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  No faces that stood out to the Zoo Crew as they entered.

  In the corner, Lewis and Cynthia Hill both stuck a hand in the air. Received a quartet of waves in response.

  No attempt at conversation from either side.

  There were plenty of reasons to be jovial this morning.

  An empty Snow Plaza. Ski runs that remained pristine all morning. New Year’s Eve just two days away.

  None of those seemed to matter to the Crew as they entered. None were openly angry. None especially joyous either.

  Kade went first, walking fast. Kept his eyes aimed downward. Muttered as he went about winning the race and still having to shell out for breakfast.

  Halfway across the floor he flagged down Helen standing by the kitchen. Asked for the usual.

  Got a thumb up in response.

  Behind him was Drake and Sage.

  Drake too kept his eyes aimed downward. Tried to make sense of the case. Determine what he hoped to gain by his trip to campus.

  To his right, Sage sensed the general demeanor of the group. The relative quiet of the entire morning.

  Not hostility. Everyone just tending to keep to themselves.

  Making up the rear was Ajax. Shaking his head. Sputtering sentence fragments about jet lag. Keeping most of his snow gear on.

  The table was subdued as all four sat down around it. Peeled off their hats and gloves. Avoided eye contact as they stared down at nothing.

  Sage was the first one brave enough to wade in.

  She always was.

  “Well, this is fun,” she said. Piled her hat atop a pair of Gore-Tex gloves.

  It took a full moment for the comment to resonate with the table. Kade glanced over at her. Ajax burrowed deeper into his coat.

  Drake raised his eyes from the table.

  “Sorry. Mind’s not in it this morning.”

  “Yeah, what’s going on here?” Ajax asked. “Last night you busted in swinging a crowbar. Today you haven’t said a word.”

  Sage turned her attention to Drake. Narrowed her eyes.

  “You came in swinging a crowbar?”

  A half smile tugged at the corner of Drake’s mouth. “No. It was a tire iron. And I wasn’t swinging anything. More like holding it, just in case.”

  “In case of what?” Kade asked. Pulled the tie out of his hair. Twisted his head to let it swing down around his shoulders.

  Drake extended his hands out over the table. Locked his fingers and stretched. “Yesterday, the guy that shot Lukas Webb three times started tailing me. Call me crazy, but...”

  “Crazy,” Ajax said. Pushed a faux smile across his face.

  After a moment he broke into a smile. Swatted at Drake with a glove. Pulled his hat off. Let his dreadlocks stay in a tangle atop his head.

  “So we’re going there?” Drake asked, smiling. “How about we proceed to the pink elephant in the room?”

  Kade and Sage both smiled. Matched Drake’s stare at Ajax.

  “What pink elephant?” Ajax asked, feigning ignorance.

  “Why the hell you’re back here now instead of still home in Boston?” Kade asked.

  A heavy eye-roll was Ajax’s response. He unzipped his coat and let it hang free around his torso. Shook his head from side to side. Muttered in disgust.

  “Y’all are worse than a bunch of schoolgirls, you know that?”

  “And when it’s one of us, you’re the worst one,” Sage said.

  “Amen, sister,” Kade added. “How many cracks have I heard at my expense about my late night activities?”

  Ajax’s mouth dropped open. He looked at Kade. Over to Drake.

  “Help me out here?”

  “Hey, you’re on your own,” Drake said. Raised his hands by his side. Shook his head. “But, to be fair, Kade’s late night activities are a bit legendary.”

  Pure indignation spread over Kade’s face.

  “Are you kidding me right now? We have a prime opportunity to go after Ajax and you come my way?”

  “Nobody’s going after you,” Sage said. “But you kind of left yourself open with that comment...and your, ahem, late night activities.”

  Chuckles went up from both Ajax and Drake.

  “But,” Drake said. Steered the conversation back on course. “Before we get too far astray, let’s bring this back around. Lord knows we’ll have many, many...many opportunities to discuss Kade’s nightlife.”

  Kade offered a middle finger salute in Drake’s direction.

