Page 118 of Cowboy's Last Stand
Wade winced at the damp feel of the denim jeans as he removed a pill bottle from Gabe’s front pocket.The prescription was written in Spanish and bore a familiar name.“Where did you get this?”
“None of your business.”
Wade considered reading him his rights and putting him under arrest on the spot.Instead, he helped the kid to his feet.Judging by his tense face and tortured brown eyes, Gabe knew he was in trouble, and the drugs in his pocket were the least of his problems.
“Let’s talk,” Wade said.
Gabe didn’t argue as Wade led him to the squad car.He opened the side door and directed him to the back seat.Underneath the booze, Wade detected the slightly fishy smell of creek water.
“Did you go swimming last night?”
“No.”
“Your jeans are wet.”
Gabe inspected his elbow, which was bloody.Wade found it odd that he was wearing damp jeans and a T-shirt on a chilly morning, but kids his age dressed weird, and drunks were often immune to cold.
“I went to Billy’s this morning,” Wade said.
Gabe’s face went sickly pale.Wade stepped back just in time to avoid the splash as Gabe leaned forward and heaved.There wasn’t much in his stomach, just a few mouthfuls of spit and bile, but he kept retching until nothing came up.Wade gave him a bottle of water and waited for him to recover.
“This will go better for you if you’re honest,” Wade said.“I don’t think you want to wait around and talk to my dad.You should talk to me right now.”
Gabe sipped the water and seemed to weigh his options.Wade was the devil he knew.Sheriff Hendricks was just the devil.“OK.”
“What happened last night?”
Gabe recounted the events in sparse detail.He’d been hanging out with Billy and the same girls Wade had driven home last week.They were drinking and partying in Billy’s trailer.The girls left at some point, and Gabe passed out on the couch.
“Then what?”Wade asked.
“I don’t know.I don’t remember anything else.”
“How did you get wet?”
Gabe shrugged.
“Why didn’t you go home?”
“I was trying to sober up.”
“Bullshit,” Wade said.“You know more than you’re saying.You’re scared shitless.”
Gabe stared at him with hollow eyes.
Wade wanted to grab him and shake him.“My brother is dead, Gabe.You were there.You know what happened to him.”
He shook his head jerkily.“I was passed out.”
“When did you wake up?What did you hear?”
“I heard shouting,” he admitted, his voice dull.
“What else?”
“Gunshots.”
“How many?”
