by D. K. Hood
The image of the mutilated body and the surprised look of horror etched into her expression flashed into his mind. Anger welled and he fought hard to swallow his emotion. He approached Mr. Miller. “Hey, George, mind if I have a quick word with Derick?”
“Oh, it’s you, Deputy Kane. Would you like my daughter to bring you a nice hot coffee? We have a fresh pot—no trouble.” George smiled and wiped his hands on an oily rag.
Kane had avoided Mary-Jo after a date six months previously. As he valued Jenna’s friendship and the comfortable ease he enjoyed with her off-duty, he had not asked Mary-Jo out again. Her father regarded him as son-in-law potential and tried to force her onto him at regular intervals. He smiled at the older man. “Thanks, but if I drink any more coffee I won’t sleep for a week. It’s been one of those days.”
“I know what you mean.” George went over to Derick and tapped him on the shoulder. “Deputy Kane wants a word with you, son.”
“Sure.” Derick pulled out his earbuds and gave Kane a worried frown. “My folks okay?”
“As far as I’m aware.” Kane led him to a more secluded area of the workshop. “Do you know Felicity Parker?”
“Yeah.” Derick looked over Kane’s shoulder at the tools lined up against the wall, each in their marked position. “She’s my girl.”
Kane stood feet apart and rested one hand on the handle of his Glock. He had mentioned her in the present tense, not something a man would do if he knew she had died. He pushed him a little to see if he had the temper he expected. “Bit young for you, isn’t she?”
“She turns seventeen in a couple of months.” Derick shot him a worried glance. “It’s not like that either. I respect her and plan to marry her someday.”
“Uh-huh.” Kane narrowed his gaze. “I hear you had one hell of an argument over Felicity going to the dance on Friday night.”
“Yeah, we did disagree.” Derick glanced down at his soiled work boots then lifted his chin. “She wanted to go with Aimee, and that troublemaker is only interested in getting laid by Lucky Briggs. I objected is all.” He huffed a deep breath. “Lucky is the guy you need to be talking to about underage girls, not me, and I have her parents’ permission to date her.”
“When did you last see Felicity?”
“Sunday.” Derick shuffled his feet and avoided Kane’s gaze. “We went for a walk and talked some but she insisted on going to the dance without me.”
Kane waited a few beats hoping he would spill the entire story but the young man appeared to be deep in thought. “And?”
“I told her straight. If she preferred to hang around Lucky Briggs and become another notch in his belt, she wasn’t the girl for me.” Derick frowned and straightened, looking him in the eye. “Would you chase after a woman who trashed your heart as if the time we spent together and the respect I gave her meant squat?” He dragged a filthy hand through his hair, making it stick it up in all directions. “She tempted me beyond reason but I kept my word to her parents and never touched her.”
“I see.” Kane remained noncommittal and reached inside his pocket for his notepad and pen. He made a few notes. “So, you had no contact with her from what time on Sunday?”
“’Bout four thirty.” Derick’s expression turned from anger to concern. “Why are you asking me all these questions about Felicity? Her parents haven’t put in a complaint against me, have they?”
“No, they haven’t.” Kane jotted down the details. “I’m speaking to everyone who was in the area of Stanton Forest, Sunday through Monday.” He cleared his throat. “So, Sunday afternoon about four thirty was the last time you spoke to Felicity. Is that correct?” After reading Felicity’s cellphone records, he would know if Derick was lying.
“Has something happened to her?” Agitation rolled off the young man.
“Just answer the question.” Kane lifted his gaze from the notepad.
“Not until you tell me what’s going on!” Derick made a step toward him, fists clenched.
Kane straightened and gave him a “back the hell off” glare. “Felicity was involved in an incident on Monday morning and like I said before this is a routine inquiry.”
“I called her on Monday morning, early from here. I’ve called her since but she has turned off her damn phone.”
“How early?” Kane raised an eyebrow. “Had you started work?”
