The Big Guy Chapter 8

The Big Guy
Chapter 8


“Lucille, if you can tear yourself away from Matt for a few minutes, I have some details about the reception that I want to share with you.” By then, she had reached us and saw Lucy’s bikini bottom with a gasp. “Lucille! Is this what I think it is?

“I don’t know, Mother. What do you think it is?”

“It looks suspiciously like a part of your bathing suit.”

“You’re right, Mother, and before you go any further, I want you to know that what we’re doing was all my idea. Why don’t you go inside until we’re finished? We’ll be done soon…too soon so far as I’m concerned.” Mrs. Bascomb turned and left in a huff.

Lucy whispered, “I wasn’t kidding about the ‘too soon’ part. Damn, but I’m so hot for you.” And then she groaned a low feral growl as her body convulsed fiercely before coming to a stop, her head resting on my shoulder. “I’ll never tire of that, Matt…not if I live to be a hundred.”

I leaned down to kiss her before suggesting that we get out to meet her mother. I helped Lucy up, and together, we walked to the towels. After drying each other, I grabbed another two from the locker to sit on. I was embarrassed when we saw her mother, but Lucy laughed again. We sat on a leather loveseat while her mother was in a recliner.

“I’m hoping, Matt, that you’ll be a good influence on my daughter, who doesn’t seem to have grown up.”

“Mother, I’m thirty, and this is my house, and I’m engaged, so what’s the big deal?”

“Well, I don’t want to belabor on the point, so I’ll get right to it. Can you go to Desmond’s tomorrow morning and check out their facilities? Your father and I have started to put together our list of guests, so we’ll need yours and Matt’s. Any idea how many you’ll invite, Matt?”

“Well, there’s Daryl, who I expect will be my best man and his guest, my aunt and uncle and their daughter, my cousin Constance, and Ted, her husband. I can think of maybe a dozen friends from the Marshal’s Service and the Navy, so…probably thirty or so if that’s okay.”

“Of course, it’s okay, Matt. I think there will be more than three hundred guests by the time we’re done. Matt, what name do you want to use on the invitations? I’ll need the names of your aunt and uncle.”

I noticed her pad in hand, so I told her, “My legal name is Matt James Cahill, not Matthew, and my aunt and uncle are Nellie and Charles Cahill of Wilmington, North Carolina. Is that okay?”

“Yes, thank you so much. When should I tell Melvin you’ll be at Desmond’s, Lucille?”

She looked at me for directions, so I gave them to her, saying, “I think we can be there by ten.” Lucy nodded in agreement, and her mother got up to leave, hugging Lucy first and then me and even petting Max before leaving. We spent the rest of the afternoon at the pool, sitting in the shade of an umbrella and drinking chilled bottled water. I gave Max some water before falling asleep for what I thought might be a short nap. Lucy had other ideas; she climbed onto my body just as we did at night, kissing my cheek and showing her love for me at least once every thirty seconds.

The following two days were a blur of activities in preparation for the wedding, but on Saturday morning, I knew that I had to leave. I told Lucy that the sooner I left, the sooner I could return, but she was still reluctant to see me go. After a big breakfast of my favorites, I loaded Max into the SUV and kissed Lucy goodbye. Breaking our hug, I kissed her, tears from her cheeks. I promised to call her twice a day as I drove away.

It was a long drive, more than 850 miles south to Memphis and then onto the interstate to Wilmington. I did 550 miles on the first day, stopping only to use the toilet, refill the tank, walk Max, or eat lunch. I was in uniform and armed, so nobody bothered me about Max or a leash, even when I took him into the fast food restaurants en route. Finding a hotel that would accept Max was easier than I had thought. There was much respect for the uniform.

It was mid-afternoon when I answered a call from Julia Adams. She had interviewed Jack Perkins, the bartender/thief/student, and, based on his statement, had obtained a warrant to search his dorm room, finding enough pot and Meth to qualify as felony possession with intent to sell in the roommate’s drawers and clothing. She had no difficulty turning him and Perkins, promising immunity in return for their assistance with the case. She told me that the roommate had made an appointment with Jeremy Haynes to buy 250 Oxycodone tablets next Thursday. He had picked a public place where it would be easy to maintain surveillance during the buy. She thought the case was moving along but had no idea where it might lead.

