by D. K. Hood
“It’s good to take an hour to think; we’re not machines.” Kane huffed out a sigh. “These cases are horrific and you’ve covered every angle for now. The suspects in the girls’ abductions are dead and we have little to go on to find their killers. If the DNA profile from one of the victims matches Lizzy’s son, we’ll have a motive.”
“Okay, I’ll delegate. Rowley’s on duty with Webber on Monday. They’ll keep searching for associates of our murder victims, and providing we get the court order, I’ll ask Wolfe to run a check of the boy’s DNA against our DNA database as well. There was a rape case before I arrived here and many of the men volunteered their DNA. We might fluke a match.”
“Let’s hope so.” Kane grimaced. “I’m convinced the group of predators is bigger than we thought. We need to catch these assholes.”
Disturbed by the implications, Jenna placed her glass on the table. “I’ve seen terrible things in my life but this beats all.” She lifted her chin. “It plays on my mind twenty-four seven. I can’t sleep so it makes it difficult to follow the shrink’s recommendation and turn off for a while to prevent the flashbacks kicking in again. This information is so disturbing. Have any feel-good movies at your place to lull me to sleep?”
“Yeah, I’ll find something to cheer you up.” He waved at the waiter for the check. “If you want to get away for an hour, I’m going to see a couple of horses in the morning. I said I’d try and drop by around ten unless we get dragged out to another damn murder.”
The one thing she liked about David Kane was his gentle side. When they were alone, his tough persona relaxed and she could laugh with him. It was nice to put the job aside for a few minutes and be herself. She smiled. “We should be on the case but unless Wolfe and Rowley come up with anything new, I guess we could grab an hour. I do need time to clear my head.”
“It’s harder when kids are involved. Trust me, Wolfe will be working on those laptops all night and you deserve a time out.” He handed the waiter his credit card and signed the bill then looked at her. “We’ll have fun tomorrow but I guess we’ll have sore muscles on Monday. I haven’t ridden for years.”
She laughed. “Me either. Maybe you should add a hot tub to your list of essentials.”
“That’s a thought.” He took the credit card from the waiter and pushed to his feet. “I’ll look into it.”
Jenna gaped at him. Just how rich are you?
They walked out into the balmy night and made their way to the parking lot. A light breeze carried the scent of roses from the tubs set each side of the entrance to the hotel. When his warm fingers cupped her elbow, the small touch surprised her, as he had not touched her intimately since the night he cuddled her a few months ago. She doubted anyone would see them as they walked between the rows of parked cars, and she leaned into him, enjoying the hard muscular arm pressing against her bare flesh. The comfortable friendship they had established suited her well. He complemented her in so many ways, respected her at work, and understood her demons.
As they reached the car, Kane’s cellphone rang. He gave her an exasperated look and reached inside his pocket.
“David Kane.” His expression changed to alarm and he held up one finger then put his phone on speaker. “Who is this?”
A distorted voice came through the speakers, sending Jenna’s teeth on edge.
“Why do you protect pedophiles? Don’t bother making up excuses. I know getting all the dirty little details from their victims turns you on.”
“I can assure you—” Kane flicked Jenna a worried glance.
“Sure you can. Men like you ‘love’ kids, don’t they? Love them to death most times. I am ridding the world of the scum and you are protecting them. Stop getting in my way or you’ll be next.”
The line went dead.
“Oh my God.” Jenna stared at his cellphone in disbelief. “How the hell did the killer get your number?”
“I give out my cards all the time and Maggie has a pile at the front desk, along with yours.” He ran his fingers though his thick hair and grimaced. “All the suspects I interviewed today have cards as well. As the caller electronically disguised their voice, I don’t know if it was a man or woman. Damn it, I haven’t activated the record call app on this phone and now we have zip.”
Unsettled by the call, Jenna squeezed his arm. “Even if you had a copy it would have been useless.”
