“That means, Sheriff, that there’s an unsolved murder in your county and you don’t seem to have a clue as to what happened,” Jack declared. “However, you’re quick to criticize despite the fact we’re supposedly on the same team.”
“There isn’t any team about it,” Tubbs responded as he rose behind his desk. “This is my county. The people here elected me to watch out for their best interest. We don’t need any federal types like you meddlin’ in our business.”
“You don’t have a choice,” Jack declared. “Like it or not, we’re here until it gets solved so you may as well get used to it.”
Tubbs rolled his eyes. “Well, since we’re on the same team, as you put it, did you two pick up any useful information while you were out there trying to get yourselves killed?”
The sheriff’s eyes danced back and forth to the two dirt-covered agents before him, his gaze finally falling on Ashley.
“Well?” Tubbs asked, cocking his head to the side and staring the agent down.
“Actually, we …” Ashley began, before feeling a sharp pain in the back of her leg, the result of Jack delivering a swift kick. “Just had a look around out there.”
“I could have saved you a trip,” Tubbs said. “The place is full of a bunch of well-armed religious nutcases who aren’t to be messed with. Do you want another Waco on your hands, Agent?”
“That’s why we’re here,” Jack interjected. “We are here to solve the murder – diplomatically.”
“Diplomatically, huh?” the sheriff mocked. “Good luck with that.”
“Luck has nothing to do with it, Sheriff,” Jack assured.
The sheriff plopped back down in his chair, shaking his head in disgust. The conversation was over and the two agents headed out the door. Jack paused just before stepping out.
“Oh! This may be a bad time to ask, but do you think we could borrow another car?” Jack asked with straight face.
The sheriff didn’t bother answering as he stood and pointed toward the door, his face even redder than be-fore.
“Some other time then,” Jack said as he slipped out the door and gave Ashley a boyish grin. “Think he’s mad?”
Ashley shook her head at the gall of her boss as they walked outside. “Why’d you kick me?”
Jack smirked as they walked down the street toward the hotel they had booked for the evening.
“Because you were about to give him sensitive in-formation,” Jack replied.
“He is the sheriff,” Ashley pointed out.
“I don’t trust him,” Jack countered.
“He’s just protective of his turf,” Ashley said.
“I think it’s more than that,” Jack disagreed. “My gut tells me there’s something not right with that guy.”
Your gut, huh?” Ashley said. “Well, my brain tells me we don’t need to make any more enemies than we have to. This is his county and we might need his help at some point.”
“We don’t need any help, sweetness,” Jack dis-missed as he pointed toward the glow of a neon sign about a half-mile ahead. “There are our accommodations for the evening.”
The Half Way Inn sign glowed in the distance, the flickering neon suggesting they weren’t going to be en-joying five-star luxury that evening.
Ashley felt a shiver run up her spine. The air had quickly cooled in the desert town after sunset. The pair walked briskly as they rounded the corner, giving them the first view of the motel.
“You ever watch Psycho?” Jack asked as he eyed the hotel.
“Yeah,” Ashley answered. “This place has every-thing but the creepy house on the hill.”
“Word of advice there, honey,” Jack offered as a grin crossed his face. “Lock the door when you take a shower.”
“Very funny,” Ashley replied as she noticed numerous tractor trailers in the gravel parking lot of the out-dated motel.
“I guess it’s a good thing we don’t have a car,” Jack nodded toward the crowded parking lot.
The pair stepped into the small office located at the end of the long row of bungalows. Finding no one be-hind the desk, Jack clanged the bell.
“Anyone home? Jack asked as he looked toward the room in the back of the office and continued laying into the bell.
“Alright! Alright! I’m not deaf,” a woman’s voice called out from the back. “I’m coming. Keep your pants on.”
The woman, wearing a floral sundress, her bleach blonde hair pulled back in a ponytail, immediately zeroed in on Jack. Her irritation disappeared immediately.
“Okay, I’ll keep them on if you insist, sweetie,” Jack smiled, his broad grin prompting a roll of Ashley’s eyes.
