Page 66 of River Ride

Late thirties, dark brown hair, outdoor tan. Buddy was only around in the summer to run his boat rental business. Where he went in the winter when Montana was covered in snow and ice, nobody knew.

Buddy Leeson was a bit of a local legend, especially with the ladies.

“Happy to help you, Sheriff. We’ll take my boat. She’s all ready to go. I know Kody pretty well. He’s always here working the river, checking licenses and whatnot when it ain’t time for hunting season.”

Travis nodded. “He keeps busy with fishing season in the summertime.”

“Kody’s a friendly guy. Who the fuck would kill him?”

“Let’s find out, Buddy,” said Travis. “These are my boys, Harlan and Virgil.”

Buddy grinned at us. “Heard you got yourself a couple of good-looking boys, Sheriff. Lots of gossip along the river.”

“Oh yeah? You hear anything about the murders?”

“The two poachers Jed Carpenter shot?”

“Any talk about that?”

“Just that Jed’s gonna get away with it. You ain’t got no proof for the DA and Carpenter is laughing his ass off at you. That’s all I heard.”

“Fuck that,” said Travis.

“You think he turned around and killed Kody just to piss in your potatoes, Sheriff?”

“Jesus, I hope not.”

Dad was getting a little red in the face.

“Heard Carpenter was a genuine prick, Sheriff.”

“You heard right, Buddy. He ain’t anybody I would drink with.”

“Heard he was having trouble keeping his boy under control,” said Buddy. “Might be just a rumor.”

We walked along the dock and were almost to the boat when Buddy turned and hollered, “Watch the store, Cherry. Don’t you get fuckin high and miss any customers or I’ll boot your bare ass all the way back to Krystal’s.”

“She’s a stripper?” asked Virgil.

Buddy laughed as he started the big Evinrude engine. “She thinks she is, Virgil, but I’ll tell you a secret, Cherry don’t know the right side of the pole from the left. She ain’t first tier.”

I chucked as I climbed into the boat after Virge. Buddy was a funny guy.

“The Milk has a pretty strong current, Sheriff.” Buddy hollered to Travis over the noise of the motor. “How far behind are we?”

Travis checked his watch. “Carny Burkholder saw the body pass the bait shop at eight fifteen.”

“Five after fuckin nine,” hollered Buddy. “He’s gonna be close to the bridge over the interstate by now.”

Buddy gave the engine more gas, the boat sped up, spray shooting into our faces as we swerved all over the river. A few minutes later, the interstate bridge loomed dead ahead.

“Look for Kody,” hollered Buddy. “He can’t be far from here.”

Scanning the surface of the wide river, I saw the body knocking against the mud bank on the other side. I stood up trying to keep my balance and pointed. “Over there. I see him on the other side.”

“Good eye, Harlan.” Buddy turned the boat around so fuckin fast he knocked me back on my butt.

Virge laughed at me, and I gave him the finger.

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