Beneath the Tombstone (The Tombstone Series)

by Martin Cogburn

  About that time, Jason got momentarily distracted as Big Jack stirred, rolled over and sighed, “I thought you were done yelling.”

  “Almost,” Jason replied. Big Jack rolled back over towards the wall before gripping his pillow and hugging it over his head.

  Jason closed his eyes as he turned back to the window, took a deep breath and yelled, “Tyler!” again but this time at the top of his lungs. He opened his eyes as he finished. He heard spurs rattle a split second before he saw a very startled Tyler sprang back in surprise from the window. With wide eyes, he looked at Jason for what seemed like forever. He appeared to be trying to figure out what his star pupil was doing behind bars.

  Finally, it all seemed to fall into place in Tyler’s mind. As it did, his eyes turned snake cold. Find a rope and a tree – We fixing to have ourselves another hanging.

  “Care to explain?” the big cowboy asked bluntly, directing his attention to someone still out of Jason’s sight.

  “Explain what?” the sheriff asked calmly as he walked up to the cell and looked in at Jason. “There’s nothing I need to explain to you… except for the fact that you and the lady there have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be…” His speech was cut off short.

  “Explain that!” Tyler bellowed, pointing at the cell that held Jason as he took a threating step towards the sheriff. If mankind could breathe fire the big, angry cowboy would have incinerated the place by now. “And I disagree! I say you got a lot of explaining to do to me!”

  You could see it go all over Sheriff Victor – The fact that his bluff and plan was failing and falling apart. Trying to sound like a confident professional, the sheriff looked up at the tall cowboy and explained, “We have reason to believe that Jason Hathaway is somehow linked to his wife’s disappearance.”

  The look on Tyler’s face was one of bewildered rage. His loud voice trembled with anger as he said, “Well, reasons and beliefs are all fine and dandy, and I know I’m not the greatest lawman this side of Main Street, so I hate to question your expertise, but unless I’m mistaken, it takes a little thing they call evidence, or at least probable cause, to lock someone up!” By the time he finished the statement, his face was shining red.

  Judging by the look on Sheriff Victor’s face, Jason wouldn’t have been surprised if the law man had started crying. But Tyler wasn’t finished. He leaned forward and bent down, bringing his nose within inches of the sheriff’s. From there, he called his bluff. “You either charge him and us with something or let us all go.”

  Victor turned and glared at Jason… apparently for a moment too long. “Hey,” Tyler said as he slapped the sheriff on the shoulder, “You gonna let him out or gaze longingly into his eyes?”

  An embarrassed, angry, and just downright flustered sheriff yelled down the hall, “Andrews! Bring the keys.”

  “Now who’s yelling,” Big Jack asked in almost a whine. He sat up and looked out of the cell window, spotting Tyler… who was as big as ever and still glowing red. Big Jack let out a huff as he turned back towards the wall and placed the pillow over his head once more.

  “Hey man,” Jason spoke to Andrews as he opened the cell door. “You got a marker or something?”

  “Um, yes,” the deputy replied. “I actually do.”

  “Can I borrow it?” Jason asked.

  “Sure,” the bewildered young man replied as he handed over the marker.

  With a sly look on his face, Jason walked over to the wall by the cell door, snapped the cap off and turned, giving the sheriff a smile. Victor glared at him, knowing what was coming. Jason left a big mark down the side of the wall then, without a word, he snapped the cap back on, handed the marker over to a now comprehending and ashamed Deputy Andrews, and walked past the sheriff without looking at him, on over to a bewildered Tyler and Susan.

  “What was that about?” Tyler asked, confused.

  “Just leaving my mark,” Jason replied with a grin.

  Tyler looked at the mark on the wall. “Wasn’t very creative,” he commented. Jason just smiled in response as they walked away.

  “Hey Jason,” a voice called from behind. Jason turned around. “Good luck man,” Big Jack said from the cell window where he stood. “And don’t forget about me.” Jason saw a look of desperation in the big man’s eyes. He wanted freedom.

  “I won’t,” Jason promised. He didn’t know for sure if Big Jack was really innocent but, given the unfair treatment and false accusations that Jason himself had received, Big Jack being innocent was a definite possibility.

