Read Undermind: Nine Stories for Free Online Page B

logical. Gun
laws are about bein’ emotional. Otherwise we’d take away cars from
people who get caught drivin’ drunk. Or we’d require them to have
breathalyzers installed in their vehicles. A drunk driver kills
someone every fifty-two minutes in this country and we ain’t really
doing a damned thing about it. Give ‘em a fine. Suspend their
license. Make ‘em go to AA meetings. Buncha nonsense. More people
are killed every year by automobiles than by guns, but you don’t
see people all emotional about that. You know why?”
    “Uh…no.”
    “Because just about everyone drives and no one
has an emotional reaction to seein’ a car. And though people do run
people over deliberately, it doesn’t happen every day, and cars
weren’t designed for killing. But a gun? It’s meant to kill. That’s
its job. And that freaks some people out. Scares the livin’ shit
out of them. People who are terrified of something usually ain’t
rational about it, now are they?”
    “You just might be on to something there, Ben.
I’m gonna give the matter more thought. Thanks for helping me pick
out a gun and shining some light on the whole gun law thing.”
    Dave reached out and shook Ben’s hand, then
walked out of the store wondering if the hugely divisive issue was
really that simple.
    ***
    When he got back to his sister’s house, it was
empty. There was a note on the table from Nikki saying that she,
Jake, and Joy had gone to the park. He checked his business email
on his laptop and responded to a few inquiries about piano tuning.
He had nothing else to do now but wait. He leaned back and looked
at the ceiling, and as he cleared his mind, one thing wouldn’t
budge. Ron. This bastard Ron was imprinted on every moment of his
life.
    He grabbed his cell phone off the table and
called the police again. He needed to know that something had been
done about this asshole. Dave was surprised when his call was
transferred to another line and someone actually picked up.
    “Criminal Investigations – Burke”
    “Officer Burke, I finally got a hold of
you.”
    “It’s ‘Sergeant.’ Who is this?”
    “This is Dave Parsons. You were at my house a
few days ago.”
    “Name doesn’t ring a bell, but what I can I do
for you?”
    Dave heard phones ringing and people talking in
the background. “Well, I was hoping you could give me an update on
the person who assaulted me, like telling me that he’s in
jail.”
    “Case number?”
    Dave looked around. One of the officers had
given him a business card with the case number written on the back.
He had no idea where it was now. Probably at his house.
    “I uh… I don’t have the number. Surely you
remember talking to me just two days ago.”
    “I’m sorry—What did you say your name is?”
    “Parsons. Dave Parsons.”
    “Right. I’m sorry, Mr. Parsons, but I talk to a
lot of people in two days. If you can get the case number and call
back at our main number—“
    “Wait! How many people reported getting their
head bashed in with a cell phone and having a rock with a
threatening note tossed through their window, and their house set
on fire shortly thereafter? Does that ring a bell?”
    “Yes, it does. You say you’re calling for an
update? Two days later?”
    “Yes. Can you tell me if the man has been
arrested and facing trial?”
    “Unless something has changed, and I won’t know
that without looking up the case, the alleged assailant is not in
custody. Now, if that’s all, Mr. Parsons, I have—“
    “Wait! Please. Can you tell me why he’s not in
jail? If he’s not locked up, my family is in danger.”
    “I understand your concern, but the fact is, he
had an alibi. I’ll call you if anything changes, which is highly
unlikely.”
    “But he—“
    “I’m out of time and I have no further
information I can possibly give you until something changes. Have a
good day, Mr. Parsons.”
    Dave sat there stunned, holding the now silent
phone to his ear. Did the police even