“Yeah, so around seven thirty, I guess.” Derick stared at his boots. “I was waiting around for George to do the paperwork on a repair. He wanted me to deliver the car and pick up the loaner before I got my clothes all greased up.” He wrinkled his nose. “I took the car out to Stanton Road around eight and got back here around nine.”
“It took you that long to drive a forty-minute round trip?”
“The customer, Mrs. Bolton, insisted I go over the repairs listed on the bill then made me wait for her to write out a check.” Derick pushed both hands into the front pockets of his coveralls. “She held me up, some.”
“I’ll need her address.” He wrote down the details Derick willingly supplied to corroborate his story. “Would you object to giving me a sample of your DNA?”
“My what?” Derick’s cheeks reddened. “Here? Why would you need my DNA? What happened to Felicity?”
“I am not at liberty to discuss the case at this time but whatever incident may have involved her, a sample will eliminate you from any list of suspects we might have.” Kane narrowed his gaze at the flustered young man. “I just need to swab the inside of your mouth. Quick and painless.”
“Oh—sure. I ain’t got nothing to hide.”
Kane pulled a DNA collection kit from his inside pocket and performed the test, making sure the evidence was sealed and the documentation required for collection signed. “Okay, thank you for your cooperation.”
He headed over to George Miller and smiled at him. “Do you remember what time Derick arrived yesterday morning and how long he was away delivering the car?”
“He is a punctual lad, starts seven each mornin’, is never late, does his job.” George rubbed his chin. “He must have brought the loaner back around nine because I was in the office giving my daughter an order for apple pie. We take a break at nine fifteen like clockwork every day. Mary-Jo goes down to Aunt Betty’s to pick up our orders around nine.”
Kane made notes and lifted his gaze. “Thanks.” He pushed the notepad and pen back inside his pocket.
“The lad ain’t in no trouble, is he?”
“No, just routine inquiries.” Kane gave him a wave and headed back to his black SUV.
He pulled out his cellphone and called Wolfe. “Grab Rowley and meet me out front of the office, we’ll go check the other trail to the crime scene.”
“Roger that. Rowley said there is another trail that runs past the falls.”
Kane spun the car around and accelerated toward the sheriff’s department. “Let’s hope we find enough evidence to stop this animal.”
Eighteen
After arranging to speak with Aimee Fox and picking up Walters from the office, Jenna made her way to School Road. Confident that two men in the top of their field and one very capable deputy would be scouring Stanton Forest to discover just how clever the killer had been in covering his tracks, she would have time to interview the victim’s friends and get a better handle on her timeline. She sucked in a breath as the image of Felicity Parker’s lacerated body flashed across her mind. “We have to catch this guy.”
“We sure do.” Deputy Walters waved a hand toward the windscreen. “Next left. The Foxes live in the house with the stone wall.”
She found the house and parked at the curb then noticed a girl about sixteen heading in their direction, head down, looking at her cellphone, and wearing earbuds. She appeared oblivious to her surroundings. The girl ignored the cruiser, turned into the Foxes’ driveway, and headed for the house. Jenna stared after her for a few moments. “Have you noticed since cellphones kids never talk to each other anymore? I wonder if the
y’ll manage to communicate out in the real world.” She pushed open the door and climbed out.
“My grandchildren are the same.” Walters ambled up beside her. “When they come to visit, all I see is the top of their heads.”
The girl had entered the house and a woman waited on the doorstep. Jenna smiled to put her at her ease. “Mrs. Fox? I’m Sheriff Alton and this is Deputy Walters. May we come in and have a chat with Aimee?”
“What is this all about? I know you mentioned ‘routine inquiries’ but why would Aimee be able to help you?”
“I am speaking to friends of Felicity Parker concerning an incident yesterday morning.” Jenna took out her notepad. “Aimee is on our list and might have some valuable information.”
“Very well, you can catch two birds with one stone.” Mrs. Fox stood to one side to allow them to enter. “Kate, Kate Bright, has just arrived. She is a friend of Felicity as well.”
