Chapter 23 - Lands in dispute.

After a quick stop to buy a pizza on the way, at Daria's request, Ethan drove to his residence. It was a small single-family house surrounded by green plants, which made it very quiet.As he got out of the car, Ethan heard weak music coming from the house.— Don't you live alone? —Ethan asked, closing the car door while looking at the lights inside the house with curiosity.—I usually live alone. My cousin is visiting, she came from Philadelphia to see me. He should be here by now. — Daria replied, chuckling and pushing him toward the door.Ethan knocked on the door, still confused, and soon opened it. What appeared before him was a black-haired woman wearing black saddles and an office uniform. Three buttons on his white shirt were unbuttoned, exposing his sexy collarbones, and his hair fell over the edge of black lace.When he saw Ethan, his eyes lit up.Ethan, with a smile, took the pizza box and was about to speak when Dahlia's cousin put her index finger to her lips, telling her to be silent.—You must be the pizza delivery boy, right?Ethan's mouth opened slightly, expressing confusion.—Thank you very much. You see, I am a housewife who has been unemployed and I have no money. Do you accept other payment methods? —said the woman, straightening her hair, biting her lip and looking at Ethan with pity.Ethan understood instantly. It turned out that this was the surprise Daria had mentioned. He cleared his throat and replied:—Well, I think I could make an exception. How about we discuss more in detail?—That's great, come in fast —said Daria's cousin, opening the door more and pushing him in, while laughing.Lina, with an equally flirty attitude, began to gently caress Ethan's arm, gently leading him into the room. Her touches were delicate but intentional, and Ethan realized that the night would be unforgettable. Daria, Ethan and Lina settled into bed, the air was charged with a soft but palpable tension, which seemed to vibrate with every little movement and whisper. Daria turned to Ethan's shirt while Lina kissed the man's chest in front of him, while her hands untied her pants.Daria slipped into the center of the bed, her presence being a point of attraction. Lina, with a shy smile, joined her, her movements were elegant and fluid. Ethan sat next to him, his breathing synchronized with theirs, creating a feeling of unity in the intimate space.The conversation became murmuring and the gestures became closer. Daria's hands met Lina's in a subtle touch, her fingers intertwined in ways that suggested mutual understanding. Daria leaned toward Ethan, her face close to his, and her lips curved in a soft smile. Lina, next to her, brushed her hand with Ethan's, her touch was light but significant. The base creaked under the weight of their movements, their bodies fitted in a slow, fiery dance. The caresses were firm and deliberate, and the shared smiles were charged with a tacit understanding. Each touch was an unspoken comment, a promise that unfolded in the silence that surrounded them.The heat in the room intensified as their bodies were in closer positions. The breaths became choppy, and the movements became more focused and charged with desire. The connection between them was evident in every whisper and in every touch, a combination of passion and complicity.The night progressed, and with it, the intensity of their interaction. Their bodies moved in passionate synchronicity, each gesture and each touch combined to form a picture of shared desire. The intimacy between them deepened, and the experience became an exploration of limits and sensations.Finally, the night faded into quiet silence, while the three of them were in a state of calm and satisfaction. Early the next morning, Ethan woke up from a movement in his body. It took him a moment to open his eyes before his pupils focused.— Are you awake? —Lina leaned towards him, hugged him and said breathlessly. Daria slept soundly beside her, with a smile on her lips, lost in who knows what dreams.—Yes, I didn't expect you to like exercising in the morning —Ethan replied, taking a cigarette from the nightstand. Lina took the lighter and turned it on for him.—I'm tired, are you human? —she asked.— You're interested in another round — Ethan said, smoking his morning cigarette as he turned around and started exercising more.—I'll think about it. —she asked.Later, Ethan returned to the police station yawning and went to Miles's restaurant to buy a cup of coffee. Daria missed work, which was no surprise, this morning she couldn't even open her eyes. The restaurant was very lively that morning.After breakfast, he soon received a call from Alma. Someone had called the police for harassment and asked to take care of the matter. According to the address provided, Ethan headed to a two-story villa with a blue roof.The wooden villa was surrounded by several imposing trees, with a large area of carefully maintained green grass behind the house. The scenery was particularly charming.Seeing the silver Rolls-Royce parked across the street, Ethan squinted, packed his gear, opened the door, and got out of the car. Upon reaching the backyard, he saw Proctor and a man wearing a light blue plaid shirt, standing by an old well.