Sherif Barns held out a hot cup of decaf for Isaka to take. Isaka stared at it for what felt like an eternity before taking it in her cold hands and sipping the overly sweet drink. She nearly gaged it was so sweet, almost like drinking hot chocolate milk. She must have winced, because the sheriff sighed. “Sorry, I don’t drink the stuff. So I don’t know if I made it right. By your reaction, I guess it’s too bitter?” She nearly squirted the hot sweet milk through her nose, but she forced herself to swallow.

“Nah, it was good. Thanks Sheriff.” Barns was Mormon. Most of the people around the Basin were, and she didn’t want to be rude. But damn, that was like drinking cotton candy. She put the drink down next to her as the sheriff took a seat on the opposite side.

“You don’t have to lie to me. I’ve never brewed a hot cup of Jo in my life.” He laughed, and Isaka felt a smile tug at the edges of her mouth. “Well Isaka, I’m going to have to tell your dad on you.” He pointed at Billy’s body a few feet away, and that made Isaka laugh. When she stopped, Barns pulled out his card. “If any of his goons try to get revenge, you call me. You understand? They’re all pretty powerful guys, every one of them could take a 9 mil to the chest and keep going. Level 4 or higher can do that from what the feds are sayin. Though, it looks like even Billy couldn’t take one to the skull, and from what reports said he bragged about being level 7. So, that’s good to know.”

“Can you take someone that strong?” Isaka asked, concerned for the man’s safety. She picked up the terrible coffee and sipped at it slightly. It wasn’t so bad, in very small doses.

“Me? Oh yeah. I uh, well, when all these system shenanigans began I got a thing called ‘law man’ that gives me some help dealing with troublemakers like Billy. But, I’m the only one that got it on the force. My deputies didn’t get any kind of help, so I’m stretched pretty thin trying to deal with the real bad guys. Oh, don’t get me wrong, the deputies do their best, but it takes two or three of them to take down someone like Billy without killing them.”

“You’re still trying to arrest people like that?” Isaka shook her head as she took another sip. The sweetness was growing on her. “Wouldn’t it be easier to kill them?” Barns chuckled and shook his head, taking his hat off and fanning himself in the growing heat of the day as the sun rose over the mountains that surrounded them.

“Yeah, but it was that way before, too. We can’t just go around killing everyone that gives us trouble. Not unless you’re really in danger. Honestly, most of these guys are not that much stronger than someone roided out, hyped up on meth and PCP. Those that are, well. That’s where I step in.” He looked over at Billy. “Or your Glock. Damn girl, that was good shooting. Your daddy is going to be proud.”

Isaka rolled her eyes. “I’m 32. I don’t need my daddy’s approval.” Barns smirked.

“Still, he’s going to be.” Isaka knew Barns had six daughters of his own. Three of which were grown and moved out. She supposed he was allowed that smirk, only because they both knew he was right.

“How common are the really bad ones like Billy?” She asked, her voice serious now as she finished the coffee. The teller came out with some water bottles and both of them accepted the offered drinks with muttered thanks before the gangly teenager went back inside to help his grandma re-open the store. Barns sighed as the door closed as the young man left them alone again with Billy’s corpse.

“Common enough. It’s a, well, it’s a real problem. Had one nearly every day for the last two weeks, usually out of towners. A group of dumbasses out of salt lake raided the Hutchins farm last night.” Isaka’s eyes went wide. She knew the Hutchins. They were good people. “Started killing their livestock for XP. When Mark pulled his shotgun and told them to scatter, most of them did. But the brute that led the group took a blast to the chest and kept going. Ripped the gun right out of Mark’s hands, before beating him to death with it. I showed up just after and took the guy down.”

Isaka gasped at the news. Mark Hutchins was her own age, a good man and someone Isaka had dated a few years back before they decided they weren’t right for each other. He was amiable, a rock steady type who didn’t want to bother anyone. Isaka hadn’t liked his lack of ambitions beyond his family’s farm, but he had always been kind to her. And he was a damn fast, and excellent shot. If Mark had fired once with his shotgun, he had fired multiple times and probably hit more times than not. Someone that could take that to the chest and keep going was terrifying. “Howd you stop him?”

“I uh, well. I had to dislocate his arms and legs. Stop him from being able to move or do much of anything, really. Wrapped him in some metal cords too instead of these things.” Barns lifted his handcuffs. “I’m sorry I shouldn’t be telling you all this.” Barns leaned forward and rested his elbows on his knees and his face in his hands. “I’m just so bone tired.” Isaka patted him on the back.

“It’s alright, sheriff. I understand, and I’ve seen and heard a hell of a lot worse than that. You should have heard my great grandpa’s stories about the Japanese concentration camps for the Chinese. Now those are stories that would cut anyone to the bone.” He grunted in agreement and straightened a bit. “Is anyone doing anything to help?”

“Oh, some folks are. A few people in the basin are pretty strong, but most of them got carted off by the damn draft. Those that are left are meeting in a few days. If you and your family want to come, I’m sure we can squeeze in a few more seats.”

“I know my dad will want to come. I’ll try to make it too if we can find someone to watch the horses. What about him?”

“Who Billy? Classic case of self defense from what I saw on the security camera. Came right at you, intimidated you, refused to let you leave. Then, like a moron, he kept coming at you after you pulled the gun and warned him off. That’s one hundred percent on him in my book.”

“And the fact I shot him as he was getting up?”

“Oh please. He was going to hurt you. We all know that. This isn’t the time for damn legal games or long drawn out ‘investigations’ that take months. I’ve already talked to the ADA about it on my cell. Did it while I made that.” He pointed at the empty cup. “He agreed after I sent him the video file. You’re in the clear.” He got up, dusted off his pants, and pulled out his keys. “I’ll text you where that meeting is going to be.” His radio squawked in what seemed like a nearly incomprehensible language to Isaka. “I got to go. See you there.”