“Oh crap!”

The email notice giving rise to this expletive now glared like a brilliant red flag on the screen of the newly minted “Emergency Services Captain” Posie Brown.

Following the ‘incident’ at Whipsaw Lake, some of the pieces had left the Board, some just got moved around a little, and some were waiting in the wings ready to come back into play full bore!

With the scandal of the ammonium nitrate, local law enforcement had been adjudged by Homeland Security to be ‘compromised’ and a whole new level of supervision had been created. As Emergency Services Captain, Fire Chief Brown had now added Security Chief to his title and reported directly to the still limping Agent Friendly. The now totally disgraced Agent was anything BUT his surname and to make matters worse was permanently seconded to the benighted status of Border Security at Jackknife County.

He loathed every living thing and every living body in Whipsaw Lake who he held personally responsible for his permanent fall from grace.

Of course Sheriff Redbone found the whole thing so amusing his ample overhang routinely jiggled above his official brown leather belt line.

To date the new title hadn’t been much more than an extra couple of thousand in his monthly paycheck (God bless the Federal Government and their paranoia!). But as Posie re read the email he could see the stinking mess of misery barreling down the highway with an estimated arrival date one week from that day.

“In the interests of fact finding, Presidential Candidate Maxwell Crock will be touring Whipsaw Lake to review Border security measures. We expect every courtesy to be extended to Senator Crock and his Secret Service detail.

You will be responsible for local arrangements, secure lodging facilities and securing the perimeter of the candidates expected public meeting with local residents.

Special Agent Charles B. Friendly has been copied on this email. Liaise.”

Rosie cast his eyes upwards, “Why?” he asked. But God was in no mood to answer, being way to occupied with her Bracket Pick for March Madness……

Her divine intervention was at least a week away.