  Stifled laughter shook Sage’s entire body as she fought not to make a sound.

  Drake ignored them both.

  “Ajax, to what do we owe the pleasure of your company this fine morning?”

  “I don’t want to talk about it,” Ajax said.

  Received stony stares from all three.

  One at a time he looked around the table. Found no quarter from any of them.

  “Alright fine,” he said. Smacked his hands against his thighs. “I couldn’t take it anymore. Had to get out of there.”

  “Couldn’t take what?” Sage asked. Leaned forward and rested her elbows on the table.

  “This time, my mother tried to employ a new trick for getting me to move back,” Ajax said.

  “You’ve already got money, so that only leaves women,” Kade said. Gave a knowing nod.

  “No it doesn’t,” Sage said. Rolled her eyes at her brother. “Not everyone is wired like you. What did she try?”

  “Women,” Ajax deadpanned. Drew a laugh from Drake. Clapping from Kade. “And again, I don’t want to talk about it.”

  “I told you!” Kade said. Rocked his body from side to side in his chair.

  Drake pressed a fist to his mouth. Closed his eyes tight as his upper body trembled with laughter.

  “So what was the problem?” Sage asked. Ignored the others around her. Focused in on Ajax, silhouetted by the fireplace behind him.

  “I said I don’t want to talk about it,” Ajax said. Same sour expression back in place.

  “Oh come on,” Kade said. “Don’t punk out on us now.”

  “Not your type?” Drake asked.

  “An old flame?” Sage asked.

  “No, wait, let me guess,” Kade said. Extended an arm across the table to Drake and Sage. “I bet she was hefty, wasn’t she?”

  “No, she wasn’t hefty!” Ajax spat. Voice so high it was almost a yell. Drew stares from the handful of patrons in the lodge. “She was on the payroll!”

  The moment the words left his mouth, a look of regret splashed across Ajax’s face.

  He glanced the length of the room. Stared down at his lap. Shook his head from side to side.

  Looked up to see the other three members of the Crew sitting with matching expressions.

  Eyes wide. Mouths agape. Motionless.

  “Your parents tried to bribe you with a hooker?” Drake asked. Drew out each word slow and deliberate.

  Again Ajax looked the length of the room.

  “No,” he muttered. “They found some girl and paid her to act interested. Thought I might be into her, get me to come around more. Maybe even move back.”

  The silence continued. The looks of pure shock.

  “So when you say she employed a new tactic...” Drake mumbled.

  After a moment, Kade snorted. Followed it with a low chuckle.

  Unable to hold it in, Sage followed suit. Drake was just a step behind.

  Ajax stared down at his hands as long as he could before a crack of white creased his face.

  The smile grew as he looked up. Took in his friends giggling. Joined himself.

  By the time their breakfast arrived, their laughter filled the entire end of Snow Plaza. Echoed off the walls.

  Brought smiles to the faces of all others present.

  Chapter Thirty-Three

  Fish and Wildlife Biology.

  The only true Agriculture program in the state was at Montana State University.

  Bozeman.

  Three hours and
a treacherous drive across Homestake Pass outside of Butte. Six and two counting the way back.

  Drake had neither the time or inclination to make such a trip. Didn’t know anybody at MSU that would make a phone conference possible.

  Instead, the afternoon before he had scrolled through the University of Montana campus directory. Made a few phone inquiries. Explained who he was and what he was looking for.

  Made a few more phone calls.

  It took over an hour to set something concrete.

  The first three numbers he called were out of the office for the holidays. The next two stated brucellosis was well outside their field of study.

  The sixth caller just scoffed and hung up.

  Not until the seventh call, just one up from the end of his list, did Drake strike pay dirt. He had no idea what or who to expect when he showed up, but from the sound of the man’s voice, he was excited to help.

  If nothing else, Drake had a feeling he wouldn’t be bored.

  The lot around campus was deserted as Drake pulled his truck to a stop in front of the biology department. Hung his school issued parking decal from the rearview mirror. Took up his shoulder bag and climbed out.

