by D. K. Hood
They were on their way to Wolfe’s house to collect his girls and take them back to the ranch. By the time Wolfe had completed the autopsy on Mrs. Palmer, they could drop the girls back home then approach the judge again with the new evidence. Sunday would be a washout. If the judge agreed to issue the warrant on a Sunday, they would have to convince the Blackwater sheriff to send one of his deputies to assist in the search then try to get through the heavy overnight snowfall to reach Blackwater. Bone weary, she groaned softly but the sound caught Kane’s attention.
“Are you okay?” Kane’s eyes had not left the ice-covered road but he gave her arm a squeeze. “Or am I giving you the silent treatment again?” He glanced at her then moved his attention back to the highway.
Jenna turned in her seat. The blinding winter light picked out the sharp lines of his face. He was thinner now, without one ounce of spare fat, and carried a haunted look in his eyes that made her heart twist. “It’s not you, it’s the delay in the search warrant, although I wish you’d talk to me rather than keep what’s eating at you bottled up inside. We had gotten to be close friends before your head injury and I miss that.”
“I remember.” Kane let out a long sigh. “I want that back, Jenna, but I’m so darn angry right now.”
Concerned, Jenna frowned. “Angry at me?”
“Not you.” Kane barked a laugh. “You’re amazing to put up with me. I know I’ve been a pain in the butt these last couple of months.” He swallowed. “It’s not being able to join a mission to take out the man who killed Annie that’s eating me up inside.”
Jenna bit her bottom lip. He rarely mentioned his wife’s name. Annie died in a car bombing by a terrorist group in his other life as a special agent. He had been the obvious target and Annie was collateral damage. “There will be no mission. Don’t you remember? Wolfe told you POTUS gave the investigation top priority but the terrorists were like ghosts. If they find any leads, anything at all, they’ll handle it and you’ll be notified.”
“That’s not the problem.” Kane’s hands tightened on the steering wheel and Jenna could hear his leather gloves creak. “Because my memory of the days before the bombing are so clear now, I’m convinced it wasn’t a terrorist group at all.”
Astounded, Jenna sucked in a deep breath. “Then who would want you dead?”
“Someone on the inside, close to me.” Kane’s mouth turned down. “Someone I trusted.” He looked at her and she could see the cold calculating government assassin looking back at her. “I figure POTUS had his suspicions as well, that’s why I’m here with you. If there is a double agent they’ll figure I’m dead.”
The reasons behind Kane and Wolfe’s arrival in Black Rock Falls to join the sheriff’s department slid into place. She’d left DEA Agent Avril Parker behind and become Jenna Alton. In witness protection with a new face, she assumed Kane and Wolfe had arrived to protect her but she was wrong. POTUS wanted Kane surrounded by people he could trust because he suspected a double agent was trying to kill him. Perturbed by the implications, she leaned back in her seat and stared out at the miles of frozen scenery considering the options. After giving the problem some thought, she turned back to Kane. “What can I do to help?”
“Nothing.” Kane tapped his head with one finger. “It’s all in here in bits and pieces. I just need time to fit it all together. I’m replaying conversations in my head and trying to figure out what doesn’t add up.” He snorted. “It’s not going to happen anytime soon, Jenna, it could take months and I’ll need Wolfe to run down some information for me as I go, but one of these days I’ll find the traitor and make him pay.”
Jenna squeezed his shoulder. “We’ll make him pay, Kane. You’re not alone now.”
“I know.” Kane pulled up at the side of the road and turned to look at her. “You’re an incredible friend—in fact the most tolerant and patient woman I’ve known. I’ve given this a lot of thought and I’d really like to go back to our movie nights and dinner dates, if that’s okay with you.”
“Dates, huh?” Jenna poked him in the arm to see if the iceman had finally thawed. “You mean that? Because you’ve made it quite clear you’re still in love with your wife.”
“Yeah, I mean it.” Kane gave her a slow smile. “I remember how it was between us before the head injury scrambled my brains and I think we’re good for each other.”
Feeling like she was sixteen again, Jenna met his gaze and nodded. “Baby steps then?”
