Friday Night Frights (Jack and Ashley Detective series Book 1)

by R. D. Sherrill

  “I’m sorry Ash, I didn’t want to mess up anything,” Randy began to explain before catching the look in Ashley’s eyes as she walked past him toward the counter. “What’s wrong? What is it?”

  “I think I just found Caleb,” Ashley replied as she looked behind the counter toward the uniform carousel.

  There, amongst the outfits, hung Caleb’s remains. His body was wrapped in clear plastic. His short frame was suspended off the floor as he hung on one of the hooks. He had blended in with the outfits at first glance. A short walk to the other side of the counter told the tale as a trail of blood led from the counter to the carousel. Even through the plastic, Ashley could see Caleb’s throat had been slit. There was a pool of blood below where he hung suggesting he had finished bleeding out after he was hung up by his killer.

  “We better get the lab over here,” Ashley declared as Randy stood dumbfounded, gawking at the macabre scene. “Our guy’s been here.”

  IT’S ALL YOUR FAULT

  Ashley sat on the curb outside Lone Star Outfitters while crime lab technicians combed the scene of the murder. She figured out long ago that lingering at the scene of the crime could contaminate potential evidence. She recalled from her training that everyone leaves something and everyone takes something away from a crime scene.

  She had already reported to Major Cowell. The veteran lawman was incredulous that the slaying happened right under the nose of the rangers. She could still hear his yelling ring in her ears. His booming voice was intimidating, even over the phone. Ashley realized she might not only be taken off the case, given the circumstances, but she may also be without a job since there was a dead civilian on her watch. The major had made it very clear she was not to be involved in the investigation of Caleb Dupree’s demise but instead was to wait there for his arrival.

  She felt like a school child waiting outside the principal’s office as she sat by herself on the curb watching investigators walk by. She had already given her statement to police, her role at the scene now that of a witness rather than an accomplished criminal investigator. It was all very frustrating, being held back from her mission while waiting for her fate to be determined.

  In this case, misery had company as Randy was in the same boat. He had been present outside the building and inadvertently allowed the killer to flee the scene unmolested. He begged Ashley not to tell his father about his presence outside Lone Star Outfitters, a request she quickly denied. She was unwilling to risk her career to cover for the major’s son. She was in enough trouble already without getting caught in a cover up. She knew lies only bred more lies. He would have to face the music just like her, except in his case the outcome could be even more severe. This was Ashley’s case. Randy had no business getting involved. He was at the scene of a murder in which he let the killer get away and was in direct violation of orders by even being there in the first place. Things would go badly for Randy, who Ashley knew was held to a higher standard since he was the major’s son.

  Ashley suspected Randy would give his father a tall tale about his being at the scene of the crime since he had asked her to cover up his very presence there. While he would serve up a bill of goods to his father, Ashley wanted to know the truth. Why had he followed her there? She intended to find out even if she had to twist his arm and now was her chance as Randy stepped out of the building where he had been giving his statement to Austin police.

  “Suppose you and I have a little talk,” Ashley said as she jumped up from the curb to block Randy’s path. He tried to side step her while avoiding eye contact but she was having none of it. “You’re not going anywhere until I find out what you were doing here.”

  Randy stopped and rolled his eyes, biting his lip, trying to decide what to say. Ashley held her steely glare, trying to engage him in eye contact, which he continued to avoid.

  “We’ve not got all day,” Ashley urged. “Your father will be here in a minute and I’m pretty sure the story you’re going to tell him isn’t the real truth. If you level with me, I’ll help you out.”

  Randy summoned the courage to look Ashley in the eye, his demeanor telling her he was not keen on leveling with her.

  “I was in love with Jana!” Randy blurted out, obviously torn on revealing his secret to Ashley. “Let me take that back. Me and Jana were in love with each other.”

