Free Complicated Matters by Unknown Page B

slipped back inside without waking Farrah up. He didn’t sleep well that night. Something about this entire county bothered him. Small towns have a reputation for being friendly, but the people here seemed closed and guarded. You’re just being paranoid. 
       Everywhere he went he was reminded of the Atlantic Ocean. It too glistened in the sunlight and seemed inviting. But just under the surface a hidden world of dangers thrived. If you weren’t careful, you’d become just another nameless victim of its merciless ways.
     
       *
     
       The next morning he took Farrah back out to the farm, hoping Winthrop’s investigation was over.
       Deputies Winthrop and Bowman were waiting for them in the driveway. “Deputy Bowman, please escort Miss Mathews as she works.” Winthrop ordered the junior deputy.
       “Yes, sir.”
       Farrah shot the older man an angry look.
       “Why does she need an escort, Jarrod?” Taylor asked once the ladies were out of hearing range.  “This is her home.” 
       “We got two hits off some prints we pulled last night, Sheriff.” Winthrop started walking toward the house.
       “What?” He followed Winthrop. “Local thieves? That’s not surprising. Tell me who they are, and we’ll pick ‘em up.”
       “They aren’t local thieves, Sheriff. They’re local cops.” Winthrop climbed the porch steps. “Jones and Edwards, to be exact.”
       Taylor scratched his head. “I didn’t expect that.” 
       “Neither did I.  The three of us have been friends with John Mathews, since middle school. Do you want me to bring ‘em in for questioning?”
       Taylor thought for a minute. If he had Winthrop bring them in, he’d be able to arrest them for breaking and entering. But what if they were helping Daniels? It would explain why he couldn’t find Daniels the night of the storm. If he had them monitored without their knowledge, they might lead him to Daniels. He could manage this without a warrant if he allowed them to keep their jobs. All he would have to do is turn on the tracking systems of their county paid cell phones and their patrol car.               
       Winthrop just said they have been friends most of their lives. Taylor had no reason to trust him either. He decided to monitor his movements as well  And how did they know Farrah would be out last night? Or did they even care?
       “Do you want me to bring them in, Sheriff?” Winthrop asked again.
       “No, but keep and eye on them, we might have stumbled on a theft ring.” Taylor told him. “Is it okay with you if Miss Mathews, returns home?” 
       “I would like another day or so to see if anyone else was helpin’ them.” Winthrop started to enter the house but stopped in the doorway. “I would rather you not enter the crime scene, Sheriff.”
       “It’s your investigation.” Taylor headed back to his car.
       Winthrop was in the house, and Farrah and Deputy Bowman were elsewhere on the farm. Nobody seemed to be paying any attention to Taylor, so he contacted Commander Phillips.
       The commander’s face appeared on the screen. “Phillips here.”  
       “Commander Phillips, this is Special Agent Taylor.”
       “I can see that. What do you have for me?”
       “Deputies Jones and Edwards were responsible for the break-in at the Mathews’ home last night. I am activating the GPS on their county paid cell phones and the one on their patrol car. We don’t need a warrant, and they are required to keep them on their persons and turned on at all times. I’m sending you a feed as soon as possible.”
       “Good work. Is there anything else?”
       “Since when does it take more than a few hours to investigate a B and E?”
       “Why do you ask, Special Agent Taylor?”
       “Because of the fact I had dinner with Miss Mathews last night, I had to put Deputy Winthrop in charge. He asked for a few days to complete his investigation.