by D. K. Hood
“I’d say I’m not the only person who had a beef with those guys.” Stein stared back at Kane, nonplussed. “Or who can’t prove where they were on campus at the time they died. My friend just committed suicide and I can’t stop thinking about her dying alone. It’s eating me up inside. So, no, I don’t remember seeing anyone. If that’s not good enough, arrest me for whatever you figure I’ve done, and we’ll let my lawyer sort it out.”
Jenna nodded. “Okay, that’s all for now. Thank you for your time.”
She waited for Stein to make his way back inside the library. “The guard is finding Jones for us now. What do you think?”
“He’s got motive and you can see how disturbed he is about Chrissie’s death.” Kane leaned one shoulder against the wall. “Problem is we haven’t got much to go on. I looked at his fingers: his nails are short and he has large hands. If both men will let Wolfe make a casting of their hands, he could match them against the marks on Devon’s ankles.”
“It would be a long shot and I’m not sure if it’s admissible in court. Even bite marks are inadmissible now.” Jenna nodded. “Just a minute, I’ll catch up with Stein and ask him. If he’s got nothing to hide, he’ll cooperate.” She pushed through the library door.
It took a few seconds to catch up to Stein. She beckoned him away from the other students and kept her voice to a whisper. “Would you be willing to give the medical examiner an imprint of your fingers?”
“Why?” Stein frowned down at her.
Jenna lifted her chin. “To remove you from my list of possible suspects in a homicide.”
“You saying someone murdered Chrissie?” His eyes darkened. “I loved her. I’d never hurt her.”
“No, not Chrissie.” Jenna had no choice but to reveal Wolfe’s findings. “The ME has reason to believe someone was involved in Pete Devon’s death.”
“Involved how?” Stein’s eyes narrowed.
Jenna straightened and stared him straight in the eyes. “It’s an ongoing investigation.”
“Okay.” Stein shrugged. “I’ll give you my number—call me and set a time.” He bent over to look deep into her eyes. “Trust me, if I’d wanted to kill Pete, I’d have picked something more painful. Drowning would’ve been too easy for that SOB.”
Unsettled by his encroachment into her private space, she took down his number and stepped away. “Thank you for your time.”
She hurried back to the hallway. Jones was already with Kane. His face showed the aftereffects of the fight on the mountain trail and his fall into the rapids. She moved closer to listen.
“No, I don’t like Coach.” Jones shook his head. “All he thinks about is winning. He doesn’t consider the health of the players. Take Pete Devon, for example. Instead of making him do laps in the pool every night, he should’ve gotten him to the physio for ultrasound treatment. The man is a sadist.” He indicated to his face. “Look at me, I had a possible concussion after the trip down the rapids and he still had me out training. The man’s an idiot.”
“So, you were aware Devon would be at the pool?” Kane made notes and acted as if speaking to him was a chore. “Did you see him there, the night he died?”
“Nope.” Jones lifted his gaze to Jenna. “Ma’am. You wanted to speak with me?”
Jenna waved a hand toward the garden. “Would you prefer to speak outside?”
“Here’s just fine.” Jones rolled his muscular shoulders. “Who’s made a complaint against me this time? Lyons again?”
Jenna took in his arrogant pose and self-assured stance. “I haven’t received any complaints, Mr. Jones.” She unfolded her notebook. “You were speaking about Pete Devon when I arrived. When did you last see him?”
“At the rapids.” Jones grimaced. “We don’t move in the same circles. I’m studying engineering and let’s say his ambition doesn’t go to great heights.”
“I see.” Jenna glanced at his hands. “Would you be willing to have an impression made of your fingers by the medical examiner?” She looked up at him. “We’re using the information to clear people who knew Devon from his possible homicide.”
“Sure.” Jones chuckled. “I wouldn’t have drowned him. I’d have strangled the lying piece of crap.” His expression turned to grim as he looked at her. “Him and the rest of Lyons’ followers.”
“Really?” Kane straightened from leaning against the wall. “We’ve two potential homicides and you’ve admitted before two law officers to wanting to kill them. Do we assume this is an admission of guilt?”
