"Brackett, Beverly - Sherrif Funderburk - Booger" - читать интересную книгу автора (Brackett Beverly)

Funderburk took a deep breath and bit his tongue, deciding to drop the subject and get down to the reason for his visit.

"Asa, I know what really happened. With the kids..." Funderburk paused, searching for gentle words.

The old farmer looked up, stricken. "Oh, no, please Lord, no..."

"I'm not judging you, I understand why you did what you did. If I'd been in your shoes, I can't say I wouldn't have done the same thing...but that don't make it right."

Hutchins clasped his hands and held them between his knees, pressing one against the other with such force that his arms shook. "Then you'll understand when I ask you not to arrest the boys. Please, just let everyone think I did it and send me to prison. Troy and Davey are good boys, but he was beatin' on 'em almost every day, they never got enough to eat, and they just couldn't see any other way out...he used to tell 'em he'd kill 'em if they talked to anyone..."

Funderburk's stomach turned to ice as Asa continued. "When they called and tol' me what they'd done, I decided to take the blame. I've lived my life, and there ain't much left. A few months at most."

"A few months?" Funderburk's voice was hoarse with shock. "What do you mean?"

"Them doctors at Keowee Memorial say I've got cancer all up in my liver." He shrugged. "Hospital or prison, it's all the same to me. But them boys finally have a chance...Please, Sheriff..."

Funderburk shook his head. "Asa, I'm not sure I can do what you're asking. It's my duty to enforce the law..."

The sound of footsteps echoing down the corridor brought the conversation to a sudden halt. Funderburk twisted around in his seat as Deputy Sheriff Bill Carson appeared at the cell door.

"Uh, Wallace, Rayette Hutchins is here..."

The old farmer brightened at the mention of his wife's name.

Carson shrugged his shoulders and winced slightly. "I'm sorry, Asa, but she's asked to see the Sheriff."

As he stood up to leave, Funderburk reached out and patted the older man on the shoulder. "Don't you worry, Asa, I'm sure Rayette wants to see you, too. She probably just asked to see me first."

* * *

Rayette Hutchins, a tiny, red-faced dumpling of a woman, sat in a plastic chair outside Funderburk's office, twisting a ragged tissue in her hands. Seated next to her were Troy, Katie, and Davey. As soon as Funderburk appeared in the hall, she burst into tears and jumped up, rushing over to meet him, her worries tumbling from her mouth.

"Sheriff, did you talk to the lady from the DSS about my granbabies? She says my poor Katie...my poor Katie..."

Overcome with emotion, she covered her face with her hands and burst into hiccuping sobs.

Funderburk put his finger to his lips, which quieted her long enough for him to usher her into his office and shut the door.

"Rayette, I know all about Katie, and I want you to know how sorry I am."

She nodded at his words, still hiccuping slightly, and twisting the tissue until it came apart in her hands. Funderburk guided her to a chair and handed her several fresh tissues, then he took a seat on the edge of his desk.

As Rayette dabbed her eyes, the words gushed from her in a torrent. "At first, I was angry, I thought, how could Asa do such a thing, he's so sick hisself, he cain't be spending the rest of his days in jail, but I tell you when that Mrs. Tanner tol' me what Katie had, and how she musta got it, well, Sheriff, I just cain't tell you what I thought, the words ain't fit for a gentleman to hear, but I could understand why he killed Booger..."

She paused, took a deep breath, and shook her head, "Lord knows, I cain't blame him no more."

Funderburk's head was pounding. He reached across his desk for a packet of Goody's powder, tore it open and poured it into his mouth. He washed it down with a swallow from the cold coffee in his mug, grimacing at the bitter taste.

Placing the mug back on the desk, he turned to Rayette.