Page 51 of Homicide in Water Creek

“You expect me to believe my granddaddy sent you over here alone to check out his house? What the hell were you doing in there?” Jacks asked, getting in on the act.

Chinos put his hands up, his demeanor changing from shifty to contrite. “Sheriff, I’m telling you. I was just doing what Jackson asked. He doesn’t lock his door. What does he expect to happen? I chased a kid out of there. Didn’t you see his flashlight?”

“No,” King said, pretending he might believe half of what Chinos was telling them. “If there was a kid, where is he?”

“He ran out the back when he heard me enter.”

“Convenient, since we can’t see the back door from here,” King said sarcastically. “You know what? Hang on. Move, and I’ll shoot you.”

Chinos swallowed as he nodded. King unhooked the phone interceptor that he’d borrowed from the state police from his belt. “I’m calling my granddaddy,” he explained. Chinos had the good sense to look scared while King pretended the phone was ringing. Frustrated, he hit the off button, which was actually the scan button, and lowered it to his side. “Probably can’t hear it ringing in the bar.”

“It was loud in there when I left,” Chinos agreed, as if that would win him some favor.

“You got anything on you?” King asked, motioning him forward.

“No, man, I don’t have any weapons.”

“Phone?” King asked. Chinos dug it out and handed it over.

“There’s nothing on there.”

“No videos of Jackson’s house?” King asked, holding the phone against the scanner in his hand, grateful it was dark and the guy couldn’t see it wasn’t a real phone.

“No. What would I need those for? You can’t arrest me. You can’t prove I did anything!” Chinos was smart enough not to fight King, but he was getting twitchy.

“He’s kind of right,” Jacks said, slipping into their predetermined role-play. “Maybe you should let him go. We can talk to Jackson when he gets back. If kids have really been messing around here, you might have to increase patrols. I know I’ve had to shoo several kids off the ranch over the last few weeks.”

Chinos twisted his neck to look at her. “See? That’s what Jackson was saying. I was just trying to be helpful. He didn’t want to leave the bar, and I was ready to go to bed. I’ve been running nonstop for the last couple of weeks.”

Acting as though he were making a tough call, King fidgeted with the phones, saving the numbers that had come up on the scanner from Chinos before reluctantly handing him back his phone. “Fine. But don’t think for a second that I won’t be talking to Jackson about this. You'd better be in that arena tomorrow when I come looking for you.”

He stepped back. “Fine. Relax, geez. Can I go?”

King pointed toward the bunkhouse. “Go, but I’ll be checking in five minutes to make sure you’re in the bunkhouse.”

He held up his hands as he backed away. “I’m headed there now. Will you let your granddaddy know about the kid I chased out of there?” he asked Jacks.

“Oh, absolutely,” she said. “It’s fine, Wade. Just go back to the bunkhouse. I’ll take care of things.”

He nodded, turned, and jogged away. When she turned back to King, she was grinning. “Some of your momma’s acting talent must have worn off on you, Sheriff King.”

Rolling his eyes, he put a finger to her lips. “Hush, Miss Miles. The thought makes me shudder.”

She wore a smirk as she watched Chinos disappear into the bunkhouse. “What was with the phone thing?” she asked, motioning at his.

“It’s a phone scanner.”

“Did you get any numbers?”

“Two,” he answered as they walked to her trailer. “I’ll connect it to a digital recorder, so if anyone calls or he calls anyone, we can listen in. Once I’m back at the station, I’ll run the two numbers. Something tells me they’ll be burner phones, though.”

“Is this even legal?” Jacks asked, confused.

“Not by any stretch of the imagination, especially without a warrant.”

She tossed her hand up. “Then why are you doing it? If you can’t use the information in court, what good is it?”

“We’re just looking for a lead, Jacks. Surveillance isn’t illegal in a situation like this; it’s just not admissible in court. Eventually, I can get a warrant, but I don’t think we’ll have to go that far. You saw his face. He’s already freaked out. He’s close to cracking. All we have to do is keep the pressure on and be there when he comes apart.”