Hole in the Heart

by Carolina Mac

  “Yeah, give me a couple hours.”

  “Boss is on his way,” said Farrell.

  “Now we’re cookin,” said Travis.

  Ranger Headquarters. Austin. Texas.

  CHIEF CALHOUN was busy at his desk when Blaine tapped on the door and stuck his head in. “Got a minute, Chief? Need to catch up on a couple things and run something new by you.”

  “Blacky, thank God you’re back.”

  Blaine chuckled. “Why did Austin fall apart without me?”

  “Something like that.” The Chief took off his wire-rimmed glasses and rubbed his blue eyes. “Do you know how many calls I’ve had from your red-headed Cat woman?”

  “Damn her. Is she bothering you?” Blaine set the Starbuck’s container on the desk and pointed to a chair for Carlos.

  “She said she couldn’t call you because you were pissed at her. Pissed over what she didn’t say, but knowing the woman like I do I wasn’t surprised.”

  “What did she want from you?”

  “Christ, what didn’t she want? Stokes wants her to support a bill—some project he’s working on—and she thinks its all wrong for Texas. She said you would know in an instant, but she couldn’t risk calling you. Did you make her cry again?”

  Carlos grinned and sipped his coffee.

  “Damn right. Know what she did?”

  The Chief smiled, “No, but I’m dying to hear it.”

  “She fucked around with Hilder and I had to fire him.”

  The Chief sat open-mouthed for a moment then burst out laughing. “No way. Or should I say—no fucking way?”

  “Way. I got rough with her—verbally rough. I ripped a wide strip off number one and set her straight.”

  Carlos smiled.

  The Chief was still laughing. “She’s running scared now.”

  Blaine nodded. “I’ll do something about her later. Right now, we’ve got more important things on our plate.” He explained about Farrell’s case. “Jesse is on his way out there and I need you to call these three sheriff’s offices and tell them we’re taking the unsolved.” He pushed a printed page across the desk to the Chief. “I wouldn’t be surprised if there were more. I just haven’t had time to find them.”

  “The sister’s been gone since last Wednesday?”

  Blaine nodded.

  “She might be dead,” said the Chief.

  “Farrell knows it,” said Blaine.

  “Think it’s a serial?”

  “The unsolved go back four years,” said Blaine. “The most recent of the three I found was two years ago.”

  “There must be newer ones,” said the Chief, “If the cases are related.”

  “I’ve got to get back to the office and keep looking.”

  The Chief picked up the list Blaine had given him. “I’ll phone these offices right now and clear the way for Jesse.”

  “I’ll make the supreme sacrifice, Chief,” said Blaine. “I’ll call Cat and get her off your case.”

  “I’m so glad you’re back,” said Calhoun.

  Sonora. Texas.

  JESSE AND LUKE met Travis and Farrell at Smokey’s, the barbeque place down the highway from the Hampton Inn.

  “Hey, nice to see friendly faces way out here,” said Farrell.

  “It’s not that far,” said Jesse, “and the Agency does cover the whole state of Texas.”

  Travis finished his draft and told Jesse about his failed attempt to get a tag into the farmhouse. “We need something. Anything to warrant going into that house to see what’s going on.”

  “Blacky is digging deeper,” said Farrell. “He’ll come up with something.”

  “He wants the murder books picked up from three sheriff’s offices in the area,” said Travis. “Can we help you with that, boss?”

  “Uh huh, sure,” said Jesse. “You guys take one each and be sure to talk to the detectives that conducted the investigation if you can. Might be helpful to get their impressions.”

  The Blackmore Agency. Austin. Texas.

  BLAINE sat hunched over his computer looking for more missing girls in the same area he’d found the others. Nothing was turning up and he was starting to think maybe there was nothing more.

  There was a soft tap on the door, then Declan asked if Misty could come in.

  “Course you can come in, sweetheart. Did you have breakfast?”

  Declan nodded. “She did but didn’t eat much. She wants to come in here for some reason, but I can’t figure it out.”

  “No problem.” Blaine stood up, walked over and took the wheelchair from Declan. “I’ll take her.”

