Code of Silence

His face wore the stresses of his job.

"If I tell, they are gonna fire me," he said.

He started up the weedwacker and continued up the hill.  Summer in the southern Appalachians can be sweltering.

I continued to pull weeds.  Usually, I begin on the side and continue around much in the way, the earth rotates on its axis around the sun.  I follow the warmth.

"Well, he terrorizes everyone," he said.

My eyes softened.

"It's the code of silence," the young man added.

"No one cares.  No one will investigate. Not in this county.  Bunch of cowards. And there is more, " he continued.

I could barely keep a poker face.

"Everyone is in on it, from the top brass down."

"They want to keep their jobs.  He is worst than the other one.  Here is the deal, if he stares at you, you are out," he said.

"So no one wants to get near him," he said.

"But now he doesn't come in anymore.  The rumor is someone high in law enforcement is investigating him.  Has the goods on him.  He is to keep his mouth shut or else," he said.

The weeds just aren't on the ground.