“Yeah.” He touched her face. “Baby steps.”
When they arrived at Wolfe’s house, Julie and Anna Wolfe rushed out the door to greet them, chattering so fast Jenna burst into laughter. She turned to see Kane swing Anna onto his back and stride through the yard to take a look at the snowman the girls had built earlier in the week. She turned to answer Julie’s stream of questions. “Yes, you can ride Lady; she is well named, but only up and down my driveway. Your dad has given us strict instructions not to allow you off my land.”
“Anna won’t be able to ride Dave’s horse, it’s way too big.” Julie frowned. “Maybe she can ride with me?”
“Anna is riding with me.” Kane loomed up behind them grinning like a baboon. “After the ride you get to eat Jenna’s cookies.”
“Not too much sugar.” Wolfe appeared in the doorway smiling. “I have to live with them and this behavior, right now, is normal.”
Jenna followed everyone inside and Kane went back to his truck to grab Dr. Weaver’s computer for Wolfe to examine. When the girls took off to collect their things, she turned to Wolfe and dropped her voice to a whisper. “Try and make time over the next couple of days to speak with Dave. I can’t give you any details but he needs to speak with someone in confidence.”
“Sure.” Wolfe frowned and his eyes showed concern. “Are you worried about his head?”
Jenna shook her head. “It’s not his injuries, it’s something else.”
The front door opened and Kane came in carrying the computer.
“Where do you want this?” Kane looked at Wolfe.
“In my workroom.” Wolfe led him away down the hallway and into a room.
“Hi, Jenna.” Emily strolled toward them and gave her a hug. “How are you feeling?”
“I’m great.” Jenna laughed. “I’d be better if I could solve this case; it’s keeping me awake at night.”
“Dad will have some answers for you in a couple of hours and he mentioned the blood test on Ella Tate should be in by now as well.” Emily pushed her long blonde hair over one shoulder. “I didn’t get the feeling Ella was involved in Sky’s disappearance. She seemed genuine to me. You know what I mean, stunned and a bit disorientated. I’ve studied various types of behavior and she acts like a victim of trauma.”
Over the past couple of months, Jenna had come to appreciate Emily’s friendship and their discussions on crime. She nodded. “Yeah, but a killer can act exactly the same as well, especially after a crime of passion. I’m not talking psychopath, they can fool the best of us, but most normal people who kill for whatever reason are in shock and traumatized to some degree.”
“So I should never jump to the first conclusion?” Emily sighed. “It’s more difficult than I imagined.”
“Not really.” Kane strolled up behind them as quiet as a mouse. “Often your gut instinct will help, and as you go along your intuition and ability to read a person gets stronger. You are doing just fine. Learn all the angles and everything will fall into place.”
Jenna turned as the girls came bounding back down the passageway bundled up in coats, hats and gloves. “I see you’re ready to go.” She turned back as Wolfe strolled toward her. “Give me a call when you’re done and we’ll bring them home. If we obtain a search warrant we’re heading out to interview Knox in Blackwater.”
“If you’re doing a forensic sweep of the room, try to obtain a DNA sample from Knox as well. I’ll get a full forensics kit together and you can pick it up when you drop the girls home.” Wolfe rubbed his chin
. “Find out when the room was cleaned last; if he is a resident, it might have been a while. We may hit pay dirt.”
“That’s a great idea.” Jenna turned to go. “Come on, girls, the horses are waiting.”
Forty-Seven
Under the sedation, Olivia fought to stay awake. Gripped in fear, she shook her head, willing her drooping eyelids to remain open. A tremble of terror shuddered through her and the adrenaline coursing through her veins brought her awake. She gulped in huge deep breaths and turned her head to look at Doug in the next bed. His pale face rested peacefully on the stark white pillow. A large bruise extended from temple to cheek. He had tubes attached all over, including one coming from his mouth. The machine beside his bed made a breathing sound and she bit back a sob. The crazy people here had put him on a ventilator, which could only mean he could no longer breathe on his own. The memory of their attempted escape drifted into her mind in pieces. She remembered finding the exit out of this hellhole and Doug lifting his hands to fight. Oh Lord, Jim had rammed him with the gurney then hit him with something heavy and Doug had collapsed in a heap on the floor.