“Do you have her parents’ number? I will require their permission before I speak to her.” Jenna glanced around. The houses on this side of town made a statement of wealth. Rather than ranches, these homes sat in the middle of huge, well-tended gardens. The owners enjoyed being part of the university faculty or medical profession.
“Yes, of course.” Mrs. Fox pulled her cellphone from her pocket and gave Jenna the information.
After obtaining the required permission to allow Mrs. Fox to be a proxy, Jenna followed Mrs. Fox into the family room. She gaped at the impressive display of Civil War rifles and other collectables displayed on one wall. “That is an amazing collection.”
“Yes, my husband spends a fortune at auctions. He loves weapons of all description.” Mrs. Fox sat between the two girls sitting on the edge of the sofa. “Turn off your cellphones. Sheriff Alton wants a word with you.” She patted a girl with tawny hair on the knee. “This is my Aimee.”
Jenna left Deputy Walters standing beside the door and sat in a comfortable leather chair opposite. She smiled at the girls. Both had dressed the same in short skirts and T-shirts with cowboy boots. The makeup on the girls surprised her and it made them look older than their sixteen years. Lucky’s words echoed in her mind. I seem to attract the young ones. With Kane’s interview notes running through her mind, she decided to ease the information from the girls rather than reveal Felicity had died. “Can you tell me what you usually do with Felicity over a typical week of summer vacation?”
“That depends if the rodeo is coming to town.” Aimee grinned. “Sometimes we like to ride around town and hope to get a glimpse of some of the riders. This year we are going to the dance.”
“You have a car?” Jenna jotted down notes.
“Yeah, Dad gave it to me for my birthday.” Aimee patted her hair and yawned. “I have my license.”
The girl, bored by her questions, constantly fiddled with her cellphone.
“What else do you do? Where do you go, who do you usually speak to?”
“We go all over. Sometimes to the library, Aunt Betty’s Café, but yesterday we planned to hang out at the computer store in town. It sells games, computers, cellphones, and all types of gadgets. It has free Wi-Fi.” Kate Bright grinned. “The guy behind the counter is a real nerd but if we are nice to him he helps us with the games.”
The hairs on the back of her neck prickled. “Define ‘nice’ and why do you need help with a game?”
“Oh, we pick up his lunch and do other stuff.” Aimee sighed. “Or he has to kick us out and lock up the store.”
“Does he give you games?”
“Nah. Don’t be silly.” Kate giggled and looked at her as if she was crazy. “We download them onto our smartphones. You are just like my mom. She can’t even send a text message. Games are free from the internet. Lionel knows how to cheat at most of the games and shows us how to get up the levels faster is all.”
“Do you know Lionel’s last name?”
“Provine, I think.” Aimee fiddled with the cushion on the chair. “Why are you asking questions about Felicity? Has something happened to her?”
“I’m afraid Felicity was involved in a serious incident yesterday.”
“What kind of incident?” Aimee leaned forward in her seat. “Did someone hurt her?”
Jenna sighed. “I’m not able to disclose that information just yet but I must caution you to be very careful and don’t go out alone. Keep away from the forest right now it’s not safe.”
“That’s awful.” Aimee looked at her friend. “We’ll go and see her.”
“No, she isn’t at home.” Jenna glanced at Mrs. Fox. “I’ll explain everything to your mother when I’m able.” Jenna turned her attention back to the girls. “I need all the information you can give me. When did you last see Felicity?”
“Sunday at church but I spoke to her yesterday morning before breakfast.” Aimee met her gaze. “She said she would drop in here before nine. We planned to go into town. Lionel sent all of us a bonus card for one of the new games and I guess she got engrossed in the game because she didn’t show. She is totally addicted to games, so I wasn’t really surprised. We all are and sometimes I get so involved I’d rather play than go out with my boyfriend.” She shrugged. “I did call and leave a message but she didn’t get back to me.” She sighed. “Then Lionel closed the store for almost two hours and we had to cool our heels in Aunt Betty’s.”
