Dead

At the town hall meeting, the council members rambled on about the success of various programs targeting crime; that various rates had gone down significantly in the last year was heralded as a triumph (and it inarguably was). What the constituents knew, however, kept them silent when the panel expected praise and applause; while the programs were fine and all, it was the dead who'd done it - who'd decided enough was enough. "It were Ol' Bonny-Gone-Lonely on them back county roads near Sumner," Henry whispered to his mate. "Pity a fella if he even slows down to feast his eyes." "Or the Shandy Shade," Simon had responded. "You got a mind to do wrong out by the quarry, they ain't gonna find naught but a back tooth in the leavings." There were names dropped, of course, as people talked about their favorites instead of paying close attention. Afterwards, they'd go for a quick pint, then hurry home, for it would be dark then, and marked is the man who thinks he's never going to pay for what he's done.