They were the last standing deputies of the Moorhouse Parish Sheriff’s Department. They saw the smoke rising above the treeline and leaned against the squad car. “What the hell is goin on?” one asked the other.
The other pulled a big nasty boog from his nose, looked at it, and then flicked it into the grass. “God knows,” he said. “I’m sure Frank and the boys have it taken care of.”
A faint roar echoed through the woods and down the gravel road. One deputy glanced in its direction and scratched his ass. “Reckon we outta call it in?” he wondered aloud.
“Fuck it,” said the other.
Both deputies planted their ass against the squad car and let their own minds wonder. The sun hung high in the sky. One pushed back his Stetson and wiped sweat from his brow. When he did, the Honcho came tear assing down the dirt path. Neither budged. “Who the hell are these guys?”
The Honcho pulled up and Sheriff Fornier rolled down the window. “Howdy boys,” he greeted. “We’re here to see Sheriff Dirk.”
“And you are?”
“Oh come on. You know me. I’m the sheriff of West Carroll Parish.”
The deputy looked at the three men in the bed of the truck. One of them shot. “Does Dirk know yur comin?” he asked.
“Hell. I don’t need to make a reservation to meet a fellow Sheriff!”
“Well I don’t know if you noticed sir, but we’re kinda on lockdown.”
“Oh I noticed.”
“Okay, but we’re gonna need to see some identification first.”
“Sure thing buddy.”
Fornier climbed out of the Honcho and reached into the bed. “Now you fellas hold tight,” he told the deputies. He lifted out the flame thrower and strapped the canisters to his back. The officers did nothing but spit.
“Is that your identification?” one asked.
“Sure.”
The sheriff finished strapping it on and turned the nozzle. A small flame puffed from the firing mechanism. “We just need to see your badge,” one deputy said disinterestedly.
“Aw pig shit,” Fornier said. “Give me a second.”
“No worries sheriff. Take your time.”
“Do you boys mind stepping away from the squad car first?”
The two men shrugged and stepped towards the middle of the dirt road. Fornier pulled the trigger and unleashed a dazzling flame on the deputies. And as they were set ablaze, a puzzled look fell over their faces and they collapsed to the ground and were subsequently consumed by fire. Afterwards, Moses stood up in the bed still clutching to his bullet wound and shook his head.
“Goddamn. Those guys were stupid,” he said.
TO BE CONTINUED…