  Jason paused in the lobby and retrieved his personal items. “Sorry Susan,” he said as he turned to his sister-in-law. “I didn’t get a chance for introductions before I sent you chasing after this guy.” He pointed his thumb up towards Tyler. “So, Susan this is my climbing trainer, Tyler. Pretty much whatever he tells me to do, I gotta do it. Tyler,” he said directing his attention to the tall horseman, “this is my sister-in-law, Susan.”

  “Nice to meet you ma’am,” the horseman said as he removed his hat. Judging by the look on his face, his words were sincere.

  “Likewise,” Susan said with a nod, not revealing whether or not she had picked up on Tyler’s admiring looks.

  With all that uncomfortable greeting stuff behind him, Jason just turned away from the two and began making his way in the direction of Jenny’s office.

  “Jason, we’re you headed?” Tyler asked, sounding a bit confused. “This is the way out,” he explained while pointing towards the exit sign above the door.

  “I’ll be back at the ranch as soon as I can,” Jason replied. “I’ve gotta go see someone.”

  “Alright, that’s fine,” Tyler answered. “We’ll see you when you get back.”

  “Y’all can come with me if you want,” Jason offered.

  “Naw, I gotta get back to the ranch,” Tyler replied. “Don’t let ‘em lock you back up, now. If they do, I’ll form a posse and come back and tear this place apart.”

  Jason laughed in response. It felt good to know someone had his back.

  “I’ll catch up with you,” Susan called out to Jason as he turned away and again headed off towards Jenny’s office. He made a slight detour and retrieved his personal belongings from the front desk then glanced back to where Susan was talking to Tyler – probably inviting him to church. Jason smiled and headed off to find Jenny.

  “Jason!” Jenny exclaimed as he walked into her office. Judging by the expression on her face, he was the last person she had expected to come through her door. “The sheriff let you go?”

  “I wouldn’t say he let me go,” Jason replied. “A friend of mine had a nice, friendly little chat with him about the letter of the law.”

  “Sounds interesting,” Jenny said with a smile. Jason could see in her eye that she wanted to ask questions about the cause of his release, but he offered no more information and she didn’t pry. After a moment, her attention shifted to someone behind Jason. “Oh, hi Susan,” she beamed. “I see we got our hero turned loose.”

  Jason turned his head and glanced at Susan. “I don’t know about the whole hero thing,” he said addressing both ladies. “I’m just doing what I’ve gotta do to get my wife back.”

  “And that is what makes you a hero,” Jenny said with a kind smile, and Susan nodded her head in agreement.

  “Well,” Jason laughed, “you two seem dead set on it, so I guess I’m a hero whether I want to be or not.”

  “Yep,” Susan agreed. “You have no choice.”

  “So,” Jason said as he turned to Jenny, “do we have a match yet?”

  “Match?” she asked. “Oh yes, match. The prints. Right.” She bustled over to her desk. “Let’s take a look.”

  After clicking a few pages on her computer out of the way, Jenny spoke in surprise, “Yes, it seems that we do.” She paused for a few moments as she read. “Wow, this guy has quite a record. A lot of theft. All pretty small time stuff, though.”

  “Doe
s his picture match any of the drawings?” Jason all but demanded.

  “He could be the guy in the hood,” Jenny said. “But, then again, I guess anybody could… Here, you can see his picture,” she offered as she rolled her chair over to make room.

  Jason didn’t have to be told twice. Susan followed him as he walked over to the computer and looked down at the picture. It seemed as though all the air was being vacuumed from his lungs. The rage he had felt earlier returned in full force.

  Jenny looked up at him and then her eyes got big. “Jason? Are you okay?” she asked in surprise. “Do you know this guy?”

  “He’s my brother-in-law,” Jason hissed.

  “And my husband,” Susan added. Her voice was filled with very little emotion and no surprise.

  “Oh, a relative,” Jenny said thoughtfully. “If y’all are related to him then there could be a logical explanation for the print.”

