Once Ma’s death had been ruled as being due to natural causes, the atmosphere in town visibly relaxed. Kelly reported that almost everyone she came into contact with sent their best wishes for both of us in a time of stress.
Nancy had been keeping the locals informed, but once Ma’s death certificate had been signed, it became a public record. Several curious individuals and one nasty piece of work made the journey to the county records office to view it. Kelly received a tip-off that the lawyer who was representing the previous Chief had demanded a copy of it.
“It seems that he’s going to try to dig up some dirt on us,” said Kelly when she told Nancy and me.
“Ma… as far as I know, didn’t have even a single arrest record, and her taxes are up to date,” I commented.
“They say that all roads lead to Rome, or in my case, New York. I get the feeling that it will only be a matter of time before they come for me,” said Kelly.
“And do what? Your record speaks for itself,” said Nancy.
“Public Opinion. I’ve seen a few Trump flags in town.”
“That’s it, a few. This is a solid blue area.”
Kelly’s shoulders dropped.
I put my arms around her.
“I’m here for you. You aren’t alone here, remember.”
“I know that, darling, but… a new job and a new town and Ma’s passing. It is all a bit much.”
I smiled as I looked her in the eyes.
“And when you came to Custer County? You faced a new job, a new town and the murder of a transwoman still fresh in the minds of the department. Yet… you fitted in despite my brother’s best attempts to disrupt us.”
Kelly managed a smile.
“Ok, ok. I get it. But… Ma was there for me right from the first time we met. She… She became the mother that I never had.”
“She was a one-of-a-kind, all right. I will miss her.”
“What about the funeral?” asked Kelly, trying to change the subject.
“It is all arranged. Even Pastor Richards has been roped in to perform the service, even though Ma wasn’t here long enough to attend church.”
Kelly had trouble suppressing a laugh.
“Ma only went to church when the moon was full or something like that, other than a few funerals. I got the impression that she went only when she wanted something from the Pastor or one of the women in the flock. She and God were not on good terms. One day, she told me that it was all down to Walt. She felt that God had cursed her by having to raise a ‘bad child’.
I smiled at that description. It was pretty close to the truth.
Then, she said,
“I called Pastor Johns, and he is going to give Pastor Richards a call and give him the lowdown on Ma.”
“Oh dear. Pastor Johns and Ma never really got on after she told him that if God had wanted mankind to fly, he would have made us all into Angels, and therefore, the Devil would be all alone down below.”
“She told you that?”
Kelly grinned.
“She did. It was when I was off work with a cold last year.”
“The Pastor took that on the chin, and the next week, his sermon was all about blasphemy. He delivered it all the time, looking Ma right in the eye. Ma never went back to church after that. If they met in the street, one would cross over to the other side just to avoid the other one.”
“Then… my darling, you will need to have a word with Pastor Richards and remind him that making fun of the dead would not be a good idea, especially with me as Chief of Police. You may remind him that his inspection certificate expired three months ago.”
“Kelly Beecher! Have you gone over to the dark side like your predecessor?”
“Not in the slightest. I just want Ma to have the send-off that she deserves, and the feud from back in Custer County should have ended years ago.”
“Ok, darling. I’ll have a word.”
Kelly gave me a brief kiss.
“That’s my boy!”
To my surprise, Pastor Richards already had his eulogy written when I found time to see him two days later. As I read it, a picture of Ma formed in my mind. It was one of Ma’s helping others without even thinking about saying no. Pastor Johns had come up trumps despite his feud with Ma; her good works in the county had made that feud seem irrelevant in the big picture of life in Custer County.
“It was clear from my call with Pastor Johns that your Ma was an opinionated woman,” said the Pastor.
“He said that is what made her unique. When Pastor Johns described how she’d just taken control when the power went out one year ago. No one dared argue with her, but soon, the place was humming, and everyone was being fed. That was the essence of your Ma. As I understand it, people might have grumbled at her, but no one else would stand up and be counted like she was willing to do. We… We were unfortunate not to experience her wisdom due to her passing so soon after she’d arrived. That is the sort of person I will talk about if that is agreeable for you?”
“Thanks for explaining that. That is Ma. She… was a trooper. Only last month, she took control of a bunch of children who had been abandoned in the snow. No arguments, she just did what was needed.”
He smiled back at me.
“Then you should say that when it is your turn to say goodbye.”
“Me?”
“Yes, Matt. Tell the world how good a person she was, as well as her failings. That will help with the grieving process. I’ve seen people like you before bottle it all up until you burst.”
His words hit me like an arrow.
“I was a Marine Corps Chaplain for ten years. I served in Iraq the first time around. I’ve seen those who have served and kept a lot to themselves. For many, it didn’t end well. I’m sure that you know what I mean.”
What he was saying started to make sense.
“I understand that she is to be cremated?”
“Yes. She didn’t want a grave or anything like that.”
“Do you have any plans for scattering her ashes?”
