(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 015: RESidENT
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5:20 AM...
"Wake it up Amador!"
"Hey! Don't kick my Honey Bunny when he's down."
"Shut it Ms. Bigelow." He wanted to say Bigbelow due to her chunky butt. Sheriff Dolan Roster kept it professional for the sake of less aggravation. Dolan was not kicking Esteban in his drunken slumber, but it was not a love tap either. He knew how to balance his boot. "I said rise and shine Esteban. We need to have a talk."
Off to the side Nick Sanchez merely observed. This being Midnight Amador's father kept him at bay. Until he knew what the man had to say it was better not to get too involved. If he turned out to be uncooperative, then he would let Dolan do the roughing up after a sweet verse of Miranda's song. One last nudge Esteban began grumbling.
"I told ya Shantee, I ain't got paid." She knew that was a lie having spent sixty bucks on booze, munchies, and a beauty magazine, as if it would help her. His wallet was a bit lighter.
"Shantee? You're not Santee." Dolan winced at the woman. "You do know his wife is right?"
"Wife? He's married?" She marched over and kicked Esteban in the balls.
"HEY!" Dolan grabbed her, "Two minutes ago you told me not to kick your Honey Bunny."
"You're right." She pulled away and hopped on his belly like a rabbit. "How are we feeling now...Whiskers?" The pain made Esteban revive and groan at comprehending his unnatural surroundings. It not even being daylight just yet, his eyes found only a flashlight in his face.
"Jump on him again I'm locking you up for assault."
"How could you do this to me? You know I'm sensitive being a widow." Shantel feigned tears. She knew quite well Esteban had a wife at home, and she, an ex-husband alive and well. She was simply a pain in everyone's ass. "Sanchez, escort Ms. Bigbelow to my car."
"Not my job Sheriff." With Shantel struggling to get free of Dolan he roughly took her to his squad car and tossed her in the back seat. While occupied Nick moved closer to Esteban in the darkness. Crouching next to him Nick introduced himself. "Call me the Angel of Breath. It's my call if you continue that privilege. Did you beat your wife and set your home on fire?"
"What?" Esteban was so out of, reeling from his scrotum swelling up being kicked by fuzzy slippers, he barely heard Nick. "What the hades are ye talkin' about?"
"Did you beat Irene Amador?"
"Why would I hurt my wife? I love my..."
"Girlfriend?" Nick pointed at Shantel screaming and cursing from the locked squad car. Dolan making his way back to Esteban shined his flashlight in the man's eyes again. Flinching Esteban saw the glint of Dolan's badge.
"What be the meanin' of wakin' me like this Sheriff?"
"Sit up! Did you rough your wife up last night?"
"We had words but I... walked out on her."
"Your house burnt to the ground Esteban."
"What?" Eyes bulge at the unexpected news, "My home? How?"
"That's why I'm here. You need to sober up and think about this with a clear head Esteban. Your future depends upon a confession or a cleared name."
"Irene..." He seemed confused, "Is Irene...alright?"
"She wouldn't be if not for the man kneeling next to you."
"I'm not kneeling, I'm crouching. Big difference!" Nick was offended.
"Uh huh! Anyways...this man here ran into a fire to save your wife. Least you can do is thank him. If she had died, you might be looking at a murder charge."
"She's alive? Thank the Lord."
"You're welcome." Nick growled, "Your daughter Midnight is at the hospital with Irene in Cordoba. Irene suffers from head trauma and burns. I've seen worse in my day but she's still unconscious in the ICU."
"I need to see her." Esteban shook off his intoxicated brain cells as best he could. "I love my wife." Getting to his feet was another thing. Neither Nick, nor Dolan offered him a hand up.
"All in good time. What about your gal friend over there?"
"Come on Sheriff...a fella has needs now and again." Dolan couldn't disagree now that he was tapping Caprice Comstock.
"You're better off with Irene. She's a good woman Amador." Dolan glared searching him for signs of guilt. "Did you strike Irene?"
Nick dared to lift Esteban's hand noticing he favored his right side. "Bruised knuckles."
"Dropped somethin' on them at the warehouse. Ask me chaps."
"We will!" Dolan shined his light on the hand. "You do know when Irene comes to, I'll be questioning her as to what happened."
"She will tell ye. I never laid a hand on her. We argue all the time."
"I have no doubt." Dolan sighed.
"You're not a cop." Esteban shot a glance at Nick in his white polo shirt. "Who be ye?"
"Midnight's advisor. You no longer have a say in that."
"What ya mean by that? I'm her father...I brought her into this world...I own her."
"Different world now! Live with it. For the record, my name is Nick Sanchez. If you hurt your wife or daughter ever again, I'll hunt you down no matter where you hide. We ask again...did you beat your wife and torch your home to make certain she was dead? Insurance?"
"Does it look like Esteban has insurance Sanchez?" Nick nodded; it was only a thought. "Let me do the interrogating, Mister I'm not your Deputy." Growling Nick backed off standing up to stare down at the grisly looking Spaniard. As long as Esteban was sitting, he wouldn't run.
Esteban was pondering his losses and trying to make sense of what he might and might not have done. Admitting to guilt in abusing Irene would get him jail time. While they had often had scuffles before, it was usually shoving matches, almost always on Esteban's behalf, Irene submissive in nature as per her upbringing generally backed down.
"Let's start over." Dolan now crouched as Nick had earlier, flashlight beam blinding Esteban, "I see a moonshine jug over there on the ground. We both know where you got that, fairly close to home weren't it? You know that's illegal right?"
"Free sample." Esteban hissed but tried not to get too cocky.
"I'm sure it was. We can discuss a bootleg charge added on to any possible aggravated assault."
"I told you I never hit my wife. I adore me, Irene."
"That why you leave her out there all alone so much? Word spreads Esteban."
"Spats! She is a hard woman to please."
"Shantel back there any better? She did just sack you."
"Playful minx!"
"That what her ratty fur coat is made of? Oh wait! That's a mink ain't it? How the hell did you sink this low, squatting on private property? Does old man Coolidge know you been setting up camp out here?"
"Who?"
"Course, he doesn't!"
Nick eyed the large fishing boat behind them as Dolan flashed his light on the side, like the back of the boat there was a name painted on it saying Sirene... the last E obviously painted on by hand. If Esteban had done that, he might truly love his wife, Irene. His opinion still forming gave him options.
"Ain't harmin' things none. Shantee's home not mine. I... visit is all."
"I'm pretty sure Coolidge doesn't know about Furball back there. She doesn't shut up for three seconds, does she?"
"Gift for gab."
"I can see that. Hear it too. I say we take you in and let you sober up good. How's breakfast in your bunk sound? Plenty of hot coffee."
"Where's my car?" He noticed it missing finally.
"Your gabby goose back there drove it to Botfelder, it's how we found you. I had it impounded. If you happen to have nothing to do with Irene's assault and the fire, I'll have your car returned no charges. I know you couldn't pay the storage fees on it anyway. Bad enough you got a hospital bill coming in the mail."
"Take me to me wife."
"Not until she's out of the woods. You're no good to anyone in your condition. Let's just make you presentable. I'll call your job and tell them Irene's in the ICU and your home burnt down. Should give you a few days without losing your job. I'm being cordial Esteban... don't prove me wrong."
"Ye be a saint, Sheriff."
"Nothing you can do at the hospital besides irritate the family. Tilly and Mordecai are with her, Irene's momma too."