Chapter Nineteen

Monday, October 7th.

Wild Stallion Ranch.

While we were in the barn doing chores, I talked to Virge about Dad. He was worried and I was too after what Billy told us.

"Do you think Dad is going to lose it if Olivia dies?" Virge leaned on his shovel and stared at me waiting to hear my answer.

"Yeah, I do. We lost Tammy and he'll never be over that. If Olivia dies, he'll blame himself and he won't be able to live with it."

"Are you watching to make sure he takes his pills?" asked Virgil.

"I watch him."

"What can we do to help Dad?" asked Virgil. "We've got to get rid of the stress."

"Solve these fuckin murders and get that out of the way."

"Okay. We'll do that today. I'm sick of the fuckin surveillance anyway."

I gave my brother a fist bump. I loved Virge and was happy I had him to talk to. I used to talk to Tammy about things that bothered me, but she was goners. All I had left was Virgie.

We went into the kitchen for breakfast and Dad was talking to Annie about the bounty hunter. He seemed cheered up a lot. He ended the call and told us the guy's name.

"Annie hired a guy named Mason Swift to find Tammy and he's supposed to be a crackerjack at bayou retrievals."

"Hope that's true," said Billy.

"We all hope it's true," said Travis. "Eat your breakfast boys, we've got a busy day at the station."

Sheriff's Office. Coyote Creek.

Molly had just given the prisoners their breakfast when we got to the station. They'd have to eat fast to get to the courthouse on time. Both of them had legal representation so they would probably make bail and they'd be rid of them.

Travis wasn't ready to lose Wyatt Thompson quite yet, but after he was released on bail he intended to watch him twenty-four seven. After being locked up over the weekend, Wyatt was tense and ready to snap. Travis would have people on him when he did.

As soon as the prisoners finished their last swallow of coffee, Virge, Harlan and Ted got Big Dave Turcotte and Wyatt Thompson out of their cells and secured them in the back of the squad for their trip to the courthouse.

Before they left Travis said, "You boys are on Wyatt when he's released. He might run straight to Stacey Croft, and even if he doesn't, I need to know what he's doing. I don't trust him for a second."

Harrison County Courthouse.

After turning both suspects over to the court bailiffs, Travis and Billy went inside. He left the boys in the parking lot ready to follow Wyatt Thompson.

It was a while before the two cases were called. Turcotte was first and he stood before the judge with Tyrone Shelton beside him.

The outcome was expected, and Dave Turcotte made bail on his felony assault charge with no fuss. The bailiff accompanied him to the bond office, and he had no trouble coming up with the money he needed to secure his freedom. One down.

One case in between and then it was Wyatt Thompson's turn. He was escorted into the courtroom with Kelly Newman at his side. Wyatt pleaded not guilty, and the judge granted him bail on his suspicion of murder charges. We had no evidence to support the charges, and the judge could do nothing else.

One of Dave Turcotte's hired hands came to pick him up, and Billy and Travis stood in the parking lot and waited to see who would pick Wyatt up.

Stacey Croft pulled into the parking lot driving Wyatt's red Mazda. He strode up to his car, opened the driver's door and told her to get into the passenger seat. Weird, but things about Wyatt were getting weirder all the time.

Travis gave the nod to Harlan, and he pulled out of the parking lot and followed the Mazda.

Me and Virge sat in the parking lot listening to the radio and smoking until we saw Dad come out, and then Big Dave. One of Dave's guys picked him up and he was gone.

Wyatt's red Mazda pulled in and Stacey Croft was driving. "There she is," said Virge. "She came to pick him up in his car."

"Wonder why she ain't driving her own car."

Virge shrugged and kept his eye on Stacey.

She stopped next to Wyatt, and he opened the driver's door. She got out and walked around to the other side and got back in.

"He wants to drive," said Virge.

"Uh huh. Neither one of them are smiling. Wyatt's face is like a fuckin storm cloud."

"Maybe they're gonna have a huge fight over Wyatt being in jail," said Virge.

"You could be right."

"Think they'll go to her house or his?" asked Virge.

"No idea. Guess we'll find out. Stay far enough behind so Wyatt doesn't make us."

"I know how to fuckin drive surveillance bro. Dad taught me."

Yep. Dad taught both of us.

I pointed. "Watch it,Virge. They ain't taking Route Two to Cut Bank. Wyatt is turning south."

Cut Bank Hospital.

