by D. K. Hood
“He’s still at the Cattleman’s Hotel. I noticed his car in the police parking lot out front on my way past this morning.”
There had to be more to this story. Impatient, Jenna tapped her foot. “What do you mean, ‘still there’?”
“I dropped in for dinner with a couple of buddies last night. They have the special on ribs. Ah… Kane was there with Mary-Jo Miller.”
Gathering her wits, Jenna stared at the cellphone. Kane had said he was not ready for a relationship yet he took Mary-Jo Miller out on a date. Why did the idea annoy her? Oh shit, I’m getting feelings for David Kane. She swallowed the lump in her throat and sucked in a deep breath. “Okay, thanks. I’ll be leaving soon. Put on a pot of coffee, I think this is going to be a very long day.” She disconnected.
Pushing her mind away from the thought of Kane spending the night with Mary-Jo, she headed for Daniels’ cruiser. He had not been too happy to hand over the keys but his apartment was walking distance from the station and she needed her independence back. Planning her day put everything in perspective. She would send Walters to relieve Daniels at the hospital. Daniels could take Walters’ cruiser and keep an eye on Stan Clough’s movements for an hour or so. When Kane decided to arrive, he and Rowley could head to the piggery with the paperwork to interview the suspect and, if necessary, conduct a search.
Going over the facts in the Sarah Woodward homicide, she swallowed hard remembering the phone number she found inside the woman’s purse. After reading the autopsy reports, chasing up the number had slipped her mind. She would cross-reference the number with the list of properties John Davis had given Sarah. Likely, the number belonged to someone she had spoken to in the hours prior to her death, and that person might have information on Sarah’s whereabouts before the murder.
She slid into the driver’s seat, placed the coffee mug in the holder, and glanced up to see Kane’s black SUV driving past and heading for his house. The urge to get out and march over to speak to him flashed across her mind, but instead, she started the engine and turned up the heat. When Kane got out of his car wearing a dark blue suit sans tie with his short hair mussed, she gaped at him. He looked gorgeous. Oh yeah, he was her type, but obviously she did not rate in his top ten. Without thinking, she revved the engine and fishtailed down the icy driveway in a cloud of steam. Glancing in her mirror, she caught him staring after her with a grim expression on his face. Slowing the cruiser, she took control of the car and her emotions then headed for the office.
* * *
Kane watched Alton turn onto the highway and ground his teeth. He had hoped to be home before she woke but the chance of a hot breakfast in a very comfortable hotel had been too much of a temptation. He hurried inside to dress for work, wondering whether Jenna discovered he had taken Mary-Jo to dinner. He recalled seeing Jake Rowley at the Cattleman’s Hotel and grimaced. Oh yeah, her untouchable deputy would have been in her ear, and to make things worse, now she would believe he’d spent the night with a woman ten years his junior. The problem was he liked Jenna. She was gorgeous, but Annie still owned his heart. Perhaps the loyalty he had for Annie would fade in time.
* * *
He arrived at the station three minutes before the start of his eight-thirty shift and made his way to his desk. His attention moved to Alton’s office door and he wondered if he should offer her an apology for the day before. He rubbed the back of his neck. Trusting his gut instinct had gotten him out of more trouble than he cared to remember. He heard Rowley clear his throat and the familiar yet annoying squeak of his chair. Turning to look at him, he raised a brow. “The boss isn’t in a very good mood this morning, is she?”
“Well, considering she tried to call you when Josh Rockford broke into her house and she had to shoot him, I gather you are not on her BFF list this morning.” Rowley leaned back in his chair and linked his fingers over his waist.
Kane gaped at him. “What? She shot Josh Rockford?”
When Rowley explained about the photographs Rockford had taken and the kiddy porn on his cellphone, Kane rubbed his chin. “Jesus. Who is guarding him at the hospital?”
“No one. Mr. Stone pulled the judge out of bed in the early hours and produced some type of order to allow Josh to be released into the custody of his father.” Rowley avoided his gaze. “She wasn’t too happy about that either, but Rockford’s hearing is set for nine. Walters will attend but it’s not necessary with the evidence; it’s unlikely Rockford will get bail. The sheriff said the phone evidence alone will be enough for the DA to proceed to trial.”