“Not really. Wolfe has the equipment to decode the voiceprint.” Kane moved his blue gaze around the area. “We’d better get out of the open just in case there is a shooter watching us.”
Jenna climbed into the car. “I doubt the caller will stop at one call. I think we should all download the app in case something like this happens again.”
“Roger that.” Kane glanced around. “We need to get out of here.”
Jenna fastened her seatbelt. “What do you make of it—the call, the threats? Who would do that?”
“They know I’m interviewing the victims.” A nerve in his cheek twitched. “So they are either following me or they are acquainted with one or more of them.” He started the car and headed out of the parking lot. “One thing that comes to mind is the caller almost paraphrased what Pattie McCarthy, the schoolteacher, said to me today. She became angry when Bradford interviewed her and accused me of not dating women because she believes I prefer young girls.” He cleared his throat. “She is very astute and knew I was communicating with Bradford through the earbud and listening to their conversation.”
Jenna chewed on her bottom lip, trying to evaluate everything he had said. She turned in her seat to look at him. “We have not considered the victims might know each other. There is every chance they could be in the same support group, for instance. I don’t know of any here but then I haven’t been involved with any cases of child abuse in Black Rock Falls. It’s something we need to look into.”
“Yeah, but so far most of the ones we’ve discovered occurred in Blackwater.” He spun the wheel as they turned into Jenna’s driveway. “I completed most of my interviews today, and come to think of it I only spoke to two victims of abuse: Pattie McCarthy and Lizzy Harper.” He pulled into his garage and turned to her. “I asked the Booval brothers if they could arrange for us to speak to their sister, Angelique. They mentioned she was in town today.” He blinked then scratched his cheek. “Pattie McCarthy said she had an appointment in town and Lizzy Harper was on the way back from town when we arrived at the house they were cleaning today.”
The hairs on the back of Jenna’s neck rose. “That puts the three suspects in the same place at the same time. They could have easily met somewhere. It’s too much of a coincidence to ignore.” She stared at him. “They could be working together to confuse us.”
“If they are, we’ll have one hell of a time catching the killer.” Kane’s dark eyebrows rose. “There is strength in numbers.”
“I can’t imagine three women capable of murdering together. Men maybe, but not many women have a pack mentality.”
“Oh, yes they do.” Kane’s gaze hardened. “It depends on how well their leader influences them. Don’t forget Manson’s girls.”
He had a good point and Jenna nodded in agreement. “True. How did Lizzy Harper act toward you during questioning?”
“Hostile.” He met her gaze and his narrowed. “In fact, I would say pre-warned would come close.” He pulled out his notepad and put on the interior light. “She thought I was asking her questions because it turned me on, so she ties in as well.”
Mortified, she gaped at him. “What did she say?”
“Something along the lines of I wanted her to tell me all the dirty little details, and men like me are all the same. Similar phrasing to Pattie McCarthy’s.” He gave her a dejected look, pocketed his notebook then turned off the light. “Coming inside, or do you just want me to find you a movie to take home? I sure could do with some company and I want to check out the local support groups.”
“I’ll stay for a while.” She squeez
ed his arm. “It’s not you, Dave. After what those women have been through, trusting men would be difficult, and I guess your questions opened up old wounds.”
“I know, but if we don’t ask the difficult questions, we’ll never catch the animals who did this to them.” He sighed and scrubbed both hands over his face. “They don’t seem to understand we want to bring the men responsible to justice, not protect them.” He shook his head slowly. “I can’t imagine why they think I would find hurting little girls stimulating. I’ve seen some terrible crimes but child abuse makes me sick to my stomach.”
Jenna looked into his eyes and sighed. “Me too but there is nothing more we can do tonight. Check out the support groups. I’ll dash home and change then let’s watch a movie.”
“I’d like that, thanks.” Kane flashed her a grin and headed for the front door.
Jenna dashed to her house and changed. As she walked into Kane’s cottage, the old manager’s residence on her ranch, she found him staring at his cellphone. “Any luck?”
