Page 82 of Lawless Ride

“He was a guy from Shelby—a construction worker employed by Floyd Boyd’s company.”

“Oh, wow. That is interesting. I’ll get the report and be in touch. Thanks, Travis.”

I’d only had time to carry my coffee to my office before Molly called to me. An attorney named Joel Burns had showed up in the squad room.

“Morning, Sheriff Frost, I’m here to see my client, Glenda Crandall.”

I shook his hand. Regular looking lawyer dressed in a suit, briefcase under his arm. “I’ll show you where Miss Crandall is, sir. Sorry we don’t have any attorney-client meeting rooms here.”

“That’s okay, Sheriff. I’ll manage.”

I let him into the run and into Glenda’s cell. I posted Ted at the door to let Burns out when he was finished his meeting.

“Escort Mister Burns back to the squad room when he’s finished, Ted.”

“Copy, boss.”

Burns was still in Glenda’s cell talking to her when Harlan and I had to fetch the two rustlers Annie had shot for theirarraignments. We hauled Carl Spofford and Dan Creighton to the spare cruiser parked outside and secured them in the back.

“Harlan, you go with Ted and take those two guys over to the courthouse. I’ll bring Glenda as soon as her lawyer leaves. Meet you over there.”

“Copy, boss,” said Ted. He slid behind the wheel and took off.

I went back inside and told Joel Burns his time was up. I had to transport Glenda to the courthouse.

He left saying he’d meet her over there and not to worry. I figured she should worry more than a little now that we had the murder weapon and the DA’s office knew we had solid evidence against her.

It was their usual practice in a first-degree murder case to send an ADA to argue against bail. That’s what I was hoping for. Keeping Glenda behind bars until her trial would be the safest thing for all of us.

“Come on, Glenda. Just you and me in my squad. Ted and Harlan took the first load already.”

Glenda surprised me with silence. She wasn’t making her usual smart remarks and firing sarcastic threats at me. Could be fear had silenced her and I hoped she was scared fucking shitless.

Harrison County Courthouse.

I handed Glenda off to a uniformed officer at the back entrance, then went inside to join Harlan and Ted. Glenda’s arraignment might have attracted a small crowd. People were always more interested in seeing a murderer than they were a guy charged with possession.

Ted and Harlan were sitting halfway to the front of the courtroom on the prosecution’s side.

“Any trouble with the rustlers?” I asked.

“Nope. Nice and quiet,” said Harlan.

“Huh. Glenda was unusually quiet too.”

The first two cases called were Carl Spofford and then Dan Creighton. They both were granted bail and I sent Harlan outside to the parking lot to see if Hannah Hargrove came to pick her boys up.

He came running back in out of breath. “She’s out there waiting for them, and she gave me the death-ray eyes. That bitch hates me.”

“Not just you.”

Another case was called and then Miss Glenda was up. She was brought in by the bailiff and Joel Burns stood next to her in front of the judge.

She entered hernot guiltyplea and Burns argued for bail. The DA himself, Anthony Webber, sat at the prosecution’s table and jumped to his feet to oppose the granting of bail on a first-degree murder charge.

Judge Alright listened to the DA’s arguments, then made his own decision and grated bail that was high enough to raise a few eyebrows. “Bail is set at seven hundred and fifty thousand dollars.”

Burns pushed his luck and tried for a lower amount and all he got was a warning from the judge.

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