Chapter 11
Eleven
“That was smooth.” Kane flashed a smile at Carter as they walked toward the hay barn. “Real smooth.”
Possible information gathering flashed through Jenna’s mind. She pulled out her phone and called Rio. “Rio, I need copies of the camera footage from all around the bus station. Most of the businesses are happy to assist. Head out there now and grab what you can.”
“What time frame?” Rio yawned. “Sorry, Sheriff, I was half asleep watching TV.”
Although it was Sunday, Rio was the closest to town. Frowning, Jenna cleared her throat. “We have a possible homicide on Rhett’s ranch. We believe the female victim was taken to the bus station on Thursday evening, possibly in a truck with the ranch logo on the side.”
“I’m on it.” Rio disconnected.
“The Triple Z Roadhouse recently mounted a camera on the side facing the bus station.” Kane walked beside her toward the hay barn. “They have always been very helpful when we’ve asked them to supply us with footage. From that angle we would have a good view of people coming and going.”
Beside Jenna, Carter was on his phone. She waited until he disconnected and looked at him. “Do you have an update on Kalo’s arrival?”
“Yeah, he’s on a bus heading for Black Rock Falls now.
” Carter’s boots clattered on the cobbled stones.
“Did I mention Beth and Styles are in Blackwater and they have vacation time due? I know Beth has been hunting down antiques to put in her cabin, so I was thinking of asking if they wanted to spend a few days here on the ranch. We could really use two teams working at the moment. Don’t you agree? ”
Jenna stopped walking and looked at him.
“We might need three the way things are going. The cold case and now this murder, but if Wolfe and Norrell find anything in the pigpen, we’ll also have that to deal with.
I’ve managed to run two cases simultaneously and it was difficult, but three will be impossible without more help.
All this and the day-to-day running of the town, I’ll need another six deputies. ”
“I hate to say it, but Rhett’s parents’ murder will need to stay on the back burner for a time.” Kane blew out a sigh. “What Norrell discovers in the pigpens will take time to analyze.”
Nodding, Jenna inhaled the smell of freshly cut hay and exhaust fumes.
As they got closer to the barn, wispy bits of hay collected around their feet and the air filled with puffs of dust. Inside, the barn hummed with the loud sound of machinery.
People unloaded bales of hay from the backs of trucks and piled them at the back of the barn.
Once they were done, they climbed back into the trucks and drove away to collect another load.
Dirt and dust covered their gloves and some had hay sticking from their clothes and hair.
Many wore bandanas around their nose and mouth, to prevent breathing in the dust. Sweat coated their arms and foreheads, beading like raindrops and sliding down their cheeks.
The idling trucks and sweaty bodies added considerable heat to the barn, even with both doors at each end wide open.
They headed toward a man with a clipboard.
As Jenna got closer, she noticed he jotted the number of bales that came from the back of each truck.
She stood to one side with the others until the last truck had emptied its load and left the barn.
The hands inside all took a few minutes’ rest, grabbing a drink of water or mopping their brows.
She walked up to the man. “Good afternoon. I’m Sheriff Alton, my Deputy Dave Kane, and this is Special Agent Ty Carter. ”
“Sheriff.” The man looked at her and raised an eyebrow. “Tex Williams, haying crew lead. What’s happened to bring the FBI here? Escaped prisoners?”
Jenna waved a hand toward the piles of hay. “No, nothing like that. How long have you worked here?”
“Chris Lawson hired me when I was seventeen. I’d been coming here through high school on internships and loved it. I knew I wanted to work here. Been here ever since.” Williams smiled. “I got no complaints.”
Taking her time, Jenna nodded slowly. “Do you normally work on Sundays?”
“All the days are the same when you work on a cattle ranch.” Williams placed the clipboard on a bale of hay and looked at her with interest. “At the moment, we’re rushing to get all the hay in before it rains.
You can’t store hay when it’s damp. We’ve given it as long as possible to dry out.
Make a mistake at this stage and all the winter feed will be moldy. ”
“I believe you had a woman working for you by the name of Marie Reyes?” Kane leaned one shoulder against a wooden post. “When did you last see her?”
“I’ve turned over many seasonal hands in the last two weeks.
” Williams scratched his head with his pen.
