Bigfoot Crank Stomp Read Online Free Page B

as he picked it up and keyed it. “Lyle, is that you trying to reach one of us?”
    “Sorry, Sheriff, it’s Dispatch. I hit the wrong number the first time.”
    “Debbie, damn it, I’m down the hall. You don’t have to call me on the radio when I’m in the office.”
    “Yes, Sheriff. I didn’t know if you were...indisposed.”
    Gabe eyed Stanger. “Debbie knows?”
    A grin a fox would be proud of spread across Stanger’s mouth. “Shit, everyone knows.”
    Gabe didn’t like that. “One of you guys run your mouth?”
    “Nope. I think she heard through the door a few times. Did the math.”
    Well, there was nothing to be done about that. Debbie hadn’t said anything or even dropped a hint she knew about his tastes. That said something about her. Loyal. Dutiful.
    “Sheriff?” Debbie’s voice broke over the radio again.
    Gabe blinked, remembering she’d called. “It’s just me and Stanger. Come on down.”
    “Wonder what’s up?” Stanger said.
    Gabe had half a response out when the door flew open and Debbie ran in. She huffed and puffed. Her ample breasts rose and fell against a khaki button down. Her face, flushed. Eyes wide. Sweat dotted her forehead. She was pushing forty but was still in good shape. The run down the hall didn’t have this effect on her. Something else had excited her to the point of hyperventilating.
    “Jesus, Debbie, what is it?” Gabe started around the desk.
    “Shootout.”
    “What?” Gabe and Stanger said at the same time.
    “Shootout.” She took a deep breath and spoke as she exhaled. “9-1-1 call just came in. Several shots fired up off Fool’s Gold Loop.”
    Stanger’s head snapped to Gabe. “Cookers up in one of those cabins.”
    Gabe held up a hand. “Who made the call, Debbie?”
    “Anonymous male. But they said it sounded like several shotgun blasts and a handgun.”
    “Did he say what kind of handgun?”
    “Nine millimeter.”
    Gabe turned to Stanger. “Manny Lopez.”
    “How do you know?”
    “Because Manny’s a former Marine sniper. Who else up on the Loop could pick out a shotgun and a nine mil? Hell, who else is on the Loop this time of year other than Manny and free-campers?”
    “Good point. Why didn’t he just give his name?”
    “Because he’s a paranoid fuck who hates government. It probably took him ten minutes to talk himself into making the call.” Gabe turned back to Debbie. Her breathing had slowed some. “Did he say where on the Loop?”
    “Said it sounded like it came from around mile marker Four.”
    “The old Robertson place,” Stanger said. “Definitely cookers. Young punks. Seen them around town. One of them inherited the cabin or some shit like that.”
    Gabe placed his hands on his hips, nodding. “Good job, Debbie. Go back out and radio Lyle. Tell him to meet us at the bottom of the Loop.”
    “Okay, Sheriff.” She headed for the door, stopped, and turned back around. “Should I send emergency services?”
    “Not yet. We’ll check it out first. Don’t want a couple of EMTs getting shot.”
    She half-smiled and left.
    “Stanger, get Pronger and Betts over there.”
    “Want the Armory opened?”
    “No. Shotguns and sidearms only. I doubt there’ll be anyone shooting by the time we get there.”
    “Just the injured and the dead.”
    “Just the dead.”
    Stanger’s eyes opened a few centimeters beyond normal.
    Gabe winked. “We’ll make these cookers go away permanently. Right?”
    Stanger’s face lit up. “Right.”
    “Well, let’s get moving then.” Gabe grabbed his gun belt from the coat rack. “You’re driving.”

RUSSELL
     
     
    Russell found a living room on the left. Mickey stood in front of the TV, back to him, shoulders rising and falling on heavy breaths. Behind him, a bunch of Chinese food cartons left out on a cable-spool coffee table.
    “Mickey.”
    No response.
    “Mickey.” Russell almost yelled his name.
    Mickey turned. The front of his face and shirt were splattered with blood. His