“That’s good. Hopefully they’ll have only a bare-bones staff at the sheriff’s office when I get there. Any Badgers fans driving over from Elmwood yet?”

“I just got off the phone with Tallie Mayhew. You know her?”

“Sophomore, brunette, high tits . . .”

“And not a brain in her skull. Yeah, Logan, that’s the one. Tallie’s already at the stadium. She just told me there’s a line of traffic backing up on Jenkins Avenue, coming in off the interstate. The Elmwood folks are definitely on their way.”

“Well, keep making those calls. The bigger the crowd, the better.”

“Enough about me. How are you going to handle this jailbreak?”

“I thought I’d rely on my brute strength and cunning.”

“I figured you’d say that, which is why I took action myself.”

“What kind of action?”

“Thought maybe you could use a little diversion to help you get into the station. It’s already in the works.”

“Savannah, what are you talking about?”

“Let’s just say I recruited a few volunteers to help us in our cause. You’ll see when you get there.”

“Wait … recruited them how?”

“I challenged their school spirit and promised them a cover story in the paper. I’ll text them now, tell them you’re on your way and to be ready. Just be careful, keep my dad’s phone handy, and don’t screw this up.”

“You’re really starting to enjoy this, aren’t you?”

“Good-bye, Logan.”

CHAPTER 45

COLE had to hand it to Savannah. Her diversion tactic was inspired, if not genius.

After ditching the stolen car in a nearby neighborhood, he made it the rest of the way to the Killington Sheriff’s Office on foot. He’d had to jump fences and duck behind hedges to avoid the continuous stream of squad cars running hot all over town.

Crouched behind a Dumpster across the street from the KSO, he saw Savannah’s “recruits” successfully executing her plan with intended effect. The recruits were members of the Jackrabbits cheer squad. They were washing down the four remaining squad cars in the parking lot while six uniformed deputies looked on with wide eyes and lagging tongues.

The cheerleaders’ effort was admirable. The rain had let up some, but the conditions were still bleak. Clouds hovered low over town, and the gusting wind bit hard. The girls wore only their game uniforms—short skirts, haltertops, and ankle socks. Their bare legs and midriffs remained exposed to the harsh elements.

Two girls stood at the edge of the lot beside the road. A large banner was stretched between them that read Give a Cheer for the KSO! They hooted and hollered at every car that passed and got honks and cheers in return. The rest of the girls worked on the squad cars, keeping the deputies engrossed with their flirtatious employment of bucket, sponge, and foam.