Rodeo - Chapter 9

Part 9

The next day Chris had decided that sneaky wasn't working and it was time to try the "in your face" approach. He sent Josiah to check with Fairground Security to see if they kept a log of who went in and out after hours. They did, so he told Josiah to take JD and start interviewing everyone who had been in and out of the fairgrounds last night. Buck and Nathan were told to start questioning all the stock contractors who currently had animals on the grounds. As Nathan and Buck were getting ready to leave he pulled Buck aside and passed on one final instruction.

"Buck, stay away from Laura Greyhawk for now. I want to talk to that Ranger before we question her."

Vin and Ezra, or the Hardy Boys as Buck was now calling them, were sent to take care of the horses. Chris also told them to see if they could find out why Devil's Leg had been in the trailer instead of a holding pen. Chris dropped them off at the fairgrounds and headed to Cheyenne PD to talk to the Chief of Police about providing back up.

Vin and Ezra groomed and exercised the horses. Then they visited the on-site veterinarian and main office looking for information on Devil's Leg. The next couple of hours were spent walking around the grounds trying to find either Laura or Devil's Leg's owner. About 3:00 they gave up and got a cab back to the motel. No one else was back yet so each man took a bed and stretched out to rest. They hadn't lain there for long before Vin decided to ask the question that had been on his mind since he'd found out Ezra had a sister.

"Ez, how come ya never told us ya had a sister?"

He looked over at the other man waiting for an answer.

"Just as you dislike elaborating on your past so do I. Also, keep in mind I haven't seen her since she was sixteen, there really was nothing to mention."

"But at one time ya were close?"

Vin thought Ezra wasn't going to answer, when he did his voice was so low Vin had to strain to hear the words.

"Yes, at one time we were very close. It was never romantic, she was thirteen, I was sixteen, when we first met. Her father ignored her much the same way my mother did me. We were two of a kind and closer than most blood related brothers and sisters. When our parents divorced and her father decreed that she never see me again, we swore to each other that we would always be a family no matter what the fates said." Ezra rolled over and looked at Vin with troubled eyes. "If it turns out she is dealing drugs or selling guns I am going to feel responsible. We promised to find each other when she turned eighteen. I was in college by then and decided the last thing Laura needed in her life was my presence. So I made no effort to contact her, perhaps if I had she wouldn't be here now. I just don't quite know what to do."

"I think ya need to find her and talk. She might open up and let ya help her."

"Perhaps, I don't know, perhaps." Ezra laid his arm across his eyes ending the conversation.

By 6:30 the rest of the team was back. The decision was made to order pizza and eat before going over what everyone had found. Buck and JD made a beer run while the others waited for the pizza. It was 9:00 before dinner was finished and the mess was cleaned up. Everyone grabbed a fresh beer and settled back to discuss the days findings.

Chris started with a run down of his conversation with the Chief of Police. "Cheyenne PD is ready to provide backup. The Chief of Police, Tom Jordan, also contacted the Wyoming State Police to see if they could help out. When we need it Cheyenne PD will provide officers to work directly with us. The State Police will be available to help with road blocks if necessary and can give us a couple of officers as well. So we have the backup, now tell me we have bad guys to use it on. Josiah why don't you start."

JD and I questioned everyone on the list, that we could find, who was in or out of the fairgrounds after 10:00 last night. Everyone had a legitimate excuse, of course we haven't had a chance to double check them all." Josiah laid a copy of the log on the bed. "The problem is that some of them are already gone. You know how rodeo contestants are, if you don't place in this rodeo, get in the truck and go find another one. Makes it hard to check everyone out.

Chris picked up the log and scanned it briefly, "Was Laura Greyhawk there last night?"

"Yes she was, the log showed her going in at 12:30. She left around 1:45" Josiah looked at Ezra's closed face and remembered another worried face from the day before. "But I don't believe she put Devil's Leg in that trailer." He turned back to Chris who nodded before turning an inquiring look on Nathan and Buck.

"Buck and I didn't have much luck either. The stock contractors we spoke with are either lying or they really don't have any idea what's going on." Nathan paused for a moment then continued. "And if you want my gut feeling, I don't think they're lying."

