Page 90 of Small Town Hunter

I think of me trying to get hold of Zacky while I was still on tour. But that was different.

“You were in the same country. You’re worth a goldmine — How hard could it be?”

“I didn’t understand it had reached this point for Trina. I tried to convince her to leave many times, but she felt a pathetic obligation to her parents. That woman, her mother, was a powerful poison. I did everything in my power to help my granddaughter, including saving your life.” Green eyes go cloudy. “I don’t owe you any more explanations. Stay away from Trina or there will be consequences.”

“Whatever you believe, know that that girl has my heart,” I tell her. “She is the sweetest most precious thing I could havemet on this godforsaken road. I took care of her because of that — for no other reason. Now I’d appreciate, Ma’am, if you pulled back your horns and send my sister in.”

“You have three days to get out of town, or I’ll have my people look into your reasons for being here,” she says. “If I find out you contacted Trina, I will rain holy hell on you. A custody battle with some raggedy trailer trash woman will be the least of your worries, Mister Walker. Good day.” She sweeps from the room like an evil fairy.

It’stwo hours before I see a doctor who will release me. I get a prescription for Valium and other drugs I will surely not be taking, a warning not overdo it, and a pile of condescension so tall you could see it from space.

Sarah Jane is staying at the Serenity Motel with Ruby. I drive them both there, keeping my head on a swivel for flying attack owls. I have a plan for their little feathered hides as soon as I get my girls settled.

We get Ruby asleep and comfortable and Sarah Jane relaxes for what must be the first time in days. I owe my sister everything for leaving her small children to look after mine and make sure I’m okay.

“SJ, there’s some things I need to take care of,” I tell her as she stretches out in the bed with a bone-deep sigh.

“I understand,” my sister nods. “You’ll want to make sure McCall is out of reach before you admit failure to Roman.”

“Yeah,” I grunt. I never liked Sarah Jane’s involvement with the McCalls, but I reckon they’re half of her blood so she’s got a right.

“I’ll need Roman’s help if Jess comes back,” I tell her. “He can get her daddy off my case.”

“Finding Sebastian would go a long way towards that,” Sarah Jane answers, raising an eyebrow. “There’s only so much I can talk to Roman, Crash. You’re not a McCall and he’s got no obligation to help you.”

“Right,” I say. “I’ll be right back.”

“Where are you going?”

“Just something I need to take care of. I’ll pick up some food, too. How’s Ruby for formula?”

“She’s all set. Do what you have to do,” says Sarah Jane, fluffing up the pillows. “If you need to go after Sebastian we’ll make our way back to Virginia. Don’t worry about us.”

“Yeah,” I say. “Right.”

Sarah Jane tilts her head. “Crash, no offense but you look ridiculous.”

I run my fingers over my half-shaved Frankenstein scalp. It still hurts like a motherfucker. “Yeah. I’ll get the clippers.”

Standingin the spot where I got clipped by the owl, I take out some shiny pieces of mountain quartz I’ve been keeping and lay them on the curb like offerings. These owls behave like crows and like anything that glitters.

“I’m very sorry, you feathered son-of-a-bitch,” I say out loud. I feel foolish but I do believe animals listen to us, and see our inner hearts. I clear my throat. “It was an accident, alright? I never meant to hurt your babies. You got your own back, now let’s let bygones be bygones.”

Naturally there’s no reply. But I don’t get dive-bombed again, which is lucky.

I get some cash from my Challenger — the cops never found my hiding spot — and count how much I have left to get me, Sarah Jane and Ruby back to Virginia.

Not a whole lot. Plus I owe SJ for getting my car out of impound.

Going through the figures, I head to the gas station and find Jada. When I honk she comes running over.

“You owe me,” the prostitute says.

“You and everybody else,” I reply. “How’s it looking?”

“First of all, when Crocodile found out I made a deal with you he nearly cut me off,” she accuses. “And if it wasn’t for me, your little girlfriend would never have known you got arrested. She was all the way out in Cimarron County when I called her. And thirdly —”

“That’s why I came to find you, to thank you, Jada,” I interrupt, handing her a fifty. I’d give her more but with my sister and daughter in town I’m budgeting different. I do owe her; if Trina didn’t show up when she did I’d be fucking toast.

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