one who never says aye, boo, kiss my ass, go to hell, nothing. Old Sam’s passion is taking his only friend, Jackson, who is a coonhound, on long walks through the pit and the surrounding woods. He told me once that it clears his brain and rests his soul to be out there with Jackson in the cool dawn. Well, this morning he set out to cross the pit and Jackson started to act kind of funny. And then he let out a howl that old Sam said he hadn’t heard before and then Jackson started running. He had a helluva time keeping up with the old coonhound. They came around this pile of gravel and lo and behold, they saw a body with an axe in its chest. Sam said he knew better than to get too close so he put a leash on Jackson and headed for the neighbors so he could call Naldie. He didn’t go home because he doesn’t have a phone. Says he’s never needed one.
“First thing Naldie asked him is how he got into the pit since it’s supposed to be secured. I had to kind of chuckle because old Sam told him in no uncertain terms that his pretty yellow tape wasn’t going to keep him out of any place he wanted to go.
“Naldie and I left immediately to take a look for ourselves and to tell that young whippersnapper Byron and his two-bit buddy Arnie to make sure the pit was closed up tighter than a bull’s butt. And that if anyone else entered that pit without Naldie’s directpermission, those two would be looking for jobs at the commercial Satan. You know, don’t you, that that’s what Naldie calls the Walmart in the next town?”
Seeing them both give a barely perceptible nod, Pete continued. “We just got back a few minutes ago and Naldie’s been in his office just a-pacing and a-rubbing his belly like he always does when his thicket is all puckered up. I’m starting to worry about that man. You think he may need some pills or something, Doc?”
Letting out a loud sigh, Doc leaned forward in his chair and started rubbing his neck. “I’m worried too, Pete. Why don’t we go into his office and chat with him.”
The three of them rose almost in unison and headed for Naldie’s office. They could see the angst on his face through the windowed door as they approached it. Without knocking, Doc opened the door and the three entered the musty-smelling, cluttered room that Naldie called his home away from home. They startled Naldie, causing him to drop a piece of paper he’d been looking at.
He removed his old golf cap and, with outstretched hands, yelled at the trio, “Jeez, Louise! Doesn’t anyone knock before entering a room anymore? This is my private office, you know! And I’m still the chief! At least until I can get this letter—now where the heck did that go—to the mayor. I just can’t do this anymore and I’m resigning. Pete, I’ve told the mayor that you should be the next chief.”
Pete strode right up to his boss and put both hands on his hips. “Chief, you just cool your jets! You’re not resigning and you’renot going anywhere. Just get that crap out of your mind. If your Janelle could hear you now, she’d kick you square in your size forty-six butt and you know it. You’ve got a job to do and no one’s better suited to do it than you. And we’re going to help you, right guys?”
Doc walked up to his dear friend, and using the voice that he had perfected when dealing with irate and upset patients, he softly patted Naldie’s forearm in an attempt to reassure him.
“Naldie, I agree with Pete. Why don’t you just sit down for a bit and let’s try to figure this out together. Now take a couple of deep breaths, and then let’s put a plan together. Have you called Dr. Anthony yet? You know we have to call him, and we need to return to the crime scene and do the investigation just like we did before.” Patting the chief’s forearm again, he asked, “Okay, Naldie, are you calmed down now?”
Nube felt that even he was feeling calmer just hearing Doc’s soothing voice. He knew why Doc had
“First thing Naldie asked him is how he got into the pit since it’s supposed to be secured. I had to kind of chuckle because old Sam told him in no uncertain terms that his pretty yellow tape wasn’t going to keep him out of any place he wanted to go.
“Naldie and I left immediately to take a look for ourselves and to tell that young whippersnapper Byron and his two-bit buddy Arnie to make sure the pit was closed up tighter than a bull’s butt. And that if anyone else entered that pit without Naldie’s directpermission, those two would be looking for jobs at the commercial Satan. You know, don’t you, that that’s what Naldie calls the Walmart in the next town?”
Seeing them both give a barely perceptible nod, Pete continued. “We just got back a few minutes ago and Naldie’s been in his office just a-pacing and a-rubbing his belly like he always does when his thicket is all puckered up. I’m starting to worry about that man. You think he may need some pills or something, Doc?”
Letting out a loud sigh, Doc leaned forward in his chair and started rubbing his neck. “I’m worried too, Pete. Why don’t we go into his office and chat with him.”
The three of them rose almost in unison and headed for Naldie’s office. They could see the angst on his face through the windowed door as they approached it. Without knocking, Doc opened the door and the three entered the musty-smelling, cluttered room that Naldie called his home away from home. They startled Naldie, causing him to drop a piece of paper he’d been looking at.
He removed his old golf cap and, with outstretched hands, yelled at the trio, “Jeez, Louise! Doesn’t anyone knock before entering a room anymore? This is my private office, you know! And I’m still the chief! At least until I can get this letter—now where the heck did that go—to the mayor. I just can’t do this anymore and I’m resigning. Pete, I’ve told the mayor that you should be the next chief.”
Pete strode right up to his boss and put both hands on his hips. “Chief, you just cool your jets! You’re not resigning and you’renot going anywhere. Just get that crap out of your mind. If your Janelle could hear you now, she’d kick you square in your size forty-six butt and you know it. You’ve got a job to do and no one’s better suited to do it than you. And we’re going to help you, right guys?”
Doc walked up to his dear friend, and using the voice that he had perfected when dealing with irate and upset patients, he softly patted Naldie’s forearm in an attempt to reassure him.
“Naldie, I agree with Pete. Why don’t you just sit down for a bit and let’s try to figure this out together. Now take a couple of deep breaths, and then let’s put a plan together. Have you called Dr. Anthony yet? You know we have to call him, and we need to return to the crime scene and do the investigation just like we did before.” Patting the chief’s forearm again, he asked, “Okay, Naldie, are you calmed down now?”
Nube felt that even he was feeling calmer just hearing Doc’s soothing voice. He knew why Doc had
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