Johnny On The Spot

Hey there, crime kids. Happy Wednesday. It's time once again to take a trip to the dark side, where your most violent fantasies become sins of the flesh, right here, where the hardboiled action is non-stop, at the coolest crime joint in cyberspace ... at That Killing Feeling.

In Chapter 25 of RIDGEWAY, Sheriff Willa Knox calls Dixie Mafia boss Big Boy, who gives her a heads-up about deputy Londell Kirvin suggesting that recently transplanted Hollywood screenwriter Cate Salinger visit him to 'dig up some dirt' for her TV show about the dark underbelly of their rural mountaintop town ...


INT. SHERIFF’S OFFICE - NIGHT
Small-town law enforcement decor.
Pale yellow cinder block walls.

The signed picture of KD Lang
is a nice touch.

So are the bowling trophies.

Willa’s at her desk chomping
on nicotine gum, on the phone.

WILLA
Zane? It’s Willa --

INTERCUT WITH:

INT. BIG BOY’S OFFICE - NIGHT
Big Boy sits back in
his chair smoking a stogie.

Feet up on the desk.
Phone on his lap.

BIG BOY
Willa Knox.
How’s the lady sheriff doin’ tonight?

WILLA
Getting ready for my
big date with Jack Daniels.
How about your own bad self?

BIG BOY
Movin’ and shakin,’ hot stuff.
What’s up?

WILLA
Wanted to give you a heads-up.
Londell Kirven told me his
sister-in-law’s shackin’ up
with a screenwriter from LA
who just moved here.
Said she’s gonna write
a TV show about Echo,
and he suggested she talk to you.
Said she might be able to
‘dig up some dirt.’

BIG BOY
Got it under control.
Already met with her.

WILLA
Well, look at you.
Johnny on the spot.

BIG BOY
You know what they say.
Play with fire, and
you might get fucked.

WILLA
Anything I can do to help?

He thinks a moment. Grins.

BIG BOY
How about you send
a pair of constables to
the old McClung shack
at the top of Prospect
around midnight?

WILLA
And why am I sending them?

BIG BOY
‘Suspicious activity.’

WILLA
An ‘anonymous tip.’

BIG BOY
Much appreciated.
Now, the question is, what
are we gonna do about Londell?
He keeps poking his nose
where it don’t belong.

WILLA
He’s an officer of the law, Zane.

BIG BOY
For the time being --