Sabre dialed the pay phone again, hoping someone would pick it up. No luck. She hung up the phone and took a long, hot shower. Then she warmed up her soup in the microwave and sat down to enjoy it. Feeling sufficiently calmed down, she walked down the hall in her pajamas and robe to JP’s room.
Before she could knock, JP opened the door.
“I was just going to your room to see you if you had come back,” JP said.
“Back from where?”
“I was at your room a while ago and you didn’t answer the door. At first I figured you were too mad to let me in, so I came back here. Then I started worrying that you went off somewhere.”
“I must have been in the shower when you knocked. Besides, it’s too cold out there and I don’t have a car.”
“And that would stop you?” JP asked.
“No, not really. But I talked to Bob and he was actually the voice of reason.”
“Really?” JP sounded incredulous.
“Are you going to invite me in, or are you going to make me stand out here in the hallway all night?”
JP stepped back and opened the door wider, making a sweeping motion with his hand. “By all means.” Sabre walked in and sat down on the sofa. “What words of wisdom did Bob have for you?”
“He said he was absolutely sure I am one hundred percent correct, and even though you are very pigheaded, you’re a really smart guy.”
“No, he didn’t.”
“Well, I paraphrased a little.” She wrinkled her nose. “He said I’m too close, you’re diligent, and together we can do better than we can apart.” JP didn’t make any “I told you so” comments or gestures. He just looked at her with understanding, so she continued. “Here’s the deal. I believe in Ron’s innocence and I won’t stop until I’m proven wrong. All I ask is that you keep an open mind. Can you do that?”
“I can and I will as long as you let me look wherever I need to, even if you don’t like the answers.”
“I can live with that.” She smiled. “So, I need to find Ron.”
Both of JP’s hands went up in the air. “What?”
“I need to see him. I need to look in his eyes and see his face when I talk to him. I need to know that he’s okay, and I need to know how much he has changed.” JP shook his head as Sabre continued. “Other than talking to Gina, there’s not really much else we can do here anyway. We’re not going to get any information from the cops. I’m not sure which side Mendoza is on. Detective Poor didn’t seem too happy with him, but I think we’ve learned all we can from him anyway. So, what do you say? Want to meet my brother?”
“Your brother won’t tell us where he is. Why do you think that is?”
“He explained that. He doesn’t want me in more danger and he doesn’t want me to have to lie to anyone if someone comes asking.”
“Okay. How do you propose to find him?”
“I don’t have all that figured out yet, but I thought we could start by finding out where that pay phone is. I’ve called it a couple of times, but no one answers. Do you think the phone company could tell us where it’s located?”
“Maybe, but it’s too late today.”
“I’ll try again. Eventually someone is apt to answer.” Sabre took her phone from her pocket and hit the redial. On the third ring a young man answered, “Dolly’s Whore House.”
“Is this a pay phone?”
“You pay for everything here. Nothing’s free. Which of our fine young men are you looking for? Or would you prefer one of our ladies?” Sabre could hear a couple of other young men laughing in the background.
“I appreciate your joke, but I really need to know where this pay phone is located. Could you tell me what town?”
“We’re in heaven, baby.” And he hung up.
“That was effective,” Sabre said and laid her phone on the coffee table.
“Uh huh,” JP said, as he sat down beside her on the sofa and opened his laptop computer. He started searching for something. About a minute later JP said, “Clancy.”
“Clancy who?”
“Clancy, Montana. That’s where the pay phone is. I just Googled the phone number and it went to this site called The Pay Phone Project. It matches the number with the location.”
Without thinking, Sabre reached over and hugged him. He smelled so good. Clean with a slight scent of pine.
“I’ll give you an hour to quit that,” JP said.
Sabre smiled and let go, feeling awkward because of their relationship. They had been trying to get together for the last two years and very recently had finally agreed to try dating. But they just had their first fight before they ever had their first date and it all seemed out of kilter. “Thank you for finding the location of the phone booth,” she said. “How about we go see Gina tomorrow and then leave?”
“But we only know what town he’s in, or was in when he called the first couple of times. He may not even be there now.”
“We’ll figure it out.” Sabre stood up. “I’m going to get some sleep. I’ll see you in the morning.”
JP walked her to the door. “Goodnight,” he said. He didn’t try to kiss her. She wasn’t entirely sure she wanted him to, but she still wondered why he didn’t.
Chapter 19
Tuper finished his lunch of canned beans and Pillsbury buttermilk biscuits that Ron had prepared for him. “Good groceries,” he said.
“Thanks. I’ve had to learn to cook the last few years, but I kind of enjoy it. It’s the least I can do since you’re putting me up.”
“It’s appreciated,” Tuper said, as he stood up and put his coat on over his leather vest.
“You going out in this weather?”
“Oh, this ain’t so bad. Seen a lot worse. Gotta pick up my ‘nut check,’ and then I’ll stop and check out the poker tables at the VFW in East Helena while I’m there.”
“Your ‘nut check’?” Ron asked.