Chris nodded and turned to Ezra and Vin. "What did you two find out from the vet?"

"Devil's Leg had four bullets in him, he also had traces of steroids." Vin replied

"Steroids, why would someone give a bull steroids? Chris was starting to get that irritated feeling, someone had set his men up and he hated that.

"The vet said sometimes steroids are used on a bull that has been injured. He said that they are also used by crooked contractors to increase aggression and bucking power." Vin paused and looked at Ezra who nodded at him to continue. "We checked with the main office, Devil's Leg was owned by Fowler Contractors. That's the guy that was with Morgan when JD had his accident, remember. We spent the afternoon looking for Fowler and Morgan but couldn't find either."

"If you want to see Morgan, you'll have to go down to the Cheyenne Morgue. Wyoming State Patrol found him this morning about 10 miles north of town. He'd been shot in the head at close range with a 45 caliber gun."

JD, Vin and Ezra all exchanged shocked and in Ezra's case horrified, looks. Chris looked at the upset men and felt his stomach sink a little. "Mind telling me why this upsets you? The man probably tried to kill JD, I'm not mourning him."

Ezra had closed his eyes and seemed to not even hear Chris. JD looked at Vin who shook his head sadly before answering.

"Laura Greyhawk has a 45 Colt revolver." Vin's normally soft drawl was even softer than usual.

"How do you know what kind of gun the lady carries?" Buck wanted to know.

"Um, I'd uh, well" Vin looked at JD then Ezra, cover stories were the southerner's specialty. He was no good at it, especially when it was Chris he was talking to.

Chris looked at the guilty faces and instantly put two and two together. "So did you find anything else when you searched her room? Not that we could use it in court since it was an illegal search."

Ezra was the one who answered. "It seems my sister has become quite the gun collector, she owns an antique derringer, the colt and a 38 like Vin wears on his ankle."

"JD!" Chris's tone made the young man jump and reply nervously.

"Yes, Chris?"

"Do you think you could break into the Texas Ranger's computer system? I'm tired of waiting for this Ranger Walker to call."

"Sure, I just need someone's cell phone to hook up to my laptop." JD moved to set up his laptop on the table.

"Here kid, use mine just in case that Ranger tries to call Chris on his." Buck's comment drew a snort from Chris.

By 11:00 JD was getting very frustrated. "I don't know who does their firewall security Chris, but it is like nothing I've ever run into. I'm beginning to think I may not be able to break it." JD's distress at failing his hero was evident.

"Don't worry JD, we'll figure something else out." Chris was interrupted by the ringing of his cell phone. "Chris Larabee here………Ranger Walker, I'm glad you called…….No, the late hour is no problem…….Yes, I am looking for information on Laura Greyhawk……." The rest of the conversation was cut off as Chris moved into the bedroom and closed the door.

The others visited quietly and waited for Chris to come back. Everyone kept shooting little worried side glances at Ezra who had his head tipped back and his eyes closed. Josiah finally stood, picked up his chair and moved over to sit by the tense man.

"Ezra, whatever Chris finds out, we are here if you need someone to talk to. Any burden is easier when you share it. You have six brothers who want to help. Don't forget that." The big man put his hand on Ezra's shoulder.

Ezra opened his eyes and scanned the concerned faces. It was hard to speak around the lump in his throat but he managed it. "Thank you Josiah, a burden is easier when shared. I am lucky to have six 'brothers' as you say." He paused and stood to walk over to the window. When he turned back to the others he had a troubled smile on his face. "I just can't help wondering if only my sister had had one brother would she be in her current situation."

"We don't know that she is in trouble." Vin walked over to lean against the wall next to Ezra. His smile was slightly mischievous as he indicated the others with his hand. "And if she is, well now she's got seven brothers to help her."

"That's right, if we're all brothers and she's your sister then she's our sister to." JD grinned, delighted with Vin's train of thought."

"She's awful pretty, I'm not sure if I want to be a brother." Buck waggled his eyebrows suggestively.

Before anyone could come up with an answer to that the door opened and Chris reentered the room. He was shaking his head, looking confused and amused.

"Well, what'd he say, does he know her." JD asked for everyone.

