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just to
antagonize him.  This brought sporadic laughter that ended quickly.
    “ Who
coldcocked my deputy? ”
    “ Well,
Sheriff, I really didn ’ t see anything.  My
back was to him when he fired his gun.  Then there was such a commotion I was
knocked to the floor.  When I finally got my senses back Striker was on the
floor unconscious and his gun was laying on the bar down there. ”
    “ Does
anybody know what prompted Deputy Striker to fire his gun? ”
    Still
he got no answer.  Katie, however, said, “ When
I first saw him he appeared to be searching for someone.  He was going from
table to table paying close attention to faces.  I just figured you sent him
with a warrant or something, Sheriff. ”
    “ I
didn ’ t
send him anywhere, ” Preston said.  “ If
Striker was here it was of his own accord. ”
    “ I
think he was looking for Lester Kingsley, ” somebody in the room
said.  “ As
soon as Lester entered the tavern I saw Striker pull his gun and head in his
direction. ”
    This
sent chills up Katie ’ s spine.  But why would
Striker be gunning for Lester?  Because of what Lester knew about Clyde?  Why
would he care?
    “ What
else do you know? ”   Preston went to the man.
    “ Well,
I saw Bart Miller sucker punch Striker as he passed him by at the bar. ”
    “ What
happened to Kingsley? ”
    “ I
don ’ t
know. ”
    And
it seemed nobody else did either.  Not even Katie.  But she couldn ’ t
help but feel a little guilty about what happened to Striker, not that he didn ’ t
deserve it … the bastard!
    “ And
this Bart Miller?  Anybody know where he went? ”
    “ Home,
I suppose.  I told him to leave, ” Katie said, and this
seemed to satisfy Preston.  But he wouldn ’ t
forget … she knew that. 
If Bart ever returned to Blazedale, no doubt he ’ d
be arrested … or worse.

 
     
     
     
    CHAPTER
THIRTEEN
    Woody
Clampett drove into town Sunday, just before noon, and checked in at the
hotel.  He then asked Ralph Longley, the hotel owner, to ring up Katie Peck. 
He wanted a sit down with her and Yancey Burke at the county jail.  She was
expecting him, and a half hour later the two of them entered the s heriff ’ s
office.
    Unfortunately
the sheriff wasn ’ t in and the deputy in
charge wasn ’ t at all cooperative.  “ Nope,
nope, nope …” seemed
to be the entirety of the smallish, bearded man ’ s
vocabulary.
    “ Can
you ring him? ” Woody
suggested.
    “ Nope. ”
    “ Then
sir, as an officer of the court, you leave me no choice but to relieve you of
duty.  Your shameful conduct is contrary to both state and federal laws.  As an
attorney, ready access to my client is carved in stone, sir.  Even the Bible gives
mention of it. ”   Upon saying that, and it was
obvious by the blank look on the deputy ’ s
face, he hadn ’ t understood a word said, Clampett
drew a large pistol from under his suit jacket and quickly disarmed him.  Then,
taking a ring of keys from a peg on the wall, Woody marched the little man,
hands up, through the jail room door, into a cell and locked it.
    All
this was done to the surprise of Katie, who remained speechless the entire
time.  Knowing the part about the Bible was utter bull shit, she couldn ’ t
help but wonder what repercussions would arise once Preston Ames discovered
what had occurred here.
    Anxious
to see Yancey, Katie dashed ahead.  One look at him and she couldn ’ t
believe how much better he looked since she was here last, on Friday morning. 
She wanted to come yesterday but spent the morning trying to locate Lester
Kingsley, who hadn ’ t been seen since
disappearing Friday night.  Gracie was beside herself for fear something bad
had happened to him this time.
    Katie
reached through the bars and touched Yancey ’ s
face as he stepped up.  He looked disheveled and rumpled, but at least the
swelling in his face was down to near normal.
    “ Katie …” Yancey said.
    “ Sorry
I couldn ’ t
come yesterday.