  A vicious gust of wind blew through the Hellgate Canyon as he exited. Whipped through his jeans and hooded sweatshirt. Rattled the barren tree limbs above him.

  Shoulders bunched high, he turned his back on the gale and headed for the front door. Ignored the passing glance of a co-ed power walking to her car.

  Entered the plain red brick building on the corner of campus ten minutes before their agreed meeting time.

  A plume of steamy air washed over him as he stepped through the frosted glass doors. Hit his cold skin. Brought a rush of blood to the surface.

  Stamping his feet, he walked into the building and headed for the nearest stairwell. Took it up to the second floor. Followed the directions he was given the day before.

  Found the office he was looking for tucked away at the end of the hall.

  The door stood open as he approached, Seven Bridges Road by the Eagles pouring out.

  An involuntary smile crossed his face as he paused a moment. Let the song take him back to his father working in the garage. Singing off-tune.

  Trying to convince anyone that would listen that his voice harmonized perfectly with those of Don Henley and Glenn Frey.

  Using the back of his hand, Drake knocked twice. Walked into a room that was part-lab, part-office.

  No signs of life anywhere.

  “Hello?”

  The music kicked off. The sound of boxes moving about could be heard. A moment later, a barrel-chested man emerged.

  Red hair. Thick beard. Grey thermal. Cowboy khakis.

  Top of a head that barely came to Drake’s chin.

  He smiled as he approached. Stuck a meaty paw out in front of him.

  “Morning, Chase Riley. Associate Professor, department lightning rod, family black sheep,.”

  Deep, bombastic voice.

  “Good morning, Drake Bell, Law Student in dire need of some answers.”

  He wasn’t sure what made him open with the line. Decided to go with it anyway.

  “You and me both, Brother. Get you something to drink?”

  “No, thank you,” Drake said. “Appreciate you meeting with me here this morning.”

  Riley pulled a pair of wooden stools over. Slid one in front of Drake. Perched himself atop the other. Hooked his feet on the rungs at the bottom.

  “Hey, you said the magic word. I’m always happy to talk to anybody that wants to listen about brucellosis.”

  Drake smiled. “Then it sounds like I’ve come to the right place.”

  Riley nodded. Dug his beefy fingers into his beard. Scratched. “That you have. So what’s your interest with Bang’s?”

  “Bang’s?” Drake asked.

  “Bang’s disease,” Riley said. “Contagious abortion, Malta fever. All different ways for saying brucellosis.”

  “Ah,” Drake said. Thought about taking out his pad to write down notes. Decided against it.

  Something told him this was best served as a free flowing conversation.

  “A client of mine recently had a dust-up with his local Agriculture Commission. They were discussing brucellosis when things got a little hairy.”

  Riley nodded. Grunted. “Yeah, has a way of doing that. You have any idea what in particular it was that tripped him up?”

  For a moment, Drake debated continuing the ruse. Playing it vague.

  Opted to go straight ahead. Riley was doing him a solid. He needed to reciprocate.

  “No,” Drake said. “He’s been in a coma since the incident, so I haven’t been able to ask.”

  A knowing look settled over Riley’s face. He studied Drake a moment. Nodded. “Hamilton?”

  Drake matched the stare. “You’ve heard?”

  “Everybody has. It true that boy was a veteran?”

  “Home less than two weeks,” Drake said.

  Once more Riley nodded. Folded his thick arms across his chest. “Just ain’t right. You ask, I’ll answer. That work?”

  Drake removed his phone from his pocket. Wagged it at Riley. “You mind if I record this? I don’t want to miss anything, don’t want to spend the whole time taking notes.”

  A wave of the hand signaled for Drake to continue. He set the phone to record and placed it on the corner of a nearby table.

  “Alright, let’s start at the beginning,” Drake said. “What is brucellosis?”

  Riley nodded. “Now, before we get started, you should know that I am pro-agriculture. Big-time. So what I say might be a bit stilted. That okay?”

  “That’s perfect,” Drake said. Nodded.

