Her Broken Wings

by Hood, D. K.

  Jenna gaped at him, wanting to explain. “I—”

  “Save it, lady.” Brad stormed off toward his truck, climbed in, and sped down Main.

  “Oh, boy.” Jo came out to stand beside her. “I’m sleeping with the lights on tonight.”

  Shaken, Jenna slid into Kane’s truck. “That is one angry man.”

  “Yeah, he has reason, I guess.” Kane started the engine and backed out onto Main.

  Jenna’s phone chimed and she sighed and checked the caller ID. “It’s Wolfe.” She answered the call. “Hi, Shane.”

  “I have the results of the DNA tests.” Wolfe sounded bemused. “I ran them twice to make sure, that’s what caused the delay. The DNA I found under Ruby Evans’ nails is a match for Brad Kelly.”

  Forty-Seven

  Speechless for a moment, Jenna stared at Kane. He’d taken off with lights and sirens after Brad Kelly’s truck. She took a breath. “He was just here. Are you sure?”

  “Yeah, it’s a match. I have no doubt.” Wolfe let out a long breath. “Unless he has an excuse for Ruby scratching him, he’s our killer.”

  Jenna swallowed hard. “Okay, Shane, thanks. We’ll give chase and arrest him.”

  She disconnected but her phone rang again immediately. It was Jo. “Hi, Jo, we have a positive DNA match on Brad Kelly, we’re in pursuit now.”

  “I guessed as much when you took off and hightailed it to the cruiser. We’re right behind you.” Jo was breathing heavily. “There’s no doubt?”

  Jenna shook her head and then wondered why, as Jo couldn’t see her. “No, Wolfe ran the tests twice.”

  Ahead, the mist swirled in the headlights, blocking her view, but she could still see the taillights of Brad’s old model truck. “He’s heading for the morgue. No doubt he thinks he can collect his mother’s remains.” The back window lit up with blue and red lights as Carter raced up behind them. “I’ll see you there.” She disconnected and grabbed hold of the seat as Kane slid the Beast around the corner.

  To her surprise, Kelly pulled over to the curb opposite the sheriff’s department as if allowing them to pass by. She caught sight of his startled expression as Kane drove past and then braked hard to stop across the road in front of him. Behind them Carter had blocked any chance of retreat. She followed Kane out the truck as he advanced on Brad, and she stuck to him like glue, drawing her weapon. “Hands where we can see them.”

  When Kelly placed his hands on the steering wheel, Jenna nodded to Kane. She waited for him to pull open the door and drag out Kelly. He had him face down on the hood of his truck and cuffed in seconds. “Brad Kelly, you’re under arrest for the murder of Ruby Evans.” She read him his rights.

  “Me?” Brad shook his head, almost resigned. “I knew you’d try to nail me with her murder. Found a way to fix the DNA results, huh?”

  “Take him in and book him.” Jenna tossed Carter the keys to the sheriff’s department and turned to look at Jo. “I’ll call the DA. I want Kelly in the county jail tonight.”

  She made the call. “My medical examiner doesn’t make mistakes, and he ran the tests twice to make sure. The suspect has a scratch on his chin, the victim has his DNA under her nails. Apart from meeting once at Aunt Betty’s Café, Kelly denies seeing her since. He’s far too dangerous to be in my cells. He’s murdered eight people.” She shook her head and stared at Jo. “Yes, we have FBI agents on the case. Here, speak to Jo Blake.” She thrust the phone toward her.

  “Hello.” Jo frowned. “I’m a behavioral analyst with the FBI field office out of Snakeskin Gully. Yes, it’s new. I suggest you tell county to send a chopper and four guards. This man is capable of anything. He should be in a secure environment. I suggest you hurry.” She listened for a few minutes. “Within the hour. Good.” She disconnected and handed the phone back to Jenna. “It looks like we get to eat around nine.”

  “The steakhouse is open until midnight Saturday. I’ll book a table.” Jenna made the call as she walked into the sheriff’s department. She found Kane on the phone to the local judge.

  “Would you believe he’s working at his office?” Kane smiled. “He’ll wait to sign the arrest warrant.”

  “The prisoner is in the cells.” Carter strolled up to her. “I’ll write up the arrest and search warrants and run them over to the judge.”

  Amazed by the efficiency, Jenna smiled. “Thanks. I’m so relieved we brought him in without any problems. Has he asked for a lawyer?”

