Page 129 of Cowboy's Last Stand
“No.”
“Why did you run?”
“I guess I panicked.”
“Did you wash off in Lost Creek?”
“Yes.”
“Why did you leave the gun at Natalie’s?”Wade asked.
“I don’t know.I wasn’t thinking clearly.”
“Marcus could have found it.”
“I removed the bullets.”
“You removed the bullets?”
“Yes.”
Wade’s brow furrowed.“By your own admission, you left the scene, washed off evidence, walked four miles to Natalie’s, and planted a gun inside a vehicle.That doesn’t sound like panic to me.”
“More like cold calculation,” Detective Schmidt said.
Gabe adjusted the collar of his T-shirt, which was torn at the edge.Some of the color had returned to his face.He lifted his chin with false bravado.“Can we wrap this up?Arrest me for murder or whatever, but I’m done talking.”
Sheriff Hendricks stormed into the room as if Gabe had summoned him.He’d been watching video of the interrogation.Detective Schmidt rose to his feet on this cue, nodding goodbye.
“I told you I’d handle this,” Wade said to his father.
“Give me five minutes alone with him.”
“His story matches the evidence, and you know it.”
Boyd’s face flushed with fury.“This little shit killed your brother.”
“In self-defense, after he drugged two girls.”
“That’s undetermined,” the sheriff argued.“We have probable cause for manslaughter, at the very least.”
“No, we don’t.There was gunshot residue on Billy’s hand.”
Wade’s father gave him a look of pure contempt.Clearly, he wanted to bury this information, not share it with a suspect.
“If you push for prosecution, Billy’s name will get dragged through the mud.The details will come out, and people will talk.Other women might come forward with allegations, including Natalie.”
Sheriff Hendricks narrowed his eyes.“Is that a threat?”
“It’s reality,” Wade said.“He’s telling the truth.”
“He’s a punk.His word is garbage.”
“I sent those girls to the lab, Dad.The toxicology report will back him up.Did you know Billy was stealing Mom’s drugs?”
Gabe let out a low whistle.
Wade pointed at him in warning.“Shut up, Gabe.”