“Nope.” Jones frowned. “It’s a statement of truth. In case you’ve been living in a dream world, it’s common knowledge around here that Lyons and his friends have no respect for women.” He looked straight at Kane. “I explained the reason to Deputy Kane the last time we spoke and I’m not discussing it again.”
Aware that Jones’s anger was escalating at an alarming pace, Jenna lowered her voice to calm him. “Did the fight at the rapids have anything to do with Chrissie Lowe’s suicide?”
“Nope.” Jones looked away. “Lyons and his friends were making remarks about some of the girls running up there is all.” He shrugged. “Things like ‘get that fat ass moving’ or ‘great legs, shame about the face.’ I told them to shut up and they took it real personal.” He snorted. “I’d have gotten in a few punches but Court had me by the arms.” He looked sheepishly at Jenna. “Thanks for helping Deputy Kane to save me.”
Jenna nodded. “It’s all part of my job.” She cleared her throat and took a chance. “So, your martial arts didn’t help too much with the three of them?”
“Obviously.” Jones pointed to his face. “Dylan Court grabbed me from behind and Devon and Lyons had gotten a couple of punches in before I had time to react. I figure they planned the whole thing.”
So he knows martial arts as well. Interesting. “Did Lyons push you over the falls?”
“Like I said before, I’m not sure, but one of them did.” Jones snorted. “I didn’t jump into the rapids for fun.”
“That’s a shame, we could have charged one of them for attempted murder.” Jenna met his angry gaze. “Moving on, can you remember where you were between, say, eight thirty and eleven the night Devon died?”
“Hmm. I went for a drive into town, collected some takeout from Aunt Betty’s Café. I came back here and studied. The security guard asked me if I wanted the library left open around eleven, I guess. I had training in the morning, so I left and went to my dorm.”
He’d mentioned times and places that could be easily checked. Jenna folded her notebook and smiled. “I think that’s all for now. If you’ll give Deputy Kane your number, we’ll be in touch to arrange that impression of your fingers.”
“Sure.” Jones gave out his details then headed back inside the library.
Jenna sighed. “Hmm, I’m not too sure about him, and Stein really unnerved me before. For a guy who acts gentle, he tried the stand-over tactic with me.”
“And Jones is volatile.” Kane pushed his notebook inside his pocket. “It will be interesting to see if either of them matches the fingernail marks on Devon’s legs. One thing’s for sure: they’re both strong enough to be the killer of Jacobs and Devon.”
Jenna led the way back to the college entrance. “They are both more than capable of killing both men, they both have motives, and neither has a solid alibi for the TOD.” She sighed. “We’ll see if anyone remembers seeing Jones at Aunt Betty’s, but with the visitors in town for the Fall Festival, the chances will be slim.”
“As Rowley hasn’t called, I’d say he hasn’t found any standout enemies of the team or the coach, and no one has called in about Chrissie’s missing items.” Kane slipped into step beside her. “We need to know if Walters has hunted down the design of Jacobs’ ring. It would be a problem if everyone living in Lyons’ house owns one.”
Jenna frowned. “I’ll call Walters and find out. Then we’ll talk to Lowe.” She glanced at her watch. “ It will be getting late by the
n, so we’ll leave Rowley to close up. I figure as we have to drop by Aunt Betty’s, we might as well stop for an early dinner.”
“That sounds like a plan.” Kane grinned at her and rubbed his belly. “Thursday’s early-bird special is bison short ribs, mashed potatoes, and buttered carrots.”
Jenna couldn’t stop smiling at Kane’s expression of absolute bliss. “That good, huh?”
“Oh, yeah.”
Thirty-Four
Kane eased his truck into a space behind the feed store and glanced over at Jenna. “I guess we tread easy with this guy as he’s just lost a relative.”
“You take the lead, I’ll take notes.” Jenna rubbed her forehead. “I’ve a headache straight from hell.”
“Sure.” He slid from behind the wheel and headed toward the back of the store.