This is way over my head. Jenna blinked and wrote down as much of the girls’ ramblings as she could remember. “Okay, so I gather these ‘bonus cards’ are ways to move up levels in the game faster? I’m afraid I’ve never had time to be a gamer.”
“Yes, and they are like gold. They can be awarded as you complete the tasks or missions and you can share or swap doubles of them too.” She let out a long sigh. “I know old people don’t understand but these days most teenagers play games or talk online.”
Jenna flicked a glance at Mrs. Fox, who gave her a non-judgmental stare, then moved her attention back to the girls. “So, where did you go yesterday around nine?”
“I picked up Kate and we went into town.” Aimee chewed on her bottom lip. “We spent most of the day in the computer store with Chad and Lucas but I didn’t give them a ride. They always catch the seven-thirty bus into town. Dad doesn’t like me having boys in the car.”
“May I have their full names please?”
“Yeah, Lucas Summerville and Chadwick Johnson.” Kate twirled a strand of blonde hair around her finger.
“Did you speak to anyone other than them and Lionel or see anyone on the way?”
“We spoke to Mr. Rogers at the stoplight. He crossed the road in front of the car and I called out to him.” Kate smiled in a flash of straight white teeth. “He is one of the new teachers that started this year.”
Jenna flicked over another page of her notebook. “What did you talk about?”
“Not much. We didn’t have much time before the light changed to green. He was coming back from looking for his dog. I guess he’d been running. He was all sweaty and had bits of grass and wildflowers stuck to the Velcro on his sneakers.” Kate giggled. “He ran off in such a hurry with them trailing out behind him.”
The mention of wildflowers prickled the hairs on the back of her neck. The coincidence plus the timeframe was significant. “I take it he lives close by?” She looked at Mrs. Fox.
“Yes, with his wife at the far end of Stanton Road, number 206, I believe.” Mrs. Fox patted her auburn hair and frowned. “Is this about Felicity’s boyfriend, Derick Smith? He is far too old for her, I don’t know how her parents allow her to see a boy over three years her senior.”
Jenna straightened and stared at Aimee. “I heard they’d broken up.”
“That’s because of Lucky Briggs.” Kate giggled. “Felicity thinks he is all that and plans to dance with him on Friday night. Derick got real mad and stormed off. He is such a jerk. As if Lucky Briggs would be interested in Felicity. Everyone knows he prefers blondes.”
“How do you know Lucky?” Jen
na moved her gaze from one girl to the other.
“Who doesn’t know Lucky?” Aimee smiled. “He comes from Black Rock Falls and his ranch has been in his family forever. He is a star and everyone loves him.”
“We can’t wait to watch him ride on Saturday.” Kate’s eyes sparkled with excitement. “I wish we could follow him on the circuit. I will the moment I turn eighteen.”
“Me too.” Aimee turned on her cellphone and held it up. “I have his photograph as my wallpaper. He is so hot.”
“I see.”
“You can put that man right out of your mind, young lady.” Mrs. Parker’s cheeks reddened with anger. “She is not usually so forward.”
“Teenagers are a handful, so I’m told.” Jenna took in her horrified expression. “Maybe Aimee will be at college by then and Lucky Briggs will be a distant memory.”
“I live in hope.” Mrs. Fox cleared her throat. “Is that all?”
Jenna smiled. “If you wouldn’t mind, while everything is fresh in their minds, could I get written statements from Aimee and Kate? Then I won’t need you to come down to the office. If you could witness them as well, otherwise this information is hearsay.”
“Yes of course, I have a couple of notepads they can use.” Mrs. Fox stood and left the room, returning with pens and paper. “What do you want them to say?”
“In your own words, what time you saw Mr. Rogers, what he was wearing. Everything you can remember about what you said and how he looked, then sign and print your name on the bottom.”
Jenna waited for the girls to write their statements, collected them, and stood. “Thank you for your cooperation.” She headed for the door and Mrs. Fox followed her outside.
“Has something bad happened to Felicity?” Mrs. Fox searched her face. “From the questions, I gather the situation is serious.”