  “Call if you need me,” said Declan as he left the room.

  Blaine knelt down in front of the wheelchair and took Misty’s hands in his. “Do you want to tell me something, sweetheart? Or do you just want to keep me company?”

  She nodded.

  Blaine kissed her, then parked the chair close to the desk so she could watch him work.

  Something new every day.

  Carterville. Texas.

  JESSE DROVE ten miles outside of Sonora then south for a bit and arrived at the Carterville Sheriff’s Office. A tiny building at a crossroads with not more than a grocery store and a gas station and possibly a dozen houses if you counted the two mobile homes.

  “Small town,” said Luke as they jumped out of the Range Rover and entered the compact cinderblock building.

  A lady in uniform greeted them at the front desk. “Morning. You must be Ranger Quantrall. Sheriff Kachel is in his office. Let me show y’all where it is.”

  “Thanks,” said Jesse. The building was so small the sheriff couldn’t be too far away from the front door.

  His door was open, and he grinned as they walked in. “Have a seat. Glad to see y’all. Nothing much happens here in Carterville unless Lucy Tompkin’s cat goes missing and we mount an all-out search initiative.” Sheriff Kachel was a small man in a neatly pressed uniform, short dark hair and a thin moustache.

  “Chief Calhoun filled you in on why we were coming to see y’all?” asked Jesse.

  “Uh huh. A pleasant man to talk to,” said the sheriff, “and I’m more than pleased to give up an unsolved case. Only case of that nature I’ve ever had, and it plagued me when I couldn’t make head nor tail of it.” He had the binder sitting on the desk ready for them and pushed it towards Jesse.

  “Ranger Blackmore is trying to relate your case to several others in the area to see if they have a common thread,” said Jesse, “and if they do, we might get somewhere.”

  “Why are y’all interested after all this time?”

  “A girl from Bluebonnet went missing this week and her sister called our office,” said Jesse. “One of my men did a preliminary and felt there was something to it.”

  The sheriff tapped the cover of the binder with his pen. “I did the investigation myself and documented every scrap. I hope you find it useful.”

  “Details are important,” said Jesse. “Are Beth Farnsworth’s parents still in the area?”

  “They moved into Sonora a couple of years ago, but you might find them there. Nice folks. Devastated about their daughter.”

  Jesse nodded. “They would be.”

  I’d lose my mind if anybody took Charity.

  Big Creek. Texas.

  TRAVIS sat on a hard bench at the front of the Big Creek office waiting for the sheriff to finish a phone call. A few minutes passed and a big fellow in a tan uniform came lumbering towards him with a hand extended.

  “Deputy Bristol, pleased to see you. Come on back and we’ll get caught up.” To one of his deputies: Ruthie, get us some coffee would you, sugar?”

  “Sure thing, Sheriff.” Ruthie hopped up and got to it.

  Sheriff Corrigan sank into the big chair behind his desk and blew out a breath. Travis guessed he was winded from walking the length of the building. Probably no need for yearly physicals here in Big Creek.

  “Nice of Chief Calhoun to let me know, y’all were prowling ar
ound on my turf. I could have took offence to it otherwise.”

  “You’re adverse to a helping hand, sir?” asked Travis trying to keep the sarcasm out of his voice.

  Corrigan chuckled. “Not really. Truth be told, there ain’t much to help with out here.”

  “Did you manage to find the file on the cold case we’re interested in?” asked Travis.

  “Sure. Ruthie found it for y’all. No problem. One thing we have time for is good records. Where the hell is she with our coffee?” He let out a bellow and she came running.

  “Had to make a new pot, Chase. Be a minute.”

  He winked at her. “Got that murder file for Deputy Bristol?”

  “Uh huh. I’ll get it.”

  “Were you the investigating officer on the case, Sheriff?”

  “Nope. Happened before I arrived. The old sheriff that I replaced—old Fred Pearson—handled that investigation. He died of a coronary shortly afterward and I transferred here from El Paso.”

  Ruthie returned with the binder and two mugs of fresh coffee.

  “Thank you, ma’am,” said Travis.