  “Yeah.” Kane nodded. “I’ll call Sam Cross.”

  Jenna frowned. “Just wait until we have the arrest warrant in our hands. I don’t want him to find a loophole that allows Kelly to walk.”

  The next moment the front door flew open and Rowley came in still dressed in uniform with Atohi close behind. Jenna shook her head. “I sent you home to rest.”

  “We were at Aunt Betty’s.” Rowley looked from her to Kane. “What happened?”

  Jenna hated telling Atohi she’d charged his cousin with murder but she had no choice. “I’m sorry, Atohi, we’ve arrested Brad for the murder of Ruby Evans. Before you say anything, his DNA matches the skin found under her nails. He has a scratch on his face and can’t verify his whereabouts during any of the murders.” She sighed. “We’ll call Sam Cross to represent him and he’ll do it pro bono. I’ll submit the evidence we have to date and leave the courts to decide.”

  “I don’t believe it.” Atohi couldn’t hide the shock on his face. “Angry maybe but not a killer.”

  Jenna squeezed his arm. “We’ll need to search his belongings. Did you see him with any large amounts of cash?”

  “He had money.” Atohi shook his head. “From working, he gave some to my mom. He made arrangements for his mom too and paid for them, I believe.” He looked at Jenna. “You are welcome to search his room but everything he owns he carries in a backpack in his truck.” He waved a hand toward the vehicle parked outside. “Can I see him?”

  Jenna shook her head. “I’m sorry, no you can’t.”

  “Then tell him I’ll take care of his mom.” Atohi turned and walked, shoulders slumped, out the door.

  “I’ll be back soon.” Carter headed for the door and then turned to look at Kane. “If you’re heading back to the ranch to change for dinner, can you grab me a clean shirt? I’ll have a shower here while we wait for the chopper and then we won’t miss our dinner reservation. Rowley will keep me company.” He ran out the door, paperwork in hand.

  “Sure.” Kane looked after him.

  Jenna turned to Rowley. “Are you okay with staying back until they pick up Kelly?”

  “That’s fine by me. My girl is visiting her grandma this weekend, so I’ve nothing better to do.” Rowley looked at her. “What happens next?”

  “We’ll call Sam Cross the moment Carter gets back with the warrants.” She leaned against the front counter, suddenly exhausted. “I’ve formally charged Kelly with the murder of Ruby Evans. Kane is writing up the paperwork and the DA is arranging for Kelly to go to the county jail until his hearing. He’s arranging a chopper. I just hope Cross doesn’t sweet talk the judge into giving him bail.”

  “That’s unlikely to happen until at least Monday, more likely Tuesday.” Kane handed Jenna the documents to sign. “We’ll need to hustle if we plan on going home to feed the horses and dogs.” He rubbed his belly. “We should make it back into town by nine.” He looked at Rowley. “Make sure Kelly has a meal. Get something sent up from Aunt Betty’s.” He smiled at Jenna. “Innocent until proven guilty and duty of care, covered.”

  “Here comes Carter.” Jo peered through the glass door. “That was fast. He drives like a madman.”

  “It was only two blocks away.” Jenna smiled. “And as long as he flies the chopper well, you’ll be fine.” She zipped up her jacket and turned to Rowley. “Call me if you have any problems. We’ll be at the steakhouse from nine.”

  “Sure.” Rowley took the bunch of keys from her.

  The moment Carter hurried inside with
the warrants Jenna turned back to Rowley. “Call Sam Cross and then Wolfe before it gets any later and ask him what he wants to do about searching Kelly’s truck.” She chewed on her bottom lip. “We’re looking for cash to link him to Lucas Robinson’s murder but he’ll want to check it for proof Ruby was inside. He’ll likely have it towed to his office in the morning.” She stared into space, thinking. “You’d better put out a press release. Just say we’ve arrested a suspect for the Old Mitcham Ranch murders. That’s all, no other info.”

  “Okay, leave everything to me and go eat.” Rowley smiled at her.

  Jenna looked at Kane and Jo. “Let’s go.”

  Forty-Eight

  The buzz of the steakhouse hummed around Jenna as she finished her meal. With the killer locked up, she could relax at last. It had been a wonderful evening, and seeing Kane and Carter in animated conversation on every topic from hunting to engines made her realize how much he must miss his friends. The coffee arrived and she chatted with Jo. It was as if she’d known her all her life and it was good to have someone with the same interests to talk to. She would miss her when she returned to Snakeskin Gully. “How was Jaime tonight?”