  “Alright, then. Brucellosis is a disease mostly found in bovines. Cows, elk, bison. It’s caused by the bacteria brucella and causes aborted fetuses, weak calves, uterine infections, even arthritic joints.

  “Nasty stuff.”

  Drake nodded. He wasn’t intimately familiar with cattle production, but knew enough to process what Riley was telling him.

  None of which was good.

  “So it’s a bacteria? Can hit anywhere?”

  Riley made an noncommittal face. Scrunched up the left side. Wagged a hand on edge.

  “Yes and no. It is a bacteria, sure, but it isn’t that indiscriminate. It doesn’t just occur, it has to be passed around. Usually that’s through bodily fluids of an infected animal.”

  “So one cow becomes infected, aborts a fetus, other animals in the herd get infected?” Drake asked.

  “Again, in principal, yes,” Riley said, “but it’s rarely that straightforward. Most of the time, cows actually contract it from elk that wander into their grazing area. They’ll drop fluids, later a cow will eat that grass...”

  Drake winced.

  “So elk are the biggest source of spreading the disease?”

  “Elk and bison,” Riley said. “Bison over around Yellowstone, up near Bison National Park. Elk in other places, just because they have so much more room to roam.”

  “So there’s really nothing they can do to stop the spread then is there?” Drake asked. “I mean, it’s not like anybody can catch and vaccinate elk in the wild.”

  Again, Riley gave a back and forth twist of his head. “Right, but some efforts have been made. Mostly it’s through vaccination of cattle, but there’s been some pretty serious headway made on the wildlife side as well.”

  Drake nodded. “Okay, give me a ballpark here. How effective are we talking?”

  The corners of Riley’s lips curled up beneath his thick red beard.

  “Confession number two, this is part of what I do here. Helping to develop new vaccines.”

  “Oh wow,” Drake said. Cast a look around. Took in the scads of work stations around the room. Microscopes. Incubators. Charts and graphs on the wall.

  “I’m guessing you’ve been pretty successful?”

  Riley bowed the top of his head. “In the fi
fties, there were well over a hundred thousand herds affected. Cost livestock producers north of four hundred million. Lost beef product. Decreased milk production. Everything.”

  “And today?” Drake asked.

  He had no idea how any of this might tie into the Webb’s. At the moment, he didn’t much care.

  “Six herds in the entire country that we know about. Less than one million in total damages.”

  A low, shrill whistle passed through Drake’s lips. He leaned back. Rolled his gaze towards the ceiling.

  Contemplated the information.

  “That’s impressive.”

  “It’s been a long time doing,” Riley confessed.

  Silence fell for a moment as the two men chewed on the numbers. Contemplated their impact.

  “So, there’s pretty regular monitoring of cows for brucellosis?” Drake asked.

  “Oh yeah,” Riley said. “Makes steroids testing in sports look like child’s play by comparison.

  “For dairy cows, milk is tested every quarter. For beef animals, a blood test before slaughter.”

  “Every single animal?” Drake asked.

  “Ahh, the million dollar question,” Riley said. Again rubbed his bear. Stared at the wall behind Drake for a long moment.

  “The short answer is, it depends on where you live.”

  A look of confusion passed over Drake’s face. His mouth pinched into a tight circle. His eyes went wide.

  He said nothing. Sat and waited for Riley to continue.

  “The long answer is, Montana is a two tier state. Tier One is for ranches inside what they call a designated zone. Basically the area right around the Park.”

  “Where most of the bison and elk are?” Drake asked.

  “Right,” Riley said. Jabbed a finger at him. Nodded. “If you live in there, you have to get every last animal tested annually.

  “In Tier Two, the rest of the state, you only have to have a certain percentage tested. And even then, only if they are going to slaughter.”

  “Much less invasive,” Drake commented.

  “Hell of a lot cheaper too,” Riley said. “That’s the bigger thing. Most of these guys want to know if they have infected livestock, but they don’t want the time or expense of having to load them all up to get tested all the time.”

  “Ouch,” Drake agreed. “Seems like a raw deal for the folks in Tier One.”