Page 79 of Rough Stock
Kramer’s eyebrows shot up. “I see. Sounds like an all-around unpleasant fellow.”
“I’ll say. Wouldn’t surprise me if he raided Gresham’s trailer after they killed him and took everything that wasn’t nailed down.” It was hard to hold back a chuckle. That little comment would send them to Dale’s trailer, and they’d find JimmyFuller there, who’d sing like a bird when he figured out that the cops had caught up with Max and Bergman. They’d all implicate each other, and she bet not a single one of them mentioned her name. And if they did, if law enforcement came looking for her, would it all be worth it?
Hell yeah. Jensen was safe, and from what they’d been told by the medical personnel, he was dehydrated and banged up, but otherwise, he’d be fine. Nothing else mattered, not her, not the rodeo, nothing. The detective tucked his little notepad into his breast pocket. “Well, MissOwens, thank you for cooperating. If we have any other questions, we’ll let you know.”
As they stood, Shyanna pulled herself up to her full height and looked the man in the eye. “I want this to go on record. It wasmewho found Jensen. It wasmewho wouldn’t giveup. It wasmewho followed every lead available, who scoured the countryside, who wandered down that hillside and brought him back here. You people would’ve let him lie there anddieif I hadn’t kept looking for him. He’s alive because of me, not because of anything?anything?any of you did.”
The stare he gave her was hard and cold. “Duly noted. Thank you again, MissOwens. We’ll be in touch.”
Go to hell, she wanted to yell at his back as he walked away, but she sat down on the little sofa again and took a deep breath. “You okay?” a voice asked.
“Yeah, I’m fine,” she said as Amber handed her a cup of hot coffee from the vending machine in the hallway. “Son of a bitch state police detective. You got out just in time. I called the cops before that jackass showed up.”
SammyJo nodded. “Yep. We did. I’m sure they’re showing up right about now.”
“Yeah, well, I just told them I figured JimmyFuller was in on this and that he probably robbed Dale’s trailer bare after they killed him, so they’ll go check and find Jimmy. If they find out I held a gun on anybody…”
“They were all mistaken,” Amos said from behind the women. “Iwas the one who had a gun, and I have a license for it. All documented. So I’ll swear it was me. You’ll be fine.” He came around the end of the sofa and sat down beside Amber. “By the way, what was in that note?”
Shyanna laughed. “It said, ‘Two drug dealers. The stupid-looking one is a murderer and kidnapper. Ask him about his buddy in the rodeo association.’ I figure that’ll give them good interrogation material.”
The four younger members of the party chuckled. When they stopped, Amber asked, “You been in there yet?”
“They let me see him for a few seconds, then shooed me out. I’m guessing I’ll get to?”
“MissOwens?” a female voice yelled up the hallway.
“That’s my signal! Y’all staying?” she asked.
“We’re all going back to shower and change, I think. You need to do the same,” SammyJo said, nodding her head toward Shyanna.
“Tell ya what, if you get back here after you’ve cleaned up and eaten, you can sit with him while I go. Sound good?”
“I’ll do you one better,” Amber said. “I won’t eat with them. I’ll take you back to clean up, and then I’ll eat dinner with you. Does that sound okay?”
Shyanna could’ve kicked herself when the tears started again. “Thanks. I really appreciate it. I appreciate everything you guys did. You risked your own lives to help us, and I…” She stopped, her voice faltering.
An arm wrapped around her and Amber whispered in her ear, “You’re welcome. For everything. We weren’t going to let anybody do anything to you and Jensen without trying our damnedest to stop it. Right?”
“That’s right,” Amos said. “I’ve known Jensen a few years now on the circuit. He’s a great guy, and he sure as hell didn’t deserve any of that.”
“You’ve got friends, Shy,” SammyJo said, leaning down and looking up into Shyanna’s face. “You’re not alone anymore.”
You’re not alone anymore. ShyannaOwens dropped her head and let the tears fall on their hands?hers, topped by Amber’s, then Amos’s, followed by SammyJo’s and even Gretchen’s. They had friends. The circuit reallywasfamily. They were living proof.
“They’re gonna let me go home today,” Jensen said when Shyanna stepped into the room with the bag from the fast food place. He’d been there two days and that was long enough. “Oh, god, give me that stuff. Their food is terrible here.”
“Typical hospital food,” she said with a laugh and handed him the bag.
He tore it open, pulled out a wrapped breakfast sandwich, and almost ate it paper and all. “Oh, god, this is good,” he moaned as he ate. “By the way, the cops came by here. They found Max and that Bergman guy surrounded by a bunch of drugs, and there was a note about Max dumping me on the side of the highway. It was signed ‘a concerned citizen.’” He’d gotten down two bites when there was a knock on the door, and theyboth looked up to see a somewhat-familiar-looking face. “Yeah? Can we help you?” Jensen asked.
“Do you recognize me?” the man asked with a grin.
“Yeah, but I can’t figure out?”
“I’m WaltCoopman. Chair of the board of the USPCA. I wanted to come by to talk to you, Mr.Strader.”
Jensen sat up as straight as the bed would allow. “Yes, sir. What can I do for you?”