  “Aren’t you the best girl?” Corrigan leered at her and Travis wondered if the women working under Sheriff Corrigan had ever complained about sexual harassment.

  Good thing Jesse ain’t here.

  Forest. Texas.

  FARRELL had been given the case handled by Forest Sheriff’s Office. Not far from Bluebonnet, but twenty miles east on route 29. It was the only building on the north side of the highway. Frame construction with a wide porch across the front and looked like it had been an old general store, once upon a time. The fenced property was surrounded on three sides by a grazing herd of cattle. Not longhorns like Jesse raised and not Angus like Annie had at home but some big husky rust-colored fellas. He’d have to ask Neil about the breed.

  Inside, if it had been a store in a past life, there was nothing left of the shelves or the counter. Just a row of desks and a bigger desk near the back with the flags behind it. Over by the window was a coffee station and a water cooler.

  “Sheriff Sayer is expecting me,” Farrell said to the girl in uniform sitting at the front desk. She turned her head and hollered to the Hispanic guy in the corner. “He’s here.”

  Sheriff Sayer was tall with black hair and dark eyes. He was clean shaven, and his uniform fit his slim body well. He crossed the room and welcomed Farrell with a handshake. “Talked to your Chief this morning, Ranger Donovan, and I think we’re all set for you.”

  “Thanks,” said Farrell. He sat in the only chair in front of the Sheriff’s desk.

  “I believe this is the unsolved case y’all are interested in. Savana Young. She lived on a farm not far from here. I did the investigation myself and it’s all in there.” He pushed the binder towards Farrell. “I documented everything.”

  “That will make it a lot easier for us,” said Farrell. “Are her parents still living on the same farm?”

  “I believe they are. Did you want to speak to them?”

  “I should if I’m right here and they’re close by.”

  “Chief Calhoun didn’t explain why y’all are interested in cold cases in this area, but if I had to guess, I’d say another girl has disappeared and y’all can’t find her.”

  Farrell smiled. “You’d make a good detective, sir.”

  Farrell left the Forest office and headed west on route 29 wondering if he had time to stop off and see Avery on the way back to Sonora. Mid-day, she’d be at work anyway. Mucking out stalls or whatever she did to stay so muscular and so goddam beautiful.

  I guess I can’t visit her at work. Might get her fired.

  His thoughts were interrupted by his cell. A glance at the screen told him it was the lab at DPS. “Hey, Sue. How’s my fav tech?”

  “Farrell, you’re such a turn-on.”

  Oh, fuck. I don’t want to turn her on.

  “Got something for me?”

  Shouldn’t have said that.

  Sue giggled then told him. “Made somebody in the Jeep you sent to the garage. His prints were on the steering wheel and a few other places.”

  “A well-known somebody?”

  “Well-known in Sonora. He has a sheet. Benny Watson. Got a pen? This is his last known address.”

  “Hang on.” Farrell pulled over to the shoulder and wrote everything down. “Thanks, tons, Sue. Gives me something to work with.”

  “When are y’all coming back?”

  “Not sure. Couple days maybe.”

  “Can’t wait to see you.”

  Fuck that.

  He gave Jesse a quick call, told him about the lead, and Jesse told him to meet up at the barbeque place at twelve-thirty. Farrell checked the time and decided to put Savana Young’s parents on hold for the time being. He’d catch them later if there were questions.

  The Blackmore Agency. Austin.

  MISTY had tired of watching Blaine work and he’d transferred her to the leather sofa at the far end of the office and piled some paperbacks on the table near her. She was so silent it was unsettling.

  Carm had come in and brought both of them sandwiches and hot drinks. Tea for Misty and fresh coffee for him. Carm loved it when he worked at home. She told him so every day.

  He’d spent the whole morning digging in and around Sonora hoping there was something more recent. Calhoun said if it was a serial, there had to be something newer than the cases they’d already uncovered. A girl gone missing between Sylvie Dennison and the cold cases. The Chief wasn’t the Chief for nothing and the man was a cop—tried and true.

  Blaine tried another tack and found a story in the Sonora paper about a girl gone missing on New Year’s Eve. He was about to call Jesse when his phone lit up with a number that always put him on edge.

