CHAPTER 7

Matt made it back home about 6:00 that night. He and Michael Littlebear, along with the crime scene investigators, had scoured the alley and checked to see if any of the nearby businesses had video surveillance. None of them did, and they were left with nothing but the Bible and fingerprint, aside from the body of Patricia Coleman. They did some research on her and came back with the outline of a wasted life – literally. Coleman had been arrested over seventy times on charges of drunk and disorderly, assault, and bad checks. Off and on she had spent over half of her 41 years in jail, and had been on the streets for the last week after being evicted from her apartment.

Coming in the back door of the house, Matt was met in the kitchen by Madre Rosa, the housekeeper who had pretty well raised him. He gave her a kiss on the cheek as she brought him a bowl of chili. CJ came in and sat down to talk to him while he ate his dinner. He started telling her about the case, but clammed up when Brian came in the room. "How's the school work going?" He had arranged for Brian to have a private teacher, at least until the spring semester. He had missed over a month of school while homeless and was attempting to get caught back up.

"Pretty good. Miss Lucinda seems pretty happy." He plopped down in the chair next to Matt. "Marty and Pat got the bulls this morning." The boy was fascinated with the workings of the ranch and was excited to be able to learn so much.

"Yeah, I want to go take a look at them when I get finished here." He had almost finished the bowl of chili and Rosa was trying to fill his bowl again but he told her no. After finishing his glass of tea, Matt and CJ, accompanied by Brian, walked down to look at the bulls. Marty was already standing there watching the pair.

"We had a good time with those boys this morning, Houston; you missed out on some fun." The cowboy grinned at his boss. "Pat and I had to separate 'em on the trailer – seems they don't care for the competition."

Matt smiled. "That's good. Maybe they'll be good ones, then." He stood looking at Reaper for a few minutes then walked over to another pasture where Jonas was grazing. Both were good looking bulls and Matt felt fortunate to have found them.

On the way back up to the house, he put his arm around CJ and gave her a peck on the cheek. "I missed you today."

"You did? Well I don't know why you would; you've been around me so much the last four months I figured you were tired of me." She gave him a hug.

"I've got news for you: I'll never get tired of you." He pulled her into a kiss, causing Brian to roll his eyes and head back into the house. "That worked pretty good, gotta remember that." Matt laughed. He and CJ went to sit down on the swing and she brought her knees up under her and leaned over against him while he put his arm around her. "So how's my baby girl doing?"

"Your son is just fine, thanks." She smiled up at him. He sighed and looked out across the pastures. "This is going to be a tough one, isn't it?" CJ knew how to read him like a book. She saw the worry on his face.

"I'm afraid so. Littlebear is right: this guy has been all over the state. He changes his method of murder up in the different cities, but he still leaves the Bibles and fingerprints. Plus he kills the people that he catches rides with…" He stopped for a minute. "You know he doesn't have a car. Goodness knows if he did, it would be easier on him. And he obviously is a drifter; no job means no money means no car. And that also means he is probably staying somewhere cheap." He pulled out his phone and called Michael Littlebear, telling him what had just occurred to him.

"Yeah, I bet you're right. I think we should check on that angle first thing in the morning. Boy am I glad Chuck told me about you."

Matt laughed. "Chuck likes to talk too much. See ya tomorrow." He hung up and hugged CJ closer. Neither one said anything for a few minutes.

"You had talked about getting the cows tomorrow, but you're obviously going to be working on the case. Are you going to let the boys pick them out or are you planning on putting it off a few days?" Matt didn't answer. She looked up and his head was tilted back – and he was asleep.