Travis sat next to Olivia's bed, and she never moved the entire time he was there. He asked at the nurses' station why she wasn't waking up after such a long time.

"I'm afraid Miss Best has lapsed into a coma, Sheriff. She may come out of it on her own, but the odds are against it. I'm so sorry."

"Thank you." Travis choked out the words and left the hospital as quickly as he could.

Olivia was coming to see me and I'm the reason she's in this hospital.

Milk River Bridge.

"Why is he coming way down here to the river?" asked Virge.

"Don't know, but we can't afford to lose him if he's doing something weird."

"I won't lose him," said Virge. "I'm no fuckin rookie. We gotta solve the murders today and save Dad from spazzing out."

"I hope we can do that, bro. Honest, I do."

The Mazda stopped before it got to the bridge and Virgie hung back around the bend so Wyatt couldn't see us. He rolled forward slowly so we wouldn't miss anything.

"Holy shit, Virge, he's taking her out of the car and her wrists and ankles are tied."

"Fuck, what's he gonna do with her?"

I lowered my window and could hear Wyatt yelling at Stacey, "You killed Paula, and you killed my baby, you bitch, and now you're going to die too. You have to pay for ruining my life."

Virge stood on the gas and roared down the road to the bridge. He parked behind the Mazda and rammed the Jeep into park.

We jumped out and ran as fast as we could to the bridge but didn't get there before Wyatt tossed Stacey over the railing into the Milk River.

"Hands on your head, Wyatt," hollered Virge.

Wyatt laughed at Virgil as he pulled a gun out of his coat pocket. "I'm not letting you two teenage hoodlums take me in," he shouted.

I ran down the embankment to see where Stacey Croft had disappeared to. There was nothing below the bridge but a strong current swirling the river around and making white water.

Wyatt turned his head to watch what I was doing, and Virgie took his shot.

Bang.

Virge fired and Wyatt Thompson fell forward onto the road. Virgie ran closer as Wyatt rolled over, gushing blood from his chest.

He raised his gun at my brother and Virge hollered, "You're a dead man, Wyatt. You might as well confess to the other three murders."

"I rid the county of those three wastrels to free Paula from that asshole Harry Fleming. Paula and I were planning to get married and raise our child together. Stacey killed Paula when she found out she wasn't included in my future. There you have it."

Wyatt raised his gun and aimed at Virge.

Bang.

Virgie finished Wyatt off and put him out of his misery.

I stared down at the icy river and there was no hope for Stacey Croft. The current had pulled her under, and she'd be headed for Lake Elwell. That's where we'd find her body in a couple of days.

Virge and I sat in our orange Jeep, called Travis.

We lit up smokes and waited for him and Doc Olsen and Ted to come with his tow truck.

The tow truck arrived first with Dad riding shotgun. Travis took a look at Wyatt lying just where Virge had killed him. He nodded his head, and we hopped out to tell him just how it happened.

"We weren't fast enough to get to Stacey before Wyatt threw her over the railing," I said. "Feel bad about that, but she was a murderer. She killed Paula and her baby out of jealousy."

Virge said, "I got a deathbed confession out of Wyatt, Dad. He said he killed the three in the trailer to free Paul from Harry Flemming. He didn't give a rat's ass about Alex Perkins or Carla Venner. They just happened to be there."

"You and your brother can record all of it when we get back to the station," said Travis. "Give Ted a hand to hook the Mazda up."

"Sure," said Virge.

Doctor Olsen arrived and did his preliminary exam on Wyatt. He was dead all right. Virge made sure of that.

"I guess we'll be short on news for a while in Harrison County," said the doctor without a smile.

Sheriff's Office. Coyote Creek.

Back at the station, Molly had her hands full recording all the stuff we had to tell her on how we solved the four murders.

Virge was on a high because we did it on our own with no help from Travis, Ted or Billy.

"Wonderful job, boys," said Molly. "I guess the two of you will be getting that fifty dollar bonus your father promised to Ted." She laughed.

"We didn't know anything about a bonus," said Virge. "We solved four murders out of the goodness of our hearts."

Travis and Billy both laughed.

"Time to celebrate, boys. Dry Run for beer and ribs."

"I'm for that," said Ted.

Dry Run Roadhouse.

Jack sat at our table, and he wanted to know all about solving the murders and how it all worked out. He gave us a couple of pitchers of beer on the house and we were having a pretty decent time until Dad got the phone call from the hospital.

He said, "I'm going home now, boys. Y'all stay as long as you want. I'll see y'all at the ranch."