As promised, I phoned Lucy right after leaving a barbeque place for lunch. The first words she uttered were, “I love you, and I already miss you terribly.” I told her she had stolen my line, and we laughed. She had some news about the wedding, and I told her my aunt and uncle would be shocked if I told them about it. Being with Lucy had fogged my mind, and I had forgotten about phoning them. I’d take care of that after I had spoken with Lucy.

She asked me about the traffic and how far I hoped to get. “More than halfway, I hope. I’ve decided that I’m going straight to the office to resign. If I’m lucky, I’ll run into Daryl while I’m there.” We spoke for about twenty minutes before I ended the call. I was glad the SUV was equipped with hands-free phone technology so I could concentrate on driving instead of the phone.

I stopped for the night around 6:30 and phoned Lucy immediately. She wanted to know if I’d had any trouble finding a motel. “No, I let Max out of the car, and we walked into the office. The woman behind the counter took one look at my shirt and another at Max, then gave me the federal government discount. Some young girls were in the office with their parents, and they asked if they could pet Max. He was in seventh heaven. You know how much he likes kids.”

“I’m missing you, Matt. I’m not looking forward to bed tonight or any other night until you’re back with me again. I’m looking forward to our first night together.”

“Yeah, me too; I have to get some dinner and then phone my aunt and uncle. I love you more than anything.” She said she loved me again and looked forward to meeting my family. She kissed the phone and then ended the call.

I phoned my aunt and uncle and was surprised when Uncle Chuck answered. “Hi, Matt—we saw you on the news last week. That was some daring piece of work apprehending two rapists by yourself.”

“I wasn’t quite alone. I had Max to help me. Did you hear about the two armed robbers in a diner?” He hadn’t, so I told the short version of the story, leaving the part about Lucy and me until the end. “You can check out the diner when you get to Bascomb’s Landing, Uncle Chuck.”

“Where on earth is that, and why would I want to go there?”

“Well, it’s in western Tennessee, about sixty miles north of Memphis, and I assumed you’d want to attend the wedding.” I waited a few seconds before getting the expected, “WHAT?”

“It’s a long story that started when I tried to drive home once the case in St. Louis was closed.” I went on to explain how I met Lucy, how I had stayed with her for several nights, and how much I loved the town. Then I told him about the attempted armed robbery and how Max and I had taken the robbers down. I explained how Lucy and I had lived together for almost a week before I learned that her surname was Bascomb.

“You mean as in ‘Bascomb’s Landing?’”

“The same.”

“Holy crap!”

“Yeah, she was using this mobile home because her house was being painted. It’s not just big; it’s imposing, with six bedrooms she wants to fill with kids. As big as it is, it’s small compared to her parents’ home. Best of all, she’s an incredible person who is liked and respected by everyone in the city. Oh yeah, I’m resigning from the Marshals Service to take the position of Chief of Police there. Daryl is going with me as a lieutenant.”

“You managed all this in two weeks?”

“Yeah, it’s miraculous and hard to believe, but it’s true. I’ll be home tomorrow night to show you a few photos on my phone. I’ll see you and Aunt Nell then. I need to get some dinner and turn it in. It’s been a long day.”

“Okay, we’ll see you then. Come for dinner and bring your friend Daryl with you. I can’t wait to tell your aunt and Constance. Bye, Matt.” I walked Max to a nearby Outback, where I asked for a booth. Max sat opposite me while I ate a decent prime rib, saving him some fat and scraps for his dinner. I was in bed with Max on the floor at my side before ten.

I devoured the complimentary breakfast and left with a coffee to check out. The desk clerk commented on how well-behaved my dog was. “You don’t know the half of it. He’s the best police dog I’ve ever seen but is also friendly and gentle with kids. He’s very protective of me and my fiancée. I pity anyone who tries to hurt either one of us.” I took my receipt, and Max walked with me to the SUV.

I phoned Lucy around 11:00 to tell her I loved her and was only an hour from Wilmington. Then I phoned Daryl and learned he was in the office. We agreed that we would both resign today. He had his letter, and I had mine. The only question was how long we would have to wait before driving to Tennessee.

