The crashes and thuds woke Eli up. He snapped awake and had to realize where he was before he hurt someone. Eli waking up abruptly was never a pretty thing to see. It normally involved something getting broken and someone getting hurt.
When he saw the Miller kid waving at him, Eli couldn't help but laugh.The smile and jovial nature of Eli quickly dissipated as he walked closer to the Miller boy. He toted a pretty decent ass whoopin. The boys head was proof of that. It would have been one thing if the kid wasn't hand cuffed but that only added Eli's growing anger. If there was one thing he could not abide it was a bully.
Eli grabbed the Miller kids face and pushed from one side to another. Inspecting the damage done to the kid. "Looks like you went through the ringer... Don't go run off anywhere. Imma fix this shit right quick." Eli said as lightly pushed the kids face and went to find Dickie. He was mid stride before a thought hit him. He turned to Eric Miller before speaking, "You were at that crazy party and Ol' man Johnson's farm, right? You uh... You were hanging around Tille Helton right...? Anything weird going on in your neck of the woods?" Eli didn't wait around for him to answer. He needed to deal with Dickie before he got too distracted.
As he walked off, in search of Dickie. He was so happy to see he was in front of more people that Eli happened to know pretty well. The Elston brothers. They "owned" one the biggest weed patches in the south. "Well if it aint the Elston boys! How does the day find you two?" Eli said with grin and hand extended for both of them to shake.
"Get in to trouble again Eli?" Ezar, the older of the two asked him, taking Eli hands for a strong shake.. "Oh just gotta answer a few questions about some shit going down on my front steps this morning." Eli replied.
"I heard something strange up there, something about two dead bodies was it?" Wytte the younger brother asked with a very curious look about him. Eli quick shook his hand before speaking "Crazy ass brought a body with him then burned himself to death. Shit that happens in these eh?" Eli said like it was just another event.
"How's the family business boys? You guys are going on what? Three generations now? Mighty impressive to make something last that long. Right Dickie?" Eli said now his eyes locked to Dickie.
"We have don't know what your talking about Eli, we just run a little store." Ezra quickly said.
"Hear that Dickie? They don't know what I am talking about? Liars, thieves and drug deals each and everyone of the Baileys. But they ain't no hypocrite, and they damn sure don't go beating on no kids while handcuffed." Eli said with a look that begged Dickie to do something about his accusations. As he took at step towards Dickie and pushed past the Baileys.
Dickie was quick to take a step back and put this hand on his pistol. Something Eli was all to happy to see. "Go ahead Dickie, skin that shit and go to town." Eli said taking another step towards him. Dickie opened his mouth to say something but Eli was was quick to slap. Cutting off any chance Dickie had to say anything. "Come on Dickie, bully me. Try doing what you did that kid to me. I am begging you to jerk that pistol and go to town." Eli said growing more and more angry by the second.
It was surprising to see that Dickie had the balls to pull his weapon. It was also pretty stupid. With Eli so close and do real distance or speed in Dickies favor. A punch was all that was needed to end the dust up. It should have been that simple but Eli was never one to stop at good enough. He didn't stop at one punch, or two, or three. Eli didn't stop till Dickie was the one on the ground. Even then his distaste for Dickie grew, Almost like a compulsion Eli used Dickies own handcuffs on him. Leaving him a mess on the floor.
When Eli turned his attention to the Bailey Brothers. "Boys, we can go if you want but being the smart busyness men you are. I think we can avoid any unpleasantness, unless you guys are just feeling that kinda froggy?" Eli said with raised eye brows and look that invited yet more trouble.
Ezra was the first speak. Laughing as he tossed his hands up. "You're the one Eli. Come on Wytte, lets leave these to there own." Wytte grined and gave a slight wave as as he turned to join his brother.
As the Baileys left, like a cue from a movie director Lorraine came around the corner. Her head down reading from a folder. "Dickie you wanna join Hunter in looking for that Raines girl? Her brother said she stabbed her brother and let out into the woods." She a bit fluster before looking up at Eli standing over Dickie. "OH DEAR LORD ELI WHAT DID YOU DO." She screamed. The Baileys let out a laugh as the exited the bulding.
"Oh come on Lorraine you know what happens when I don't get my morning coffee." Eli said like this was an everyday thing. Dickie could only let out a moan of pain. He did't let her say anything before he walked over to her and ushered her away from the of Dickie. "I'll tell you what darling, how about this? How about you get that Miller boy over there and put him in a car. I'll take him with me and find that girl and you can tend to Dickie. Huh? How about that?" Eli said as softly and sweetly as he could.
"Now you know I can't do that Eli. Do you kno-" Eli cut off her frantic protests. "None of us are under arrest, and we are free to go. All I am saying is that we can go fetch her much quicker than Hunter. Girl sees any sign of cops she just keep running. I'll find her and bring her back here before anyone one is the wiser. Now come on Lorraine, let us go." Eli said with eyes that begged and pleaded.
"Don't make me regret this Eli. She said stern.
"I love you Lorraine. The good Lord never made a sweeter woman." Eli said as took her folder and started reading looking for the girls last direction. With that information Eli quickly went to get his bag that was in the break room. He looked at the Miller kid and smiled at him. "We're going on a field a trip home boy. Be nice to the lady." Eli said as he made his way to the vehicle. As he got in the driver seat he pulled a map from his bag and gave it a look. He knew these hill better than most but a map was always a handy thing to have when trying to figure out where someone would run. His map was a bit different than most. It had the location of just about everything miles. Anything that was note worthy was on that map.
As Eric Miller was gently put in the passenger seat and Lorraine tossed him both the keys the to vehicle and Eric's handcuffs. "Eli, you best becareful." Lorraine said as she shut the door. Eli only waved as he study the map looking for his target location.The girl was scared, frantic and running. He, like many others, knew that girl had it pretty. Eli was happy that drunk got he deserved. Rumors of her getting hit were pretty common place.
"Well kid, we're going to do some huntin." Eli said as he tossed both the map and the keys to handcuffs in Eric's lap. Eli wouldn't say much if anything for the rest of the trip. When they arrived at just the right place Eli quickly got out with his bag in hand. As Eli looked out in the trees, he pulled a few things out of the bag. A knife for Eric, a handgun, holster and a few mags for him. "You get the knife Miller. Anything happens just get low. Come with me now." Eli said as he put the mags in his back pocket and his holster on his hip. It wasn't his preferred way of carrying but it'll do for now. He racked in a round and smiled as he walked into the woods without a word. It only took a few seconds for him start
singing.
It only took ten, maybe fifteen minutes for Eli get to his ideal location. An old mine shaft just a few miles from the Raines house. He picked this spot to wait for her because it pretty much the easiest place to get to. A great place to gather thoughts and figure out what to do next. Now all he had to do was wait on her and hope he was right.