Chapter 20

Outside Influences

"How did you sleep last night, Baby?" Regina asked.

"The best I've slept in days," Danny answered. "It's good to sleep in my own bed again."

"Better than the beds in jail?" Regina teased.

"A lot better with you in it," Danny added.

"That's sweet. I like being in it, but as soon as this mess is over, I'm going to get my house building project back on track. I expect you to like sleeping there even better."

"Demanding now, aren't we?" Danny laughed.

"Maybe a little. You got a problem with it, Buster?"

"What if I do? What are you going to do about it?" Danny teased.

"I think I can handle you Danny, Danny Johnson," Regina laughed. "I'm hungry. Why don't you fire up that motorcycle, and take me out for breakfast, and them maybe for a ride?"

"As long as I don't have to go anywhere near the Ripley Mansion," Danny said.

"I don't think I'd be too welcome there myself," Regina said. "At least not now anyway."

Danny and Regina dressed, then rode across town to the Country Kitchen Restaurant. When they walked in, Sheriff Pendergrass was seated at a table near the door. "Good morning Danny, Miss Regina," the sheriff said. "How are both of you this morning?"

"I'm fine," Regina answered.

"A lot better than when I woke up in your jail yesterday morning," Danny said with a laugh.

"Sit down," the sheriff said. "I want to talk with the both of you."

Danny and Regina took their places at the sheriff's table. "Can I get you some coffee?" the waitress asked.

"That would be nice," Regina said as Danny nodded his head yes.

"Danny," the sheriff said, "you told me you were stopped by one of my deputies just before Junior showed up with his buddies, and beat you up?"

"Yes Sir. He wrote me a ticket for ninety-five in a forty-five."

"Yes, I found the ticket this morning. It was written by Deputy Cox. He's new in my department. Do you think he had something to do with Junior's showing up when he did?"

"Well I wasn't speeding," Danny said. "If he'd write me a ticket for fifty over when I wasn't speeding, then he must not be much of a deputy."

"Like I said," the sheriff continued, "Deputy Cox is new, and I haven't really had time to see what kind of work he does, but if he's working for Junior then my department has a real big problem. I'm afraid this is a lot bigger than a feud between you and Junior."

"Do you believe I did all those things, Sheriff Pendergrass?"

"Just for the record Danny, I don't, but I'm going to have a hard time proving your innocence."

"You said you wanted to talk with both of us, Sheriff?" Regina questioned.

"Yes, Ms. Ripley," the sheriff said. "Do you have any idea what your brother might be up to?"

"I don't know Sheriff. I just don't know Junior all that well. My momma left Daddy when I was a baby, and we didn't have much to do with them until Momma died, and I moved here three years ago."

"Do you think Junior might go as far as to kill you or Danny?"

"I don't know," Regina replied with a look of shock on her face. "Why would Junior kill me? Do you think he'd actually kill us?"

"I don't know how far Junior might go," the sheriff said, "but he's been hanging out with a whole lot of suspicious characters who aren't from around here, and I'm curious to find out who they are."

"Like the three guys who were with him the day he beat me up?" Danny asked.

"Yes," Sheriff Pendergrass said. "Listen Danny, I've already told Deputy Hart to keep an eye on you twenty-four/seven until this mess is over, but I'd feel a whole lot better if you'd spend most of your time at home so he doesn't have to work so hard. I hope that's not too much of a problem for you."

"So much for my motorcycle ride," Regina said.

"Danny," Sheriff Pendergrass said.

"Yes Sheriff."

"Danny, I hope you're not lying to me, son. I want to believe you, and if I find out you're lying then I'm really going to be hurt. Your parents were really good people, and I hope you'll not ruin their good names."

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