Against the Edge (The Raines of Wind Can - By Kat Martin Page 0,45
he’d been wearing for years, saw it was a little after 8:00 p.m.
“We’re getting close,” Claire said.
“Up ahead.” He pointed through the windshield. “That’s the apartment building on the right.” Two stories. Dirty brown stucco with a black wrought-iron railing around the upper floor. A lawn that was mostly dirt and looked as though it hadn’t been watered in years.
“I don’t see any white pickups.”
“No, unfortunately.” He slowed as they approached. “That’s unit five on the end upstairs.”
“There aren’t any lights on inside. It doesn’t look like anyone’s home.” Claire pointed toward the building attached to the apartments. “Look! Someone’s pulling out of the carport.”
Ben pulled in behind a parked car, stopped and turned off his headlights. He dug a piece of paper out of his pocket, the info Sol had given him that morning, including the model and plate number of the vehicle Dennis “Duke” Hutchins drove.
“Ninety-nine black Chevy Camaro. Texas plate BQ1 BB13.”
“That’s it! It’s Hutchins, Ben. There’s no one in the apartment. We have to follow him!”
Taking Claire with him into what could be a very bad situation was the last thing he wanted. He watched the black Camaro pulling farther and farther away.
Ben stepped on the gas.
Thirteen
“Leave the damn dog inside. Get out of the truck and let’s go.”
Sitting in the passenger seat, Sam smoothed a hand over the dog’s shiny black coat. “Why can’t Pepper come with us?”
“Because he’ll chase the chickens. Now come on.” Troy tugged the brim of his baseball cap down over his eyes and stuffed a red bandanna into the back pocket of his jeans. He was in a hurry and Sam knew what would happen if he didn’t get moving.
“Stay, Pep. I’ll be back pretty soon.”
Sam jumped down from the seat of the truck and slammed the door. Pepper whimpered and stared sadly out the window.
“What are you waitin’ for? I said let’s go.”
Sam hurried around the truck, afraid to look back at Pep again. Troy could be real mean when someone didn’t do what he wanted. Sam had a knot on the back of his head to prove it.
They started tramping through the powdery dust on the bumpy dirt road, heading for the big barn up ahead. It was made of wood, and there were open windows along the sides, the kind of barn you saw in cowboy movies. There were more pickup trucks than Sam had ever seen.
Troy said they were going to watch a bunch of chickens fighting. Sam thought that sounded really weird. But a lot of people must like it because he could hear them yelling and cheering at the top of their lungs.
The moon helped them see in the dark and there were a couple of lights pointing down from the roof of the barn so people could find their way to the front door.
Walking ahead of Troy, he had almost reached the entrance when he noticed a barrel off to one side. Another barrel sat next to it. As they passed, Sam saw what was in them. His stomach rolled and his mouth went dry. The overhead light shone on feathers of every color—red, brown, gray, white, speckled. The barrel was full of dead chickens, their heads bent at funny angles, their little beady eyes dull and staring.
All of them were covered in blood.
“Those are the losers.” Troy chuckled. “Don’t worry, we’ll be bettin’ on winners.” Coming up behind where Sam had stopped, Troy shoved him forward, making his feet move when they seemed to have forgotten how.
Sam swiveled his neck, his eyes still fixed on the chickens, and suddenly he understood. The chickens didn’t just fight, they killed each other.
“I don’t want to go in there, Troy. I want to wait in the car with Pep.”
“Bullshit. This’ll be good for you. Teach you to be a man.”
Sam tried not to think of the dead chickens, but even if he closed his eyes he could see the mangled, bloody birds. His feet halted again and he swallowed, fighting not to throw up.
“What the fuck?” Troy shoved him hard and he stumbled. “Stop acting like a goddamned baby. You want Duke to think you’re a wimp? Get your ass inside.” Troy shoved him again and Sam kept walking.
All he could think was how stupid he’d been to leave with Troy Bridger. If he could do it over, he would stay with the Robersons whether they liked him or not. He would stay, even though his mother was dead and nobody wanted him.