The Persistent Sheriff

By Michael O'Gara

It is election time in the beautiful resort area of Mountain County but it seems no one is willing to run against Sheriff Millie Boyd as she stands for re-election as County Sheriff. It is no surprise to the residents. Sheriff Millie is after all a modern folk hero who is generally respected and loved by the voters of Mountain County. She is two time state Police Chief of the Year because of her knack for solving mysteries and her ability to build and manage outstanding law enforcement teams.

Just when Millie thinks that a few Friday night rowdy tourists at the local bars will be her biggest problem an unidentified murder victim’s body is found floating in the lake. In order to get to the bottom of the crime Millie must find out who the victim is. To complicate matters a notorious motorcycle gang shows up in Mountain County and Millie must deal with that threat while balancing a new romantic interest as well as her real estate development business.

Millie certainly has her hands full and her continued success will depend on how many things she can juggle at the same time without dropping something. She has no idea the challenges she will face are more far reaching and more dangerous than it would first appear.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Michael O'Gara
• Release date: Dec 2, 2011
• ISBN: 9781465726971

Michael O'Gara

-story-telling multi-genre author selling internationally -MFA, MBA -author of 40+ novels -husband, father, grandfather, disciple -Content and joyful (mostly). Giving life my best shot. -Very happily married for decades.

Book preview

The

Persistent

Sheriff

Michael O’Gara

eBook Edition

© 2011 Michael O’Gara

This e-book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This eBook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

This is a fictional work coming from the author’s imagination. Any similarity to actual persons, events, places, organizations and companies, is purely coincidental.

Published by Heartland Indie Publishing LLC

This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 1 - Re-election

The one thing people seemed agreed on about the upcoming election in Mountain County was that Sheriff Millie Boyd would be re-elected by a landslide. The day that nominations were scheduled to close Millie had been doing her routine visits when she stopped at what was usually a quiet after work bar. She walked in on two men trading blows with each other. Big Burt, a mountain of a man, was trading punches with a big construction worker.

Millie had history with Big Burt. Millie Boyd had no idea that night of her first encounter with him that she was to become an urban legend, well at least a minor folk hero. In the search for her brother Shamus who was in the bottle following the death of their mother, she happened on a drunken Big Burt Stiles. Burt was considered the biggest meanest man in the county and he was beating on her brother in the alley beside the pool hall. Both men were so drunk they could hardly stand but Big Burt was still beating her brother to a pulp.

Now it is it is rumored to be a myth that red haired Irish lasses have a temper. In Millie’s case it was not myth; it was especially not so if someone was hurting family. It was in the time before Millie learned to control the rage. Millie picked up the nearest thing that was lying around which was a an empty beer bottle and ran at Big Burt from behind. She swung the bottle in a wide arc which caught Burt squarely in the right eye.

Now, contrary to popular belief, glass bottles hitting flesh do not necessarily break and can really inflict significant damage on soft tissue. Burt screamed and staggered around and flung his arm out which Millie blocked with her forearm but the force knocked her over. Burt charged forward and tripped over Millie’s legs and went face first into the asphalt breaking his nose which resulted in blood flowing everywhere.

Millie scrambled to her feet as Big Burt raised himself to his knees and Millie swung again with the bottle hitting him in the left eye. Burt was tough and was still not out for the count, though his one eye was swelling shut and his nose was bleeding profusely. Millie swung the bottle again and blood spattered. Big Burt spat out two teeth but started to rise.

Millie decided it was time to make tracks and dropped the bottle. She scrambled out of the alley and ran to her car fumbling the keys out of her pocket with Burt following, spewing curses. Millie dropped her keys just as Big Burt punched at her from behind. To a group of bystanders it appeared as she had ducked under the blow when she stooped to get her keys.

Burt’s fist drove into the car window and he howled. Millie, never one to miss an opportunity, drove her fist up into Burt’s groin and he screamed. She grabbed the side of Big Burt’s shirt to pull herself away to the side just as he dove for her. He missed and his head made a large dent in the car door. From where the spectators were standing, it appeared Millie had driven his head into the door.

