Page 93 of Longest Ride

“What can we do to help Dad?” asked Virgil. “We’ve got to get rid of the stress.”

“Solve these fuckin murders and get that out of the way.”

“Okay. We’ll do that today. I’m sick of the fuckin surveillance anyway.”

I gave my brother a fist bump. I loved Virge and was happy I had him to talk to. I used to talk to Tammy about things that bothered me, but she was goners. All I had left was Virgie.

We went into the kitchen for breakfast and Dad was talking to Annie about the bounty hunter. He seemed cheered up a lot. He ended the call and told us the guy’s name.

“Annie hired a guy named Mason Swift to find Tammy and he’s supposed to be a crackerjack at bayou retrievals.”

“Hope that’s true,” said Billy.

“We all hope it’s true,” said Travis. “Eat your breakfast boys, we’ve got a busy day at the station.”

Sheriff’s Office. Coyote Creek.

Molly had just given the prisoners their breakfast when we got to the station. They’d have to eat fast to get to the courthouse on time. Both of them had legal representation so they would probably make bail and they’d be rid of them.

Travis wasn’t ready to lose Wyatt Thompson quite yet, but after he was released on bail he intended to watch him twenty-four seven. After being locked up over the weekend, Wyatt was tense and ready to snap. Travis would have people on him when he did.

As soon as the prisoners finished their last swallow of coffee, Virge, Harlan and Ted got Big Dave Turcotte and Wyatt Thompson out of their cells and secured them in the back of the squad for their trip to the courthouse.

Before they left Travis said, “You boys are on Wyatt when he’s released. He might run straight to Stacey Croft, and even if he doesn’t, I need to know what he’s doing. I don’t trust him for a second.”

Harrison County Courthouse.

After turning both suspects over to the court bailiffs, Travis and Billy went inside. He left the boys in the parking lot ready to follow Wyatt Thompson.

It was a while before the two cases were called. Turcotte was first and he stood before the judge with Tyrone Shelton beside him.

The outcome was expected, and Dave Turcotte made bail on his felony assault charge with no fuss. The bailiff accompanied him to the bond office, and he had no trouble coming up with the money he needed to secure his freedom. One down.

One case in between and then it was Wyatt Thompson’s turn. He was escorted into the courtroom with Kelly Newman at his side. Wyatt pleadednot guilty,and the judge granted him bail on his suspicion of murder charges. We had no evidence to support the charges, and the judge could do nothing else.

One of Dave Turcotte’s hired hands came to pick him up, and Billy and Travis stood in the parking lot and waited to see who would pick Wyatt up.

Stacey Croft pulled into the parking lot driving Wyatt’s red Mazda. He strode up to his car, opened the driver’s door and told her to get into the passenger seat. Weird, but things about Wyatt were getting weirder all the time.

Travis gave the nod to Harlan, and he pulled out of the parking lot and followed the Mazda.

Me and Virge sat in the parking lot listening to the radio and smoking until we saw Dad come out, and then Big Dave. One of Dave’s guys picked him up and he was gone.

Wyatt’s red Mazda pulled in and Stacey Croft was driving. “There she is,” said Virge. “She came to pick him up in his car.”

“Wonder why she ain’t driving her own car.”

Virge shrugged and kept his eye on Stacey.

She stopped next to Wyatt, and he opened the driver’s door. She got out and walked around to the other side and got back in.

“He wants to drive,” said Virge.

“Uh huh. Neither one of them are smiling. Wyatt’s face is like a fuckin storm cloud.”

“Maybe they’re gonna have a huge fight over Wyatt being in jail,” said Virge.

“You could be right.”

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