Cold Trail (Sue Thomas FBEye)

Cold Trail - Chapter Nine

On the ninth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me...

Nine cases of chocolate milk?

Eight noisy cowbells?

Seven sugar sticks?

Six soft, cuddly cows?

Five chocolate chip cookies?

Four stainless steel milk barrels?

Three days to live?

Two flutes of champagne?

And a Christmas card in a snowflake envelope?

~ * ~

Inside the barn, dirty stalls were lined up on one side while on the opposite side, counters were stocked with milk barrels sporting an Igloo logo and the word ICE written in red.

Pitchforks, brooms, and stools were scattered all over the ground, and the smell of manure assaulted Sue's nostrils. "They don't clean the place often, do they?"

Beside her, Rudolph shook his head. "Hey, look. There's a cow inside."

A black and white cow stood in one of the stalls, but the presence of the dairy cow didn't mystify Sue as much as the absence of milking machinery. "How do you think they get the milk?"

"Well..." Rudolph fidgeted with his hands. "They pull and squirt her...you know."

Shaking her head, she motioned for him to follow her into the occupied stall. "Farmers stopped milking cows by hands long ago. They use pumps, but I don't see any pumps, do you?"

He looked around. Except for a stool and a rusty bucket discarded in a corner, the only things in the stall were them, and the cow, which appeared oblivious to their puzzlement.

"Are you sure they don't do it the old-fashioned way anymore?"

"I..." Yes, she was sure, but what if there was no milk to milk. "Why don't you take the stool and the bucket, sit near the cow, and show me how to milk a cow the old-fashioned way?"

"You want me to do what?" Despite the objection, he followed her instructions, and placed the bucket under the cow. "Why?"

"Something doesn't add up, Rudolph. Call it a hunch."

"And your hunch is telling you I'm supposed to grab the cow's...huh...I feel sorry for Leland if that's how you treat him."

"Do it for Jolly. Please?"

With each pull, a grimace contorted his face, not that the cow seemed to care. "That's...that's harder than it looks. I...I can't get any milk."

Rudolph was trying hard, but it appeared the cow was dry.

"You can stop." If she had to guess, she'd say the cows were a cover, but a cover for what? "Come with me."

With her pseudo-kidnapper on her heels, she went to the counter where the milk barrels were lined up. As she lifted one, a sheet of paper was dislodged from underneath it.

"The barrel is empty."

The paper landed on the floor, and Rudolph retrieved it from her. "It looks like a receipt."

It wasn't a receipt, it was a purchase order from ICE to buy nine cases of chocolate milk sold from an out-of-state dairy farm.

"They don't make any milk product here, Rudolph, they buy from another dairy farm and stick their logo on the products."

"Why? And what does that have to do with Jolly?"

Good question. "I don' know." As she looked around a second time, she saw a ladder that climbed into the ceiling. "Maybe the answer is up there."

A look of panic settled on Rudolph's face. "I hear an engine...and voices...It can't be."

"Can't be what?"

He dragged her toward a hazy window. A truck had parked in front of the barn, and two men were gesturing in front of it.

"The short, chubby guy...it's Vixen. If he finds me here, I'm as good as dead."

~ * ~

D's cell phone rang as he drove into Meadow Grass.

Even though D shouldn't be driving and using his cell phone at the same time, Jack had expected his colleague to answer, not to hand him the phone.

"Be nice," he whispered as Jack accepted the cell.

"Hudson, speaking."

"Jack?" Tara sounded surprised to hear his voice. "I thought..."

"D is driving." Heeding D's advice, he remained calm and friendly. "Did you work your magic, and find Sue and Santa's reindeer?"

Muffled chuckles reached his ears.

"Your best bet would be the dairy farm. I contacted the sheriff office. They've never had any complaints about Igloo Creamery, and never had any reason to investigate the property, but they're ready to provide assistance should you request it. I also found an address for Jolly in Meadow Grass. 75 Fern Drive, apartment 14. Myles is maybe fifteen minutes behind you. He's on his way there."

In order to be so close behind, Myles would have headed directly for Meadow Grass after leaving the penitentiary, and driven at unreasonable speed without stopping or sleeping.

Jack was impressed. "We'll meet him at the sister's place. Did you find out what kind of sleigh Rudolph is driving?"

"A red Santa Fe."