Page 73 of Rocky Ride

“I guess I’ll keep her ashes until spring then,” said Billy.

“We’ll all go in April or May,” said Travis. “I’ll find a spot for Olivia at the same time.”

“Long time to wait,” mumbled Billy.

I saw the look on his face and wasn’t sure he was going to wait.

Sheriff’s Office. Coyote Creek.

The station was closed on Sundays, and we were only there long enough to feed the prisoners and lock up again. If Bob Ellington hadn’t got lucky and arrived when we were inside, he wouldn’t have gotten in to see his client.

Ellington banged on the front door and Travis opened it. “Office ain’t open on Sundays.”

Ellington pushed in. “I was informed one of my clients was incarcerated here and needed my assistance.”

“Who would that be, sir?”

“Hal Hoover, Sheriff. Austin Quinlan, Hal’s assistant at the store, called and asked me to do something on behalf of his employer.”

“I see,” said Travis. He had no intention of letting Hal Hoover have a call until Monday morning, and now that was in the wind. Pissed Travis off.

“I’ll give you ten minutes in the run with Hal, Mister Ellington. We don’t have any attorney/client meeting rooms here. This is a small station.”

“I can speak with Hal in the run,” said Ellington.

We sat in the break room and drank coffee with Dad while we waited for Mister Ellington to talk to Hal. Dad checked his watch and went into the run to fetch the lawyer when his time was up.

“I’ll try to have Mister Hoover arraigned tomorrow, Sheriff. He says you’ve charged him with suspicion of murder—two counts.”

“That’s right. Tell me how the two murders are connected if not by Hoover. I’d like you to explain it to me and if I were you, I’d think twice about defending the guy who killed my wife.”

Visibly upset, Ellington said, “I can see your reasoning for arresting Hal, Sheriff. But I don’t think he’s responsible for either murder.”

“Do you have any evidence to steer me in a different direction, sir?”

“I’m sorry, I don’t, but if I hear anything at all, I’ll share it with you, Sheriff. I want my wife’s killer found as much as you do.”

Travis saw Ellington out the front door of the station and happened to see a Porsche parked across the street. Not a common sight in Coyote Creek.

He locked the door and turned, and Virge was right there next to him staring out the window.

“Is that the big blond lawyer who was banging Mrs. Ellington parked over there?”

“Could be, son. I don’t know him. I believe Ted was assigned to him.”

“He’s the lawyer doing his own investigation,” said Virge. “He drove his red pickup when he visited Sandra Ellington. He admitted that. Guess he figured the Porsche would be a dead giveaway. Now he’s bent on finding the killer.”

“Jesus, we don’t need that. This case stinks and one of the things bothering me the most is Dan Darkers. Why was he at Sandra Ellington’s funeral?”

“Don’t know,” said Virge. “Maybe you should’ve asked her husband while he was here.”

“You’re right. I should have come out and asked Bob Ellington if Darkers is a friend of his or of his wife.” Travis reached for his cell. “I’m asking him now.”

“Bob Ellington.”

“I thought of something after you left, Mister Ellington. Just a simple question.”

“Go ahead, Sheriff.”

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