“Yes, they are RFID, and I have them all recorded.”
“Could you possibly print me out a list?”
“Sure. Give me a few minutes.” Rudy walked from the room as Deke waited for him. When he returned, he handed Deke the list.
“You’ve got my number,” Deke said, reaching out to clasp Rudy’s hand.
“You be careful now.”
Deke nodded, touched his hat, stepped onto the porch, and closed the door gently behind him. He put his sunglasses on. The heat hit him like a wave. He jogged down the steps, boots crunchingover sunbaked dirt, and crossed the yard toward the weathered red barn. Dust spiraled in his wake.
Inside, the barn was cool and dim, the scent of hay and livestock pungent in the air. He paused in the doorway, removed his sunglasses, then moved down the wide aisle.
“Need something?” came a voice from the shadows.
Deke looked to see a broad-shouldered man wiping sweat from his brow, pulling off worn leather gloves and tucking them into his back pocket.
“I’m looking for Tyler Hollister,” Deke said, stepping forward.
“I’m Tyler. What can I do for you?”
“Agent Deacon Anderson, with MDOL,” Deke replied, shaking hands. “But call me Deke. Could you show me where the cattle were taken from?”
“Sure thing,” Tyler said. He glanced down the barn aisle. “Let me call one of the guys to cover my spot. I’ll meet you at your truck.”
“Works for me,” Deke said, slipping back outside and put his sunglasses back on. The sky above shimmered in the heat, waves rising off the pasture grasses. He retraced his steps to his truck, climbed in, started it, and cranked up the air conditioning.
He watched as Tyler strode from the barn, opened the passenger door, and slid onto the seat.
“Damn, that cool air feels good,” Tyler said as he put his own sunglasses on. “You’d think with September just a couple of weeks away, it would be cooling down.”
“It’s a scorcher today, but you know it could change in no time.” Deke looked at him. “Whereto?”
As they made their way to where the cattle were taken, Deke glanced at him.
“Does your father have problems with any local ranchers?”
“Chet Winchester and my dad have never gotten along, but I can’t see him doing this.”
“You’d be surprised who would do what.”
“I can understand that.”
“What was the problem between them?”
“Chet blamed my dad for his loss in sales. It wasn’t anything he did. Winchester started buying cheaper cattle and no one wanted the meat. My dad only raises the best cattle.”
“I see. Alright. I’ll check into them. Anyone else?”
“Not that I can think of right now.”
Deke handed him one of his business cards. “Please let me know if someone else comes to mind.”
“I will.”
Deke nodded as they drove to the broken fence line.
“Are you married, Agent Anderson?”
