Outlaw Mountain

“Sure,” Joa

As soon as Joa

“Joa

“What’s up?”

“A couple of things. Have you talked to Hank Lazier?”

“I hadn’t gotten around to calling him. I’ve been too busy.”

“And I guess he couldn’t wait any longer. He called to let us know that one of the search warrants paid off. They found a television set and a VCR that match the makes and models missing from Alice Rogers’ house. They also found a paper bag stuffed with jewelry and savings bonds made out in Alice Rogers’ name.”

“Where did they find them?” Joa

“You’ll never guess. In Joaquin Morales’ mother’s garage.”

“Joaquin Morales?” Joa

“That’s the one.”

“What’s Hank Lazier going to do about that?” Joa

“Beats me,” Ernie replied. “That’s his problem.”

“Is that all?” Joa

“Not quite. I just talked to Doc Winfield about Clete Rogers’ autopsy. According to the doe, Clete put up quite a fight. He’s got flesh and fiber scrapings from under Clete’s fingernails. That means that if we ever find the guy, we may not have any fingerprints, but we should have DNA.”

“That’s good news, Ernie,” Joa

“Jaime and I are about to head over to Tombstone to meet up with Adam York’s guys from DEA. I just heard Frank’s already there. You’re bringing Becker?”

“That’s right. He’s still up at the hotel. The funeral starts at two. I told him I’d pick him up around one.”

“All right,” Ernie said. “See you there. I hope this works.”

So do I, Joa

A few minutes later, when Joa

“Am I forgiven about last night?” he asked.

“Pretty much,” Joa

“Lunch, then?”

Joa

“As long as it’s soon,” Joa

They met at Daisy’s. “Beautiful pair of shiners,” Daisy a

“Thanks,” Joa

“Fresh Welsh pasties today,” Daisy replied. “Just out of the oven ten minutes ago. Big, though. I’d think about splitting one if I were you. “

“Good idea,” Joa

Butch gri

“What’s that all about?” Joa

“I told her that’s what you’d say,” Butch said. “And she bet you wouldn’t.”

Daisy, after writing down their order, stuck her pencil back into her beehive hairdo and picked up their menus. “If I were you, honey,” she advised Joa

“I’ll see what I can do about that,” Joa

“And where’s Junior today?” Daisy continued. “I didn’t see him at all yesterday. Isn’t he about due for another chocolate shake? Have you done anything about finding his people yet?”

“We’ve found them all right,” Joa

There were other noontime customers coming into the restaurant, but Daisy Maxwell didn’t leave Joa

“So do you mind?” Joa

“Mind what, keeping Junior a few days longer?” Butch asked. “No. Not at all. I suppose we could think about offering to take him permanently. I mean, if the only other alternative is to put him into a home…”

Butch’s voice trailed off. Joa

She shook her head. “No,” she said firmly. “Absolutely not. Our world is complicated enough already. Besides, we’re not even married.”

“That could be fixed,” Butch suggested with a grin. “No,” Joa

They ate lunch. “So what’s going to happen then?” Daisy asked, as they stood in front of the cash register after lunch, paying their bill. “Is Junior going to end up being put in a home somewhere?”

“That’s how it looks,” Joa

Daisy shook her head. “That’s what I call criminal,” she said. “Plain and simple.”

Butch reached for the door and held it open. Before Joa

“Why, Sheriff Brady,” Marliss said brightly. “Imagine ru

“I ran into a door,” Joa

“What the hell is that all about?”

“I don’t know,” Joa

Butch leaned inside the car window and gave Joa

“I’ll be careful,” Joa

“In other words, I’m not quite forgiven.”

Joa

Adam York and Butch both had suggested that someone besides Joa

With Joa