Page 61 of Left Behind

“Sir, Henley’s Beretta seems to have gone missing.”

Gardner glared. “Convenient. This doesn’t look good, Carl. We’ll be needing you to come down to the station to make a statement.”

“How can I make a statement about something I know nothing about!” Carl shrieked.

“We need that on record,” Gardner said. “And a plausible reason for why you don’t know where it’s at, since it’s the weapon used in a murder.”

“I’m not talking to you without my attorney,” Carl shouted.

“Fine. But you can ride down to the station with us and wait for him to show up,” Gardner said. “Officers, please take Mr. Henley to the station and put him in an interrogation room. I’ll be along shortly.”

Carl was cursing and shouting as they walked him out of the residence. And at that point, the other officers came downstairs with Junior Henley and the car title and extra keys for his truck.

“Where’s Daddy?” Junior asked.

“On his way to the station,” Gardner said.

Junior panicked. “But why?”

“Because the gun in question happens to be missing from his collection, which puts the both of you in a very bad light. I’m going to be needing you to come down to the station and give a statement as well. Officers, Mr. Henley needs a ride,” Gardner said.

“Fuck off. I’m not going anywhere with you!” Junior shouted.

Gardner pointed. “Handcuff him and get him to the station.”

Chapter 10

It was late in the evening before Carl and his son left the police station. They’d both had to wait for the lawyer, then gave their statements before being released, with a warning not to leave town.

Carl called an Uber to take them home, and the moment they got back to their estate, he lit into his son.

“What did you do with my Beretta?”

“Why are you blaming me that it went missing?” Junior snapped.

“Because you’re the only one with access to my things.”

Junior glared.

Carl moved closer. “Let me phrase this another way. Did you give my Beretta to Gunny?”

“It was just for backup. He wasn’t supposed to hurt anyone,” Junior said.

Carl’s gut knotted. “Hellsfire! You could get a burner off the street. Why the hell didn’t you do that?”

Junior shrugged. “I don’t know. Yours was here. It was handy, but after he told me what happened, I ditched the gun the same day he gave it back.”

Carl stared. “Did you pawn it?”

Junior shrugged. “No. I threw it away.”

“Where?” Carl asked.

“Down a sewer grate out in the park.”

Carl rolled his eyes. “Did you really lose your truck to Gunny in a poker game?”

“Yes. He’s been driving it most of this month,” Junior said.

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