Page 10 of River Ride

“So you’re telling me you didn’t see your buddy Wayne, yesterday or the day before?”

“That’s right. If he was up here, I didn’t know about it. I never seen him.”

“Thanks for your time, Brian. We’ll be having another chat real soon.”

“What for? I got nothing else to tell you, Sheriff.”

Travis laughed.

We hopped into the truck, and I asked, “What did you think of that guy, Dad?”

“Liar and not a good one.”

“I thought he was lying too,” said Virge. Virge was our resident expert on liars or thought he was.

Marshall Residence. Black Eagle Pass.

Terry Marshall’s wife opened the door at our next stop. Small girl in her thirties with a couple of toddlers underfoot.

“Afternoon, Mrs. Marshall.” Travis touched his hat. “Terry here?”

“Terry’s at work, Sheriff. He works at the Cut Bank Mill.”

“Okay, thanks. We’ll take a drive up there and talk to him. You ever met Terry’s buddy, Wayne Treadway, ma’am?”

“Uh huh. I’ve met Wayne a few times.”

“Seen him lately?”

“He was here day before yesterday. Him and Terry had a beer or two.”

“Anybody else with the two of them?”

“Let me think who was here. They were tossing back a few in the garage and I didn’t take a head count or anything, but I think Brian Groveman was here along with Chuck Thatcher.”

“You got an address for Chuck?”

“Not an actual address, but he lives about two miles east of here in a double-wide on five acres. Got a big cinderblock welding shop out back. You can’t miss it.”

“Thanks, ma’am. You’ve been very helpful.”

“Terry isn’t in any trouble, is he?” She picked up the smallest baby and held him.

“Don’t think so. Just need to talk to him about a couple of things. I’ll run up to the mill and we’ll sort it all out.”

“Okay. I don’t want him in trouble.”

We left and went back to the truck.

“Nice lead, Dad. We going to talk to Chuck while we’re close to his place?” I asked.

“Might as well cover him before we drive up to Cut Bank.”

“Might as well.” Virge grinned. “This is getting good.”

Thatcher Residence. Black Eagle Pass.

Two miles along the road we came to the welding shop siting behind the big double-wide trailer.

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