“What was his name?”
“I don’t know, McQueen or something. He didn’t give me a card.”
“Was it McCue?” Joe asked, leaning into the phone. “Bobby McCue?”
“Yeah, that’s him. An odd duck. I don’t like the state looking over my shoulder.”
Joe shook his head. “He came to talk to me in the hospital. Same guy. I can’t figure out what his game is or who he’s really with.”
Baird snorted. “That’s all I need is some damned rogue investigator running around down here. Maybe I’ll have to sic the FBI on him.”
“Let me find that message,” Baird said. “I grabbed it at the office before I left.” Joe could hear paper being unfolded. “Special Agent Chuck Coon called. He wants me to call him back regarding what we found or didn’t find in the mountains.”
“I know Coon,” Joe said, remembering that the governor had also mentioned federal interest. “He’s a good enough guy, but I don’t know why they’re interested.”
Said Baird, “DCI, FBI, the
“They’re up there,” Joe said. “The Grim Brothers, Terri Wade, and the mystery woman. You just didn’t manage to find them. They know those mountains better than anyone alive, and they probably watched you the whole time. Luckily, you had numbers and firepower on your side so they left you alone.”
Said Baird, “They sure as hell did.”
“Come on, sheriff. You’re well aware of all the break-ins and vandalism over the last couple of years. You’ve heard from ranchers who’ve pulled their cattle from leases. You
Baird was silent.
“Look,” Joe said, “I’m sorry you couldn’t find them. And I’m sorry about your budget. But those brothers will stay up there and something else will happen unless they’re located. We both know that.”
Baird said, “I don’t know a damned thing, Joe, other than I’m pulling into the parking lot of the county building right now where I’ve got to go inside and tell the county commissioners that I’ve blown the entire annual discretionary budget of the sheriff’s department and it’s just September. You want to drive down here and explain it to them with me?”
Joe said, “I can’t leave my house right now.”
“Thought so.”
“But I wish I could,” Joe said. He sounded lame even to himself.
“I need to hang up now. I’ve gotta go let the commissioners peel the bark off me.”
“I’m sorry.”
“You sure are.” With that, Baird punched off.
THE WOMAN who answered the phone in the state Department of Administration and Information Human Resources office in Cheyenne said, “I’ve got three minutes to help you or you’ll need to call back.”
Joe glanced at the digital clock on his desk. It was 11:57 a.m.
“You go to lunch in three minutes?” Joe asked.
“Two minutes now,” she said.
Joe closed his eyes briefly, took a breath, and asked her to confirm that either Bobby McCue or Robert McCue was employed by the State of Wyoming. Joe knew that although additional information couldn’t be given out regarding personnel information, the state was obligated to provide the names of employees because it was public record.
“Spell it,” she said. Joe tried M-C-C-U-E to no avail. He suggested M-C-C-E-W, then M-C-H-U-G-H. No hits on her computer system. “You’ll have to try back later,” she said.
Said Joe, “I realize it’s noon and noon is your lunch break. But can you please give me five more minutes? I promise I’ll buy you lunch next time I’m in Cheyenne.”
Through gritted teeth, she said she had to go and she did.
At 12:01, Joe called the Department of Criminal Investigation and asked for Bobby McCue’s voice mail.
“We don’t have an employee with that name,” the receptionist said.
“Thank you.” Joe slammed down the phone and moaned. Tube raised his head and cocked it inquisitively.
Joe threw back the curtains and shoved the window open. Nedney looked up, surprised.
“Hey, Ed,” Joe said. “Get off of my lawn.”
Nedney looked down at his feet. The tips of his shoes had crossed the property line.
“Hey, you’re trampling my grass,” Joe said.
“Is that what it is?” Nedney said, slowly removing the pipe from his mouth, a self-satisfied smile on his lips.
“Good one,” Joe conceded and closed the window and put the drapes back in place, already sorry he’d taken his frustration out on his neighbor.
