Page 53 of River Ride

“I have no idea who you’re talking about, Sheriff, but I assure you that neither Trevor, nor I were anywhere near that person’s garage when he was shot.”

Virge tilted his head in Dad’s direction and Dad was already all over it.

“Jed Carpenter, I’m arresting you on suspicion of murder in the death of Brian Groveman.”

Carpenter jumped to his feet and waved his arms in the air, “I want to call my attorney. The judge set Trevor and I free on bail and you can’t arrest me again.”

He twisted away from Travis, and I moved in to hold him while Dad snapped the cuffs on.

“I’ll take Mister Carpenter to the squad, boys. Y’all check thehouse to see if Trevor came home from school in the last couple of minutes.”

“Copy that.”

Travis went out the front door with Jed Carpenter and me and Virge ran through the big ranch house looking for Trevor.

We found him hunkered down in his room playing video games. He put up a fuss like a big, spoiled baby when me and Virge held him down and cuffed him.

“You can’t touch me or my dad. We’re free on bail until our trial. My dad will have a deal made with the DA by then and we’ll never go to trial. Piss off.”

“You piss off, Trevor,” snarled Virge. “We’re taking you to the station with your dad and you can share a cell with him.”

We took Trevor out to the squad and shoved him in the back seat with his father.

“Look at that,” said Travis. “Trevor is home from summer school. He can keep you company in jail, Jed.”

Carpenter hollered and cursed all the way back to Coyote Creek about the deal he was making with the DA’s office.

Virge turned up the radio to tune the fucker out.

Macy’s Plaza. Amarillo. Texas.

After dropping the loaded trailer at Amarillo Logistics, Darryl pulled the Freightliner cab into the huge parking lot in front of Macy’s at the mall.

“You should be able to find the clothes you need in one of the stores in this mall, Tammy.”

“Thanks, Darryl. You are a sweet person and you’ve been so kind to me after I got myself into a mess with Eldon.”

“You’re sweet too, Tammy.” He laughed. “We’re two sweet people who found each other.”

Hand in hand, they walked through the mall browsing the merchandise in a few of the windows. Tammy decided on American Eagle, and they went inside.

She tried on jeans, picked out a pair of black and a pair of blue. She chose two tops, underwear and a navy-blue hoodie.

At the cash desk, Darryl put the purchases on his credit card. As soon as the clothes were paid for, Tammy went back to the dressing room and changed into the blue jeans, pale blue T-shirt and the hoodie.

Darryl smiled at her as they left the store. “You look great, Tammy. Did you throw away that dirty uniform?”

“No, I shoved it into the bottom of the bag. I can wash it and wear it again.”

“Why would you need that old uniform if you ain’t a cop no more?”

Tammy shrugged. “You’re right, Darryl. I don’t need it anymore. I should’ve tossed it in the trash.”

“You can do that later. Let’s go to the food court and have us some lunch before we leave.”

“Sure. That will be fun. I could eat a burger or a slice of pizza.”

After they ate, they returned to the truck and Darryl said, “Next stop is my place.”

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