Mirror in the Forest: Book One (14 page)

“There is no way I am going to let these bullshit charges stand against my own daughter!” Dale Cooper said slamming down the citations on Mark’s desk.

Dale Cooper stood six feet two with graying dark brown hair, and green eyes. He was also a former football player and alumni of Leon’s Crossing.

Mark hated his guts. He almost fingered his revolver as Dale continued to rant and rave.

“Maybe I should charge you with contributing to the delinquency of a minor, Mr. Cooper,” Mark said sitting back in his chair. He was not going to be intimidated by this guy.

Dale Cooper growled at him, and said, “You are not running this county, Sheriff.”

“Actually, I was elected by the people to keep this county safe, Dale, and that means from your daughter, too,” Mark retorted.  

Dale Cooper was as corrupt as they came. County Prosecutors didn’t make that much, no, he made his money from shady investments, even shadier deals, possible extortions, and multiple bribes. However, he was very good at covering his ass, and the worst part was the Governor loved him.

“Yeah, it tells you how intelligent this county is by electing a kid,” he answered slowly.

“How many times are you going to bring up my age?” Mark asked in a bored voice. “Maybe the people of this county are tired of the corruption.”

Dale laughed and said, “You really are naïve or just an idiot. People will look the other way when things are good for them.”

“Could be, but they weren’t when your daughters party was getting out of hand the other night,” Mark said.

Dale stood and gathered his things, and shoved them into his briefcase.

“I have real criminals to prosecute. I am not going to put up with these childish games, Sheriff,” Dale said angrily.

“Me too, but I wonder if my next submission will go free somehow,” Mark said, staring up at him without blinking.

Dale shook his head and left, slamming both Mark’s office door, and the front door the office.

Marge knocked and Mark beckoned her to come in.

“Those reports on the robbery are ready for your signature Sheriff,” she said.

Marge was the only one in the office who knew how to use a typewriter, and that was saying a lot.

“You are amazing, Marge,” Mark said with a smirk. He had to admit she was good at paperwork, something he lacked with this job.

Marge scoffed, but continued to stand there staring at him.

“What’s on your mind Marge?” Mark finally asked as he read through the reports and signed some things.

“Eventually, Dale Cooper will get what’s coming to him,” Marge said, with a nod to the departed and angry prosecutor.

“I appreciate the support,” he replied, looking up at her in surprise. She usually kept quiet when it came to Dale Cooper.

“He will get his in the end. They always do. I’ve seen that a lot throughout my life,” she said, adjusting her glasses.

Mark sat back and said, “Marge, my uncle retired a very rich man on a cop’s salary, and where did he get that from? That’s why we don’t speak. Dale Cooper’s ambitions are not something that he earned by working hard like my Mom did. Unfortunately, I’ve learned the hard way that men like him always win in the end.”

“It broke your mother’s heart when you and your uncle fell out,” she pointed out.

“I can’t regret that,” Mark said. “ But, thank you for the support. I appreciate it coming from you.” Mark gave her a smile. “Anything else Marge?”

“Yes, as a matter of fact. I saw you speaking to a really young girl the other day. If Dale wants you out, that will be the way he would do it. Using her, I mean,” Marge said.  

Mark froze at the mention of Jessica Winters.

“Really young? No. That girl has been having a hard time with the Coopers’ daughter, but your point is well taken,” he answered carefully.

“Then she is in high school which, makes it worse, Sheriff. Listen to this old lady for once,” she said as she left his office.

Mark had to admit that Marge was probably right.

Not long after Mark had a report of a possible heart attack, and he hated this part of his job.

The man was still alive when they took him to the hospital, but Mark didn’t know how much longer he had.

His wife was too distraught to drive to the hospital, so Mark took her and dropped her off, till her children were able to meet up with her.

It made him think of his own mother and how he was when she was dying. The memories of her last labored breaths still haunted his nightmares. Sometimes he would lay awake at night just thinking about what she had been through in her last months.

He never really knew his father. He was two years old when his father was killed in a trucking accident. Mark's mother never remarried or dated much, so Mark was an only child.

His mother never really got over it, and she was happy to finally join his dad when she passed. He remembered she was smiling off in the distance for a few minutes, and then she was gone.

Maybe that was why he felt the need to help Jessica Winters. She was an only child, and though she had both of her parents, she seemed to feel utterly alone in this world, like he did sometimes.

He never really experienced in school what she has either. He played sports, and was popular among the masses, but he was always one for the underdog.

That was why he became a deputy, and when his uncle decided to retire, he ran for office.

