Beneath the Tombstone (The Tombstone Series) (38 page)

It
was his mother-in-law, Grace. She grabbed Jason in a big hug and almost lifted
him off of his feet as she sobbed. “I’m so sorry, Jason,” she cried. “I was
wrong. I’m proud to call you my son-in-law.”

After
she let him go, Susan and Jenny, not willing to take turns, each grabbed him in
a hug at the same time. Their tears dripped onto his sweat-soaked shirt as they
each told him how proud of him they were.

Tyler
stood patiently by, waiting until his turn came. When it did, he walked forward
with an outstretched hand. “Welcome to the sunny side of the Tombstone,” he
said with a smile.

Jason
had never felt so indebted to anyone. Grasping the tall cowboy’s hand, he gave
it a pull and wrapped him in a bear hug. “Thanks Tyler,” he said, speaking from
the bottom of his heart. “I couldn’t have done it without you.”

“Glad
I was here to help then,” the tall horseman said with an easy laugh, returning
the hug.

What
would come next, Jason had no way of knowing. He had hoped Misty would be there
waiting at the top of the Tombstone, but she was nowhere to be found. Tyler was
going to ride home with Susan. That was more than okay with Jason. Not that he
was tired of the tall horseman; he just wanted some time alone to think.

As he
neared his truck, he spotted Tomas leaning against it. “Well,” the doctor spoke
as Jason drew closer. “Looks like you did it.”

“Yep,”
Jason replied. “With God’s help, I did.” He paused for a moment before adding,
“Thank you for your help as well.”

“Yeah,”
Tomas said, shoving off the truck. “Glad I could do it.” He paused for a moment
before asking. “So what now? Any word from Misty or her kidnappers?”

“Nope,”
Jason replied. “Nothing yet.”

“Well,”
the doctor said, “I guess I am going to head on out. Call me if you hear
anything.”

“I’ll
do it,” Jason promised.

The
doctor walked over to his little red car, which was parked nearby, got in and
left. Jason stood for a few moments, drinking in the beauty of the sitting sun,
thankful to be there enjoying it.

“Jason
Hathaway,” a voice spoke. He turned. It was the lady from his first interview.
“I’m sure you’ve got a ton of things going on right now, but could I get a few
quick words?”

“Sure,”
Jason agreed.

After
getting her camera man positioned and everything ready to roll, she turned back
to Jason. “This is going to be live. You okay with that?”

“Yeah,”
Jason said. “You bet.”

“Alright,”
she said with a smile.

They
both turned to the camera man. “We’re on in five, four, three,” he spoke then
went silent, only mouthing the words.

“Hello
everyone, I’m Kim
Kaylight
with Fox News; I’m here
with Jason Hathaway, and we are standing at the
top
of the Tombstone!
Tell us Jason,” she said, directing her attention to him, “how does it feel?”

“Feels
good,” he said with a smile. “Really good.”

“Did
you ever dream you’d be standing here?”

“Yes,
of course I dreamed,” he said then paused for a moment. “Now actually believing
I’d be here – that’s a different story.”

“What
one thing was most important in bringing you here to the top of the Tombstone?”
the reporter asked.

“The one
most important thing, huh?” he asked thoughtfully. “I guess it would be hope.”

“Hope
in what?” she asked, sounding intrigued.

“Awe,
you know, hope in general, I guess,” Jason spoke then grew silent, thinking.
“One: the hope of seeing my wife again and having a future with her. Second
would be the hope of having children and being there to watch them grow. The
hope of family, you know?” He paused. “The hope of life after death is one I’m
really, really happy we didn’t use today,” he added with a smile, “but it gave
me a certain element of peace, all the same.”

“I’m
sure it did,” the reporter responded with a smile. “Is there anything you’d
like to say to the folks out there watching?”

“Um,
yes,” Jason responded, feeling a bit uneasy at the idea of millions of unseen
people watching him. “I just want to say thank you and know that nothing is
impossible. We all face our own version of the Tombstone, so, you know, just
know that you can rise above it.”

“Thank
you, Jason,” Kim responded, her reporter tone taking on a bit of a personal
note, like his words had spoken to her personally. “It’s good to be standing at
the top of the Tombstone with you.”

“It’s
good to be here,” Jason replied whole-heartedly.