“I’m still looking.” Kane lifted his gaze and smiled at her. “Could you make the coffee?”
Jenna strolled into the kitchen and filled the coffee maker. “I haven’t heard of any support groups. We have the breastfeeding mothers’ group in town, and a few others, but nothing like abused kids.”
“I can’t find anything at all.” Kane wandered into the room with his dark head bent over the screen. “I’ll call a social worker on Monday and see if they can help. It’s possible they’re not listed for privacy reasons.”
“If there’s a link between Lizzy Harper and Pattie McCarthy, it would make sense they met in a support group.” Jenna leaned against the counter as the coffee pot sent out the tempting aroma of freshly ground beans. “I’d bet they know our murder victims and were abused by them. One of those women could be our killer.”
Kane lifted his head from his cellphone and his dark gaze met hers.
“Or both.”
23
Halfway through the movie, the silent alarm set into the wall flashed violently. An intruder had breached the perimeter of the property. Automatically reaching for his Glock, Kane jerked upright and switched off the TV. He turned to Jenna. “Someone is outside. I’ll go and check.”
“I’m coming with you.” Jenna’s whisper came close by. “We’ll stick out in our light-colored shirts. Can you grab a couple of your black T-shirts?”
“Roger that.” Kane felt around the floor for her shoes and passed them to her then slipped his feet into his boots.
Duke scrambled to his feet and tipped his head from one side to the other as if listening. Kane patted the dog on the head. “Stay.”
As Jenna moved silently through the house extinguishing the lights, Kane padded into the bedroom, dragged a couple of black T-shirts from the dresser, and, finding her waiting in the doorway, he tossed one to her. “Put this on. I’ll check the cameras.”
He moved stealthily down the hallway then slipped into his office, and after closing the blinds, flicked on the flat-screen array. Moments later, Jenna sneaked to his side. He leaned on the table and peered into the screens. “Why didn’t your house alarm trigger the floodlights?” He glanced at her. “The sensors I installed mean someone is moving close to the cottage. Too damn close.”
“I have no idea.” She glanced at him and pushed a hand through her tousled hair. “I set the alarm before I left home.”
Intrigued, Kane stared at each monitor for any movement outside. “Where are they?”
“I can’t see anything at all. Maybe it’s a rabbit or something.”
He shook his head. “Nah, the sensors are set for chest height, and we’d see a bear if it walked in—they don’t exactly sneak around.”
“Do you really believe anyone who knows us would be stupid enough to walk in here?” Jenna glanced up at him with a scowl. “I mean, really?”
He straightened. “After the range of psychopaths we’ve had drifting into town of late, anything is possible. I’m going to take a look out the windows.”
“I’ll be right behind you.”
Adrenaline pumping, he killed the flat screens to block any light and slipped out into the hall, then moved from window to window, turkey-peeking outside to check the immediate area. The moonless night was as dark as a cave. “I can’t see a damn thing and my night-vision goggles are in my SUV. Maybe we should wait and see how this plays out.”
“No way.” Jenna lifted her chin. “If someone’s breaking into my house, I’m going to arrest them.”
Concerned for her safety, Kane turned and looked at her shadowed face. “We don’t know the threat, and after the phone call earlier, we could be walking into a trap.”
“Or they could be walking into ours.” She tipped back her head and glared at him. “It could be a simple break and enter or a pervert—who the hell knows, but dammit, Dave, together we’re a bigger threat.”
A car horn wailed outside and Kane heard Jenna’s sharp intake of breath. He touched her arm and her muscles bunched under his palm. He turned to glance at her. “Okay. What do you want to do?”
“Whoever is out there has to be pretty stupid to set off my car alarm. Unless they want to know our position. With my car parked outside the house, they wouldn’t know I’m here with you.” Jenna grabbed her keys from the table then moved to the window and pointed the fob through the glass at her vehicle, stopping the noise in a blink of lights. “Now they are aware we know they’re here. I say we meet them head on. They haven’t got our skills, and I sure as hell want to know who is sneaking around my house at night.”
