THE SECRET GARDEN OF MARTHA GRIMM
COPYRIGHT 2008 @
PAGE 14
BY RICHARD A. LOPEZ

In the year since the Sheriff's disappearance. Like most things that happen with a mystery tied to them, the rumors flew. Some say he just grew tired of Porters Crossing. Some say he got word from an old lover and seeing how he was alone, decided to go for broke and see the world with her. The more ominous ones were that Quinn was killed by Willie Cole, and buried in one of his clients gardens, but seeing that the search that went on for the few weeks following his dissappearance proved fruitless, that one held no merrit. The truth, that no one knew, was that Sheriff Quinn was not coming back, ever, and the one person who knew about it was, who knew the truth, wasn't saying anything..or was too scared to...

Other changes were going on in Porters Crossing. Willie Cole had set up residence at Ann Hawkins' place. Seems John had found out that she was seeing someone while he was away at work, they fought and now he was renting a room in town above Carmine's Hardware.
Ann had refused to give up Tommy. He was her ace in the hole, so to speak, but no sooner had John moved out, then Willie moved in.
John was livid. He didn't know if he was more angry at Cole being the cause of his marital break up, or not being able to see his son daily.
He had confronted Cole on the street one hot July day, and normally would have ignored him, had it not been for the lewd remark about his soon to be ex-wife's ass, and how he was enjoying it. The fight, lasted all of three minutes, with Cole in the street sucking wind. He may have been in great shape from his yard service, but Hawkins was in the Marines, and recognized a sucker punch coming, ducked and took the wind out of Cole's sails real quick.
When Deputy Vega showed up, every had agreed that Willie had slipped on some old oil in the street.

In his father's absence, Tommy Hawkins had grow sullen and withdrawn. The once happy little boy who would ride up and down the street, dreaming of racing in the big circuit, was now quiet and distant. Ann didn't care, as long as he wasn't sick, or crying or making noise, she was fine. He ate, slept, went to school, so she was fine with it. She had Willie and John was gone. As long as the kid was healthy, he would pay his support. As long as she had the kid.

Willie was another issue. He brooded about that Grimm bitch daily. Everyday the same thing, that garden. That damned garden! Ann was so sick of it. She would love to take one of Willie's axe's to that damn yard. Tear out all of those plants and flowers. Then maybe if all that crap was gone, he could concentrate on her more, like it was in the begining. Now he just humps her and expects a blowjob when he drops his pants. She wanted it back the way it was. Before John left, when they had the excitement of sneaking around and almost being caught. Now it was just normal.
Now it was like being married. She wanted her Willie back. All Willie wanted was that Bitch's secret.
Something was going to break.
Soon.....