Virginia.”
Naomi’s friend Kay bright face appeared at the doorway. The entrance of Naomi’s home was awfully crowded. John studied Kay before finishing his thought. He had a strange look on his face like he was calculating.
“Are you the neighbor who called?” he asked. “I know that the request was to remain anonymous but are you she?”
Kay looked awkwardly.
“I didn’t call anyone,” she said finally. “I saw your car here and I came over. I wanted to make sure everyone was okay.”
Naomi gently gripped Kay’s arm.
“She and I are bestie, sheriff. It’s fine,” said Naomi.
There was some tension still that didn’t make sense. It felt like it was more than the issue between Daryl and her. Naomi probably needed rest. She was just a touch hungover from her one drink and night of hot sex.
John spoke, “Now folks, in a situation like this, either a judge’s decree or a deed of trust would determine who stays and who leaves. But since you mentioned kids -”
“One moment,” said Daryl with a snap of his fingers.
And he dashed off to his desk and shoveled around in drawers.
“Right here,” he said.
He shimmied down the front stairs and handed folded papers to the sheriff. John immediately raised his eyebrows.
“It appears we have a deed,” he said with amusement.
He handed the documents to Naomi.
“This is not my signature. I didn’t sign this. This is forged,” said Naomi.
“We can verify this document as legit super fast. We have a hand writing expert down at the county building. There’s likely to be a copy one record down at county but it would be real convenient if I had this one. Mind if I take it?” said John coolly.
Daryl’s eyes beaded. He was nervous.
“Or I can take a really good picture of it, “said John. “If that doesn’t work, I can come back.”
“Oh brother,” said Daryl. “Are we going to be like this, really? Are we going there? Of course she’s going to say she didn’t sign this. She wants her house back.”
“Going where?” asked Foley in an eerie tone. “Murder for hire?”
“Foley,” John admonished sharply. “Mr. Pollard, like I say we can go down to the county office.“
John leaned over and snapped pictures of the paper with this phone. Daryl was agitated. He looked like he was going to pop.
“I don’t have to, sheriff. That document belongs to me,” he declared, snatching it from the sheriff.
John stood upright and glared. Naomi shivered. She would not want to mess with the sheriff when he was riled.
“Have it your way. So you have a deed but it’s been contested. I am going to use my judgment here. You got kids? I am not displacing them. I will wait for you to gather your things and I am ordering you to vacate the premises in the interest of peace,” said John.
“I’m not going,” said Daryl with his arms folded across his chest.
“Now Mr. Pollard, you don’t want me to pick up and carry you out. Because then you’ll be spending the rest of the day and night in jail. Your choice. Leave now. Or leave in ten minutes with your things,” said John coolly.
Daryl fumed. He buzzed around and bagged some things in a pillow case. Keys jingled in his hand.
“I am taking the car,” he declared.
At he stomped down the stairs between the people who filed at the entry way, he barged into Naomi with his elbow.
“Wow!” shouted John. “You are under arrest for assault on a civilian and on an officer.”
The burly sheriff spun Daryl around with ease and cuffed him. Daryl frothed at the mouth.
“I didn’t even fucking touch you,” whined Daryl. “These cuffs are tight!”
Naomi studied Foley who was paralyzed with rage. His face was slack and his eyes fixed. It was probably a good thing John got to him first.
John carted him out the driveway, Daryl planted his feet the entire way. He refused to get into the car once the sheriff opened
Healing the Soldier's Heart