Alix:I think the big BBQ happens next chapter...it's been so long since I wrote this that I've forgotten just how things do come together. I can promise they do though.
Natalie: I think I tie up all of the loose ends, if not just ask questions and I'll answer them eventually. Have to wait and make sure I don't give out any of the story before it's time.
Eve: I shall do my best to clear it all up...solve all mysteries, and promise to never write another fic that is this involved with outside characters.
I hope everyone had a great New Year and I wish all of you the best of the rest of the year as well.
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b]Chapter: 40[/b]
Our five young riders were just heading in from the direction of the river where Liz had found the evidence of the explosion and Michael had taken numerous pictures to add to their collection of evidence against the man they were pretty sure was responsible for all of this.
“Liz, just how much do you know about this Dr. Shellow in the Helena office of the FDA?” Michael asked as he tried to adjust his behind one more time in the saddle he had been in for what seemed like forever. Three of the four chose to ignore the action but not miss congeniality or should we say joviality.
“I don’t know him at all Michael and why don’t you just lean back and relax and rock with the motion of the horse?”
“Liz, I have been rocking my nuts off all day and I’m damned sure that rocking them more is only going to sterilize me for life. Don’t ever invite me on one of your excursions again. I’ll take my vehicle and follow you at two mph but I’ll be damned if I ever take another ride like this.”
Liz’s three companions joined her in hilarious laughter as Michael put his weight on his feet that he had firmly planted in the stirrups, gigged the horse in its sides, lifted his ass, and then took off like a bat out of hell and he was positive it was hell he was going to be rid of shortly.
He could see the ranch in the distance and knew the horse could take the last mile easy enough; at least he had his weight off his ass. The other riders joined him and soon Liz and Lois were out a good hundred feet ahead of the rest with Chief and Banner in seventh heaven as the girls gave them their head and let them run free. Max and Clark could only admire the scene before them and even Michael gave a little grin. Yes, they did love this life, no doubt about it.
When they got back to the corral Michael dismounted and led his animal into the side of the barn where he found the other four already putting saddles away and getting ready to curry their horses. Michael started to do the same with his animal and then his company cell phone went off. It was Jesse.
“Michael, we’ve had a little breakthrough with the help of Tony Sklar’s secretary. It seems that Charles Shuman wasn’t the owner of the real estate company in Billings but only a figure head. This girl has put Doug Shellow with Sklar after Sklar’s meeting with Shuman and since we have Shellow in custody under a John Doe we need to be more careful with our girls because we don’t have a clue as to what their plan was. Shellow slipped a mickey into Sklar’s drink in a public restaurant and caused the man to drop dead on the spot. We are dealing with dangerous drugs here and just as dangerous men.” And Jesse went on to expound on the news they were able to obtain then he said, “Be careful.”
“Damn Jesse, sure; I understand. We’re still out at the Evans ranch and just got in from the site where the bridge blew up. I took numerous pictures and will e-mail them off this evening after Liz and Max go through them with me and help me identify each one. Nothing else is going on is there?”
“No Michael, everything else is the same. Just be careful. I think the man or men we are dealing with may be serial killers Mike. Just be careful and take care of our girls.”
“Will do boss, hello to the wife and I’ll e-mail you later.”
“Fair enough Michael. Later.” And the two men hung up then Michael got back to the business at hand, currying a horse. As he stood next to the horse he was combing the others were within ear shot and he decided to share.
“Hey guys, that was the director. They have Doug Shellow in custody as you already know but they also picked up that Sklar’s secretary today as she exited the Sklar office and she’s managed to connect some dots. This Charles Shuman that has been buying up ranches around here apparently had something to do with Sklar’s death. Now we have a New York mobster who is this Sklar’s uncle and one other, a New Jersey wise guy and God knows who else is involved in this mess.”
Max and Clark looked at Lois and Liz as they worked and wondered just what the hell they had gotten into besides investigating a blown up bridge.
“Michael, this Charles Shuman is connected to Missoula breeding where I work. I don’t know how but he’s been out there quite a few times. Maybe just checking out animals or something but he’s been there. He’s a real sleazy looking type too. He dresses way too sharply to be messing around in a corral if you know what I mean. Creepy, that’s what he is.” And Lois gave a shiver as she continued to work on Chief.
The other four stood almost perfectly still as they watched and wondered, ‘what in the hell is going on?’ As they finished up their jobs and put the horses out for the night Lois remarked...
“Don’t ship those bulls to town yet.” With that remark the other four nodded in agreement and left the barn together.
When they turned up at the main house carrying their saddle bags Maggie took one look at them and almost felt guilty telling them about the barbecue that was being held down at the meeting hall tonight. Almost!
