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“No good for him there. He’s only sixteen for chrissakes. So much could go wrong.”

“Yeah. Better to have him pissed at me, I guess.”

“He’ll come around in time. You sleep now. You’ll be getting more visitors tomorrow.”

Chapter Ten

Tuesday, July 30th.

Wild Stallion Ranch.

There was only Billy and me for breakfast and while we ate, I filled him in on the market shooting from the day before. Virgil was asleep on the sofa in the living room, and he hadn’t moved.

I figured he’d try to run off during the night, but he was still there where I left him, cuddled up in a plaid blanket. He looked a lot like Harlan but a younger version and not so much muscle.

“Was it the same kids who beat me up?” Billy held his empty cup up and wanted more coffee. He still had a bitch of a time getting around.

“There were only two kids when they came here,” I said, “and they were the two from the detention center in Great Falls. Yesterday, there were four of them. Twice as many and now they have guns.”

“They’ve accelerated,” said Billy. We can expect bigger things from them in the near future.”

“What do you think they might try next?”

“Maybe a convenience store or a package store. Possibly a gas station—one open twenty-four seven.”

“Do you think there are only the four or those four at the market are part of a larger gang?”

“Might fluctuate,” said Billy. “Whoever is around at the time joins in for the joyride—steal a new vehicle and go rob somebody.”

“If they’re part of a bigger gang, they must have a homebase. If the first two broke out of Great Falls Detention Center, wheredid they come from before that? I mean where did they commit the crimes that got them juvie time?”

“Good question, Tammy. We need to look up addresses for them before they went to detention. Be a damned good place to start looking for the rest of the gang.”

I was clearing the table when Virgil woke up and a loud moan came from the living room. “Is it time for your meds? Your leg hurting?”

“Get away from me, girl.” He waved his arm at me. “I can take care of myself.”

“Go for it, you little prick. You’re not half the person your brother is.”

“Ease up, Tammy,” said Billy. “Hand him his crutches so he can get to the bathroom.”

“Fuck you, Billy. I ain’t handing him nothing. I’m going to work.”

Billy laughed. “Guess you’re on your own, Virgil. You pissed Tammy off and you’d better watch yourself from here on.”

“She don’t scare me none.”

Billy laughed again. “This should be good.”

Sheriff’s Office. Coyote Creek.

When I got to the station I was still pissed off at Virgil. He needed a good kick in the nuts with a steel-toed boot to tune up his attitude and I couldn’t wait to give him one.

I went into the break room, poured myself a coffee, then leaned on Molly’s desk in the squad room and gave her my take on what had happened at the market.

“That’s quite a story, Tammy. Two got away?” she asked.

“Yep. Ted and I will go back with the dogs today and try to pick up a trail.”