Page 74 of River Ride

“We made it, Cleo. I am so fuckin beat. Even my eyes are out of focus.” He chuckled.

Bobby opened his door, climbed out of the Jeep and let Cleo out her door. She growled and snarled and ran up onto the porch while Bobby got the briefcase holding the money and his overnight case out of the hatch. The rest of his stuff could wait until the morning.

Fumbling with the key in the dark, it took him a minute to get the front door open. As soon as he did, Cleo ran into the cabin barking and raising a huge ruckus.

Bobby flicked the light on and could see Cleo wrestling on the floor with a scruffy looking squatter. She had him by the pantlegand was getting ready to do some real damage.

“What are you doing in my house? Get the hell out of here before my dog tears you up.”

The guy jumped to his feet and took off running.

“Stay, Cleo.”

Cleo had let the guy off lucky. He didn’t realize how lucky he was. A bite from Cleo could cripple a person. Bobby was Cleo’s witness on more than one occasion.

Bobby checked the rest of the cabin, and nothing was damaged. Very little to steal that was worth anything. The bum had been sleeping in Bobby’s room and he couldn’t sleep there until he changed the sheets.

“We’ll sleep in Ray’s room, Cleo. We’ll change our sheets in the morning.”

Cleo wagged her tail. She was okay with sleeping in Ray’s room.

Chapter Fourteen

Saturday, July 13th.

Sheriff’s Office. Coyote Creek. Montana.

Out in the parking lot behind the station, Ted finished printing Kody Kollard’s Wildlife truck. He came in through the back door hollering he had two sets of prints besides Kody’s and some others that weren’t in the system.

Ted walked into the break room where Travis worked and delivered the news. “Graham Arnott and Trevor Carpenter pushed that truck into the bush, boss. Easy to see that by the location of their prints on the outside of the truck.”

“Trevor Carpenter was there when Kody drowned? Fuck that, Ted. Not expecting you to say that. Nice work. You and Billy go get the Arnott kid—wherever he lives—and I’ll take the boys and the dogs to Carpenter’s place. It will be a lot harder to arrest Trevor Carpenter with his prick of a father there standing in our way.”

“Copy that, boss,” said Ted. “Going to pick up Graham Arnott.”

“Hold on for a second, Ted. I just thought of something.”

Ted turned around to listen.

“It would be best to grab them at the same time. No communication between the boys to sort out their stories or warn the other one that we’re coming. Keep them honest.”

“Got it. Call me when you’re set to go at Carpenter’s ranch,” said Ted.

“Copy that.” Travis hollered for the boys and took off out the back door.

Arnott Residence. Milk Run. Montana.

Billy and Ted drove down to Mill Run and got into position at the Arnott residence.

“We have to call the boss before we go in, Billy. Travis don’t want the boys talking to each other. No phoning or texting.”

“Good idea. Tell Travis we’re ready to go.”

Ted texted and got the okay from Travis. “They’re going in now. We’re good to go too.”

Billy knocked on the door of the Arnott bungalow and Mrs. Arnott answered. He held up his badge. “Undersheriff, Billy Johnson, ma’am. Is Graham here?”

“Is my son in trouble?”

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