Page 56 of Midnight Ride

“Don’t know if the feds will help me or not.”

“Ask them, then take her to the hospital. There’s no use sending paramedics to you, the ambulance would have to wait until you got her to the road anyway.”

“Copy that, boss.”

Ted put his cell away and made a face as he picked Alison Oliver up and tossed what was left of her body over his shoulder in a fireman’s carry.

No way he could carry the woman and hang onto the dogs, so he let Max and Sarge run along with their leashes dragging through the pine needles.

Trudging back through the crime scene, Ted said, “Come on. We have to go. I found Mrs. Oliver.”

“Who is she?”

“Our other killer. A bear got her but she’s still breathing. We have to get her to a hospital, or she won’t be breathing much longer.”

The two agents didn’t move. Stared at Ted standing there with a mangled body over his shoulder like he was the second coming.

“Coming or staying here?”

“We haven’t finished with the crime scene.”

“Don’t matter no more, does it? We’ve got the two killers now. Murders are solved and the cases will be wrapped up. Stay if you want. I can’t wait for you. This woman is gonna fuckin die.”

“Could you send someone to pick us up in about an hour?”

“Can’t promise. We’re working four cases and we’re spread thin. You best come with me now.”

Ted kept walking, not caring whether the feds came with him or stayed in the bush until the grizzlies ate them for lunch.

He got to the road and loaded what was left of Alison Oliver into the back of the squad. He glanced toward the trees and no sign of the feds. “Fuck ‘em.”

Dry Run Roadhouse.

Travis was at the front door of the roadhouse at noon when Jack unlocked the door. He pushed his way in, talking as they walked towards the bar. “Did Savanna call you?”

“Yes. And I’ve been trying to think who left right after Tammy ran out. I saw her leave, and then Harlan and Virge ran out after her.”

“Anybody come to mind? I need something, Jack. I’ve got nowhere to start and she’s just…vanished.”

“So sorry, Travis. Savanna is beside herself with worry. She loves those kids.”

“Yeah, she got attached to them when she was living at the ranch.” Travis chuckled. “Nothing lasts forever.”

Jack winced and took a deep breath before he could speak. “I can remember a couple of guys leaving about the same time that Tammy ran out the front door. Local guys and not hunters.”

“Who were they?”

“Not regulars, but they come in sometimes. I think they’re long-distance haulers and they live up in Sunburst Acres.”

“Any names come to mind?” asked Travis. “I know you see hundreds of people every day and it must be hard to remember names.”

“I remember faces and what they drink,” said Jack, “a lot better than I remember names.” He filled a glass with Miller forTravis and set it in front of him on a coaster. “Let me think for a minute.”

Jack closed his eyes, thinking hard while Travis sipped his beer and waited.

“Newlands. They’re brothers.”

Travis let go of the breath he was holding and pulled out his phone. “Any idea of their first names?”

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