Chris looked over at Ezra and grinned. "Your sister is an interesting woman. She's a part time P.I., works for that Thunder Investigations they tried to send me to the other day. Walker says he knows her personally, she's a good friend of his lady. She also works part time as a computer security consultant." He swung his gaze to JD and chuckled. "She's the reason you can't break into the Ranger's computer system JD. I guess she's one of the best." Chris looked at the others and shook his head. "He also said she told her friends in Dallas that she was taking a little vacation. They had no idea what she was up to. Seems her father-in-law was shot by whoever is responsible for the smuggling. Walker told her to stay out of it but she ignored him. He also said there's no way she shot Morgan, she's not capable." Chris scanned the faces of his men finally settling on Ezra's. "I still want to talk to her, but Ranger Walker has me pretty much convinced she didn't shoot Morgan, unless it was self defense."

"So now what do we do, the lady has disappeared." Josiah asked, "We didn't see her at all today and we were all over the fairgrounds."

"We need to find her, whoever shot Morgan could be after her." Nathan threw a sympathetic glance at Ezra.

As the discussion continued Ezra moved into the room he shared with Vin and Chris. Opening the door quietly he went outside. He was leaning against Chris's Dodge when a familiar white pickup pulled into the parking lot. He watched as Laura climbed out of the cab, she was holding a paper sack and eyed him cautiously. They both looked at each other for about half a minute before Ezra decided to end the pretense that they didn't know each other.

"Hello, Firefly" Ezra opened his arms and she moved into them for a hug. "Want to tell Big Brother your problems."

Laura stepped back and let out a low husky laugh. "I can't believe you still remember that." She held up the bag, "I don't have any hot chocolate, will scotch do?"

Not waiting for an answer she moved to the rear of her truck and dropped the tailgate. Pulling out the bottle she hopped up on the tailgate and opened it, taking a slug. "You had better take it easy on that leg, I've got a poultice you can wrap it in tonight that'll make it feel better by morning. You realize you scared the hell out of me last night don't you. Hasn't anyone ever told you not to play with bulls?"

Ezra took a seat on the truck and accepted the bottle, taking a drink before handing it back. "By that statement may I assume you witnessed our little encounter last night? If you where there why did you run off?

"I wasn't ready to face you yet, I had to be sure you weren't involved in this smuggling stuff." Laura shot a guilt filled look at the man next to her.

Ezra responded by laughing and reaching out to ruffle her hair. "Darling, that is exactly why I haven't tried to speak to you yet either."

They both shared a relieved laugh, then Ezra asked the question he'd wanted, no needed to ask since first seeing her.

"Firefly, what happened, how did you end up here? I just found out tonight that you are a private investigator. Did something happen to your father?"

Laura took a drink then scooted over next to Ezra and leaned her head on his shoulder, he responded by wrapping his arm around her shoulders. That was the way they had always sat when sharing secrets and confidences. "Where do you want me to start?"

"From when Mother and I left."

Laura raised her head for a moment to look at him then laid it back on his shoulder. When she spoke, her voice was low but steady "Daddy sent me to a new boarding school that same day. That's when I realized that no matter what I did he wasn't going to change so I had to. I finally took your advice."

"What advice was that?"

"Give them what they want on the outside and be what you want on the inside. I became the best little Daddy's girl you've ever seen. Made a game of it and it paid off. When I graduated he gave me a brand new convertible, then he went to Europe for two weeks. I disappeared that same day, took the car to New York and sold it. Used the money to hop a bus, didn't stop until I hit Oklahoma. Got a job as a waitress, that's how I met Justin Greyhawk." She paused to take another drink.

"Was Justin your husband?" Ezra prompted

"Eventually, it took him a little time to believe I really was interested in him. We had two wonderful years together before he died. Justin showed me what was really important in life. When he died I had to get away from all the reminders so I moved to Dallas. Went back to school and got a degree in Computer Science, that's how I got into the P.I. business."

"How do you go from Computer Science to P.I. pray tell" Ezra gave her an amused glance and took a drink.

"This woman, Anna, who ran my apartment building needed help finding her daughter. She had taken off with her boyfriend after a fight and Anna was getting desperate. She was sure the boyfriend was no good. I offered to see what I could find out by hacking into the DMV system. I found his address and went to check it out. Found the girl beat up and got her back to her mama. Anna started telling her friends about me and the next thing I knew I was in business.

