“Just chicken soup and a ham sandwich, same as I always bring them for lunch,” Ester responded, taking a quick look at Mac.

Dan turned to Mac, who pretended to be busy at the radio. Dan just opened the door for Ester and followed her into the cellblock.

Junior was still sitting on the bunk, rocking back and forth while mumbling to himself.

“Hey, Junior, look what Ms. Cratchet brought you.”

Junior did not look up. He just continued rocking back and forth while hitting his head on the brick wall.

“Is he okay?” Ester asked with concern in her voice.

“Yeah. He’s just not happy about being here,” was all Dan mustered up to say.

Ester glanced around and stared at the walls that had years of dirt and grime built up.

“Can you blame him?” she said. “Place needs a good cleaning.”

Dan glanced around and appeared surprised for an instant. It was as if for the first time he saw the years of grime that had accumulated on the walls.

“County doesn’t give me much for upkeep on the place,” Dan said as he turned back to Ester. “Maybe you know someone who could clean the place on a Saturday?” Dan hesitated a moment and then quickly added, “Reasonable, that is.”

“Take more than a Saturday.”

Dan opened the cell door. He took the tray from Ester and then set it on the table for Junior.

“Junior, you enjoy. Ms. Cratchet here is the best cook west of the Mississippi.” Dan turned to Ester. “We’re lucky to have her.”

Junior just continued to rock back and forth. Dan turned to Ester and smiled. “Not the sharpest tool in the shed.”

“Poor boy. Is he the one who killed the Ames boy?” Ester asked.

“Where did you get that notion?”

“Everyone’s been talking about it.”

“No. Junior didn’t do it. I’m almost positive of that. I just have him here to keep him safe.”

“Whatever you say, Sheriff,” Ester said with a wink as if she would keep that secret.

Dan was taken aback for a moment but did not really want to set the record straight. He looked at Ester. “I’ll have Mac bring over the dishes later.”

Ester cleared her throat. “No need to bother. I can stop by on my way home this evening.”

Dan closed the cell door. He locked it and then guided Ester back out of the cellblock. On his way out he took another look at the walls, a little embarrassed by all the grime and filth.

CHAPTER 6

Dan sat at his desk with his feet up reading the paper. Mac was busy talking to Conroy on the radio. Most days that was the extent of what the Sheriff’s duties entailed in Jefferson County.

“Your wife called,” Mac relayed.

“Is she in labor?” Conroy asked quickly.

“She’s at the doctor’s office,” Mac laughed. “Did you forget something?”

“Damn! Tell the Sheriff I’m going off duty for an hour.”

Mac turned to Dan, who nodded in agreement. The door swung open suddenly. Dan turned and quickly took his feet off the desk and sat up.

Charlie Ames entered the office with his son Jeffrey, who had to be all of sixteen. Charlie glanced around the room. He had never been in the Sheriff’s office before and wanted to make sure that Mac and Dan were the only ones in the room. He then pulled out a revolver and waved it around wildly. Jeffrey appeared as surprised to see the gun in his father’s hand as Mac and Dan.

Charlie slurred his words but managed to get out, “I want the son-of-a-bitch who killed my boy.”

Dan set the paper down slowly and then turned to Mac. He motioned for Mac not to move. Dan put his hands on the desk so they were in clear view while Mac pushed himself away from the radio and just stared up at Charlie, and waited. Jeffrey stepped back so he was up against the back wall.

Dan slowly stood and edged his way toward the cellblock door.

“Now, Charlie, you don’t want to do this.”

“How do you know what I want to do?” he snapped, swaying while waving the gun wildly. “I want to see the bastard who done that to my boy,” he said, wiping away a tear.

“We don’t have him yet.”

Charlie looked menacingly around the room before turning the revolver back at Dan. Dan had the cellblock door blocked by then.

“I heard you’re holding Junior Youngblood.”

“Pa, I told.”

“Shut up, boy!” Charlie snapped.

Dan held up his hands and then motioned Jeffrey to be silent. Once Jeffrey settled down somewhat, Dan turned his attention back to Charlie.

“He didn’t do it,” Dan said in a way that sounded sincere.

“Then why you holding him?” Charlie argued.

Dan turned to Mac and then Jeffrey. He motioned for them to stay put.

“I have him in protective custody,” was all Dan said in his defense.

“Don’t try to fancy-talk me.”

“I’m not.” Dan hesitated a moment. “Junior’s father agreed, jail was the safest place for him until I can sort things out.”

Charlie waved the revolver with one hand while the other hand reached in his pocket for a hankie and then he wiped away his tears.

“I saw what that bastard did.”

“I know how you feel,” Dan said, trying to sympathize with the grieving father.

“How can you know? Have you ever lost a child?”

“No.”

Charlie shook his head. “It was awful.”

Charlie continued waving the revolver and then, as if it was the first time he noticed the revolver in his hand, he tossed it onto the desk. Dan grabbed for Charlie. He quickly frisked him for more weapons and then turned Charlie around and got a whiff of his breath.

“How much have you been drinking?” Dan asked.

Dan let Charlie go. He picked up the gun and noticed the empty chambers. Jeffrey walked up to his father.

“All I want to do is forget,” Charlie cried.

Jeffrey turned to Dan. “You going to arrest him?”

Dan shook his head. “You two go home. Charlie, your wife needs you.”

Charlie’s face turned sad and pathetic at the mention of his wife.

“Cassie blamed me. She wanted the boy to stay home so she could protect him from the world.”

“Mothers are like that,” Dan said in Cassie’s defense.

“I got him the job with Senator Maxwell,” Charlie’s voice quivered. “Thought I was doing right by the boy.”

Dan turned to Mac. This was a new revelation. He turned back to Charlie.

“How long was he working for the Senator?”

“Richie and Junior both worked odd jobs for the Senator. They were both slow,” Charlie hesitated, a little embarrassed to admit to Richie’s mental capacity. “You know what I mean. The other boys used to pick on them.”

“Did he work yesterday?” Dan asked.

“I don’t know.”

Charlie turned to Jeffrey.

Jeffrey quickly spoke up. “Yes, I dropped him off around eight.”

“What’s a man to do?” Charlie asked.

Dan patted Charlie on the back. He could see the man was grieving for a lost son. However, he had to keep in mind he still had Jeffrey to look out for, and spending time in jail would not put food on the table for his family.

“You had no control over what happened. Right now you have to take care of Cassie and Jeffrey here. You let me worry about catching the bastard who did that to Richie.”

“I want two minutes alone with him when you catch him.”

Dan raised his eyebrows. “You know I can’t do that. He’ll be punished to the full extent of the law. I promise you that much.”

“It don’t make me feel any better. Bible says an eye for an eye.”

“We don’t live by those laws anymore. We’re civilized now.”

Charlie broke down in sobs. “It ain’t natural what he done to my boy. No civilized person would do that. He should be made to suffer.”

Dan turned to Jeffrey. “You make sure you drive him home.”

Jeffrey nodded as Charlie walked dejectedly to the door with slumped shoulders. Charlie hesitated a moment and then walked out.