When
the reporter had wrapped up the interview, Jason turned to her. “So Fox News,
huh?” he asked.

“Yep,”
the reporter replied. “They called me after our last interview. Said I had a
way of getting answers to the questions people had about you. Offered me a job.
I took it,” she added with a smile.

“Well,
you done good,” Jason praised before turning away towards his truck.

“Jason,”
the reporter’s earnest voice stopped him. “Thank you,” she said as he turned
back to her. “I know it was not even close to being on your mind through all of
this, but you gave me the shot I’ve been wanting for a long time.”

“I
may have given you the shot,” Jason acknowledged with a smile, “but you’re the
one who took it.” She gave an understanding nod, and with that, Jason turned
away again and headed back to his truck.

Opening
the door, he stepped in. That’s when he saw it – a note taped to his steering
wheel. His heart pounded as he pulled it off and gently opened it.

The
note simply said,
“Eden House. You will feel my presence and know I’m there.
P.S. Bring your fat little doctor friend with you.”

The
evening was quiet. Only a few drops of sunlight remained, filtering through the
bushes that lined the sharp curve in the road. The sound of a rapidly
approaching vehicle robbed the scene of its solitude. Moments later, a pickup
zipped by, sending gravel sailing off into the bushes. Feeling like a
dirt-track racer, Jason sat in the driver’s seat with a determined look on his
face, clutching the steering wheel with both hands.

He
topped a small rise and saw tail lights. It was a small car - looked like the
doctor’s. Jason began flashing his lights and honking the horn. As he neared,
the car came to an abrupt stop. Surprised, Jason slammed on the brakes, the
tires on his truck sliding through the loose gravel at the road’s edge. At the
last moment, he swerved off into the ditch and avoided rear-ending the bright
red, cherry car. Skidding to a stop beside and slightly in front of the
doctor’s vehicle, Jason leapt out of his truck.

The doctor
stepped out with a quick stride and wide eyes. “Jason!” he exclaimed. “What in
the world?”

“Tomas,
I need your help,” Jason spoke rapidly. “I know where they’re probably holding
Misty. A place called Eden House. I got a note. They want you to come with me.”

“Eden
House,” the doctor spoke thoughtfully. “That sounds familiar. Hey,” he
exclaimed, “isn’t that place up in the middle of government land, somewhere
around that old rancher’s house?” He paused as if remembering something. “Isn’t
that old house haunted?”

“Allegedly,”
Jason admitted.

“The
ghost of Maggie and all that, right?”

“Yep,
that’s the one,” Jason admitted again.

“Jason,
I have done a lot for you,” the doctor said patiently, “but I’ve got a family
to take care of, my friend. I’ve got my wife and kids… I even got them a dog
that’s counting on me.”

“I
had a family, too,” Jason said as he looked away quickly and wiped his eyes. “A
wife. A dog. Now I have nothing.” He stood silent for a moment then his
expression grew into a hard line. “You know I would go alone if I could,” he
spoke in a level tone. “I
ain’t
afraid.” He flung his
hands in the air as he added, “I just
clumb
the
Tombstone for heaven’s sake! But the note said to bring you along… and that’s
exactly what I intend to do even if I have to hog tie you and throw you in the
back!”

“Can
I see the note?” the doctor asked soberly, seeming to be unfazed by Jason’s
aggressive attitude. After looking it over for a few moments, Tomas let out a
scoff. “They called me fat?” he asked, looking up at Jason. Finally, he sighed
and threw up his hands. “Okay. I’ll do it,” he spoke reluctantly. “Haunted
house, here we come.”

“Thanks
Tomas,” Jason responded with a relieved sigh.

“Yep,
saving the day again,” the doctor said, grabbing a jacket from his car. Walking
to the passenger side of Jason’s truck, he crawled in.

Gravel
flew once more as Jason put the gas pedal back on the floor. Making the trip in
record time, Jason turned down Irwin’s driveway, a pale faced doctor hanging on
for dear life in the passenger seat. The truck began shifting gear after gear
as Jason and Tomas barreled towards the old rancher’s house.

The
truck slid to a stop as Jason jumped out, racing towards the house. “Irwin,” he
called out loudly as the porch light came on. “It’s Jason. Don’t shoot!”

