Joan Hess - Arly Hanks 04 Read Online Free PDF Page B

mouth to the other in record-breaking time, presuming there was a record. "We got a truck that was headed for Maggody and a taillight headed for Hasty. It ain't much, but at least it's something."
    Plover shook his head. "Unless the perp set the fire so that it would take a while to blaze up, and was back home watching the baseball game by nine o'clock. Or unless he was parked off the road and watched Billy Dick here drive by, then sedately went on his way."
    "Dammit, Plover," Harve said without anger, "it's my party and we're going to play by my theories, mostly, cause that's all we've got. Arly, see what you can turn up about a truck coming your way. I'll put one of my boys on the Hasty end. A vehicle with a broken taillight might not be too hard to find."
    I nodded. "And I'll cruise the road tomorrow and look for a place where the perp could have pulled off far enough not to be seen."
    Wade yelled a few orders to his men, then grinned at me. "Maybe you ought to take me up on that offer to open a branch in Maggody. I'd be real pleased to stay at your place with you until we catch this guy. On your couch ... or elsewhere."
    "So kind of you," I said, taking a wicked pleasure in Plover's faint snort. "If a fireman can't heat up the situation, who can?"
    On that incredibly witty note, we disbanded.
     
     
     
    Chapter 3
     
    8 EXT. WOODED PATH -- NIGHT -- MED. SHOT
    Loretta is sitting on a log. Cooter paces in front of her, Ins face tight with anger and his hands curled into fists.
     
    COOTER
    So you and that white trash went for a walk the other night, did you?
     
    LORETTA
    (miserably)
    Yes, Sir, but that's all we did.
     
    CAMERA MOVES behind Cooter as he steps in front of Loretta.
     
    COOTER
    So you're still a sweet little virgin, huh? Never seen one of these before, huh? Wouldn't know what to do with it, huh?
     
    LORETTA
    (brokenly)
    Yes, sir -- I mean, no, Sir. Billy Joe and I didn't ... He wanted to, but I told him I had to wait until I was married.
     
    COOTER
    I'll find out if you're lying when the time comes. If you are, I'll find ways to make you miserable for the rest of your life. (beat) How old are you?
     
    LORETTA
    Fifteen, Sir. My birthday's coming up real fast.
     
    COOTER
    I don't care about any fool birthday. Fifteen's old enough to be learned a few things. I aim to start the lesson right now.
     
    LORETTA
    Yes, Sir. My pa said I had to do whatever you told me to.
     
    9 CLOSE SHOT-BILLY JOE
    Billy Joe is hiding behind some trees, his expression tormented.
     
    10 RETURN TO SCENE
    Loretta and Cooter should be able to AD-LIB through this. CAMERA MOVES between them.
     
    Note: See script of Prickly Passion, scenes 1, 6, 11, 17, 29.
    CUT TO:
     
    -- ==+== --
     
    "Needless to say, I had no intention of cooperating with those Hollywood types," Mrs. Jim Bob informed Perkins's eldest, who was on her hands and knees, scrubbing the kitchen floor. "But I was under the misconception that they would simply take over the house and I would have no say in what they did."
    She waited for Perkins's eldest to respond, but when nothing was forthcoming, she decided to call Lottie for a nice chat. She fixed a cup of tea, tucked a few lemon cookies on the edge of the saucer, settled down on the sofa in the living room, and dialed the number. To her chagrin, she was treated to a busy signal.
    "Lottie Estes is the worst gossip in town," Mrs. Jim Bob said loudly so that Perkins's eldest could benefit from the opinion. "I merely wanted to let her know that I have been asked to take a small yet vital role in the movie. I protested, naturally, but the woman who called all the way from California pleaded with me to accept." She once again waited for a response -- anything, even a primitive grunt of admiration -- but Perkins's eldest seemed to be in one of her taciturn moods. "I shall donate the money to charity. It's the Christian thing to do, and I will feel much better about being involved with that kind of people if I know I'm