"Sounds like a dangerous way to make a living. Who taught you all the fancy stuff with the horses?"

"Justin and his mama taught me most of the horse stuff. The rest I picked up along the way. Mamma Greyhawk is why I'm here. All she wanted me to do though, was manage the stock until Pop got back on his feet. I'm the one who decided to take it a step further." Laura raised her head again to look in Ezra's eyes, her smile getting wider. "And you, an ATF agent, Maude must really love that. According to what I found out today your very good at your job. Your file was most impressive. It said you were part of a special team along with six other men. I assume the those other six inside are your fellow agents."

"Fellow agents and trusted friends my dear. Speaking of which, as much as I would like to continue this discussion, my boss wants to speak to you." Ezra stood up and held out his hand. He wanted to ask her more questions, but knew now wasn't the time. "Come on Firefly, time to face the music, just remember Chris's bark is worse than his bite."

Laura laughed and hopped off the end of the tailgate. Opening the truck door, she stashed the bottle inside. "Why don't I believe that statement. By the way, how did you find out I was a P.I.?"

"Chris spoke with a Ranger Walker this evening. He was most interested to learn what you were up to."

"Oh great, Walker with call Trent and Carlos. Man, I'm in for it when I get home now." Laura sighed "Oh well, they would have found out anyway I suppose."

"Who are Trent and Carlos?" Ezra asked as they walked toward Josiah and Nathan's room.

"Partners, sort of, friends mainly, they own Thunder Investigations. I work out of their office and occasionally we help each other with a case. They didn't want me to get involved with this, thought it was too dangerous."

As Ezra reached for the door Laura pulled back and gave him a faintly desperate look.

"What's wrong?" He asked as he tightened his arm around her waist.

"I think I left something in the truck."

"What?"

"I don't know, just something."

Ezra smiled as he opened the door and pushed her into the room. "I promise they won't bite."

Laura surveyed the six men nervously and then her sense of humor kicked in. She turned back to Ezra, arched one eyebrow and asked. "Are you sure, they don't look too well fed to me."

Chris moved forward to offer his hand. "Mrs. Greyhawk, it's good to see you again," he paused and offered a slight grin before continuing, "without your horse. I believe you know everyone."

"Laura please, I have to apologize for Concho, he didn't know he was picking on the leader of the ATF's most decorated unit." Laura caught Chris's look over her shoulder at Ezra. "No, Ezra didn't tell me, I've spent most of today checking all of you out. I didn't know your correct names, so I had to start with Ezra's and track him to his current employment. From there it was easy, the ATF really need's to tighten its network security." She glanced at Josiah who had been taken with a coughing fit upon seeing the look on Chris's face after that comment. As she scanned the faces in the room she began to get nervous again. Everyone either looked stern or concerned. "I feel like I'm being called on the carpet, what's wrong?"

Josiah stood and walked over to stand directly in front of Laura. Placing his hands on her shoulders he waited until she looked up into his eyes before speaking. "You've caused Ezra quite a bit of worry. I hope you won't make a habit of it. We're here to help you if you'll let us." He smiled and stepped back leaving Laura looking slightly bemused. She turned back to Ezra and smiled as she started edging towards the door.

"You know, I really did forget something in the truck."

"Oh, no you don't." Ezra reached out and grabbed her arm. "Time to contribute to the informational pool. What knowledge do you have concerning this current situation?"

Laura threw him a disgruntled glance. "I can't believe you still talk like that." She turned to the other men. "You know he started that just to annoy our housekeeper."

"I was only trying to enlarge the woman's vocabulary to match her size." Ezra pointed to a vacant chair. "Now sit there and behave."

"Okay," Chris wanted to get the hard question out of the way first thing. "Laura, I need to know where you were last night around three AM.

Laura gave Chris a curious look, a glance at the others showed they were all waiting for her answer. "Three AM last night? By then I was checked into the Super 8 in Fort Collins. Why, and why does everyone look like their favorite Aunt just died?"

"Morgan was killed last night, coroner puts the death at about three AM. The shooter used a 45 caliber gun. I understand you own a Colt 45, do you know anything about it?" Chris had moved to stand directly in front of her.

