Crimes in Southern Indiana Read online

  Shaking, Iris tucked the pistol into his pants. Grabbed the leash that hung from Spade’s cage, opened the door, hooked the leash into the dog’s collar. The tongue came soft against his knuckles and Iris said, “I make it outta this, you might be salvageable.” Iris hurried to the rear of the barn, where the stalls lined three openings for horses. He led Spade through an opening, reached into his pocket and pulled from it a book of matches, scratched one against the sandy strike pad, and threw it into the hay. Watched flame ignite the fuel he’d emptied onto it earlier.

  Spade sat next to Iris on the front seat of the Chevy Silverado. Iris fired the engine, shifted into drive. Stomped the gas, throwing soil and rock, navigating down the gravel drive, the barn lit up behind him, he passed the pit on his right. Out in the distance to his left sat the old Dutch Colonial brick house where men stumbled out through the back screen door half dressed. Iris kept driving. Turned onto the county road, glanced over the field and acres of cedar, saw the smoke rising above the land. He reached over and rubbed Spade between his black ears, not knowing where he was headed, but knowing he wouldn’t stop until he was several states shy of the crimes in southern Indiana.

  Acknowledgments

  I’d like to thank my mother, Alice Weaver, and my father, Frank Bill Sr., for filling my upbringing with stories and a wealth of life experiences. Greg Ledford, who told me, “You got talent, don’t quit.” The night shift friends: John, George, Larry, Kirk, Tim, and my chief, Greg. Randy, Daryl, and Ted from the warehouse. Glen, Gary, John, and Harvey from maintenance, and all of my other union brothers. Denny and Matt Faith, you’ve been there from the start. The Law Dog Donnie Ross for all of the support and friendship over the years and for answering questions about police procedures: you’re like a big brother and always will be. Zack Windell, friend since birth.

  The families: Gayle and Israel Byrd, Jamie and Amy Pellman, Terry Crayden, Sharon Crayden, Brandon Crayden, Jessica Chanley, the Trindeitmars, the Muncys, my aunt Trudy, Aunt Becky and Uncle Dennis, Uncle Jack and cousin John. Marly Thevenot Howard. Julie Bill. Allison and Marisa Faith. Pete and Suzie Hardsaw. And Myrtle Bill, you made it to 101 years young, you are dearly missed by all. Thank you all for your support.

  Allison (Lady D) and Todd (Big Daddy Thug) Robinson at Thuglit for those first-time edits. Anthony Neil Smith, a true friend and the editor of Plots with Guns, who has published many of my stories when nobody else would. David Cranmer and Elaine Ash of Beat to a Pulp, thanks for giving me the time of day. Aldo Calcagno, thanks for everything, Crime Dog. Gary Lovisi for putting my words to print. Tony Black at Pulp Pusher. Jedidiah Ayres and Scott Phillips for inviting me to the first Noir at the Bar: thanks, guys. Kyle Minor for all the advice and late-night support. Other writers and friends: Keith Rawson, Kieran Shea, Greg Bardsley, John Rector, Steve Weddle, John Hornor Jacobs, Dan O’Shea, Joelle Charbonnean, Victor Gischler, Christa Faust, Roger Smith, Craig Clevenger, Rod Wiethop, Anonymous-9, Rhonda Abbott, Stephanie Stickels, Thad and Dana Holton. Mary Cunnigham, still an aunt at heart. The Griffee family. Kjell Kristiansen. The Reed family. And everyone who follows me on Twitter, Facebook, and Frank Bill’s House of Grit.

  Donald Ray Pollock, thanks for all the advice, friendship, and support. And to my super-talented agent, Stacia J. N. Decker, and the best editors this side of the United States, Sean McDonald and Emily Bell: no one works harder, you’ve made my prose that much stronger. To my publisher, Farrar, Straus and Giroux, thank you for taking a risk on me.

  Farrar, Straus and Giroux

  18 West 18th Street, New York 10011

  Copyright © 2011 by Frank Bill

  All rights reserved

  Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Bill, Frank, 1974–

  Crimes in southern Indiana: stories / Frank Bill. —1st ed.

  p. cm.

  ISBN: 978-1-4299-9515-3

  1. Indiana—Fiction. I. Title.

  PS3602.I436C75 2011

  813'.6—dc22

  2011000756

  www.fsgbooks.com