by D. K. Hood
“I figure we’ll have our hands full with the Wyatt Cooper interview.” Kane followed the line of traffic, mostly sightseers driving slowly to admire the town, and then turned into the parking space out front of the sheriff’s department.
“I’ll send Rowley over to the viewing and he can escort him back here.” Jenna stared out the window thinking. “I hope Turner comes in voluntarily. He doesn’t have to speak to us and I’m not sure what evidence we have is enough for an arrest warrant. The judge has been harder to convince lately.”
“Tell Rowley to ask him to come in to sign some paperwork.” Kane scratched his cheek. “Add that he’ll need to apply to claim their bodies as well. I’ll call Wolfe and make sure he gives Rowley all the documents to bring back with him. I doubt Dr. Turner will know those matters are usually handled by the ME.”
Milling over the scenario, Jenna nodded. “Yeah, we’ll take him down to the interview room, get him to sign the papers, and then ask the questions. I’ll switch on the camera and read him his rights.” She blew out her cheeks. “He’ll probably walk right out the door.”
“We’ll see.” Kane thought for a beat. “Do you think Jo would come down to sit in on the interviews with both suspects?”
Jenna lifted one shoulder. “She might be back by now, she wanted to go on a tour of the sapphire mines out at Louan yesterday. I’m not sure when she’s due back. Call her and see if she can drop by.”
She headed into the office and before she could stop to talk to Maggie behind the counter, Duke came flashing from her office and skidded to a halt with a half yawn, half whine. She bent to pat him but he’d spotted Kane behind her and did his usual welcome dance. She turned and laughed. “He’s happy we made it back for lunch. Just how many times a day do you feed him? Most people feed their dogs once a day. He ate the entire bowl of food at my house last night.”
“He’s kinda stuck on three meals a day.” Kane shrugged. “I don’t feed him three full meals. It’s become a habit since I found him. The V-E-T told me to give him small meals or he’d vomit after being starved for so long.” He bent to give Duke a full body rub along both sides. “He’s not overweight and I like him to be happy.”
Jenna smiled and turned to Maggie. “Anything happen I need to know about?”
“Not a thing.” Maggie stared at the hotline phone. “I’m expecting a few calls once the story about the murder hits the news.” She waved a hand toward Rio and Rowley working at their desks. “I have help if I need it.”
“Well, you’ll have one of them.” Jenna indicated toward Rowley. “I’m sending Rowley to do a victim identification for me at noon.” She headed toward Rowley and filled him in with their plan to get Dr. Turner into an interview room. “He’s prickly, so stay as friendly as possible. We need to ask him some questions and I have a strange feeling he’s not going to like it.”
“Copy that.” Rowley leaned back in his chair and looked at her. “Thanks for giving me the time to be with Sandy. It made her settle having me there.”
Jenna leaned one hip against his desk. “Family is so important and we can always manage, Jake. This is a tough job and marriages of law enforcement officers have been spoiled because of the workload. I’m going to make sure that never happens here.” She glanced up as Mr. Cooper and Wyatt walked into the office. “Hmm, they’re early.”
She straightened and went to greet them. “Ah, thanks for coming in, can I get you anything, coffee, water?”
“No, we’re fine.” Mr. Cooper looked apprehensive. “What is it you need from my boy, Sheriff?”
Jenna waited for Kane to come to her side, as it was obvious he had something on his mind. She smiled at Mr. Cooper. “Just a few questions. If you’ll give me a minute? I’ve just walked in the door. I’ll have Deputy Rio take you to an interview room. It will be more comfortable.” She turned to Rio. “Take Mr. Cooper and Wyatt down to interview room one for me please and wait with them.” She looked at Mr. Cooper. “I won’t be long. I know you have to get back to work.”
She walked away with Kane. “Has something come up?”
“Nope but Jo is on her way.” Kane glanced at Maggie. “Do you think Maggie would mind watching Jaime for a while?”
“I’ll ask her.” Jenna went to the front counter. “Jo has offered to assist with a couple of interviews but she has Jaime with her. If Rio takes over the front desk, would you be able to look after her for me? You can use my office.”
“I’d love to.” Maggie beamed. “She is such an agreeable child.”