  “No,” Jason stated flatly. “He’s never really been a part of our lives, and over the past few years, if he’d gotten within shooting distance of my wife, she probably would’ve killed him.”

  Jenny turned to Susan, as if asking how she felt on the matter.

  Susan sighed. “Sooner or later the actions of an evil man will catch up with him. Justice will serve itself by simply being a byproduct of injustice. Denton will someday pay for the bad seeds he has planted.”

  “What if he changes his life and turns to God?” Jenny asked, seemingly a bit interested in the whole Christian thing.

  “God forgives, but most people do not,” Susan replied flatly. “When God forgives, he puts our past away, but it does not mean that the past never happened. I am a follower of Jesus Christ, but I wake up every morning with the results of past mistakes still in my life… though some of them I am thankful for,” she added, and Jason knew she was thinking of her son.

  “Guys, I hate to interrupt,” Jason said as he turned to Jenny, “but have y’all located him?” He indicated the computer screen.

  “Um, no,” Jenny replied, sounding like she thought he might be joking. “We just got a match on the prints… remember?”

  Jason felt his face turn a little red. He wished he could make it seem like he had been joking, but the women had already seen his embarrassment. “Sorry,” he muttered quietly. “I’m just a little anxious, I guess.”

  “That’s okay,” Susan said kindly.

  “Yeah, we understand,” Jenny added. “Your wife has been kidnapped. I think that gives you a license to be anxious.”

  Jason gave them each a grateful smile. “Let me give you my number,” Jason said to Jenny. “If you get any information on him or my wife please contact me.” After giving out his number, he turned to Susan and said, “Let me get you the ranch’s address. I don’t have very good cell service out there and you might not be able to…”

  Susan cut him off with a smile. “That’s okay. Tyler and you both gave me directions, so I think I can find it.”

  Why would Tyler be giving Susan directions to the ranch? That was a question that Jason didn’t have long to ponder over because his phone began to ring. He pulled it out and looked at the screen. It was an unfamiliar number. He’d better take it in private… just in case. If it was the kidnappers, one of the main things Jason wanted was privacy to focus.

  “Hello,” he spoke anxiously into the phone as he stepped outside.

  “Hi Jason,” a woman’s voice greeted. Wait a minute, he knew that voice.

  “Jenny?” he asked in a surprised voice.

  “Yep, it’s me… Hi,” she sang. “I was just calling you so you would have my number. Didn’t mean to run you out,” she added with a laugh.

  Jason sheepishly walked back into the room. Susan gave him a sympathetic smile and placed her hand on his shoulder as she said, “Call me if I can help at all.”

  “Okay,” Jason replied. “I might do that.” He lifted his hand to the ladies as he said, “Gotta run. See y’all later.” As he walked out the door, he realized that Susan was following him.

  “Hey Jason,” she said and, as he stopped and turned, he thought there was a hint of uneasiness in her voice. “I just wanted to tell you that I’m sorry for the way my family and I treated you when we saw each other last.”

  “Ah, that’s okay, Susan,” Jason said. He had all but forgotten the incident. “It was mostly your parents. You didn’t really do anything.”

  Susan sighed, nodding her head in agreement. “That’s just it,” she said. “I didn’t do anything. I should have stopped them or at least made a point to be nice to you in front of them.”

  Jason stood silent for a moment. He wasn’t used to the Susan who asked for forgiveness. “Well, I appreciate your sincerity,” he said after a bit. “I’m glad we’re friends again.”

  “Well, we’ll see you later then… friend,” Susan added with a laugh.

  “Alright, goodbye,” Jason said with a smile as he headed off once more.

  He had every intention of making it back to the ranch to feed at five but there was one more person he had to see. He pulled out his phone and called Dr. Throckmorton.

  “Hello Jason,” the doctor greeted warmly. “I have not heard from you in a while. Glad to know you are still alive.”

  “Yes sir,” Jason replied, “still kicking. Look, I’ve got a few questions that I’d like to pick you brain over, if I could.”

  “Sure Jason, sure,” Tomas responded kindly. “Just say when and where.”

  “That same coffee shop where we met before is fine,” Jason said. “As far as when… it’s the sooner the better, as usual.”