The
door flew open and the rancher stood in the opening with only his pants on –
though he had not forgotten his double barrel shotgun. “Jason, what in
tarnation?” he demanded in his heavy Spanish accent.

“I
got a note,” Jason exclaimed. “I think they’re holding Misty up at Maggie’s old
place.”

“Makes
sense,” Irwin said after a moment’s contemplation. “My boy knows of the place.
It’s on government land so nobody can really claim it. Not likely for anyone to
want to visit the place either, given the stories of Maggie’s ghost and all.”

“What’s
the fastest way there?” Jason asked excitedly.

“In
your truck!” Irwin replied quickly. “There’s an old jeep trail that’ll take us
within five hundred yards of the old place. Let me get some clothes on,” the
old rancher shouted as he shut the door.

Less
than a minute later, Irwin was trotting down his front porch steps fully
dressed and still toting his shotgun. Tomas slid over to the middle as the
rancher climbed in and placed his weapon barrel down with the butt resting
against one hip.

Lightening
flashed, lightening up the western sky as the truck headed off in that
direction. “A storm’s coming,” Tomas said, eyeing the sky nervously.

Jason
drove, following Irwin’s instructions, for several minutes until they came to a
gate. “This lets us out on public land,” the old rancher explained as he hopped
out, gun in hand.

He
opened the gate, waited until Jason drove through then closed it back. Guided
by the rancher’s memory, they found the old jeep trail he had spoken of. They
followed it for what seemed like several miles before Irwin, in a hushed tone,
said, “Turn your lights off.”

Jason
obeyed. They bumped on along with only the hazy light of the moon shining
through the clouds and the occasional flash of lighting.

“Stop
here,” Irwin instructed after they’d crept along for several minutes. Jason
obeyed, placed the truck in park and killed the motor. “Climb over that rise,
and you’ll see it,” the old rancher said, pointing towards the top of a small
hill nearby. “You want me to come for backup or just wait here?”

“Just
wait here,” Jason whispered, his heart pounding. “And thanks,” he added. “I
appreciate this.”

“You
bet,” Irwin replied. “Be careful.”

Jason
headed up the rise with Tomas close behind. He reached the top and looked down
the other side. Just as Irwin had promised, there Eden House sat, a dim
contrast to the elements of nature that surrounded it. Knowing he was expected,
Jason headed straight for the old abandoned house, making no attempt to hide
his approach. The doctor followed closely behind.

An
old swing hung from a tree, gently rocking back and forth, brushed by the
occasional gust of wind for the approaching storm. Lightening flashed, and
Jason could almost hear the laughter of young children playing in the yard and
pushing one another in the swing. Several seconds later, thunder rumbled in the
distance. Jason stepped up on the old wooden porch; the boards creaked, seeming
to question his presence. His heart thumped loudly as he came to a stop at the heavy
wooden front door.

“Hello,”
he called out, pushing the door open. No answer. Jason remembered the words of
the note.
You will feel my presence and know I’m there.
Jason felt no
one’s presence other than that of the doctor. No surprise there though. Tomas
was huffing like he was going into labor.

Floor
boards creaked as they made their way down a long hall. Jason reached into his
pocket and pulled out his phone, turning on the light app. His breathing quickened
even more as he began opening doors and shining the light into each room. Old
dust covered furniture sat in several of the rooms, others were completely
empty. One door Jason opened led down a staircase that ended into darkness, the
light not reaching the bottom. He shut the door back, deciding to search the
dark and creepy basement only if nothing could be found elsewhere.

The
hallway ended into a narrow flight of stairs that led them to the second floor;
there another hallway stretched out towards the front part of the house. Jason
tried several more rooms with no luck… then he turned a slight corner in the
hallway. Down at the end, a light from a candle flickered. It sat next to a
door that dead-ended the passageway. It seemed to call to him, bidding him
enter.

With
Tomas still right on his heels, Jason approached. His ice cold fingers grasped
the brass knob and turned it slowly. A click sounded when the door unlatched
and the old iron hinges creaked loudly as he gently pushed it open… and there she
was. Jason stood stunned for a moment, trying to grasp the picture before him.
The clouds parted and moonlight filtered in through an open window, lighting up
her features. She looked so young and beautiful… and so helpless.