"If he's dead don't expect me to be upset, the man was scum." Laura paused as a look of understanding crossed her face. "You think I did it, why would I kill Morgan? ….. "Wait a minute, how do you know what guns I have?" She was starting to get angry. "Tell me you didn't search my room."

Vin stepped forward, he didn't want her to blame the wrong person. "I searched your room, it was driving all of us crazy watching Ezra suffer. I had to do something, if your gonna be angry, I'm the one ta yell at. Ezra has been worried sick…." Vin stopped suddenly and a blush spread across his cheeks. The others were a bit stunned themselves, it wasn't often that the quiet sharpshooter spoke this much. "I um.."

Laura put her hand up, cutting off whatever he had been intending to say next. She drug it through her hair before continuing in a husky voice. "I'm sorry, I've been under a lot of strain the last few weeks. What with Pop getting shot and then dealing with the stock. Deciding to find Pop's shooter by myself was probably a stupid idea. I usually don't work alone on cases this dangerous…." Her voice trailed off, she waved her hand in a distracted manner before continuing in a matter of fact tone. "After all I just spent all day checking the seven of you out. Glass houses and all that right." She turned to Chris. "I drove straight to Fort Collins last night after I left the fairgrounds. I didn't want to face you guys after seeing the three of them nearly killed. I also wanted a phone line and a private place to work. The nearest hotel with any openings was Fort Collins, I've been there all day. You can call the Super 8, I checked in about 2:30.

"What else can you tell us about all this?" After speaking to Walker Chris figured she was probably telling the truth.

Laura pulled one leg up and wrapped her arm around it. She rested her chin on her knee and closed her eyes a moment. When she opened them she still didn't look at the waiting men, just started talking in that husky matter of fact voice again.

"As far as I can tell Fowler is the head honcho. Morgan was his number two man. They would book a rodeo down by the border, while there they'd load up on drugs. Then a rodeo in another state to trade for guns and cash or hand the drugs off to another underling. A return down south to trade the guns for drugs and the whole cycle starts again. They shot Pop because he caught one of Fowler's men trying to retrieve a stash from a Greyhawk trailer." She stopped and took a deep breath.

"So right now they have drugs to trade, do you know where they are." Chris asked.

"I don't actually know where the drugs are right now, but I do know where they will be tomorrow night at midnight." Laura was eyeing Chris and Ezra cautiously now.

"How do you know all this?" Ezra was having trouble adjusting to this grownup version of the girl he had known.

"I overheard Fowler and Morgan talking that day you guys showed up. They plan to meet the buyer at the Chugwater rest station. It's about 50 minutes north of Cheyenne right off the interstate." Laura shrugged. "I was going to hide nearby and tape the whole thing."

Ezra's "I don't think so!" over rode Chris's "No your not." and Buck's "Lady are you crazy?" Vin just leaned against the wall and gazed at Laura like he was trying to dissect her.

Laura raised her hands in a placating motion. Her voice had a slight edge to it when she spoke. "I'm not stupid gentlemen, there's no reason to glare at me, I know I'm in over my head. After Fowler tried to kill me last night I knew I either had to get help or drop the whole thing.

Chris closed his eyes as he groaned in frustration, the entire thing was starting to give him a headache.

Josiah moved forward, his deep voice had a calming effect on everyone. "What makes you think Fowler tried to kill you?"

Laura gave him a considering look before answering. "I was the one meant to find Devil's Leg. I had a message under my door telling me there was something wrong with Concho. Whoever put it there knew I would wonder what my stock trailer was doing backed up to the chute and investigate. I heard the commotion and got to the corral just in time to see Ezra shoot. I'm-"

Ezra cut her off, his normal drawl strained. "That settles it, you are going back to Dallas in the morning. If Fowler is trying to kill you it's too dangerous for you here."

Laura was on her feet before he had finished speaking. She moved so that her back was to the door and all seven men were in front of her. The look on her face was one of calm determination. "Ezra, you are my favorite big brother, hell you're my only brother, but I'm not 16 anymore. We haven't seen each other in fourteen years and you really don't know me any more. I said I would stay out of this and I will, but I have contracts to provide riding stock and to perform for the next week. I cannot and will not break those." She nodded to all of the men as she put her hand on the doorknob. "Now, I've told you everything I know, so I will leave you to your law stuff. I have a performance tomorrow so I am going to bed. Goodnight all." A quick turn of the knob and she was out the door.

