Chapter 32

Slowing to take the exit, Rowley left the highway and then turned right at the crossroads. “Our town has another problem. We’re visited by tourists, rodeo riders, and fairs, all types of shows, from cattle to cakes, then add the seasonal workers, the miners, and ranch hands. It’s a perfect environment for people to move around unseen. This is why we’re finding it so difficult to pin down suspects across the board. The locals recognize locals, but we have so many strangers moving through town at any one time they hardly get a second glance.”

He drove through a set of gates under a sign with diamond bar ranch depicted in cast iron and along a gravel driveway. They’d made the same journey the previous afternoon and parked outside the main ranch house. To one side was another building with a sign saying office on the door. They climbed out of the truck and crunched in the damp gravel toward the office. Rowley knocked on the door and then pushed it open. The same ranch manager they’d spoken to the previous day was sitting behind a desk staring at a computer screen. “Morning.”

“Ah, morning, Deputies.” The man leaned back in his seat and peered at them from under the brim of his hat. “You’ll be looking for Dallas. It must be important to drag you all the way out here so early.”

“Maybe.” Rio smiled at him. “Don’t bother to get up, just point us in the direction and we’ll be out of your way before you know it.”

“He’s in the barn tending the horses.” The manager indicated toward the door with his chin. “Turn right and follow your nose. It’s the red building, smells like horses.” He chuckled and turned his attention back to the screen.

As they walked outside the manager’s voice followed them.

“He knows you’re coming.”

Rowley hunched his shoulders against a blast of cold wind whistling between the buildings. It was a usual setup for a cattle ranch: corrals and pens, cattle trucks, and the flies and smell of once-dried cow pies that had moistened since the rain. Having the cattle so close to the house wasn’t something Rowley would allow. The flies and smell crept in everywhere and made life miserable. They followed the driveway, marked with deep ruts from the trucks, and made their way to the barn. The warm smell of the stables greeted them and as they walked inside, Rowley blinked to allow his eyes to adjust to the dark interior. He looked around as a tall blond-haired man chewing on a strand of hay walked toward them. “Dallas Strauss?”

“In the flesh.” Strauss walked toward them, his stride easy and relaxed. He met them with a casual almost condescending smile. “Who has complained about me this time?”

“Do you have many complaints made against you?” Rio straightened and stood one hand resting on the handle of his weapon. “I haven’t found any priors. Or are you speaking about misdemeanors in other states?”

“Nope, no one has ever made a complaint to the cops about me, well, not yet anyway.” Strauss leaned casually against an empty stall and shrugged. “So what has you driving out here to speak to me? Someone die?”

How perceptive.Rowley took the statement pad from beneath his arm and rested it on a feed bin close by. “Have you heard the news reports about requests for CCTV footage?”

“Nope.” Strauss shrugged. “I don’t have time to watch too much news. It’s depressing. I don’t have a dashcam in my truck, so I can’t help you. Is there anything else?”

“Do you know a woman by the name of Dakota Slade? She works in the general store in Black Rock Falls.” Rio was watching Strauss closely.

“Yeah, I’ve spoken to Dakota a few times in the general store. I asked her to the Halloween Ball.” Strauss shrugged. “She was busy that night.” He rubbed his chin slowly. “I figured we were getting along just fine. She was as nice as pie when I went to the store.”

Noticing the confused look on the man’s face, Rowley nodded. “That’s all part of their customer service. They’re nice to everyone. It’s not a come-on.”

“I didn’t bug her.” Strauss shrugged. “I was just being friendly. Did she complain about me?”

“Nope. She hasn’t said a word to us.” Rio raised one eyebrow and shifted his gaze to Rowley. “It’s just you were seen in the store talking to her before she went missing.”

“She’s missing?” Strauss pulled the straw from his mouth. “When?”

“Last Thursday.” Rio stared at him. “Which brings me to Jennifer Kriss. A man fitting your description was seen talking to her at the hot food bar in the food market three times up to Friday last.”

“I don’t know anyone by the name of Jennifer, so it wasn’t me. I go to Aunt Betty’s Café if I want a meal. I don’t need to go into the market. All my meals are provided. If I want a few luxuries, I grab them from the convenience store.” Strauss straightened. “Is Jennifer missing too? Maybe they went out somewhere together.”

Rowley stared at him. “We’ll ask the questions. Do you know Johanna Worth? She works at the pizzeria.”

“Who doesn’t know the girls working at the pizzeria?” Strauss barked a laugh. “Yeah, I’ve spoken to Johanna. I didn’t know her last name, but they all have their first names on their uniforms. She’s a plain Jane. Why would I be interested in her?”

“Well, you looked interested in the CCTV footage we viewed recently.” Rio leaned in a little closer, but Strauss didn’t seem intimidated. “Care to explain that?”

“Just being social.” Strauss shook his head slowly. “Seems to me, being cordial is acting interested. This seems a little one-sided to me, Deputy. She was being nice to me and it’s fine, but me being nice to her when I’m ordering a pizza is a problem. I figure you have the problem not me.” He blew out a long sigh. “If there’s anything else you need to ask, get on with it. I have chores to do.”

“Do you recall when you last spoke to these women?” Rio inclined his head. “Have you asked Johanna out on a date?”

“No and no.” Strauss looked from one to the other. “You have CCTV footage, so you have the dates I was in the stores. I take my downtime when the workload is low. It’s a ranch. Surely you know the days all run into each other.” He shook his head slowly. “I shouldn’t have asked Dakota to the Halloween Ball. You know, I regretted it the moment it came out of my mouth. I felt kinda sorry for her.”

“How so?” Rio rolled his shoulders.

“She wasn’t my type.” Strauss removed his hat and ran his hand through his hair. “She was friendly enough and it just slipped out, is all. I figured she’d be grateful.” He smiled. “I don’t have a problem getting dates, so when she refused it surprised me some.” He lifted his chin and replaced his hat. “The next girl I asked came to the ball with me.”

Rowley nodded. “Are you an item now?”

“Nope.” Strauss smiled flashing uneven teeth. “I’m not planning on being restricted for some time yet. Maybe never.”

Glancing at Rio and seeing he didn’t have anything further to ask, he turned back to Strauss. “You live here on the ranch?”

“Yeah, in the bunkhouse. There’s four of us who work here year-round.” Strauss looked from one to the other. “We done here? I have work to do.”

“Yeah.” Rio nodded. “Thanks for your time.”

Outside Rowley turned to Rio. “What’s your take on him?”

“I’m not sure.” Rio tipped his hand back and forth. “I’m of two minds about him. One thing’s for sure, I’m going to look into him a little closer when we get back to the office.”