Burt fell back unconscious and bleeding. Millie was breathing hard and covered in blood, all of it Big Burt’s. She sat on the curb gasping for breath as the spectators gathered. A sheriff’s car and an ambulance showed up.

The ambulance people packed Big Burt into the ambulance and Millie rasped, Shamus is hurt in the alley.

The sheriff’s deputy asked, "What happened Millie?

Millie said, Big Burt had a bad night.

That remark was overheard and would become integral part of the retelling of tonight’s story. Millie was still struggling to catch her breath.

The deputy asked, Do you want to file charges?

Millie shook her head, He got the worst of it. Millie said no more.

The witnesses described what they had seen and the deputy decided Big Burt and Shamus would simply be charged with public intoxication. Of course in a small community like Safe Haven Bay the story was retold over and over. It didn’t need any embellishment to be interesting but as with all such stories there were dramatic adaptations.

Millie went to the clinic. She was assured both men would survive. When she went home it was without Shamus but she was secure in the knowledge he was safely in custody and alive. She fell on the bed fully clothed and slept until morning.

In the morning, Millie was feeling badly about what had happened as she took her blood caked blouse off. She got cleaned up then went to visit Shamus who was sedated and still laid up. He had taken a pretty severe beating and fell asleep soon after she arrived.

Millie went to see Big Burt and he was also sedated. Burt could only see out of one eye which was still almost swollen shut. Millie spoke first, I’m sorry Burt.

Burt spoke with difficulty because his lips were swollen and he had lost two teeth, I had it comin’ so’s they said. They told me I whupped on Shamus and his sister whupped on me. I honesly donn remember.

Millie said, I guess we both have something to be sorry for. I’m sorry and I hope we can put this behind us and all be friends.

Burt said, The deputy told me you did’n make charges. Friends, ok?

Millie smiled, Friends. She put out her hand to shake and realized Burt’s right hand was in a cast. He reached out with his left and grasped her hand gently. Millie realized just how massive his hands were.

Burt said, I don unerstan how I never laid a hand on ya.

Millie smiled, I’m fast, lucky, and I have some bruises, just where you can’t see. Burt, you hadn’t ought to drink liquor because you get mean when you do. Stick to beer.

Burt tried to smile, Ok, then moaned and fell asleep.

Millie had bruises alright. One big one on her arm where she had blocked the flung arm that knocked her over. She had a massive bruise where she had landed on her hip. She also had bruises on her shins where Burt had stumbled over her legs.

When Millie’s husband Tom had returned between postings to Afghanistan, he heard about the incident. He spent a lot of time with her teaching her to fight dirty. He was a professional and expert in hand to hand combat. He also instructed her so she honed her shooting skills. Tom told her she was a natural shooter and indeed she was.

Tom packed a lot of instruction and loving into the time he had with her before he went back to Afghanistan. He said they’d work to improve her skills even more when he got back. Neither he nor Millie expected he would come back in a coffin.

Since that time, Millie had made a legitimate name for herself. She was very good at her job and was respected.

Millie watched the fighting men for a moment. The two men were oblivious that she was there. Millie put two fingers in her mouth and exhaled producing a loud screeching whistle.

Both the men stopped the fighting. Millie walked over to Big Burt, Burt, I thought you had put this kind of thing behind you.

Burt bowed his head in shame and said, Sorry Sheriff but just ‘cause I didn’t want to fight he bullied me.

Millie looked at the other man, Is that right?

Millie’s reputation for fairness swayed the man’s response and he nodded. Millie noted it looked like the construction worker had gotten the worst of the exchanges.

Millie said, Seeing as there is no property damage, if you two want to apologize to each other, shake hands, let bygones be bygones and go home, I won’t haul you both off to the lockup. Forgiveness is crucial to being forgiven.

Big Burt shrugged and put out his hand to the construction worker, Sorry.

The other man shook Big Burt’s hand and said, Sorry.

Big Burt said to the man he had been trading blows with, Next time I see you in here I’ll buy you a beer.

The other man said, Sure, I’d like that.

