Mystery at the Fair

by Connie Cockrell

  Nick tapped his weapon and the man backed up. "I've got a couple of attacks on people in town. I'm just trying to sort out the facts."

  Josh's eyes shifted to his buddies, who were pretending to string wire. They hadn't moved a step since Nick arrived. "I didn't attack anybody."

  Nick looked pointedly at the ranch hands. They worked faster. "Hmm. You have a car?"

  "Yeah," Josh replied in a sullen tone. "So what?"

  "Just sayin'. It's not that far to Greyson and back. If a man has his own ride."

  "Look." Josh started to take a step and Nick could see him think better of it and step back. "I didn't attack anybody. I was right here."

  "So you say. If I separate you all and ask them," he jerked his chin at the trio on the fence, "what would they say?"

  Josh's gaze strayed to the other men. "Just what I said. I was here."

  Nick nodded. "I heard that you and Ina Grange were an item for a while last year."

  "So?" The ranch hand pulled his hands out of his pockets and crossed his arms. "What of it?

  "I heard she broke up with you. Did that make you mad?"

  "She did not break up with me! I dumped her. The cow was too old."

  Nick whipped his sunglasses off as he took a step forward, and he pointed them at Marlow's chest. "You will keep a civil tongue in your head. You hear me?"

  Josh scuffed his boots in the dust and looked at his feet. "Yeah."

  "When's the last time you saw Ina?"

  "I don't know. It's been months." Josh's voice came out whiney.

  "Take a guess," Nick prodded.

  Marlow shook his head. "A year since we broke up. I'd see her and that ass Arris dancin' sometimes."

  "I warned you about your mouth."

  The ranch hand scowled at the dirt. "That's it. Just saw them out once in awhile, when I come to town on my day off."

  Nick didn't have a good feeling."You sure?"

  Josh jerked his head up. "Yeah. I'm sure." Defiance had crept back in his voice.

  Something was off but Nick couldn't put a finger on it. "Yep. You can go."

  Josh nodded and walked back to his work.

  Nick watched as Marlow rejoined the group. None of them said a word. He walked around the SUV and got in, started the engine and made a circle to turn around. As he slowly drove off he could see one of the ranch hands yelling at Josh. Josh reached out and punched him in the arm. "Hmm," Nick hummed aloud. "Not best buds after all." He tucked that information away in the back of his mind and drove back to Greyson.

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  Jean was sitting in a quiet corner of the Exhibits building, dozing. After the attack, the sleepless night in the hospital, and the excitement of the first day of the fair, she was exhausted. She'd noticed that the Gems and Minerals area had an unused corner where there was little traffic. She told Karen, then John Gonzales, that she was going to catnap there and to call her if they needed her.

  It felt odd to her that she felt safe enough to sleep in the middle of the fair. It wasn't like her at all. She could admit that she was a bit of a control freak. Sleeping in a public place seemed the height of folly but she felt so secure. Odd noises intruded, but they were infrequent. The music of the carnival rides had melted into the background. The chit-chat between John and fairgoers about odd bits of stone was soothing. The sound of the building exhaust fan just over her head provided a kind of white noise. She sank in and out of sleep as though she were drifting on a warm ocean.

  Her phone woke her. She started upright and yanked the phone out of her pocket. She stared bleary-eyed at the screen. It was four twenty pm. "Yeah."

  "Jean? It's Jason Lerner. Over in Livestock?"

  She rubbed the sleep from her eyes and yawned to get some oxygen into her brain. Despite the fans, it was hot in Exhibits. "What's up, Jason?"

  "It's a mess over here. The 4-H and FFA kids are washing their animals for show tonight and the drains are backed up and the water out of the hoses has turned into a trickle. The kids are frantic."

  Jean sucked in a deep breath, trying to get her brain to work. "Let me see if I can get someone out here. I'll call you back."

  "Hurry, Jean. The first round of the livestock show starts at six. The kids need their animals groomed."

  She stood up and arched her back. Her headache roared to the front of her head. "I'll get right on it, Jason." She clicked off and hurried to the middle of the building where her notebook was tucked under an exhibit stand.

