#3 Dangus! A Missing Brangus!

“You have to find him, Frost. I don’t know what I’ll do if something happens to him.”

The first thing you have to know about Maria Henriquez is that she is a frustratingly cool-headed person. Once, a couple of summers before I started Frozen Cold Cases, I worked as a farmhand for her. No matter what the other farmhands did she always met it with a deep breath and a smile. She never wanted anyone to feel worse than they already did, even when they should feel pretty awful. Seeing her like this, anxious and pacing in the mud, rubbing her hands till they were red, it just felt wrong. It made my skin itch.

“Maria,” I said, “stop moving for five seconds and maybe tell me all of what happened, alright?”

She stopped and tried to calm herself down, but I could see it wasn’t working. She readjusted her trucker hat and rolled up her flannel, even though it was freezing outside (52 degrees is just too cold to be outside, I’m sorry). 

“Four a.m. this morning me and Alva wake up. Same as always so we can get the work done before it starts getting melting hot. She goes to the fields to work with the farmhands, get them all started, but I wanted to check on Molly. We’re only a few days out from having to submit her for examination so she can compete at the Fair. I can barely sleep, I think about it so much. Winning twice in a row is hard. Three times is harder, but I think we have a real shot. So, I come here, to the barn, to check on her, but she’s not here. And the barn was locked, so she couldn’t have just wandered out.”

Alva gripped her wife's hand, which managed to calm Maria down a fraction of an inch. 

Alva leveled her gaze at me. “Prize for best beef cow this year is $50,000.” 

I whistled and tilted my own hat back. I was never too good at farming, but for $50,000 I could learn to be better. 

“Farm could always use the money,” I said.

“I know,” Alva continued, “we’ve been having a string of bad luck. Diseased stock. Broken tractors. Hell, even the light right above the barn popped just last week. That bulb was supposed to last thirty years. Barely made it nine months.”

“We’re cursed.” Maria moaned. She dropped Alva’s hand and wandered into the barn, like she was going to find the 1,200 pound Brangus hiding behind a pile of hay. We both watched her go. Alva pressed her lips into a thin line and crossed her arms. 

“How long she been like this?” I nodded towards Maria. Alva's face grew heavy with the kind of worry only love can provide.

“Like I said Carolyn, it’s been a rough year. Some of our other cows got sick out of nowhere this summer, we couldn’t sell them when we needed to. It threw off everything. We had to take out a loan to pay the hands, and we were banking on the $50,000 to pay back the loan and cover some other repairs. Without that $50,000 … TomTom said that he’d be interested in buying if we sold.” The air grew heavy with her silence.

I looked out over the wide green expanse. I’d worked at a couple of farms in Plant City before I got to Maria and Alva’s place. Farms always need help and I always need money, so we’re a good fit. Other places were only a little better than plantations, and some of them weren’t even that. But I could always trust that the Henriquezes cared more about me than the yield. It’d be a damned shame if they had to sell their farm. Plus they give me food they can’t sell which saves me a monster with how expensive groceries are these days.

I spit on my hand and held it out to Alva, my face wide with its tootheist grin.

“You’re in luck. I’m gonna find that cow for you two.”

“You know I’m not going to touch your hand, right?”

“Your loss.” I rubbed my hand clean on my jeans and turned to face the barn. “So, she was taken from here, huh?”

“Taken?” 

I pointed to the nearby tire tracks preserved in the slowly drying mud. 

“Those aren’t yours are they? I know you guys drive a pickup, but those look much bigger. See here?” I squatted and pointed to four sets of tracks. “Those look like trailer tracks. It rained last night, right? These look fresh.”

“Actually, yeah. It rained around eight.”

“Thought so. Which means these are probably from last night. Were you guys driving around a trailer yesterday?”

“No.”

“Exactly. Then Molly was probably taken, unless she wandered away and a mysterious truck with a trailer pulled up for totally innocent reasons.”

“That is … why would someone want to steal Molly?”

“A $50,000 dollar cow? Oh, I can take a guess.”

A shock of white in the muck caught my eye. I gently fished out an all white cigarette butt from the trail of the tire tracks. I turned it over in my hands.

