Free Fallout (Joshua Stokes Mysteries Book 2) by Lila Beckham Page A

think that was the best thing that ever happened to me, you a taking me to jail. I was not that drunk you know. You preached the entire trip about how I needed to get a grip on myself, and how I needed to change my lifestyle before I ended up dead. Believe me, I definitely was paying attention to what you said. I was scared shitless when he caught me there with his wife… he started punching my lights out. The only reason I cut that man was because he was a big dude and I knew he was going to hurt me bad. Once all of that settled down, I quit drinking, well at least out in public. If I want a beer, I sit home, listen to the radio, and drink me one or two. You told me that there was nothing wrong with taking a drink, every day if that was what I wanted, but to do it with a clear head and not to overindulge. You said moderation was the key to having a good time.”
    Joshua nodded his head.
    “These days, if I go out to a bar, I only drink co-cola. Women, alcohol, and jealous husbands do not mix. If you had not taught me that, I might have ended up in prison or dead.” It made Joshua feel good to know that someone had listened to his advice and it turned their life around and put them on a positive course.
    “I’m glad you got on the right track, Curtis. How long have you worked for W. C.?”
    “It’s probably going on eight years now. I work year round, not like these migrant workers who come a few months out of the year. You never did say what brought you out here, Sheriff. Or were you just checking on things?”
    “Nah, I come to talk about the Mexicans y’all have working the fields. Have you had any trouble out of the one they call Avellino Rodrigo? Some of the women seem to think he is scary… he gives them the willies.”
    “That man gives me the willies, Sheriff. I suspect he is a mean hearted soul. At least, he looks the part. Never seen a smile crease his face, he don’t say nothing, works hard, never causes any trouble in the fields, the man stays to himself all of the time . I have yet to see him have a conversation with any of the other workers, he never talks at all .”
    “That’s odd. Does he speak English?”
    “He understands it, or seems to. At least he follows directions well.”
    “Hmm, so you yourself have never heard him speak.”
    “No, I haven’t. I have never had to ask him a question. I tell them what they’re going to be doing, give a little demonstration usually and then they’re on their own.”
    “Can you point him out to me?” Joshua asked.
    Curtis pulled his pocket watch out and looked at it. “I was fixing to let them take lunch,” he said reaching through the door and blowing the horn twice. “They’ll come up here to eat; everything is on the back of the truck. He’s the one wearing the long sleeved white shirt and ball cap. Most of them wear those old white straw hats out in the sun, but he’s different.” Joshua looked out to the field. He saw all the men walking toward the pickup. None looked as if they were nervous at all. That was a good sign. To him that meant none was on the run, lest they had run off while he wasn’t looking.
    Joshua moved toward the front of the truck, leaned against it and turned to face the men as they came to the truck. Several looked toward Joshua; he saw curiosity in their dark eyes. The one that Curtis had pointed out did not look in their direction at all; his eyes were glued to the ground in front of his feet as he walked. When he reached the back of the truck, he grabbed a lunchbox and then got a jug of water out of the cooler that sat in the bed of the truck. After getting his lunchbox and water he walked to a spot under a tree and sat down to eat, as did the other workers. Joshua watched them eat for several minutes and when he saw that Rodrigo had finished his sandwich, he walked over to where he was sitting. Rodrigo, who had just begun peeling a banana, glanced up as Joshua stood over him.
    “Stand up a minute,” Joshua