Page 45 of Beau

“My dad won’t let that happen.”

Beau chuckled. “Really? He might be able to get you a lighter sentence, but you’ll still have to pay for your crime, and it will go on your permanent record. You’ll be labeled a thief and not many places would want you working with them. You can’t live on daddy’s money forever.”

After checking traffic, Beau pulled back onto the road, and drove to the Juvenile Detention Center.

“I’ll just do community service. Like Joey Callaway did.”

Beau glanced in the rearview mirror to see Simpson smirking, making Beau chuckle.

“The only reason Callaway got community service is because the agent who arrested him, helped him out. Otherwise, he would have gone to juvie, like the other two who were with him did. Joey lucked out because Agent Hawkins wanted to help him. I will not help you since you won’t cooperate with me. You’ll be picking up trash along the roads, wearing a shirt that tells everyone you steal livestock.” Beau chuckled.

“I won’t wear the shirt,” Donnie snapped.

“Don’t bet on it, kid. You’ll have to do what you’re told or be kept in a cell all day.”

“Bullshit.”

“Oh, you think I’m joking? You’ll find out soon enough. This is no joke. You’ll be there for rehabilitation, but you’ll still be kept confined. You could be locked in a cell as small as seven-by-ten feet, twenty-two to twenty-four hours per day, with no personal belongings, no access to educational services, counseling or mental health treatment, no interaction with peers and with nothing more than a lightly padded mattress on a concrete floor to sleep on. So, if you think you’d rather do that then work off your fine, I’ll be sure to let them know when we get there.” He looked in the mirror to see the boy pale as his words sunk in. “Where is the horse?”

The boy still refused to answer him. Beau shook his head. Maybe once he realized that he wasn’t getting out of juvie, he’d change his mind about talking.

Once inside the detention center, Beau put his card in one of the pockets of Donnie’s coat.

“Think long and hard on this. If you want my help, call me within twenty-four hours or you’re on your own. Your buddies told me you were the one to take the horse somewhere.” He stepped closer to him. “If you’ve hurt that animal in any way, shape, or form, I’ll see you stay here until you’re eighteen and then I will personally take you to prison.”

Beau stared at him, but Donnie didn’t seem to care. Beau shrugged, turned and walked out of the detention center.

****

Brenna’s eyes were glued to the clock on the wall all afternoon, anxiously waiting for the time to pass so she could see Beau. But the hands seemed to be moving at a painfully slow pace. Letting out a heavy sigh, she refocused on checking homework for her students.

When the final bell rang, Brenna smiled as she watched the kids pack up their belongings and get ready to start their weekend. Their excitement was contagious.

“Ms. Lawrence, do we have any homework?” one little girl asked eagerly, prompting groans from the others.

“No homework this weekend. Have a good one. You can grab your coats and head out now. I’ll see you all on Monday,” Brenna announced with a smile.

The kids cheered at the news of no homework, thanked her, and quickly gathered their things before rushing out of the room. Brenna shook her head in amusement as she heard them running down the hallway. They were always eager to leave and especially on Friday afternoons. She couldn’t blame them. She was just as eager to leave for an entirely different reason. She couldn’t wait to see Beau tonight.

As she sat in her car, she wondered what their dinner plans were. Neither of them had mentioned it beforehand. She pressed the steering wheel button to call Beau.

“Hey, sweetheart. You’re not calling to cancel, are you?” Beau said when he answered.

“Nope. I was just wondering what you had planned for dinner?”

“I hadn’t thought about it yet. We could order takeout.”

“How about I pick up a pizza?”

“That sounds good. I like all the toppings.”

“Of course, you do. I’ll get half with everything and my favorites on the other half.”

“Sounds good. Hey, if I’m not home yet just make yourself comfortable until I get there. It shouldn’t be too much longer.”

“Okay. Do you have a hidden key or something?”

“No, ma’am. No one ever comes around.”

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