“After you five get cleaned up dinner is going to be down the lane. All the hands got together and planned a barbecue, get together, get acquainted meeting so don’t go getting comfortable. We’ll be down there with the rest waiting for you.”
Clark looked at Max and nodded…
“Okay Maggie, we’ll be there shortly. Just don’t expect us to be the entertainment for the evening because I don’t think that’s going to happen.”
Maggie laughed as she got a really good look at Michael.
“Michael, you don’t have to stay any longer than dinner if you don’t want to. Maybe you’d just rather soak in the Jacuzzi. There’s one out back and there’s one in your bathroom.”
Michael grinned…
“Thanks Maggie, I think I’ll survive. Just don’t expect me up too early for breakfast.”
“Amen…” Was echoed by four other voices as well; they’d had very long nights and now a very long day and they were sure another very long night would be in order and they sure as hell didn’t need a barbecue to interfere with those unspoken plans. But they would be good sports about it since none of the other people around knew that this had been a fact finding mission, with a little fun thrown in of course, so off they went in different directions for showers and clean clothes; not very fast but they went just the same.
*
Back in the city of Missoula Kyle, Luke, Dwain and George had scoped out the house while they cleaned and found no devices anywhere which gave them a comfortable feeling about Steve and Julie. They most likely were exactly what they seemed. A young couple working their way through college and trying to care for an elderly parent; they could actually start eating and talking business at the kitchen table and relaxing while doing so.
*
Jesse made one more phone call before rejoining his wife and filled in Kyle and the other three. Kyle didn’t know where that put the four of them but they would continue to watch and learn what they could. It seemed the major players were all out of town at the moment including their young female doctors.
Kyle was almost certain that Jonas Barnaby was in on something and the Captain was acting a little strange as well but there wasn’t anything Kyle could pinpoint. So the evening went on and Luke, George and Dwain went to work leaving Kyle home to fend for himself. He took his computer and started researching the data banks for recent foreclosures, who bought the property and what the disposition of that property had been. He had come up with some very interesting information.
When he had finished his computer studies, e-mailed Maria the data he had collected to add to the director’s files then he intended to have a nice long chat with his wife; that was one thing he knew he was going to do for sure and life went on. Wondering and waiting; it just seemed like a way of life.
*
Back in the Helena office of the FBI the team moved Dr. Doug Shellow to an interrogation room where they hoped they would be able to talk some sense into the man. He was definitely going down for the murder of Tony Sklar, there was no doubt in anybody’s mind about that. They had the method, the means, the opportunity and the instrument…he was guilty dead to right. They just wanted the names of the participants in the deaths of the Evans couple, the information on the virus attacking the cattle and who the people were that were in on this statewide conspiracy.
Shellow was not talking without a lawyer and until he had been booked on a crime a lawyer would not be necessary…
“Doctor Shellow, we are holding you in protective custody, no one can know you’re here.”
They then decided to move Shellow to a cell and the man looked sick…he was still listed as John Doe.
“I want to make a deal.” The agent nodded
”We’ll talk later. I don’t know what kind of a deal you’re looking for but we’ll see what we can do for you, in the meantime you’re here in our protection.” The agent filled out some paper work and fed it into the computer, dragging out the process for as long as he possibly could, trying to make the prisoner as uncomfortable of his situation as he possibly could.
“Now Mr. Doe I’ll take you back to your cell and then you can follow the rest of our inmates, have your lunch and if I were you I don’t think I’d make myself known to anyone. Tony Sklar’s uncle just left the state with the body. Did you know Sklar’s uncle is New York Mob?” Shellow gulped but didn’t want to give anything up…
“Would it be possible to get something besides the prison food that is served?” Doug was tired of the one pot meals with the bread tossed on top. Surely they could do something better than that.
“Sorry pal, that’s as good as it gets. We never have served pheasant under glass; no one has ever learned to fix it. I guess you’re stuck with pork and bean soup and beef stew. “
“Well, that stuff you call beef stew doesn’t resemble any beef stew I’ve ever eaten.”
“Nothing I can do about that. It is what it is. Well, here you are. I’ll come and get you later and we’ll have a talk. Enjoy your lunch. You are free to tell anyone your name that you want to but if I were you I think I’d keep that a secret as long as possible because when these people find out that you are responsible for poisoning the cattle on their ranches you’re going to be a dead man even if Sklar’s uncle doesn’t find you.”
The agent didn’t seem too concerned about Doug’s dislike for the proffered cuisine at the small holding facility, it still had to be better than the state prison fare which he was sure Doug would be sampling none too soon..