“I don’t recall all of their names. Most of them last only a few days when we bring in the hay.
It’s tough work, and they go from sunup to sundown.
” He reached for a bottle of water at his feet and took a long drink before looking back at Kane.
“We have a ton of Maries. What does she look like?”
For some time, the man avoided Jenna’s gaze.
He seemed to be looking all over, as if waiting for someone to walk into the barn.
She exchanged a glance with Kane. “She is Mexican, approximately five-five, long dark brown hair, and brown eyes. She’s been working here for a few weeks.
You must have met her as this was her designated area. ”
“Would it make it any easier for you if we told you she left on Thursday?” Carter tossed a toothpick into his mouth and maneuvered it to the corner. “Bowman said he believed she was hunting down a ride into town. Does that stir any memories?”
“Ah yes, that Marie.” Williams raised both eyebrows. “Yeah, she was popular around here, if you know what I mean? I noticed her in the cookhouse, asking if anyone could give her a ride into town to catch a bus to Blackwater. That would have been the last time I saw her.”
Jenna nodded. “Did you see who offered her a ride?”
“Nope, can’t say that I did.” Williams straightened as trucks arrived and backed around to unload.
“If she’s not here, she must have got a ride.
Most of the hands are too darn tired to go into town after work.
They might kick their heels up once the hay is in but most times that means the end of the job and we let them go.
The ranches in Blackwater have been advertising for seasonal hands.
I figure they’re rushing like we are to get in the winter feed.
” He indicated toward the trucks and the tired hands standing reluctantly to climb up and unload them. “I gotta go.”
“When is this shift over? When does everyone go to the cookhouse to eat?” Kane straightened.
“They eat at six but then come back to work until sundown.” Williams picked up his clipboard. “The cookhouse is open until eleven each night. I don’t recall her working after the evening meal, so she must have left with someone who doesn’t work in the hay shed.”
Another clue. Jenna pulled a card from her pocket and handed it to him.
“We really need to find information on the person who gave her a ride into town. Can you ask around? It’s important to find out who was the last person to see her.
We believe that the body we found in the north pasture is Marie. ”
“She’s dead?” Williams dropped the clipboard and stared at them, wide-eyed. “No, that can’t be possible. She was laughing and happy when I saw her. Who would hurt her?”
“We never mentioned anyone hurt her.” Carter’s eyes bored into him. “The cause of death is undetermined. Is there something you need to tell us?”
“No, I’ve told you everything I know.” Williams bent to pick up the clipboard. “I really need to get back to work, or I’ll miscount the loads.”
Jenna turned and walked away. Outside, she turned to the others. “I wonder if the hands come in in different shifts to eat. It would be an opportunity to speak to everyone on each shift at the same time. Someone must have offered to give her a ride or know who did.”
“We should be able to get that information from the cookhouse.” Kane scanned the area and then headed in a different direction. “From the smell of cooking, it’s that way.”
Jenna’s phone chimed. She pulled it from her pocket and put it on speaker. “Hey, Rio, what have you got for me?”
“I have footage of a Lawson’s Ridge truck coming and going to the bus station.
” Rio’s boots clattered on the tile as he walked.
“I’m at the office now. I’ll upload it onto the server for you.
The roadhouse manager was very helpful and he enlarged the image, but it was still difficult to see who was driving.
I figure we need Kalo to take a look at it.
He might be able to clean it up for us.”
Smiling, Jenna punched the air. “That’s brilliant. Why don’t you take the rest of the afternoon? We can handle it from here. I’ll see you in the morning.”
“Thanks, Jenna.” Rio cleared his throat.
“Before you go, I have information on the wreck that killed Rhett’s grandparents.
I was able to find a report. They were T-boned at an intersection by a drunk driver.
Everyone died at the scene. The driver of the other vehicle was a seventeen-year-old kid. It was a tragic accident.”
Jenna swallowed hard. “That’s so sad. But it’s good to know it wasn’t murder.”
“Yeah, I guess so. See you on Monday.” He disconnected.
She turned to Kane and raised one eyebrow. “What? I can see your mind working from here.”
“That doesn’t make sense.” Kane stopped walking and turned to look at her slowly. “If Rio has discovered footage of a Lawson’s Ridge truck driving to the bus station, we assume with Marie, how the heck did she get back here?”