Savage Noir

  Chapter 59 Sheriff Calder said, “Come on, ‘Country.’ At least tell me your real name.” “Rhonda.” “Now that is a pretty name. Why would you want a dumb nickname like Country ?” “It’s not dumb. He put a lot of thought into it.” “If you say so.” She saw headlights blinking in the rear mirror and immediately freaked. “We’re being followed,” she said. She saw the car’s image in her outside rear mirror. “It’s not a cop car.” “How do you know? Cops and feds often drive unmarked cars,” he said. “Pigs!” He chuckled softly. He had not heard that one since the late Sixties. He glanced at his mirror. “Feds, I think.” he said. “What do they want with me?” she asked. “Same as me. The truth.” She said nothing to that. “Tell you what, Rhonda slash Country. I’m gonna tell you about this girl I met. She was waiting for me beneath some trees, just between two cornfields. I had all kinds of questions to ask her, but I never got the chance.” “Why not?”...

Chapter 58 The lights were dim inside the farmhouse. Then the front porch light clicked on. Sheriff Calder opened a screen door and stepped onto the porch, his eyes adjusting to the yellow “insect” bulb.  He kept one hand on his holster. Calder stood for a while, listening and watching.  He turned and looked behind him. All he saw were row after row of threes. He heard cars and trucks on 101, but nothing else save a few night birds. He stepped back and rapped softly on the front door.  The door opened and Rhonda slipped out, looking to her right and left. Someone closed the door behind her. She carried something small, wrapped in a bath towel. “Stay between me and the house,” whispered Calder. He quickly led her to his nearby patrol car. “It’s open.” Rhonda opened the door and slid inside, shutting it softly. Calder took the bundle and set it in the back seat. “Let’s hope we got some partials,” he told her.Three people had handled the Smith and Wesson gun...