“I didn’t, but seeing her lying there in bed, she was facing the window, and that had a view of the sea. Ma had lived most of her life in the middle of the country and only went to Florida once. I know that she was looking forward to seeing the coast, so my idea is to scatter her ashes into the Pacific. Then she can see it forever.”
“That is an admirable idea. If you need me to say a few words when you do it, you only have to ask.”
“Thanks for the offer. I think that it will be a private affair with just my Wife and Nancy.”
“I understand that you have a slightly wayward brother. Do you expect him to attend?”
I managed a smile.
“If Walt does attend, then he will leave in Handcuffs. The Chief will have great pleasure in arresting him on sight. He is a wanted felon in at least five states.”
“I didn’t know that he was that wayward. If he does appear, then I hope that he will be allowed to say goodbye before facing justice.”
“I would rather he didn’t come, but if he does, then so be it.”
That evening, Kelly arrived home with a frown on her face.
“Remember the cop that tried to ticket us when we were here on our honeymoon?”
“How can I forget that Jerk? Why?”
“He made an appearance and demanded his old job back. Almost all the charges he was facing have been dropped.”
“Shit!”
“I told him to get lost and come back tomorrow. He didn’t like it, but he left.”
“Then what did you do?”
“I called Sacramento. The people there confirmed that all but one of the charges had been dropped and that he was formally fired from his job. His lawyer has filed a lawsuit alleging unfair dismissal and is claiming a cool million from the county.”
“What was the one charge that was not dismissed?”
Kelly smiled.
“He tried to cheat the IRS out of a lot of money that he obtained from his illegal ticketing scheme. He and the Judge shared the money from the fines. The Judge has copped a plea and is about to start a five-year sentence. The cop pleaded not guilty despite a mountain of evidence against him, including a video of him and the judge splitting the fines.”
“So, you can tell the cop to get properly lost?”
Kelly shook her head and smiled.
“Not quite. If he comes back tomorrow, I will arrest him. The court in Sacramento banned him from the county until all the outstanding cases were fully resolved, including appeals. I guess that he thought that the new girl in town would fall for his bluster. He has nothing on the stories I heard when on the beat in Queens.”
“What do the rest of your team think?”
“The jury is out. I think that they are waiting to see how I handle this, my first real test as Chief. Ma’s death was by the book. This isn’t.”
I kissed Kelly.
“You will do fine.”
“We shall have to wait and see about that.”
I laughed.
“What’s so funny?”
“You sounded just like Ma just then. She used the words ‘wait and see’, didn’t she?”
Kelly hugged me.
“She did, and I guess that some of her wisdom has rubbed off on me.”
“Then cherish these moments. They will keep her memory alive.”
Sadly, the errant cop failed to return the next day for the confrontation with Kelly. It transpired that he’d been arrested for a DUI after crashing his truck near the infamous San Quentin Prison. He mouthed off at the arresting officer before trying to throw a punch at him. DUI and assault would mean that he would never work in law enforcement again, regardless of the outcome of the other case, at least in the state of California.
The State Police kept a small presence at the Mortensens’ home. They didn’t want them returning, which would be in breach of a court order.
They needed feeding, so Jake and Melissa stepped up and provided decent, non-fast food for the officers, which was much appreciated.
The day of Ma’s funeral arrived. Thanks to the wonders of modern technology, the service was being broadcast back to Custer County. To my surprise, a fair number of locals turned up. Seeing Nancy ushering them into the church, I guessed that their attendance was down to her gentle persuasion. I was of the view that the more, the merrier. Ma deserved a good send-off.
With Kelly at my side, I managed to hold it together until it was my turn to say a few words.
“I want to thank everyone here and those almost half a continent away in Custer County for coming today to pay their last respects to Ma. For those who did not know, Ma was my grandmother. She stepped into the breach and raised me and my brother when my mom took off to Vegas and never came back. She was very opinionated, but if you needed help, she would be there front and centre, helping anyone and everyone who needed it. I happen to think that she did a pretty good job. It was only when my brother Walt was in his late 20s that he went over to the dark side. In his place, she adopted the woman who was to later become my wife, Kelly. Ma didn’t bat an eyelid when faced with a New Yorker who was willing to give up life in the Big Apple for the quiet of Custer County. Ma just rolled up her sleeves and helped Kelly make that transition and then become the person who is my wife and your Chief of Police. A lot of Ma rubbed off on Kelly, which makes me thankful every day. I am only saddened that she never really got to see Kelly fulfil her promise and take over as Chief of Police here. I’m sure that Ma is looking down on us and hoping that Kelly does the job that Ma was not shy of telling us she could handle. Ma, thank you for being the ornery DOB that you needed to be and setting me straight, especially when I goofed up as a kid. Without you, I would not be the person I am. I miss you, Ma. May you rest in peace.”
I sat down next to Kelly with tears streaming down my face. Kelly took my hand in hers and gave it a comforting squeeze.