  “She is coping better than I am.” Jo smiled at her. “I’ve been so worried and yet she loves the house, has made friends at school already, and is talking about having a puppy.”

  “That’s wonderful.” Jenna glanced at Carter. “Do you have anyone at home, Ty?”

  “Nope, it’s just Zorro and me.” Carter shrugged. “There’s never been room for a wife in my life up to now. I like to commit one hundred percent, and being away all the time makes relationships difficult.”

  Jenna nodded in agreement but had noticed the admiring looks women gave him. “I’m sure there’s a special someone out there for you.”

  “I’m not in any hurry.” Carter flashed her a brilliant smile. “I’m kinda married to the job right now.” He looked at Kane. “You know the feeling, right?”

  “Sure.” Kane leaned back in his chair and smiled. “I’ve only had one vacation since I arrived. The murders keep us pretty busy.”

  “Then let’s not end the night here.” Carter pushed his coffee cup to one side. “I hear there’s pool and card rooms at the Cattleman’s Hotel.” He looked at Kane. “How long since you’ve had a night out with the boys?”

  Jenna grinned at Kane. “Oh, go on, Dave, you know you deserve a night out.” She looked at Jo. “We’ll be just fine on our own.”

  “These things go late.” Kane shook his head. “I don’t like leaving you out at the ranch alone.”

  Jenna picked up her phone and wiggled it at him. “I have a phone and a safe room. We’re both armed, plus the ranch is like Fort Knox and we have Duke and Zorro.” She looked at Jo. “We’ll be fine.” She waved a hand at them. “Go, we’ll be at home, probably soaking in the hot tub.”

  “You have a hot tub?” Jo’s eyebrows shot up. “Count me in.”

  Jenna watched as Kane and Carter strolled out the door. She slipped the keys to her cruiser Carter had left on the table into her purse and returned to her coffee. “Oh, I should’ve asked Kane for his house key. The dogs are in the cottage, I could’ve brought them up to the house.”

  “They’re probably sound asleep by now.” Jo sipped her drink and sighed. “It’s getting late and I’m exhausted. Ready to head home now?” She handed the waiter her credit card and waited for him to swipe and return it.

  Jenna’s phone chimed and she frowned at the 911 ringtone. “Dammit, it’s an emergency.”

  “Do you want me to call Kane?” Jo pulled out her phone.

  “Not yet.” Jenna accepted the call. “911. What is your emergency?”

  “Oh, hurry please, there’s a woman out back of the beauty parlor, I think she’s dead. She sure looks dead.”

  It was a man’s voice. Jenna took a pen from her purse and wrote on a paper napkin. “Okay, what is your name and contact number?”

  “Errol Stack. I was walking my dog along Alpine, and he found her. Her eyes are just staring and she has ants crawling all over.” He gave her his number.

  “Okay, Mr. Stack, this is Sheriff Alton. I’m in town, I’ll be there in five. Wait out front in the light, don’t touch anything. Stay on the line. I’ll get back to you in a moment.” She glanced at Jo and muted the call. “Call Wolfe. Mr. Stack has found a body out back of the beauty parlor on Alpine. I’m not spoiling Kane’s night out. We’ll handle this one ourselves.”

  “Okay.” Jo made the call. “Wolfe is on his way.”

  “Great.” Glad she’d worn her shoulder holster, Jenna stood. “The beauty parlor isn’t far.” She hustled out the door and ran knee deep in mist to her cruiser. “The weather is really making the town spooky this year. This mist is getting thicker by the day.”

  “No doubt the kids will love it when they go trick-or-treating.” Jo climbed in the passenger seat. “I hope we get this case wound up in the next few days. I would love to be home with Jaime for Halloween.”

  Jenna started the engine and put her phone on speaker. “You okay there, Mr. Stack?”

  “Yeah, waiting out front under the streetlight. I’m armed and I’ll shoot if anyone jumps out at me.”

  Jenna shot Jo a glance. “Okay.” She flicked on her wig-wag lights. “You should be seeing my cruiser soon—I’m coming down Main and will turn onto Alpine in two minutes.”