  Karen hurried over to her as she was flipping through the notebook. "What's going on?"

  "The livestock wash racks are clogged and the water isn't flowing from the hoses. I need to find the plumber's number."

  Jean flipped more pages. "Ha, here it is, Bob Martin." She dialed the number and gave Karen a wink. "Hi, Bob Martin please."

  A young female voice answered. "Bob is out on a call right now. May I take a message?"

  Jean drew a deep breath. She needed help right now. "Uh, this is Jean Hays at the fair. I have a clogged drain at the livestock wash rack and water isn't flowing to the hoses. Can I claim this as an emergency? The kids are depending on this. Their first show is at six tonight."

  "I'll see what I can do, Ms. Hays. Our nephew has a steer in the fair this year. We'll do what we can."

  "Thank you. I appreciate it." Jean sighed with relief. "Can you have him call me when he's on his way?"

  "I'll do that, Ms. Hays."

  Jean clicked off and turned to Karen. "The woman said she'd call him. They have a nephew with a cow in the fair."

  "That's Bob's wife. They're good people. He did a great job with the fair last year. Hang in there."

  "Okay." She tried to force her eyes open. "I'll walk over to Livestock and see what's going on. I could use the fresh air."

  Karen's eyebrow rose. "You sure about that? It's at least ninety out there this afternoon."

  "I'm sure." Jean sucked in a deep breath. "I need to move. And anyway, I haven't seen the barns yet. How can I miss the livestock part of the fair?"

  "You know best what you can do. If you feel faint, though, don't tough it out. Sit down, even if it's in the dirt."

  Jean saluted with a grin. "Yes, ma'am. I'll be careful."

  Karen waved her away and went back to her department. Jean adjusted her headscarf and left the building. As soon as she stepped into the light, the sun hit her like a brick. She'd still expected September to be cooler than this. There was a walkway from the middle door to the end of the building going toward the livestock area. She followed that to the end of the building, then stepped off of the end of the walk and toward the north-west side of the fairgrounds. That's where the two livestock barns were. One barn held large livestock - cows, pigs and horses. The second barn held small livestock - sheep, goats, poultry, and a few guinea pigs, rabbits and other fowl such as duck, turkeys and geese.

  She found Jason in the pig area, next to an excellent example of a Meishan pig according to the sign over the stall. It was drawing a lot of attention. "Hi Jason," she said when a break in his conversation opened.

  He took a good look at her scarf. "I heard you were attacked. Are you all right?"

  She shrugged. "I've had a headache all day, but I'm fine." She pointed her chin at the pig. "I've never seen that breed before."

  "It's a beauty, all right. Andy Morrison's boy, Mike, raised him. It's a new breed for us and drawing a bit of attention. I think he'll do well at the auction."

  "I called the plumber, Bob Martin. I understand he has a nephew with an animal here. He'll be along as fast as he can."

  Jason frowned. "If the rest of the kids can't get their animals washed and groomed, it won't be fair for them to compete. I may have to postpone the event."

  "He's coming as fast as he can, Jason. Is there somewhere else the animals can be washed?"

  The VP of Livestock took off his cowboy hat and scratched his head through his gray hair. "I don't know. The Health Department is pretty picky,
animal waste and all."

  Jean nodded. She didn't want to interrupt his train of thought.

  "There's got to be good drainage. The ground is just clay here. The water runs off, it doesn't sink in." He reset his hat. "I don't know. Maybe we could get the fire department tanker in and wash the animals over by the wash. We'd have to make sure the water pressure wasn't too high."

  "Who do I have to call, Jason?" Her cell phone rang. "Hello?"

  "It's Bob Martin. You've got a problem in Livestock?"

  "Yes, Bob. You know where the livestock wash rack is?"

  "Yep. I'll be there shortly."

  "Sure. I'll be here with Jason Lerner. See you here in a few." She clicked off.

  Jason's face was all interest.

  "Bob's on his way. Can you hold off on the fire department till Bob gets here?"

  "Sure. I think we can wait. Let me show you around till he does."

  Jason took her around the barn, explaining the finer points of cattle judging and introducing her to the kids who'd raised the animals. They had just finished their rounds of the large livestock barn when Bob found them.