  “Well, I have got a few appoints this afternoon,” the doctor said thoughtfully, “but I will have the receptionist call them and reschedule, if this is urgent.”

  Jason didn’t want to ask the doctor for any more favors, but this was defiantly urgent. “It is,” he spoke affirmatively into the phone.

  “Well, in that case, I’ll meet you there in a few minutes.”

  “Okay. Sounds good,” Jason replied, sorry to have to bother the doctor again but grateful for the help.

  A half hour later found Jason and Dr. Throckmorton sitting across from one another at the same little table outside of the coffee shop where they sat before. Jason began laying out the latest developments in the kidnapping. “They caught the ugly one. The FBI has him. Hopefully, he’ll give them some info.”

  “That would be helpful,” the doctor agreed.

  “There’s one more thing,” Jason said hesitantly. “A man named Denton is one of the kidnappers. Likely the one running the whole show,” he added.

  “Well, whoever he is, he’s a clever fellow,” Dr. Throckmorton sighed. “He has everyone stumped.”

  “Yep,” Jason agreed. “He is. He’s also my brother-in-law.”

  “Brother-in-law?” Dr. Throckmorton asked, sounding surprised.

  “Yes,” Jason said, nodding his head. “Just between you and me, I want to ask something: Is there any way the information I gave you, you know, about what we originally planned in the park, could have slipped out?”

  “Well, um, yes,” the doctor replied uneasily. “I had to give my guys the instructions in advance. Now that I think about it, the main one said something about going back to a bar when I told them to go home that night.”

  “Did you say back to a bar?” Jason asked in surprise. “Like they’d come from there?”

  “I am afraid so,” the doctor said solemnly. “I gave them the information… all of the information including your name, on the day that the kidnapping occurred.”

  “Why was my name necessary?” Jason demanded.

  “It wasn’t,” Dr. Throckmorton admitted. “I am sorry. It just slipped out.”

  Jason ran his fingers though his hair. Things were beginning to add up more and more.

  “This guy, your brother-in-law… Denton, that’s his name?” the doctor asked. Jason just nodded his head. “Is he one to frequent such places as a bar or club?”


  “Yes,” Jason answered quietly. “Definitely.”

  Tomas sighed. “I was afraid of that. My guys, they probably started drinking and the more they drank the loser their tongues got. Eventually, they may have started bragging about the plan and the money they were going to make for just a little pretend fight.” The doctor hung his head. “They had everything, Jason. Every last detail. The exact time. The exact place.” He shook his head again. “What if this guy – your brother-in-law – what if he over-heard?”

  “My thoughts exactly,” Jason said, giving a frustrated sigh. “Do you have any way to get in touch with the guys you hired?” he asked hopefully. “Maybe they could remember him if we showed them a photo.”

  The doctor shook his head sadly. “I’m afraid not, Jason,” he sighed. “When it was all said and done, both parties wanted all ties to be cut. Even the guy I called, his phone was one I bought just for him that night. He was to destroy it and, apparently, he did. I actually tried to get ahold of him twice and could not.”

  Jason sat quietly for a moment before breaking the silence with a sigh. “How’s Dixie?” he asked, needing to change the subject. He had intended on stopping by to see her, but time wasn’t going to allow for it.

  “She is, um, she is doing okay,” the doctor said, but there was a bit of uneasiness in his voice.

  Jason picked up on it. “Are you sure?” he asked. “You seem a little uncertain about it.”

  “I am sorry, Jason,” Tomas said with a reluctant and sad sigh. “With everything else you have going on, I wasn’t going to tell you this, but,” he sighed again, “she’s gone.”

  “Gone?” Jason asked in disbelief as he stood abruptly, spilling his coffee all over the table.

  “Yes Jason,” Tomas said soberly as he scooted his chair back a bit to avoid the spilled liquid as it drained his way. “Gone. I am so sorry, my friend. I do not know if she ran away to look for you or…” he let his voice trail off.

  “Or what?” Jason demanded.

  “I am not sure,” the doctor said quietly as he looked up into Jason’s eyes, “but I think there was blood on the ground in her pen.”