Page 11 of Rocky Ride

“I’m not sure what you’re talking about, Sheriff. I’ve never committed any crimes.”

“You and your club girls have been picketing Krystal’s Palace and don’t bother to deny it. We have pictures taken by Mister Daniels of you there with your signs, and plenty of local people will swear in court that you and your friends are out front all the time.”

“Yes,” said Mrs. Pitts. “We have protested there a couple of times.”

“The last time you were there, your group set fire to the dumpster on strip club property and the fire caught onto the back of the building. The fire department was called to extinguish the blaze and we have a copy of their report clearly stating that it was arson. You and your group are arsonists. That’s a crime and Mrs. Daniels has filed charges against all six of you.”

“I didn’t do it,” said Glenna. “I didn’t want to do it. When I went to the strip club with the other girls, I had no idea they planned to do that.”

“Whose plan was it?” I asked.

“I forget,” said Glenna. She fidgeted with her hands in her lap and didn’t look up. Not giving up the instigator.

Ted pressed her. “Who climbed up and lit the garbage on fire, Mrs. Pitts?”

“I don’t remember.”

Stick to your story. Attagirl.

Ted stood up and pulled his cuffs off his utility belt. “You’re under arrest for conspiracy to commit arson, Glenna Pitts. Please, stand up.”

Ted turned my way, “Cuff Mrs. Pitts, Harlan.”

Ted handed me the cuffs and the woman shook her head, tears in her eyes like she was gonna cry. “You don’t have to put handcuffs on me. I’m not a criminal.”

“I guess you just became one,” said Ted. “You broke the law, and the owner of the club wants justice.”

“I want justice too,” Glenna raised her voice. “I want that club out of Ethridge so my husband will stop going there. That club is ruining our marriage.”

“Your trouble is with your husband, ma’am. There are dozens of men in Ethridge and in Harrison County who have never set foot in the strip club. You should be picketing your hubby.”

Glenna had nothing to say to that. She gave Ted the stink-eye and stuck her chin out.

I secured her in the back of the squad and Ted drove us to the next name on our list. Glenna Pitts was first in and last out. She’d have the longest wait.

Paige Residence. Ethridge.

Billy and Virge interviewed Brenda Paige, the first name on their list. She lived in a drab gray bungalow two blocks from the main street.

Nervous and teary-eyed, Brenda was frightened of Billy and Virge being at her house.

“My husband can’t find out you deputies were here. He’s going to be angry if he finds out I belong to the group. I’m not allowed to belong to any groups. Promise me you won’t tell him.”

“Can’t promise he won’t find out, ma’am,” said Billy. “You and your friends have committed a crime and there will be a court case. Nothing I can do to hide that.”

“All we did was toss a few matches into the dumpster to scare Krystal and make her close her place down. More of a prank than a crime.”

Billy nodded. “You’ll have to come with us to the station, Mrs. Paige.”

“No. I can’t be in jail when Jerry comes home from work. He’ll kill me if I don’t have his dinner ready.”

“Virge, take Mrs. Paige to the squad and make her comfortable in the back seat.”

“Copy that, Sheriff.”

Brenda Paige screamed when Virge took her arm and hustled her out the door and into the Bronco.

He tried his best to cheer her up. “Won’t be so bad, ma’am. Our jail is pretty clean.”

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