  "Hello, Bob." Jean shook his hand. "We appreciate you coming out."

  "Glad to help." He shook hands with Jason. "Hey there, Jason. Can you show me the problem?"

  Jean let the two men walk off to survey the damage. She went over to the small livestock barn. There she felt more at ease. The large livestock were good. She'd taken some very good pictures of kids with their Brown Swiss and Holsteins in upstate New York but here she found more beef steers than dairy cattle. Black Angus and Longhorns were predominant. The small livestock were cuter, though. Goats and sheep came right up to the fences and looked her in the eye. The sheep, at least most of them, were washed, sheared and covered with body-fitting covers to keep them clean. The kids with the animals not yet groomed looked sick with worry. Jean felt bad and hoped Bob could do something quickly.

  Her phone rang. "Yes?"

  "Bob, here. I've found the problem. It will take me about half an hour to clear the clogged drain. The water pressure in the hoses is still being looked at."

  "Thanks Bob. I appreciate it."

  While she was thinking about whether to make an announcement, Jason strode into the barn. "Listen up," he yelled. All of the exhibitors turned toward him. He gave them the information Bob had just given her. The kids all cheered. Jean felt better.

  Jason walked over. "Some good news, at least."

  "Yeah. They can wash the animals with low water pressure. They can't do anything if the drains are clogged."

  Jason grinned at her. "You're pretty quick."

  She grinned back. "I try. I'm going back to Exhibits. Keep me updated, will you?"

  He tipped his hat. "I'll do that."

  "Oh, Bob will give you a bill. Just have one of the kids run it over to me."

  "Sure." He paused. "Thanks for steppin' up." He looked around the barn, satisfaction on his face. "We appreciate it."

  "I'm just a volunteer, same as you. But I take your meaning. You're welcome."

  He nodded and left the building. Jean smiled to herself. Nice people. I'm glad I moved here.

  Chapter Thirty-Three

  Jean left the livestock barns and headed back to the Exhibits building. She could feel the sweat trickle down her back and the glare from the overhead sun still made her head ache. The gash on her head itched as sweat formed on her scalp. She resisted the urge to start scratching at it.

  She was halfway back to the Exhibits tent when she noticed a police officer in full khaki uniform, white police Stetson on his head, walking behind her about fifty feet back. She stopped and knelt down to pretend-tie her shoe. The officer stopped too, staring nonchalantly in the direction of the bandstand where there was a watermelon-eating contest in progress. She could feel her stress levels rise. A peek to her right and left showed only normal fairgoers walking past in both directions. The officer checked his watch and readjusted his hat.

  She had spent time in hostile countries building computer installations for the Air Force. Jean had been trained to identify people who may be following her. She re-tied her sneaker and stood up. The officer bent over to slap dust from the bottom of his pant legs. Jean swore under her breath. She was being followed. Damn it, Chief. I don't need a babysitter! She strode off, surprising the young officer who'd been assigned to follow her. A quick glance showed him unclipping the radio from his left shoulder and making a call.

  Jean charged into the Exhibits building. She found Karen sitting in a folding chair in a corner of her area, a cross-stitch hoop in her hand and a needle with sky blue thread being poked through the cloth from top to bottom. She slammed into the chair next to Karen.

  Karen's eyebrow went up. "Bad day?"

  "I'm being followed," Jean blurted out. "Unbelievable." She crossed her arms over her chest and scowled.

  Karen's needlepoint dropped into her lap. "Is it your attacker?" She turned full-on to her friend.

  So angry that she wasn't hearing her friend, Jean said, "What?"

  "Is it your attacker? The person who bashed your head in?" Exasperation was clear in Karen's voice.

  "No!" Jean blinked and shook her head. Understanding flooded her mind. "No, it's the cops. Chief White is having a uniformed officer follow me around."

  Karen reached out and slapped her friend on the arm. "Don't ever do that to me again!" She glared at Jean. "You scared the tar out of me."

  "I'm so sorry." Jean reached out to Karen. "I was so angry about being babysat I didn't think about how the words came out. I apologize."

