Free It Was 2052 by J. Richardson Page A

sadistic slime, probably first hand.” He ignored Jackson's grimace.
    Mamie said, “The wife, she hasn't really said anymore about the old man's behavior.  I tried to pick a little, a couple of days ago.  She shrugged it off, said she was just old and bitchy sometimes.  I know we bruise easier as we get older,” she pointed to a tiny blue spot on her arm, “she had a helluva bruise on both wrists.”
    “Okay, my friends. Guess all we can do for now, is keep our eyes and ears open. See you around the village,” Bud nodded to them and walked away across the open field. 
    “It's Thursday, think I'll hang around for a while. John, do you still think that we should keep Rose and Eric in the dark about all this?” said Jackson.
    “I do. I realize that makes it hard on you.”
    “I agree,” said Mamie, “We might put them in danger.” She placed her hand on the young man's cheek. “There's enough of us there, already.”
    “Gotcha'. I'll stay quiet.”
    John reached for the woman's hand and they walked off along a sidewalk that once smoothly followed the river but now was broken and sprouting with grass, hardly a visible path. Jackson sat on the bench and searched for a glimpse of a dark head.  A few infrequent visitors walked in the park, not many. The citizens of Dallas villages seemed to mostly chug along the streets in a mindless rush.  His heart did a tiny leap when he spotted the slim figure entering the park, dark glasses and deliberate steps.
    Fortunately, he then spotted the person that followed not far behind. It was the street thug that he had seen with her in the cafe.  He dropped back and stayed in the shadow of the tree, Anissa didn't look his way. She crossed the field, stood by the river for a minute and then walked up the broken sidewalk, away from the park.  Damn! That thug is following her and she knows it.  Another day that I won't get to spend some time with her.  There had only been one other day since they met, she was able to come to the park for just a few minutes and they had sat by the river. Very few words were exchanged, she just seemed happy to sit with him for a while. 
    Frustrated, he gave it a few minutes and then rose to leave.  Anissa had disappeared from view but he did see the thug.  A good ways up the river, he stood near a row of low bushes and Jackson shaded his eyes to be sure of the identity of the man that he talked to. No mistake, the giant hat and boots, it was the sheriff.  The law didn't seem to be threatening the man this time.  They exchanged something, way too far to tell what---money, a package, a note? 
    What the heck is that about? Bud said he wasn't certain about the lawman's loyalties. Is he part of the network or getting bribes from them?   Is this city really so infested with these rats?  Once again, the young man thought that he had to get her and her son out of danger. When the path was vermin free he followed it for a ways, with a small hope that he would find her waiting in the more secluded area ahead.
     
    ***
     
    Eric sat at the small table in their room. It was really just Rose's single room. When each of them arrived at separate times, they were not a couple, just singles. Later, they requested to be put on a list for a larger room but so far there was no availability. Rose's Uncle John had helped Eric squeeze a full size bed into the space, without so much as a blink of condemnation. It was tricky just to maneuver around in the tight space. They didn't really mind, the two young people were in love and glad to be together.
    She never acquired a taste for coffee, she sat the steaming cup in front of Eric. In her sleeveless knit top and soft shorts with big flowers splashed on them, her bare feet took the two steps to the fridge and she took out a bottle of orange juice. She stood for a second, pulled the tangle of flaming color hair up and let the small fan blow on her neck. Her hand pulled a stretchy cord from her slim wrist, she