“The government thinks I’m nuts so they give me a little money each month. Maybe they’re right.” He put on his cowboy hat, which Ron was pretty sure was the same one he had ten years ago, bobbed his head at Ron, and said, “If the storm gets too bad, I’ll stay down the hill.” He nodded his head toward his rifle that leaned against the wall at the end of his bed. “If you go out to make a phone call, you best take that with you,” he said in his usual soft, even-toned voice. “It’s loaded.”
Before Ron could respond, Tuper was out the door with Ringo following closely behind.
Ron needed to call Sabre, but he wasn’t taking that gun with him. People died when he touched guns. He shuddered at the thought.
He bundled up and stepped outside with his phone in his pocket ready to make his way up the hill to the clearing in the falling snow. Large snowflakes descended on him from an invisible sky, falling harder and faster with every step. About ten feet away from the cabin he lost his shelter from the wind, which felt like it was cutting right through him. He couldn’t see where to go. Not only had his path been covered but the trees had disappeared into a cloud of white. He turned back. Sabre would have to wait until tomorrow.
Back inside, he sat down at the table with a fresh cup of hot chocolate and a Sudoku puzzle. The cabin creaked as the howling wind pounded against its walls. Ron was not confident that the cabin would withstand the storm. He thought he knew how it felt to be the little pig in the house of straw with the wolf huffing and puffing and trying to blow the house down.
Ron tried to complete his puzzle, but his mind wandered to what was going on in the rest of the world. He didn’t like that Sabre was in Hayden. He wondered if he had done the right thing in hiring that investigator. Perhaps Sabre wouldn’t have gone there if he hadn’t. But he knew better. She would be looking into it on her own, which would be worse. Maybe I shouldn’t have called her at all. I’ll never forgive myself if something happens to her—or to Gina. He wanted to kick himself for getting involved with Gina. He had gone seven years without any serious entanglements, but she was irresis
tible and very persistent. He missed her.
He looked up from the table in the tiny room and the rifle stared at him from the corner. Guilt swept over him and he wondered if he’d ever be able to make it through a day without thinking about that day. The image never seemed to fade. It was as clear in his mind as it was twenty years ago.
Twelve-year-old Ron had spent the night with his best friend, Jarod. They woke up to a beautiful spring day and decided they wanted to go fishing. The pond was only a couple of miles away and a short bike ride. When they asked Jarod’s mother to take them, she said she had been called into work and they’d have to stay home. In the end, his over-protective, single mother let Jarod go fishing with Ron for the first time without adult supervision. It took some convincing, but Jarod finally got through to her, arguing that he was nearly thirteen, that Ron was twelve now, his buddy Hunter was going too, and that they were all good kids. She reluctantly gave in, but she did point out that he still had eight months before he was thirteen and that didn’t quite add up to “nearly.” She gave him detailed instructions on what they could and could not do.
They left Jarod’s house, picked up a fishing pole at Ron’s, and then went to Hunter’s house. Hunter’s parents were both at work and his older sister was across the street at her friend’s house. “Come see my new pellet gun that my father gave me for my birthday,” Hunter said, as he hurried to his room. The other boys followed. Jarod was the last to arrive and he was still by the door when Hunter climbed up on the top bunk bed and picked up the gun that had been lying there.
“Wow, that’s beautiful,” Ron exclaimed.
When Hunter handed the rifle down to Ron, he bumped the side of the bed and the gun fell. Ron caught it, but when he grabbed for the gun it went off. He heard a yelp from Jarod. Jarod’s mouth fell open and his eyes widened with shock. His freckled face turned pallid.
Ron dropped the gun and ran to Jarod’s side, yelling his name as he started to fall. Ron tried to catch him, but Jarod was too heavy and slithered down the doorframe to the floor. Blood was seeping through his shirt on his chest.
Ron looked around the room trying to figure out what to do. The whole room was spinning. He could see Hunter with an incredulous stare and his hand clasped over his mouth. Ron jumped up and ran to the phone and called 9-1-1. Then he threw himself on the floor and wrapped his body around Jarod’s. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry,” he repeated over and over. He couldn’t remember hearing the sirens, but before long men in uniforms were running through the house. A paramedic picked Ron up and set him aside. Ron had no recollection of what happened after that until a policewoman took him aside and talked to him.
“Is Jarod going to be okay?” Ron choked the words out.
“I’m afraid not,” she said.
Ron felt his body convulsing. He wanted to run, but he couldn’t move. And then he threw up all over the policewoman’s shoes.
Ron felt that same sick feeling in the pit of his stomach whenever he thought about what happened. He had hated guns all his life, even though he knew it wasn’t the gun’s fault. He finally came to realize that it was not a hatred of guns; it was fear that gnawed at him—fear of what might happen if he handled one.
He stood up, picked up his hot chocolate, and moved to a chair near the fire where he would have his back to the rifle standing boldly in the corner. He opened the oven door, propped up his feet, and decided he would get Tuper to go with him to the clearing tomorrow, or if the storm let up he would drive down the mountain into Clancy and make the call.
Chapter 20
Sabre and JP packed up the car and checked out of the hotel just after eleven. In hopes of finding Gina, they drove to El Zapato, the Mexican restaurant.
“I’m thinking you should talk to Gina instead of me,” JP said.
