Page 47 of Cowboy’s Last Stand (His to Protect #1)

W ade couldn’t avoid a confrontation with his father.

He’d been inundated with responsibilities all day.

After he’d brought Gabe to the station, he’d informed his father of Billy’s death.

It was a difficult conversation but blessedly short.

They’d returned to Billy’s trailer to secure the scene.

One soul-crushing task had morphed into the next, and the next, until numbness settled over him.

He kept going because it was his job and because he was afraid to leave the investigation to his father.

Boyd Hendricks couldn’t be trusted to proceed fairly.

Law officers weren’t even supposed to investigate cases involving family members.

Last Chance Sheriff’s Department was small, so they didn’t have a homicide detective on staff.

Boyd had called in Detective Schmidt from Waco to assist and to give the appearance of propriety.

Boyd liked Jason Reed for the crime, and Wade had basically found a smoking gun in the Ford truck.

The rest of the evidence wasn’t as conclusive.

Natalie had told him that the figure on the video was Gabe.

Upon closer study, Wade agreed that the man on film had a slim build, like a teenager.

Then Natalie brought in her babysitter, and London’s account of the previous evening didn’t corroborate Gabe’s.

The coroner’s report indicated that Billy had fired the weapon himself, and the pills in Gabe’s pocket added another sordid layer to the business.

Wade had to admit that Jason Reed’s story was more credible than Gabe’s. Jason had seemed surprised by the news of Billy’s death. He also wasn’t stupid enough to leave a murder weapon in plain sight. Wade would stake his badge on it.

“We have to question Gabe again,” Wade told his father and showed him the video. “This looks like him.”

Sheriff Hendricks glanced at the footage. “I’ll talk to him out back.”

Wade shook his head in refusal. “I think those girls were drugged.”

“So what?” he barked.

“Did you see the name on the pill bottle?”

His father didn’t answer. He understood the implications as well as Wade. Instead of arguing further, the sheriff stormed into his office and slammed the door.

Wade took a steadying breath before he continued down the hall. He served the community of Last Chance, which currently included Jason Reed. He’d also sworn to protect Natalie Luna, and he had enough personal integrity to want to see justice done. It wasn’t easy being the only Hendricks with honor.

Wade briefed Detective Schmidt in the interrogation room. Schmidt was an experienced investigator and one of his father’s oldest buddies. He would handle this with discretion. Gabe was brought in by Deputy Santos. He still looked a little green around the gills, but his eyes were clear and sober.

Schmidt smiled at Gabe kindly. “I’m Detective Schmidt from Waco PD. How are you feeling?”

“Like shit,” Gabe said.

“We spoke to two young ladies of your acquaintance.”

Gabe wiped his nose with the back of his hand. “And?”

“We also reviewed footage from the security system at Natalie Luna’s residence,” Wade said.

Gabe swallowed a few times, his skinny throat working. It was clear he hadn’t known about the security system. His gaze rose to the camera in the corner of the interrogation room, which was recording every word he said. Wade had informed him about the process when he’d read him his rights.

“Why don’t you tell us about last night?” Detective Schmidt offered. “Start at the beginning.”

For a moment, Wade thought Gabe might refuse to talk or ask for a lawyer like Jason Reed. Then Gabe began to speak in a dull voice. “Billy came by Luna’s around ten. He was with London and Jena.”

“Was this a planned outing?”

“No.”

“But you agreed to go with them.”

“Yes.”

“Where did you go?”

“Billy’s place. We were hanging out, you know, partying. We’d just finished a joint when London said her drink tasted funny.”

“What was she drinking?”

“Rum and coke. Both girls had one.”

“Who made it?”

“Billy.”

“Were you drinking, Gabe?”

“Beer, from a can I opened myself.”

They waited for him to continue.

“I figured… well, I suspected Billy had put something in the drinks. I knocked the glass out of London’s hand and pretended I was mad at her.”

“Why didn’t you tell her what you suspected?”

“Because Billy was a psycho,” he said shortly. “I wanted to get them out of there.”

Wade dragged a hand down his face but said nothing. Gabe was finally telling the truth, ugly and unvarnished.

“Did the girls leave?”

“Yes.”

“Then what?”

“I found a pill bottle in the kitchen. Billy caught me putting it in my pocket. All the sudden, he had his gun out, and he was pointing it at me.” Gabe stared at the wall behind the interview table, his expression grim.

“I threw a bottle of rum at him, but he ducked. I couldn’t get away, so I just tackled him.

