“You cost me state money.”
There it was.
Leo laughed bitterly.
“That’s what you care about.”
“You think food is free?”
“You barely fed us.”
Hank’s face reddened.
“You think electricity is free?”
“We worked for you.”
“You lived in my house.”
“We worked on your rentals.”
Hank stepped closer.
“You want to argue?”
Leo looked at Higgins.
“You hear him?”
The deputy stared toward the highway.
“Hank, get him in the truck.”
“You know what he does.”
“Not my problem.”
Leo’s fear became anger.
“You brought Mason back last year.”
Higgins’s eyes flickered.
“He told you.”
“Enough.”
“You knew Hank broke his wrist.”
“I said enough.”
Hank grabbed Leo by the front of his jacket.
Leo winced.
“Three weeks.”
Hank’s voice was low now.
“You made me answer questions for three weeks.”
“Good.”
The slap came quickly.
Leo fell sideways against the rusted pump.
Pain filled his mouth.
Higgins shifted uncomfortably.
“Hank.”
“What?”
“Don’t make this complicated.”
Hank ignored him.
He searched Leo’s pockets.
Found nothing.
Then his fingers touched the Zippo.
He pulled it out.
Sunlight flashed off the silver.
Hank smiled.
“Well.”
Leo’s eyes widened.
“Give that back.”
“Where’d you get this?”
“It’s mine.”
Hank examined the skull.
“No way.”
“Give it back.”
“Stealing now?”