Three
“Dave Willis?” The OPP officer who asked was probably getting near retirement age Dave thought. Heavy set, close to 6 feet. Blue eyes, hair getting gray. Looked capable of anything.
Dave nodded “Yes officer. What happened? Lightning strike? Any animals escape?”
“Sergeant Johnson.” The cop shrugged. “Probably. Animals? Not sure. Anyway need to ask you for a statement."
The other two officers were much younger. They both watching him with interest.
“Sure. Few minutes to check the barn. OK?”
“Go ahead.” He turned to talk to the other two as Dave headed towards the barn. He touched the electric fence that fenced in the paddock. “Shit!”he said as the fence gave him a good jolt. He opened the gate and went to the remains of the barn. Few wisps of smoke came up through twisted metal of the roof otherwise fire looked out. He checked the entrance and walked down into the paddock towards the forest. His spirits lifted as he made out the fresh hoof tracks in the soft earth. “Yes!” at least some had made it out alive. He walked around to the other end of the rubble heap. Charred beams lay across the concrete pen walls plus the partially burned tree. He could not see in to the pens but his nose told him there was no smell of roasting pork. The sound of a car starting up caught his attention. One police car was leaving. He walked back to the remaining car.
The older cop looked at him inquisitively. “All looks well far as the animals go. Barn can be rebuilt if needed. 200 acres fenced in. So no loss there. Other two leave? Statement? Better come in the house then”
The cop looked at the dog as they got close to the house. Dave noticed the look. “He is OK.”
He stroked the German Shepherd and let him off his chain. The dog ran around tail going ten to the
dozen then ran to the police car and peed on the tires. Dave walked ahead and unlocked the door.
He took off his leather jacket and motioned the officer to a chair. The cop sat down.
“Coffee?” Dave asked. The officer shook his 'no'.
“OK. What do you want to know.?"
“Just your whereabouts for the last day or so. Plus a few other questions about another matter.”
He put a small recorder on the table and switched it on. Noticing Dave looking at it he smiled.
“Saves time. Modern technology. Just go ahead.”
“I left early yesterday morning for Sudbury. Had a meeting with some people. Meeting ran pretty late.
Stayed at the Evergreen Hotel. Overnight. Back here today. Easily verified. New North Mining people I met with”
The officer said “Right then. Do you know a Seth James?”
“Yes. He worked for me on and off for a year or so. Fired him a few weeks back for mistreating the animals. Last month or so he kept turning up drunk. Think he had something to do with the barn fire?”
“Just something we may be looking in to. He ran in to a fallen tree last night 5 or 6 miles from here. Unfortunately he died in the crash.”
He turned the recorder off. Dave shrugged. “Crap happens.”
“Off the record. 1lb of pot in the truck, open bottle of liquor. Must have been speeding.” he thought for a minute then said “Not common knowledge yet but his right leg was sliced open. Did not look like it happened in the truck. Wadded newspaper on the cut. From what the fire Dept meds told me he would
have bled to death real soon. Volunteer Dept so they may be wrong. Good bunch of guys. Time they had moved the tree off the road and got to here the fire had burnt itself out. Over an inch of rain helped.
Well, that’s about it for now.”
He got to his feet and held out his hand and Dave shook it. On his way out he asked “Hear you keep wild boars here? They have sharp tusks do they not? ”
Dave nodded. “Yes and would be about leg height.”
“Take care then will be in touch.” He turned to go then hesitated.
“Seth James. Widower. Son Jesse. Got ten years for manslaughter. About due out. Extremely violent.”
They stared at each other. “I should be worried?” asked Dave.
“Just a heads up, is all.”
“You arrest him?” Shot in the dark.
“Yes. With two other officers.”
He went out to the car.
Dave whistled his dog as the police car left. “Shrewd old bugger” he said.
Dave went back in to the house and picked up the telephone and dialed. He was about to hang up on the 6th ring when he heard “Markona vet clinic. How may we be of assistance?”
“Hi Olga. Dave here. Change of plan.” He explained quickly what had happened.
“You capture them we can do another blood test and you should be able to ship them on time. Do you need help catching them? I do have a tranquilizer rifle and darts.”
“It may help. Hard to round them up in 200 acres. Going to leave them til morning and let them settle
down. I believe all escaped. Hope so.”
“OK. Friday now so my weekend off. Sounds like fun! Be there in two hours.”
“But....” he hesitated then said “OK. Will make up the spare bed.”
She hung up. Dave stood there thinking then went outside. Animals to feed and chores to do.
Chores complete he checked the ATV and gassed it up. Sky was starting to cloud over again. He put the Cessna in the hanger and locked the doors.
He glanced at his watch. 'Quick trip to the Res' he thought. 20 minute drive. He whistled his dog and let him in the cab of the Dodge Ram then put it in 4 wheel drive and headed West on the gravel road.
The gas station and store were doing a thriving business. Gas was 10 cents a liter below regular pump prices off the Reserve and cigarets $12 a carton. “Fill it up” he told the young girl pumping gas. “Will pay inside.” She smiled and nodded. Stuck the nozzle in and switched it on then hurried to the vehicle behind. All 4 pumps were busy.
He picked up 4 cartons of smokes and put them on the counter. “That all sweetie?” the tall thin lady behind the counter asked. “Sweetie? You always make my day! Nah, gas at pump 4.”
She smiled and checked the inside monitor. “Will show in a minute. There we are. $60 for gas, $60 for smokes.” He paid her and she put the cartons in a bag adding two lighters. “Have a nice day now!”
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