“All right, sit while I go back and talk to Cat.”
“She’ll lie to you.”
Judge Bean went back to talk to Cat, wondering how she could’ve let Shot catch her. “What’d you do? I told you to be careful.”
“All I did was take some beef that Mike had bought to Widow Johnson’s place.”
“You… Mike did what?”
“Widow Johnson told me she was out of meat, so I told Mike. He went out and bought some beef. I put it in my backpack and took it to her. Then Officer Shot shows up, busts through the door, and starts yelling that I had done something illegal.”
“Did you tell him that it was beef?”
“No, he didn’t give me a chance. He just kept yelling about how he finally caught me.”
“If I had to guess, I’d say this was all Mike’s idea.”
Cat didn’t say anything. Judge Bean walked back to the front.
Judge Bean opened the door and looked at the crowd. This could get ugly. So this is how Matt Dillon felt. He walked out of the jail.
“Everybody, calm down.”
A voice from the crowd, “As soon as you let Cat go.”
“Give me a minute.”
The crowd had grown even larger than when he had entered the jail. Mike was standing by Cat’s parents. Betty turned to Dave.
“What are we going to do? I knew she would get into more trouble, now she’s in jail.”
Mike turned around. “Don’t worry. She’ll be out in no time.”
Judge Bean spotted Mike. “Mike, get your ass in here now!”
Mike turned to Dave. “Might as well come with me, y’all don’t want to miss the show.”
Mike, Dave, and Betty went inside. Judge Bean shut the door.
“Take a seat.”
As Betty sat down, “What’s this about?”
“That’s what we’re gonna find out. Officer Shot, why did you bring Cat in?”
“I caught her with illegal deer meat at the widow’s place. The evidence is on your desk.”
“I see.”
“It’s all right there. I told you she was up to no good.”
“So how did you catch her?”
“I staked out the widow’s place.”
Betty stood up. “Don’t you have anything better to do than picking on girls and widows?”
Judge Bean pointed to the chair. “Calm down, Betty, take a seat. We’ll get this sorted out.”
Officer Shot continued, “I saw Cat with a backpack go into the widow’s house. I waited for a bit, then I went inside.”
“So you just walked in with no search warrant.”
“I had probable cause.”
“You saw her kill a deer?”
“Well, no, but she was sneaking to the widow’s place with her backpack.”
“Sounds pretty lame to me.”
“Don’t matter, I caught her red-handed.”
“You’re sure it’s deer meat?”
“What else would it be? I can have the meat tested.”
“That probably won’t be necessary. Mike, you have anything to say?”
Mike, trying not to laugh, said, “Yeah, I went over to Ribeye and Sons and bought some beef roasts for the widow. I told Cat to take it to the widow. Here is the receipt.”
“Knowing full well that Officer Shot would be watching Cat?”
Mike said laughing, “Yep, he’s such an easy mark.”
Dave and Betty started laughing. Judge Bean was doing his best not to. Officer Shot was more than a little annoyed.
Officer Shot stood up. “We can charge them with interfering with law enforcement.”
Judge Bean replied, “Have you seen that crowd out there? It would be best to drop this whole thing. You had better stop with this vendetta against Cat. You started gaining a little respect when you caught those slime balls, which, do I have to remind you, without Cat’s help, you wouldn’t have caught them?”
Judge Bean let Cat out of her cell. He turned to everyone, “Now, no more playing games. Officer Shot, go out and look for some real criminals.”
“Yes, Judge.”
“Mike, get this meat back to the widow’s before it spoils. Now, since it’s your fault my supper was interrupted, you owe me a steak dinner.”
“Yes, Judge.”
“Dave, Betty, take your daughter home.”
“Yes, Judge.”
“All of you, get out of my office, now!”
Mike grabbed the meat. The rest of them followed him out the door. When the crowd saw Cat coming out, they all cheered. As Officer Shot walked to his truck, an old woman walked up and hit him with her handbag. “Pick on somebody your own size, you big bully.”
Cat asked her dad, “Is it all right if I go with Mike and help Widow Johnson with the meat?”
“You gonna stay out of jail?”
Cat smiled, “At least for a day or two.”
Mike said, “I’ll make sure she gets home.”
Dave said, “I don’t think the judge was too happy about his supper getting interrupted.”
“No, probably not, but he’ll get over it. I bet ole Hot Shot wishes he’d left Cat alone.”
“It was entertaining.”
“I’ll say. Best money I’ve ever spent!”
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