He couldn’t argue with her logic. “Roger that.”
In his periphery, he caught sight of a dark outline against the white wall of Jenna’s ranch house. The figure hesitated then moved in their direction. “Unknown bogey is by your living room window and heading this way. If we leave by the back door, we could take the advantage and come round behind them.”
“Take the lead. I’ll watch your back.” Jenna’s hand rested firmly on his belt.
He strode swiftly to the back door with Jenna right on his heels, Glock raised. He punched in the code to deactivate the alarm, eased open the door, then turned to her and lowered his voice to a whisper. “Count to three then follow me; keep your back to the wall.”
A cold certainty crept over him, and battle-ready he eased out of the door gun in hand. Behind him, Jenna moved without making a sound and they crept down the steps. Silently they dashed along the side of the cottage then crouched at the corner. He sniffed the air but no stink of bear hung on the breeze. After bobbing his head around the corner and seeing no trace of the intruder, he waved her forward. After making a visual search of the immediate area, he led them to the front of the house. The back wall of the garage obscured the view of his front door and he duck-walked along the perimeter, listening.
A sound like a splash came from nearby, too darn close, and followed by a clatter as something hit the ground. He turned and waved Jenna back the way they had come. An unholy stench rose up, burning his nostrils, and behind him, he heard Jenna gag. Inside the house, Duke let out a wail. The smell was very familiar to Kane and he pulled the neck of his T-shirt over his nose.
The overpowering stink surrounding them was death.
A slight crunch of footsteps broke through the silence as a dark figure ran up the driveway. Kane dove around the garage and searched the darkness but the intruder had slipped out of view.
The next moment Jenna was at his side.
“Dammit, they’re getting away.” She lifted her weapon and shot twice into the air then raised her voice. “Stop or the next one will be in your back.”
In the distance, a car engine burst into life, and with a shriek of tires, a dark shape barreled out from behind a shed across the road, skidded onto the blacktop, and sped away without using lights. Kane dropped his gun and turned to Jenna. “Who the hell was that and what is that stink?”
“I don’t know b
ut they’re long gone. It’s pointless giving chase now.” Jenna covered her nose. “If we had a flashlight we could at least find out where the stink is coming from.” She tugged at his arm. “I don’t think it’s a good idea to go to the front door.”
Kane stared into the darkness; nothing moved. “I have my keys in my pocket. I’ll get the flashlight out of my car.”
“Don’t.” Her small hand closed tight, nails digging into his flesh. “You’ll have to go inside the garage and we have no idea if anyone is lying in wait.” Her voice lowered. “It could be an ambush or a bomb.” She looked up at him, her face a pale shape in the darkness. “I’m not risking my house either; we have no choice but to go back the way we came and call for backup.”
He rubbed the back of his neck. She did have a valid point and he followed her to the back door of the cottage. “If this is a well-organized trap, they could also be in my cottage by now as well. I’m not sure what Duke would do if strangers tried to get inside. I figure he would welcome them. We should check.”
“Okay.” Jenna slid back into the shadows.
He followed her, sticking close to the wall. When they reached the back door, he touched her back then signaled for her to be quiet. He listened intently then whispered close to her ear, “My floorboards creak and I can’t hear anyone walking around.” He edged toward the open door. “Cover me.”
He slid into the kitchen and did a reconnaissance of the entire house with Duke on his heels before calling Jenna inside. “All clear.” He shut the door behind her. “This is getting stranger by the second.”
He moved around the rooms, closing the drapes then switching on lights, and stopped dead at the sight of a red pool of stinking blood oozing under the front door. “Oh shit!”
24
Covering her nose with her arm, Jenna gaped at the spreading crimson pool. “Call for backup.” She glanced at Kane. “I hope there’s not a dead body hanging on your door.”
