Chapter Seven
At The Frazier Farm
After surveying the crime scene both Syd and Gage had come to the conclusion that there was nothing evident that linked either Sam or the serial killer to the murder of Caroline Frazier.
"I think we need to get a look at the coroner's report and those files that are waiting for us," Sydney suggested Gage concurring. Together they headed back out to where their car was parked.
Sheriff Tilley's gaze followed them as they walked to the car and got in his eyes narrowing. They have nothing just a lot of speculation he thought to himself his mind going to that old fool Amos Bentley. He was going to have to pay a visit to the old man, convince him he had made a few mistakes when he was telling his ridiculous tale. He'd known Sammy for a very long time… sure she went to great lengths to achieve her goals… but she loved Caroline.
His mind snapped back to the present as Gage put the car in gear and the rangers drove out the lane way. Pulling his phone out he dialed, "Sara," he spoke into it. "There are a couple of rangers heading into town to pick up some files," he paused a minute as she acknowledged his words. "I want you to tell them there has been a mistake that the files can't be released without my approval." Smiling he hung up the phone watching the Gages disappear down the side road.
Sheriff Tilley's Office
Bringing the car to a stop both Syd and Gage got out to go inside. "I want to check in with the coroner when we are through here," Gage told her pulling open the door and holding it for his partner. Syd smiled slightly she may have said something if she hadn't been so worried about Matt and Anna B.
"Gage why don't you go ahead I want to call Alex and see how Anna B is holding up, maybe speak to her."
"Good idea," Gage agreed going ahead to the desk while Syd stopped to make the call.
"Alex?" Syd asked as the phone connected. "How's Katie?"
"Syd she's going to be fine, an ear infection, they're keeping her over night," Alex briefly explained before Anna B wrestled the phone from her.
"Sydney anything at all about Matt?" Anna B's tearful voice questioned her.
"Honey nothing so far, we're down here trying to find out what happened to Sam's aunt and see if there is any connection with her and Matt's disappearance," Sydney tried to calm her friend.
"You just have to find him… The twins and I need him… I'll never make it without him; I just won't be able to go on…" her voice died away as tears took over rolling down her cheeks.
"You listen to me Annabelle McMurtrie Sumner Matt needs you to be strong right now until he get back to you. He needs to know that you can do that if something happens to him. We are going to find him, that's all there is to it, you hear me?"
The line was silent for moment except a gasping sob as Anna B tried to compose herself. "All right Sydney," she finally got out. "I know you and Gage won't let me down."
"You just worry about Katie and David okay," Syd affirmed to her.
"Okay Sydney," Anna B agreed hanging up the phone.
Sydney too hung up her phone her mind on Anna B until her husband's voice interrupted her thoughts.
"I'll have you know that both you and Sheriff Tilley are hindering an on going investigation and will be charged accordingly," Gage was arguing with the young female officer behind the desk.
"I'm sorry Ranger but Sheriff Tilley explicitly told me under no circumstances was I to release any files to the rangers," the woman was explaining for the third time.
"What is it Gage?" Sydney asked moving up behind her partner.
"The Sheriff is blocking access to the files that we requested including the coroner's report," Gage quickly explained to her. "Can you get Alex on the phone again to get these files released to us.
"All ready on it," Syd answered phone in her hand and all ready dialing following behind Gage as he headed to the door.
"The Sheriff has blocked access to the files," she was saying into the phone as she got in the car with Gage. "All right thanks Alex," she ended the call to explain to Gage that the ADA was on it.
"Let's head over to the coroner's office hopefully Tilley hasn't gotten to him too," Gage suggested throwing the car in gear.
The Coroner's Office At County General Hospital
"Texas Rangers to see Doctor Munro," the stern woman on the desk barked into the phone. "He'll be right with you," she told them settling her phone back on its base.
"Rangers," the doctor greeted them the same time as he opened the door admitting himself to the hallway where they stood.
"Doctor Munro I'm Ranger Gage and this is Ranger Cooke. We were hoping to hear first hand what happened to Caroline Frazier," Gage told the aging coroner.
Holding the door open for them Doctor Munro began describing what he had found. "It's kind of an odd case Mrs. Frazier was shot but that wasn't the fatal wound that was just enough to incapacitate her so the killer could strangle her with a silk scarf."