  There were two problems Ashley could see with Randy’s claim, both of which represented holes in his story. First, what would it matter if he were in love with Jana? That still wouldn’t merit his involvement in the investigation. Actually, it would be quite the converse as it would be considered a conflict of interest for him to be involved. Ashley’s involvement with the case was borderline, given her friendship with Jana. The second problem Ashley had with Randy’s claim was that she knew from her many conversations with Jana that she was not interested in the boss’ son and that she had resisted his advances on many occasions.

  “Cut the crap, Randy. I know better than that,” Ashley said sternly. “I don’t want to burst your bubble there, lover boy, but me and Jana talked about you on a few occasions and she wasn’t interested. So try again. What’s the real reason you followed me?”

  Randy still resisted laying all of his cards on the table.

  “I’m telling you, it’s true,” Randy argued. “We’ve been together for several months.”

  Ashley shook her head, still not accepting her fellow ranger’s story.

  “I think if she had been seeing you that long it would have come up in conversation,” Ashley said with a tone of disdain. “Us girls do talk, you realize.”

  Nervously glancing around to make sure no one was listening, Randy made a big sigh.

  “We were keeping it quiet,” Randy explained. “It isn’t exactly accepted practice for two officers to be dating, especially when one of them is the major’s son.”

  “That still doesn’t explain why Jana never mentioned it,” Ashley said a she stuck doggedly to her logic. “We told each other everything.”

  “Not everything.” Randy said in a low voice.

  “Why in the world would she keep that secret from me?” Ashley said with a bit of laugh, finding Randy’s claims absurd.

  “Because she didn’t want to hurt you,” Randy blurted. The words came out louder than he intended, prompting him to quickly check his tone as he repeated himself. “She didn’t want to hurt you.”

  Ashley stood staring blankly at Randy, trying to comprehend the direction he was taking.

  “Hurt me?” Ashley wondered. “How would that hurt me?”

  “Because she knew, well, um … she knew you … well, you know,” Randy stammered, not wanting to come to the point.

  “I know what, Randy?” Ashley asked, losing patience.

  “She knew you had a thing for me,” Randy reluctantly declared.

  Ashley’s face went bright red. Randy’s revelation hit her from left field. She couldn’t believe Jana would ever share her secret crush on Randy with him. Ashley also had trouble believing Jana would hide her romance with Randy from her. It was almost like a double betrayal by someone she thought was one of her best friends.

  “What? A crush on you? Dream on,” Ashley said as she tried to conceal the hurt she felt. “I don’t know where you get your information but it’s wrong.”

  Ashley’s expression gave her away. Her thinly veiled denial told Randy he was on the mark. He didn’t like being right in this case. He knew leveling with Ashley had hurt her, and perhaps worse, tarnished her memory of Jana.

  They both stood there looking at each other, the silence getting more awkward by the second as neither knew what to say.

  “What did I say, darlin’,” came Jack’s voice as he approached the pair, his eyebrows narrowed in anger. “I told you not to make a move without me. Did I not make myself clear?”

  Ashley whirled toward the sound of Jack’s voice. She was in no mood for his boorish behavior. She was ready to level both barrels on her uneasy partner.


  “I heard you just fine,” Ashley replied setting her jaw, her shoulders cocked back like she was ready to fight. “Maybe if you had stayed around and worked the case you’re on instead of gallivanting around the state, things would have gone a bit smoother.”

  Jack rolled his eyes, the veins in his neck starting to show as he looked through the front door of the store and watched the crime scene team pull the store owner off the hook from which he hung.

  “First off, sweetheart, it’s none of your business where I’ve been gallivanting, as you say,” Jack said, pointing his finger in Ashley’s face. “And second, if you’d listened to me and did as you were told we may have caught our killer.”

  Ashley was too mad to talk as she actively resisted smacking Jack across his face.

  “But no, you had to go out and play hero,” Jack continued, again putting his finger in Ashley’s face. “Now it’s all blown up in your face. I hope you’re happy with yourself … ranger.”

  “Agent Looper, if you don’t get that finger out of my face I will break it off and cram it up your …” Ashley began.

  “Agent Reynolds!” came the booming voice of Major Cowell, cutting Ashley off in mid-sentence.