"Laura, come back here, we aren't finished with this yet." Ezra charged out the door right after her. The others could hear the two of them talking but couldn't quite make out what they were saying.

Vin was leaning against the wall a devilish smirk on his face. "Boy, I've never seen Ezra this frazzled. Who do ya think is gonna to win?"

"My bet is on the lady." Buck had moved over to the door where he could see the ongoing argument better. "She looks pretty determined."

"Buck, you'd bet on any woman if she's pretty." JD snorted.

"Chris, what do you think, should we try to convince her to go home?" Nathan was concerned. "What did that Ranger fella have to say?"

Chris rubbed the back of his neck tiredly before answering. He had moved so that his back was to the door. "According to Walker she can take care of herself. He told me a lot of stuff, I'm not sure how much of it to believe. If what he told me is true, I'm surprised she doesn't work for a regular law enforcement agency."

"I don't work for a 'regular law enforcement agency' for a lot of reasons." Laura and Ezra had returned, they stood in the doorway. She continued as they moved into the room. "Most of my clients are people who have no where else to turn. People that the law either won't or can't help."

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean any offense, Ranger Walker gave a very glowing report on you." Chris turned to face the door. "But I don't want to see you get shot or hurt either."

Laura laughed, her smile was in her voice when she replied. "I'm not offended, I think you're very diplomatic Mr. Larabee. I can imagine what Walker told you, to call it glowing is definitely being creative." Her eyes had an impish twinkle as she leaned her arm on Ezra's shoulder before continuing. "What he really said was that I'm stubborn, get too involved in things I shouldn't and can usually be found where I shouldn't be. Oh and he also probably told you that he and I were going to have a serious talk when I get home." She grinned and tilted her head to the side. "Did I nail it?"

The others looked at Chris who let out a rueful laugh. "That would pretty much cover the conversation yes."

Ezra closed his eyes and groaned as Buck, JD and Josiah laughed along with Chris.

"Where is that delicate debutante that I used to know." The southerner removed Laura's arm from his shoulder and pushed her into a chair beside him.

"When this is over we'll finish that bottle of scotch and I'll tell you." Laura's smile had a hint of sadness to it as she replied. She turned her attention to the other men. "Now Ezra and I have come to a compromise regarding whether I go home. I stay out of this and be sure not to wander off by myself and he lets me stay.

"That should work, right Chris? If everything goes well, by tomorrow night Fowler will be in jail anyway." Buck smiled at Laura as he spoke. "I'd hate to see a pretty lady like you get yourself hurt."

Laura gave him a 'I've got your number buddy' look. "Did I mention I know karate?"

Alright, tomorrow morning, Nathan, you and Josiah drive out to Chugwater and look around. Get pictures of the rest station and everything around it. We will need a layout of the area for planning. Once we have a basic plan I will let the Police know what we're gonna need for backup. Ezra, Vin, you two make sure that Laura gets to the fairgrounds okay and check on the horses. Buck, JD, I want our surveillance equipment checked out. We'll all meet back here by 10:00. Everyone plan on a briefing with our backup at 1:00. I want to have everything in place by 5:00." Chris scanned each man's face to be sure they understood his instructions. "Okay, it's late, lets all get some sleep, tomorrow is going to be a long day."

As the others started to straighten things up and make the usual goodnight noises Ezra headed into his bedroom. He quickly returned with his bag and moved to the chair where Laura still sat. "Are you ready, my dear?"

"Yes, but I still think this is stupid, I don't need a babysitter."

"Well, then consider it an act of kindness, I have been sharing a bed with Vin and he kicks in his sleep." Ezra put his hand under Laura's arm and pulled her to her feet.

"Ezra, are you sleeping in Laura's room?" JD's eyes were wide as he looked at the bag in the other man's hand.

"Yes, my dear sibling has an extra bed which she has graciously offered to loan me. Goodnight gentlemen." Laura barely had time to wave as Ezra steered her out the door.