The door opened and Agent Jo Wells came in with her daughter, Jaime, who was cuddling a Boston Terrier. Jenna smiled at Jo. “Thank you so much for coming. Maggie will watch over Jaime for you.”
“I was driving through town looking for something to do.” Jo shrugged. “Jaime is tuckered out and I can’t reach Carter. I wanted to ask him if he wanted to return home early.” She smiled. “At last, two cases I can get my teeth into. Kane has brought me up to date. Who is first?”
Jenna led the way to the interview room. “Wyatt Cooper and his father, the subject is only sixteen and was the boyfriend of Laurie Turner before they broke up just before she was murdered.”
“Yeah.” Jo looked at her iPad. “I have the case files if I need them. I know I’m here as a consultant but do you want me to take the lead? I might be able to get under his guard.”
Jenna nodded. “Yeah thanks, I’m getting mixed messages from this kid. I’m sure you and Dave will be able to untangle them between you. I’ll take notes and observe.” She scanned her card outside the interview room and they all walked inside. “Thanks, Rio. Take over the front counter. Maggie is busy.” Before she took her seat, she turned on the camera and recording devices. “Mr. Cooper and Wyatt, this is Special Agent Jo Wells and you know Deputy Kane.”
“The FBI? What is going on here?” Mr. Cooper’s face drained of color. “Do we need a lawyer?”
“You are within your rights to have one present but it may not be necessary.” Jo’s face had set into a pleasant expression. “We have to divulge some information that is sensitive.”
“However—” Kane leaned forward, “—I have to inform you that anything you say can be used against you in a court of law.” He finished giving them their rights. “Do you understand?”
“I haven’t done anything wrong.” Wyatt leaned forward palms up on the table. “I’ve got nothing to hide. Ask away.”
“Are you in agreement, Mr. Cooper?” Jo looked at the worried man.
“I guess so.” Mr. Cooper shrugged.
“Do you recall missing any underwear, a pair of green briefs to be specific?” Jo stared at Wyatt.
“No, I’ve tons of pairs of shorts. I don’t really keep track of them once they’re in my laundry basket.” Wyatt’s cheeks pinked. “Why?”
“A pair of your briefs were found at the murder scene of Laurie Turner.” Jo was watching him so intently, she didn’t as much as blink. “They’ve been identified as belonging to you by DNA found on the garment.” She leaned forward slightly. “How do you figure they got there?”
“I have no idea.” Wyatt pressed a finger into the table. “Laurie was a nice girl. We didn’t have sex and I’ve never removed my shorts in her presence. Nor did I give her a pair as a souvenir or whatever. You must be mistaken.”
“No mistake.” Jo made a few notes on her iPad but didn’t look up. “Is there any way a person could obtain a pair of briefs you had worn?” She lifted her gaze. “Are your soiled clothes ever left in a place where someone could steal a pair?”
“I don’t think so.” Wyatt stared at the wall for long minutes and then snapped his fingers. “I was thinking where I’ve been, I figured the pool but my things are in a locker and I’d notice if my underwear was missing, but not at training or after the games. I’m usually sweaty, I strip off like most of the guys and shower. After I’m dressed, I stuff the dirty socks and underwear into a bag. I give it to my mom to wash and she replaces them in
my backpack.” He shrugged. “So, my things along with all the other guys are usually in a pile on the floor in the locker room during the time we take a shower.” He leaned back in the chair. “No girls are allowed in the locker rooms, so how she came by them I don’t know.”
“How well do you know Laurie’s mother?” Kane straightened the statement book and picked up a pen.
“I’ve met her a few times.” Wyatt frowned. “Why?”
“Did you know she was once a cheerleader?” Jo smiled. “She continued on in college as well. I bet she taught Laurie a few moves.”
“Yeah, that’s all they would talk about as if it was the only thing on earth.” Wyatt pushed an agitated hand through his hair.
“When did you last go to Mrs. Turner’s apartment?” Jo’s eyes bored into him. “Did you go to see her recently?”
“No. The last time would have been Independence Day. We dropped by to see her because Laurie wanted her to come see the parade. We ended up missing most of it because her ma was having one of her headaches.” Wyatt rolled his eyes. “That was the last time I went to her apartment.”
