Page 126 (1/2)

Judging by the vulgar poetry scratched on the wall, the new jail had been suitably christened by former occupants of the cells Ty had read them all at least twice The isolation and confine up restlessly to sit on the edge of the cot, rubbing his hands on his thighs

A door opened in the offices beyond the lockup door, and Ty rose to his feet,at the ranch or how soon he was going to be released

“Where’s my brother? What have you done with him?” Cat’s voice filtered clearly into the cell area “Why haven’t you let hio?” He didn’t hear thefor another voice to learn who had come with his sister to obtain his release, but it soon became apparent she was alone “I want to see him,” she demanded, her voice closer to the locked door between the cells and the office

“I can’t allow you to see the prisoner just now—not till we get all the fores filed Jails aren’t a place for young girls anyway,” the sheriff insisted Ty agreed He didn’t want Cat in here

“How do I know he’s all right? How do I know you haven’t beat hierently

Stubborn little ht to himself and wondered who had let her come into town by herselfnot that his little sister was ever very concerned about obtaining per she wanted

“Cat! I’o on home!”

“No! I’o!”

Releasing a long breath of exasperation, Ty shook his head at her stubbornness He didn’t want her hanging around the jail “I’ht she was going to refuse his request

“I’ll be right back” She called the promise to him Then he heard a door open and shut, and the noises froing, and the squawk of the dispatcher’s radio, and the pecking of typewriter keys With an i body, he walked back to the cot to wait some more

The powerless feeling had Cat trapped halfway between anger and fear Everyone knew the sheriff was in Dyson’s pocket, and she was afraid for Ty No matter hoildly she searched, she couldn’t come up with an answer

She charged blindly out of the sheriff’s office and onto the new concrete sidewalk At first, she was too preoccupied to notice thepace slowed the instant she recognized Stricklin All the bottled-up frustration ca past her to the building

“Have you been to see your brother?” His question was sharp with interest as his eyes, opaque behind the glasses, studied her

“They wouldn’t let , recklessly abandoning any sense of caution “Ty isn’t the one who belongs behind bars You are! I can’t prove that you murdered my mother

yet, but I will!” She hurled the threat at hirily brushed past him to continue toward the pickup truck she had borrowed from one of the ranch hands