She turned down the TV and glanced at him. “Head aching again? Do you need to keep a check on the plate in your head, have the occasional brain scan or whatever?”
“My head is aching and no the plate doesn’t shift around, it’s bolted in place.” His dark blue gaze settled on her face. “My mind was on the case. That girl was so young and seeing her like that is playing on my mind. The man who did this is one sick son of a bitch.” He cleared his throat. “Sorry, ma’am, it just makes me feel useless.”
“It’s fine and I happen to agree.” She reached for her coffee and eyed him over the rim of the mug. “This is where your expertise comes into play. I can see the killer is trying to make a point by the way he displayed the body but why the flowers? Wolfe mentioned it was as if the killer is apologizing. What do you think?”
“He wants to shock and is proud of what he has done but there is regret there as well. As if he is a child being naughty then bringing his mother flowers to say sorry.” His full lips thinned into a line. “This is not why you asked me to dinner. What’s on your mind?”
She had to admit, asking him to dinner had confused him but she wanted to make up for her hostility toward him at the fairgrounds. After all, he did spend every morning working with her to hone her defense skills and knew her weaknesses, but his anger at finding her in a potentially dangerous position surprised her. He should have known she would use her weapon if threatened. She allowed her gaze to linger on his handsome features and wet her lips, not that her feminine wiles ever worked on him. Although, she noticed the way he looked at her sometimes and knew he would protect her with his life. You are a strange man and I like the strong, silent, mysterious type. Ah well, I can dream, I guess.
“Jenna? If you have something to say to me, spit it out.” Kane leaned back in his chair and stretched his long, muscular legs. “I know when you’re worried about something. We’re friends and you can confide in me, even after you tore me a new one.”
“So, what is so important we need a secret meeting tomorrow?” She grinned. “Do I need to erect a cone of silence or something?”
“Have you taken a paranoia drug or something?” Kane gave her a long, considering stare and rubbed the dark stubble on his chin. “It’s just a meeting so we can discuss how we can best use Wolfe’s talents.”
“God, you talk a crock of shit sometimes. Do you think I was born yesterday? You two are up to something.” She glared at him. “Spill the beans.”
“Nope. I’m not saying a word. It’s best if Wolfe is here to explain.” Kane reached for his beer. “Talking about suspicions, I’ve often wondered how you discovered this is my favorite brand of beer.”
Oh, you’re good. “I didn’t know. I used my superior intelligence.” She giggled at his eye-roll. “I got the most popular brand from your home state. Why ask me now? You’ve been living in my cottage for over six months. Before you ask, I also worked out the size of your uniform from the details on your driver’s license. It’s not too difficult when you know the height and weight of a man. It’s not as if I needed your bra size, is it?” She sipped her wine. “Stop avoiding the question. You know him, don’t you?”
“Not exactly.” Kane narrowed his eyes, making his forehead crinkle. “I spoke to him on the phone after you interviewed him for the position.” He sighed. “We have similar backgrounds, we both served in the marines, but anything else, he’ll have to tell you.”
Happy to have gained ground, she pushed a little more. “Do you have anything else you need to tell me about?”
“Not really, but as sure as hell, I think you are carrying a trunk-load of secrets. For a sheriff who carries two weapons at all times, you are the jumpiest person I know.” He turned in his seat and his eyes bore into her. “Why are you in Black Rock Falls? And don’t tell me it’s because you absolutely love being sheriff or appreciate the incredibly low salary because you could be earning a hell of a lot more working for the government.”
“Maybe I think working for the government is too dangerous.” She shrugged. “In any case, then I wouldn’t have you to watch my back, would I?”
“Trust me, you’ll be a whole lot safer with Wolfe and me watching your back.” Kane pushed to his feet. “We’ll sort this out in the morning if you don’t mind, ma’am. Thanks for dinner and don’t forget to set the house alarm.” He headed for the door without a backward glance.
She gaped after him, stymied for a few moments, then stood to follow him and bolted the front door. After entering the code to activate the alarm, her attention went to the window. The bright automatic floodlighting around her property illuminated Kane’s strong figure striding along the pathway to his cottage. Her mind went into freefall trying to digest his words. She had interviewed a few candidates for the deputy position, but after reading the other applications, Shane Wolfe shone out like a bright light.
At the time, Kane obviously had not recognized his name or face but admitted they had spoken by phone. If he had cause for alarm, or Wolfe had confided information to him earlier in the day, it would mean only one thing: Kane was working off the grid for the government and Wolfe was his new contact. Kane fit the profile and he had to be way above her old pay grade.
Collecting a glass of wine and the bottle, she headed into her office. If word had leaked about her new identity and whereabouts, she doubted the Department of Homeland Security would send him to protect her. After working undercover on one case, she hardly rated the expense. More likely, the DHS would swoop in and relocate her again, but so far, hiding in plain sight had worked. She dropped into the chair in front of her computer and refilled her glass then stared at the wall of flat screens. Why is he here?
Her mind turned to the murder. She needed to organize her deputies and use the assets of her team. She grabbed her notepad and made some notes. After listening to the brief report from Wolfe at the scene and Kane’s conclusions, she had a few of her own. Although Lucky Briggs and Storm Crawley made her skin crawl, the crime scene had told her one man was involved. Yeah, after the antics in the tack room, she believed either of them was capable, but would they work alone?
The staging of the victim and the fact her face was not touched led her to believe the killer was unlikely to be her boyfriend. She had seen enough victims of domestic abuse to know men angry with their wives or lovers went for the face. The murder was gruesomely artistic, which meant the killer had murdered before. One thing Wolfe mentioned had been significant. Killers who mutilate their victims start slow. They start with their pets and move up to murder as the need grows. From the carnage she witnessed in Stanton Forest, whoever had brutally murdered Felicity had plenty of practice. If her murder followed his usual modus operandi, his kills would be easy to trace—and people make mistakes. Without the ability to search the local databases for similar crimes, she drafted a letter then sent it out to all the police and sheriffs’ departments in the state.
She leaned back in her seat and made plans for the next day. In the morning, she would ask Rowley to trace Felicity’s cellphone and collect a list of calls or texts she had made from the server. Having her parents’ written permission gave the sheriff’s department instant access to her accounts. Rowley could also check her social media for clues. She needed some idea of Felicity’s movements from the time she left home until approximately nine thirty. A list of her friends would be helpful. She would send Kane to interview the boyfriend, Derick Smith, and see if he had an alibi for the time of death. Whoever Felicity had met during the short time between leaving home and reaching the forest had murdered her. The face of Felicity Parker filled her mind. Why did you go into the forest, Felicity?
Fifteen