SMALL TOWN BIG CATCH 10

ABOUT A HOUR LATER JERRY PARKED HIS PATROL CAR IN front of the cafe. he came strolling in like it was a sunday picnic. del met him just inside the door and started explaining things to him. he perked up. and when del handed him the napkin with the plate number he did perk up. he went to his car and grabbed the mic for the radio and called in the number to dispatch. he also had dispatch contact the local vetrenarian to look at jakes horse. things were maybe, just maybe comming to gether. later that afternoon del, jerry and the vet were at jakes place checking out the bruised horse. he agreed that the bruise could have been caused by a flying rock chip. but wouldnt swear to it he drained the bruised pocket of any fluid and left some ointment for it. he promised a written report. del admitted to jerry he hadnt looked for a rock chip but would go back and try to find one that might match the bruise. he handed over the shell caseings he found also. " what you think those birds are up to jerry?"del asked. " i got no idea, but let me make a few calls. the best thing would be to ask those birds a few questions and maybe get some direection on things."jerry responded. on the way back to town jerrys dispatcher called and told them the plate number belonged to a truck that belonged to a landscapeing commpany from a neighboring town. "land scapeing?"jerry and del said at the same time. he also told them the landscapeing company belonged to a high end land developer. " now what the hell is a land scapeing company doing out there?"del askked the open window as they cruised back into town. in town jerry dropped del off at his pick up. del stated he was going back to the site where he found jake and try to find the rock chip. the vet had thought it was as big as a fiftey cent peice. jerry agreed it would help to have it. as he drove back to jakes ranch dell kept asking himself what a landscapeing company was doing in jakes pasture.

SMALL TOWN BIG CATCH 9

back at the ranch del got the horse that jake was rideing up from the pasture. he ran his hands over the horses neck and down the fore legs then over the horses rump and down the right leg. but on the left leg just over the gaskin muscle he found a big lump. and when he toucheed it the horse kicked at him. it didnt have any hair to speak of growing over it. he carefully went around the out side of the lump with his fingers. feeling for anything that might have made the lump. but each time he touched the lump itself the horse would try to kick him. he finally gave up. he would need a vetranarian in order to search for anything more. he put the horse in a small corral and fed him. loading his horse in his trailer he headed to town. he needed to find jerry. at the sherrifs substation he he asked the desk clerk where he could find jerry. the clerk called jerry on the radion and was told to have del wait at the local cafe. it might be a while. del thanked the man and went across the street to the cafe. except for three men seated at a table the place was empty. the three were talking loud and laughing. del took a seat at the lunch counter and when lloyd the owner came to wait him he ordered a glass of ice tea. when lloyd brought the cold drink he leaned close and said, "listen to them yahoos, they have been laughing about getting some old man bucked off his horse a while back. i never saw them before, have you?" del perked up and slowley turned his head so as to hear a little better.""give them what ever they are drinking and ill pay for it. jerry is on the way. what are they driveing?" lloyd pointed out the window at a white pickup truck with a decal on the door. del slowley got up and pulling a napkin from a holder on the counter just stepped to the door where he could see the lisence plate on the truck he wrote it on the napkin. then the name on the truck door MAIN LAND ENERGY. he turned and bunped into one of the three men. "what you doin mr?"he asked. " just looking, never saw that name around here before. where yu boys from?del acteed friendly and smiled. " none of your business cowboy, now get out of our way!" the speaker pushed past del and was followed by the other two. they rushed to the truck , pileed into it and roared away. lloyd stepped up "not very sosialable were they?" " nope, they been here before?"del asked. "nope, do you think they had something to do with ole jake getting killed?"lloyd was curious. "i dont know. we better let jerry handle it tho. dont say nothing to anyone else ok?"del was folding the napkin and putting it in his shirt pocket.