Tommy looked from Reed to Joe to Robey and said, “Really, guys . . .”
“I’m out of here,” Reed said. “You want me to give Tommy a ride back to his house?”
“Really, guys,” Tommy said again as Reed helped him to his feet.
JOE AND ROBEY sat at the table. It was midnight, and Tommy Wayman and Deputy Reed had been gone for fifteen minutes. Joe had poured a bourbon and water nightcap for both of them.
“That was interesting,” Robey said. “I thought for a minute there we had something.”
Joe nodded.
Robey said, “I think he wanted to see her alive, so he did. She’s probably on his mind all the time, since he could wind up in Rawlins because of her. He probably dreamed she was there while he was passed out, and when he woke up he convinced himself she was there. Tommy is losing it, is what I think. I hope he holds together long enough to go to trial. He’s a good man, Joe. He drinks too much, but he’s a good guy.”
Robey looked up for a response. Joe stared at his drink, which was untouched.
“What? Something is bugging you.”
“Sheridan said she had a dream about something similar to Tommy’s. She said Opal was alive out on the ranch.”
Robey stared. “A dream, Joe?”
“Hey,” Joe said, raising his hand. “I know. But Sheridan’s had some dreams that turned out to be pretty accurate. She’s like Nate Romanowski that way,” he said, wishing immediately he hadn’t brought Nate into it.
“Speaking of . . .”
“Nothing,” Joe said. “Honestly. Not a word.”
MARYBETH CAME DOWN the stairs in her robe. Her blond hair was mussed. Joe could see one bare foot and ankle and she looked particularly attractive standing there. He was suddenly ready for Robey to head home.
“Are you guys about finished?” she asked.
Joe said, “Yup.” He was glad he was the one staying. He wondered if Robey had the same thought and guessed that he did.
“Did Tommy have anything interesting to say?”
Robey chuckled. “That was the problem, Marybeth. He had so many interesting things to say—so many versions—that in the end he had nothing. It was a waste of time.”
“Maybe I should have called Nancy to come get him,” she said.
“You did the right thing.”
“He scared us when we saw him out there,” she said. “With all the things that have been happening around here, we’re a little jumpy.”
“I understand,” Robey said.
Joe said nothing. It made him angry to think about it.
He saw Robey to the door. As they passed his office, Joe said, “I’ve been meaning to ask you about that search warrant for Hank’s place. Do we have it yet?”
Robey turned, his face wary. “You haven’t heard?”
“Not a thing.”
“Judge Pennock refused to issue it.”
Robey nodded. “I’m sorry, I thought you knew. The judge said we needed probable cause, that the anonymous tip wasn’t enough to search a man’s home. Even though you transcribed the call real well.”
Joe was confused. He’d never had a search warrant refused before.
“Judge Pennock and Hank are friends,” Joe said.
“I’m afraid so. I didn’t realize it before. They must be pretty close.”
Joe snorted. “If they are close, Pennock would have recused himself. It’s got to be more than that.”
“I don’t even want to speculate, Joe,” Robey said cautiously. “I have to appear before Judge Pennock all the time. I can’t push this one too hard or he could make my life miserable.”
“Can’t we go over his head?”
Robey suddenly looked very uncomfortable. “We could, but I hesitate to do so.”
“Look, Joe,” Robey said, “there are things I will go to the mat with, as you know. There are some subjects, for example, I won’t discuss with you because I don’t want to know the answers. But this fight between Hank and Arlen . . . I don’t know. It’s so dirty, and so . . .” He searched for a word. “. . .
As Robey talked, Joe felt his anger rise.
“How about if we try to enforce the law,” Joe said. “You know, on a lark?”
