Chapter 25

The street entrance to Buck Ka-e-te-nay’s garage led to a multi-function room. It tripled as a lobby for dropping off and picking up, a sitting area for customers wishing to wait, and Buck’s office. Steele spotted Buck through the window when he got out of his car and went into the main entrance for the first time.

Buck was sitting behind a gray metal desk with more rags and auto parts cluttered on it than papers. Behind him, against the wall, were two file cabinets with four large drawers each. Above them, a clock in the shape of a 1950s car hung on the wall. Next to the clock was a calendar with a picture of a John Deer tractor and a pretty redhead in overalls with bright blue eyes and straw sticking out of her mouth. A bookcase overflowing with parts manuals stood against the wall next to the entrance to the garage, with a well-used coffee pot on top of it. In the front corner by the window, a small table with magazines scattered on it had several chairs around it. Most of the magazines weren’t current.

Buck cradled a steaming coffee mug in his two large hands, the fingernails black with grease. He nodded to Steele as he took a sip. Steele dragged a wooden chair from the waiting area over to the desk and sat across from Buck.

“Who are the shooters in town?” Steele said.

“Shooters? What do you mean?”

“Which kids are handy with guns.”

Buck sipped his coffee while staring at Steele over the top of the mug. “Clive Jenkins can take a coyote down from two hundred yards.”

“I meant handguns. Semi-automatic pistols.”

“Clive’s good with handguns, too. And Mac Ruster and Brian Johnston and...” Buck took another sip. This time his eyes looked past Steele and a little to the side. His gaze returned to Steele. “I guess Angel Rodriguez and Johnny Strepp also, but the first three are the best. Why?”

“Just asking.”

Buck chuckled. “I haven’t known you long, but you don’t just ask.”

Steele sat up in his chair. He interlocked his fingers, lifted his arms straight up, and stretched while rotating his shoulders. He cracked his knuckles before putting his hands in his lap.

“I don’t know what to tell Elena,” Steele said. “I’m running out of ideas.”

“Maybe Pete did it.”

“Maybe he did. It sure looks like it. The shooter had skills, skills that take practice to learn. Maybe Pete shot with those other guys and no one knew it.”

“It’s going to crush Elena when you tell her.”

“She’s going to need someone,” Steele said.

“You planning on staying in Cactus Point?”

“Not me. I’ll be leaving when this is done.”

Buck leaned forward. “You will?” His voice was a higher pitch than normal. Some coffee spilled over the top of his mug. He grabbed a rag on his desk and mopped it up.

Steele held back his laugh, but couldn’t prevent the smile. “What did you expect?”

“I, um, I don’t know. I just thought, um, that you and Elena were, um, in a relationship.”

“We were a long time ago. When she was in college. We are different people now. No, I will be leaving.” Steele paused while studying Buck. “I considered taking Elena with me, but only to get her away from here. There’s nothing here for her.”