“Checking in?” the woman asked, giving Jack a hopeful smile.
“Sure am,” Jack replied as he walked over and casually leaned on the counter.
The woman’s expectant smile faded as she saw Ash-ley standing beside Jack.
“A room for two?” she said with disappointment in her voice.
“Separate rooms, actually,” Jack countered. “But connected, if possible.”
The woman looked at Ashley and then back to Jack. “Are you two together?”
“Yes,” Ashley spoke up. “We’re partners.”
“She’s my employee,” Jack corrected, prompting a silent snarl from Ashley as she suddenly felt like a third wheel.
“Hi, my name is Jack Looper,” Jack announced as he extended his hand across the counter. “Federal Agent, Jack Looper, that is. And you are?”
“Jessica. Jessica Boles,” she replied, extending her freckled hand to take Jack’s. “So, you’re the federal agents I’ve been hearing about, here to solve that murder.”
“One and the same, Jessica-Jessica Boles,” Jack quipped. “News travels quick around here, don’t it?”
“It’s a small town and not much ever happens,” Jessica said dryly. “A couple of FBI agents working a murder case is big news around these parts. If we had a paper here, it’d be on the front page, I’m sure.”
“That boring here, huh?” Jack asked as he still leaned on the counter.
“We’d watch the grass grow if there was any grass around here,” Jessica retorted with a smile.
“So, what’s a nice girl like you doing in a place like this?” Jack asked, his flirtatious, outdated remark causing Ashley to audibly moan in disgust.
Jessica smiled, obviously flattered by the dapper agent’s advances. “My husband left me this place a few years ago.”
“Oh, I’m sorry,” Jack backtracked. “I didn’t realize you were a widow. I was just making …”
“Don’t be sorry,” Jessica laughed. “What I meant to say is that my no good, scum bucket husband left me about three years ago for some tramp he met on the internet. He’s very much alive, unfortunately. This place is the one thing I got out of the divorce settlement so I’ve stayed here. The money isn’t bad actually with all the truckers stopping in and all. It’s just mind-numbingly boring. We’re the last stop before Paradise so all we see is truckers and tumble weeds out this way.”
“Been here long?” Jack asked as he continued to lean over the counter.
“I’m one of the originals,” Jessica pursed her lips. “I’ve lived pretty well most of my life here. New Hope isn’t much, but it’s home.”
Jack signed the motel registry and pushed it back to Jessica as he continued making conversation.
“How about Paradise Ranch?” Jack asked. “You ever been over there?”
Jessica wrinkled her nose, shaking her head at the agent. “No one goes over the hill. We stay on our side and they stay on their side and everyone’s happy.”
“I guess good fences make good neighbors,” Jack smiled. “And they have a mighty big fence.”
“But not to keep people out,” Jessica volunteered.
“You think it’s to keep people in, huh?” Jack countered.
“Well, we never see any of them over on this side of the hill,” Jessica replied. “So, you tell me.”
>
“How about Elijah?” Jack continued. “What have you heard about him?”
Jessica laughed at the agent’s persistence. “Why is it that I feel like I’m being interviewed? Do you question all the inn keepers you meet like this or am I special?”
“Only the pretty ones, honey,” Jack winked, prompting another roll of Ashley’s eyes as a blush crossed Jessica’s face.
Ashley yanked at the back of Jack’s shirt.
“Tired. Sleep. Long day,” Ashley hissed.
Jessica broke out of her momentary trance and handed Jack the room cards.
“Here you go,” Jessica said, not taking her eyes off of Jack as she passed out the cards. “You have a good night and if there’s anything else I can do, don’t hesitate to ask. I’ll be here until two.”
“I’ll keep that in mind,” Jack grinned as Ashley took him by the arm, drawing him toward the door. “Nice meeting you Jessica - Jessica Boles.”
“Nice meeting you, Agent Jack Looper,” Jessica said with a broad smile.
Ashley marched toward their rooms with Jack walking behind. “I don’t think that could have been more sickening if you’d tried.”