  The big Texan was standing right behind the bickering pair. He had walked up during their shouting match, their loud voices capturing the attention of the crime scene investigators as well as anyone else in ear shot.

  “Ranger, I need you to step inside with me for a moment,” Cowell ordered in no uncertain terms. “And as for you, Agent Cowell, you wait over by my car.”

  Randy looked like a whipped puppy. Since he was raised in Major Cowell’s household, he knew to mind his tongue and do as he was told.

  Stepping into the store, Major Cowell immediately cleared the room.

  “I need everyone to step outside for a minute,” Cowell announced. The officers inside the crime scene knew the major by reputation and quickly obliged his request without a word.

  Ashley held her breath as Major Cowell walked over and viewed the store owner’s remains.

  “What were you thinking, agent?” Cowell said while still looking at the bloody corpse.

  “Well, I really …” Ashley began, only to be interrupted.

  “You weren’t thinking,” Cowell declared as he turned to face her. There was fire in his eyes. “Because if you were thinking, Agent Reynolds, you wouldn’t have come here alone. I really thought you had more sense than that.”

  Ashley didn’t know what to say. She was afraid speaking up would make matters even worse.

  “We have a dead civilian, killed while a ranger was in his store,” Cowell stated soberly. “Can you please tell me how you came to be locked up in a closet while Mr. Dupree was being hacked to pieces?”

  “I wanted to get the element of surprise,” was all that Ashley could say in a soft voice.

  “Oh, there was surprise alright,” Cowell said in disgust. “I’m surprised as hell right now, Agent Reynolds.”

  “I’m sorry,” Ashley said timidly. “I didn’t realize …”

  “Of course you didn’t realize,” Cowell said. “But now, because you didn’t realize, we have a man dead. I have half a mind to take you off the case.”

  “It wasn’t her fault,” Jack spoke up. Neither Ashley nor the major realized he was within earshot.

  He had remained inside the building listening to the major’s scolding. He didn’t take orders from state law enforcement officials. Jack was always quite proud to declare he had nationwide jurisdiction. He remained silent as he listened to the down-dressing of the agent with whom he had nearly come to blows with moments before. However, he couldn’t hold his tongue when Cowell made his threat to remove Ashley from the case.

  “He was going to kill him anyway,” Jack revealed, unapologetic for his eavesdropping as he stepped out of the shadows. “He came here to cover his tracks.”

  Major Cowell, not happy being interrupted or eavesdropped on, eyed the federal agent.

  “And exactly how would you know that, Agent Looper?” Cowell asked.

  “Because he had outlived his usefulness,” Jack answered. “Our dead salesman had fulfilled his contract, so that left him being a liability. It seems our guy is good about getting rid of loose ends.”

  Even Ashley was interested in Jack’s path of logic. Major Cowell simply adjusted his cowboy hat and shot Jack a doubting look.

  “So what was the late Mr. Dupree to our killer?” Cowell asked.

  “His tailor,” Jack said simply with a wry smile on his face.

  Cowell chuckled at Jack’s answer, obviously not impressed with the federal agent’s explanation.

  “Well, excuse me, Agent Looper, but I generally don’t kill my tailor even if he messes up one of my fancy suits,” Cowell replied, dismissing Jack’s answer. “And pray tell, what was our victim tailoring for the killer?”

  Jack walked casually over to a tiger outfit and slapped the empty mascot uniform on the shoulder. His actions reminded Ashley of where she was standing. Not only was she facing being thrown off the case and perhaps losing her job but she was also standing in the middle of her new least favorite place in the world.

  “He was making his uniforms,” Jack revealed. “The late Mr. Dupree was the official tailor for our serial killer.”

  Major Cowell narrowed his eyes, not fully getting where Jack was coming from as he looked over at Ashley.

  “Are you following this, Agent Reynolds?” the major asked.

  “Actually, yes I am,” Ashley responded as the book seemed to open up in front of her. Jack’s reference shed a light on a sneaking suspicion she had had since stepping into the store.

