“But we were. And you’re safe. Now let’s get the place locked up.”

A few minutes later, Phil pulled into the drive-through at the bank, dropped his bag into the night deposit, and then took Lon to the police station.

“Thanks again, Chief,” Phil said.

“Just doing our job,” Lon said. “See you tomorrow. Try and get some rest,” he added, then got out of the car and went inside.

The Hollis brothers had been booked and put in cells across from each other.

Brian was lying on his cot with his face turned to the wall and still hadn’t said a word.

Teddy was pale and shaken, but silent until the chief walked in.

He stood. “Did you call our parents?”

“Just about to do that,” Lon said. “You want to give me their number?”

“No,” Teddy said.

Brian turned over. “I will. It’s my dad’s cell.” He gave the number, then asked, “What’s going to happen to us?”

“You will be charged with attempted assault with a weapon, attempted robbery, and attempted car theft,” the chief said.

“We didn’t hit anybody. We didn’t steal anything. We didn’t take a car,” Teddy argued.

“Just because we caught you in the act before you could finish it doesn’t give you a pass,” Lon said.

“We can’t afford a lawyer,” Teddy said.

Lon sighed. “Were you paying attention when my officers read you your rights?”

Teddy shrugged. “I guess.”

“Then you heard them say that if you can’t afford a lawyer, one will be appointed for you. Sit tight, boys. I’ve got some calls to make.”

He left the jail and went straight to his office.

* * *

Donna Hollis was a little woman with a big heart. She was in her early forties but looked older. Life had been hard since the day she’d been born. But falling in love with Arnold Hollis had been her blessing. She loved him, and she loved their boys with everything in her.

The boys were tall like Arnold but got their blond hair from her, and even though they seemed to be stumbling their way out of their teenage years, she had faith they would do it. She was cleaning up from supper and could hear her husband snoring as she finished washing the dishes. She wanted him to carry out the trash, but hated to wake him. He loaded and unloaded sacks at the feed store all day long and always came home so tired. If he wasn’t loading up a customer’s purchases into their vehicle, he was unloading delivery trucks or driving the forklift moving pallets of feed.