“I’ll follow up and send Rowley to get her statement but she described her and what she was wearing and even mentioned Felicity was wearing earbuds. No one has seen Joanne Blunt. It is obvious she went to the rock pool for a swim but how long was she there before the killer spotted her?”
“After the media release, I would have thought someone would come forward with information.” Jenna chewed on the end of the pen. “Maybe just asking if anyone had seen the two girls in the vicinity of Stanton Forest was too vague.”
“I don’t think so.” Kane rubbed the back of his neck. “I wonder if Felicity had a call to meet someone in the forest, her boyfriend perhaps?”
“Or she was playing that stupid game?” Jenna let out a long sigh. “I wish we had her cellphone.”
“Hmm.” Kane stared at the whiteboard, trying to let the clues percolate through his mind. “Or the boyfriend is lying. We know he called her, and was only at Mrs. Bolton’s for five or so minutes. Although, the time Mrs. Rogers’ saw Felicity is sketchy at best. We can’t discount Rogers either. He was in the area and could have easily followed her.”
“That’s a possibility.” Jenna tapped the board. “Right now, we have four suspects we can place in the area at the right time for both murders.” She picked up the marker. “Derick Smith, the boyfriend, was delivering a car in the area and picking up the loaner; the teacher, Rogers; Lucky Briggs and Storm Crawley. Number five is the computer store guy, Lionel Provine, who can’t account for his whereabouts at the time of the murders.” She chewed on her lips as if trying to think. “The problem is we don’t have enough solid evidence to charge any of them.”
Kane’s phone signaled a message. “This might be info from one of the other sheriff’s departments.” He stared at the screen and an icy chill ran down his back. “This came from Helena: ‘Sending you information via email on eight similar cases recorded in the state of Montana. Same M.O. Victims are female, fifteen to seventeen, long hair. Murders escalated from months to one week apart. Local newspapers named him the Waterside Ripper. Nothing reported for six months, no suspects detained. Have checked state data bank. Please keep us informed of any suspects or arrests.’” A wave of doom washed over him. He lifted his gaze to Jenna and met her horrified stare. “It’s confirmed, we have a serial killer in town.”
Twenty-Seven
Kate Bright dabbed perfume behind her ears and grinned at her reflection in the mirror. She would leave the music channel on TV for the flashing lights, turn down the sound, and lock her bedroom door. From the hallway, the effect would be the same as if she had on her headphones and was playing games. No one would disturb her, not after helping all day and being the perfect daughter. Her parents were being way overprotective and would not tell her what had happened to Felicity. She had seen the news, the sheriff was asking for people who had seen Felicity and some other girl named Joanne Blunt near Stanton Forest. What could have happened to them? When she asked her mom, she had told her to stay home but she would say anything to prevent her from meeting Chad at night. Adults think teenagers can only have sex at night. How stupid is that?
She went downstairs into the kitchen and raided the refrigerator. Chad had a huge appetite and she would take him some energy bars and drinks. She stared at the stacked shelves for a few moments then grabbed a bottle of water. After the long hike to the campus, she would be thirsty. She heard her mother heading in her direction and darted toward the stairs. Once out of sight, she called out, “Mom? Do you mind if I play my game for an hour or so? I’ll wear my headphones so I don’t disturb you.”
“You spend far too much time on the computer. It’s not healthy. Watch TV with us and be sociable for a change. There’s a good movie on tonight.”
“I’ll spend tomorrow night with you, I promise. Please, Mom?”
“I guess so but I’ll hold you to that promise, young lady.”
“Thanks.” Kate bolted up the steps and back into her room.
She locked the door and stuffed a towel, drinks, and snacks into her backpack. Five minutes later, she slipped out the bedroom window and climbed down the terrace. The sun had dropped in the sky, casting long shadows, but she would get to the pool and back long before sunset. She doubted her parents would check on her before ten, and she should be home and tucked up in bed by then.
Not wanting anyone to recognize her, she pulled up the hood on her jacket, glad she had decided to cover her jeans and skimpy top. Although in Black Rock Falls the sun shone for over twelve hours a day, the temperature dropped in the evenings and her hair would be wet after skinny-dipping. She giggled at the thought of slipping into the heated pool naked. Sneaking out to meet Chad had become a naughty but exciting habit of late.
She rounded the last block of residential buildings and headed toward the wide road leading to the campus. Worried about someone driving by and seeing her trespassing, she kept to the shadows and walked along the tree-lined driveway to the entrance.
A jolt of apprehension tightened in her belly at the first sight of the buildings, empty with black windows and missing the usual welcoming illumination. Without the noise of students and vehicles, the campus resembled a ghost town. She moved on and the creepy sound the wind made rustling through the trees sent goosebumps running up her arms.
Back in the sunlight, her panic eased and she turned the last bend toward the main gate. She stopped and stared in disbelief at the massive gates blocking the entrance to traffic. With the number of cleaners and tradesmen coming and going during the summer break, they usually remained open. The only way inside would be through the wooded area. She hated the idea of running into a bear or a bobcat looking for its dinner, but she took a deep breath and plowed into the bushes.
The trees closed in around her, blocking the light, but she had taken this path before and hurried along. Nerves frazzled, she started at movements in the undergrowth and glanced in all directions. The woods seemed to be watching her with a thousand eyes. Branches snagged at her coat and tangled around her feet. Convinced roots would erupt from the earth and drag her down to hell, just like in the movies, she quickened her pace.
Gasping as waves of panic washed over her, she made her way back to the road, tripping over a sod of earth where someone had dragged wildflowers out by their roots. Dang, now I have mud on my boots. She could have avoided being scared to death if Chad had suggested meeting him closer to the main gate.
Loud rustling came from directly behind her as if something big had spotted her as their next meal. Fear grabbed her by the throat and she took off at a run. Moments later, she burst out of the woods on the other side of the gate and headed toward the gym. She checked the time on her cellphone. Shit, I’m almost fifteen minutes late. Chad should have been waiting for her but a peek through the gym window told her he had not arrived. Perhaps he’d walked to the pool to look for her. She messaged him but got no reply, and Chad usually answered in seconds. I bet his dad still has his cellphone.
Deciding to head for the pool to wait for him to arrive, she opened the cover of her cellphone and, engrossed in the game, wandered along the dark passageway. A few moments later, she reached the entrance. She heaved a sigh of relief seeing the gate slightly ajar. Chad must be waiting inside. She hurried along to the dressing room and disconnected from the game. The Olympic-sized pool stretched out in an expanse of blue, and the smell of chlorine drifted toward her. She could see Chad swimming way down the far end and grinned. She would surprise him and sneak into the pool.