Instead, he veered off away from the main parking lot. Took a dirt path down to the banks of the Clark Fork River.
Dawn was still almost an hour and a half away. The world was just a shade above complete darkness.
The only sounds were the crunching of gravel beneath his shoes. Water rushing over rocks in the river bottoms.
Drake walked directly to the bank and stared out. In the summertime, when he wasn't working in Nashville, he and Sage would often float the river.
Strap rubber inner tubes to the top of Sage's car. Drive a few miles outside of town. Float to Drake's truck waiting on the edge of campus.
No cares. The only worry an occasional submerged rock.
Just him and his good friend, alone in nature. Sun streaming down. Warm water carrying them along.
Now, the water flowed dark and ominous. The water level had receded to show whitecaps over every boulder.
Still, it held a kind of simple beauty. The water was just trying to get downriver. If something stood in its way, it went over or around it.
It was a feeling Drake wished applied to more of the world.
Especially the legal world.
Drake put his back to the breeze. Turned perpendicular to the river. Followed it as it flowed towards town.
In no particular hurry, he strolled for over a mile. Made the turn just past Washington-Grizzly Football Stadium. Followed the stadium road back towards his truck.
Found a small Honda Civic tucked in tight beside it.
Drake didn't bother to knock on the window. Ignored his own truck completely. Just lurched open the passenger side door and folded his frame down into it.
If Sage was surprised in the slightest, she didn't show it.
"No Ajax this morning?" she asked.
"I'm guessing he'll be here," Drake said. "I left the house a good while ago."
"Still not sleeping?"
Drake shook his head slightly in the darkness.
The warmth of the car felt good on his skin. He pulled the cap from his head. Ran a hand over his short hair.
"You realize you can't do this every case, right?" Sage said. "That this job will kill you before you reach the age of thirty?"
Drake stared ahead into the darkness. Tried to find the words.
"I was just thinking about you," he said.
"How's that?"
Her tone said she wasn't overly pleased with him ignoring her question, even if her words didn't.
"Was over at the river. Thinking about floating and what not."
Sage smirked. Laid her head against the seat. "Yeah, we didn't get to go any this year."
"That's part of what I was thinking about. Instead of being here, doing things I love, I was back in Nashville. Cooped up in a cubicle. Doing work I hated."
Sage remained silent.
"And it's kind of the same thing now. I think you've known all along that I wasn't entirely sold on this whole legal thing."
"Yeah," Sage whispered. "So what are you thinking?"
"Two-edged sword. On one hand, this stuff is soul crushing. The work I did with the Innocence Project. The stuff with Beth. Dead Peasants.
"On the other, now that I know about these things, how do I turn my back on them? And if I do, who will be there to help?"
Both fell silent for several long moments. Stared out the front windshield.
Above, the sky began to lighten slightly.
Sage reached across the gear shift. Took Drake's hand in hers.
"You'll figure it out. You always do."
Drake made no sign of acknowledgement of the hand. No effort to move it.
Remained transfixed on the world outside.
"I hope so," he said.
The two stayed that way for nearly a full five minutes. Both lost in their own thoughts. A comfortable silence in the air.
It remained there until the oversized muffler of Kade's truck rumbled into the parking lot. A bank of flood lights illuminated the world. Swung a wide path through the parking lot.
Skidded to a stop a row back, facing Drake and Sage.
Two silhouettes were plainly visible in the front seat.
"Looks like we're all here," Sage said.
Drake squeezed her hand once. Released it. Pulled his hat back over his head.
"What's our personal best again?"
"An hour and forty-nine minutes," Sage said. "But remember, that was under optimal conditions."
"All the more impressive when we beat it today," Drake said. Smiled over at her in the darkness.
Together they climbed from the Honda. Met Kade and Ajax in the space between rows.
"Thanks for the pancakes," Kade said. Offered a half salute. "Arguably the greatest hangover food on the planet."
"Did you have to share?" Drake asked.
"Hell no. You know my Sunday morning move. Lay in bed and pretend to sleep until she finally leaves."
"And how'd that work out for you yesterday?" Sage asked. Folded arms. Pointed tone.
"Damn near three," Kade said. No trace of remorse. "And those pancakes were still excellent."
"Should have had them at eight," Ajax said. "Almost good enough to overlook him waking my ass up early yesterday and leaving me behind today."
Drake motioned to Kade. "You still got here just fine. Would you have preferred I woke you up early today too?"
Ajax waved a hand. Shook his head in disgust. Remained silent.
"Alright boys," Sage said. Cocked her arm to check her watch. "We have been issued a challenge by Iron Chef over here. He seems to think we can beat our prior record."
"Of course he does," Ajax said. More head shaking.
Kade weighed the challenge. Smiled. "No reason not to. I'll even take point. Feeling good today."
"See what happens when you take a night off from booze and women?" Sage said.
"Who said I took a night off from women?" Kade asked. Gave a conspiratorial look to Drake and Ajax. Took off through the parking lot.
Drake coughed out a laugh. Sage did the same.
Ajax followed behind Kade, moving fast. Sage went third. Drake made up the rear.