  “You’re way ahead of me then,” Cowell growled. “Anyone care to fill me in since it’s my neck on the line here if this thing blows up in our faces?”

  Ashley intercepted Jack’s explanation claiming it as her own as she now realized where he was going. It was right there staring her in the face. How hadn’t she seen it before now? It was so clear.

  “Our killer likes to play dress up,” Ashley intervened before Jack could open his mouth and claim the credit. “He’s been purchasing mascot uniforms from here and wearing them when he commits his murders. He was here to pick up a pair of them today, the last ones he was buying, as a matter of fact.”

  Jack listened with interest, his jaw dropping as the young agent took the words out of his mouth. She was truly a prodigy when it came to sleuthing, her reputation for being a highly intelligent detective spot on. Jack had figured he would steal the day, coming in with all the answers to the questions that had perplexed the best Texas had to offer. Now he stood like a student, listening to Ashley spout forth his theory almost verbatim.

  “I know for a fact there were two Pioneer Jake uniforms,” Ashley continued, hoping she was talking her way into staying on the case, as her boss remained silent listening to her explanation. “They appear in a video I have from the night of the murders in Rock River and you can plainly tell there were two identical mascots. I’ve contacted the school and there’s only one uniform. That tells me our killer was in that other outfit.”

  “Is she right, Agent Looper?” Cowell asked with interest.

  “She took the words right out of my mouth,” Jack said. He had viewed the same video last night and also spotted the two mascots. “He was buying his outfits from this guy and once he had all he needed, he killed him.”

  Cowell removed his hat and rubbed the back of his neck. The stress of the day told on his face.

  “So, how do we know he was through buying these outfits from Mr. Dupree?” Cowell questioned.

  Not to be outdone twice, Jack quickly pulled a piece of note paper from his pocket and waved it.

  “Because I’ve got his shopping list,” Jack declared proudly. The paper was immediately the focus of Ashley’s attention.

  The piece of paper Jack was waving around was the missing piece of paper from Jana’s nightstand note pad! Jack had taken it befor
e she went into Jana’s room the day they searched her house.

  Ashley bit her tongue, shooting Jack a look that could kill. Her gaze made Jack’s smile even broader.

  “It seems the late Agent Ferrell was able to get the guy’s shopping list, probably from Mr. Dupree,” Jack began. “I found this during a search of her home. At first I wasn’t sure what it meant until I remembered where our victims were from, or specifically, the names of their football teams.”

  Jack handed the list to Cowell and pointed to the words on the piece of paper. Despite being mad, Ashley had to admit she hadn’t realized the mascots matched up with the schools where the students were murdered. Ashley wasn’t a big football fan, attending only a few games back in school to watch her brother. Other than that, she had zero interest in the sport; something she realized was blaspheme in the state of Texas where Friday night football is king.

  “If you will, notice these all match up to the mascots at the schools where students were murdered,” Jack explained as the major scanned the list. “And, not only does the list match up perfectly with the names of the mascots but they are also in the same order. I’d suspect Jana wrote them down in the order Mr. Dupree gave them to her and I’ll further wager he gave them to her in the order in which they were picked up, or were going to be ready for delivery.”

  Ashley immediately walked over to the counter, careful not to step in any of the blood, which still painted the floor nearby.

  “Hey, that’s an active crime scene,” Cowell called out. “You’re not on this one, remember?”

  “I’m looking for his list,” Ashley said, ignoring her boss as she shuffled through the papers near the cash register. Dupree was referring to a list when we were talking earlier. It took him a while to find it. I’m pretty sure it was the order history for our killer. I had a moment to glance at it before our guy showed up.”

  Try as she might, she was unable to lay her hands on the yellow notebook she had seen earlier.

  “Our killer took it with him,” Jack stated plainly after Ashley was unable to find the notebook. “He was here to cover his tracks so he took the paperwork too. He made sure to get rid of anything, or anyone, who could link him to this place.”