Page 12 of Long Pig

After moving the large sections to a metal cart, the pork belly was laid flat on the butcher block. Larry trimmed away excess fat and squared off the edges, preparing it to be cured into bacon.

“You know, son, it’s been said that human meat tastes just like pig.” He winked. “But that’s something we’ll keep to ourselves.” This time he laughed in loud guffaws that made young Larry smile and laugh along with the man he worshiped.

“Each cut is to maximize yield and create the best-looking product,” his father continued after his laughter faded.

Larry went onto the next lesson, and finally, with the bones and trimmings set aside, he began portioning the remaining meat, creating the familiar roasts, steaks, and chops that would eventually be neatly arranged under the bright lights of the front display case. The sounds created in the cutting room were the purposeful, rhythmic work of a craftsman transforming death into food.

Even at his young age, Larry was good at it. He loved the scent of blood and raw meat. It gave him a thrill like nothing else.

Chapter Seven

POS

Willow

The deputy arrived at 8:30 the next morning. He was worse than Willow had feared. At about five-nine, he tried to make up for his short stature by puffing out his chest. This was after Willow watched him admire himself in the side window of his vehicle before he turned to them. For the most part, he spoke to Dale, but kept his head turned slightly in Willow’s direction. She knew beneath his dark sunglasses, he watched her.

She held both dogs on tight leads. The deputy didn’t lower his head to look at them or make any attempt to become friends. She guessed dogs were beneath his notice.

He rested his thumbs in his belt and tapped his fingers against his pants as he spoke. “So, you think you have human remains?” he said.

“Human bones are all that remain,” Dale replied a little snidely.

“I get it that you were a deputy,” Wallard said. “We all get old and retire. It’s nothing to be ashamed of.”

Dale laughed. “The only shame I feel is that the department replaced me with a piece of shit.”

Wallard’s body stiffened before he took a step towards Dale. “I’ll pretend I didn’t hear that,” he said.

Max gave a low rumble and finally gained the attention of the deputy.

“If I forgot half of what I know about doing your job, I’d be wiser than you,” Dale replied, drawing Wallard’s eyes back to him.

Willow didn’t think Dale was handling the deputy very well. He also wasn’t doing a very good job of holding onto his temper. She thought it might have something to do with the way the deputy focused on her. Willow would admit he gave her the creeps. In prison, you learned quickly which guards were like this guy. Unlike the deputy, their behavior changed when their subordinates were around. Wallard didn’t care that Dale knew he was watching her.

“Sure, pops,” Wallard replied in a bored tone.

“You ready to take that hike?” Dale said after looking at Willow.

With the deputy no longer turned in her direction, she stuck her tongue out quickly at Dale. She didn’t miss the slight grin that tilted his lips.

“Do you have water in your vehicle?” Dale asked.

The chest puffed again. “Don’t need it, lead the way.”

“I’ll grab water for us and put the dogs inside,” Willow said before she went into the house and filled two bottles. Max whined when she told him and Daisy to protect the house. “I know, boy, I don’t like him either.”

When she went back outside, the deputy was asking about the property.

“How many acres you got?”

“Enough for the two of us to handle,” Dale replied.

“She your granddaughter?”

“Yes, and I don’t care that your eyes are covered with those damned things, keep them off her.”

“Got the bottles,” Willow said a bit too loudly.