Page 58 of Stormy Ride

“Got a picture of the secret wife?”

“Yeah.” I pulled out my cell and scrolled to Annie’s picture. “This is my Annie-girl.”

Harlan’s eyes widened. “I wouldn’t be staying away from her too long. Might not turn out well for you.”

“I worry about that.”

“You should.”

Peterson’s Service Center.

I parked the squad at the pumps, and we ran inside the convenience store to grab Harlan a phone. I paid for the phone, two Cokes and a carton of smokes at the counter.

“I need a fill up on the squad and you can charge the gas to the county.”

“Sure, Sheriff. I’ll send Kirby out to take care of you.”

“Thanks.”

We sat in the squad and waited for a couple of minutes and Kirby came running out of the garage to pump the gas. I could’ve done it myself, but it was Kirby’s job and I let him do it.

“Hey, Sheriff. I heard Tammy might be coming home.”

“Oh, yeah? Who did you hear that from? There are no secrets in Coyote Creek.”

He shrugged. “Can’t rightly remember. Might have been Ted. You mind if I ask her out?”

“Hell yeah, I mind, Kirby. She’s only sixteen.”

“Okay, just a question. Don’t want to set you off. I’ve heard how that can go. Lot of blood spilled at the Dry Run and you’re the hard hitter everybody talks about.”

“How old are you, Kirby?”

“Eighteen.” He cleaned the windshield and didn’t press it any further.

“How does that guy know Tammy?” asked Harlan.

“Seen her in the squad with me a few times, I guess.”

“Huh,” said Harlan. “I didn’t think about guys looking at her like that.”

“I guess I didn’t either, Harlan. Never crossed my mind that she’d go on a fuckin date… without me. Now I gotta watch out for that. Tammy is pretty.”

“She’s beautiful, Travis. We might have ourselves some trouble.”

I laughed. “Better not.”

Wilson Residence. Conrad.

I drove to the address I had for the woman who picked up Mrs. Hubbard at the courthouse and found she didn’t live far from the Hubbards. About two miles east on the same county road.

Norma Wilson’s dark green pickup was parked next to her long, low ranch house. A few acres of property, big barn, and a corral. Empty corral.

I parked the squad in front of the house. “Let’s go see what line of bullshit she’s gonna lay on us, Harlan.”

“Police, Miss Wilson. Need to talk to you.” I pounded on her door, and she didn’t keep us waiting.

Norma opened the door right away. No smile, but she didn’t look angry either. Calm and cool. “What can I do for the police?”

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