“Maria still smoke?”

Alva huffed. “She had better not.”

“Huh.”

I let the cigarette butt roll from my fingers back into the ground. Unless Molly had stopped to get a nicotine rush before she sped off in her four wheeler, someone had definitely nicked this cow yesterday. I doubt Mrs. and Mrs. “Early-To-Bed-Early-To-Rise” had seen who it was that went bump in the night, and since my conversational bovine was a little rusty I would need real, English-speaking, human witnesses to get to the bottom of this. Oh joy.

My eyes scanned the landscape until they landed on the white house surrounded by the white picket fence on the ridge over. Bingo.

“Let me go to talk to the Mandans. Maybe they saw something.” I stood and stretched. If I was lucky, I’d be able to get done with this in a couple of hours. If I was really lucky, I’d be done by lunch and I could find some gas station tacos to celebrate.

***

I spent 15 minutes high-stepping through tall grasses, daffodils, and curious dragonflies to get to the Mandan farm. I gave a few solid raps to the door and a few moments later a tall man with sunken eyes, sandy white hair, and a worn red flannel opened the door.

“As I live and breathe. You're that Snow girl.”

“Frost, but close enough. Surprised you remember me, Robert.”

“Do my best to remember Henriquez’s help.  Don't wanna accidentally confuse one of y'all for a vagrant and shoot you.” 

“Don't wanna accidentally get shot. Can I come in?”

“Uh, sure yeah.”

I waited as he closed the door behind me. It was a pretty nice place as far as farmhouses go.

“Shoes on or off? Don’t wanna track any more mud in. Looks like you got it pretty bad yesterday.” I pointed to the two pairs of muddy boots tossed to the side of the hallway. 

He shrugged. “Off, I suppose.”

I kicked my shoes off and followed him to his kitchen. Missy, his wife, was standing at the counter cooking up some eggs and coffee. Her hair was tied back and she smiled like she was happy to see me.

“Company, this early? Well, I’ll be. Bobby, who’s this?”

Robert placed his heavy hand on my shoulder.

“Missy, you remember her. She used to work for the Henriquezes about five or so years ago. Always used to see you out in the fields building that fence on the east facing side. Name’s Frost.”

“Carolyn,” I shrugged his hand off of me and wandered to the table “I’ve got a couple of questions for you two.”

“Oh,” Missy set down her spatula and gave me her full attention. 

Robert drifted to her side. “Questions about what?”

“Sometime last night, likely after eight, someone drove by Maria and Alva’s barn with a trailer and they stole their prize Brangus cow, Molly.”

Missy gasped. I watched as Robert moved to hold her waist. He scratched his head and narrowed his eyes.

“That’s a pretty big cow to steal. Wouldn’t be the easiest thing.”

“No. It wouldn’t. Maria and Alva were asleep, but I was hoping since you two have a pretty good view of the barn from over here that maybe one of you saw something last night?”

“Well,” Missy started, “there was a noise last night. We were still awake, because of the rain, see? So, we were awake and we heard a noise, like a truck backfiring. I thought it was strange and Robert told me to go back to sleep and pay it no mind, but I hardly do what I’m told anyway. So, I got up and looked out the window and saw a red truck over there driving away, but I didn’t think anything too strange of it at the time.”

“A red truck,” I leaned forward, “you're sure.”

“Positive. I saw a red truck drive away as sure as I can see you standing right there.”

“Great. That’ll narrow it down quite a bit. And did either of you two go out to investigate?”

“Investigate?” Robert said. “It was raining cats and dogs. Who was going out there?”

“But your boots …” I trailed off.

“Oh, ’cause they’re muddy,” He laughed, a smile brightening his whole face. “We got caught in the rain. We were over on the east side of the farm, keep a couple of steer out there. Used to let them roam free, but since  the Henriquezes moved in we try to be more mindful about where they get to be. Grazing land isn’t exactly easy to come by, I wouldn't want to cut in on their territory. We were down by the lake, the rains started, and then we had to pretty much run back here.”

“I was soaked through,” Missy laughed. “But we did run right back here. Most running I did since that last tropical storm blew through.”