“Here’s our problem.” Kane leaned forward and eyeballed him. “We have two dead women and have evidence to prove you were at both crime scenes.” He tapped his pen on the desk. “Where were you last night between seven and midnight?”
“In town with the guys. I got home before ten.” Wyatt looked horrified. “I haven’t killed anyone.”
“What do you drive?” Jo’s attention had never left his face.
“A white Ford pickup.” Mr. Cooper frowned. “It’s still in my name.”
“Okay, Wyatt, write down who you were with last night and where you went.” Kane nonchalantly slid the statement book across the table. “When you’re done, sign it, and Mr. Cooper, I’ll need your signature as well.” He stood. “We’ll be back shortly. He turned off the recording devices and led the way outside.
Jenna looked from one to the other. “Did you pick up anything?”
“I don’t believe he’s involved.” Jo shrugged. “He kept his hands open on the table, he didn’t try and come up with any excuses and appeared to be genuinely shocked.” She smiled at Jenna. “We’ve all been fooled by a psychopath but he isn’t exhibiting any of the usual smartass comebacks I’d expect. He is showing empathy. I believe him.”
Jenna nodded. “That’s good enough for me.” She opened the door to the interview room and smiled at the Coopers. “Thank you for coming by. Once you’ve handed in the statement, you’re free to go.”
Forty-Six
Jenna leaned against the wall watching the Coopers leave the building. She held out her hand for the statement book Kane was holding and scanned the pages. “I’ll get Rowley to speak to this list of kids when he gives Dr. Turner a ride back to the school. It’s only general questions, we won’t need their parents’ permission to speak to them.” She glanced up at him. “Cooper might be as innocent as he seems but he’s still ticking all the boxes.”
“I don’t trust any of them right now.” Kane slid his pen inside his pocket. “Him most of all.” He indicated with his chin toward Dr. Turner moving down the hallway with Rowley.
Jenna turned her back on the visitor’s arrival and walked with Kane and Jo back into the empty interview room. “We’ll leave Rowley to get the paperwork sorted. Once he comes out, I’ll give him the list of Wyatt’s friends, it will give him time to make arrangements with the school to speak to them.” She looked at Jo. “Do your thing, between the pair of you, we might get somewhere with Dr. Turner.”
Her phone chimed. It was Rio from the front desk. “Is there a problem?”
“No, it’s quiet so I hunted down red 1950 Ford pickups in the county. Apart from the one belonging to Turner, there’s none, fitting the year, model, or description, here or in any neighboring counties.” Rio cleared his throat. “They’re a classic car. I found a few around the state in different colors, some are red but not as distinctive as the one owned by Laurie Turner.”
Jenna nodded. “Thank you, that’s good to know.” She disconnected and relayed the information to Jo and Kane. “I’d like to see how Turner explains his way out of the evidence against him.” She ran her fingers along the edge of the statement book and thought for a beat. “I’m wondering if he’s involved in Laurie’s murder as well. From her best friend’s account Laurie was afraid of her father and she has a bolt on her bedroom door. That in itself is a red flag that something wasn’t right between them.”
“He is a school counselor, so he’d have access to the locker rooms the football team uses. No one would have made mention about him wandering inside. He could have stolen the underwear to lay blame on Wyatt.” Jo’s brows furrowed. “He knows the vehicle and could have disabled it but that doesn’t account for the sighting of Laurie getting into a Chrysler sedan the night of her death.”
“We might have a witness seeing her getting into the vehicle, but we don’t know if the driver dropped her home.” Kane scratched his cheek. “Or where she died. We only have the place she was found. Think about this scenario: Turner disables her vehicle and not knowing about her dropping her phone, he’d assume she’d get a ride home with her friends. When she gets home, he strangles her in her sleep. We know she didn’t struggle, if she slept face down, he could have easily strangled her from behind and then taken her body in his vehicle out to the mines and left her there. The stabbing could be a ploy to make us believe someone else was involved.” He looked from one to the other. “The bed linen was changed and everything was neat. It all points to him.”
