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“Oh yeah? Not sure I heard her say that.”

After a quick trip to the barn to get Outlaw squared away, Glenda got behind the wheel and started the truck while I put the dogs in the back seat.

Another hell day was about to start.

Sheriff’s Office. Coyote Creek.

Billy was already at the station when Glenda and I got there. He gave me a funny look that said You slept with Glenda? and I shook my head and pointed to the sling.

“What the hell happened? I saw we have another prisoner. Is that Garrison?”

“That’s him. You can book him.”

“He’s asking for his lawyer,” said Billy. “Molly called his attorney.”

“Okay, that’s fine.” I took Glenda into the squad room and introduced her to Molly. “Garrison knifed me at the hospital, Molly, and I got a few stitches. Glenda has been helping me.”

Molly gave Glenda a look and then turned her attention back to me. “You have no color and you look like you’re going to pass out, Travis. How bad is it?”

“I’m okay.” Big lie but I couldn’t think of anything else to say.

“He shouldn’t be working,” said Glenda. “He lost too much blood to function normally.”

“I’m okay. Honest.”

“Coffee is hot,” said Molly. “Why don’t you sit in your office and drink a coffee until it’s time to go to the courthouse?”

“You girls worry about the old man too much.”

Billy came stomping into the office while I was drinking my coffee and hollered at me. “Why didn’t you call me when you got fuckin hurt? I didn’t have to stay at Brenda’s. You needed me and you should’ve called.”

“Glenda helped lock Tibor up and she got me home.”

“That’s my job,” Billy roared. “You should’ve called me. How bad is your arm? And don’t fuckin lie to me.”

“Elbow to wrist. It’s a bad one.”

“Fuck that. I should have stayed at the hospital. Garrison was a two-man job and I was thinking with my dick.” Billy yanked his camo cap off his head and smacked his leg with it. “This is all my fault.”

“It’s not. You weren’t on surveillance duty. I was.”

“Why was Glenda there?”

She heard Billy yelling at me and walked into the office to put her two cents worth in. “I was keeping Travis company in the waiting room when the guy came for Tammy,” said Glenda. “I had no idea he was a killer maniac.”

“No, but now we have damned good witnesses when Tibor goes on trial. Glenda and a couple of the nurses saw and heard him. He’s fuckin deranged.”

“That’s for sure,” said Glenda. “Garrison is an animal and I was way too close to him.” She shivered.

“Get him more coffee,” said Billy to Glenda. “I’ll start taking the prisoners out to the squads and securing them.”

“Use the dogs,” I said. “Foster is nasty to deal with.”

Billy took the keys to the run and whistled for the dogs.

Max and Sarge were getting used to Billy and I had shown him a few of the hand signals they recognized.

As soon as the prisoners were loaded I stood up, steadying myself with one hand on the desk.