“Oh. That explains that then. And you two didn’t see anything else? Anyone else?”

They gave me sympathetic smiles and shrugs. I nodded and gave a smile of my own.

“This might take a little longer than I thought.” I laughed and tipped my cap back as I sat at their kitchen table. 

“Would you like some breakfast, sweetie?” Missy asked.

“No, thanks. You know, I feel a lot of pressure to solve this thing. I’m a big shot detective now—it would be pretty embarrassing if I couldn’t figure out the ‘case of the missing cow’.”

Robert poured a cup of instant coffee and placed it in front of me. I took a long slurp, trying to ignore the slightly too hot heat.

"No shame in having a couple of failures mixed in with the successes,” said Robert.

“I just feel bad for Maria and her wife,” Missy said. “I know they’ve been having a wicked stream of luck flowing their way, but I assumed they’d just win at the fair like they usually do. Without that Brangus … I hope they have enough to last them till the next harvest season.”

“No. They’re talking about selling.” I watched Missy and Robert’s faces well with deep concern.

“Damned shame.” Robert slipped the coffee pot back in its holder. 

“Yeah. I think so too. Well, I don’t want to interrupt your breakfast for too long,” I stopped and started to make my way back to the front door, before I paused. “Quick question, would you two happen to know who might want to get them to sell their farm?”

Missy and Robert shared a look. A whole conversation passed between them, before Missy turned back to me.

“You remember Thomas Thomas, don’t you?”

I nodded grimly. “Yeah, I know TomTom.”

“Then there’s your answer. Especially since it was Molly that was taken. He hates that cow. Hasn’t beaten it in two years, but now that Molly is gone he's a shoo-in.”

“But,” Robert interrupted, “if we’re talking about people who just want the cow, then there’s someone there too. Stevie, he’s the butcher down off of Spencer street. He tends to process all our beef, pigs, and chicken. Now, you didn’t hear it from me, but he has always really wanted Molly for himself. Henriquez would never sell her to Stevie as long as she’s competing, but the meat on that thing … Stevie’s a good boy, but even good boys do bad things.”

I pursed my lips and swirled the new information around in my head. I gave one firm nod and shook Robert and Missy’s hands. 

“Thank you both. I think you’ve given me a lot to work with.” I turned to leave again, and stopped just before I reached the doorframe. I sheepishly swiveled around. 

“I know I really shouldn’t, but do either of you have a cigarette? The cravings are kicking me while I’m down.”

Missy laughed and fished a box of Virginia Slims out of her pocket. “I know just what you mean.” I tucked the cigarette she handed me behind my ear and headed out in the city.

***

Steve’s Premiere Meats. There was a joke in there somewhere, but I was too focused to find it. I pushed open the glass door, thankful that no one in Plant City seemed to have heard of the concept of “sleeping in.” Steve, a curly-haired man with strong hands and soft eyes, was Windexing the already crystalline display windows. 

“Stevie?”

“Only my friends call me Stevie and I don’t think we’re friends. I don’t even know your name.”

“I’m Carolyn. Are we friends yet?”

“Close enough. How can I help you?”

“You know Maria and Alva Henriquez?”

“Of course,” He moved behind the counter and started wiping down the counters. “Good people. Good livestock.”

“Molly was stolen last night.”

His wiping slowed and he turned to face me. Confusion etched in his face.

“You’re lying.”

“I am not.”

He straightened up and leaned on the counter. He crossed his arms and watched me. His easy demeanor shedding to reveal something stonier.

“Who are you again?”

“Carolyn Frost. I used to work for Maria a couple years ago. She called in a favor.”

“So, Carolyn Frost, why are you coming to talk to me about a missing cow?”

“I heard Molly was your white whale. Too precious to slaughter, but too delicious not to want to. Did you take her?”

I waited for him to shift, to blink, to roll his shoulders back. Anything that made it seems like there was a chink in his armor that I could rip through. But nope. Nothing. He kept staring at me staring at him. 

“Don’t you think you’d get farther by being a little less honest?”

“I would lie if I thought it would help.”