Panic gripped her at the sound of voices from the hallway. She kicked her legs, wanting to run away, but the restraints held her firmly in place. She took a few steadying breaths, then shut her eyes, leaving them open a slit to peer out under her lashes. The only way she had a chance of discovering Jim’s plans would be to pretend to be asleep and listen. The machine had picked up her racing heartbeat and she willed her body to relax. The doors swung open and Jim and the nurse strolled inside.
“Why is her heartbeat so fast?” Jim came close to the bed and she could smell him. “What does that mean?”
“You keep her drugged all the time, her blood pressure is way too low and she’s dying of starvation.” The nurse placed an oxygen mask over her face. “How much longer are you planning on keeping her?”
“Not long.” Jim cleared his throat. “Although I would like to keep her a bit longer.”
“She’ll die soon.” The nurse went about adjusting drips. “I’m turning off the meds for a while. Her organs will start to deteriorate, then she’ll be no use to anyone.” He moved to Doug’s bedside and Jim followed. “Are you really willing to risk losing all those orders?”
“Her organs will be fine.” Jim snorted. “As long as her heart is pumping, she is viable as a donor.” He leaned over Doug. “This one is gonna make me a fortune.”
What did he say? I’m not an organ donor. Horrified, Olivia clamped her jaw shut in an effort not to scream. Trembling with effort, she kept her breathing slow and steady. Oh, dear God, they’re going to harvest my organs.
“Doug’s surgery will be scheduled on Tuesday and we’ll do Olivia when I can confirm the orders.” Jim’s voice became sullen. “Damn cops are everywhere and I can’t risk bringin’ any new subjects here for a while. With the media hype everyone in town is under suspicion, so we’ll have to lay low until the melt.” He headed for the door. “When Olivia leaves, I want this place emptied and bleached from top to bottom. They have nothin’ on us and I’m not plannin’ on them findin’ anythin’ should they get it into their heads to search my premises.”
As the footsteps faded, Olivia tore at her restraints until her bandaged wrists bled. She thumped her head on the pillow and screamed until she was hoarse. The door to the room opened and Jim strolled inside and stared at her. She swallowed the fear and scowled at him.
“What’s wrong, Olivia?” He moved closer and grinned. “Just found out we’re gonna cut out your kidneys without anesthetic?”
Anger raged through her. She whipped her head around, lifting her shoulders off the bed. “You murdering son-of-a-bitch.” She spat at him and watched the spittle run down the front of his hospital scrubs.
“There’s nothin’ you can do, Olivia.” Jim’s eyes had turned into dark slits. “I’ll enjoy watchin’ you taken apart piece by piece, then I get to have my fun.” He chuckled. “Spit at me all you like. I’m not plannin’ on killin’ you yet. You have at least another day to enjoy my company but it’s coming soon, Olivia. I have a buyer for just about all of you. You’re worth your weight in gold.”
Shaking with terror and disgust, Olivia glared at him. “I hope you rot in hell.”
“Darlin’—” Jim swaggered to the door. “—I’m already there.”
Forty-Eight
Jenna handed Anna up to Kane and he tucked the girl against his chest and smiled down at her. “Be careful. Are you sure you should be riding bareback with her?”
“Yeah.” Kane held Anna around the waist and clicked his tongue. “See you in a little while.” His horse moved off down the dirt road with Julie riding Lady by his side.
The cellphone in Jenna’s pocket chimed and she hurried up the front steps and into the warmth of her house. The cookies in the oven filled the house with a comforting aroma and she accepted the call and walked into the kitchen. “Sheriff Alton.”
“Oh, this is Daisy Lars out at the Two Trees Ranch. My husband Stan called me before and mentioned seein’ the local tow truck driver, Chuck Burns, headin’ through town last Friday night around one with a yellow car hitched to his truck. As the man on the TV insisted any information was confidential, I decided to call as Stan won’t be back in town for a few days yet, been held up with the weather in Helena.”
Jenna grabbed a pen and notepad from beside the landline and made notes. “How come he didn’t call you before?”