“What?” Jack asked innocently as he trotted to catch up. “I was just making conversation.”
“Conversation?” Ashley repeated.
“Jealous?” Jack shot back with a grin.
“You wish,” Ashley snarled. “I just thought it wasn’t very … professional to be drooling like that.”
“She was the one drooling, sweetness,” Jack bragged as he ran his hand through his hair. “I was just getting information. I don’t always have to put people under the bright light and give them the third degree. You catch more flies with honey than with vinegar.”
“Oh, you were nice, alright,” Ashley said as she located their adjoining rooms.
“I got information, didn’t I?” Jack asked as Ashley handed him his key card. “Someone like Jessica could be a very valuable source of information.”
“The source of something, alright,” Ashley scowled as she plugged her key into the slot. “Anyway, I’m hit-ting the hay. Call me when you get up.”
“I’m not really tired yet,” Jack confessed as he opened his door. “I may take a walk to clear my head before I go to bed.”
“Hmm, I wonder if that walk will take you by the motel office.” Ashley said disapprovingly as she stood in the doorway.
“You never know,” Jack grinned.
“Oh, I know,” Ashley rolled her eyes as she shut her door.
Jack grabbed her door just before it closed.
“Make sure everything is locked up tight,” Jack warned with a serious look. “And keep your gun near-by.”
“You’re worried about me now, are you?” Ashley asked.
“I’m just saying there’s someone out there who doesn’t want us here,” Jack said as he let go of the door. “You can’t be too careful.”
Jack stepped into his room and made a call before going on his walk, a walk which he planned to include a visit to the motel office. It was as he was calling to check in with headquarters that he realized he and Ash-ley had left their gear in the back of Deputy Ward’s cruiser after he had picked them up at the airport. Get-ting the bags had been the least of his worries given the excitement of the day.
Jack ran the map of New Hope through his mind. He reckoned it was about a ten minute walk from the motel to the police station. It was a nice evening and it would give him time to enjoy a cigar. With any luck there would be an officer there who could get him into the deputy’s car and perhaps give him a lift back to the motel.
Still clad in his work clothes, which included a pair of black pants, a white shirt and black tie – minus his trademark tailored black jacket which he left lying on his bed – Jack stepped out into the night. He paused at the end of the parking lot to light his cigar, shielding the flame from the wind, before walking across the street and into New Hope proper. He didn’t bother looking both ways since the streets were deserted, the only bright light coming from the flashing vacancy sign in front of their motel.
Jack walked leisurely through darkened streets, puffing his short cigar, guided by the dim street lights that spanned the downtown area. There was no sign of life anywhere. All the businesses and shops were closed up tight. He took time to note the charming nature of the old town, one that had been changed little by the passing of time.
“They must roll up the sidewalks at nine,” Jack muttered to himself, the hands on his watch revealing it was a few minutes after eleven.
Jack was technically wrong since there were no sidewalks in New Hope. That fact didn’t matter as Jack sauntered down the middle of the deserted streets on his way to the police station.
His casual walk was interrupted as he rounded a corner, bringing into view the tiny town square. A bright light slapped him in the eyes and he threw up a hand to shield them.
A moment later blue lights flashed from behind the spotlight which bathed him.
“Sir,” a voice came from behind the spotlight. “You’re out past curfew.”
“Curfew? Jack replied as he still shielded his eyes from the spotlight. “What’s this place need with a cur-few?”
The officer stepped in front of the spotlight, eclipsing the blinding beam as he walked toward Jack.
“Yes sir,” the deputy confirmed. “We have an eleven o’clock curfew in New Hope.”
“Do you, now?” Jack responded dryly.
“I’m afraid I’m going to have to ask for your identification,” the deputy continued.
Close enough he could make out the officer’s features, Jack realized the deputy that stood before him was little more than a kid - nineteen at the oldest.
“Sure,” Jack responded as he fished his wallet out of his pocket. “And, I’m going to have to ask you to turn off that spotlight. I’m going to be seeing spots for a week.”