He was the one of the youngest Sheriffs ever elected in Washington State, and he swore he would not let someone like Dale Cooper get away with bullying the little guy.

Mark decided to stop at the local diner for supper. He was weary after the heart attack call, and discovered he was hungry.

He let Marge know that he was going to eat, and she said Bill just got there, and would be out soon.

The diner was full tonight. The big homecoming football game was coming this Friday, and everyone in town was excited.

He would be there with the other deputies that night, and would make sure everyone stayed civil with the opposing team, and nothing else shady going on.

Banners for the high school were hung throughout the diner to show team spirit, and support for Leon Crossing High School Mountain Lions.

He sat down and waited for the waitress saying hello to other locals he knew.

He always faced towards the door. The diner had been robbed a few months ago, and wanted to make sure that never happened again.

As he waited for the waitress, Mark thought back to his previous dealings with Dale Cooper. Mark made a huge bust right after he was elected of a heroin ring in the county, but Dale Cooper managed to screw him out of the prosecution for some of the dealers and distributors involved.

It was his first taste of corruption, and certainly not his last.

The state investigation couldn’t prove that Dale had put his hands where they didn’t belong, but Mark watched and waited. He would get those responsible for Leon’s Crossing drug problems with or without Dale Cooper.

Mark then spotted something that took him by surprise. He began to wonder if something otherworldly was playing Fate with him.

Jessica Winters sat alone in a booth with her nose in a book.

He wondered what she would be doing here on a school night, and by herself.

He had noticed her new hairstyle the other day, and couldn’t help but wonder how she managed to pull that off.  The first time he had seen her, it had been frizzy, and darker. He guessed she had gone to a salon, but that had to take a lot of work.

“What can I get you, Sheriff?” The waitress Linda asked.

Linda was a short, pudgy woman with black hair tied in a bun at the top of her head. She wore way too much lipstick, and mascara, but she was a nice person. She knew his mom from when they were kids.

“Strong coffee to start, and can you ask the young lady over there what she’s having?”

Linda looked over to where he was pointing, and then gave him a knowing look.

“She hasn’t ordered yet,” Linda said, glancing over to Jessica’s table again.

Mark leaned in and said, “She’s had a rough week, I was just wondering.”

Linda grinned, turned and walked over to Jessica’s table.  

Jessica looked up surprised at what Linda was saying.

Both women looked over at him, and he slightly waved to Jessica.

She smiled shyly, and he could see the beginnings of a blush on her face as she talked to Linda. Linda walked over with a smirk on her face, and said, “She said you can come over.”

Mark thanked Linda and told her to bring him that strong coffee.

“She really did have a rough week,” he said, not sure who he was trying to convince himself or Linda.

Linda shrugged. “Sure, Sheriff.”

Mark knew what he was doing was wrong, but he couldn’t help it.

Jessica waited patiently for him to sit, and he knew he wasn’t facing the door, but could see the street.

“Hi, Sheriff,” Jessica said a little nervously as he got comfortable in the booth.

“Mark, and you can relax,” he said, smiling at her.

Jessica returned the smile, and he could see the tension slightly leaving her face.  

“Sorry, Sheriff,” she said, looking very relieved.  

“Mark,” he corrected.

“Oh, sorry, Mark,” she replied, and blushed.  

Mark thanked Linda for the coffee and Linda asked what they were having.

“Are you ready to order?” He asked Jessica.

Jessica sat and stared at him for a moment, before coming back to reality.

“Oh….um….yes! I just want the cheeseburger with fries,” she said.

“How do you want that cooked honey?”  Linda asked writing furiously on her pad and paper.

“Medium, please,” Jessica responded.   

Linda turned and looked at Mark with a smile. “For you Mark?”

“Whatever the special is,” he answered, wanting Linda to go away as fast as possible. He was used to the food here, though he knew he would pay for it eventually.

Linda closed her notepad and walked away still smirking, almost making Mark roll his eyes. Luckily, Jessica hadn’t seemed to notice.  

Mark noticed the textbooks and notebooks piled on the table.  

“So, what brings you here tonight?” Mark asked, seeing Biology and Calculus among her books.

Jessica shrugged her shoulders. “We are doing this project in my Biology class. My friend Tessa and I were supposed to meet here, but she was sick, so I just decided I wanted to get out of the house for a while.”

“Is she alright?” He asked showing concern in his voice as Linda set down his coffee.

“Yes, she sometimes eats too much, and her body goes crazy,” she answered.

“She eats too much? She’s as thin as a rail!” Mark said, astonished, because he remembered the girl being skin and bones.