"You know for certain it was a silk scarf?" Sydney questioned.
"Oh yes," the man told them. "It was still around her neck when they brought the body in."
Both rangers looked from one to the other before looking back to the coroner. "What was she shot with?" Gage questioned.
"Forty-five calibur, I sent the bullet to the crime lab in Dallas," Doctor Munro informed them.
"Could we have a look at the body?" Gage inquired.
Doctor Munro gave a quick look at Syd stating at the same time, "If you're not to squeamish the autopsy is half finished.
Smiling Syd answered for both of them, "I'm sure my partner can handle it."
Chuckling to himself Doctor Munro grinned, "Right this way."
Sumner's Prison
The hazy fog that clouded Matt Sumner's unconsciousness was finally beginning to lift. He forced his eyes to open to find that he was in complete darkness except for a sliver of light that glowed under what he assumed was the door out. He tried to straighten out his legs first hitting the wall with his feet and then his all ready ringing head.
"Gage I guess my head just isn't as hard as yours is," he complained bitterly under his breath.
"Umm," he moaned pulling himself up enough that he could lean his head and back against the wall. His eyes closed again as his mind went back over the events that had brought him there.
"Sydney!" his eyes snapped open as Sam's words came rushing back. Sam wanted Gage and she was going to get him by going through Syd. He fidgeted around trying in vain to free himself finally coming to the conclusion that his efforts were useless. His only hope was that they were missing him and looking for him.
Outside The Coroner's Office
"Where to now Gage?" Sydney asked pushing open the doors that lead back into the hospital corridor.
"Ranger Cooke, Ranger Gage," Deputy Hanson from earlier was waiting for them outside the coroner's office.
"Deputy Hanson," Syd greeted the young man her look questioning what he wanted.
"Those files you wanted," he answered handing the bundle to her.
"Isn't this going to get you in trouble with the sheriff?" Gage questioned wondering Hanson's motives.
"Sheriff Tilley has quite a few questionable practices. He really raked me over the coals for getting these files together for you, something has to be up and I think the sheriff is up to his neck in it.
Gage was all ready flipping through the files that Deputy Hanson had brought them. The reports on Caroline Frazier's death were basically what Doctor Munro had told them, it was what was in the other files that was interesting Gage. "Syd are you seeing what I'm seeing?"
"That what old Amos was telling us looks like it might be true, that Ranger Webb has a questionable past and it looks like Sheriff Tilley has covered for her."
"Didn't he say that his family's farm was adjacent to the Frazier place?"
"That's right," Hanson piped up. "Nobody lives out there now that Sheriff Tilley's father has passed away, the house has been all boarded up."
"Can you take us out there?" Gage asked Deputy Hanson.
"Sure thing Rangers," Hanson replied leading the way out.
Sheriff Tilley's Childhood Home
With Gage behind the wheel the partners followed Deputy Hanson out to the old Tilley farm. As he had told him the place was in disrepair, the laneway was over grown with weeds, the barn was falling to the ground and yes the windows of the house had been all boarded up. If it hadn't been for the deep ruts in the driveway up by the house it would have looked as if no one had been around for years.
"Looks as if it once was quite a nice home years ago," Syd commented as she opened her car door.
"Looks can some times be deceiving," Gage, answered her not elaborating as he recalled a similar place from his childhood.
"See Rangers," Hanson addressed them, "I told you that the place was abandoned.
"Abandoned or not the place has had quite a lot of traffic lately," Gage commented standing up from examining the fresh ruts.
"That's really odd," Hanson, remarked, "Sheriff Tilley would have had us patrolling out here if he thought something was going on."
"Unless he is the something going on," Syd stated.
Hanson nodded his head in agreement following the two rangers who had started to climb the steps of the porch. Making their way to the door they noted a new padlock on it but the wood boarding that had covered it had been removed enabling them to see inside.
From their vantage point they could tell they were looking into the kitchen even though most of the furniture had long ago been removed. There was a rickety old table and a couple of chairs one that had been turned on its side. Lying unmoving on the floor was Ranger Sam Webb.
TBC