I wanted him to grind his teeth or maybe narrow his eyes. Just something. But no. He was, if anything, maybe less bothered than when I first walked in.

“I didn’t steal the cow. Wouldn’t have a place to put her even if I did. Shame though, she’s beautiful, and Maria and Alva know that the minute she gets off the fair circuit, I’d be more than happy to process her. Hope you find her wherever she is.” He rolled his head to the side. He looked bored. That bastard. 

“You drive a red truck?”

“Matter of fact I do.”

“I got witnesses saying they saw a red truck drive away from the scene.”

“Well, isn’t that a coincidence.”

We stood there. I was waiting for him to give me more to work with, and I think he was doing the same. Eventually, he got tired. He turned away from me and started wiping the counters again. 

“Well, if there’s anything else I can help with let me know. We have a sale on ribeye if you’re interested.”

“I just got one more question.” 

He paused and sent me a disinterested glance. 

“You smoke?”

He gave the smallest smile. “You kidding? That stuff’ll kill you.”

***

Back when I was a kid, my family used to watch old reruns of Dynasty. In the older episodes, there was this character, Matthew, who was everything an outdoorsy kinda man could hope to be. The first time I ever saw TomTom I thought he looked just like Matthew. Golden-haired, leathery, blue eyes so bright you’d wish he’d put some brown contacts in. When I pulled up on the iron-gated entrance of his 75-acre ranch, I couldn’t help but think about how many people ended up dead on Dynasty.

It wasn’t hard to get in. Back when I was a hand, I knew a couple of the folks down at TomTom’s. All you had to do was hop over the southwest gate and march the 20 or so minutes to the back door of the barn (remember it’s not breaking in if you’ve been there before). I pushed the barn doors open and snuck through hoping to see Molly and sneak out before I was caught. Unfortunately, my luck ran out.

“Well, well, well, what do we have here?” TomTom’s distinct good ol’ boy drawl rang out from behind me. I slowly turned around. He was standing with his muddy boots a little wider than his shoulders. He had his chest puffed out with his hands on his hips like a denim-clad Superman. Bow-legged bastard.

“Thomas Thomas? What are you doing here?”

“In my barn? Guess.” He tilted his head and squinted. “Do I know you?”

“Frost. Carolyn Frost. Used to work the fields five or six years ago. I picked strawberries for you once.” A look of understanding fell on him.

“Right. You left me for Maria. So, what is this then? A little professional sabotage? Trying to see which one of my herd is gonna wipe the floor with that Brangus of yours this year?” I could see him deciding something. He clicked his tongue and tipped his head to the side. “Follow me.”

I trailed behind him through his massive barn. It felt like it was never gonna end. Most of the stalls were empty. I figured his stock was grazing outside. I started to wonder if it was wise going to a secondary location with so many heavy, skull-busting things nearby, but he finally stopped in front of a stall that was wider than the others. Inside there was a beautiful glossy Brangus the color of night lazily chewing her cud. TomTom leaned against the stall and grinned.

“Well, Ms. Former Farmhand, meet The Great Queen Brunhilde, the best bonafide prime beef Brangus in the entirety of the great state of Florida.” He leaned in until I could smell the breakfast on his breath. “Now, why don’t you run back to Maria and that little wife of hers and tell them that their farm is as good as mine now that they’ll lose at the Fair.”

“Did you steal Molly?”

“Pardon?”

“A cow. Bout this big. Dopey eyes. Beats your sorry ass every year. Did you take her?”

He leaned against the stall, his eyes darting everywhere but my face. Then that smug bastard started laughing. God, I hate him.

“Oooh, that is rich. You know how much I spent getting Brunhilde in fighting shape? Only for those two idiots to lose their cow—”

“They’re not idiots.”

“Uh, sweetheart? Only an idiot loses a thousand pound animal. God, I really am gonna get their farm,” He gave his widest smile yet. “Well, how ’bout this, tell them I’ll give ’em a fair honest deal on their farm when they’re ready to sell. Can’t imagine they’ll get too far without that prize money. Ahhh, it’s so sweet being me.”

I felt myself burning up. I willed my anger to cool till it was a deadly icy feeling in the pit of my stomach. I let a deep breath out and unballed my fists. I titled my hat back and looked dead into TomTom’s empty blue eyes. 