Jenna shook her head. “The only problem here is the saliva found at the scene matching the sweat at Rowley’s house.” She facepalmed her head. “See, we have evidence but there’s missing bits or things that don’t add up.”
“Ma’am.” Rowley poked his head around the door. “I’ve finished the paperwork with Dr. Turner. I told him you wanted to speak with him.”
Jenna smiled and pulled open the door. “Thanks, Jake.” She handed him a copy of Wyatt Cooper’s statement. “While we’re busy, call the school and hunt down these witnesses and see if they’ll back up Cooper’s alibi. See if you can talk to them after you’ve given Dr. Turner a ride back to the school. This is to do with Mrs. Turner’s murder so there’s no conflict of interest.”
“Sure.” Rowley smiled. “I called Sandy before and she said to thank you all for the flowers you sent to the hospital and the food.” He started to back down the hallway.
“Any time.” Jenna looked at his earnest face. “I’m so happy she’s okay.” She turned to Kane and Jo. “Let’s do this.”
After scanning her card and leading the way into the other interview room, Jenna switched on the cameras and once everyone had stated their names for the record and she’d read Dr. Turner his rights, she sat down. “I’m sure you’re wondering why we need to speak with you, Dr. Turner. Agent Wells would like to question you about the murder of your wife.”
“My wife left me six years ago, if I’d wanted to kill her, I’d have done it by now.” Turner smiled at Jo. “Honestly, the FBI? My wife was a useless nobody. Why bring in the FBI?”
“You mentioned in your statement you didn’t know where Jeanette lived, so I guess you’ve never been to her apartment?” Jo took a neutral pose.
“Why would I want to visit her?” Turner’s confident twitch of the lips returned. “She left me, remember? She took all our money but she never got to keep Laurie, did she? No, I put a stop to that.”
“Okay, so how did your fingerprints get all over her apartment?” Jo’s eyes fixed on him. “Or why was your vehicle seen parked opposite the alleyway to where she lived?”
“I want a lawyer.” Dr. Turner leaned back in his chair, looking smug. “I know my rights. Call Samuel J Cross. I won’t speak to anyone unless he is present.”
Jenna pushed to her feet. “As you wish.” She looked at Kane. “Hold Dr. Turner for questioning of suspicion of murder and take him
down to the cells. I’ll see if I can locate Sam Cross.” She rolled her eyes. Of all the lawyers, she and Sam Cross were usually at loggerheads. She led Jo out of the interview room and they lingered in the hallway. “I figure he’s our man.”
“Yeah, but he’s so smug, I’m expecting him to pull a rabbit out of his hat soon.” Jo stared at Turner through the one-way glass. “The evidence against him for both murders is enough for an arrest warrant but more would be better. If you could get into his office and his home to see if he’s left any incriminating evidence, it might help.” She shrugged. “You don’t need his lawyer’s permission to apply for a search warrant.”
Jenna nodded. “I’ll get that underway.” She sighed. “We have his wife’s autopsy at two. Will you be able to stick around for the interview?”
“You could hold Turner overnight for questioning.” Jo pushed her iPad under one arm and stared back at the prisoner. “The autopsy findings might be crucial to further questioning. I’d wait until you return before you call in the lawyer. If Mr. Samuel J Cross informs you when he plans to arrive, I’ll come back.” She glanced at her watch. “I’ll take Jaime back to the hotel and we’ll have some lunch.”
Jenna squeezed her arm. “Thanks, Jo.”
The door clicked open and Jenna stood to one side to allow Kane to escort Dr. Turner from the room. The doctor said nothing when he stared at her but his face was set in a cruel smile. Jo was correct, he did have something up his sleeve.
Forty-Seven
Nervous anxiety had given him stomach cramps all morning. The thrill of watching his girl kill again was fast becoming a nightmare. He didn’t know what to do and couldn’t stop her, she was like a tornado, wild and uncontrollable. She unnerved him, no she darn right terrified him. He couldn’t go to the sheriff, his involvement made him as guilty as her, and he hoped Dr. Turner would supply him with an alibi. He had no choice but to go along with the final cheerleader on her list and hope it would be over. When the bells rang and students streamed out of the classrooms heading for the last class before lunch, he dragged her into an alcove. “We need to talk.”
