Part 11 (2/2)
”I've told my story, Lorin'.”
”You refuse to admit you shot Delbert?”
”I didn't shoot him.”
Callahan said, ”There's evidence to the contrary.”
”So?”
Ted toyed with a single pork chop, one potato, and almost gagged. He took a drink of hot coffee and found it stimulating. Tammie, lying on the bearskin, looked questioningly at his master. Loring Blade pushed his plate back.
”I'm full. Told you you cooked far too much.”
”No harm's done.”
”We'll help you clean up.”
”Right nice of you.”
Al put the uneaten pork chops, a great pile of them, in two covered dishes and placed them in the refrigerator. He covered the kettle of potatoes and left them on the table, and put the biscuits in the breadbox. Ted washed the dishes and Loring Blade dried them.
While he worked Ted brought some order to his scattered thoughts. His father was in trouble, serious trouble, and nothing mattered now except getting him out. That meant the services of a skilled attorney and they had little money. But he could sell the camp for at least as much as it had cost and probably he could get a job in Lorton. Ted washed the last plate and Loring Blade dried it. There was an uneasy interval during which n.o.body did or said anything because n.o.body knew what to do or say.
Finally Loring Blade asked, ”Are you ready, Al?”
”Yep.”
”Shall we go?”
”Guess so.”
Ted said firmly, ”I'm following you in. I'm going to see John McLean tonight. He's a good lawyer.”
There was a ring of command in Al's voice, ”No, Ted!”
”But--”
”Don't come to Lorton tonight! Stay right here!”
Ted said reluctantly, ”If that's what you want--”
”That's what I do want. This thing's too harebrained already. No use makin' it more so by actin' without thinkin'.”
”I'll come in in the morning.”
”If you think best. So long for now.”
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