Chapter Thirty-Nine

Coy left his bicycle parked up close behind the Phifer’s garage. He knew how to get in through the side door. He found the key in the hiding place. Mr. Phifer had shown him a hidden key so he could leave things if they weren't home. He opened the door and went into the garage.

He didn't know why he called Miz Gwen by her first name but not her husband. A lot of things that puzzled him he just had to let be.

At last the Phifer's car pulled into the garage, but Coy waited until the garage door was down before he showed himself. Miz Gwen let out a little yelp when she saw him.

"I'm sorry, Miz Gwen, but I got somethin' real important to give you."

Weariness and worry must have caused her to speak more sharply than she intended, because she grumped at him.

"Coy, not now. This has been a horrific couple of days."

"Miz Gwen, I'm not trying to sell somethin'. I got a message for you." Timidly, Coy handed her the note.

Mr. Phifer hurried over and looked kind of mad at Coy. Before Mr. Phifer could speak, Miz Gwen waved his protests aside.

"It might be news of Link." She took the note from Coy and unfolded it. "Turn on the garage light, will you, Forrest?"

She read the note and big tears ran down her face. Before she handed the note to Mr. Phifer, she hugged Coy.

* * *

Coy had pedaled his bicycle two blocks away from the Phifer home before Sheriff Gary Don's car pulled along beside him.

"Say, Coy, isn't it an odd time to be selling things to Gwen Phifer?"

Coy panicked. He never could lie. Mama said it was sinful, but he knew he needed to now to help Link.

"I had to wait for her 'cause she wasn't home." There, that was true.

The big man eyed him suspiciously, "You weren't in church this morning. You sick?"

"No." It embarrassed him to miss church, even though Sheriff Gary Don made him go to that little church across the river instead of the big Methodist one Mama always went to. He wondered who told Sheriff Gary Don, though.

"Sometimes I just miss. I'll go next Sunday. I'll tell Pastor I'm sorry."

There, that was true, too. He was doing real well but it worried him the sheriff had stopped him in the street like this.

"I came by to see you last night and you weren't home, Coy. Where you been hiding?"

"I been campin' out. You know I like to do that sometimes in the summer."

Coy looked around as his panic increased. Sheriff Gary Don's voice sounded all funny-like. Coy didn't know what to do. He should get away, though, he knew that.

"Well, I'll be seein' you, Sheriff Gary Don."

"Wait just a minute. Let's see what you got in that cart of yours." The sheriff parked his car and climbed out. He walked over to examine the cart. He poked at the clothes, the shoes, and a first aid kit.

His eyes narrowed. "Where'd you get these?"

Coy faced a dilemma. He had never lied to anyone. "I found 'em in the dumpster by the J. C. Penney’s store."

He'd have to go to church next Sunday for sure now. He hoped Mama in heaven could understand why he had to lie. "Sometimes I find real good stuff there."

"Yeah, well they look too big for you. What you figurin' to do with them?"

"Oh, they aren’t for me. I can trade 'em for something else sometime. I save good stuff like that cause that's not what Miz Gwen buys and I cain't sell it at the recycle place neither."

The sheriff still looked at Coy like he didn't believe him. Coy knew Sheriff Gary Don didn't really trust no one, not even Miz Twyla Sue.

"You going home now?”

"No, I believe I'll just ride on my way now and camp out some more while the weather’s nice. Be seeing you."

Coy exhaled with relief as he pedaled away. He was afraid Sheriff Gary Don would make him go home. His little house was a long ways clear across town from the cave.

The sheriff waited until Coy was a half block away before he radioed the car watching the Phifer residence. "Why don't you slip over on South Elm and follow Coy. He's acting real strange, even for him. Let me know where he goes."