Page 127 of Cowboy's Last Stand
“Stuff?”
“Gabe had a joint.It was really strong.I’m still…” She shook her head slightly.“I don’t remember much.All I know is Gabe got mad and knocked the drink out of my hand.Then he grabbed me by the arm and shoved me outside.”
“Why was he mad?”
“I’m not sure.I think he had a fight with Billy.There was tension between them, but he didn’t explain.”
“What did you do?”
“I left with Jena.We didn’t have money for an Uber, so we started walking.I thought I heard gunshots, but I was too scared to go back.”Her mascara-smudged eyes got teary.“We were both so wasted.”
“How much did you drink?”
“Hardly anything!Half a rum and coke.”
Natalie grabbed her phone and watched the rest of the video.She had to fast-forward through a long stretch of nothingness until she spotted movement.Then she played the footage at regular speed.There was a foggy, grainy quality to this section of the video.A shadow person crept up the driveway and disappeared in the dark garage.When the figure reemerged and came into better focus, Natalie paused.
Although she couldn’t make out his features, other details were clear.He wore a black hooded jacket, and he had a slim physique.He walked with his shoulders hunched forward, like a gawky teenager.He didn’t have Jason’s height or muscle mass.His style and posture were familiar, however.
It was Gabe Luna.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Wade couldn’t avoida confrontation with his father.
He’d been inundated with responsibilities all day.After he’d brought Gabe to the station, he’d informed his father of Billy’s death.It was a difficult conversation but blessedly short.They’d returned to Billy’s trailer to secure the scene.One soul-crushing task had morphed into the next, and the next, until numbness settled over him.
He kept going because it was his job and because he was afraid to leave the investigation to his father.Boyd Hendricks couldn’t be trusted to proceed fairly.Law officers weren’t even supposed to investigate cases involving family members.Last Chance Sheriff’s Department was small, so they didn’t have a homicide detective on staff.Boyd had called in Detective Schmidt from Waco to assist and to give the appearance of propriety.
Boyd liked Jason Reed for the crime, and Wade had basically found a smoking gun in the Ford truck.The rest of the evidence wasn’t as conclusive.Natalie had told him that the figure on the video was Gabe.Upon closer study, Wade agreed that the man on film had a slim build, like a teenager.Then Natalie brought in her babysitter, and London’s account of the previous evening didn’t corroborate Gabe’s.The coroner’s report indicated that Billy had fired the weapon himself, and the pills in Gabe’s pocket added another sordid layer to the business.
Wade had to admit that Jason Reed’s story was more credible than Gabe’s.Jason had seemed surprised by the news of Billy’s death.He also wasn’t stupid enough to leave a murder weapon in plain sight.Wade would stake his badge on it.
“We have to question Gabe again,” Wade told his father and showed him the video.“This looks like him.”
Sheriff Hendricks glanced at the footage.“I’ll talk to him out back.”
Wade shook his head in refusal.“I think those girls were drugged.”
“So what?”he barked.
“Did you see the name on the pill bottle?”
His father didn’t answer.He understood the implications as well as Wade.Instead of arguing further, the sheriff stormed into his office and slammed the door.
Wade took a steadying breath before he continued down the hall.He served the community of Last Chance, which currently included Jason Reed.He’d also sworn to protect Natalie Luna, and he had enough personal integrity to want to see justice done.It wasn’t easy being the only Hendricks with honor.
Wade briefed Detective Schmidt in the interrogation room.Schmidt was an experienced investigator and one of his father’s oldest buddies.He would handle this with discretion.Gabe was brought in by Deputy Santos.He still looked a little green around the gills, but his eyes were clear and sober.
Schmidt smiled at Gabe kindly.“I’m Detective Schmidt from Waco PD.How are you feeling?”
“Like shit,” Gabe said.
“We spoke to two young ladies of your acquaintance.”
Gabe wiped his nose with the back of his hand.“And?”
“We also reviewed footage from the security system at Natalie Luna’s residence,” Wade said.
