Page 49 of Lawless Ride

“Long story and I’ll fill you in when I’ve got more time. Come and check the fuckers out.” I lifted the keys off the rack in the office and Ted followed me into the run. I flicked on the bright overhead lighting that the prisoners hated so Ted could have a better look.

While trying not to go blind from the flood lights, he stared into the cells at the two guys I arrested in Conrad. No reaction. Ted didn’t say a word. But when he retreated into the hallway, he nodded his head. “Yep. Those two guys were definitely at my place.”

“Excellent,” I said.

“Peterson don’t look too good,” said Ted. “What happened to him?”

I shrugged. “He got hurt. Go have another coffee. I’ve got to tell Molly about the new charges and get them entered into the system.”

There wasn’t much time before I had to leave for the courthouse, so I hurried to the squad room and got the charges rolling. “Molly, Ted just confirmed that Chapen and Telford were two of Peterson’s flunkies who beat him up at his apartment.”

Molly nodded. “And you’re adding charges before they’re arraigned?”

“Yes. Home invasion, attempted murder, and aggravated assault. Add the same charges to Peterson too. He sent those gangers to Ted’s place.”

“Hard to believe Clay Peterson is in the middle of all this. I’ll do it while you get them ready to go.”

“I have to take Art Andrews to court too, so we’ll need both squads.”

Harrison County Courthouse. Coyote Creek.

Art Andrews’ case number was called first, and the judge knew him by sight. He was a troublemaker, a stir-stick, and a courtroom regular. Starting drunken brawls was one of his talents. Possibly the only one.

The judge scowled and didn’t hesitate to give Art a warning. “You show your face once more in my courtroom, Mister Andrews, and there will be no bail. In fact, I’ll send you straight to state to serve your time and they’ll straighten you out.”

“Yes, your honor.” Andrews looked a little shaky and that made me smile.

Peterson was next, and not only did he not make bail, but he also didn’t make it all the way through his hearing. He collapsed into a heap on the floor in front of the judge’s bench and an ambulance was called.

There was a delay in proceedings while Peterson’s limp body was lifted onto a gurney and removed by two paramedics. Once the unconscious prisoner was gone, the next case was called.

The other two thugs who had beat Ted up were granted bail and managed to come up with the bond money. Harlan and I followed them out to the parking lot behind the building to see who showed up to give them a ride.

The drug guys recognized a black SUV and ran towards it. I didn’t see the driver as the vehicle pulled away, but Harlan got the tag down.

We sat in the squad before we left the parking lot, and I ran the plate. The Buick SUV belonged to Harriett Mendenhall.

“Huh, she’s a Mendenhall. I didn’t expect that. She must be the wife or sister of Joe, the guy I shot. She lives at that same address in Conrad.”

“How come your DEA guy didn’t arrest her?” asked Harlan. “Weren’t they supposed to search the house and close the deal?”

“Dandy question. I’ll have to make a call.”

Sheriff’s Office.

I’d just gotten back from the courthouse when Doc Olson called and said he’d finally matched the poison to a substance in both Tory Masters’ blood and Floyd Boyd’s as well. One of the poisons mentioned in a text Josie had sent to her husband, Tory.

“It’s a rare poison, Travis—curare. Has to be injected and not ingested. There was an injection site on the back of Boyd’s neck but nothing to find on Tory Masters because his body had already decomposed so badly when he was found.”

“You needed the second body before you knew the poison was injected and not swallowed.”

“Correct. Then I knew what to test for,” said the doctor. “Harmless if swallowed and deadly if injected. Obviously, the killer knew that.”

“Where would they get that kind of poison, Doc?”

“I’m sure it’s available on the internet if you know where to look. Curare, found in bamboo, is effectively used by many tribes in their poison darts.”

“At least I know what we’re looking for now. I’ll search both houses again. Thanks for the help, Doc.”

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