Total pages in book: 114
Estimated words: 114820 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 574(@200wpm)___ 459(@250wpm)___ 383(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 114820 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 574(@200wpm)___ 459(@250wpm)___ 383(@300wpm)
Rus was wearing jeans and a blue button down under a brown quilted vest that had Fret County Sheriff stitched in yellow on the left breast, Detective in smaller lettering under that.
“Is something the matter?” the blonde asked.
“I’m Zachariah Lazarus, detective with Fret County Sheriff,” he introduced unnecessarily since his vest already told them that. He tipped his head to Karen. “This is Deputy Karen Wilkins.”
“Okay,” the brunette said hesitantly.
Rus pulled out his phone, which was already called up to what he needed on his screen.
He hit play and turned it their way.
“Do you recall this incident?” he asked.
Owen Larson had learned that recording these situations was a lot less messy, legally, than filling people with buckshot.
Therefore, Owen could be heard cussing them out for trespassing on his land.
“We—” the blonde began.
Rus turned his phone around, shut down the video, shoved it in his pocket, all while interrupting her.
“That incident happened yesterday. Mr. Larson made it clear when he caught you on his land that he was not happy about it, and he did not want you here. He might not have been nice when he did that, but he doesn’t have to be. You vacated the premises at that time. Now, you’re back. Where are you staying?”
“I don’t think we have to answer that,” the brunette guessed.
Rus nodded.
“Correct. You don’t. Though, I’ll point out right now,”—and he did just that, he pointed—“not only is that a fence, which indicates this is someone’s property, there are also signs posted there,”—he moved his hand—“there,”—he moved his hand again—“and there. Not to mention about every fifty yards all along the boundary of Mr. Larson’s property. These signs are clearly visible and share the fact the owner of this property does not welcome visitors. He informed you of this personally. You returned today, when he wasn’t around, and jumped his fence.”
With a quick glance at Karen, the blonde got a little closer to Rus and smiled.
It was a pretty smile, and she knew it.
But she was a fairy princess (she knew that too).
And that was not Rus’s thing.
“Listen, we’re kind of a big deal.” She pretended humility under a flirtatious look. “We’re vloggers. We travel and vlog about it. We have a big following. Over a million followers on TikTok alone. This wildflower field is gorgeous. Our followers are going to love the footage we have from here.”
Rus sighed.
Then he stated, “I’m uncertain why you’re not understanding me. Yes, that field is pretty, but it’s private property. You can see it from this road, and video it from this road, a road that’s public property.”
“It’s totally better in the field. You wanna see our footage?” she offered.
“No,” he answered. “I’m afraid I don’t have time since I need to arrest you for trespassing. We have a fine of five thousand dollars, this will need to be paid by each of you, and a mandatory jail stay of one week. So now, I have to take you in.”
They both went deathly pale.
“Are you kidding?” the brunette breathed.
“No,” Rus repeated. “This is why I asked where you’re staying. Since we have such steep penalties for trespass here in Fret County, hotels, rental management and campsites tend to be real communicative about that to their clientele.”
He could tell by their expressions they’d been warned.
It was annoying, but since that happened a lot, he didn’t get into it.
He also didn’t share that, if they didn’t act like assholes, Harry had a habit of letting people go early.
As in, within a day.
Though, Harry wasn’t as lenient about the fines.
“Now, Mr. Larson was okay to let it slide once. But you came back. He called it in and communicated he wishes to press charges.” Rus shrugged. “I got no choice. Please turn around and put your hands on the car.”
“You can’t…you can’t do that!” the blonde cried.
“I can, and if it makes you feel better, you’re not the first, and I suspect you won’t be the last,” Rus told her.
“This is crazy!” She was getting louder.
“Ladies, if you could do as Lieutenant Lazarus asked,” Karen requested, reaching for her cuffs.
The blonde was frozen.
The brunette took a step back. “This is just…it’s nuts. We walked in a field!”
“You walked in someone else’s field,” Rus corrected.
“It’s just a fucking field,” she snapped.
“It’s still someone else’s field. Listen,” he started to explain. “You clearly don’t agree, but to Mr. Larson, you jumping that fence is like you helping yourself to his living room and fridge. He’s a private person. He moved out here for peace and solitude. That’s why he lives here. That’s why he spent a good amount of money to buy a good stretch of land that’s surrounded by nothing but other good stretches of land. And he has the law on his side. Which means, as much as you think you do, you don’t have the right to interrupt his solitude just because you want to. We have a lot of beautiful places in Fret County. Right now, there are wildflowers everywhere. Many of them you can get video of without jumping a fence. You made a choice. Unfortunately for you, it was the wrong one.”