Lined up four deep, they made their way towards the trail winding up the backside of Mount Sentinel. Towards six miles of tense hiking. Two thousand feet of elevation.
Towards the best view of the entire Missoula Valley to be found.
Drake only hoped things would be a lot clearer once they got there.
Chapter Thirty-Six
Five Hour Energy.
A three ounce bottle reputed to pack more jolt than coffee. More long-term effect than a liter of Mountain Dew.
Thomas Jenks was already on his third of the morning.
So far, they had fallen well short of their reported capabilities.
The clock on his computer monitor stated it was already half past nine in the morning. It could have been noon. Or midnight. Or three days later for all he knew.
His entire existence had been reduced to the interior of the Bargain Mart store. Nothing more than a pale fluorescent sheen cast over cheap international products.
Ever since those two stopped by on Saturday afternoon. Nothing more than kids, masquerading as lawyers.
Came in and started to poke holes into his life. Into everything he'd ever known.
Since that moment, his view of the world had changed dramatically.
Sleep barely came. When it did, it was fitful. Filled with images of Montgomery and his team of cronies sitting in their conference room. Crossing names off a list. Collecting huge piles of money.
While he was awake, he found himself growing more paranoid by the minute. Were people really being targeted to keep his store afloat?
If so, the going rate for a seasonal worker twenty years before was a quarter million. What would the fee for him, a lifetime employee and store manager, be?
A knock on his office door snapped his head up. Caused him to visibly jump from his chair.
"You okay, Thomas?"
Lisa Wells asked. Stood uncertainly in the doorway. Clutched a sheaf of papers in her hands.
"Ye...yes," Jenks said. "Please come in."
Wells walked in. Slowly lowered herself into a chair. Stared across at her boss.
Jenks looked like a man that wasn't sleeping. Or eating. Or doing much of anything.
His hair was disheveled. Plastered to his sweaty forehead. His tie hung loose from his neck. The armpits of his shirt were wet.
Five Hour Energy's were scattered around his desk.
For the briefest of moments he considered trying to hide it. Trying to make up a cover story.
Let it go. The evidence was too damning to ignore.
"Everything alright?" Wells asked. Ran her eyes over the entire scene.
"Yeah," Jenks said. Smiled sheepishly. "I just haven't been sleeping much. This whole thing has me a little worried."
Wells rocked her head back. "I can see that. Corporate coming down hard on you?"
Jenks nodded fervently. Didn't trust himself to say anything.
"Well, take heart. I have some news that's going to help. Got another deposit this morning. Another quarter million dollars."
Jenks jawed dropped open. The breath caught in his chest.
"Oh Jesus, another one?"
Wells made a face. Twisted her head at the neck.
"Yes, another one. What the hell's going on here?"
Jenks tried to work his tongue around in his mouth. Leaned back in his chair. Felt his shirt press against his sweaty skin.
"I'm sorry, that probably sounded different than I meant it. Combination of relief and anxiety."
The look lingered on Wells' face. Eventually she extended a thin pile of printouts over to him.
"Highlighted in yellow at the bottom. Third one in a week. Much more of this and we'll be back in the black in no time."
Jenks forced a smile. Slid the papers over to himself. Shifted his gaze down at them.
Didn't see a thing.
His entire insides were gripped by trepidation.
After a few moments, he raised his gaze. Smiled. Made his voice sound as normal as possible.
"You're right. This is good news. Thank you."
Wells gave him an unconvinced half smile. Rose from her chair. "Don't work so hard boss. Too much stress is bad for you."
A weak laugh slid from Jenks. "Don't I know it."
Jenks watched as Wells disappeared. Rubbed his hands over his face. Flung sweat droplets to the ground.
Took a deep breath.
Picked up the phone.
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Monday morning.
An unholy, merciless beast if there ever was one.
Even coming on the heels of a new Zoo Crew record to the top of Mount Sentinel and back, Drake was especially somber.
Not only did he have the case weighing heavy on his mind. He also had to actually make an appearance at the law school.
Left with just a half dozen non-clinic credits to finish for graduation, he barely ever set foot in the building.
After seven years, he was thoroughly done with being on campus. Even at just twenty-five years old, he felt like he was ten years late to the prom.
More so than just that, he was very much over being in law school.
The attendance policies were archaic. The cattiness of his classmates was laughable. The inanity of discussing case after case was mind-numbing.
Now in his third year, it was nearly unbearable. Was weighing in heavily on his distaste for the practice of law as a whole.
Drake pulled up to the law school around mid-morning. Parked near the rear of the lot. Kept his head down as he strode straight inside.
Entered through the side door. Went down a back hallway.
Avoided conversation at all costs. Even avoided eye contact as much as possible.
He arrived to the prescribed lecture hall a full two minutes before class was scheduled to begin. Slid into the back row. Posted up on the end beside Greg and Wyatt.
"Well, well," Greg said. "If it's not half-man, half-ghost Drake Bell."
Drake cocked an eyebrow in question.
"Dude, you have been a phantom around here this year," Wyatt said. "We've had people asking if you even go here anymore."
The comment elicited a smirk.
