Page 48 of Deadly Evidence
“Did y’all hear anything? See anyone suspicious hanging around?”
She gave a frustrated wave of her hand. “Those pens and the chute are a few miles up the ranch road and well out of sight. I did see some illegals or drug runners crossing my land from the river Saturday night. I fired a warning shot and they fired back. But they were on foot, so they weren’t after any cattle.”
He lifted his gaze from his notepad. “Anyone hurt?”
“I don’t shoot to hit anyone, Ramon. You know that. But I want those people to steer clear of my property.”
He shook his head. “You be mighty careful with that gun of yours, ma’am. One of these days you might get a tad too close and stir up some serious trouble. You understand what I’m saying?”
“So when,” she asked evenly, “are you going to do something about it?”
She’d promised Brady she wouldn’t relate any details about his reason for being out here or about his part in the events of that night. She would keep her word.
Apparently, the operatives with the DEA and border patrol had chosen to work without the knowledge of the sheriff’s department on this case.
But one day Brady would be gone, and she would be facing the same old problem, with the same lack of action on the part of the local police force.
At that point she hoped Brady had decided to apprise Ramon of her situation. If not, then it would be up to her.
“We’ve got a task force. All we need is about triple the funding and quadruple the staff, and we’ll be able to make a good dent in the drug trafficking that goes on through here.”
“Good luck with that.”
Ramon studied the form in his hands and wrote a few more notes. “Back to the cattle...the weigh stations out on all the highways have been notified. Our list of brand inspectors and veterinarians as well. There haven’t been any reports of illegally transported cattle, but we’ll keep looking. I’ll let you know if anything turns up.”
“Have you talked to any of the other ranchers in the area?”
“Our dispatcher did, last night. No other reports.”
He slipped off his sunglasses and rubbed the bridge of his nose. “If this is a big operation we’ll be hearing about other thefts nearby. But we need witnesses.”
“Or someone like a brand inspector or sales barn owner noticing falsified documentation.”
She sighed. She hadn’t expected a miracle. But she’d hoped for something—anything—that might be a solid lead right away.
A few years ago, there’d been some organized cattle thieves who jumped from one county to another, changing license platesand trucks colors as they went. They’d been apprehended not more than fifty miles from Saguaro Springs.
It was unlikely that she could ever be so fortunate.
“Thanks.” She watched as he drove away, taking with him all her hope of ever seeing her cattle in time for the next loan payment due.
Lacey climbed down the steps of the school bus and trudged up to the house.
Mom’s truck was gone.Again. But then, when was she ever home? The cattle and the horses and all the stuff it took to run the ranch took up every last minute of her time.
Lacey scowled, remembering the kids at scout camp. Sure, they were mostly airheads and thought the wrong nail polish was a complete fashion disaster, but they got to do a lot of things Lacey couldn’t even imagine, like going to Dallas for school clothes.
Dumping her backpack on the porch, she headed for the barn and looked in on Mojo. The dog had a bare, shaved square on her shoulder and wiry-looking stitches, but she thumped her tail and whined when she saw Lacey at the door.
Lacey went inside and shut the door behind her, then sat down on the thick bed of straw. Mojo crawled into her lap. She was way too long to be a lap puppy now, but apparently still thought she fit—and tipped her head back when Lacey rubbed under her collar.
At the sound of footsteps, Lacey looked up and saw Brady at the door.
“Hey, how’re you doing?” He had a nice smile, but he used that same one on Mom, too. He probably thought he was Mr. Personality or something.
As far as Lacey could tell, he wasn’t a very good worker around the ranch because he was gone an awful lot, and he didn’t seem to have the kind of respect that most of the hands had shown her mom.
He talked to Mom like she was a friend instead of his boss, and Lacey had overheard him actuallylecturingher about something, which was way out of line.
