Page 23 of JoyRide

We grabbed seats about halfway back and we could see both sets of parents sitting near the front. No lawyers—the lawyers were in the ante-room waiting for the boys to be brought up from holding.

Wyatt came in just before the court was in session and sat down next to me. “You brought the spray painters for their arraignment?”

“Yep. They’re here and their parents are sitting up there closer to the rail.”

“Good,” said Wyatt. “I might get a comment from the parents.”

“Pretty hostile,” I said. “Extremely pissed at their kids at the moment. You’d better watch yourself.”

Several cases were called before Todd and Darryl. Travis listened and seemed interested in the charges against the other juvie boys. Whoever they were, they hadn’t gone through our office, but this might have been the only juvie session available, and they’d been sent over from a neighboring county.

“Wonder what those boys have been up to.” I said.

“Some of the charges sounded vague,” said Travis. “I might have Molly pull up their jackets when we get back to the office.”

After Todd and Darryl had their turn and were released on their own recognizance into their parents’ custody, we went back to the office.

When we got there, Molly told us that Ted and Tammy had taken Max and Sarge and gone to talk to Mrs. Drapeau. She had called asking if the dogs were coming to find her son.

“We’ll catch up,” said Travis. “Forward any calls,” he hollered to Billy.

“Copy that.” Still an edge to Billy’s voice.

What the fuck are they pissed about?

Drapeau Residence. Valier.

Tammy’s squad was parked in the driveway and she and Ted were inside with Mrs. Drapeau. I tapped on the door, and she came to let us in.

“Carl didn’t come home again last night,” said Mrs. Drapeau. “I hope no harm came to him.”

“Does he have a weapon with him, ma’am?” asked Travis. “Knife or gun?”

“I don’t think so, Sheriff.”

Tammy handed me items of clothing for Max and Sarge, and I let them sniff the T-shirts and carry them around for a few minutes.

“What if he’s not alive when you find him, Sheriff? Then what am I going to do with no Carl?”

“Let’s not think about that yet, ma’am. For now, we’ll just consider himlostuntil we prove otherwise. Okay?”

“Okay.” She wiped her eyes with a wad of tissues.

“You make yourself a cup of coffee and try to relax,” said Travis. “It might take several hours for the dogs to find Carl if he’s wandered a long way from home.”

“Okay, thanks, Sheriff. I’ll try not to be a crybaby.”

Travis smiled at her. “Attagirl.”

We left the house and the logical place to start was the hundreds of acres of bush next to the house. I held Sarge’s leash and Travis had hold of Max, and we set off in different directions.

Tammy ran alongside me, and Ted followed Travis. We’d been dodging branches and ducking through thick underbrush for over half an hour when Sarge suddenly changed direction and almost jerked me off my feet.

I turned so fast Tammy ran right into me and we both broke out laughing. “Sarge wants to go this way instead,” I hollered.

Following the new direction, Sarge picked up speed and I was about winded when he stopped dead and sat down at the bottom of a tree. Paw in the air waiting for his treat.

I reached into my pocket for a biscuit while I glanced around for any sign of Carl. Didn’t see him. No sign of anybody.

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