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Sheriff’s Office. Coyote Creek.

“Park anywhere, Virge. This won’t take long.”

“Should I come in with you?”

“Sure. We’ll find out about the pickpockets for the kids, and then go get a beer. I haven’t been to the roadhouse for too fuckin long. I was never cut out to be a sheriff. You know that, right?”

“You’ve got a rep, Dale. Ain’t nothing to do with the law. Kind of the opposite.”

“Yeah, you’re right about that, Virge. A rep I’ll probably never shake.”

Travis was walking better, but every step he took he felt the pull of the half-healed stitches in his side. He unlocked the back door, got the keys to the run from the office and went into the sally port without turning on the overhead lights.

He went to Smollett’s cell, unlocked it, and jerked Smollett off the bunk and onto the concrete floor. “Watch the door, Virge.”

“I’ve got it.”

“Get off me,” hollered Smollett. “You can’t touch me. I’ve got rights. What the hell do you want?”

“I want you to write out a confession tomorrow and sign it, telling all the details about the pickpocket ring you’re running. Names and addresses of all the kids.”

“No way in hell I’m doing that.” Smollett spit at Travis and that was a mistake.

Travis took hold of Smollett’s head—one hand on each ear—and bashed it three times into the concrete. “Think it over, asshole.”

Smollett moaned and Travis left him lying in the cell. “You don’t get ‘er done tomorrow, I’ll be back tomorrow night.”

Virgil slammed the cell shut and listened for the click of the lock.

“Let’s go drink a pitcher, Virge.”

Virgil grinned. “Copy that, boss.”

Chapter Seventeen

Tuesday, August 6th.

Wild Stallion Ranch.

I was first up, pulled on clothes and headed for the barn. Virge was already there working his ass off. After his talk to Travis, he was a different kid, and me and Harlan were wondering what Daddy said to him. But if Virge didn’t feel like telling us, we’d never find out.

“You’ve got a good handle on the barn chores, Virge.”

“Ain’t much to it, is there? Any asshole could do it.”

That’s all he said to me during the time we spent together. We went into the house, cleaned up for breakfast and when we sat down to eat, Virge ate a ton of food.

Travis said, “I’m going to the courthouse for Smollett’s arraignment this morning.”

“We can cover that, Dad,” said Harlan.

“No. I want to be there. Virge can drive me.”

Harlan glanced over at me, and I shrugged. I had no clue what was going on with Travis and Virgil, but it wassomething. No doubt about it.

Sheriff’s Office. Coyote Creek.

I unlocked the back door of the station to let me and Tammy in. Ted was already in the squad room talking to Molly, and the prisoners were finished breakfast.