Page 65 of Midnight Ride

Mainliner Diner. Coyote Creek.

Pressed for time at lunch, Billy gave Wyatt Thompson a quick story about the murderer confessing to the crimes, and he also gave a brief version of the murderer’s accomplice running off into the woods and being killed by a grizzly bear and dying in surgery. “I can’t give you names.”

“A fantastic story, Billy, even without names. Appreciate you taking the time to meet me.”

“I have to get back to the station.”

“Where’s Travis?”

“Up north working on a case,” said Billy. “He’ll be gone overnight.”

“How far north is he? He must be in Canada if he’s staying the night.”

Billy didn’t comment and Wyatt pressed him a little more. “The boys are with Travis?”

“Yes, they are.”

“Tammy too?”

“No. Tammy’s at home. She has the flu.”

Lie.

“Sorry to hear that.”

Sheriff’s Office. Coyote Creek.

Billy returned to the office after his lunch meeting with Wyatt and he was just in time to pick up a call from the Billings Homicide Chief.

“Sheriff Johnson, this is Brent Pierce, Homicide Chief here in Billings.”

“Yes, sir. Were you able to arrest my rapist?”

“No, sir. We were too late. He hadn’t been dead too long when we arrived. Maybe a couple of hours according to the coroner.”

“Aw, damn it. I wanted that guy to go to trial up here. He assaulted one of our female game wardens. Raped her and strung her up in a tree and left her to die.”

“Jesus. I can see why you wanted him bad. But no chance of that now. He was beaten to death, had his penis hacked off and stuffed in his mouth. That’s how we found him.”

“Could you send me copies of your reports, Chief Pierce? I’d like to have them on file to close my case against Clarkson.”

“I’ll make sure you get them, Sheriff.”

Billy pushed back in his chair to think about it, and he didn’t have to think too hard. He figured Jim Tucker had enough time. He found out Earl’s address from Linda and then drove down to Billings and did the deed.

“Shit. I wish he hadn’t done that.”

Taber. Alberta. Canada.

“Black Ram is there,” said Virgil. “He’s home. Tammy must be in there. Let’s go get her.” Virge had his hand on the door handle ready to jump out.

“Hang on, Virge. We’d better cover both exits,” said Travis. “You boys take the back and come in when you hear me bust down the front door. They run for it, you drop them. Leg shots only. I want these fuckers in my jail.”

Harlan nodded. “Got it, Dad.”

The boys ran around the side of the trailer and Travis strode up to the front door. He sucked in oxygen, reared back, and planted his Harley boot just below the lock.

Crash.

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