not his forte. Outside of the Rez, he would rather lead his people the Nodin know how way, than any off-reservation government position. He was wealthy enough not to care about the white man's influence. He did however invest in the Stock Market owning shares in oil. Yes, he owned a Merrick Derrick. Money was good. Money was power.
"There are needy members of our community Brother Merrick." Newton Waterfall the eldest of Elders spoke out for his tribe in a more faithful to the people manner. "Money is hard to come by. While this offer may only be for a number of weeks it will indeed be beneficial to those who have nothing but are valued upstanding citizens. Troubled times my brothers. There are many here less fortunate than us. The Founding Fathers of our people look down upon us to support our tribe."
"I employ many of our people Waterfall."
"Yes, Brother Merrick and that is a blessing, but even you cannot hire them all. This small opportunity will relax those with no income at all."
"Many work outside the Rez brothers." Bobby Black Fox spoke out, he dressed in all black other a white bowtie for a splash. "This feud we have must not decide the fate of the less fortunate. The White man does provide when we cannot. I agree with Newton." Beside him Cordell Dance Among Hail in a white button down and red tie, long gray hair in a tail nodded in agreement. Today Nodin Merrick seemed to be on the losing end. After over an hour boasting of Santee progress without the outsiders help, listing every job Merrick provided was not enough to still his Elder Brothers. For once even Bobby Black Fox who was ofttimes shady himself had to do his job properly. People were nearing homelessness, starving if not for handouts. This offering was well received.
"You would send our people to a place of banishment?" Merrick's final push spoke of a dark history, "Harbinger Shoals as you all know is a cursed place. We do not know this Mister Sanchez. Should we not look into his character before sending our people in blindly?"
"He is a very serious man Brother Merrick. He sat at my table. Respected my family. Offered to even finance Rayna if she wanted to expand her clothing business."
"A ploy I am certain."
"I might be without sight Brother, but I know what my other senses tell me. This man is dark, yet he has much light to balance himself. My granddaughter is with him currently, sharing her wisdom of the Shoals."
"No disrespect Newton, but your granddaughter is young and much more impressionable to outsiders. She moved to Charleston for a reason." Cordell wavered a bit.
"History is important. Lillian has studied long and hard to be in the position she is now in. Black Fox rings true, the feud our people have with them has diminished much over the years. We often get donations from beyond our borders. We are thankful. Who are we to deny food on our people's plate? Money to keep their utilities on. Pay their mortgages." Newton pauses to lean toward Merrick, "Gamble in your casinos should they fail their families."
Merrick realized he had a point there. No money, no hookers or time at the strip club. Mulling it over he opted to close out his negativity. "For our people." 'Nuff said Newton called for a show of hands, which in turn became knocks on the table for Newton's benefit. Proving his senses, he tapped the gavel in his hand on the wooden cradle before him dead center. "All in? Good! We will put the word out for those willing to go to work." Each of the Elders marveled at his knowing they all put their hands up, counting knocks swiftly. It was not truly the rapping on of any hard surface, a simple ruffle of clothing and underarm deodorants led Newton Waterfall's count.
"I still intend to look into this Nick Sanchez." Nodin offered up. "I agree, unless I find something to warrant an objection." He had already set that in motion. An earlier text to his tech savvy daughter Crimson sent her online to investigate everything she could find while he met here today. She was running late in giving him anything to convince his brothers to change their minds. With the meeting convened, Nodin shook hands with all involved and stepped out.
His car waiting for him, a 2015 Audi A8 in silver he headed down the walkway toward it when a young boy approached him wagging his cellphone. Looking behind him for prying eyes he motioned the boy to him. Taking the cell, he watched a video of Nick Sanchez and the conflict he had with Oliver Heavy Feather. Troubled at seeing Oliver's biker crew manhandling Dawn Bearpaw he gnashed his teeth. If she spoke of it to her grandfather, trouble would arise. The entire scenario unfolding included Nick's short-lived fight with Oliver ending in the young warrior on the ground in agony. Nick approaching the other bikers spooking them with mere patience before they tossed their guns away was unnerving. Pussies!
Further inspection he noted Nick fingering Dawn and making her squirt instantly. That took talent. A final shot of Nick getting into the huge Ford Raptor and pausing to look over at the boy and pointing at him he heard the lad mumble, "Oh shit!" Nick knew he was hiding in the trees. Using the boy's cell, he sent the video to his own phone for later revelations.
"Good work, Upside Down Crow." He handed the cell back along with a fifty-dollar bill and a few stray dollars for the vending machine from his wallet. The boy smiled and walked away to buy a Root Beer. In his car Nodin began to start it when his daughter Crimson called. "Speak!"
"Throw me a dog treat first. Make it caviar." She heard her father sigh and knew better than to banter further. "Alright! I dug into this guy's backyard as much as NSA allowed. I'm not a hacker Daddy. But I do know a few so they added to my findings. I owe them a date so this better be enough for you."
"Get to it." He waited there watching his brothers filter out to leave for their own corners of the Rez. Even more, he spotted the Ford Raptor from the video approaching which increased his curiosity. No Nick behind the driver's seat only Dawn Bearpaw. Upon parking he observed her joining Newton on the way back to his home. She looked filthy but still as sexy as ever.
"What I found was only where he's from which is New York near the city. Parents names, where he went to school. Year he enlisted into the military. His military stuff goes fuzzy until my hacker BFF Cybercock sent me a bunch of black ink. 90% of his career is redacted. No help there but it does pose questions. Nobody wears this much ink without things to hide. My other friend Peep told me the guy has to be Black Ops. He does have a pilot's license. He owns two airplanes and a chopper. More than a few big toys. Loaded it seems!"
"Obviously has money. Follow the paper trail."
"We're still digging. I'll be in touch." Hanging up Nodin winces at the Raptor. With the boy Nathan Upside Down Crow still loitering as he looked over the candy machine, Nodin tooted his horn to get his attention. A subtle wave the boy raced over to the car door. "See this row of numbers?" He pointed out the VIN number on his car. "Take me a picture of the one on that truck." The boy sat his drink on the sidewalk then hurried to climb the Raptor until locating the series of digits. A picture hard to capture in the reflection on the windshield took him three times before getting it right. Returning with it, Nodin again transferred the photo. Once in his own cell he sent it off to his daughter Crimson Merrick. Another twenty dollar bill the boy beamed and darted away.
"Trucks too much for little girl Bearpaw. This has to belong... HIS." He noted the plate and carefully took his own photo of it. "Says it all! She must be seeing this Sanchez. Interesting!" Not quite but it did seem so.
Yes, it was! Interesting that is.
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3:50 PM... Caretaker Police Department.
Nick Sanchez pulled into the lot finding Officer Darcy Grainger stepping out of the cop shop yawning. It was obvious that the small-town force was spread thin. Stretching vividly, her large chest nearly popped a button. She knew she needed to sew a few on but just hadn't gotten to it. Exploring their weakness as Nick left his 4Runner she sighed at their hopelessness.
"Wardrobe malfunction?"
"Not yet, getting close though. I really need to hit Dolan up for new uniforms." She patted her chest then changed the subject. "Here for Midnight?"
"Yeah! She behave?"
"Hasn't moved a muscle. I think she might have peed all over herself. That Biles guy got moved into the hole in the wall wing."
"So, Roster took my advice that Biles could be trusted."
"Yep! Biles is even going to rebuild the wall tomorrow as community service. Dolan's calling Judge Lawson now to discuss no court date, it being a first offense. Lawson's a flexible gal I think she will take Dolan's recommendation and release the guy. If you think he's innocent, good enough for me. Dolan's still going to issue a restraining order just in case."