They started collecting their hats and belongings but Millie wasn’t finished, Y’all should be ashamed egging those two on like that. I heard you when I came in. Enjoy and have a good time but I don’t want to come back here again, hear. Now have a nice day.

Millie started to leave when a newcomer said, Little lady who do you think you are?

Millie stopped, turned and said, I hope that is the first line in a Country and Western song you are about to sing.

There was general laughter. Big Burt turned to the man and said, Compared to her I’m a wuss so I’d watch your tongue.

The stranger turned it into comedy and started doing a sort of jig dance and making up a song which it was a stretch to say was music. Everyone laughed and the tone of the place had changed.

Big Burt tipped his cap, Thank you, Sheriff.

Millie smiled, You are welcome, Burt.

Millie tipped her cowboy hat slightly and as she was leaving and said to the barkeeper, Let me know, Johnny, if you have any more trouble.

One of the regulars looked at the newcomer, This is your lucky night. That little lady is Sheriff Millie Boyd and she could beat the crap out of you with one hand tied behind her back. One time she put big Burt there in the hospital.

The stranger looked at Big Burt and the construction worker following the petite woman out of the bar. He had been around a lot of towns doing construction and if men like this respected the little woman she deserved it. The men went back to their beers and conversation.

Millie drove back to the office and then walked to the County Clerk’s Office at five to five specifically because this was the day nominations closed. The County Clerk Wilma Crater greeted the sheriff, Hi, Millie. You are curious to see who is running, I bet.

Millie nodded, You betcha, Wilma. Millie stood waiting until Wilma closed the door at five and Wilma proclaimed, The nominations are officially closed. Wilma signed a paper and the other two ladies in the office attested.

Wilma spoke to Millie, It seems no one wants to run against you, me, Elizabeth, Lane, Roberta, or Mitch. John Castor in District Three is facing opposition and Bobbi Brandon’s seat for District Two is up for grabs.

It was no wonder no one wanted to run against the sheriff. Prior to becoming City Marshal of Safe Haven Bay, which was in the County, Millie had been involved with Mitch O’Keefe in the uncovering of a conspiracy that kept the city cash poor. The city considered its present prosperity resulted from their work.

As the elected city marshal in Safe Haven Bay, Millie had led a team that uncovered a drug importation and trafficking, money and arms exporting, international criminal conspiracy that made national headlines. The apprehensions had resulted in a nasty firefight in which she and her deputies as well as FBI and ATF agents engaged some very nasty criminals. Millie had been wounded. Her small team had been responsible for cleaning up the city. Since then, the city had become the home of the preeminent tourist development in the county. One of her hires had stayed on to be elected city marshal when Millie ran for sheriff.

When Millie was elected sheriff of Mountain County, she built the faltering sheriff’s department into the best in the state. Her department had uncovered a broad reaching identity theft ring and a major drug trafficking gang. The asset seizures that resulted were in the millions of dollars. Millie Boyd, in short, was a folk hero loved and respected by the vast majority of law abiding citizens in the county. Everyone knew Millie got the job done and used common sense. In four years she had been named Police Chief of the Year for the state twice; once as city marshal and once as sheriff.

The current first term county commission had managed Mountain County well and it was now back from the brink of failure and the economy was booming. Jobs were plentiful and the real estate market was very healthy, some thought too healthy. The commissioners had delivered on their promises made in the last election and everyone knew it. County Prosecutor Elizabeth Rall had gotten lots of headlines assisting Millie’s department bust bad guys and no one was going to waste their time and money running against her.

The same group as were chosen by the electors two years ago were running for re-election with the exception of Bobbi Brandon who had suffered a major coronary and was not because of his health. Buddy Hormel a local businessman was a candidate for District Two. He was opposed by Bessie Gilbert who had been unseated as county clerk in the last election by Wilma. Millie figured Hormel would take the district because he already had his campaign organization ready to go and was well funded though she knew little of him outside of rumors he liked to drink a little too much. Most people also realized Bessie had been a disaster as the one term county clerk. That would be the election of the lesser of two distasteful choices.