—Gentlemen, we received a distress call. Did something happen here? —Ethan asked.The man in the shirt, seeing Ethan in uniform, shouted unsatisfied towards the house:—Deborah, did I tell you you didn't need to call the police?When Ethan approached, the man reached out and said:—Hello, officer. I am Arthur, Arthur Ramsay.—I know you, the village priest, right? —Ethan shook his hand and then looked at Proctor —. Is there a problem here?—Just talking about some businesses. I represent the Kinaho tribe and Pastor Ramsay to discuss the acquisition of this land.Arthur Ramsay did not respond, walked to the well, dropped the bucket, and collected water. He drew half a tablespoon of water and offered it to Proctor.—I would like to invite you to a drink of water from my well.—Yes, very sweet —Proctor replied, taking the wooden spoon and testing the water. Then he gave it to Ethan, who also tried it.—You're right, I'd rather drink water here than from the tap, like my great-grandfather —Ethan said.Arthur Ramsay, with the old wooden barrel in hand, continued:—When my son was born, members of the village church gathered by this well to baptize him. He will do the same in the future. Your child will also be baptized here. So my final answer is no. I will not sell this land.—I understand your attachment to this land, Mr. Ramsay —said Proctor, returning the wooden spoon — to you. I even admire his perseverance. There are not many people with this quality today.Proctor took a step closer and added quietly:—But being too persistent will become stubborn, it won't be a good thing in the end. We can do this, I will give you double the market price and, at the same time, I will help you find nearby land with the same area, where you can dig a new well. I think the taste will be the same.Arthur Ramsay looked at him and scoffed:—I am concerned that if I ask you to help me find other land, I do not know how many more people will be forced to leave their homes.Proctor's eyes turned cold as he got closer to Ramsay and whispered:—Listen carefully to what I say: you can choose to go with twice as much cash or you can choose to go bankrupt, but whatever happens, this land will definitely end up in my hands.—You can try whatever you want —replied Ramsay —, and I will pray to God that you cannot take my land.—If God cares about you, He won't allow me to appear in front of you. —Proctor replied.Ethan quickly stepped forward to separate them.—Hey, everyone calm down. Mr. Proctor, I don't want to hear you make any more threats to Pastor Ramsay.—Don't worry, I won't make any personal threats to the pastor. Think about it carefully. I'll give you two days —Proctor said, pulling Ethan's hand away, fixing his suit and turning to leave.The grass sighed deeply, dropped the wooden spoon, and walked painfully back to the house.At night, when Ethan was crossing the parking lot with his coffee, he saw Hood sitting on a bench across the street from the police station. He turned around and walked closer.—Sheriff.Hood looked at him and continued to break the bread in his hands, throwing it to the ground. Ethan settled beside him, hitting his waist as he sat down. A group of pigeons flew, flapping their wings and pecking at the breadcrumbs on the ground.— And your friend, did he leave? —Ethan asked.Hood was stunned for a moment and, quietly, said:— He is already where they should be.— You know what? I once had a friend like that —said Ethan —. No matter how you help them, these types of people will never feel gratitude. As long as they see an opportunity or sign of weakness will exploit it, it is better to cut that problem in the bud.—I guess you're right. What do you suggest. —Hood asked quietly.—Don't worry about this kind of thing, it's not worth it —Ethan replied, getting up —After finishing his morning patrol, Ethan stopped the car on the side of the road. He found a large rock by the lake and sat on it. He took out a slice of fried chicken, and enjoyed it in front of the lake.After eating, he returned to the police station.A woman in a denim skirt stood against the wall, holding a plate with something in hand. Ethan closed the car door and the woman approached.—Mrs. Moody, how can I help you ..Looking at the cake in Kate Moody's hand, she took two steps back.—This is apple pie, are you afraid? Don't worry, I'm here to apologize to you. Because of the last time.Kate laughed and placed her apple pie on the hood of the Crown Victoria.— Do you have time? We could talk for a moment.Ethan looked at Kate. I hadn't seen her in a while. She was in a very good mood. He nodded, crossed the street with Kate, and sat on a bench.—And what do you want to talk about, I'm still on duty.Unexpectedly, Kate remained silent after sitting down, so he had to take the initiative to ask.— Can you answer a question honestly? A yes or no question.—It depends. I don't know what you want to ask.— Did you kill Marcus and Dex?Kate looked directly at him.