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A lot of the citizens of Harrison County were related—at least distantly—and news travelled fast—family to family. Gossip flowed like water over a falls.

Jack set a pitcher of Miller in front of me and leaned in close. “Who killed Tory Masters? Was it his wife?”

“Don’t know yet, but we’ve got her, and the guy she was hanging with—dealer, buddy, whatever—locked up at the station. You know Grant Andrews?”

“Not so much. His cousin Art is the one who hangs around here and causes trouble.” Jack laughed. “You’ve busted Art’s nose a couple of times.”

“Not one of my favorite people.”

“Grant hangs with the drug crowd in Sunburst Acres. That bunch has been in here a few times, but I don’t want them around.”

“You know the names of any of Grant Andrews’ buddies? Josie Masters is rumored to be seeing one of Grant’s friends.”

“Let me think about that,” said Jack. He got busy and had to run off and make drinks for customers before he came up with any answers.

I ordered the dinner special for all three of us and when we finished eating, I took Billy home. He was pissed that he had to go to the hospital for a checkup in the morning and nothing could improve his mood.

Chapter Two

Tuesday, May 22nd.

Wild Stallion Ranch.

“Did I mention not wanting to go for this checkup on my leg?” Billy asked between bites at breakfast.

Harlan laughed. “Yep, you did.”

“Yeah, you told us a couple dozen times, but you still have to go. It’s the only way you’re going to find out when you can start putting weight on that leg again and get back to normal.”

“I know I have to go. Not looking forward to more x-rays and another examination. Sick of all of it, I guess that’s what it is.”

“Come on, Billy. Look how fuckin long I was in the VA hospital. Getting fixed takes time.”

Billy raised an eyebrow. “You haven’t unloaded the details on that, Travis.”

“Not something I like to think about.” I changed the subject. “We’ll take you to the appointment and when you’re finished, we’ll drop into the morgue and see if Doc Olson has finished with Tory Masters. He might have cause of death and other news we need to hear about the murder.”

“I’m looking forward to that part,” said Billy. “Tells you what my life is like when the morgue is a highlight.”

“Eat your breakfast. You have a busy day coming up.”

Cut Bank Hospital.

While Harlan and I sat in the hospital waiting room waiting for Billy, Harlan got several more texts from the girls.

“What are they saying?”

“Not much. They’re doing okay.”

“Tell them to text me once in a while. Why should you get all the texts and I get none?”

Harlan chuckled.

Billy limped out of the doctor’s office, not looking a bit happy. Saying nothing, he headed for the door, and Harlan and I followed. We helped him through the corridors of the hospital and out to the truck.

“What’s pissing you off so bad?” I asked when he got into the back of the squad.

“I have to go to a rehab in Great Falls to learn how to walk on my pinned leg.”