John Castor for some reason did not relate well to people though he had a good head on his shoulders and thought through the implications of what the county commission did. He faced Rita Ball a community activist who had never been involved in municipal government. Millie figured that one could go either way. John could not ride the coattails of others as he had last time because the old ticket, Lane, Mitch, and Roberta, as well as Millie, Wilma, and Elizabeth would be acclaimed.

Lane Donovan was presiding commissioner and was likely to retain that post. Lane had been mayor of the City of Longview for over a decade before running for county commission. Roberta Daniels was the wife of State Senator Daniels and had a strong power base. Mitch O’Keefe was heir apparent to the O’Keefe political and financial dynasty. He was a major player in the mega real estate development in Safe Haven Bay and very rich. He was also the county’s most charming and eligible bachelor who had sometimes been seen with the widow Sheriff Boyd on his arm.

Millie had come not to take Mitch’s attention too seriously. He was married to his work and would be heartbreak for any woman foolish enough to give in to his charms. He was, however, a good friend to Millie. Initially she had become rich by knowing about the coming mega development in Safe Haven before the real estate market shot up like a rocket. She had grown that small fortune into a much larger one by her own wheeling and dealing when opportunities arose. It was well known in the county that Millie was sheriff because she was good at it and loved it not because she needed the job.

Millie was still in Wilma’s office when Lane phoned to see who was running. His call was followed by calls from Roberta and Mitch and then the rest of the candidates.

The ladies were cleaning up and putting things away when someone started pounding on the door vigorously. The glass panes in the door were rattling because she was pounding so hard. She was screaming, I want to file nomination papers.

Wilma went to the door, I’m sorry but nominations closed at five.

The woman screamed, But I got caught in traffic.

Wilma said, I’m sorry. You should have gotten them in earlier. The law is clear.

The woman swung her purse and broke the glass in one pane. She swung again and broke another. Millie went into Wilma’s office and out through another door into the hall. She came up behind the woman and grabbed her purse just as she brought it back to swing it again.

Millie said, Sheriff, ma’am. Stop now!

The woman swirled around and kicked at Millie. Millie easily side stepped the kick and the woman’s other foot went out from under her on the slick highly waxed shiny tile of the hall and she fell hard on her behind. She screamed, Police brutality.

Millie stepped around behind the woman and put the handcuffs on her. Wilma and her staff had watched the whole incident. Millie picked up the woman’s nomination papers and looked at the signatures. Among them were John Doe, John Henry, Abraham Lincoln, and Marilyn Munroe. Millie helped the woman to her feet and noted she did not seem to have alcohol on her breath. The woman started babbling about a conspiracy to keep her from her appointed time.

Millie took her down to lockup.

As she went in, Millie greeted the first jailer she met, Hi, Joel.

He looked up, Hi, Sheriff. What do we have here?

Public disturbance and vandalism. She tried to assault me and is incoherent so please call for an assessment.

Joel took charge of the woman and, after she was processed, Millie left. Millie wondered how it was that she was always running into the crazies.

Millie’s phone rang and she looked at it. It was Don Posten. Hi, Don.

Hi, Millie. Some of us are going over to the country club for dinner. How would you like to join us?

When?

Don replied, As soon as we can all meet there.

Millie thought for a second, I’ll head over there now.

When Millie got there, Don and Lane were already there. Lane was sitting with his back to Millie and Don looked up but Millie put her finger to his lips to keep him quiet. Millie walked up to Lane and slapped him on the back, "Congratulations.’

Lane jumped a mile and Millie and Don laughed. Lane smiled and looked at Millie, It’s no wonder people are afraid of you. You scared me half to death.

Millie was not to be outdone, Ok, what crime have you committed ‘cause it’s only the criminal element that fears this short arm of the law.

Both men chuckled. It was partly because Millie was only five foot two and partly because the criminals did fear Millie’s reputation. She was fierce in hand to hand fighting and an expert shot with handgun or rifle. She also had the nose of a bloodhound for catching bad guys. No one else could have come into the country club in blue jeans and cowboy boots but Sheriff Millie. The only thing that distinguished her as a lawman was the badge and holsters on her belt.

