by Alton Reich
Day 2: Morning
>Vanessa and Jim had to take one of the cars out of town, and the rest of the >agents had no choice but to cramped into the other car.
Jordan led the way out to the other car and was about to get in when Leo exclaimed, "Oh, I almost forgot about this." He reached into his pocket, pulled out a neatly folded sheet of paper and handed it to Jordan.
Jordan glanced at the information that Leo and Zenya had printed out the previous evening. "I get the feeling I should read this," he said as he tossed the keys to Zenya.
Jordan climbed in the back seat and Zenya got in the front. "Where to?" she asked.
"Let's start with Jessie Colquitt's house. It's only a few miles from here."
Zenya nodded, started the Swift and pulled out onto the street. Jordan looked over the sheet Leo had given him.
"The DOD. You think they're involved?" Jordan asked.
"I'd bet my eye teeth," Leo repiled.
"Great, another government cover-up," Martin sighed.
Zenya turned a corner on to a side street, "Do you think you could arrange for us to be the ones covering up for a change?" she asked looking at Jordan in the rear-view mirror, "It would be an interesting change."
"I'm afraid I don't know which form to fill out to accomplish that, Agent Gorky."
Zenya slowed the Swift, and pulled to atop in front of a long, single-story house. "This is it," she announced.
The 4 agents got out of the car and looked over the house. It was painted a tastefull blue with grey shutters. The back yard was fenced in, and they could see a pool. Everything looked perfectly normal, except for the crime scene tape across the front door.
The agents entered the house and noted the straight forward layout. The living room and kitchen were to the left and bedrooms were located off a hallway to the right.
"Agent Reed and I will check this side of the house," Jordan said motioning toward the kitchen, "You two take the bedrooms."
"Gotcha, Chief," Leo said and he led the way down the hall.
Jordan and Martin walked into the dining room and looked at the pair of chalk outlines and blood stains on the floor.
"Based on the blood splatter patterns, "Martin said, "I'd say Jessie was standing in the front doorway when he shot them."
Jordan looked over at the door, and nodded, "I agree. There's no sign of a struggle. I would guess the whole thing was over fairly quickly."
"Yeah. I'll take the kitchen if you want to start in here," Martin offered.
Jordan agreed and began searching the dining room. He heard Martin opening drawers in the kitchen and looking through their contents. Jordan found a pocket knife under a book case full of cook books. He wasn't sure it had anything to do with their case, but it didn't have a long term build-up of dust, so he bagged it.
Leo calling, "Hey Chief," caught his attention, and he almost banged his head on the table as he stood up.
Jordan walked to the hallway and called, "Where are you?"
"Last door on the left," Leo replied.
Jordan walked down the hall and entered the room. It was a small study lined with book shelves. A table sat at the back of the room with a computer sitting on it. Leo sat in front of the computer waiting for Jordan. Zenya stood behind him. Martin followed Jordan into the room and asked, "You find something?"
"Maybe, check this out," Leo said as he worked his way through the menu tree. "RPG Universe," he said pointing to the icon.
Jordan's cell phone rang and he answered, "Stern."
There was a pause and he said, "Is she all right... Ok, I understand. I'll meet you there in about 15 minutes."
Jordan hung up the cell phone and frowned.
"Is something wrong?" Zenya asked.
"I'm not sure," Jordan replied, "Will you be all right if I take the car for a while?"
"I think so," Zenya replied. We'll wait here for you, unless you'll be too lone, in which case we can walk to one of the other houses."
"I'll give you a call if I'm going to be a while."
Jordan walked out to the car and drove to the motel.
>She bowed her head, and swore, and then looked up again when the door opened.
>Jordan entered the room.
>"The details?" He asked the agents.
>"Cross or Vanessa?" Jim asked.
>"Both."
>(They) gave Jordan a report of everything except the 'doorway' incident.
>"My evaluation," said Jim, "is that he's telling the truth. He will come for >us, but not now. He tried not to show it, but I think he was surprised we >knew he was here."
>"I agree," Vanessa said. "He's not after us right now. But he will be."
>"OK. We can't rule him out, but let's not dwell on him. We'll just watch our >backs."
>"Can you release me now?" Vanessa asked.
>"You sure she'll be okay?" Jordan asked Jim.
>"I guess so. The three kids seemed to be okay after they woke up. She >didn't sleep, but I guess fainting is similar. "
>"It just doesn't sound good if the public knows that even FBI agents are not >immune to the charms of the cows." Jordan added.
>"Release me, gentlemen. Now." Vanessa said through clenched teeth. Jim >smiled as he took out the keys of the handcuff from his pocket and proceed >to unlock the handcuffs.
"Thanks," Vanessa said with little humor when the handcuffs were off.
"What do you remember?" Jordan asked.
"Not much," Vanessa replied, "I saw some cows in a field and I walked over to check them out. The next thing I remember was wasking up here."
Jordan's phone rang again, and he answered, "Stern."
"I see," he said, "We'll be right there."
He looked at Jim and Vanessa, "There's a group of cows milling around in the parking lot by the local strip mall. Sherrif Dolan called to let me know about it."
"Great," Jim sighed.
"Agent Reaper, can you pick up the rest of the team while Vanessa and I head over?"
NRPG:
Much too long a silence. I have lots of excuses, but I'll save them.
What are those wild and crazy cows up to this time?