Then we were on the floor, wrestling. The barrel of the gun was near my face, and I think I shoved it away at the same time Billy pulled the trigger.

He was trying to shoot me, but he… missed. ”

“He shot himself?” Detective Schmidt said.

“On accident, yeah.”

“When did you gain control of the gun?”

“After he dropped it. He slumped forward, and his head was, you know.”

Wade knew.

“Did you fire the weapon?”

“No.”

“Why did you run?”

“I guess I panicked.”

“Did you wash off in Lost Creek?”

“Yes.”

“Why did you leave the gun at Natalie’s?” Wade asked.

“I don’t know. I wasn’t thinking clearly.”

“Marcus could have found it.”

“I removed the bullets.”

“You removed the bullets?”

“Yes.”

Wade’s brow furrowed. “By your own admission, you left the scene, washed off evidence, walked four miles to Natalie’s, and planted a gun inside a vehicle. That doesn’t sound like panic to me.”

“More like cold calculation,” Detective Schmidt said.

Gabe adjusted the collar of his T-shirt, which was torn at the edge. Some of the color had returned to his face. He lifted his chin with false bravado. “Can we wrap this up? Arrest me for murder or whatever, but I’m done talking.”

Sheriff Hendricks stormed into the room as if Gabe had summoned him. He’d been watching video of the interrogation. Detective Schmidt rose to his feet on this cue, nodding goodbye.

“I told you I’d handle this,” Wade said to his father.

“Give me five minutes alone with him.”

“His story matches the evidence, and you know it.”

Boyd’s face flushed with fury. “This little shit killed your brother.”

“In self-defense, after he drugged two girls.”

“That’s undetermined,” the sheriff argued. “We have probable cause for manslaughter, at the very least.”

“No, we don’t. There was gunshot residue on Billy’s hand.”

Wade’s father gave him a look of pure contempt. Clearly, he wanted to bury this information, not share it with a suspect.

“If you push for prosecution, Billy’s name will get dragged through the mud. The details will come out, and people will talk. Other women might come forward with allegations, including Natalie.”

Sheriff Hendricks narrowed his eyes. “Is that a threat?”

“It’s reality,” Wade said. “He’s telling the truth.”

“He’s a punk. His word is garbage.”

“I sent those girls to the lab, Dad. The toxicology report will back him up. Did you know Billy was stealing Mom’s drugs?”

Gabe let out a low whistle.

Wade pointed at him in warning. “Shut up, Gabe.”

Gabe shut up.

Wade spoke to his father in a calmer tone.

“Be reasonable. This was a tragic accident, resulting from drunken carelessness with a firearm. There’s no need to cause a public scandal with a criminal investigation.

Do you really want the press coming around here and interviewing people? Let Billy rest in peace.”

Sheriff Hendricks crossed his arms over his chest and studied the ceiling. Wade prayed he would see reason and let Gabe go. “That’s what the report will say?” the sheriff asked finally. “Drunken carelessness?”

Wade gestured to Gabe.

Gabe glanced back and forth between them. Then he bobbed his head up and down. “Drunken carelessness. Sure.”

Sheriff Hendricks rose to his feet. He seemed resigned to the outcome rather than satisfied. One of his sons was dead, and the other had no interest in vengeance. He muttered something under his breath and left.

Wade turned to Gabe and studied him. “Did you think you were going to get off that easily?”

“I didn’t think I was going to get off at all.”

“Leaving the scene of an accident is a crime. So is planting evidence.”

“Will I go to jail?”

“Not if you do what I tell you to do.”

“I’m listening.”

“First, you have to complete drug and alcohol treatment. I can pull some strings for a court-appointed program. It’s outpatient, so you can keep working and living at home. You just have to attend daily sessions.”

Gabe’s eyes turned hard, but he didn’t argue. He would probably agree to anything Wade suggested to get the hell out of here.

“Second, I want you to do something with your life. You were planning to join the military before Mike died.”

Gabe bristled at the mention of Mike. “So?”

“You don’t have to enlist, Gabe. You can do public service right here in Texas. We need EMTs, firefighters, deputies, dispatchers. I can get you a spot in the training academy after you finish treatment.”

“Why would you do that?”

“I told Mike I’d look after you.”

Gabe blinked a few times as if to clear his vision. “Whatever. Can I go now?”

“You have to sign a statement first.”

“Fine.”

Wade rapped his knuckles on the table before he stood. “Treatment starts next week, and just so we’re clear, this is an offer you can’t refuse. There’s an arrest warrant with your name on it if you don’t follow through.”