Chapter 37 Contentment

This week, the new cop called in sick and didn't return to work until three days later.So he didn't hear the latest news from the village until after he went to work on Friday morning.The news was so reliable that Thomas O'Neill was also included in the list of missing persons. Thomas was last seen on Monday, the day he ran into O'Donnell on the street.The last person to see him was his daughter Mary whom Thomas met on his way home from the shop as she was heading to Galway.He asked his daughter to make tea when she got home, and he wanted to tell her something very interesting.But when she got home three or four hours later, he wasn't there.Her younger brother didn't know where her father had gone, and the others didn't even know.Up to now, four or five days have passed, and there is still no news.The police conducted an investigation. They searched the port and the vicinity of the village, but there was no clue.

The anxious villagers were in a state of panic, and they asked the police to patrol around the clock, and Officer Early agreed.So when Larry O'Donnell showed up in the officer's office to hand over his resignation letter, Officer Earley was upset. "Why resign?" he asked. "I'm not looking to jump ship," Larry explained. "You've only been doing it for a few weeks." Officer Early said dissatisfiedly, "Where do you want to go?" Larry shrugged and said, "I didn't quit my job to jump ship. I thought being a police officer was fun, but now it doesn't look like I thought it would be."

"That's brilliant," the officer said sarcastically. "You have no idea how happy I am to hear that. We're in the biggest trouble we've had in years and you come and tell me you don't think being a cop is fun." Larry looked down at the floor, counting in his head. "I'm sorry," he said. "What's the big deal you want?" said the officer. "A car chase? A shootout with cops and gangsters? You know, this isn't America." "Not for that," said Larry. "I was thinking..." "What the hell are you trying to do?"

"I thought the police knew a lot, thought they were good at solving crimes, at least, I used to think so." Officer Early looked at O'Donnell, guessing that his mind might not be on work at all. The Irish police don't need such a sleepwalker. "Larry, whatever you're thinking," he said, "it's a nice job, isn't it? So what are you going to do?" "I have a lot to do," Larry said. "You know, you can't make money playing the violin." "I didn't quit my job to make money." "Once you have a wife and kids, you'll change your mind," the officer said.

"Maybe so," Larry said. Sergeant Earley sighed and looked carefully at the application Larry had handed in.The writing is big and irregular, like a child's writing. "Are you going to finish this month at least?" he asked. "I'll do my best," Larry said. "God, we've got to sort these disappearances." Sergeant Earley said.