  Shit. What does he want?

  “Write this down, son.”

  Blaine grabbed his yellow pad and started scribbling down the details.

  “Okay, Carlos can start on that tomorrow morning, but he needs a partner. I’ll think of something. I’m talking to myself, Misty. Must be driving you crazy.”

  She shook her blonde curls and smiled at him from across the room.

  Sonora. Texas.

  JESSE MET the rest of the crew at Smokey’s, the barbeque place they were all enjoying. The food was good, the beer was cold, and the staff didn’t seem to mind them hanging around.

  All the murder books had been collected and they had a good start on their new investigation. Jesse ordered a round of Lone Star and started their little meeting after the boys placed their orders for steak sandwiches and onion rings. “Farrell got a new lead out of the victim’s Jeep and we’ll follow that one up. I haven’t talked to Blacky yet to see if we’re staying out here, or if we’re going to work on research in the office and commute back and forth when we have interviews to conduct.”

  His cell rang, and he picked it up. “Here’s the big boss now.” The boys laughed knowing Jesse and Blaine were equal partners. “Hey, we were just talking about you.”

  “Hope it was good,” said Blaine. “I found a more recent case out there of a girl gone missing. Her name is Lauren May Maxwell and the writeup was in the Sonora paper so I’m presuming Sonora PD will have the file. Go talk to them and if you have any trouble getting them to hand it over, I’ll have Calhoun call. I know the sheriff there, Dan Oxford, and he’s a nice guy, so there should be no problem.”

  “Okay, more work, but a more recent case might put us on the right track,” said Jesse. “We’re on it. Anything else new?”

  “We have a new assignment, but nothing I can’t handle until y’all get back.”

  “I’m coming back now with the murder books,” said Jesse, “and I’ll work that end from home. I can’t be away another day from Charity. Travis and Luke will follow the lead while Farrell talks to the sheriff and gets details on our new girl. We’ll catch up when I get back.”

  TRAVIS parked in front of Twin Auto. He and Luke had worked out a little
plan. If it worked, fine, if not—try something else.

  Travis took the lead, swaggered into the garage through the open overhead door and looked around.

  A heavy-set dude in navy coveralls left the job he was doing and strode over to him. “Help you with something?” He wiped big greasy hands on a filthy rag while he talked.

  “Sure can,” said Travis giving him a grin and holding up his creds. “Need to talk to one of your mechanics. Benny Watson around?”

  “Fraid not. We had to let him go. Personality conflict.”

  He volunteers a reason before I even ask.

  “When was he terminated?” asked Travis.

  “Last Friday.”

  “Got a home address for him?”

  “Sure do.” The big guy grinned like he was hitting on all eight. “Let me get that for you. Come on into the office.”

  The identical twin stood behind the parts counter grinning just like his brother. “Y’all help yourselves to coffee.” He pointed at Luke.

  “Thanks, think I will have a cup.” Luke ambled over to the tiny coffee station, fiddled around with the cream carton, dropped the sugar spoon, bent down and picked it up. He wiped the spoon off on his shirt tail and stirred his coffee. Luke let out a sigh and sank down into one of the vinyl chairs. He sipped the too-strong coffee and waited for Travis to finish getting Benny Watson’s details that they already had.

  “Ready partner?” asked Travis and opened the door for Luke.

  Luke gave a little wave to the twins and said, “Thank y’all for the coffee.”

  “Get it done?” asked Travis.

  “Yep, it’s done,” said Luke, “See those fat boys sweat?”

  “Uh huh. Sure did. Let’s go see why Benny Watson got canned.”

  FARRELL called ahead to the Maxwell residence and Mrs. Maxwell was waiting for him with a pitcher of ice cold sweet tea and a plate of homemade molasses cookies.

  “Sit in here, Ranger Donovan.” Mrs. Maxwell pointed to a neat and tidy living room to the right of the main entrance. “I’m so happy that the Violent Crime Team has taken this on. You have no idea what the waiting is like. Day after day I hope for something to happen. Even though I know Lauren isn’t coming back after all this time, her disappearance should be solved, and the guilty person should be punished.”