Jake kept his head down as they moved through the cages containing birds designated as “broilers,” a large variety of ducks and some rather noisy geese. They made it to the last row, which held an impressive array of turkeys and guinea fowl. He was about to call Max back to him when the dog suddenly dropped to his rump and barked three times, his attention locked on an oversize plastic storage container shoved under a folding table.
Reaching for his police radio, he made his way closer. “Canine ID’d device. Poultry Barn.” He reattached Max’s lead and coaxed the dog into taking a few steps back. Without taking his eyes off the tub, he gave Max’s ears a scratch. “Good dog.”
Max shifted closer to his leg, but the two of them continued to stare transfixed until Cass’s voice yanked him out of his trance. But she wasn’t talking to him. She was reminding Bud Thompson to check the small cages and pens that housed the petting animals beyond the entertainment area dedicated to entertaining the fair’s smaller patrons.
The brusque exchange of orders and information washed over him like a wave. Of all the people in the world, Cassidy Walker was here. And so was shot at a second chance. Maybe.
If he could figure out the right words to say to get Cass to forgive him.
“Donovan?”
Jake shook himself like Max after a bath. The radio gripped in his hand, he took a moment to clear his mind before he answered. “Go ahead, Chief.”
“Leave a marker at the area then move on to the next building. I’ll send a team over.”
“Ten-four.” He unzipped another compartment on his vest and pulled out a yellow plastic square. Shaking open the evidence marker so it stood like a tent, he placed it on top of the folding table. “Yellow marker Number 01 placed at the southeast corner of the building. There’s a table with a storage container shoved beneath. The storage tub is our mark.”
“Copy,” the lead investigator responded. “Noted. Move on.”
“Yes, sir.”
Jake gave Max another pat and a small bit of treat to reward his hard work. “Let’s run through the rabbits, then we’ll get you another drink and something to eat.” The two of them jogged down the hill to the building situated between the poultry and the main concourse. “Good thing you’re not the type to go chasing bunnies,” he said as he let Max off his leash at the door.
Ten minutes later, they were moving on. “Rabbit Barn is clear,” he informed the team.
“Disposal moving to Poultry now.” Aronson paused. “I have people in the horse barns. Head to Goats and Sheep and then the swine.”
“Copy.”
Jake waved to the team assembling outside the Poultry Barn, then turned to jog downhill. They passed the horse stable and the show ring, their steps slowing as they approached the building on far west side of the fairgrounds. On impulse, he grabbed Cass’s radio and spoke into it.
“I don’t suppose it’s a coincidence the sheep, swine and poultry are kept away from the main drag.”
Cass didn’t disappoint. “If fairgoers want to experience the stinkier species, they know where to find them.”
“It’s hard to believe horses and cows are deemed the better option,” he countered.
“Where are you? Obviously not Goats and Sheep or Swine barns.”
“Yet,” he added. “We found one at Poultry, nothing at Rabbits.”
“So, we’re up to seven.”
She started to say more, but he cut her off when another call came through on the official channel. “Number eight is in Cattle Barn 1.”
“We’re getting close,” Cass said, her voice a mix of tension and hopefulness. There was a pause and then she spoke softly. “It’s almost two, Jake. Don’t go in there yet.”
“I’ll remind the others to fall back for a few minutes.” He turned in the direction of the midway. Jake checked his watch. It was four minutes to the hour. He called to base. “Top of the hour. Should we take ten, Chief?”
A moment later, Aronson replied. “Yeah, everyone fall back until five past.”
Without giving it much thought, Jake clicked his tongue and he and Max headed for the midway. When they arrived at the carousel, they found Cass sitting slumped against a glittery green seahorse, her expression a heart-wrenching mix of loneliness and determination. She whirled past, her attention fixed on the bench across from her.
“Hey.”
Her head popped up. “Oh. Hey. You came back.”
Trying to play it cool even though his heart raced as he and Max hopped onto the moving platform, he shrugged. “We’re taking ten to clear the top of the hour.”
