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I watched as Linda stood up and zipped her coat. Easy to see she was annoyed with me, but I didn't really care. I had changed my mind, and it was my prerogative to do so. Plus, I didn't owe her anything.

After she stomped out in a pissy mood, I checked on Outlaw in the barn and made sure his blanket was strapped on snugly and the little heater was humming nicely.

Billy said Outlaw probably didn’t need a heater, but I thought he did with no other livestock in the barn.

I bundled up in my warmest coat, locked the house and ran for the truck. The dogs came bounding after me, bouncing through the deep snow and not minding it a bit. I was envious of them.

“Jump in, doggies. We have to drive in the fuckin blizzard.”

The wipers worked at full speed all the way to town and I couldn’t even tell where the road was. If it hadn’t been for the driver in front of me having his headlights and tail lights on, I would’ve driven straight into the ditch.

Sheriff’s Office. Coyote Creek.

As I pulled into the parking lot at the back of the station, my nerves were shot from the treacherous drive. I needed a strong cup of coffee, preferably laced with a shot of whiskey.

Coming in through the back door, the warmth of the building hit me like a wave and I shrugged off my coat and gloves. What a relief to feel some heat.

The dogs bounded into the squad room where Billy and Molly were deep in conversation. Max and Sarge ran in shaking snow off their backs and all excited to be at work.

They ran straight to Molly to see if she had a biscuit for them, and she always did. They had more incentive to go to work than I did.

Nobody gives me a biscuit.

“Billy was telling me he’s thinking of running for sheriff, Travis,” said Molly.

“He’s going to be the next sheriff, Molly. And you and I are going to make sure of it. I’m not leaving here with some crackhead like Art Andrews running the show.”

Molly made a face. “That would be disgusting. What would make you say a thing like that?”

“His name has been mentioned in connection with the sheriff’s job more than once.”

“I won’t be working for him,” said Molly. “He’s the scourge of Coyote Creek.”

“Billy is the best man for the job,” I said. “We’ll make sure he wins the election.”

“I agree, Travis. If the county can’t have you, it should be Billy. Teach him everything you know before you leave.”

“I don’t have a lot of police procedure behind me like Travis does,” said Billy. “I was career military, never a Texas Ranger.”

“It won’t take long to pick the procedural stuff up,” I said. “Molly can help. She’s got it down and knows it by heart.”

Molly laughed. “That comes when you’ve been hanging around the sheriff’s office much too long.”

“We’re heading out to see one of the strippers Burke Foster favored at the Krystal Palace, Molly. We got her address last night from Miss Krystal herself.”

“You boys were working overtime.” Molly made a face. “That’s a disgusting place of ill repute over there in Ethridge.”

“Wasn’t great,” said Billy, turning up his nose. “Stinks in there.”

Molly made another face. “Who is the girl?”

“She dances as Bambi, but her name is Pauline Smith.”

“I think I know her mother. Doris Smith makes wonderful quilts. She wins all the championships at the county fair.”

“If you need us, we’ll be in Ethridge at Bambi’s house, and then at the hospital to see Savanna.”

Molly nodded. “Be careful on the roads.”