“Then what happened?”
“She came in barking orders then told Daniels to head out to Stan Clough’s piggery and keep him under surveillance until she had obtained a search warrant for his place.” Rowley grinned in obvious glee. “Pete radioed in to say he had arrived and it was as quiet as a tomb but if the guy made a move toward him, he would call his brothers for backup in case the guy tried to feed him to his pigs.” He chuckled. “I guess he forgot there is zero phone reception out there.”
Kane ground his teeth. Sending a rookie out alone on surveillance of a murder suspect was not a move he would have made. How could so many bad things happen in the short time he left Jenna alone? “Is she in her office?”
“Nope. She left about twenty minutes ago and took off without a word.”
“Did you ask her where she was going?”
“Ah… no, but she had a folder with her and she is likely speaking to the judge.” Rowley grimaced and gave him a look of incredulity. “I didn’t dare ask her where she was going. He heaved a long sigh. “She did the Spanish Inquisition act on me earlier. Once is enough for me.”
Kane glared at him. “I gather that was around the time you threw me under the bus?” He waved a hand toward Alton’s door. “You told her about my date with Mary-Jo, didn’t you?” He sighed at Rowley’s nod. “It wasn’t a date as in romantic. It was a fact-finding mission. She is a gossip and I needed information.”
“Did you get any information out of her?”
“Nah, only that Rockford is a bit kinky.” Kane rubbed the back of his neck. “Apparently he liked her to dress up as a kid.”
“That makes sense.” Rowley grimaced and shook his head slowly. “Man’s a damn pedophile. After the sheriff caught him taking pictures of her, she seized his cellphone and found images of young girls. He likes to sneak about at night and take pictures of them.” His expression darkened. “The sheriff is trying to obtain search warrants to seize all his computers as well. From the texts and images on his phone, he is involved in some nasty stuff.”
“Jesus.” Kane let out a long sigh. “No wonder Jenna is pissed with me.”
“So why stay out all night?”
“After I took Mary-Jo home, I hung around the bar listening to the local gossip in the hope of hearing something, then I got a room because I’d had too much to drink.” Kane moaned. “I had no idea about Rockford. I thought Jenna was angry because she thought I spent the night with Mary-Jo. Not that what I do off-duty is any of her business.”
He turned on his computer. “While we are waiting for her to bring back the search warrant for the Clough ranch, I’ll go through the files again and see if I’ve missed any clues. Clough is the most likely suspect so far but who is his accomplice? Over the years I’ve found it best not to discount anyone until I’ve check out everyone’s alibis.”
“It wasn’t Rockford who attacked the sheriff in the bushes.” Rowley lifted his dark gaze and smiled. “I managed to track down the driver of the cab that picked him up on Saturday night and he took him to his apartment. You had his car keys, so he couldn’t have got back to the Cattleman’s Hotel in time.”
“Okay. I might drop over to speak to John Davis again too. I’d be interested to find out if he had anyone else looking at properties around the time Sarah planned to visit them.”
“I’m heading out to give a ticket to a dog owner.” Rowley pulled a face. “I’ll catch you later.”
He pushed to his feet and headed to the coat rack.
Kane pulled up the forensic files on both cases. He needed the details of the footprints found at Sarah’s crime scene. He called forensics and left a message. At a loss, he grabbed his jacket and headed out in the driving snow to speak to John Davis.
Fifty-Two
Kane strolled into the real estate office and waited patiently for John Davis to finish speaking to a prospective buyer. He listened to the usual salesman’s spiel. It was as if they all came out of the same egg, and born with a mission to persuade buyers they could afford something way beyond their means. When the young couple left, brochures in hand, he shut the door behind them and turned to him. “I’m afraid I’m here to notify you about a murder at the Old Mitcham Ranch.”
“A murder?” The color drained from John Davis’s face and he ran a hand through his thinning hair. “Anyone I know?”
“I’m afraid so. We found Sarah Woodward’s body in the root cellar on Monday.” He frowned. “That’s the reason the Daniels boys removed the property from sale.”