At the end of the service, Ma’s simple coffin was taken away by the Funeral Director for cremation. I had declined to go along to witness the final act of her long life. I’d seen more than enough bodies go up in flames while in the Army for a lifetime. They’d deliver her ashes in a couple of days.
Jake had kindly put on a buffet for those who were interested. Melissa, aided by Ingrid, had pushed the boat out when it came to choices of food. I had put $200 behind the bar for drinks. Ma wasn’t a drinker by any means, but from time to time, she would have a glass of Scotch. She would never say why she preferred it to homegrown Bourbon, but Ma was clear about her choice: Johnny Walker Black Label. Jake had put a bottle of it on the bar in her memory.
“Your Ma had good taste. For a blended whisky, it is very good. I had no idea what he meant by blended. I was more of a Bourbon sort of guy. He soon put me right. In the background, I could see Melissa grinning.
“Here, try this one.”
She reached up to a shelf and handed a bottle to Jake. He laughed.
“Talisker is a very nice drink,” he said as he poured me a single shot.
The taste was very different. It was much more to my liking.
“To Ma. A woman of many hidden talents!” I said as I raised my glass.
Kelly resumed her duties as Chief of Police the next day. Her top priority was to become familiar with her domain, especially the boundaries of her direct authority. She also started the process of recruiting one more officer.
The fact that she was showing her face around town went a long way to start the long process of rebuilding the trust of the locals in the police. The previous regime was hated by almost everyone in the area. The Mortensen family and their cronies were universally hated. The few members of the regime who were not under arrest kept their heads down. Two made it clear that they were leaving and gave notice to their landlords.
The chatter in ‘gossip central’, a.k.a the Coffee Shop, soon turned to other things, such as the failure of the 49ers to qualify for the NFL Playoffs yet again. A signed photo of Joe Montana had pride of place in the Coffee Shop, which showed where Nancy’s loyalties lay. As long as the 49ers finished higher than any team from the NYC area, she was happy.
I was kept very busy learning the ropes of running the bakery. Ingrid took control of the books, much to my relief. Math had never been my strong point. She presented the financial situation to me in plain language. While the operation was profitable, that profit had been declining for some years.
My first attempts at making a commercial load of bread failed miserably. After a couple of similarly disastrous attempts, I was forced to accept that I was not going to be a Baker. That pleased Melissa no end. I was forced to rethink my plans.
“Don’t worry, darling,” said Kelly when I explained the situation to her.
“Why don’t you talk things over with Nancy?”
“Why?”
“Duh! Join forces with her. I’m sure that you can afford to employ a proper baker or pastry cook. Make the cakes, etc, for the Coffee Shop. I know that Nancy has to order them in and anticipate the demand. With the closeness of the supplier to the consumer, you could tailor the orders perfectly.”
I looked at Kelly in disbelief.
“How? How did you come up with all that?”
“Back in New York, the nearby bakery also had a coffee bar attached. They did a great trade in ‘Pain au Chocolat’ and Coffee in the mornings. Later in the day, they’d sell muffins and bread. They even did specials like Bar-mitzvah cakes from time to time.”
What she was saying made sense. We had nothing like that in Custer County. This was a different world to me in more ways than I’d envisaged when agreeing to move here.
[The following Easter]
Kelly had settled into her role as Chief like it was made for her. All the deputies were fully on board with her goal to have fair policing practices.
“Just like you did back in Custer County,” she exclaimed to me.
I grinned back at her.
“It was a joint effort then. Before you arrived, I was just drifting. You made life worth living again.”
“Apart from having a place to live.”
“Speaking of that, a certain ranch just out of town is coming up for foreclosure auction next week.”
“Are you serious? After all that went down at that place, it wouldn’t look good for the new Police Chief to move in there. Your credibility would take a huge hit even if we could afford it.”
“We can afford it. Have you forgotten Ma’s legacy?”
“That is for later. You know what we promised Ma when we came here.”
“Ok, ok. We won’t buy the Mortensen place, but there will be other lots at the auction.”
Kelly kissed me to seal the deal.
I sighed.
“What’s wrong, darling?”
“Pat quit this morning. We are out one baker again. He’s leaving at the end of the month. His wife wants to move back to the city. This place is too quiet for her.”
Kelly laughed.
“This place is a hive of activity compared to Custer County.”
Kelly thought for a moment.
“Mrs Foster, the principal from the High School, called me the other day. They are having a careers day once the summer semester starts. She asked if we were interested in promoting law enforcement at the event.”
She smiled at me.
“What if you were to offer a position as a trainee baker to a High School Graduate?”
“Who is going to train them?”
“Melissa has offered to do it.”
I smiled at my wife.
“And you just happened to mention that to Mrs Foster?”
She grinned at me.
I laughed.
“Are we good?”
“Yes, Chief, we are good.”
With every day that passed, the town was becoming a place where we could make a life and be proud of it.
[The end]