Typical. The questions were no doubt not coming from people concerned for his well being. They were from gunners wanting his spot in the class ranking.
"Your response?"
"We tell them you're as much here as you've ever been," Greg said. "Just hitting clinic hard is all."
Drake weighed the comment. It wasn't entirely wrong.
Close enough that he didn't need to correct it anyway.
Begrudgingly, Drake opened his shoulder bag. Fished out his reading materials for the class. His laptop. Cell-phone.
Checked the phone to see he had a missed message from Ava.
What time are you getting to the clinic office today?
Behind him, Drake could hear Professor Waters enter the room.
An adjunct professor, he was one of Drake's favorites. Had practiced up until just a couple years before. Carried real world grounding in everything he taught.
At the age of sixty-five, he produced a wheezing noise that preceded him everywhere he went. Started deep in his lungs. Rolled out of him like a fog horn.
It revolted most students. So much so that enrollment in his class had dwindled over time.
Drake barely even noticed it anymore.
If I come in today, it won't be until this afternoon. Class.
Beside him, Greg and Wyatt prattled on about their epic fantasy football matchup the day before. A few handfuls of students settled into the rows in front of them.
The hum of low conversation hung in the air.
On the desk, his phone buzzed again.
Alice called the office. Has a decision. Wants to stop by to talk this morning.
Drake was on his feet before he even finished reading the text. Walked straight to the front of the room. Explained to Professor Waters that a client had just called. Needed to meet this morning.
Showed him the text as proof.
The old man smiled knowingly. Nodded. Slapped Drake on the arm. Told him to be sure to sign the attendance sheet before leaving.
"You're not seriously bouncing already?" Greg asked. Watched Drake pile his things back in the shoulder bag.
"Duty calls gentlemen," Drake said.
"Looked more like booty just called," Wyatt shot back.
Drake gave them both a stare. Drew his bag up onto his shoulder. Flipped a wave in their direction.
“Rain check on posting up and calling out douchebags?”
Greg and Wyatt both knew better than to argue.
Three minutes later Drake was back in his truck. Texted Ava to tell her he was on his way.
Thought about running home to change. Opted against it.
He'd been silently hoping for almost a solid day that Alice would make a fast decision. Knew that it was a tenuous line though.
He didn't want to press her. Damn sure wanted to press Bargain Mart.
If she had a decision, he was going to be there to hear it. It didn't matter if he was wearing jeans and a pearl snap shirt.
Twelve minutes after getting the texts, Drake walked through the front door of the clinic. Found Ava seated at her desk, banging away on her laptop.
She was dressed in black slacks and a cream silk blouse. String of pearls around her neck. Suit jacket folded along the edge of her desk.
She raised on eyebrow as he approached.
"Wow, that was fast." Looked him up and down. "Tex."
Drake looked down at his attire. Smirked. "Better than what would appear to be the pant suit you're working with."
Ava's face fell flat. "These are slacks. This is a blazer. It is not a pant suit."
"Mhmm," Drake said. "Just like I am not from Texas."
The defensive face lingered
on Ava. "Fine."
"Is Alice on her way?" Drake said. Blatant change of subject.
"Be here any minute."
Drake drifted over to his desk. Took out his laptop. Made a pass through his email.
Wandered over to The Missoulian website and checked for any more obituaries.
Was interrupted by the sound of a bell jingling on the front door.
Through it walked Alice, Sandra on her heels.
Both were dressed in somber black coats. Heavy scarves. Wool hats.
The cheeks on both of them were red, as were Alice's eyes.
Drake rose as they entered. Stepped out away from his desk. Motioned them towards the table to the far side of the room.
"Thank you ladies for coming in," he said. Shook each of their hands. "Can I get you some water or something?"
They were quickly joined by Ava.
She had opted against the blazer.
"No, thank you," Alice said. Unwrapped the scarf from around her. Left her coat zipped up tight.
"I'm good," Sandra said. Peeled her coat off to reveal a fuzzy purple sweater. Let the scarf dangle from around her neck.
Drake waited for all three women to be seated. Dropped a legal pad and pen down in front of his chair. Settled down into it.
"Thanks for seeing me so soon," Alice opened.
"Not a problem," Ava said. "I was already here. I think you saved Drake from class."
Drake smiled. Said nothing.
Alice offered a half smile. Looked over at Sandra uncertainly.
"I know you told me to take all the time I needed, but it was weighing on my mind. I couldn't think of anything else. I had to do it and get it over with."
Nobody said anything. Waited for her to continue.
"My first reaction after you laid it out yesterday was to just let it go. I don't need the money. I don't need the heartache.
"Let them have it. I just want to start moving on."
Sandra reached over and took her hand. Visibly squeezed it.
"I never told anybody this, but when Craig was first diagnosed they gave him six months. Said even that might be a bit optimistic.
"He made it more than two and a half years. Five times as long as they said he could."
Moisture lined the bottoms of her eyes.
"I know he was tired. He told me as much. We both were. But he kept on fighting."
Alice paused. Drew a deep breath in through her nose. Held it several long seconds. Slowly pushed it out.
Dead Peasants (Zoo Crew series Book 2) Page 15