“Happy to. Our buddy’s sleeping inside, though. Hate to wake him. He drank a little too much during Happy Hour tonight.”

“He drinks too much every damn night,” Tom said in a griping tone, flashing back to Korea, where he and Walt had occasionally lied to MPs in similar fashion.

“I’ll try not to disturb him,” said the cop. “But I need to see both your driver’s licenses. Proof of insurance, as well.”

Tom guessed the trooper was about forty. He had dark hair and eyes set too close together beneath the brim of his hat.

“Open the van door, sir,” he ordered Tom. “Then step away from the vehicle.”

Walt nodded that Tom should comply.

I guess we’re going to brazen this out, Tom thought. As he walked to the Roadtrek’s side door, he prayed that the intravenous Valium would keep Sonny sedated for the duration of their bluff.

“Captain Garrity,” said the trooper, “while he’s opening that door, I want you to turn around and place your hands behind your head.”

“Happy to,” Walt said, folding his hands behind his neck. “You’re pretty far off the beaten path for patrol, aren’t you?”

“I work on loan to the Criminal Investigations Bureau sometimes.”

“That right?” Tom saw Walt’s right hand flex and unflex behind his head.

Tom’s hand was on the Roadtrek’s door handle. He sensed more than saw the trooper coming closer, preparing to scan the interior once the door opened. As Tom pressed the button in the door handle, he heard a thud from inside the van.

“Ol’ Jimmy must be waking up.” Walt laughed. “He’ll be wanting some hair of the dog.”

The trooper drew his pistol. “Inside the van!” he yelled. “Open the door and come out with your hands out in front of you!”

Sonny Thornfield shouted something unintelligible from within.

The trooper whirled to make sure Walt’s hands were still on his head.

Tom’s throat sealed shut with fear.

“How many of you are in there?” called the trooper.

This time there was no response. Tom’s back began to ache between his shoulder blades. He prayed it wasn’t heart pain.

“Open that damned door!” the trooper yelled at Tom. “Do it now, then back away!”

“Hey, take it easy, brother. We got nothing to hide.”

The trooper waved his gun at Tom. “You get that goddamn door open.” He glared at Walt. “And you stay right where you are!”

It is heart pain, Tom realized, rotating one shoulder to try to relieve the ache. I need a nitro. I guess the sooner this is over, the sooner I’ll get one. He popped the door handle and pulled it open.

“Back away!” shouted the trooper.

Tom took four steps back from the van.