Page 71 of Rocky Ride

“Write down everything you did all day yesterday, during the night and this morning,” I said. “Don’t leave anything out. The Sheriff will be here soon, and he’ll check over your statement.”

“Our county sheriff looks a lot like an over-the-hill biker. I never voted for him.”

Virge took exception. “What did you say about my father?”

“Your father? Umm…nothing.”

“Virge, make coffee. It’s almost time to give the prisoners lunch. I’ll call over to Maryanne and have her get the food ready.”

“Add lunch for Hal, you, me and Dad,” said Virge. “We’ll be here for a while.”

“Copy that.”

I was back from the diner with the food containers and the prisoners were fed when Travis came in through the sally port and stamped the snow off his boots.

“I see you got lunch, Mister Hoover. How’s your statement coming along?”

“It’s finished, Sheriff. I’d appreciate my phone call.”

“Uh huh. What does your wife’s death have to do with Sandra Ellington’s death? Same MO. Probably the same weapon—therefore the same killer. What are your thoughts, Hal?”

“How could the two possibly be connected?” asked Hal. “There is nothing that links them together.”

“Right,” said Travis. “Nothing but the same fucking killer, Hal. That’s a pretty strong connection in my book.”

“What about a copycat?” asked Hal. “I’ve heard of those killers.”

“Is that what you are, Hal? A copycat?”

“Of course not. I didn’t kill my wife and I certainly didn’t kill Mrs. Ellington. Like I said a few days ago, the only time I was at the Ellington’s place here in Coyote Creek was to deliver suits to Bob Ellington.”

“So you said.” Travis shook his head. “But my boys said you were lying.”

“Well, your boys were wrong, Sheriff.” Hal frowned. “How much training have these kids had anyway? They look like they should be in algebra class.”

“They may not be good at algebra, but they are both a good judge of suspects and they can add two and two. That makes you a strong murder suspect, Hal.”

Travis unchained Hal from the desk. “Book him, Harlan. Suspicion of murder—two counts.”

“No. You can’t do that. I didn’t kill those women.”

“Who did?” asked Travis. “Tell me who did.”

“I don’t know who did.”

“All I have is you for now, Hal. You’re the best suspect I’ve got and until you give me somebody better, I’m going all the way to trial with you.”

“That doesn’t sound like intelligent police work to me, Sheriff,” shouted Hal. “How did you get this job anyway?”

“People like you voted for Billy Johnson, and then he got hurt. I didn’t want the fuckin job.” Travis shrugged. “Ain’t a popular job but the county begged me to do it. Never should’ve said I would, but I was too stupid to turn them down. Take himHarlan. When he’s been processed, lock him up next to Lila.”

“Copy that.”

Wild Stallion Ranch.

After feeding the prisoners we had to go home for chores and to check on Billy. He was feeling bad about Sunday being torn apart by a bear, and he’d been alone all day. We needed to make sure he’d eaten something and try to cheer him up.

Me and Virge did chores and made sure the water wasn’t frozen for the horses. The barn wasn’t as cold as it had been when the wind was high coming at us from the Rockies.

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