Page 58 of Midnight Ride

“I’ll do that, Billy. Thanks for the call.”

Travis was on Billy’s phone next. “Yeah, boss.”

“You still in Cut Bank, Billy?”

“Leaving the Tuckers’ place now.”

“Good. Meet Ted at the hospital. He and the dogs found Alison Oliver and he’s bringing her in. Bear got her. Make sure she’s in secure custody wherever they put her.”

“I’ll drive over there right away.”

“Did Linda ID the Arkansas boys?”

“No. Too young. She gave me a description and a lead. I already talked to Molly and told her to let the Arkansas boys go after they ate lunch on us.”

“Okay. When you get back to the shop, work on the new lead.”

“Copy that, boss.”

Cut Bank Hospital.

Billy arrived at the hospital and found Ted after Alison Oliver had been taken to surgery. He didn’t get to see how bad she looked.

“Barely breathing,” said Ted. “I can’t see her having a chance in hell of pulling through.”

“Was the damage that bad?” asked Billy.

“Tore her left arm off at the shoulder.” Ted grimaced. “Side of her face missing. Umm…I didn’t notice if both of her legs were still attached.”

“It’s a wonder she hadn’t bled out by the time you found her.”

Ted shook his head. “First glance, I was sure she was dead.”

“Where are the feds?” asked Billy. “I thought they were with you.”

“They wouldn’t come with me. Said to come back and pick them up in an hour.”

“We’re not a fuckin taxi service,” snapped Billy.

“I said we were spread thin,” said Ted.

“Cruise around that way on your way back to the station. Bring them in. We have both killers. The feds can piss off and go back to Helena.”

“Yeah, I vote for that.”

Sunburst Acres.

As soon as the boys got to the run, Travis drove to the address he had for Jimmy Newlands and Jack was right about the big rig. A Peterbilt cab was parked in the driveway ahead of a red pickup.

On the drive up to Sunburst, Travis told the boys what he knew so far.

“Any witness could help us,” said Harlan.

“Hoping for something,” said Travis.

With the boys standing beside him, Travis knocked on the door and a guy in his early thirties opened it. Unshaven. Looked like he hadn’t been out of bed long. “You Jimmy Newlands?”

“Yeah. What do you want with me, Sheriff?”

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