The door resembled the entrance to a barn. It had a ramp up into the main store and roll-down shutters over a wide entrance. The smells coming from the feed store had their own unique flavor. He’d recognize a feed store blindfolded by the mixture of hay and pony pellets with a dash of leather. Chaff and hay littered the parking lot, making patterns in the dust as the wind moved them in different directions. All around him, men moved back and forth. The next moment a forklift zoomed down a ramp carrying bales of hay. Soon after a tall man with a buzz cut and dark stubble, wearing blue jeans and a plaid shirt, carried a sack of feed out to a truck and dumped it in the back.
Kane sidestepped a hunting dog curled asleep among the commotion and looked at Jenna. “Busy place.”
“Looking for anyone in particular, Sheriff?” Plaid shirt headed toward them.
“Yeah.” Jenna looked toward the open space into the store. “Steve Lowe.”
“Then you’ve found him.” The young man smiled at Jenna. “Need to change the feed order for your ranch?”
“Not this time.” Jenna sighed. “We’re sorry for your loss.”
“I am too but I figure you’ve got something else on your mind.” Lowe flicked a glance at Kane. “What else has happened? Is it Jack?”
Kane stepped forward. “No, his status is still unchanged. We came to ask you a few questions about Chrissie. Is there anywhere private we can talk?”
“There’s a room out back.” Lowe headed up the ramp, past the sacks of various feeds, salt licks, and barrels of molasses, to a room. “In here. We use it for breaks.”
Kane followed him inside with Jenna on his heels. The room was sparse, containing a table with chairs, a refrigerator, a coffee pot on a bench, and a sink.
“Okay, what’s the problem?” Lowe leaned against the bench and turned to look at them with a worried expression.
Kane pulled out a chair. “Why don’t we take a seat?”
“Sure.” Lowe glanced at the door. “But can we make this quick? My grandpa will be back soon and he don’t like unofficial breaks.”
“Did Chrissie make contact with you the day she died?” Kane waited for a reaction. “Did she send you a message late Saturday night?”
“No, but I did see her on campus on Friday around six.” Lowe leaned back in his seat. “She didn’t seem suicidal to me.”
Kane’s interest piqued at the mention of the college. “Why were you on campus?”
“I work here part of the time.” Lowe raised an eyebrow. “I attend classes at the college and take a few night classes as well. Where’s this heading?”
Kane smiled. “It’s just routine questions. We’re looking for witnesses on certain days. When are you usually at the college and at what times?”
“Most mornings, and I take night classes three times a week: Monday, Tuesday, and Friday. I’m studying business management. I’m planning on taking over the store when my grandpa retires.” Lowe drummed his fingertips on the table in an agitated manner. “I usually have dinner at the cafeteria to catch up with friends. Classes go to about eight thirty.”
The timeframe fit but the man before him had volunteered the information a little too easily. “You always leave around eight thirty?”
“No.” Lowe spread his hands. “There are some nice girls in my classes; sometimes I stay later and we have coffee and chat.”
“I see.” Kane nodded. “Did you use the gym or pool this week?”
“Nope.” Lowe glanced at Jenna and then moved his gaze back to Kane. “I’m lifting heavy weights most days, and I’m usually tuckered out by then.”
Kane noted the man’s well-muscled frame. He was the third man they’d interviewed who was well capable of killing Jacobs and Devon. “Do you know Alex Jacobs or Pete Devon?”
“I know who they are but they’re no friends of mine.” Lowe snorted. “Their friends are all from money.”
“Did you see them at all on campus, Monday or Tuesday evening?”
“Maybe. On Monday, some of the team got off a bus as I walked past. Those two should’ve been with them but I couldn’t swear to it.” Lowe sighed. “Tuesday, I don’t recall seeing them.”
Kane noted the repressed agitation coming from this man. He needed a few more answers. “Were you in the vicinity of the pool and gym on Monday or Tuesday evening?”
“Yeah. I walk past there to get to my truck.” Lowe narrowed his eyes to near slits. “What is all this about?”
Sometimes bluffing a suspect worked wonders. Kane cleared his throat. “We’re trying to identify the people on the CCTV footage collected on the night Alex Jacobs accidentally died as we need to establish his time of death. We’re speaking to people who may have seen him arrive at the building.”
“I see.” Lowe shrugged. “I don’t remember seeing either of those football players. Or anyone in particular.”