She
looked up at him, and he saw the look of surprise and joy that filled her eyes,
but fear was also present there. She was bound to a chair and gagged. That’s
when Jason saw it. A bomb sat beneath her. Wires stuck out in haphazard form,
and a blank screen faced him from between her ankles. He rushed towards her.

“Stop,”
Tomas ordered, coming through the door. “It could be rigged.”

Jason
came to a sudden halt. The doctor was right. He stood stone-still for a moment,
holding his breath, straining to hear a sound or see a sign of someone else in
the house with them. Nothing.

“Show
yourself!” Jason challenged loudly. No takers. The old house was still filled
with silence… but then the cell phone he still clutched in his hand began to
ring. He looked at the caller ID. It was Jenny. Why would she be calling?

Jason
slowly lifted the phone to his ear. “Hello,” he answered warily.

“Jason,”
Jenny spoke energetically into the phone. “So sorry to bother you. I know
you’re probably resting from the climb today, but I just remembered something I
meant to tell you earlier. The Texas Border Patrol thinks they may have spotted
someone matching Denton’s description down along the border. He may have
skipped the country.”

Jason
frowned. If that was true, his theory just got shot all full of holes. “Are you
sure?” he questioned, a bit doubtful. “I was thinking he was the main
kidnapper.”

“Well,
no,” Jenny admitted honestly. “I’m not sure. Just relaying the message is all.”
The line was silent for a moment before she spoke again. “So are you at home
resting?”

“No,”
Jason replied. “Just hanging out with a friend of yours.”

“A
friend of mine?” Jenny asked, obviously intrigued. “Who?”

“Dr.
Throckmorton,” Jason answered.

“Throckmorton,
Throckmorton,” Jenny spoke as if trying to jog her memory. “Oh yes,” she sang.
“I remember him. If he thinks we’re friends no harm done, but just between you
and me, we
ain’t
that close. He stopped by my office
one day and brought me a coffee, and you know how I am with coffee… plus I
thought he might’ve been single. Nope. Married. Oh well. Coffee was good. And
all he did was just ask me a few questions and leave. Never saw hide nor hair
of him again ‘til today I think I may’ve caught a glimpse of him at the gorge.”

Jason’s
mind blurred, spinning like a top. Jenny rambled on. “You know, being married,
he shouldn’t go around taking coffee to single women like me. I’m not
gonna
date some married man, but some women’s standards
aren’t set nearly so high. Some will just…” Her sentence was cut off short as
Jason absentmindedly hung up.

He
slowly looked up from his phone, fastening his gaze back on Misty. She seemed
to be trying to tell him something as she pulled his gaze with hers over to the
doctor. The wind shifted, filtering a breeze through the open window, gently
toying with the doctor’s hair. Misty looked from him back to Jason, and her
eyes begged him to understand. Jason’s head quit spinning. The fog lifted in
his mind. He understood.

“It
was you,” he whispered, “this whole time. All the leading and guiding,” his
face twisted in painful disgust,” and I followed you! And I trusted you!” he
added, his bewildered tone building into one of anger. “You got the information
on the kidnappers before the sheriff because you’re one of them!” his voice
thundered. “Not just one of them,” he looked at the doctor, “you’re the leader.”

“What
on earth are you talking about?” the doctor asked, looking puzzled.

“You’re
the wolf,” Jason answered, the shock of it obvious in his voice. “The wolf
dressed up as a lamb. You walked by my side. You were there for me when no one
else was.” He shook his head.

“Jason,”
the doctor spoke, “I know this is a lot to take in, but if you actually think
I…”

“You
told me Jenny was a patient of yours,” Jason said, cutting him off short, “but
that’s not true, is it? Jenny never met you before or since the day you went to
her office.”

“Poor
Jenny,” the doctor lamented. “Sometimes she remembers things that never
happened, other times she forgets things that really did. I think in this case,
she did both. My advice to you would be…”

“Enough!”
Jason bellowed. “How dare you?” he demanded as he moved forward with a menacing
stride. “I trusted you!”

“Trusted
me?” the doctor asked, backing up. “What do you mean?” Jason let out an enraged
roar as he quickened his advance towards the doctor. “Jason, stop and ask
yourself,” the doctor spoke calmly as he pulled a remote detonator from his
pocket, “– what would your precious Jesus do? – before you go and do something
we’ll all regret.”