“It took you that long to drive a forty-minute round trip?”
“The customer, Mrs. Bolton, insisted I go over the repairs listed on the bill then made me wait for her to write out a check.” Derick pushed both hands into the front pockets of his coveralls. “She held me up, some.”
“I’ll need her address.” He wrote down the details Derick willingly supplied to corroborate his story. “Would you object to giving me a sample of your DNA?”
“My what?” Derick’s cheeks reddened. “Here? Why would you need my DNA? What happened to Felicity?”
“I am not at liberty to discuss the case at this time but whatever incident may have involved her, a sample will eliminate you from any list of suspects we might have.” Kane narrowed his gaze at the flustered young man. “I just need to swab the inside of your mouth. Quick and painless.”
“Oh—sure. I ain’t got nothing to hide.”
Kane pulled a DNA collection kit from his inside pocket and performed the test, making sure the evidence was sealed and the documentation required for collection signed. “Okay, thank you for your cooperation.”
He headed over to George Miller and smiled at him. “Do you remember what time Derick arrived yesterday morning and how long he was away delivering the car?”
“He is a punctual lad, starts seven each mornin’, is never late, does his job.” George rubbed his chin. “He must have brought the loaner back around nine because I was in the office giving my daughter an order for apple pie. We take a break at nine fifteen like clockwork every day. Mary-Jo goes down to Aunt Betty’s to pick up our orders around nine.”
Kane made notes and lifted his gaze. “Thanks.” He pushed the notepad and pen back inside his pocket.
“The lad ain’t in no trouble, is he?”
“No, just routine inquiries.” Kane gave him a wave and headed back to his black SUV.
He pulled out his cellphone and called Wolfe. “Grab Rowley and meet me out front of the office, we’ll go check the other trail to the crime scene.”
“Roger that. Rowley said there is another trail that runs past the falls.”
Kane spun the car around and accelerated toward the sheriff’s department. “Let’s hope we find enough evidence to stop this animal.”
Eighteen
After arranging to speak with Aimee Fox and picking up Walters from the office, Jenna made her way to School Road. Confident that two men in the top of their field and one very capable deputy would be scouring Stanton Forest to discover just how clever the killer had been in covering his tracks, she would have time to interview the victim’s friends and get a better handle on her timeline. She sucked in a breath as the image of Felicity Parker’s lacerated body flashed across her mind. “We have to catch this guy.”
“We sure do.” Deputy Walters waved a hand toward the windscreen. “Next left. The Foxes live in the house with the stone wall.”
She found the house and parked at the curb then noticed a girl about sixteen heading in their direction, head down, looking at her cellphone, and wearing earbuds. She appeared oblivious to her surroundings. The girl ignored the cruiser, turned into the Foxes’ driveway, and headed for the house. Jenna stared after her for a few moments. “Have you noticed since cellphones kids never talk to each other anymore? I wonder if they’ll manage to communicate out in the real world.” She pushed open the door and climbed out.
“My grandchildren are the same.” Walters ambled up beside her. “When they come to visit, all I see is the top of their heads.”
The girl had entered the house and a woman waited on the doorstep. Jenna smiled to put her at her ease. “Mrs. Fox? I’m Sheriff Alton and this is Deputy Walters. May we come in and have a chat with Aimee?”
“What is this all about? I know you mentioned ‘routine inquiries’ but why would Aimee be able to help you?”
“I am speaking to friends of Felicity Parker concerning an incident yesterday morning.” Jenna took out her notepad. “Aimee is on our list and might have some valuable information.”
“Very well, you can catch two birds with one stone.” Mrs. Fox stood to one side to allow them to enter. “Kate, Kate Bright, has just arrived. She is a friend of Felicity as well.”
“Do you have her parents’ number? I will require their permission before I speak to her.” Jenna glanced around. The houses on this side of town made a statement of wealth. Rather than ranches, these homes sat in the middle of huge, well-tended gardens. The owners enjoyed being part of the university faculty or medical profession.
“Yes, of course.” Mrs. Fox pulled her cellphone from her pocket and gave Jenna the information.
After obtaining the required permission to allow Mrs. Fox to be a proxy, Jenna followed Mrs. Fox into the family room. She gaped at the impressive display of Civil War rifles and other collectables displayed on one wall. “That is an amazing collection.”
“Yes, my husband spends a fortune at auctions. He loves weapons of all description.” Mrs. Fox sat between the two girls sitting on the edge of the sofa. “Turn off your cellphones. Sheriff Alton wants a word with you.” She patted a girl with tawny hair on the knee. “This is my Aimee.”
Jenna left Deputy Walters standing beside the door and sat in a comfortable leather chair opposite. She smiled at the girls. Both had dressed the same in short skirts and T-shirts with cowboy boots. The makeup on the girls surprised her and it made them look older than their sixteen years. Lucky’s words echoed in her mind. I seem to attract the young ones. With Kane’s interview notes running through her mind, she decided to ease the information from the girls rather than reveal Felicity had died. “Can you tell me what you usually do with Felicity over a typical week of summer vacation?”
“That depends if the rodeo is coming to town.” Aimee grinned. “Sometimes we like to ride around town and hope to get a glimpse of some of the riders. This year we are going to the dance.”
“You have a car?” Jenna jotted down notes.
“Yeah, Dad gave it to me for my birthday.” Aimee patted her hair and yawned. “I have my license.”
The girl, bored by her questions, constantly fiddled with her cellphone.
“What else do you do? Where do you go, who do you usually speak to?”
“We go all over. Sometimes to the library, Aunt Betty’s Café, but yesterday we planned to hang out at the computer store in town. It sells games, computers, cellphones, and all types of gadgets. It has free Wi-Fi.” Kate Bright grinned. “The guy behind the counter is a real nerd but if we are nice to him he helps us with the games.”
The hairs on the back of her neck prickled. “Define ‘nice’ and why do you need help with a game?”
“Oh, we pick up his lunch and do other stuff.” Aimee sighed. “Or he has to kick us out and lock up the store.”
“Does he give you games?”
“Nah. Don’t be silly.” Kate giggled and looked at her as if she was crazy. “We download them onto our smartphones. You are just like my mom. She can’t even send a text message. Games are free from the internet. Lionel knows how to cheat at most of the games and shows us how to get up the levels faster is all.”
“Do you know Lionel’s last name?”
“Provine, I think.” Aimee fiddled with the cushion on the chair. “Why are you asking questions about Felicity? Has something happened to her?”
“I’m afraid Felicity was involved in a serious incident yesterday.”
“What kind of incident?” Aimee leaned forward in her seat. “Did someone hurt her?”
Jenna sighed. “I’m not able to disclose that information just yet but I must caution you to be very careful and don’t go out alone. Keep away from the forest right now it’s not safe.”
“That’s awful.” Aimee looked at her friend. “We’ll go and see her.”