Page 13 of Lie for a Million

“I’m sorry, Roper,” he muttered. “How’s Mom? I know she’ll want to kill me.”

“Mom’s disappointed. We all are. We thought you’d been taught better. What happened, Rowdy?”

Rowdy sighed. “A guy at Jackalope’s gave me a sample. He said he’d sell me more if I wanted. I took it out to my car to try it. The cop was right there, like he’d been waiting for me. I think I was set up.”

“Have you used cocaine before?” Roper asked.

“No. Never. Honest.”

“I’m not sure I believe you, brother. If you’d never used it, why did you take it, and how did you know what to do with it? I’ll ask you again, Rowdy. Have you ever used cocaine?”

“Maybe . . . once or twice.”

“Sure. How about marijuana?”

“Heck, everybody does that.”

“Everybody? You mean like your brothers? Your sister?”

“Not Cheyenne. Maybe the boys. But I don’t know for sure.” He wiped his nose on his sleeve. “Hang it, Roper, I just want to go home! When are you going to stop grilling me and get me out of here?”

“Not until after your bail hearing tomorrow. And only then if the judge lets you go. Either way, I’ll be there for you.”

The warning bell rang, signaling an end to the visit.

“Don’t go, Roper,” Rowdy begged.

“Get some rest. I’ll see you before your hearing.” Roper forced himself to turn away and leave. Damn fool kid. He deserved to spend a night in jail. Maybe it would bring him to his senses. Meanwhile Roper had to call Chet Barr in the morning, get the stable ready for Fire Dance’s arrival, and put things right with Lila. After what had happened between them tonight, things would never be the same between them. They would have to find new ways to get along.

And if that didn’t work? If he couldn’t keep his hands off her—or even keep from thinking about it?

Forcing the thought from his mind, Roper started the truck and headed out of town.

* * *

“Hey, kid, are you okay?”

The raspy voice startled Rowdy. He looked around. The rough-looking man in the next cell was watching him with his unsettling yellow eyes. “Sorry, kid, I didn’t mean to scare you,” he said.

“That’s all right. I’m fine,” Rowdy said. The man looked like someone his mother would have warned him about, but he seemed friendly enough. And any conversation was better than the silence of this place.

“I’m sorry about your girlfriend,” Rowdy said.

“Yeah, that sucks.” The man moved closer to the bars that separated the two of them. “When I get out of here, that bitch is going to pay. She’ll be sorry for trying to dump me.”

Something in his tone sent a chill up Rowdy’s spine. He decided to change the subject. “I heard you say that your lawyer is going to get you off. How is that supposed to happen?”

Rowdy’s newfound friend raked his greasy hair back from his face. “You know what entrapment is?”

“Not really. I just heard the word. Mainly from you.”

“Entrapment means I was set up. A guy I didn’t know made a buy. His partner arrested me. They were both cops. They’re not allowed to trick me like that. If my lawyer can prove entrapment, I’m free as a bird.”

He aimed a stream of spittle at the toilet in the corner of the cell, making a direct hit. “I heard what you said to your brother. If you really got set up, and you could prove it, you could claim entrapment, too.”

“Do I need a lawyer? Yours, maybe?”

“Good lawyers cost money. You’ll have a public defender tomorrow. They’re mostly crap, but you can get a better one later. Just plead not guilty tomorrow and take it from there.”

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