Chapter 9

 After Cash and Ray had hauled out the the furniture, Cash got to feeling better already. He knew that he could start again  fresh in the morning like he had intended the day to go with concerning of getting a living room set. Ray had decided to drive back in to town to get the pizza as well as to show Cash around town. “First things first about Canton.” Ray began cutting his bull shit off and got serious for the moment as he fastened his seat belt. “I’m all ears.” Cash replied adjusting the passenger seat and getting comfortable. “Shit goes down around here. I know you’re from the city and I can appreciate all the crap that you’ve had to have seen and do and I’m just a country boy. I was born and raised right here in Canton. Shit goes down differently here.” Ray started turning on his wipers to remove the wet oak leaves that were plastered to the windshield as he backed out of Cash’s drive. “I’m all ears.” Cash repeated. “Ok. The best way I can put it into perspective for you, Dukes of Hazard. You know it?” Ray questioned looking to Cash for a moment. “Of course.” Cash answered and already was drawing his own conclusions. What Ray would say next would determine to Cash what kind of partner he had. “Good.” Ray said with a nod as he turned out onto the black wet pavement. “Instead of our boys running moonshine we’re chasing down horse traders. We got a whole fucking troop on one side.” Ray said pointing towards his window “and then we got one lone wolf on the other.” He added pointing to his right. “And they do not play nicely. It’s the Mackey’s vs Negan Coldwell. He’s our wolf and he’s slicker than snot. He slips threw my goddamn fingers every time.” Ray added narrowing his eyes out into the beam of his headlights in front of him. Cash chewed the gum in his mouth slowly already feeling the pull of playing for the defense. Whether his intrigue was a part of that he was unsure of just yet. He needed Ray to run his mouth so it would expose what kind of cop he was. “How do the horses play into this?” Cash questioned stretching out his leg. “Well, first of all, they ain’t just horses. These are race horses. I’m talking big fucking race fucking horses. Big ass fucking money. Mafia type money. For instance my boy Coldwell just flew in on the red eye last night from Italy.” Ray explained.”Coldwell is our wolf” Ray unknowingly reminded Cash of. “So the department follows where he vacations?” Cash questioned. “Oh ab-so-fucking-lutely. He buys and sells his stud fees and where trailing a horse isn’t possible, for instance Italy, the seamen. His business stretches internationally.” Ray explained but Cash shrugged still not seeing what the problem was other then a possible bullying situation. “And is that illegal?” Cash asked dryly. “Because I’m not seeing the big fucking problem here.” Cash added and for the first time hearing it from an outsider, Ray sat back in his seat. “No. Not really.” Ray shrugged trailing off. “Well then?” Cash questioned. “What is Coldwell doing that has all you boys’ shorts all up in a knot?” He defended. Ray shook his head. “Wait. Let me back up here a minute. Maybe I should’ve started with The Mackey’s. Bob Mackey in particular and I will take your by his ranch on our way back to your place because his property actually butts up to yours. The river divides you but we are coming up on Coldwell’s in just a minute here.” Ray said pointing to the lights up the road and an indicator that they were getting closer to town. “So Coldwell has horses and lives in city limits?” He questioned. “Edge of. It’s the old governors mansion which is one of the oldest buildings left standing in Canton and let me tell you what, it’s creepy as fuck. It served its purpose for the governor’s as they came to office but then it also converted to the funeral home. At one time the Stratford Mansion was the center of town but we’re talking late 1800’s up till the 30’s when Canton began to branch out into lower elevation. Lower ground made it easier for expansion and farming. The Stratford Mansion having had served for governors needed ample space for their horses and carriage houses back in the day and that goes from the funeral and crematory as well.” Ray shuddered. “Anyway,” he picked up “its grandfathered in that horses can be kept that close to city limits. That’s why Negan Coldwell bought the place and I’m sure because he’s just, for lack of a better word, strange.” Ray said. Again, Cash felt to the defense but also wanted to know more about what was strange and that was just for his personal reasons. “How so?” He asked. “I don’t know. He just lives in that creepy ass mansion with his butler and an old woman. Just the three of them.” Ray said curling his nose. “So no wife and kids?” Cash asked. “Who the fuck knows. We’ve never seen anyone other then the old woman and his butler and that’s because she does errands and his butler drives him. Other than that, we have no idea.” He explained. “So you’ve never had a warrant? Or a need for a warrant?” Cash asked. “No.” Ray confirmed. Cash laughed of the absurdity. “So what’s the fucking problem Ray? So the guy lives in an