Page 68 of Rules

"Ah, yeah she knows. Tobias what's going on with you?"

"We need to meet," I say, pinching the bridge of my nose. "Tonight."

"Can't do tonight. We're still setting up. But tomorrow morning works. Say eight AM at my office?"

"Fine. I'll be there." I end the call more abruptly than I intended and immediately dial the station.

"Whispering Pines Sheriff's Department, how may I direct your call?" It's the weekend receptionist.

"This is Sheriff Trenton. Get me Deputy Rogers."

"Oh, Sheriff! Just a moment."

After a minute of waiting, Brooklyn comes on the line. "Boss?"

"Damn right, that's exactly who I am!"

"Excuse me?"

"I'm the boss, the sheriff."

"I'm aware of that." Brooklyn sounds confused.

I throw my bread and buns to the counter. "Did you encounter the bounty hunter Wallace, also known as Law, and the rest of his crew on Main Street?"

"I did."

"Are you aware, Deputy, that Law's crew consists of four military grade weapons specialists, a martial arts expert, two Navy seals and two green berets? And that they are traveling with two global level hackers?"

"Ahhh... I am now." She takes a second. "What's the big deal, I was an Army ranger, Sang was a marine and Edwards jumped out of planes and you, yourself were in the service. I didn't know we were having a contest."

"We're not. They have two hackers with them."

"O-kay, I met Mouse and Keyboard. As I understand it, Law's responsible for them. Is that not how it is?"

I tossed the hamburger, cheese, bacon and lettuce into the refrigerator not caring where they landed. "It is. But this is our town, we should have been notified when the hackers arrived. I should have been told."

"Forgive me, I wasn't aware Law was to let us know."

Slamming my coffee can onto the counter. "He isn't."

"I don't understand. You're mad because Mouse and Keyboard are with the one who's responsible for them?"

I ran a hand through my hair, "I'm mad because I didn't know they arrived."

"Aren't we all on the same team? Working towards the same results?"

"We are."

"And?"

"AND, why wasn't I made aware of the break-in? Sang informed me in the grocery store. I am the sheriff!"

Brooklyn speaks with a sarcastic tone. "We know who you are. You weren't made aware because it turned out not to be a break-in. It was a couple of teen boys wanting some cash. They tried to hold up the gas station. The clerk taught them a lesson, he cleaned their clocks. The call came over as Sang was leaving. He doesn't know."

Feeling like a fool. "Well, good. I'm glad we had this talk and you understand."

"I don't..." I disconnected.

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