Read Online Bad Penny by John D. Brown - Free Book Online

kill. With antlers crashing through the windshield.”
    “It could slow them down.”
    “Let’s hope God doesn’t go big and send an elk or some stray cow. You ever see a car slam into three-quarter’s ton of beef?”
    Up ahead a well-used pickup with a tool box in the bed was making a left hand turn, pulling into their lane. Sam moved into the left lane and shot past the pickup. “Go big or go home is what I say.”
    “Yeah, go home in a body bag,” Frank said. But who knew? Maybe road kill miracles were on God’s order menu. It wouldn’t be any weirder than some of the things recorded in the Bible. The term “holy cow” suddenly popped into Frank’s mind and took on whole new dimension.
    They covered the two plus miles back to Wyoming road in less than two minutes, turned off, and crossed the tracks. The train was still way back on the line. They raced along the two-lane road, looped a mile or so past the developments of North Rock Springs on the left and the golf course on the right. Sam braked and accelerated to get around a couple of cars, but then they came to the cutoff and raced back toward Highway 191.
    The racing around had cost them about five minutes, and the train wasn’t as long as Frank had first thought. By the time they got back to 191, all the cars they’d been waiting with had already passed.
    “Shoot,” Sam cursed.
    “We can still hope for the divine road kill,” Frank said.
    Sam turned onto the highway and sped up. The road ran straight and flat for a number of miles. Up ahead the big green tractor they’d been in line with moseyed along. About a mile beyond the tractor, the police cruiser was pulled off to the side of the road, its lights flashing.
    In front of it was the Nova.
    Sam passed the tractor. The officer was standing by the Nova calling something in on his radio. Sam slowed then pulled over a few car lengths in front of both cars.
    Frank threw open the door and stepped out onto the shoulder of the road. “Officer,” Frank called. “I’m Frank Shaw. I’m the one that called this in. Is Tony all right?”
    The officer put a hand out telling him to keep his distance for a bit. “Who did you say you were?”
    “I’m Frank Shaw. That’s my car. Is Tony in your cruiser?”
    “Sir, there was nobody in this car when I found it.”
    Frank blinked. Nobody in the car? He scanned the dry land stretching out all around. There was nothing but small clumps of dry weeds and dirt. The wind buffeted the minivan. Frank approached the Nova. “Did you see the Nissan?”
    “There was nobody here,” the officer said.
    Frank walked up to the driver’s side. The keys were still in the car. What did they do, force Tony out at gun point?
    “I turned the keys on,” the officer said. “The gas gauge reads empty.”
    The words hit Frank like an anvil. He closed his eyes and rocked back a bit. Empty. Tony had run out of gas. And Ed and Jesus had been right there to pick both of them up.
    “There are some ravines and hillocks, but it’s pretty flat out here,” the officer said. “Someone on foot isn’t going to get far. I’ve called in backup.”
    “They’re not here,” Frank said.
    “Where do you think they are?”
    Frank’s phone rang. The display said it was Tony calling. Frank flipped it open and brought it up to his ear. “Tony,” he said.
    “Tony’s doing fine,” Ed said, all happiness and slime. “A real hero. But here’s the deal, Jockstrap. You send the cops after us, and he’s going down. Lots of empty hilly space around here. Lots of roads to nowhere. You understand me?”
    Frank looked at Sam. So much for prayer.
    Frank watched the officer walk back to his cruiser. “Put Tony out of the car now.”
    “Naw, I don’t think so. And it’s not me, Frankie. See, Jesus is not too keen on going back to jail. You send a bunch of Dudley douche bags after him, and he’s going to be pissed. He’s going to want to take it out on someone. So here’s what’s going to