Page 94 of Longest Ride

“Think they’ll go to her house or his?” asked Virge.

“No idea. Guess we’ll find out. Stay far enough behind so Wyatt doesn’t make us.”

“I know how to fuckin drive surveillance bro. Dad taught me.”

Yep. Dad taught both of us.

I pointed. “Watch it,Virge. They ain’t taking Route Two to Cut Bank. Wyatt is turning south.”

Cut Bank Hospital.

Travis sat next to Olivia’s bed, and she never moved the entire time he was there. He asked at the nurses’ station why she wasn’t waking up after such a long time.

“I’m afraid Miss Best has lapsed into a coma, Sheriff. She may come out of it on her own, but the odds are against it. I’m so sorry.”

“Thank you.” Travis choked out the words and left the hospital as quickly as he could.

Olivia was coming to see me and I’m the reason she’s in this hospital.

Milk River Bridge.

“Why is he coming way down here to the river?” asked Virge.

“Don’t know, but we can’t afford to lose him if he’s doing something weird.”

“I won’t lose him,” said Virge. “I’m no fuckin rookie. We gotta solve the murders today and save Dad from spazzing out.”

“I hope we can do that, bro. Honest, I do.”

The Mazda stopped before it got to the bridge and Virgie hung back around the bend so Wyatt couldn’t see us. He rolled forward slowly so we wouldn’t miss anything.

“Holy shit, Virge, he’s taking her out of the car and her wrists and ankles are tied.”

“Fuck, what’s he gonna do with her?”

I lowered my window and could hear Wyatt yelling at Stacey, “You killed Paula, and you killed my baby, you bitch, and now you’re going to die too. You have to pay for ruining my life.”

Virge stood on the gas and roared down the road to the bridge. He parked behind the Mazda and rammed the Jeep intopark.

We jumped out and ran as fast as we could to the bridge but didn’t get there before Wyatt tossed Stacey over the railing into the Milk River.

“Hands on your head, Wyatt,” hollered Virge.

Wyatt laughed at Virgil as he pulled a gun out of his coat pocket. “I’m not letting you two teenage hoodlums take me in,” he shouted.

I ran down the embankment to see where Stacey Croft had disappeared to. There was nothing below the bridge but a strong current swirling the river around and making white water.

Wyatt turned his head to watch what I was doing, and Virgie took his shot.

Bang.

Virge fired and Wyatt Thompson fell forward onto the road. Virgie ran closer as Wyatt rolled over, gushing blood from his chest.

He raised his gun at my brother and Virge hollered, “You’re a dead man, Wyatt. You might as well confess to the other three murders.”

“I rid the county of those three wastrels to free Paula from that asshole Harry Fleming. Paula and I were planning to get married and raise our child together. Stacey killed Paula when she found out she wasn’t included in my future. There you have it.”

Wyatt raised his gun and aimed at Virge.

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