Over Her Dead Body by Bradley Bigato Read Free Book Online

the other side when he heard something up ahead. It sounded like leaves crinkling and maybe a soft thudding like something hitting the earth. He pointed his Maglite up ahead. He could just barely make out something. He crept forward carefully keeping his right hand on the butt of his gun. “Hello, who’s out there? This is the Sheriff.” He spoke loud and confident despite his tingly guts. He could definitely make out something up ahead. It almost looked like bare feet. It looked as though somebody was bent over on their knees with their feet tucked under them. Looks like another puking case after all. He thought. Probably another drunk . He moved a little closer.
    “Hello? This is the Sheriff. Identify yourself.” As he got closer, he could see that there was definitely somebody on their knees but it almost looked as though they were digging in the dirt. Their body would make reaching motions forward and then dragging motions back and dirt was being flung backward. They were definitely digging. The sheriff moved closer still. He was nearly up behind the guy now and moved to his right about ten feet out to get a better look. As he moved around the side, he could see the guy didn’t have any pants on. He was a dark haired man maybe in his thirties with a white t-shirt and grey briefs on. He was pawing frantically at the ground. Sheriff Watley drew his gun.
    When an officer pulls his gun, either his life or someone else’s is usually in danger. Maybe it was the dark. Maybe it was the wind. Or maybe it was the half naked guy clawing at the ground in the middle of the woods at midnight, but Sheriff Watley wasn’t convinced that he was safe. He just kind of stood there and watched for a moment. His legs were positioned with his front leg slightly bent and his back leg straightened. He was positioned for stability and braced to dart in any direction if the situation called for it.
    The man on the ground acted unaware that anyone was in his presence. He continued on pawing at the ground and flinging dirt. He was mumbling something. It was almost a sob really. Sheriff Watley couldn’t be sure but it sounded like “Mayuh” and then he would dig even harder. The man seemed relatively clean cut. He had dark curly hair and  dark but short stubble on his face. He just kept digging absentmindedly as if the sheriff w as n’t even there. “Excuse me.” The sheriff said sternly. There was no reaction.
    “Sir I need you to stop what you are doing and stand up slowly.” Still no reaction. The man continued to dig at the ground. Shit. He thought. This guy is either drunk or has completely gone nuts. Either way, that still made him dangerous. The sheriff tried again. “Sir. I need you to stop digging and stand up slowly.” Still no reaction. The sheriff moved in closer and pushed the guy over by pushing his foot against his shoulder. It wasn’t a kick, just a push. The guy fell over still making digging motions while lying on his side. He mumbled something again that sounded like “Mayuh” and righted himself and went back to digging. He didn’t even take one glance at Sheriff Watley and the sheriff had a pretty good suspicion that the man was unaware of his presence. “Sir!” The s heriff said louder this time. No reaction. The sheriff pointed his gun in the air and fired. The shot that rang out was deafening. The man stopped digging.
    The man looked straight up and then toward the sheriff. The light appeared to blind him and he tried to shield the light with his hand. “What the…where am I? Who are you?” The man said and looked down to see that his hands were deep in soil.
    “Sir, you need to stand up slowly and keep your hands where I can see them.” The sheriff said sternly.
    “I don’t understand. How did I get here? Where am I and who the hell are you?” The man began to stand up while keeping his hands visible. “And can you not shine that damn thing in my face please?”
    The sheriff lowered the light a