can a frustrated single mom and failed big city journalist save her family and salvage her career by returning to a town run by a gang of bungling thugs?


“The Resurrection of Puerto Cielo” is a novella published in serial form, 43 posts.




15


It was a drenching drizzle, a dismal beginning to a gray day.

From the shelter of the 3 B’s porch, Arnold, his new leg cast already muddy, sat beside Lazy. The dogs watched two hooded figures trudge across the street headed to school. 

“Good morning boys!”

Main Street’s three guardian angels turned to see Espy wave as she left the Star office.

Three caps tipped.

A truck pulled up in the street behind Barbara and two men got out.

“Buenos dias, Señora,” said one, “we’re here to replace the broken window.”

“Great!” Espy answered. Lucy must have made a call, she thought, continuing down the sidewalk to Mama G’s and coffee with Carmen.

***

Plunking into potholes, Sheriff Eddie’s patrol car slowed as it approached City Hall. Peering through the rain splattered windshield cleared by hesitant wipers, he noticed two workmen repairing a broken window. He’d heard about the brick and he knew who was responsible.

He also knew he wouldn’t do anything about it.

The patrol car bumped down the street towards Beach Drive. Then Eddie saw a man poking his way around the corner at Mama G’s. The baseball cap and white cane were familiar.

Sam Diaz was back.

***

The stream of students split apart avoiding the angry girl confronting the surprised face in the wheelchair.

“Your dad is Tibo!” screamed the voice behind her.

Maria spun the wheelchair to find Manny glaring at her.

“Your dad is a gangster, a hoodlum, and his goons attacked me and my family,” Manny yelled, her angry face inches from Maria’s astonished eyes.

“We’re done!”

The former friend stomped away. watchful faces flowed by as the stunned girl suddenly slammed the arms of the wheelchair and exploded,

“NO!”

***

In the near empty Red Rooster, the thin man with the snarling smile and his pig eyed squat companion stood ready to be praised. After all, with a brick through the window, they’d shown that Diaz woman just who was running the town.

Sure, the tire slashing had been thwarted by the lucky toss of a beer bottle, but the point had been made.

You make trouble for us, we’ll make trouble for you.

Ivan and Gomez smiled at each other as Tibo slowly stood from his seat at the corner table.

With frightening ferocity, he slashed the now infamous brick across both men’s faces.

The pair crumpled to the floor, hands holding broken, bleeding noses.

“I-i-i-diots!” he raged down at them, dropped the brick, and exited the bar, shaking his head in frustration.

***