Shirtless at the back of his house Officer Williams stood before the roaring fire of his makeshift barrel Barbecue. He had added a little too much lighting fluid and the flames now rose high into the starry night sky. His sweat covered face glistened as he stared at his uniform burning. He stood stock still unable to get the image out of his mind. Thick dried patches of blood hung in his chest hair. A shower had not done much to wash away the deep crimson matted throughout.

“That's a real shame. Such a nice shirt you had there.” a jovial southern voice called from the darkness. A man with slick back grey hair and a waxed moustache walked into the light of the fire. Officer Williams knew he had left his firearm in his bedroom. He had placed it on his nightstand before his shower. The man moved towards the fire and exposed his palms to its warmth.

“This is private property” the Officers tone was lethargic. He was too exhausted to care. The stranger reached into his jacket. This caused Williams to flinch, expecting a weapon. The man produced a long thin metal rod and held it pointing upwards. With his other hand he reached into the air and plucked from it a single marshmallow,

“I love fireside snacks don't you?” the man smiled joyfully as the sweet treat began to brown. “Oh so tempting” in a swift movement he placed the rod in his mouth and pulled the marshmallow with his teeth. “Just like those Carmichaels huh?” he said through a mouth full of sticky sweet white. “What do you know about em?” the Officer snapped back.

“Oh cmon now you of all people know they had their vices. I mean we all do but them? Damn.” the man swallowed and smiled, marshmallow covered part of his now visible gold tooth. The metal rod stabbed into the lawn as the man threw it down and secured his waistcoat. He walked over to a wooden chair placed on the decking at the rear of the house. All the while Officer Williams stared at him with apathy.

The Officer noticed the absence of the sounds of the night as he pulled up a chair to meet him. He sat at a comfortable distance from the stranger, watching his every move. “I'm a police officer. I could arrest you for just being here” the stranger threw back his head and laughed, Wiping away a tear as he came back down. “You won't.” he said in a commanding tone.

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“Now everybody knew they were addicts but a surprise pregnancy. Now that's just juicy. And how she cut him out like that. That's just messed up huh?” Officer Williams suddenly snapped back into the present. How did this man know that? Only him and the other officers were there and saw Mrs Carmichael. “I saw her. I saw you.”

The Mad ravings of Mr Carmichael echoed around in the Officers mind. “I saw you. And I saw that little boy. He wasn't quite baked yet. Damn woman could have done him great harm. Suppose she doesnt matter now. The father though. Well now” Officer Williams was dumbfounded. How did this man know so much? Had he followed him into the house after he busted the door down? The stranger took off his sunglasses and met the Officer's eyes.

“Now your legal process means that man is now the legal guardian of that boy” the stranger spat. “Nah he's nuts” the Officer retorted. “I know that. You know that. The courts however. They need proof, witnesses, testimony, due process and so on and so on.” the stranger picked bits of caramelised sugar from his teeth as he spoke. “It ain't perfect but it's the way” conceded the Officer.

The stranger licked his teeth and regarded the Officer “I'm here to ask you to speed that along.” Officer Williams chuckled at the request “you’re asking me to get rid of the man. And then what? Leave the kid to suffer in the foster system?” the stranger stood, his metal plated shoes clinking as they met the ground. “Nothing so cruel to the boy. You got a family Officer Williams? Nah don't answer i know you don't.”

“Who the fuck are you?” spat Officer Williams as he stood to meet the man. “Sir, I am just a concerned citizen looking out for our nation's youth.” the Stranger now stood face to face with the Officer “Now be a good police man and listen to your orders. You are gonna go down to that station of yours and take care of our mutual acquaintance and then you are gonna adopt that boy and protect him.”

The Officer's imposing frame stood over the Stranger as he whispered “and why would I do that? You’re just as nuts as he is if you think…” the Stranger interrupted the Officer with a commanding booming voice and grabbing one of his arms “you are going to do it because i told you to! If that man lives and that boy goes into the system I will be back. Trust me friend. You don't wanna meet me twice.”

The fire had plumed and become uncontrollable and had begun to spread on the lawn. He had only looked for a second but when he turned back the stranger was gone and left a hand shaped burn on the arm of the officer where his hand had once been. Officer Williams ran to control the blaze with a garden hose. The metal rod burned hot orange in the ashes and dirt.