“He didn’t know about the missin’ people until I mentioned it. He’s been on the road for a week now. He drives a truck for Mackenzie.” Daisy cleared her throat. “I was tellin’ him how nobody’s safe around here anymore and he remembered seein’ the car.”
“I understand. Do you have a number where I can reach your husband, Mrs. Lars, and your contact details as well?”
Mrs. Lars related the information and Jenna took it down. “Do you know Chuck Burns?”
“He isn’t the type of person we would associate with, Sheriff. I know he owns the junkyard in town.” Mrs. Lars drew a deep breath and hesitated as if not sure to continue. “I’m not sure I should say anything more, I don’t want him showing up on my doorstep all riled up.”
Jenna would have given a month’s pay to find out the gossip on Chuck Burns. There was no way she was letting this go. “What the media is saying is correct. I promise your name will never come up. In any reports, I’ll refer to you as my CI. That’s how we refer to a confidential informant.”
“Okay.” Mrs. Lars’s voice became low and conspiratorial. “I hear tell he is an ambulance chaser, you know, out cruisin’ the streets looking for an accident. His store sells recycled parts like the one owned by Sawyer out on the highway but I don’t figure he worries too much about where they came from, if you know what I mean?”
“Yeah, I understand.” Jenna leaned against the kitchen counter; Kane and Rowley had visited both junkyards and found zip. “Are you saying he is running a chop shop? Because my deputies searched his junkyard last week and everything seemed to be in order.”
“His junkyard is beside an old garage, the one that still has the 1940’s gas pumps out front.” Mrs. Lars’ excitement came through the earpiece. “Burns owns the entire block of buildings. Stan told me he often sees Burns waving vehicles through the old rusty doors of the garage late at night. Strange, seeing the place has been closed for fifty years or more.”
Jenna pumped the air, pen in hand, then grinned. “Thank you, Mrs. Lars, you’ve been very helpful. We’ll contact you if we need any more information.”
“No trouble at all.” The line went dead.
After letting out a whoop of excitement, Jenna ran down the passageway and took a quick look out the front window to check on Kane and the girls. Kane had everything under control and was moving slowly along the dirt road, holding firmly on to Anna and chatting to Julie. She turned and made her way to her office, where she had a list of the owners of the properties in her county. Sinc
e arriving in Black Rock Falls, she’d discovered local gossip could be a goldmine of information. Sliding into the seat at her desk, she located the file on her computer and scanned the pages. Sure enough, Chuck Burns owned the junkyard, the adjoining property, listed as a derelict gas station, and another building currently used for storage by the owner. If Chuck Burns was involved in a chop shop like Mrs. Lars had intimated he might have a criminal record.
She accessed the local databanks and soon found he had priors. He’d spent jail time for kidnapping in Wyoming and received a fine for dealing in stolen property. She made up a file and would present it to the judge first thing in the morning to obtain a search warrant of his properties. Although the junkyard wouldn’t be open on Sundays, a wild spark of urgency made her want to head out right away to see if the old garage had any windows they could peer into to see if Sky’s vehicle was inside. She took a deep breath to get back on track. Right now, her proof against Burns was hearsay and she had to concentrate on obtaining evidence against Knox.
As Jeff Knox was their main suspect, she needed everything she could find to induce the Blackwater judge to issue a search warrant for his motel room. She wasn’t convinced the charges of assault they’d found would be enough to sway a judge from a different county, especially as he had refused her first request. After entering Knox’s name in the statewide database results filled her screen. She gaped in astonishment. The DA in Deep Valley County had also charged him with raping a hitchhiker. Just like the case in Blackwater, it never went to trial. Two for two. She chewed on her bottom lip wondering how come two women had him charged with rape then dropped the charges. Had he threatened them? She needed to speak with the victims to find out why they refused to give evidence.
She entered the women’s names into the search engine and swallowed hard. Both women had missing person’s files. It was if they had driven into the Bermuda triangle and vanished just like her three missing persons. She added all the information to the file and emailed it to Judge Eaton in Blackwater. Surely, now she would have enough probable cause to convince him to issue a search warrant for Knox’s motel room.