The deputy’s demeanor immediately changed when he glanced at Jack’s identification.
“Oh, sorry sir,” the officer gulped. “You must be the federal agent in town investigating the murder.”
The deputy hustled back to his patrol unit and cut off the spotlight. “I’m sorry about the light and everything but you never know who you might come up on this time of night. I’m the only one on duty”
Jack slid his identification back in his pocket. “So you’re the whole sheriff’s department tonight, huh?”
“Well, there’s just the four of us, counting the sheriff,” the deputy replied as he cut off his blue lights and walked back over to where Jack was standing. “There isn’t much happens in New Hope aside from the occasional domestic dispute or public drunk, well, until now that is.”
“Why the curfew then, Deputy … Edwards?” Jack asked as he strained his eyes in the darkness to make out the lawman’s name badge.
“Well, I don’t think curfews apply to FBI agents,” Edwards began, as he eagerly extended his hand to Jack. “By the way, it’s Deputy Mark Edwards – my whole name, that is.”
Jack smiled and shook the officer’s hand. “Special Agent in Charge Jack Looper. So, what about this cur-few?”
“Smugglers and illegal aliens. We’re only a couple of hours from the Mexican border so the sheriff said you never know who may be wandering through late at night,” the deputy replied. “Plus there’s a lot of truck traffic out this time of night, passing through going to the other side of the hill, you know, to that place over there.”
“Paradise Ranch,” Jack noted.
“Yeah,” the deputy agreed. “The truckers all pass through here to pick up their loads and then drive back through town since it’s the closest route back to the interstate. Most of them do their loads at night, either that or catch a nap at the motel. That keeps traffic down through New Hope during the day. Are you staying over at the motel?”
“Yeah,” Jack replied. “I was actually walking over to the sheriff’s office. I had a bad turn with my borrowed car earli
er today and that’s left me hoofing it tonight.”
“I heard about that,” Deputy Edwards noted with a bit of a grin. “They just towed in what was left of it a few minutes ago.”
“Anyway,” Jack changed the subject about the crashed sheriff’s vehicle. “I’d left our gear in the back of Deputy Ward’s cruiser and was hoping to get lucky and pick it up.”
“You may have just gotten lucky, sir,” Edwards pro-claimed as he pointed to his patrol SUV. “I’m driving Kyle’s unit. We don’t have too many vehicles so we have to share.”
“Yeah, one less after earlier tonight,” Jack mumbled, somewhat embarrassed he had reduced the size of the already-small fleet.
The officer opened up the back of the SUV. “It is your lucky night. Kyle left your stuff back here. Jump in and I’ll give you a lift back to the motel.”
Jack tossed the remainder of his cigar and accepted the deputy’s hospitality. He gave the officer a close look under the dome light.
“I hope you don’t mind me saying, Mark, but you look even younger than young Kyle Ward,” Jack ob-served.
“Oh! Kyle. He’s the oldest member of the force. Well, if you don’t count the sheriff,” the baby-faced deputy replied. “Kyle just turned twenty-two. I’ll be twenty next week. Now Conner, our other deputy, he’s the rookie. He’s nineteen and just joined the force a few months ago. He has to work the weekends but Kyle comes in and helps him out some.”
“I guess they don’t have to worry about having to pay retirement around here,” Jack laughed as the young deputy navigated the streets, heading back to the motel. “So, you say nothing ever happens here? Not even over at Paradise Ranch.”
Mark looked at Jack, taking his eyes off of the road for a moment, obviously surprised by the agent’s reference to the ranch. “Oh, we never go over the hill, sir. Those are our standing orders. We just enforce the law on our side of the hill.”
“Then who enforces the law over there?” Jack asked as he pointed for the deputy to look back toward the street.
“That’s Elijah, the cult leader. That’s his part of the county,” Mark noted. “The sheriff said we don’t have any business over there. The sheriff says they are all crazy – and dangerous.”
Paradise Ranch (Jack and Ashley detective series Book 2) Page 8