Atonement Read Online Free PDF Page B

climbed out of the car.
    “Just sampling this fresh mountain air,”  Logan said, moving round to stand about ten feet directly in front of the black and white.
    “Yeah, and I’m the Tooth Fairy,”  Carl came back.  “Just what the fuck are you doing out here?”
    “Minding my own business, deputy.”
    And exactly what business would that be?”
    “Not yours.”
    “I don’t like your attitude,”  Carl said.  “I’m the law, and am asking you a reasonable question.”
    “I just gave you a reasonable answer.  I’m going to head off back through the woods now to the motel, unless you think we have anything further to discuss.”
    Carl’s right hand slipped to the butt of the holstered Glock at his hip.  It was an unconscious move, but demonstrated to Logan that the cop was nervous and unsure as to what to do next.
    “As I recall, Earl and me advised you to leave town,”  Carl said.  “Seems you don’t listen up to good advice.”
    “I listened, and decided that it was bad advice from two dumb as dirt, third rate cops.”
    Carl took a step towards Logan, balling his fists.  Bright red spots formed on his cheeks as he considered the situation.
    Logan said nothing.  Just stood and waited.  Hoped that the deputy didn’t make a move on him, because breaking the guy’s nose would ensure that he would be bust and sleeping that night in a cell.
    Carl looked both ways.  There was no other vehicle in sight, so he went for broke and took a swing at Logan, who caught the fist in his hand and just stood rock still, his arm muscles bunching as he held it in a viselike grip.  “You need to think real quick, son,”  he said to Carl.  “Do you really want to find out where this will lead, because I don’t give a fuck about your badge or your gun?  You’re just a thug in uniform offering me unnecessary aggression, and if you push me hard enough I’ll break you in two.”
    Carl had left the video in the cruiser running.  Knew that he’d inadvertently just taped himself attempting to assault a guy that had been standing with his arms hung loosely at his sides.  He couldn’t wipe it without having to do a lot of lying.  The system was time-coded and checked regularly.  He was so used to it being there that he’d forgotten that he had turned it on as per the book, before exiting the vehicle.
    He attempted to pull his hand free, but it was fixed as securely as a clamp on a car wheel.
    Logan got tired of waiting, so put downward pressure on the fist, and forced Carl to his knees.  He then quickly relieved the deputy of his handcuffs and sidearm.  He was mildly surprised to find that his reactions were still so sharp.  Not bad for a guy of fifty .
    He frisked Carl, found his cell and phoned Clifton. Got Kate Donner’s number from him and punched it up.
    “Kate Donner.”
    ‘It’s Logan,”  he said.  “I’m out near the Foster crime scene.  Deputy Purvis just attempted to assault me.  I’ve restrained him and am about to call the sheriff, but expect I could use a little moral and legal support out here.”
    Ten seconds of silence followed as Kate let the details sink in.  “I’m on my way, Logan.  Don’t exacerbate the situation.”
    “I don’t plan to,”  Logan said and disconnected.
    He then used the deputy’s radio to call the incident in to the dispatcher at the sheriff’s department.  Said he had an emergency, gave his location and suggested that Sheriff Bumgarner should attend a.s.a.p.
    With Carl cuffed to the window frame of the cruiser, and the Glock separated from its mag and dumped on the rear seat, Logan turned his attention to the surly deputy, who was cursing and making threats.
    “You’re in the wrong line of work,”  Logan said to him.  “You should resign and wash dishes at the Steamboat Diner, or find some other menial job that will suit your limited capabilities.”
    “You’ve just made the biggest mistake of your fucking life, Logan.”  Carl