Death Song Read Online Free

rodeo.
    Smokey’s presence permeated the village, right down to the two life-size carved wooden bears, one black, one brown, that guarded the entrance to the town hall. Although Smokey did draw a fair number of travelers to the village, most stopped for a quick look on their way to somewhere else, and thus Capitan remained a quiet, pleasant, thriving ranching community and not an international tourist destination.
    Tim stepped through the door and greeted the chief, who poured him a mug of hot coffee, held it out, and motioned to an empty chair.
    About fifty years of age, Bolt was a stocky man five-eight in height with a broad upper body, gray hair cut short, and huge hands that hung down from chunky arms. He had the look of a former weightlifter who’d thickened up a bit but hadn’t gone to seed. According to Clayton, Bolt had put in his twenty with the Las Cruces P.D. before retiring as a lieutenant and taking over the Capitan department.
    “Thanks,” Tim said, as he took the mug and settled into a squeaky chair behind a gray, government-surplus metal desk.
    Bolt nodded as he raised his cup. “When you work late nights, the only fresh coffee you’re gonna find in Capitan is right here in this office. If the lights are on, the pot is on. Come by for a cup anytime.”
    “That’s good to know.”
    The Capitan police headquarters consisted of one fairly large room where Tim and the chief sat and two small offices. It was just adequate for Bolt and the two sworn officers who manned the department with him.
    “Do you really have a lightning bolt tattooed on your arm?” Tim inquired.
    Bolt chuckled. “Who told you to ask?”
    “Clayton Istee, Sheriff Hewitt, Chief Deputy Baca, and just about everybody else who mentions your name.”
    Bolt rolled up his sleeve and held out his forearm. “Well, there it is. I got it when I was in the army serving with the Twenty-fifth Infantry Division.”
    Tim recognized the unit patch insignia. “Impressive.”
    “I’m gonna use it as part of my election campaign when I run for county sheriff next year,” Bolt said. “My name, the lightning bolt. Get it?”
    Tim nodded. “The chief deputy isn’t going to run?” he asked. In New Mexico, sheriffs had to stand down after two consecutive four-year terms. Usually, the chief deputy would get elected and the two top cops would simply switch jobs for the next eight years. At least, that’s the way it had been up in Santa Fe County during the time Riley had worked there.
    “Anthony Baca is also retiring,” Bolt said, showing his gums in a toothy smile. “Both Paul and Anthony are going to support me. So the chances are, if you’re still with the S.O. by then, I’ll be your new boss.”
    “That gives me something to look forward to,” Tim said straight-faced.
    Bolt huffed in a joking way and raised his eyebrows. “Are you being sarcastic with me, Deputy Riley?”
    Tim laughed. “If I am, I better do it now before you get elected.”
    Bolt slapped his leg and smiled. “I like your style, Riley. So help me out here, I’m trying to come up with a catchy campaign slogan to go with my name. How does ‘Zap the criminals. Elect Craig Bolt Sheriff of Lincoln County’ sound to you?”
    “That’s good,” Tim said, faking some enthusiasm.
    “I don’t like it either,” Bolt said with a grimace. “It’s too heavy-handed.”
    Tim nodded in agreement. “How about using ‘Bolt the door on criminals in Lincoln County.’”
    Bolt’s eyes widened. He whistled and repeated the slogan. “I like that a lot better than what I came up with, a whole lot better. I think I’d like to run it by my campaign manager.”
    “Who’s that?” Tim asked.
    “My wife,” Bolt said with a laugh.
    “Speaking of wives, I’ve been trying to call my wife up in Santa Fe on my cell phone and haven’t been able to get through. Mind if I make a quick call to her on your office phone?”
    Bolt waved at the desk phone next to Riley’s elbow. “Have