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SYNOPSIS: Jason Franco is an aspiring novelist stuck in a dead-end job working for a newspaper in a small town where nothing exciting happens until someone rapes and murders a young woman only eighteen years old. All evidence points to the woman's boyfriend who confesses to the crime. Jason is assigned to write a follow-up story for the paper and soon suspects that the local police are covering up for one of their own. Jason enlists the help from a high school classmate who works at the state crime and the two soon fall in love. Jason and his girlfriend, Tina, follow the leads, and Jason finds himself a target for the rapist turned murderer. An attempt on Jason's life puts him in the hospital as the alleged rapist commits suicide. An unexpected turn of events put Jason back in the cross hairs of a different killer.
Paulo McAdams’s Car Damage
Later that day, Sy called Jason and asked him to come over to the garage to view Paulo’s car. When Jason arrived at the garage, Sy met him out front. “I read in the paper this morning that the police said Paulo drove off the road and the car caught on fire. I don’t believe so.” He led Jason to the back lot where the car was located. “Look at this, Jason.” Sy pointed to the front end. “Like I said yesterday, this car wasn’t speeding. It couldn’t have been going much more than five miles per hour–not much damage to the front. The air bag didn’t even deploy.” Sy pointed toward the gas tank. “The gas tank would withstand a head on crash at that speed. Gas tank fires start in the rear and move forward. This fire appears to have started on top and in the passenger seat and burned backward to the gas tank.”
“Did you tell that to the police?”
“No. I told my boss and he told the police.”
“What did your boss say about the police report?”
“He said that it isn’t up to us to determine the cause of an accident. We just report what we find. It’s the police’s call. It’s not right. Someone ran Paulo off the road and then set his car on fire. That’s what I think. But, hey, I’m just the mechanic.”
Jason patted Sy’s shoulder. “Thanks buddy. I just want to take pictures, and I’ll be out of your way. If I write anything, I won't mention your name.”
“Okay. The boss is on the road right now. You better watch your back.”
“What?”
“Well, whoever killed Paulo might try to kill you too.”
“Yeah, I figured that already. We had better keep to this to ourselves for now until we can prove what happened.”
Jason used his cellphone to take several pictures of the car from all angles. While he was taking pictures, Tina called.
“Jason, my mom just called. Is it true? Paulo’s dead?”
“Yes, it’s true. I’m looking at the car right now. The police issued a phony press release. They’re trying to cover it up.”
“Honey, get out of there. Get your ass down here to Cheyenne. The killer will try to kill you next.”
“So everyone keeps telling me, but I can’t leave now. I’ve got you see this through for Angie and Paulo.”
“WTF! What about me? If you love me you’ll come here.”
“Tina, don’t…”
“I’m going to tell my boss. I should’ve told him before this.”
Jason thought about it. “Okay. You’re right. Tell your boss. Let me know what happens.”
Thirty minutes later, Tina called again. “I told my boss. He agreed that your life may be in danger. The lab will rent a room in the Holiday Express for tonight. You can pick up the key at the front desk. If you go home, you endanger your family.”
“Okay. I’ll stay there.”
“And don’t take your car there. The killer will find it. Leave it at your office and take a cab.”
“Okay. That makes sense.”
“My boss says that the lab can’t officially get involved unless asked. But he’s sending an agent to look at the car and to talk to you anyway. Tell Sy to stall for one day before he starts repairs.”
“Got it. I also have pictures of the car. I’ll send them to you.”
“How about you? How are you holding up?”
“To tell the truth, I’m scared. I’ve never been involved in anything like this.”
Tina paused and took a deep breath. “I’m coming there.”
“No, don’t. It might not be safe.”
“I’ll meet you at the motel tonight. Don’t tell anyone where you’re staying. I love you. Bye.”
Jason called Sy right away.
# # # #
SYNOPSIS: Jason Franco is an aspiring novelist stuck in a dead-end job working for a newspaper in a small town where nothing exciting happens until someone rapes and murders a young woman only eighteen years old. All evidence points to the woman's boyfriend who confesses to the crime. Jason is assigned to write a follow-up story for the paper and soon suspects that the local police are covering up for one of their own. Jason enlists the help from a high school classmate who works at the state crime and the two soon fall in love. Jason and his girlfriend, Tina, follow the leads, and Jason finds himself a target for the rapist turned murderer. An attempt on Jason's life puts him in the hospital as the alleged rapist commits suicide. An unexpected turn of events put Jason back in the cross hairs of a different killer.
Paulo McAdams’s Car Damage
Later that day, Sy called Jason and asked him to come over to the garage to view Paulo’s car. When Jason arrived at the garage, Sy met him out front. “I read in the paper this morning that the police said Paulo drove off the road and the car caught on fire. I don’t believe so.” He led Jason to the back lot where the car was located. “Look at this, Jason.” Sy pointed to the front end. “Like I said yesterday, this car wasn’t speeding. It couldn’t have been going much more than five miles per hour–not much damage to the front. The air bag didn’t even deploy.” Sy pointed toward the gas tank. “The gas tank would withstand a head on crash at that speed. Gas tank fires start in the rear and move forward. This fire appears to have started on top and in the passenger seat and burned backward to the gas tank.”
“Did you tell that to the police?”
“No. I told my boss and he told the police.”
“What did your boss say about the police report?”
“He said that it isn’t up to us to determine the cause of an accident. We just report what we find. It’s the police’s call. It’s not right. Someone ran Paulo off the road and then set his car on fire. That’s what I think. But, hey, I’m just the mechanic.”
Jason patted Sy’s shoulder. “Thanks buddy. I just want to take pictures, and I’ll be out of your way. If I write anything, I won't mention your name.”
“Okay. The boss is on the road right now. You better watch your back.”
“What?”
“Well, whoever killed Paulo might try to kill you too.”
“Yeah, I figured that already. We had better keep to this to ourselves for now until we can prove what happened.”
Jason used his cellphone to take several pictures of the car from all angles. While he was taking pictures, Tina called.
“Jason, my mom just called. Is it true? Paulo’s dead?”
“Yes, it’s true. I’m looking at the car right now. The police issued a phony press release. They’re trying to cover it up.”
“Honey, get out of there. Get your ass down here to Cheyenne. The killer will try to kill you next.”
“So everyone keeps telling me, but I can’t leave now. I’ve got you see this through for Angie and Paulo.”
“WTF! What about me? If you love me you’ll come here.”
“Tina, don’t…”
“I’m going to tell my boss. I should’ve told him before this.”
Jason thought about it. “Okay. You’re right. Tell your boss. Let me know what happens.”
Thirty minutes later, Tina called again. “I told my boss. He agreed that your life may be in danger. The lab will rent a room in the Holiday Express for tonight. You can pick up the key at the front desk. If you go home, you endanger your family.”
“Okay. I’ll stay there.”
“And don’t take your car there. The killer will find it. Leave it at your office and take a cab.”
“Okay. That makes sense.”
“My boss says that the lab can’t officially get involved unless asked. But he’s sending an agent to look at the car and to talk to you anyway. Tell Sy to stall for one day before he starts repairs.”
“Got it. I also have pictures of the car. I’ll send them to you.”
“How about you? How are you holding up?”
“To tell the truth, I’m scared. I’ve never been involved in anything like this.”
Tina paused and took a deep breath. “I’m coming there.”
“No, don’t. It might not be safe.”
“I’ll meet you at the motel tonight. Don’t tell anyone where you’re staying. I love you. Bye.”
Jason called Sy right away.
# # # #
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