Free Death on the High Lonesome by Frank Hayes Page B

he had bought for six hundred dollars and was six years old when he bought it.”
    â€œDo you think his boy got it?”
    â€œProbably not, any more than those Thompson kids.”
    â€œI didn’t really know them,” Virgil said. “Guess we moved in different circles.”
    â€œWell, they were also older than us, Virgil. Velma would talk about them sometimes. They didn’t come back often. That bothered her. The girl, Marian, turned out all right. She livesnear San Francisco, has two or three children. The boys were another story. A couple of marriages, gambling, some other stuff. The youngest, Vernon, has come around the last couple of months a few times. I think Charlie was hoping he’d come back to the ranch. Maybe help Charlie to bring it back. But Velma told me it wasn’t going to happen.”
    â€œWhat about the other son?”
    â€œI’m not sure, but I remember Velma saying he was working on some deal with Vernon. She said it had to do with some company he worked for. She mentioned the name, but I can’t remember it. Anyway, I don’t think the Thompson ranch is ever going to be a going concern again.”
    Virgil put the rest of his pancake in his mouth, then drained his orange juice.
    â€œYeah, I guess, but as someone said to me recently, times change, nothing stays the same.”
    *   *   *
    Rosita was on the phone when he came into the office. He walked through the door that joined the office to the annex where the holding cells were located. At the moment there were no occupants. He’d talked to Alex, who was driving up from Redbud with two prisoners. One Alex had caught after he stabbed another guy in a knife fight. The other had stolen a car outside of the new motel that had recently opened by the interstate. He checked each cell to make sure they would be ready for their new occupants, then he returned to the office. Rosita had just hung up the phone.
    â€œYou know Alex is coming up from Redbud, right?” Virgil said.
    â€œYes, sir. That was Dave on the phone, telling me why he won’tbe home tonight. Alex is bringing them up because his wife had the baby yesterday. This way, after he drops them off here, he can go visit his wife, then stay overnight at his mom’s. She’s taking care of the three-year-old.”
    â€œCall Dif. Make sure he knows about our two guests. Maybe he’ll come in a little early. Give you a break.”
    â€œDon’t worry, Virgil. I’m fine.”
    â€œWell, hopefully, they won’t be here long. I’d like to get them processed quickly, then get them over to the detention center. It’d be good if we could keep the cells available for the locals who get a little carried away during the holidays.”
    â€œYes. I remember, last year we had a full house till after New Year. We had enough hangovers to start a new AA group.”
    â€œThank God for Bill W. Otherwise we’d have to build an addition.”
    â€œAmen to that,” Rosie said.
    â€œBy the way, were you able to get in touch with the Thompsons?”
    â€œThe daughter, Marian, will be here tomorrow. She said she would get ahold of her brothers.”
    â€œGood. Listen, I want to make another run out to High Lonesome before they get here. I’d like you to go with me.”
    â€œWhy do you want me to go with you?”
    â€œI know you’re not anxious to go back there, but I want to check the scene out before anyone gets in there and starts moving things around.”
    â€œWhat are you looking for?”
    â€œI’m not sure myself. Guess I just want to make sure that there isn’t more to this than what it appears to be. You were there, the first person on the scene. I want to get your recollection while the place is untouched. I don’t know, maybe I’m overthinking thiswhole thing, but the fact that Charlie hasn’t showed up, then Velma dies in a way that