“Dear Lord.” Visibly shaken, Davis opened his desk drawer and took out a bottle of brandy and a shot glass. “Do you know who killed her?”
Kane rubbed his chin, observing the old man with interest. “Not yet.”
“That place is cursed.” Davis blinked rapidly.
Why do people blame everyone else but the killer? “I’d ask that you keep this information between us as it is an ongoing investigation.”
“Yes, of course.” Davis poured a drink and tipped it back with a gasp. “First the old man goes missing and now this dreadful thing. I can’t believe this has happened in Black Rock Falls.”
Kane stared at the man’s pallid face. “Who else knew the Old Mitcham Ranch was for sale? Did you send anyone else out to view the property?”
“Only her grandmother.” Davis sealed the bottle and pushed it back inside the drawer. “I didn’t bother putting details in the front window. No local would be interested, and it won’t sell now.” He cleared his throat. “I’d burn it down if I had my way.” He got to his feet and moved around the desk, staring sightlessly out the window. “Burn it and the damn curse.”
“That might be an option you can put to the owners.” Kane glanced down at Davis’s feet. He did not wear the cowboy boots most locals favored but polished loafers. “I’d better keep going. Thank you for your cooperation.” He turned for the door, pulled on the handle, and strode out into the refreshing morning air.
As he approached the sheriff’s office, he noticed the cruiser Jenna had commandeered from Deputy Daniels was conspicuous by its absence. He glanced at his watch and, seeing it was ten thirty, headed past the sheriff department’s front door and toward Aunt Betty’s Café. If he had to withstand Alton’s wrath on her return, he would need some comfort food. The fact she had not called to bawl him out or issue him with a string of orders played on his mind. Alton hadn’t been shy at cutting him down to size in front of Rowley, and her choice not to confront him seemed a little out of character. Maybe she had taken a few hours to cool her anger, although he would have thought an ongoing investigation of two murders would have negated any reason for taking personal time.
At the door, the tempting aroma of freshly baked cookies made his stomach growl in appreciation. He stamped the snow from his feet and stepped inside the shop. After ordering enough cakes, sandwiches, and coffee for everyone at the station, he collected the carton and headed back to work. People he passed in the street greeted him with smiles and nods. Maybe he would find a home in this little town and a modicum of peace. Snow pelted his face and icy rivulets ran into the neck of his jacket. By the time he reached the office, he could not feel his feet, and the headache had returned in an uncomfortable throb.
He met Rowley at the front desk. “Got time for a coffee break?”
“Yeah, I’ve finished everything the sheriff gave me to chase up. Wow! Coffee and goodies. Thanks!” Rowley reached in the carton for the takeaway lid marked “cappuccino” and sighed in appreciation. “Sarah’s uncle arrived and identified the body and I have a list of John Helms’s personal effects his wife sent. He wore a diamond stud earring. I rang the ME and he informed me he has reason to believe the killer ripped it from his ear after death. Maybe it’s another trophy the killer kept.” He collected a pile of cakes and shrugged. “And I had a call from the forensics team.”
“Did they find anything interesting?”
“More like disappointing.” Rowley shrugged. “No DNA trace on that hair they found on Sarah and the footprints of the boots they found are useless. They said that brand of footwear can be purchased at any Walmart.”
“Okay, disappointing maybe but we still know the homicide involves two killers.” Kane headed for his desk with his food and coffee. “Maybe we’ve missed something.”
“I’ve read and reread every report until I’m cross-eyed.” Rowley dropped into the seat opposite Kane. “Everyone we thought was involved checks out. We don’t have any suspects left apart from Stan Clough.”
Kane bit into a turkey on rye and sighed. He chewed slowly, milling over the cases. “It would be a great help if the sheriff kept us informed of her movements. I gather she’s off on a hunch.”
“Would you like me to call her?” Rowley stared at the uneaten cake in his hand.
Kane pulled the lid off his coffee and tossed it in the garbage. “Why not? I doubt she’d take my call right now.” He sipped his scalding coffee as Rowley tried Jenna’s number.
