Page 9 of Deadly Evidence
“No problems.” He met her gaze squarely. “There were some sections of fence down about a mile from here, though. Lost any cattle?”
“We’ll do another count tomorrow.” She studied him for a long moment, her eyes narrowed on his. “You don’t have anything else to say?”
“I found a herd down in a draw a couple miles north.”
“And?”
Moving around her, he lifted the saddle and blanket from the hitching rail and stored them in the tack room just inside thebarn. “I counted seventy-two cows and seventy calves. They all looked healthy.”
She stood waiting in the barn aisle when he stepped out of the tack room. “And?”
He’d grown up with a rancher’s concern for cattle and predators and fence lines, but from the veiled intensity in her voice, it was pretty clear that she wasn’t talking about coyotes.
“I just saw that herd of cattle...and a lot of wide-open land.”
Those flint-gray eyes of hers flashed fire. “Pack your gear, Coleman, and get out of here.”
Brady studied her, surprised at her anger. “Maybe you could tell me why you’re upset. Fair enough?”
“It was getting late and you weren’t home, so I saddled a horse and went looking. You met some people out there and it wasn’t any ‘oops, you missed the turn’ kind of conversation with travelers. You seemed to know them pretty well.”
He shrugged.
“Now why would you be meeting anyone after dark in an isolated place like that? In these parts, with the Mexican border just a stone’s throw away, that means just one thing to me.”
She thoughthewas transporting drugs?
After fixing the fence, he’d ridden another three miles looking for the most desolate, hidden location he could find near the road along the western perimeter of the ranch.
Then he’d used his satellite-based phone to arrange a quick meeting with two other agents on his team.
She’d not only followed him but had also been sharp enough to find him. He wouldn’t underestimate her again.
“I’m one of the good guys,” he said quietly. “Remember?”
“Then what were you doing out there?”
“I’m part of a team. I need to keep in touch. And with Dante and Vicente around, I figured it was better not to be too obvious about it.”
“Really. You might have that badge and a lot of fancy explanations, but none of that guarantees you’re honest.” Her mouth curled in disgust. “I’ve run people like you off my land more times than I can count, and you won’t be the last.”
He sighed. This wasn’t going to be as easy as he’d thought.
“And just in case you get any crazy ideas, I wouldn’t hesitate to pull this trigger. Texas has remarkably appropriate laws regarding self-defense.”
He debated a split second, then reached for his back pocket.
Just that fast, she had her rifle raised to her shoulder. “Stop right there, Coleman. I’m beginning to like you less and less.”
He slowly withdrew his billfold and set it on the hitching rail. “My photo ID. There’s a business card behind it—call the number written on the back.”
She gave it a contemptuous glance. “I’ll call Luis at the DEA office—the guy who wassupposedto send out a competent female agent who could do this job right.”
“And that’s his personal number.” Brady retrieved his cell phone from his jacket pocket and set it next to his billfold. “Call him now, so we can get this straightened out.”
Without taking her eyes off of him, she lowered the rifle, sidled over to retrieve the card and the phone, and punched in the number. She frowned as she spoke to Luis.
After several minutes of intense conversation, she ended the call and tossed the phone to Brady.
