Total pages in book: 68
Estimated words: 71312 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 357(@200wpm)___ 285(@250wpm)___ 238(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 71312 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 357(@200wpm)___ 285(@250wpm)___ 238(@300wpm)
Savannah simply nods.
“All I did was clock my guy in the head with his pistol. And he ended up dying.”
“I’m no lawyer,” Leif says, “but it seems like it’s an open-and-shut case. These guys trespassed on your property, held you at gunpoint. What else were you supposed to do?”
“Yeah, I get that. You get that. The ladies here get that.” I sigh. “But I’m an ex-con, man. I pleaded guilty to manslaughter once, even though I didn’t do it.”
Leif tilts his head. “Right. And you won’t tell us why.”
I shoot a fiery glance at Leif. “No, I won’t. But I served my time for that crime. Guilty or innocent, it’s all irrelevant at this point. I did my time, and they can’t get me again for that one.”
“No,” Savannah says. “But because you’re an ex-con, they’re going to look very closely at Abel’s death.”
“I know.”
“You’ve got your father’s money, your own money,” Leif says. “You’ve got an eyewitness in Savannah here.”
“Yeah, and my father and grandfather are on the case as well,” Savannah says. “Those guys came for me. Not you, Falcon.”
“So what’s the next move?” I ask.
“From an investigative standpoint,” Savannah says, “they’re going to look into this. You’re probably going to have to answer more questions, and you may want to have an attorney present when you do.”
“Fine. My old man knows lots of attorneys. Though they couldn’t help me last time.”
“They might’ve been able to help you, Falcon,” Savanah says. “You chose to plead guilty. Only you know the reasons for that.”
I don’t reply. I don’t even nod. They’re right. I didn’t pull the trigger that killed that cop who was out hunting near our property. But someone did. It was an accident for sure. That’s why it was manslaughter and not murder.
I won’t give up the guy who did it. Why should I at this point? I’ve already done the time.
“So they investigate,” Leif says. “You’ve got nothing to hide.”
“No, I don’t,” I say. “Like Kelly here said. I’m an open book. They know everything.”
“Except the stuff you won’t tell us,” Savannah says.
“Except that stuff. Absolutely right.”
“So you have to understand, Falcon,” Savannah says. “From the standpoint of the investigation team, you’re already a killer. You pleaded guilty to a homicide. So in their eyes, you were guilty.”
“She’s right, Fal,” Leif says. “You could make this a lot easier on yourself if you came clean about this whole damned thing.”
“I won’t,” I say. “I made a promise eight years ago, and I won’t break it for anyone. Not even myself.”
“Yeah, I know you won’t.” Leif nods. “Like I said, you’re still the guy I’d want in a foxhole with me.”
“Brother, you don’t know how many times, while I was locked in a cell, that I wished I were in a foxhole with you.”
“I missed you out there. I really did. I made some great friends. There was a group of six of us on my last tour.” Leif pauses, his eyes shadowed. “Only two of us came back.”
“I’m sorry, man.”
“Yeah. It sucks. When you join up to serve your country, you know there are no guarantees. You and I had that discussion many times.”
I nod. “Yes, we did.”
“Why did you both want to join?” Kelly asks.
It’s a valid question, and I’m surprised Savannah hasn’t asked it yet. Then again, she has a lot more on her mind.
“We’re ranchers,” Leif says. “We grew up with love for the land and for our freedom. My parents drummed it into my head from the day I could understand words.”
“He speaks the truth,” I say. “My father’s not a veteran, and neither of my grandfathers served either. But Leif and I were talking serving since we were in our early teens.”
“You both had good childhoods,” Kelly says.
“We did,” Leif says. “In fact, I consider Falcon’s dad a second father, and vice versa. The two of us were inseparable. And they both instilled in us values, taught us how to defend ourselves. Taught us nothing’s free in this world.”
“And they taught us to value family,” I say, regarding my knuckle tats.
R R H E
My siblings I’d die for.
There are a lot of unsaid words in that sentence about family, words I’ll never say to any of them.
Prison was hell. I’ve been so damned mad at Eagle lately that I swore to God I would never take the fall again. Never go back to prison to save anyone’s hide.
But I know I would.
I’d do for Eagle or for Hawk. For Robin or Raven. For Leif or Savannah.
Because that’s what I was taught.
And that’s who I am.
20
SAVANNAH
Falcon and I stopped at the grocery store after we left the hospital and picked up something simple for dinner. Steaks, potatoes, and a couple heads of broccoli. Gourmet vanilla ice cream for dessert.
Kelly and I head to the kitchen to cook.