“Do you remember the names of the girls you had coffee with on those nights?” Kane rested his hands flat on the table. “They might recall what time you went back to your vehicle.”
“Yeah, one girl, Stella.” Lowe pulled out his cellphone. “I’ll give you her number and you can call her.” He read out the number and Jenna took it down then stood and walked out of the room.
Kane needed to know one more thing. “Do you know the name of the man Chrissie was meeting the night she died?”
“Yeah.” Lowe grimaced. “Seth Lyons, the Teflon quarterback. If he’s the one who raped her, you’ll never make it stick. His father will buy him out of trouble, same as all those dogs living in the house on Pine.”
Kane pushed to his feet. “No one is above the law. If Lyons is responsible for raping Chrissie, we’ll charge him.”
“Good luck with that.” Lowe stood. “Are we done here? I’ve gotta get back to work.”
“Yeah, for now.” Kane handed him his card. “If you remember anything that might assist us in chasing down the men who hurt Chrissie, give me a call.”
“Sure.” Lowe pushed the card into his top pocket.
Kane headed for the door and met Jenna outside at his truck. “Did you call Stella?”
“Yeah, and she says Lowe left around nine, nine thirty, which puts him in the vicinity of both crime scenes around the time the CCTV cameras went out.” She sighed. “Three suspects and not one solid shred of evidence to pin a murder on any of them.”
Kane opened the door of his truck. “Then we’ll have to look harder.”
“I figure we need to expand our net and look closer to home.” Jenna stared into the distance, thinking. “Maybe start looking at the guys living in the house. We don’t know what happens behind closed doors. A students’ hall like Lyons runs has rules, and breaking the rules has repercussions. We know he encourages rape, so maybe he uses murder as a punishment as well.”
Thirty-Five
As he climbed out of his vehicle and ran up the steps of Lyons’ house, the mingled smells of beer and weed drifted out the door like a living entity, catching the slight breeze and whisking away. A cold chill raised the hairs on his arms as if the ghosts of Jacobs and Devon had passed straight through him. He raised his voice so Court could hear him over the loud music. “Don’
t wander off. I have something to show you.”
“Sure.” Court barked a laugh. “I’m not going anywhere but I have to go down to the cellar later.”
“Okay.” He shrugged.
He peered around Court’s large frame, scanning the immediate area. The lights inside were dim and guys stood in twos or threes talking. He figured that maybe ten or twelve people had showed.
“Were you expecting someone?”
“Yeah.” Court’s mouth turned down. “It looks like the freshman I asked to come by is a no-show. Dammit, we need something to take our minds off what’s happened.”
“I might be able to ease your pain a little when I show you what I have.” He motioned to a quiet corner and they moved away. “Not everything happens here.”
He glanced over Court’s shoulder to see Webber deep in conversation with Josh Stevens. He opened one hand to display a couple of loaded syringes. “I’ll need to hide these.” He pushed the drugs back inside his jacket pocket and then took out his cellphone and wiggled it in front of Court’s eyes. “This girl is real hot.” He wet his lips. “Last week, Alex and me took her out to an old barn and tied her down—but if you’re too squeamish…”
“You tied her down?” Court’s expression turned from worried to interested. “Okay, give me a taste.”
Dropping his voice and moving closer, he opened the file and then glanced around. “This vid will blow your mind but it’s real noisy.” He waved a hand at the others in the room. “I’m not showing this to everyone—not yet anyway. I’ll come and find you in a bit.”
“Sure.”
Thirty-Six
Colt Webber turned to face the door, leaned his back against the wall beside the fireplace, and listened to Josh Stevens talking about his truck. The moment Lyons walked into the room, Stevens melted into the crowd and Lyons took his place as if they’d planned to keep him in their sights all night. The thought unnerved him; if Lyons took it into his head to drag him into the cellar and murder him, he wouldn’t stand a chance. With effort, he kept his expression neutral as Lyons went on and on about the trillion games he’d played and won because he was so great. In truth, Lyons did have talent as a college quarterback, but to make it to the big time was something his daddy couldn’t buy for him. He wondered how many other budding quarterbacks had sat on the bench for years hoping Seth Lyons would break a leg.
