“What town is that over there?” Clayton asked without even turning his head. “I might as well ask, since you’ve been staring out the window since whenever ago.”
“It’s Mellette. You just blew past the sign.”
“Do you know anything about the town?”
“Can’t say that I do.”
“I always wonder about these small towns I zip past. Each one must have some kind of story. Are you from a small town?”
“Well, that depends. Do you call Brookings a small town?”
“When I was growing up, no. Now…maybe a small city? I mean, if I call Brookings a small town, what to I call Millford?”
“Mellette.”
“Whatever.”
Will rubbed his eyes. “Why are you bringing this up? You didn’t want to talk most of the last bunch of miles.”
“I’m getting a little sleepy, and I need to keep you awake.”
“Misery loves company.”
“Something like that.” Clayton was shaken a bit more awake by the sudden ringing of Will’s cell phone.
“That’s interesting.”
“What ring is that?”
“That’s my ring for numbers I don’t know. It’s a Sioux Falls number, no name.”
“You should let it go to your voice mail.”
Will looked at Clayton, then at his phone. “What if it’s Tina’s doctor?”
“It isn’t. Trust me.”
“I can’t take that chance Clayton. You’re due to be wrong one of these days.”
“Okay, but don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
“Hmph.” Will flipped open his phone and put it to his ear. “Hello?”
“HETFIELD! So NICE of you to ANSWER YOUR DAMN PHONE!” Captain Hale’s voice was so loud that Clayton heard it loud and clear. He smirked and shook his head, while Will switched the phone from one ear to the other.
“Sorry sir…I’ve been resting and, you know…relaxing.”
“Don’t make me have Felix trace his cell phone back to you. I’ll triangulate your ass. You’re with that F.B.I. agent on some damn fool trip to Aberdeen.”
“Let me talk to him” said Clayton. Will passed the phone to Clayton. “Captain, this is Agent Iron-Horse. I accept f-”
“Excuse me, but I was talking to William Hetfield. Are you William Hetfield?”
“No, but I-”
“Put him back on.”
“I talked him i-”
“PUT him back on.”
“This was a-”
“ARE YOU DEAF? PUT HETFIELD BACK ON THE DAMN PHONE!”
Clayton slowly handed the phone back to Will. “I think you’d better take this.” Will gritted his teeth and lowered the volume on his phone.
“Sir I w-”
“Just shut it for a second. Is the volume on your phone turned low?”
“Yes.”
“Is the earpiece as far away from him as possible?”
Will switched ears and bent towards the passenger window. “Yes” he said, in a voice that fit a man being scolded better than a man following orders.
“I just got off the phone with the Aberdeen police. They won’t tell me what the feds are going to do with Anderton and Fulton. If you find them, you bring them back here by any means necessary. I will not have anyone who can help with the Stevens case hauled away to some governmental lock up. Do you get me? Any means necessary.”
“I understand.”
“Good. Now hang up the phone and keep acting like Mr. Fed’s best friend.”
“Yes sir” Will said, but Hale had hung up before he’d finished.
