A Crying Shame (18 page)

That makes you better than the next ... civilian?”

Blackwell glared at him in silence, for the moment without rebuttal.

The deputy smiled sweetly at the newspaperman.

 

Dr. Henry Thurman looked at the creature through unbelieving eyes. He shook his head, wiped his forehead with a handkerchief, then lifted his eyes to the sheriff.
I ... don't believe what I'm seeing, Mike.”

Well, you're damned sure looking at it,” Mike reminded him.
And smelling it.”

The coroner again shook his head.
My mother wanted me to be a lawyer.”

My mother wanted me to be a priest,” Mike said.
But that doesn't help us now, does it, Henry?”

Thurman pulled on rubber gloves and turned the dead brute over on its back. Its exposed penis and ball sac slapped dully against the flesh of its groin.

Sucker sure was hung,” Mack said.

Young man,” Dr. Thurman said, annoyance in his tone,
I—”

Skip it, Henry,” Mike urged.
I agree with Mack.”

Linda had put four shots into the creature's heart.
Good shooting,” Thurman said, his quick annoyance fading.
The young woman did this?”