“You got a cigarette?”

He shrugged and slid a box of Marlboros out his shirt pocket. “Sure thing,” he said, handing the cigarettes to me. “Consider it a consolation prize. Now get the hell outta here before I make you leave.”

I spun to the entrance and started the long march to my RV. I looked at the cigarette and it all clicked. I knew who did it. I knew where Molly was. 

“Shouldn't we call the cops or somebody?” Maria asked as I snuck her through the fields leading to the barn. It was practically the middle of the day. I was surprised no one was working close enough to see us.

“That’d cause more trouble than it’s worth. If we sneak Molly back to the barn, that should do enough.”

Alva stayed silent, scanning the perimeter, as we crept into the barn. We took the long walk through the stalls until we saw her. A russet-brown $50,000 dollar cow. Maria’s hands couldn’t help but shake right before she launched herself into the stall to hug Molly. Who knew a cow could be so much trouble. 

“We need to hide. Now.” Alva whispered. I barely had a minute to turn to her, before I could see why she said it.

“Hey!” Missy’s voice rang out behind us.  She was frozen in place, a little dazed. Robert slowed to a stop behind her. We all stood there for a minute looking perfectly stupid. Then, like a switch, Missy smiled and morphed into the friendly neighbor again. She began slowly walking towards us.

“I was just going to call you two, wasn’t I, Robert? I was just going to call you two because we found Molly wandering around in our field and we wanted to keep her in one place before we got you. Imagine us calling and saying we found your cow but when you came over ‘poof’ gone.”

“Virginia Slims.”

“Huh?”

“Virginia Slims.” I pulled out the cigarette she gave me this morning. “That’s how I knew it was you.”

“I don’t—”

“Virginia Slims are all white. They don’t have the cork that Marlboros or Camels or Newports do. Pretty unique. I found an all-white cigarette butt at the crime scene, and you smoke Virginia Slims.”

“That’s, that’s not—” Missy started sputtering, mouth opening and closing like a dying fish. Robert walked to stand side-by-side with his wife.

“That doesn’t prove anything. She’s not the only person smoking Virginia Slims.”

“Sure, but there are other clues. Lots of ‘em. You two are sloppy. I’m embarrassed for you.” Blood rushed to Robert’s cheeks, and Missy snapped her mouth shut. 

“Maria told me the light above their barn popped last week. But you said last night that you were able to tell, without a doubt, that the car driving away was a red truck. There’s no way you could tell the truck’s color in the dark. So, why lie? And that’s what got me. Why lie?”

“We didn’t—”

“Stop talking.” I faced Alva and Maria who had gone unnaturally still. “I don’t think you two are cursed. The sick cows, the broken equipment—I think those were Robert and Missy. Am I right?”

“We’re not admitting anything—” 

“Well, why not! You’re the only people close enough to poison the cows and to sabotage equipment and to break a 30-year bulb 29 years too soon, without being caught. You stole their prize cow for God’s sake! You were going to bankrupt them. Push them to sell the farm.”

“We’ve had meals together, Robert.” Maria sounded torn up. She shoved her hands in her pockets as her eyes bounced between her neighbors’ faces. “Why would you do something like this?”

“Maria … it’s not about you, either of you.”

I couldn’t stand his voice anymore, I had to break in. “It’s about the land, right? Grazing land is hard to come by, and you used to use all of these fields before Maria and Alva moved in. Now your stock has less and less to graze, and that just won’t do, will it?”

“Look, we’re sorry, alright,” Missy said. 

I turned to Maria and Alva. “What do you two want to do?”

I’m not above anything, and nothing is below me. If they said they wanted to torch Robert and Missy’s place and cover it up I would have been the first to light the match, but I didn’t want to start pouring gasoline if that’s not what they wanted.

“I think,” Alva started, “that it’d be best if we never spoke again. And if we see either one of you on our property … I think it’s best for you that we don’t see that either.”

“Come on, Molly.” Maria opened the latch of the stall and maneuvered the cow until it began to amble out of the barn and towards the home it knew so well.