* * *

Deputies were just beginning to arrive at the police station as Lon got back to his office. He stuck his head in the break room and saw two of his deputies making fresh coffee.

“Give me a couple of minutes, and I’ll fill you in on what’s happening,” he said, then went up front. “Travis, did we have any kind of paperwork come in on Hoover Slade?” he asked.

“Yes, sir, just a few minutes ago. It’s a rap sheet with his mug shot. I ran off some copies for you,” Travis said, and got up to get them.

“Thanks,” Lon said. “As soon as Avery arrives and clocks in, fill him in on what’s happening, okay?”

“Yes, sir,” Travis said.

Lon paused in the hall to scan the fax. He noticed Hoover had been identified on security footage stealing a car, and the info for the stolen vehicle had been added to the rap sheet, then glanced in the break room. The other deputies had arrived.

“Guys, come on into my office,” he said. As soon as they walked in, he gave each of them a hard copy of the escapee’s mug shot and rap sheet.

“We have an escapee from Coastal State reported to be headed this way, possibly in a stolen gray Ford Focus. The model and tag number are on your handout. Some of you are too new to know who this is, but the ones who’ve been on the job here for years will recognize him. Hoover Slade grew up in the hills above Blessings, and he still has family up there. I want a man on the highway coming in from the north to keep an eye out for that car. Deputy Ralph, you take that position.”

“Yes, sir,” Ralph said.

Lon continued. “I’ll notify the schools to be on alert, and if he’s spotted in the area, they’ll go on lockdown. I want another deputy patrolling the area around the schools nonstop. If you see anything suspicious, don’t try to be a hero on your own. Call for backup. The rest of you patrol the town. Is that understood?”

“Yes, sir,” they said.

“Okay, then get out there, and let’s keep it safe in Blessings.”

Lon sat back down at his desk and buzzed his dispatcher.

“This is Avery. Travis caught me up on what’s happening. What do you need, Chief?”

“See if you can find a phone number for Sugar Slade. I need to notify her that Hoover is on the run.”

“Yes, sir,” Avery said.

Lon hung up, then called the county sheriff and notified him of the call he’d received. He started to get some coffee, then realized he hadn’t made any for himself this morning and went to the break room to get some water. He had just poured it into his coffee maker and turned it on when Avery walked in.

“Chief, this is the only number I could find. It was in one of our old phone books from back in the day when everybody still used landlines. It may not be any good anymore.”