Page 112 of The Texas Sterling Collection
The dispatcher answered. “Sheriff’s office.”
“Wyl Sterling here. Let me speak with Jack, please.”
“One moment, Mr. Sterling.”
The call rang through. “Jack Johnson.”
“Jack. Wyl. How are you, man?” Wyl toyed with the notepad beside the phone.
“Doing fine, Wyl. What’s up?”
“Vandalism here at the ranch.”
“What kind of vandalism?” Jack asked.
“While Rod and I spent a few days in the Hill Country, I had a new security gate installed as a surprise for Rod. The gate is framed on either side by four-foot limestone walls. My goal was safety, prompted by the rock through the living room window and the barn fire. When we returned today, Rod’s surprise included spray-painted slurs on the new stone walls.” Wyl gazed at Rod and winked.
“Did anyone see anything?” Jack asked.
“We were gone. I didn’t talk to Felipe or the ranch hands, but we don’t know of any witnesses. The spelling is childlike and similar to Shifty Anderson’s threat the day we fired him. Can you and your team investigate?”
“This might be what we need to nab Shifty for the barn fire,” Jack said. “We didn’t come up with any evidence to tie him to the arson, but if we can nab him on this, maybe he’ll confess to the other.”
Wyl mouthedI love youto Rod while he listened to Jack’s response. “Great. If you can check the damage today, I’ll arrange with Lefty Snowdon to sandblast the words from the entrance tomorrow.”
“I’ll send a couple of deputies. Can they get in to talk to you and Rod if needed?”
“We’ll leave the gate open. Thanks, Jack.”
Wyl hung up and joined Rod at the breakfast bar. “It’s good to have powerful friends. Jack will send a couple of deputies to inspect the gate and possibly speak with Felipe and the hands, or with us. He’s also going to check into Shifty. Meanwhile, I’ll call Lefty Snowdon and see if he can send someone out tomorrow to do the sandblasting.”
“I heard you mention Lefty Snowdon. Who is he?”
“Snowdon Construction. One of the oldest companies in Blackfield. Lefty and my dad played golf together, and the Snowdons and my folks played cards regularly. His son, Stewy, and I were best friends through high school. I told you about Stewy, remember?”
“Was Stewy a secret school crush? You never mentioned a high school boyfriend.” Rod nudged Wyl.
“He wasn’t my boyfriend. We played on the football team. Stewy was the quarterback, and I was left tackle. The two of us scored a lot of points for Blackfield High. Stewy received a football scholarship to the University of Texas after we graduated. I opted to tour the country instead.”
“Stewy? Sounds like a kid in a 1950s television show rerun.”
“Short for Stewart. He always considered Stewart a surname, not a given name.”
“You never mentioned Stewy. Did you guys stay best friends after high school?” Rod said.
Wyl shook his head. “I spent a year exploring the States. Cell phones didn’t exist back then, and email was a relatively new technology. I was never much for writing letters, and he wasn’t either. We lost touch.”
“That’s too bad. I had a couple of friends in high school. Well, not close friends, but pal-around friends. One died a few years back. I have no idea where the other one is. Like you, we lost touch. Do you know where Stewy is or what he is doing?”
Wyl shook his head again. “I wish I did. Stewy dated the same girl all through high school. Everyone figured they would marry one day. They went to UT together. Then Stewy’s girlfriend announced she preferred girls and moved in with one of her girlfriends. I was in the Marines by the time that happened. I learned about it through a letter from Mom. After Stewy graduated from the university, he disappeared. Mom said he sent a letter to his folks asking them not to come after him. Mom told me that every Mother’s Day, Stewy sends his mom a big box of expensive chocolates and two dozen roses. Every Father’s Day, he sends his dad an expensive box of cigars. Thank goodness my parents didn’t expect me to do that. Anyway, the gifts arrive with no return address, except for the retailer's. I heard Stewy went to New York or someplace, but I have nothing concrete to point to where he ended up.”
“Why would he disappear?” Rod raised a questioning eyebrow. “Do you suppose Stewy did something he didn’t want his parents to know?”
“Possibly, but I can’t imagine what that would be. Lefty always boasted about Stewy and would give him anything he wanted. I guess Stewy walked out on the family fortune and everything.”
“Well, wherever he is and whatever he is doing, I hope he has found happiness.”
“I’ll call Lefty about the sandblasting and ask him if he’s heard from Stewy.”
