They pulled up to the quaint little ranch just after noon.
Most of the white wooden fencing looked to be in good shape, but here and there were a few lose boards. A good two hundred feet down the driveway was an old trailer home. Next to it, an even older farmhouse stood shadowed by a large stand of pines.
As the Galaxy rolled down the driveway, Mike looked at the different animals in adjacent paddocks next to an old red barn. There were a few horses, some mules, donkeys and cows. Despite noticing three cars parked by the houses, he couldn't see a soul anywhere.
"Looks like they're off to lunch.", Steve suggested with a disheartened grunt and put the tan sedan in park.
"Maybe. Let's check this place out anyways, I didn't just go through twenty minutes of pothole alley for nothing.", he replied, trying to sound irritated. When his partner looked over at him with a knowing grin, Mike couldn't help but smile back.
They exited the large police car and slowly headed over to the trailer home. Most of the windows were busted out and the door was kicked in. Mike's gut feeling told him nobody would be in there. As a matter of fact, it looked like somebody had been looking for a person in there well before their arrival.
Assuming his guarded position beyond the door frame, Steve slid into place, his right hand reaching across his chest for the .38.
"Hello? Is anybody here?"
With a gentle knock on the doorframe , Mike carefully entered the trailer. As expected, the inside matched the disheveled outside perfectly; the sparse amount of furniture in there either toppled over or destroyed.
So much for door number 1.
"Let's check out the house. Keep your guard up, Inspector.", Mike ordered out of routine, wanting to ensure that Steve had his wits about him as they wandered across the barnyard of this eerily quiet place.
If it wasn't for the well-fed animals, everything looked strangely deserted- and perhaps that was intentional.
When they reached the farm house, Mike slowly approached the front door. Contrary to the trailer, it was in good condition except for one window that was covered with a sheet of plywood. The two story building in dire need of a new paint job had a large front porch overlooking the ranch and Mike noticed a stack of letters sitting on an old rocking chair by the front door.
"Steve."
Pointing at the evidence of recent activity, Mike knocked twice. When there was no answer, he tried once more forgood measure.
"Hello? My name is Lieutenant Michael Stone. I am with San Francisco PD. I have a few questions."
Again, there was no answer.
"Should we check out the barn? Maybe they're feeding the animals?", Steve suggested with a shrug.
"We might as well."
Walking down the wooden steps, they made their way over to the single-story building stretching at least one hunded feet. Round bales of hay lined much of the outside, the metal siding cracked and curled up in a few places.
The side doors were open and a wheelbarrow of freshly scooped manure greeted them in the entrance area.
Peeking his head into the darkened corridor, Mike took in the strong scent of livestock and fresh hay, both reminding him of places and memories from a long-gone era.
"Hello? Is anybody here?"
With his partner close behind, the Lieutenant made his way past several empty stalls without seeing a soul.
"You know, I am beginning to wonder about the paradise part of this ranch.", Steve muttered anxiously from a few feet behind, taking slow steps as they walked further into the barn.
"It looks like it's been decaying for a while. At least the houses do. The barn looks to be in decent shape. I just wonder if-"
The words got stuck in Mike's throat when he heard a thud coming from behind. He tried to turn around, but a figure appeared from inside a stall next to him, holding the barrel of a gun to his head.