Free The Deputy by Victor Gischler Page B

Mexicans. I don’t know. You remember that news story a few years ago, the truck with all those dead illegal aliens in the back? Earlier tonight I found a truck just like that, padlock on the back to keep them inside. Parked in the firehouse.”
    “No fucking way. They were dead?”
    “No, not dead. Live ones.”
    “Why here?”
    “Beats me. You got any milk?”
“I think so.”
    “Can you warm it up and bring me a cup?” I sat on her couch, held the boy. He wouldn’t let go of me, kept shivering.
    “I’ll put it in the microwave.”
    “No, you’re not supposed to do that. Can you heat it in a pan?”
    “Give me a minute.” She went to the kitchen.
    I rocked the boy in my arms, something overwhelmed him, shock or exhaustion maybe because I watched his eyelids sink down. His cheeks were tear-smeared. In a moment he breathed steadily, back to sleep. I could not imagine holding my head up among decent people if I let anything happen to him. I was supposed to be a dad.
    I settled him down on the couch, made a ring of cushions around him, then went into the kitchen. Molly had four different size pans on the counter, her head stuck in the refrigerator.
    “We don’t have any milk,” Molly said. “There’s Mellow Yellow and carrot juice.”
    “It’s okay. He’s asleep. But we’ll need milk in the morning.”
    “Morning?”
    “I need your help, Molly.”
    Her eyes went round. “Oh, no. I don’t know anything about kids.”
    “I have to go back out there. I can’t take the boy. He has to be someplace safe, okay? I trust you.”
    “Come on, Toby. There’s got to be some old lady you know who can do it. I’ve never even been a baby sitter.”
    “Molly, look at me. There’s serious shit going on.”
    “I can’t. I’ve never even changed a diaper.”
    I put a hand on each of her shoulders. “Molly, I’m begging you. Look at me. Please. I’m begging you.”
    “Okay, okay. Crap. I don’t know what he eats or anything.”
    She was right. I’d fled the trailer without the diaper bag. No wipes or diapers or ass cream. Nothing. It wasn’t like dropping off a stray kitten. The boy needed things.
    “I’ll make a run to the store. I’ll get diapers. I need you to do this.”
    “I’ll do it, but what if he gets sick or—”
    “He’ll just sleep. It’ll be fine.”
    She sighed.
    I took her into my arms, felt relieved when she hugged me back. Her head tilted up and I bent to kiss her, felt her tongue slip into my mouth, one of her warm hands on my neck. We let it go on like that for a while. I didn’t want to leave, but knew I had to. I slipped out of her arms, stepped away.
    “I’ll be back with diapers and milk. Soon.”
    I paused on the way out, touched TJ’s head. I hoped he hadn’t been traumatized. I hoped he’d sleep peaceful and have good dreams and not wake up asking for Mommy. I made silent promises to him.
    Outside, I hopped in the Nova, lit a Winston and headed for the Texaco.

CHAPTER TEN
    I was halfway down the Six back to the Texaco when fatigue sat on my chest like a five hundred pound gorilla. So tired. The night had rubbed me raw, the adrenaline leaking away, leaving me feeling wrung out. I almost nodded off at the wheel, slapped my own face to keep awake.
    I pulled into the Texaco, went inside.
    The same girl was on duty. She looked tired too. She opened her mouth to say something but thought better of it after getting an eyeful of me. I didn’t even want to think what I looked like.
    I grabbed a half-gallon of milk, a pack of diapers, wipes and three energy drinks, took it all to the counter. The girl rang it up, and it came to like a million dollars. Fucking convenience store prices. I had my wallet this time and paid.
    Back in the Nova I popped open one of the energy drinks. It tasted like melted cough drops and propane. I saw these high school kids all over town drinking them all the time. What the hell was going on with their taste buds? I made myself drink the whole