Sorting Things Out With The Police and Getting a Tip

It didn't take long for Law Enforcement to arrive. A matter of minutes later a deputy was on the scene demanding entry to the store. That didn't surprise David as the Sheriff's Department was right nearby. What was surprising was the attitude.

"Sir," said the Deputy who had identified himself as Johnson. "Would you please submit to a search of..." he gestured towards Kea, "that and your person."

"Absolutely not," David said crossing his arms. "And she's not a "that" or a "thing", deputy. She's a person."

"See!" Shrieked Belle jabbing an accusatory long nailed finger in the air towards them like a talon. "They're being completely uncooperative and disruptive! They're hiding something and disrupting my business! Arrest them!"

"Miss," Johnson said placatingly towards her. "Please let me handle it." He turned back towards David and Kea raising his eyebrow. "May I take that to mean you have no interest in complying with a search of your persons? You understand that if I arrest you you'll both be subject to a search anyway?"

Dave nodded as he held Kea. "You may and I do. As you'd see if you looked, yet you haven't, at the security footage nor our phone since arriving. We've been in plain view since arriving and touched nothing. If you arrest us on groundless suspicions and in the face of our justified noncompliance I gaurantee you you'll find nothing," he smirked just a bit. "And I'll slap this place, you and your department with a lawsuit so fast it'll make all your heads spin."

Deputy Johnson scowled turning what was a young, handsome looking face quite ugly as he reached for his duty belt where his gun and cuffs were. "Is that a threat? Sir, I'm going to be placing you under arrest and taking you and that creature into custody-"

"You'll be doing no such thing, Johnson," said a voice from the doorway. They all turned to see a man David's age in an old fashioned open road stetson hat walk in flashing his badge. Dave smiled slightly recognizing the local Sheriff and Johnson's boss. He was older but he recognized him as an old school mate of his, Chase.

Sheriff Chase stepped into the store taking off his hat and pocketing his sunglasses as Deputy Johnson stammered, "S-Sherrif Chase! I was just-"

"Save it," the Sheriff cut his deputy off. "He's right. Review the evidence first and try to forget that you're sleeping with the proprietor for a minute before you do something stupid. I'm already missing the lunch I just sat down to over this." He turned to point at the camera. "I want to see that video ASAP." He turned to Dave and Kea. "I'd also like to see yours as well, if you'll permit me?"

Dave nodded handing over his phone glad to finally dealing with someone sensible. "Absolutely, Sheriff."

With the Sheriff's involvement things proceeded quickly. He'd personally escorted Dave and Kea out of the store and asked nicely if they wouldn't mind waiting around a few minutes. They'd both agreed and expressed they'd be happy to wait on a bench outside instead of inside where idiocy and bigotry were apparently running rampant, hand in hand. Sheriff Chase rolled his eyes but smiled and nodded, "Hardest part of my job. It's tough being the voice of reason sometimes." He smiled at them. "Hang tight you two."

Kea watched him walk back into the store then looked at Dave. "Good hooman?"

Dave smiled but shrugged. "Probably. I knew gim once. He'll at least be fair. Sorry Kea."

She took his hand and leaned happily against him. "No saw-re," she said repeating what he had told her earlier. "D'Hayv good. Kea good. Raychel good. Dan good. All good."

Dave smiled and patted their joined hands, nodding. He quite agreed. This wasn't their fault. And a lot of the people they'd interacted with had been "good" or at least positive lately. It wasn't worthwhile to dwell too much on the negative ones. "All will be good," he agreed. "Dave-Kea together... all good."

Kea nodded happily. She completely agreed. As long as they were together everything would be fine eventually. They just had to be patient.

And as it turned out they didn't have to wait long. Sheriff Chase returned in a reasonably short period of time. "Well I'm going to shoot straight with you," he sighed and ran his fingers through hair that was slightly greying. "There's two ways that this can play out. Everybody presses charges and makes complaints dragging everything out through the legal process and ultimately not getting anywhere..."

Dave nodded. "Sounds tedious."

Chase nodded. "It is that. Second option is faster but equally unsatisfying. Everyone drops it and let's it go. It never happened. Y'all go your way, they go theirs and try not to cross paths again. What do you say?"

Dave nodded again. "Works for me. I certainly have no intention of ever doing business with them. Kea?"

Kea took a long moment to think about it but nodded. "Kea no want bad. Kea want "good". Dave-Kea go away to get clothes... oh... way?" She looked at Dave questioningly.

"Elsewhere?" He suggested. "Some other place."

Kea nodded and turned to the Sheriff. "Go L is where," she told him.

Sheriff Chase smiled and nodded. "Wise. For the record I don't think either of you did anything to warrant this and I'm sorry that y'all had to go through this foolishness." He sighed. "Reminds of the old days and not in a good way. Thought we were beyond this sort of nonsense around these parts."

Dave nodded catching his meaning. "I was thinking the same thing earlier. Sometimes human history is finding new ways to repeat the same past foolishness. For those who forget their history..."

Chase smiled and nodded. "Are doomed to repeat it. I was thinking the same thing."

Dave smiled too. It was something their history teacher in school said to their class repeatedly years ago. He wasn't wrong. He stood and shook Chases hand. "Thanks for coming so quickly and getting personally involved."

Chase chuckled. "It comes with the job. Besides... it was the second time I heard your name in that many days. I hope I don't hear it for a third time tomorrow you troublemaker!"

Dave chuckled. "I'll try but I make no guarantee."

Chase nodded and offered Kea his hand next while handing her something. She hesitated only a little before taking it and he gave her a gentle handshake. "It was a pleasure to meet you, Kea, and welcome to our town. You have any trouble you call the Sheriff's department. OK?"

Kea smiled and accepted the card and the toy badge they usually passed out to kids. "Thank you, Share-if!" She showed Dave the toy badge. "Kea do good! Share-if give Kea shiny!"

Dave smiled and nodded before giving Chase a little side eye. "You trying to steal my girlfriend?"

Chase just laughed. "C'mon! We ain't in high-school anymore and besides... would I do that?" He smirked.

Dave snorted and nodded. "Yep. Wouldn't be the first time! Like old... hell, you know.... I don't even remember her name."

Chase shrugged. "To tell the truth... neither do I! Haha! Go on and get outta here you lovebirds and stay outta trouble now, you hear?"

"Yep!" They both said and headed for their truck and Dave called out. "Hey, Chase... nice hat!"

Chase tipped said hat back on his head with a grin and called out to them one more time. "Thanks... Timeless Treasures!"

Dave looked at Kea who shrugged as she put on her toy badge pinning it to her breast. He turned back and raised his voice. "Excuse me?"

"Timeless Treasures... They got a pretty interesting selection of clothing and they do tailoring. I get all my stuff there," Chase said pointing down the road. "Otherside of town, heading out towards the city. You can't miss it. Tell 'em I sent you!"

Dave smiled and gave him a thumbs-up. "Will do!" He opened the truck door for Kea and then climbed into the driver's side once she was seated. "Sounds like a tip. What Kea say?"

Kea grinned. "Treasure good! Kea say go!"

Dave grinned too and started up the truck and started driving in that direction. "Alright... Let's go hunt some treasure!"