Rudy sighed. “I understand. I’ve been through this before.”
“I’m going to head back and speak with Smith about the ear tags,” Deke said, standing. “If he can tell me exactly where they took off those tags, and if it’s anywhere near where we recovered the herd, I can speed your cattle back home to you.”
“I’d appreciate that, Deke.” Rudy smiled.
“I’ll text as soon as I talk to him. Then I’ve got to get back.”
Rudy’s face brightened. “Delivery’s tomorrow, right?”
Deke nodded. “Took two days off to get everything ready for Ellie. I just saw her…” He paused, meeting Tyler’s steady gaze.
Tyler’s jaw clenched. “Don’t hurt either one of them.”
Deke gave a wry half-smile. “I have no intention of deliberately hurting either of them.”
“Good,” Tyler said, rising. He extended his hand, and Deke shook it firmly.
“Thanks, Tyler. Rudy, I’ll talk to you soon.” Deke reclaimed his hat, swung open the door, and felt the late sun warm his back as he hurried down the steps. He climbed into the truck, slid the key intothe ignition, and turned it over, then headed back to the sheriff’s office.
The lot was nearly empty when he arrived. Deke killed the engine and bolted up the concrete steps to the narrow glass door. Inside, the soft hum of fluorescent lights overhead met him. The receptionist, sorting paperwork behind a low counter, lifted her gaze and smiled.
“Back again?”
Deke nodded. “Yes, ma’am. Is the sheriff around?”
“He’s in his office. Go on back.”
He walked the linoleum corridor and rapped on Sheriff Jones’s doorframe. The sheriff looked up from his paperwork, smiled, and waved Deke inside.
“What can I do for you, Agent?” Jones asked, leaning back in his swivel chair.
“I need to talk to Smith again. If he can pinpoint where they removed those ear tags, Hollister’s cattle might be returned faster.”
“Sure thing. I’ll have Deputy Miller take him to the room. You can head back there.” The sheriff punched a number on his phone.
Deke entered the interrogation room and leaned against the wall with his arms folded across his chest. A few minutes later, Deputy Miller led Smith, in handcuffs, into the room. The deputy clamped the cuffs to the iron bar, shoved Smith onto the plastic seat, nodded to Deke, and left.
Smith snarled. “What now?”
“Where were the ear tags removed?” Deke asked, arms folded, leaning against the wall.
Smith sneered. “What?”
“What, hell. You heard me,” Deke said, stepping forward.
“I don’t—” Smith began.
“Don’t even pretend you don’t know. You were there when they took the cattle.”
Smith’s eyes flicked up. “How’d you know that?”
Deke cracked a grin. “I didn’t. But since I know now that you were there, where did you remove the ear tags?”
Smith looked away. “Old barn, two miles west of where you found us.”
“Address?”
Smith scuffed his shoe against the floor. “Don’t know. The property is abandoned. Head west past the house, take the second gravel road left. The barn is in the middle of a field, rotten boards, nearly collapsed. That’s where we pulled the tags so no one would find them.”
