Page 50 (2/2)
Prescott listened as the story spilled out of her—the Glock, registered to her na of the weapon at the murder scene, and her brother’s arrest He knew, of course, as co next She’d want him to intervene But he couldn’t do that—especially not with an election co up He braced himself as Stella made her pitch
“I’ve done plenty for you, Garn Those TV adsto put you out front in the polls I neverin return But now I need your help”
“I’ll do what I can,” he said, knohat she wanted “But—”
“No buts!” Her eyes blazed into his “You’re a powerful es, the state attorney general, even the governor Half of the buddies They’ll listen to you”
A couple of truck drivers had turned on the barstools to look at the to squirm
“Stella, it’s not that simple”
“I don’t care! It’s not like I’ you to lie My brother was fraun He’s innocent!”
“If that’s true, get yourself a good lawyer and put your faith in the American judicial system Trust the jury to—”
“The jury will take one look at those tattoos and vote guilty What’s it going to take? More ot that”
“Stella—”
She rose, leaning over the table “You owe ave you, I can take back You’ve got twenty-four hours before your ic coach turns into a pumpkin That’s it I can hurt you Don’t make me do it”
Squeezing out of the booth, she spun away and stalked out of the diner Seconds later, tires spitting gravel, the Buick roared out of the parking lot
The two truckers at the bar had turned their backs,their own business But they’d no doubt gotten an earful The waitress had probably been listening, too
Prescott sat still for ablood pressure as his world threatened to iiven him twenty-four hours, and he knew she meant business There had to be so else, just to shoas trying
Acting Sheriff Sweeney would be taking credit for the arrest to boost his run for office He wouldn’t want anybody to know heman Clay Drummond, the county prosecutor, was a hard-nosed sob who’d rather lose a finger than lose a case Prescott could cross both of theolf and shared drinks with a couple of the judges, but he didn’t knoould be on the case And even if he did, how could he explain his asking a favor on behalf of a woeneral, one word to either of them would be political suicide