Max and I walked in just after noon and straight to Daryl’s desk. He rose as soon as he saw me, and we hugged. “There are a few things I want to discuss with you. Had lunch yet?”

“No, I was waiting for you. I want to hear about that case you wouldn’t discuss on the phone.” He took a folder from the desk, and we walked to the commander’s office, where we told his secretary, Maura, that we needed to see him ASAP. She called in on the intercom and told us to go right in.

Robert—call me Bob—Cunningham rose as we passed through the doorway. “Great job in St. Louis, Matt. Do you have one big pair of stones? Are you pulling that off alone, even with Max to help you? I have another big case lined up for you and Daryl. Have a seat.”

“I think you might want to wait until you see what we have for you.” I passed my letter across the desk to him, followed almost immediately by Daryl.

“What’s this? You’re both resigning? Why?”

“I’ve accepted the position of Chief of Police in Bascomb’s Landing, Tennessee.”

“What’s your story, Evans?”

“I’ve accepted the position of Lieutenant of Police in Bascomb’s Landing, working with Matt.”

“Where the hell is this place?”

“It’s about sixty miles northeast of Memphis. It’s a small city of about 28,000 people. I met a woman there, and we’re getting married.”

“Can’t you do that and stay with us?”

“I could, but I would like to settle down there. Her name is Lucille Bascomb. She’s a direct descendant of the city’s founder. I left her yesterday morning, and I already miss her.”

“Okay, I guess there’s nothing much I can do about that, but what’s this about buying Max for $10,000? We both know he’s worth about ten times that.”

“That’s true, but he’s only worth that if I’m here to work with him. He won’t accept commands from anyone else.”

“We’ll see about that. What are you doing now?”

“I just have to finalize the Michael Clifford and Jordan Smith case summary and file my expense report.”

“How about you, Daryl?”

“Pretty much the same on the Robinson matter.”

“Very well; there’s no sense getting you involved in a new case now, so just file the reports and go down to payroll, and then you can go. Matt, leave Max here. I’m sorry to see you go, but I understand.” I told Max to stay, and Daryl and I left for lunch.

We were outside when Darryl asked where I wanted to go. “How about that chicken place? You know…the one with the great southern fried chicken?”

“Oh, yeah! Want me to drive? I’m sure you’re all driven out.” I was pleased to let Darryl do the driving. I needed to be able to think.

“Two things—one good and one not so good; first, how’d you like to be my best man?”

“Really? Do they know I’m a spade?”

“No, but they do know you are black. Lucy does as well, and she’s good with it. So I’ll assume that was a ‘yes.’ The second thing isn’t so great. I caught a bartender at Lucy’s parents’ weekly barbeque serving the cheap shit and pouring the good stuff into some empty bottles.”

“Okay, but that’s small potatoes. Why all the need for secrecy?”

“Because he implicated one of the local cops. I met with a state attorney thanks to Paul McCormick, now the Memphis Chief. She has already flipped the bartender and his roommate, who claimed to buy drugs from the same cop. The roommate will wear a wire next week during a drug buy. The exciting part is that the cop’s father is Chairman of the City Council.”

“That’s why you didn’t want to say anything in front of Lucy.” I didn’t have to say a word. One look at my face said it all. “You’re worried about her safety if she were to slip and say the wrong thing to the wrong person at the wrong time.”

“And they say your mother raised a fool.” Daryl laughed as he pulled into the restaurant’s parking lot. A few minutes later, we were seated and ordered—the Southern fried half chicken with fries for me and the pulled pork platter for Daryl. “You’ll love the Sunday dinners at Lucy’s parents’ house. They have a cook who makes her barbecue—smokes it for eight hours, according to Lucy.”

“Maybe, but will I be invited?”

“I won’t be going if you’re not, and Lucy won’t either. She says they’ve had plenty of black guests in the past. I’m looking forward to meeting one of them—the pastor at one of the biggest black churches. I plan on enrolling him in my crusade to get some black officers on the department.”

“You have much work ahead of you. I can already see the outgoing chief—a real cracker who hasn’t done shit for years. I’ll bet there’s no discipline in the ranks.”

“That’s one bet I’ll never take.”

