Gone South (A Butterscotch Jones Mystery Book 3) Read Online Free Page A

CBP officer to the back of his Range Rover, he unlocked the rear door and swung it open. The officer shined his light inside and was reaching to dig through Butterscotch’s cover when he was interrupted by the sound of a loud siren.
    “What’s that?” Chuck asked, nearly jumping out of his skin.
    “It’s the emergency call. Someone found something,” the officer replied, looking to the second booth over, the one with the red light flashing above its stall.
    “Do you need any help?”
    “Just get into your vehicle and drive,” the officer replied, handing back Chuck’s paperwork while obviously distracted by the action taking place nearby.
    The CBP officer took just long enough to raise the gate and flag Chuck through before pulling his firearm and running to the scene of all the activity. Chuck pulled away from the inspection station trying not to drive too fast. Merging onto the I- 29 he released a huge sigh of relief. At the same time, he realized that he didn’t have to use the facilities any more. He said another silent prayer that he hadn’t soiled himself.
    He pulled off at a rest stop in Pembina and climbed out of his car. That wa s where he began having his first ever conniption.
     
    *  *  *
     
    I cautiously let myself out of the back of Chuck’s Range Rover only to find that he was having a conniption. Leaning over, hands on knees, he looked like he was going to be ill. His face was flushed red and he was covered in sweat.
    “Chuck?”
    Something damp splatted against my cheek. The sky was darkening. The moon had disappeared and ozone built up around us. Birds were huddling on tree branch es and wires, bracing for the worst. It was going to rain like Doomsday and we were getting strange looks from passing cars . We were also too close to the border for my liking, but first things first.
    I’d never seen Chuck lose it before, not even in a blizzard with the Russian mafia holding half t he Gulch hostage. Of course he was entitled to a meltdown. Hell, I’d been on the verge myself and might have flipped out if his reaction hadn’t averted my own panic attack.
    “What the hell was I thinking? What the hell were you thinking? Are you crazy? You don’t even love your father! ” he demanded , looking up at me. There was real anger there. “We could have been shot! Arrested!”
    “I’m sorry,” I said, and was. “I should never have told you about any of this. Look, just leave me here. I’ll catch a ride with one of the trucks coming through. I’ll find some other way home when I’m done.”
    Chuck looked like I had slapped him. Slowly color drained from his face.
    “Really, it’s okay , Chuck . Just go. Get out while you can. I can take care of myself.”
    “No. It’s not okay,” he finally said, straightening completely . “I apologize for that. I shouldn’t have said it. It isn’t right to blame you. The reality was just worse than I imagined. I don’t like lying and that guard was crazy . ”
    “Blame me. It’s okay to be angry about this. Hell, I’m angry. This creature who fathered me has never brought anything but suffering into my life. It spills over on everyone sooner or later — but I shouldn’t have let it touch you. I should have pushed you away long ago. I’m poison.” I wasn’t shouting but my voice was too loud. I made an effort to bring it back down.
    “No.” This sounded more definite. He managed a small smile. “I was looking at things the wrong way. We should be celebrating. We did it. It’s my first time smuggling someone over the border and I got away with it .”
    “Huh.” I appreciated the sentiment, but was too tired to celebrate, too tired to even be truly angry at the man who had caused it. Euphoria and rage would both have to wait until I had slept. It had been an impossibly long day and I felt like I had left my soul and sanity somewhere behind me. “So, you aren’t leaving?”
    “Absolutely not. Hell, the rest will be easy compared with