  "You'd better be sorry. Scared me to death." She picked up her cross-stitch. "And I think the Chief is right. You've been attacked, one way or another, twice in two days. You need protection."

  Jean bristled. "I don't need protection. I'm perfectly capable of handling myself."

  Karen eyed the scarf over Jean's head.

  "Well, most of the time." Jean slammed herself back into the chair. "I've had self-defense classes."

  "And how's that working out for you?" Karen asked, more than a tinge of snark in her voice.

  "Shut up."

  Karen laughed and kept on with her cross-stitching project.

  "Fine. I was caught off guard once."

  The two watched a pair of elderly women examine the quilt that had won the Best of Show ribbon.

  "I see Vera MacIlroy won Best of Show."

  Karen snorted. "Yep. I saw her over there earlier with her friends, gloating, her friends cooing and oohing. And Ina in the morgue. I wanted to go over there and smack them."

  "Well, I suppose she's waited a long time for a win. Too bad it had to be because someone killed Ina. I wish I knew if the Chief was tracking down the Vera lead, silly or not." She fussed with her scarf. It was too loose.

  "Their lives are so stable," Jean commented as the two elderly women walked away.

  "They seem stable to us, at this moment." Karen tied off the color she was using and selected a light orange thread already on a needle. "We don't know what their lives are like. They could be a day away from an empty cupboard and could have spent their last dollar to come here and see some crafts and share a bit of companionship with their best friend. We just don't know."

  Jean frowned. "Aren't you all Miss Optimism today."

  "It's the truth and you know it. Just like you know you're safer with an officer following you around."

  Jean looked up at the middle door. The officer was standing just inside, out of the sun. She could tell from where he was standing that he could see where she was. The thought galled. She was a grown woman. She didn't need a babysitter. Then the memory of the feeling in her stomach when she was attacked in the parking lot came flooding back. She thought she was going to be sick. "Maybe."

  She got up and walked over to the door and reached under the exhibit stand where she kept their cooler of water. Jean pulled two bottles of water out of the cooler. In three steps she was next
to the officer. "I saw you following me."

  The young man nodded. "Yes, ma'am."

  "You were assigned to follow me?"

  His eyes darted around the room. His hands rested on his equipment belt. "Yes, ma'am."

  Jean handed him a bottle of water. "You'll need to stay hydrated. There's no AC in this building."

  The young officer touched the brim of his hat in salute. "Thank you, ma'am." He twisted the top off of the bottle and drank half of it down.

  "There's more in the cooler under the display. Help yourself."

  "Thank you, ma'am."

  Jean walked back to the chair next to Karen and sat down. She uncapped her bottle of water and took a sip. She wiped the cold water from the outside of the bottle on her temples. It helped a little bit with the headache.

  "See?" Karen grinned. "That wasn't so hard."

  Jean recapped the bottle. "Mind your own business."

  Karen just laughed.

  Chapter Thirty-Four

  It was after seven at night. Nick had checked with the lab and received dismal news. Nothing they'd checked so far from the storage container had unusual prints on them. It was all people who should have been handling the boxes, totes, tools and the other things in the container. He made a note to himself to check whether Josh Marlow had ever volunteered for any events at the fairground and turned out his desk lamp.

  He locked his office door. His secretary had left at five so he locked the outer office door too. Nick waved to the on-duty officer who was stationed at the reception window. They had to have an officer on duty in the station so she was put there. The duty rotated among the whole staff so no one could complain they were stuck on a desk. Nick couldn't see paying a civilian to sit there napping all night. All station calls were routed to that position. "I'm going over to the fairgrounds with Paul. My cell is on."

  "Gotcha, Chief. Have fun." The officer waved.

  Outside Nick got into his SUV and headed to the fairgrounds. He parked and walked to the large livestock barn where his niece, Morgan, had her Black Angus steer. She was in the stall, fastening her blue ribbon to the brag board at the back. "Hey there, punkin' head! Looks like you did all right in the first round."

  The girl squealed and ran over to her uncle and gave him a hug through the bars of the stall gate. "Hi Uncle Nick. I thought I wasn't going to be able to show but the water got fixed and I groomed Rusty just in time to make my turn."