“Okay, I have a question for you. How long before the boss realizes Max won’t do a thing for him or anyone else?”

“I figure Max will go home with me tonight, although Bob’s stubborn so he can hold out until tomorrow morning. Max will move if he needs to heed the call of nature, but he’ll go right back to the same spot, and he won’t move even if he’s starving.”

We enjoyed our lunch, and I thought the chicken was outstanding. I invited Daryl to dinner with my family once we were back at the office, where I spent the afternoon writing my reports, filing my expenses, and taking them down to payroll. When asked about my motel expenses on the way back from St. Louis, I had a sly grin. Typically, the Service would have taken care of any weather-related expenses. Still, I didn’t have anything besides my breakfasts, and I decided that the first time I made delicious love with Lucy, I would stay with her as long as possible. I couldn’t ask for reimbursement for that.

I lounged around the office, kidding with Daryl and one of the other marshals until just before 5:00. It was time to get up and go home. I was three steps from the desk when the intercom buzzed. It had a different ring than the phone. I picked it up and heard Maura tell me, “Bob wants to see you before you leave, Matt.”

Less than a minute later, I was at her desk when the office door opened, and Rob appeared red-faced and furious. “Give me your check and take this god-damned dog with you. I’ve tried everything I can think of all afternoon, and he hasn’t moved.” At another time, I would have laughed and told him, “I told you so,” but I decided to be a good winner. I handed him the check and demanded a receipt. Once I had it, I called Max. He was at my side, wagging his tail seconds later.

“Good luck to you and Daryl,” Bob told me. Call on us any time you need help. I mean that.” I thanked him and shook hands, then led Max out the door. Daryl was there waiting for us. He petted Max, then we walked to our cars and drove to my family home in nearby Leland.

When I was growing up in Wilmington, we had a huge house, but Uncle Chuck and Aunt Nell had downsized to a three-bedroom townhouse in Leland, about five miles south of the Cape Fear River. It was just big enough to hold the grandkids for an overnight or holiday. Over the Memorial Bridge, I drove on US 17 until I reached Leland, and then I left into Carolina Forest and a few miles down the winding road to their new home.

Charles Cahill, Esq. was a very successful lawyer—what is known as a plaintiff’s attorney. He had successfully sued the hotel in the fire that had killed my parents. I had asked him about that a few years ago because I knew he wasn’t licensed in New York. “No problem, Matt; one of my law school buddies was in a high-powered firm in Manhattan. I did all the work, and he filed the papers under his name. This kind of thing happens all the time. I owed him a favor, and he got it back when he sued one of North Carolina’s biggest tobacco companies a few years ago.”

My engagement must have been big news because the whole family was there to greet me and Max. Well, my nieces greeted Max. So far as they were concerned, I was also there, although I did get a massive hug from Constance and Aunt Nell. I thought that was a great time to call Lucy.

“I have a few people here who want to talk to you, and then I’ll give you my timetable. I’m giving the phone to Constance, my cousin.” I stepped aside while Constance and Lucy spoke for fifteen minutes. What is it about women? They can talk to total strangers like they are the best of friends.
After Constance, the phone went to Aunt Nell. I didn’t get it back for almost half an hour. Finally, I spoke quietly with Lucy, stepping outside into what my aunt and uncle called their backyard. If only they could see Lucy’s. “Hi, at last, I wanted to give you the news. Daryl and I are done with the Marshals Service. Technically, I’m still on duty and payroll for another twenty-three days and Daryl for another twenty-two, but we don’t have to go to work. It will take me four or five days to clean my apartment and pack my stuff. I will rent a trailer that I can tow behind my SUV.”

“Is that going to be safe, Matt? It’s a long ride.”

“I know. Don’t worry. Daryl and I have already discussed it, and he will accompany me. He has more stuff than I have, so he’s hired a mover and has his car transported, too. I think he’ll store everything there until he’s fully settled.”

“Did you tell him he can use the city’s house—the one you won’t stay in?” She laughed the entire time, and I knew exactly what she was thinking because I was thinking the same things. We told each other, “I love you,” several times and then gave each other a long-distance kiss. I walked inside to enjoy dinner with my family and my best friend.



To be continued