Page 30 of Rocky Ride

“Do you think he’ll remember you when you come back?” asked Travis.

“Oh, sure. Bears have great memories.”

“I never heard that, Sunday. You sure?”

She gave Travis a heave-ho into the passenger seat, and he groaned. “There you go, Dale. You’re all set.”

He turned his head to take a last look at the cabin and he was pretty much okay.

I’m over the worst of it.

Sheriff’s Office. Coyote Creek.

Our job for the day was interviewing Sandra Ellington’s three closest friends to see what they knew about the victim’s life and her death.

Molly had called each of them and set up appointments for us to interview them at specific times during the day when they’d be home waiting for us.

“Did you know Sandra Ellington, Molly?” asked Billy.

“Not personally, but Mister Ellington’s law office is just down the street.” She handed me a page from her notepad. “I wrote the addresses down with the times you’re expected to be at each of the homes.”

“Thanks, Molly,” said Billy. “I’m hoping our victim confided in one of her friends and we’ll get a lead. Someplace solid we can start the investigation.”

“The husband has no real alibi,” said Molly. “He might not have left the house at all.”

Billy smiled. “I thought of that, but I believed his story about forgetting his briefcase.”

“I heard lawyers were the best liars of all,” said Virge.

“I’ll keep that in mind, Virgie,” said Billy. “You liking the hubby for it?”

Virge shrugged. “If it was him, the knife would be in the house—going with the theory that he never left.”

“True enough,” said Billy. “We might find it when we do our search. Ted and Harlan will start on it this morning while Virge and I talk to the three friends.”

Virge read the names out loud. “Cassie Blake. She lives on that same fancy street as the victim. Petra Reading. Lives in Cut Bank and works at the hospital. And Barb Joliceur. Lives in Shelby and works at the bank over there.”

“I’ve got an account in that bank,” said Billy. “I grew up in Shelby and my parents still live there.”

“You know this Barb girl, boss?”

“Don’t think so.”

Best Western Hotel. Beaumont. Texas.

The night before, Mason arrived after dark at the Texas/Louisiana line with Tammy in his custody. He met Annie in the rest area, and she decided it was too late to start the drive back to the ranch.

Mason had been driving the entire day as well and he was dead beat. He happily agreed.

Annie opted to find a hotel and she invited Mason to have dinner with her and the girls before he turned around and went back to his home in Louisiana.

While they ate a late dinner together, Annie discovered she liked Mason Swift a lot. Smart and street-savvy, Swift was a free-wheeling bounty hunter who knew his way around in the real world. She wished she had more men like him on the squad.

The following morning, Mason joined Annie and the girls for the complimentary breakfast buffet. He had cleaned up nicely and smelled of hotel soap and shampoo.

The room was crowded with travelers, busy and noisy, and Annie couldn’t risk leaving Tammy alone for a minute. She sat with Tammy at a round table in the corner of the room while Lucy and Mason went to the buffet to get food and coffee.

While they sat alone, Annie tried talking to Tammy. “We’re going home today, honey. You love it at the ranch. Remember?”

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