“She’s not picking up. Maybe she’s out of range. There are heaps of black spots around here.” Rowley frowned. “You don’t suppose she’s obtained the warrants and gone out to the Clough place alone, do you?”
“I doubt it very much, although I wouldn’t rule out the possibility.” Kane pushed to his feet. “I’ll check if she’s made an entry in her day book.” He strode into Jenna’s office and flipped open the book on her desk. The page for the day’s date was blank. “Damn!”
He marched into the outer office and went to speak to Magnolia on the front desk. “I’ll talk to him.” He indicated to the angry-looking man waiting at the counter. “Get on the satellite phone and see if you can raise the sheriff. She’s out in Pete’s cruiser and we can’t reach her by cellphone.”
“Sure thing.” Magnolia sat down in front of the radio.
Kane turned to the angry man. “How can I help you?”
“I need to pay a fine for letting my dog run without a leash.” He handed Kane a ticket and a check. “It’s a load of bullshit. The hospital just released me and now I get a fine. How could I keep the dog on a leash when I’m not home? I’m being harassed by the old lady next door.”
“I don’t think so. I came close to hitting your dog on the road the other day. I instructed my deputy to issue this fine. Keep your dog under control before it causes an accident. Put up a fence so it can’t get off your property.” Kane leveled his gaze on the man. “And I’ll be personally looking into any further complaints from your neighbor.”
“Are you threatening me?”
“Nope, but you can take it as a warning.” Kane scanned the document and payment into the system and issued a receipt.
The man snatched the documents from his hand and stormed off, his face flushed with anger. Kane glanced at the waiting area, glad to see it empty for once. Behind him, Maggie repeated the message and then she turned to him. “She must have turned off the satellite phone.” She smiled. “I’ll try again in five minutes.”
“Has she checked in at all this morning?”
“Not so far.” Maggie pushed a mass of curls from her round face. “But she left here in a right mood. Slammed the car door fit to break it off the hinges.” She frowned. “Shame she took Pete’s car, it’s the only one without a GPS. We could have tracked her if she has broken down somewhere. That old car is on its last legs.”
“Keep trying until you reach her.” Kane rubbed a hand down his face.
* * *
The last time he had spoken to Deputy Daniels was when he radioed in at ten to report all was quiet at Clough’s piggery and he was going to his brothers’ ranch to grab a snack.
Lunch had come and gone without a word from Jenna.
When the search and arrest warrants for Stan Clough arrived, Kane gaped at them in disbelief. He called Jenna’s cellphone with no luck then asked Deputy Rowley to join him. “I’m not sure what’s going on but the sheriff is MIA and so is Daniels. Did the sheriff discover any new evidence and neglect to inform me?”
“Did she mention what we found in Sarah’s purse?”
Kane raised an eyebrow. If Jenna had found something relevant, she would have told him. “Daniels gave me a rundown: ID but no keys.”
“It wasn’t what was in the purse but what was missing.” Rowley dropped his voice to just above a whisper. “Things like a hairbrush, lip gloss, women’s things. The sheriff thought the killer had taken trophies.” He cleared his throat. “Also, we found a phone number tucked inside some bills.”
“If it was important, she’d have mentioned it to you.” Kane rubbed the back of his neck to relieve the persistent prickling of the hairs. Something was wrong.
“What about John Davis? Is he still a suspect?”
Recalling the conversation with the real estate broker, he shook his head. “Nah. The news shook him up a little too much for him to have killed Sarah and he would have needed an accomplice. Plus I doubt he owns a pair of Walmart cowboy boots.” He sighed. “We need to get out to Stan Clough’s piggery and check on Daniels. Something doesn’t feel right to me.”
Impending doom tightened his chest. His concern over Jenna outweighed his rigid training and it worried him. Giving himself a mental shake, he listed his priorities. He would secure his prime suspect then have every boot on the ground working around the clock until he found Jenna. He glanced at his watch. She had been incommunicado for five hours. If the car had broken down, she could have walked to a ranch in that space of time. His fear of the killer torturing her, raping her, escalated into a rage he had not known existed.