—They both have time that they disappeared, it is not something abnormal in them, but they generally return home a few weeks later. Now they have been missing for a long time. Did you kill them?Ethan would never have thought that Kate would ask him that question so blatantly. He smiled, took out his cigarette, and lit it.— Do you have any other questions, Mrs. Moody?—I seem to guess, but don't worry, I'm not here to cause you trouble.Kate Moody unceremoniously snatched the cigarette box from her hand, took one out, and lit it herself. Grayish smoke rose and filled his face.—They want to kill you to avenge Cole, but they were both beasts. As soon as Cole died, they abused me ...Kate coughed a few times and continued:—If they are both dead, then I can only thank you. At least I don't have to worry all the time. I don't know what day those two will appear in front of me again.—I feel sorry for what happened to you. Please excuse me, I have something to do.Ethan got up to leave, but stopped for a moment.—From now on, sleep peacefully. Things will always get better, right?After finishing talking, Ethan walked away. Kate sat on the bench, exhaling a long puff of smoke as tears fell through the corners of her eyes. Then, he took the apple pie from the hood and entered the police station.Siobhan asked curiously:— Does Mrs. Moody have anything to do with you?—It's nothing, he just came to apologize for what happened at the festival.Siobhan said "Oh" and returned to his desk. Ethan looked out the window. Kate Moody got up from the bench, waved at him, and walked away. Ethan smiled, sat in the chair, put the apple pie in the trash can, and turned on his office computer to get to work.Soon after, Siobhan stretched his head again and his large eyes blinked.—Officer Kelly, do you want to tell me something, am I busy?—Tch, as if you had something important to do. I want to tell you some shocking gossip. Do you want to listen?Ethan moved the mouse, turned off the Solitaire Spider, opened the drawer, took out nuts, and threw a bag at Siobhan, as if he were listening. Siobhan rolled his eyes.— Did you know that Pastor Ramsay is going to divorce?— Arthur Ramsay?—Yes, himself.Siobhan nodded repeatedly.—Pastor Ramsay and his wife have always been very loving and often attended church activities together. I don't know why he suddenly divorced Deborah.Ethan thought of the simple man he saw two days ago and the well-kept green grass in his home.— And then what? —Ethan took a nut and put it in his mouth.Siobhan said with a perplexed expression:—I heard that Pastor Ramsay also sold his residence and the surrounding land. The Kinaho tribe wanted to buy the land near him and build a new casino. Pastor Ramsay never agreed to sell it. I don't know why I suddenly change my mind.Ethan arched his eyebrows. Proctor's threats should have worked.After chatting with Siobhan, they went out on patrol. When the red light came on, Ethan stopped the car and looked at the cars next to him out of habit. Unexpectedly, he saw Jenny Kendall drumming with her fingers on the wheel impatiently. —Hi Jenny, a long time without seeing you. —Ethan rolled down the window.When Jenny Kendall heard someone greet her, she turned her head suspiciously and saw that it was Ethan. A smile appeared on his face and he quickly rolled down the car window.—Ethan, are you back? My husband said you went on vacation.—Yes, I just came back a few days ago.—That's great. After what happened last time, Dan and I wanted to invite you to our house to express our gratitude, but we couldn't find the opportunity.—You're welcome. By the way, isn't today Saturday? Where are you going?—You know, I work at a school and today they sent some kids to extra curricular classes. I'll go take a look, if you need anything.Jenny Kendall continued:—I'm serious, how about tonight? Let me make you a good dinner and Dan will definitely welcome you.Seeing how excited she was, Ethan couldn't resist, so he had to accept. After the traffic light turned green, the two said goodbye.As they passed Second Street, Alma's urgent voice rang on the radio:—There was a robbery at Walgreens. A civilian was shot. Emmett is chasing the suspect at the scene. The voices of "Roger" Siobhan and Brock rang one after another.—Walgreens Pharmacy, isn't it just a street in front of me?Ethan picked up the radio and was about to respond when a red Camry suddenly jumped out of the alley next to him and backed away quickly. Before Ethan could react, he was hit hard by the back of the Camry and collided with the front of the car. The air bag inside the steering wheel exploded with an "explosion" sound. Ethan suddenly felt dizzy and heard waves of tinnitus.In a trance, he saw two middle-aged men in white masks running from the Camry in front of him, continuously shooting as they fled. Ethan struggled to unbutton his seat belt, and a black shadow jumped over the passenger window with a crash.—Ethan, why are you here? You're good? Do you want me to call an ambulance?—I'm fine, hurry up and don't let them escape.Ethan shook his head and said helplessly to Emmett, who suddenly appeared in front of him.