Page 54 of Final Ride

“Could I have his cell number, please?”

“Of course. Let me get it for you.”

Carmichael sighed. He was getting nowhere fast on Jane Doe’s case.

Dry Run Roadhouse. Coyote Creek. Montana.

The end of Travis’ last day as Sheriff of Harrison County and me and Virge were anxious to celebrate. We cruised into the roadhouse after work and Jack had a special booth set up for us.

Savanna had decorated it with a sign that said,

SHERIFF FROST’S LAST DAY

We laughed, but Dad thought we were making too much fuss over his last day of work. He wasn’t laughing.

“Did you boys just walk away from your surveillance on Susan Mannington and her crazy brother, Matt Goreman?” asked Travis.

“Yeah, I guess we did,” said Billy. “We didn’t want to miss your party. Nothing happening there and it’s not our case anyway. If they head south to rob Big Bear there’s not a damned thing we can do about it, Travis. The Conrad cops will catch it.”

“Yeah, I guess,” said Travis.

Travis was surprised how many local people showed up for his party. County Supervisor Lyndell Gibson, Doctor Olsen the County Coroner, Gloria Grafton from County Child Services, andthe DA for Harrison County even showed up with a couple of his assistants.

They just kept on coming in through the front door of the roadhouse and congratulating him.

“This is embarrassing,” Travis mumbled. “I’ll get Billy for this.”

Chapter Twelve

Thursday, August 1st.

Wild Stallion Ranch. Montana.

Me and Virge were so hungover from Dad’s party, we didn’t get up on time for chores. I dragged myself out of bed and had the horses fed and the barn almost cleaned up when Virge staggered in.

“Did I hear you puking outside in the dirt?”

“You might’ve,” he mumbled.

Out of sympathy, I tried not to laugh, but it was damned hard not to. What a mess he was. “How much did you drink last night, bro?”

“Same as you.”

I laughed. “Calling bullshit on that one, Virgie.” I pointed at a straw bale. “Sit there and try not to puke on the floor I just swept. I’m almost finished here.”

“Thanks, Harlan.”

“No sweat, little bro. You’d do the same for me.”

“Yeah, I owe you one.”

We headed into the kitchen for breakfast, and Virge was in dire need of black coffee. Billy was on the phone finishing up a call to somebody. “Yes. Thanks for the call.”

“What’s that about, Billy?” asked Travis.

“Six guys robbed Big Bear and got away with three million dollars,” said Billy.

“Wowzer,” said Virge. “Bet you saw those guys at Susie’s house. You and Ted saw five more going in, didn’t you?”

---