“Well, first off, they ain’t lookin’ so hot. Their eyes are bloodshot. Their bodies are all swole up. Couple of the fellas look like they’ve yanked half their hair out. And the smell of ’em. Kee-rist, you wouldn’t believe it!”

“Maybe they just need breakfast.”

“Had it. I fed ’em a full square about a half hour ago. Most of them ate so fast they forgot to chew.”

“Think there’s a bug going around or something?”

“You want my opinion, I’d say they’re on drugs.”

“Hadn’t seen much of that in a while. Think it’s the nose candy?”

“Don’t matter what it is. Question is, how could they have gotten drugs into the jailhouse?”

“Up their butts, probably. You know kids these days. Want me to call for a medic?”

“How ’bout a zookeeper. I’m telling you, these kids are acting like caged animals.”

“Hang on, lemme click my screen over to the security cam.”

“Don’t bother. ’Bout ten minutes ago one of ’em ripped it off the wall and crushed it under his armpit. Actually, the cameras are out in both blocks.”

“No lie?”

“That ain’t the half of it. You know the big one in Block A, got the fucked-up face? What’s his name, Flamont something?”

“Yeah, Booker Flamont. Senior. Strong-side middle linebacker.”

“Well, he’s been doing one-arm chin-ups off the plumbing pipe for twenty minutes. I can’t get a word out of him other than ‘Fuck you, copper, more bacon.’ The boys over in Block B aren’t much better off. They’ve got a football game goin’ on in the damn cell. Full tackle and everything.”

“Where’d they get a football?”

“They’re using the commode. Ripped the damn thing right out of the floor. I’m sixteen years on the block, Hubie, and I gotta tell you, for the first time in my career I’m a little jumpy.”

“Ah, it ain’t no big thing. Listen, I got a plan. Soon as Freddy gets back from the john, I’ll send him on down there to take a look. Meantime, sit tight and I’ll keep trying the sheriff on the horn. And just remember, they’re only kids. We’re still the law around here.”

“Hope you’re right. Get Freddy down here quick!”

CHAPTER 41

I THINK we’re a little late, Logan.”

Through the windshield Cole looked at what remained of Thedford Blunt’s cattle herd. The skeletal mounds were chalk white, picked clean of all meat. Cole estimated there to be at least forty of them scattered across the horizon.

He told Savannah to drive onto the property.

She looked at him reluctantly. “Really?”

“It’s all right. They’re not here.”

“How do you know?”

“’Cause there’s nothing left to eat. Come on, we don’t have much time. Head for the barn.”