  The mist had gotten thicker as she turned down the side road, she spotted Mr. Stack, an elderly man with a black Boston Terrier wearing a bright red coat. She drove past, turned around, and then pulled the cruiser to the curb, but before she had the chance to get out, Jo touched her arm. Jenna disconnected the call and looked at her. “Problem?”

  “If you’re planning on getting out before Wolfe arrives, I’ll keep the vehicle between me and Mr. Stack and watch your back.” Jo pulled her weapon and slid out the cruiser, looking all around.

  Fog crawled across the sidewalk toward the man and his dog. The orange glow from the streetlight and the dangling skeleton hanging from the crossbar gave the scene a spooky atmosphere. A cold breeze brushed Jenna’s cheek as she stepped out of the cruiser, drawing her weapon. Apart from the light spilling across the man and his dog, and the intermittent blue and red flashes from her wig-wag lights, all around the stores and bank had vanished into darkness. She kept the open door between herself and the stranger. “Mr. Stack, please remove your weapon and lay it on the ground.”

  “Why?” Stack took a step closer. “I’m the one who called you. I found the body.”

  Jenna aimed her weapon at him, dead center of his chest. “Yes, but if you’re armed, I need you to place your weapon on the ground and step away from it. This is normal procedure, Mr. Stack. Please cooperate.”

  “Oh, I see.” Stack reached inside his coat.

  “Use two fingers, take out your weapon nice and slow.” Jenna held her breath and her weapon steady as he complied and placed it gently on the ground and then stepped away.

  Jenna holstered her Glock and walked toward him. “I have to pat you down, Mr. Stack.”

  “Oh, very well.” Stack turned around and placed his hands flat on the wall of the beauty parlor. “If I ever find another body, I’m walking right by.”

  “Clear.” Jenna turned to look at Jo, who had her weapon aimed at the stranger. She cleared her throat. “Okay, Mr. Stack. Where’s the body?”

  “Down there.” Stack pointed to an alley. “By the dumpsters out back of the beauty parlor. As we were walking by, my dog started barking and then ran off. I went to get him. I thought he was chasing rats and I nearly had a heart attack when I found the woman.”

  A shiver of warning went through Jenna as she peered into the darkness. She did not intend to walk into a possible trap. “How did you see her? I don’t see a flashlight.”

  “I used the flashlight on my phone.” Stack turned it on and waved it around. “See?”

  At that moment, the sound of a vehicle coming down the road
caught Jenna’s attention. She heaved a steam-filled sigh of relief as Wolfe pulled up outside the beauty parlor. “Wait here, Mr. Stack.” She picked up his weapon, slipped out the clip, and checked the chamber before placing it into her pocket.

  She pulled out her phone and activated the powerful LED beam. It pierced the darkness to reveal a pair of legs sticking out from behind a stuffed garbage bag. As Wolfe came to her side, scanning the area in big sweeps, she pointed to the alley. “She’s down there.”

  “So I see.” Wolfe pulled out his flashlight and moved forward. “Webber is on his way. Cover me.” He headed into the darkness.

  Jenna waved Jo forward. “Let’s see what we have here.”

  They followed Wolfe, moving their flashlights and weapons in all directions. The wall to the alley ended at the back of the beauty parlor, and a quick sweep of the area told her they were alone. Jenna turned to Wolfe. “All clear.”

  “Jo, give me some light.” Wolfe placed his bag on the floor, pulled out gloves, and handed her a pair.

  “Sure.” Jo lit up the body with her phone. “Dang, she’s young—what, eighteen or so?”

  Jenna took in the figure, arms and legs in disarray like a rag doll tossed away by a child, and examined the horrific expression on the young woman’s face. A jolt of recognition went through her and she bent closer. “I know her. This is Ann Turner. She had an affair with Lucas Robinson. I interviewed her recently. When did this happen? The beauty parlor closes at five.”

  “I’d say she’s been dead for about four hours.” Wolfe handed Jenna a pair of gloves. “I’ll take some shots of the scene and then you can check her purse for ID.”

  As Wolfe took the shots, Jenna searched the area using a grid technique Kane had taught her. The ground was damp but no footprints led from the faucet attached to the wall. Cigarette butts littered the ground around the bottom of the steps. From the lipstick on most of them, she decided the steps must be a favorite place for the women working inside to sit and smoke. After searching the small area, she found nothing at all and returned to Wolfe and Jo. “No evidence. There’s a pile of cigarette butts at the bottom of the stairs; want me to collect them?”