Sabre looked up, her eyebrows furrowed. “Really? Why?”
“Because it doesn’t appear that anyone knows I’m here and if they question Gina, she won’t be able to tell them about me because she doesn’t know anything. I’m just a truck driver from Texas. Hopefully she won’t connect the two of us.”
JP parked on the opposite side of the restaurant away from Gina’s work. “Go get ‘em, kid,” he said. “And bring me one of those ‘special’ burritos for the road.”
Sabre went inside, ordered two burritos to go, and sat down. She had been waiting only about five minutes when she saw Gina exit her workplace and walk across the parking lot. When she entered the restaurant, she looked around. Sabre wondered if she was looking for JP. After Gina took a seat, Sabre approached her and pointed to the seat across from her. “Do you mind?” Sabre asked.
“No, go ahead.”
Sabre still hadn’t decided just what she was going to say or how to start, but when she stretched out her hand to Gina, the words just came out. “I’m R…, er, Buck Crouch’s sister.”
Gina did a double take with her head, looking her over carefully. Sabre thought she was being a little dramatic, but then she said, “Buck doesn’t have a sister.”
“It’s a long story,” Sabre said. “But he wants you to know that he’s okay. He’s sorry he had to leave. He wanted you to know that he did not leave because of you. In fact, he said to tell you that he loves you.”
“He said what?” Her voice cracked a little in disbelief.
“He loves you.”
“Really?”
“Really.”
“Where is he?” Gina asked in a more businesslike tone.
“I don’t know, but I know he is safe.”
“Safe from what?”
Sabre was certain that Gina must’ve been questioned by the police by now. “Haven’t the cops contacted you?”
“Yes, but….” Gina hesitated. “They said he was wanted for a shooting in Hayden on Friday night. Did he shoot someone?”
“No,” Sabre said emphatically. Then more softly, “He didn’t shoot anyone, but someone is after him.”
“Who?”
“To tell you the truth, I don’t know. I have a pretty good idea why they are doing it, but that’s all I can tell you. Just know that Buck hasn’t done anything wrong.” Sabre stood up. “I hate to dump this on you and run, but I have to go.”
“Please tell me where he is.”
“I honestly don’t know.”
“Give me a phone number or something so I can reach him. Please,” she pleaded, looking like she was fighting back the tears.
“I’m sorry. I hope I didn’t make things worse for you,” Sabre said and left.
Sabre walked around the corner, making sure she was out of Gina’s sight before she got into the car.
“Everything go okay?” JP asked.
“Best it could,” Sabre said, as she fastened her seat belt.
JP backed out of the parking spot, but just as he did a white Mustang was backing up from the spot behind him. JP saw it coming and honked, but the car didn’t stop. JP instinctively flung his right arm out in front of Sabre, but they both jolted forward with the impact. The meeting of the bumpers clanked. There was a slight reverberation, and then everything stood still.
“Are you okay?” JP asked.
“Yes, I’m fine. Just a little shaken up.”
JP stepped out of the car and by the time he reached the back bumper, a young man was already there, kneeling down and examining the area where the bumpers collided. He stood up. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t see you pulling out.” He slid his hand across the top of his head front to back. “My dad’s going to kill me.”
JP leaned down and assessed the damage. “It’s not that bad.”
The young man paced back and forth. “Geez! How am I going to explain another one? He’ll never let me drive his car again.”
“Your car only has minor scratches. You can get that buffed out. Why don’t you just go?”
“Don’t we need to exchange information?”
“I’m okay with it if you are,” JP said. “I’m kind of in a hurry, and I can get this fixed.�
�
“Are you sure, man?” He reached for his wallet. “I have my license right here and the insurance card is in the car. Don’t you have to turn it in?”
“No, it’s alright. Just go.”
“Thanks, man. I really appreciate it.” He hurried around the side of his car, hopped in, and drove away.
“How bad is it?” Sabre asked when JP sat down again.
“Not nearly as bad as it felt.”
***
The sun glistened on the soft blanket of white snow on the sides of I-90 as JP and Sabre left Coeur d’Alene and drove east toward Helena and Clancy, Montana.
“I checked the weather before we left,” said JP. “There’s a storm in the mountains near Clancy and we’ll probably see some heavy snowfall before we get there. And we have to go through two passes—the Fourth of July and Lookout—which could be a problem. With luck the trip should take about five hours or so.”
“We’ll stop if we have to,” Sabre said, as she checked the time. “Look,” she said, pointing to a digitally lit sign above the highway that read Chains Required. “There’s a turn-off just ahead. Do you know how to put them on?”
JP grinned as he pulled over. “I think I can handle it, darlin’.”
“Need some help?”
“No, you just stay in the car and keep warm.”
About two minutes later Sabre got out of the car and walked around to see what JP was doing. He shook his head.
“I’ve never seen this done before,” Sabre said. “I'm curious.”
“You’re like a mule halfway home after plowin’ day.”
Sabre smiled and shrugged. “Sure I can’t help?”
“No, I’m good.”
“How’d a Texas-born, San Diego guy learn to do that?”
“I drove truck for a while when I was young. Spent many an hour in the snow.”
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