Lane looked at Don, See what I have to put up with for another term.

Roberta came into the club restaurant and said, What have I missed?

Don smiled, Just the usual banter between Lane and Millie.

Roberta smiled, Sorry I missed that.

Wilma came in accompanied by John. John spoke first, It looks like I’m the only one who is going to have to work in this election. How is it you all get to be lazy?

Millie said, John, I told you before you have to learn to schmooze. Don had to teach me.

Don laughed, Yeah, the same way I had to teach the fish in my pond to swim.

John asked as he and Roberta sat down, How can y’all help me?

Millie said, I’ll donate money to help you with advertising and give you my public endorsement. Millie believed in loyalty to one’s friends.

Don said, I can arrange for some media folks to help you create your campaign promos.

Lane said, I mean this sincerely, John, I can work with you on your personal public relations.

John smiled, You’ll teach me to schmooze.

Lane chuckled, Exactly. Press the flesh and kiss babies and all that.

Millie said, On a positive note, John, you’ve been a county commissioner for two years and you know the issues so you won’t have any problems in a debate.

Don said, That’s precisely why there probably won’t be any debate.

Lane said, Yes, John, but if your opponent refuses the invitation you need to go anyway just as Millie did when the former sheriff refused to debate her.

The waiter came and took their drink orders.

Don said, People said he was afraid but she wasn’t.

The waiter took their orders and left.

Don said, Last election we had a motto for the slate but what can it be this time.

Millie said, John, the man who got er done, will git er done.

Lane said, I like that. The idea is if you want the progress to continue, stay with what works.

Millie said, Something down to earth would work.

Roberta added, "I agree with Millie. It’s the right idea.’

Don said, John Castor from proven progress to future progress.

John said, I like that one but not as well as the ‘git er done’ motto.

The group ate supper and made small talk. Millie’s phone rang. She looked at who was calling and answered, Sheriff Boyd.

Sheriff, this Joel at the jail and this is a heads up. The woman you brought in was committed for seventy two hour observation but she escaped on the way to the hospital psych unit. Your department, the state troopers and the local PD have her photo and will keep an eye out for her.

Millie said, Thanks, Joel.

The group had their after dinner coffee and then slowly one by one left. Roberta and Millie were still sitting there and Roberta commented, When we were first elected, the county economy and government were in the toilet and the country’s economy was booming. Now things are booming around here and the country’s economy is in the toilet. Go figure.

Millie shook her head, I don’t pretend to understand it, I’m just glad we are blessed.

Roberta said, Amen, sister. I’d better get going. Rolly is coming home tonight from the capitol. I’ll see you later. Roberta got up and hugged Millie. Millie sat back down and finished her coffee. When she was done, she wrote her member number forty nine on the bill and signed it, left cash for the tip on the table and left.

As she was driving the twenty miles from Mountain View back to Safe Haven, Millie received a call from Sue Hahn. Millie had a no hands phone in her SUV so she answered while she drove, Hi, Sue. What’s up?

How did the nominations go?

Millie answered, Only John had competition. Wilma, Lane, Roberta, Mitch, Elizabeth and me had no challengers. There are just the two seats up for grabs and there were no new nominations since the last time we talked.

Sue said, I didn’t expect anyone would run against you. We have a little problem out at the farm.

What kind of problem.

Sue answered, Someone took up some of our survey markers and some of the construction crew was on our land parking their equipment. I had the property line reshot and no trespassing signs erected on steel poles all around the property. I called your department and made a complaint and they said they’d keep an eye on it.

Millie answered, That’s good. I think I’ll head out that way and take a look.

Millie was about a mile from the farmhouse when Kyle came on the radio and asked for backup at the farm house as there were apparently intruders. Millie radioed Kyle and told him she was about a mile away. She added, I’ll meet you at the old Waterston Trucking lane. That site was previously raided as the trucking company had been hauling drugs. The property was now awaiting clearance for auction by the District Forfeiture Unit.

Millie met Kyle and they waited for three more deputies as Kyle reported there were multiple people in the farmhouse. It took ten minutes to have enough deputies available. As they arrived, Millie greeted the