creepy fucking house and is loaded.” “Not just rich. He’s Richie Rich.” Ray embellished. “Look here, I am not seeing a goddamn problem here. His trading isn’t illegal, you’ve had no use to serve a search warrant of his home, he stays with his rights, I’m starting to think we have a jealousy problem and not a goddamn thing to do with anything otherwise.” Cash flattened. Ray heard it again from the mouth of an outsider and it did seems to make him question if maybe he was wrapped up into something himself. “Well, The Mackey’s are in the top 10 horse breeders in the country believe it or not. His revenue supports a lot in this town.” Ray wanted to clarify but Cash wasn’t giving the room. “You mean Bob Mackey owns Canton is what your mean to say.” Cash interjected. “More or less, yes. His money supports a lot in this town. It branches out to cattle and minerals as well. Then for whatever reason, Negan Coldwell moves in and dominates the market. Mackey holds his seat but Coldwell has taken quite a large chunk of it and the town suffers for it.” “Because Coldwell doesn’t put back into Canton? Why would he put money back into Mackey’s pocket?” Cash asked sarcastically. Now he understood perfectly. The problem was money and power and Canton, Bob Mackey in particular needed to run Negan Coldwell out of town or he was going to end up dead and Mackey needed the department to look the other way. It made sense. “And speaking of the devil, there he is” Ray mentioned looking ahead at a man dressed in black jogging towards the light on the hill. “That’s him. Minus well stop and say hello.” Ray added finding it a perfectly good idea to do so. “Is it really necessary?” Cash asked meeting Ray with an unenthusiastic tone. “Sooner the better.” Ray said creeping up along side him to cause Negan to stop. “So the right to harass comes with the badge? Is this where Boss Hog comes in, Roscoe?” Cash asked sternly. “I just thought I’d introduce you.” Ray added second guessing himself now but the damage was done. Negan was stopped and his truck’s nose pointed to Negan as he rolled up to a stop. Negan threw back his hood from his head breathing deeply from his run and was now expecting some shit. “Evening, Coldwell.” Ray called out across Cash as he unrolled the passenger side window from his side of the vehicle. Negan couldn’t make out who was in the truck but without a doubt recognized Ray’s voice. “What do your want, Walker? Last time I fucking checked it wasn’t illegal to jog after dark.” Negan growled in his defense. The harshness in that voice sank to Cash’s gut and warmed his knees. It hadn’t gone away. “Maybe getting your fat fucking ass out here with me it would do you some good. Then maybe, just maybe, you could keep up with me.” Negan taunted. Cash bit his cheek. He liked his blunt sarcasm too. “Oh, shut the fuck up Coldwell and to think I was being nice to introduce you PERSONALLY to my new partner.” Ray snapped back. Negan concealed his smile that he felt and that he was so good at because he knew exactly who the fuck Ray’s new partner was and who was in that truck with him. “Is that so?” Negan asked playing stupid walking up to the passenger side of the truck. Cash immediately picked up how Negan was going to play this. “Yeah, we’re out for a drive, I’m showing him the sites and your creepy ass house is part of the dime tour.” Ray spoke hitting the dome light to shed light between he and Cash and leaned forward hugging the steering wheel to better see past the broadness of his partners broad and pillowed chest.. “Really? Well then allow me to show you my basement, Walker.” Negan smarted knowing that Ray knew that his home once had served as a funeral home and locked a stare in on Cash to test one another if they would out their meeting. Cash slowly winked so that Ray wouldn’t catch it. Negan understood and his heart did a certain bit of a pitter pat too and shifted his eyes back to Ray who wasn’t skipping a beat rattling off each of their names to the other. “So that’s your house?” Cash asked nodding his head towards the house. “Why? Are you planning on stopping in for a drink?” Negan asked stone faced but he knew that Cash knew. “You never know.” Cash answered just as dryly. His register was calm but his heart was racing. Was this mutual? He didn’t know what was happening. Unlike Cash who wasn’t sure of what to make of himself, Negan knew and had known about himself for quite some time. He just wasn’t sure of much yet concerning Cash and if he himself wanted to pursue him or to any length of a degree. He had denied himself of anything physical with any man, ever. “To be continued.” Cash remarked. Negan smirked a dimple and looked past Cash to Ray. “If you’re done here, Walker, I’d like to finish my fucking run.” He stated. “I just wanted to introduce you to my new partner here cordially because I’m sure you two will meet again plenty.” Ray threatened. “I look forward to it.” Negan answered avoiding Cash’s eye contact for the moment. “Have a good night officers.” He ended and tapped the track of the window to excuse himself and flipped his hood back up over his head to be on his way.