I EXIT THE arena, dragging Goliath behind me, pushing through the other entrants in the holding pen into the alley. Coulter, Kaya, and Officer Hanks are waiting for me.
“Have you seen Justin?” barks Officer Hanks.
I just stare at Coulter’s hands. “Why are you in handcuffs, Mr. Coulter?”
“Do you know where he is?” asks Coulter. Even through his beard I can see him grimacing. “I need you to tell the truth, Cassidy.”
Sometimes it’s hard to know which truth to tell.
“I haven’t seen him since this morning. What’s going on?”
“Officer Hanks seems to think Justin has been releasing his horses,” says Coulter.
“I don’t think it. I have video proof.”
Kaya’s beautiful olive skin is bright red. “Miles Hanks. You are acting like a fool. No one in this town will ever speak to you again. Starting with me.”
Officer Hanks says, “These little punks think they are a law unto themselves. And Coulter knowingly lets them do it. For all I know it’s his idea.”
Kaya steps forward into Mile’s face. “Why don’t you arrest all of us, Miles?”
Coulter bows his hat down. “You don’t want to do that, Miles. Trust me.”
Officer Hanks looks at Goliath and then me. “That kid’s going to jail. He’s a brazen thief. And if you know where he is, you’d better get him to come in, or Coulter’s going to rot waiting for him.”
Coulter says, “Miles, I’m starting to think your mother must not have paid attention to you when you were young. But as usual your timing is impeccable. Kaya and Darius, you two are in charge of the auction.” He turns to me. “You did good out there, Cassidy. Real good.”
“Thank you,” I say.
He smiles through his beard. “They’ll be falling down to buy him.”