Tangent Episode Three

3 | Escorting the Executioner

Marko woke up as the sun crawled over Utah. Someone was knocking at the front door. Again and again and again. He got up and answered the door. Sheriff Lima was standing on Marko's door step with an officer behind him.

"Mornin' Pheonix."

"John."

Marko didn't know the kid standing behind Jonathan Lima, but he knew he was a fresh one.

"I'm gonna git right down to business here, Mark. I've got three dead officers, a dead detective, and a dead chief of police. All within the past two days. Officer Holland, he was knew, you probably never met him; was shot to death on the highway two nights back. Then I've got a whole shot up station, full of dead cops. Now they're sending in some people from upstate, couple of civil service workers, cops and such. Don't you worry 'bout a thing, we ain't short-handed or nothin' of the sort."

"Then why you comin' down here with this boy behind ya, Sheriff?"

"Just wanted to let ya know what's been going on around town, Pheonix. Wonderin' too if you seen anythin' suspicious in the past few days."

"Can't say I've seen a damn thing, John."

"Alright Pheonix. You just let me know about anything or anything you may need, you got my number."

John turned and left and the officer quickly followed.

A half hour later Marko was loading a duffel bag into the trunk of his car and a cooler in the back seat. He had put in several water bottles and Cokes after finally shattering a bottle of whiskey against his driveway following much contemplation. He started his car and drove up the road and made a left on Center Street and, after three blocks, a right onto Main Street. He continued up 191 and pulled into the Super 8 parking lot.

Marko cut the engine after parking and got out and popped open his trunk. The door numbered 8 opened and Brian walked out, followed by a skinny man with a shaved head carrying a backpack.

"Marko Phenoix. Dominic Fredrick."

The two shook hands.

"Well," Brian started. "You boys have a good trip upstate. Best be gettin' on now, I hear the sheriff's already makin' the rounds."

"Who'd you send to the station, Brian?"

Brian stopped for a moment and squinted at Marko, "What did you say?"

"Who'd you send to wipe out the police station?"

"That ain't none a your God damned business."

"Was he pickin' up that boy? or layin' him down, Brian?"

"This ain't the time or the place for none of this talk, Marko. Now you get in that fucking car and you get up to Fort Duchesne or this man right here will kill you."

"So I guess I don't have a choice then do I?" Marko didn't want an answer. He got into his car and so did Dominic. Brian entered the Super 8 office as the car pulled out of the lot and made a left going north on 191 and disappeared into the outskirts of Moab City, Utah.