Beyond the Dark Productions - ‘The Road of Shadows’ - Season 1 | Original audio drama
Palmrose for Sheriff Barnes
Sheriff Barnes is a grizzled man in his 50s who is in charge of the Colton police department. As a sheriff in a small town, Barnes likes to run things his own way and does not tolerate insubordination. He is tough and uncompromising and despises anyone challenging his authority. He speaks in a measured, deliberate way, carefully choosing his words. Barnes runs a tight ship and has been known to pull up citizens for minor infractions that other cops might not bother with.
Barnes spent his younger years as a beat cop in the big city. There he dealt with all kinds of heinous crime - murder, assault, rape and everything in between. After several years he decided to make a change and ventured away, into small town life, where he quickly climbed the ranks. Barnes still remembers his time in the city keenly and is wary of city folk who come through his town. He keeps an especially close eye on newcomers and comes down hard on any behaviour he deems to be out of line.
Barnes has a strong bond with his deputies. While he does not fraternise with them socially, he and the deputies have a good working relationship and share the same goals. Deputies who do not align with Barnes' way of thinking find themselves on the outer and generally do not last long in Colton.
(Calm and deliberate. Giving some background about himself as he talks to a couple of newcomers to the town who he believes are up to no good. Trying to let them know he’s aware of what they’re doing) “I’ve been a lawman a long time. Started off in the big smoke, walkin’ the beat. Came across just about every kinda crime you can imagine. Drugs, stabbings, assault. Men beating up their women like they were nothing more than animals fit for slaughter. Even came across a few dead bodies here and there on my watch. Never did like the city much, to be deadly honest - too much smog, too many folk crammed in on top of each other like sardines. So I left it all behind and came out here, where the air is clean and the people are decent to one another. It was a choice, y’see. I didn’t wind up here because I was too dumb to tie my own shoelaces.”
(Lecturing Amber about her sister’s disappearance. Barnes has grown impatient with her asking questions around town and wants her to move on) “Me and my deputies conducted a full investigation into this ‘mysterious’ disappearance of your sister. There are no bodies in those hills, no witnesses, no testimonies to back up what you’re saying. That leads to one very obvious conclusion - your sister moved on. She’s not here anymore. If something happened to her, it didn’t happen in Colton. So I’ll say this to you one more time... head on up the road and try the next place, if you want. Find another sheriff to vex, because I’ve had about enough.”
(Voice raised as he addresses a crowd that has gathered at a murder scene) “Now, now... simmer down! None of you have any business being here in the first place, and you damn sure won’t be privy to confidential information regarding an ongoing police investigation! I’ve got nothing to tell you!”
