“Just about everyone on our list of suspects.” Jenna worried her bottom lip, making it cherry-red. “Rogers started at the school in January; both cowboys come and go; the computer guy, Lionel Provine, took over the store around December, I think. The only suspect who has lived in town all his life is Felicity’s boyfriend, Derick, but he moves around with the team playing football and they do stay at least two nights in each town.” She shrugged. “I’ll be interested to find out if they all have alibis for tonight.”
“Then there is the janitor.” Kane turned to look at her. “Kids of this age use Facebook and give out intimate details of their lives. I mean we have no idea if her friends told anyone else she was meeting Chad. It could be all over social media for all we know.” He sighed. “It looks as if we have a lot of work to do.”
He started the engine and headed toward the main road. On the corner of Stanton Road, the headlights picked up a blue sedan parked alongside the forest. He slowed his vehicle. “That’s a strange place to leave a vehicle. Did you notice it parked there when we arrived?”
“I’m not sure. You drove like a bat out of hell.”
Pulling to the curb beside the car, he slipped from behind the wheel and, using his flashlight, examined the vehicle. Something inside moved and his heart raced. He reached for his weapon. “Sheriff’s department. Put your hands where I can see them.”
Angling his Glock along the flashlight, he approached with caution and the beam of light fell on Steve Rogers’ face. “Get out of the car, hands on head.”
In his periphery, he noticed Jenna moving toward him, weapon drawn. He kicked Rogers’ feet apart and patted him down. Finding no weapons, he spun him around, noticing his disheveled appearance and the circles of sweat marking the underarms of his shirt. The top button of his mud-spattered jeans was unfastened and he was barefoot. He glanced inside the car and noticed a laptop on the passenger seat. “What brings you out at this time of night, Mr. Rogers?”
“I heard sirens and thought there might be something going on, so I came down here to take a look.” Rogers refused to meet his gaze. “No crime in sitting in my car is there?”
Kane flicked a glance at Jenna and shrugged. “No, but you appear to be a little hot and bothered. What else have you been doing tonight? Jogging in the forest perhaps? And do you usually run with bare feet?”
“I haven’t been doing anything. I heard gunshots and forgot my shoes when I dashed out to see what was happening. There’s no law about not wearing shoes is there?”
“No.” Kane glared at him. “What gunshots are you talking about?”
“I heard them but I checked the local news on my cellphone and nothing has been reported.” His thin lips twitched. “What did happen?”
Kane shrugged. “Kids broke into the college and set off a few fireworks is all. Nothing for you to worry about.” He opened the car door. “Why don’t you head on home.”
Kane waited for him to drive away and turned to Jenna. “He had a laptop on the front seat and did you see the way he was dressed? He was sweaty and looked out of breath as if he’d been running.” He sighed. “Man, I’d love an excuse to look at the history on his cellphone.”
“Look over there. I think I see tire marks on the edge of the road.”
He moved the flashlight over the grass and they followed the track into a clump of trees. “Someone parked here, and if he is our killer, he could have run here from the college, but although Rogers had splashes of mud on him, his feet looked clean but he could have removed his shoes. Perhaps he wanted to watch the people coming and going to the scene. Maybe he planned to leave, saw our headlights, and stopped then ducked down to pretend the car was empty.”
“Yeah.” Jenna stared blankly at the empty road. “Especially as Chad can place the killer at the scene between eight thirty and eight forty-five. Maybe we should have arrested Rogers?”
Kane gave her a sideways look. “On suspicion of murder? Finding him in a car in the local area half an hour at least after the fact without a shred of evidence to prove our case, his lawyer will have us up on harassment charges. We could seize his computer with suspicion of child porn or money laundering. Take your pick.” Exhausted, he rolled his shoulders and headed back to the SUV. “How do you want to proceed?”
“We’ll leave him for now but he has moved up the suspect list. I wish we had enough on him for Wolfe to access his computer to see what he was doing.”
“Again, the judge will laugh the paperwork out of his office.” Kane raised an eyebrow. “Where to?”
“I’ll enter the Brights’ address in the GPS.” Jenna took out her notebook and went to work. “First we inform the parents some maniac has murdered their daughter.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Kane slid behind the wheel and started the engine.
Thirty-One
After informing the stunned and shocked parents of Kate Bright, Jenna decided to leave them in the capable hands of Reverend Jones. The reverend had solemnly informed them he would go with them to the mortuary and help arrange the funeral once Wolfe released Kate’s body. Glad to have the awful business over, she stood. “You have my card if you need to contact me.”
“Dear God, how did this happen?” Mr. Bright gave her a blank look and stared at the card in his hand. “I thought she was safe in her room. Why didn’t I check on her?” He glanced at Kane and anger replaced devastation. “I want to be there when you catch this animal. I’ll tear him apart with my bare hands.” He raked at his tear-filled eyes and body shook with grief. He clasped Kane’s arm. “Tell me you’ll catch this son of a bitch.”
“We’ll catch him, sir.” Kane turned his concerned gaze on her. “Ma’am?”
A flashback of being tied, helpless and in the hands of two killers, hit Jenna like a train. The conversation swirled around her like water flowing down the drain in the sink. The next moment someone gripped her arm. She panicked, wanting to run away, then Kane’s voice broke through the buzzing in her head.
“I think we should call back at another time. We need to leave these people to get some rest.”
She focused on his face and nodded. “Yes, of course. I’m so sorry for your loss.”
“Just catch the man who did this to my little girl.” Mr. Bright mopped at the tears welling in his red-rimmed eyes. “I want to see her.”
Jenna cleared her throat. “Yes, of course. I’ll contact you the moment the M.E has released her.”
Relieved to be leaving the pain and misery behind, Jenna followed Kane to his SUV. “I hope the reverend will be able to help them cope.”
Jenna noticed Kane stiffen and the tick in his cheek.
“I don’t do religion.” Kane shrugged then his blue gaze moved to her face. “I kill people, maybe in the line of duty but I don’t expect a welcome at the Pearly Gates. I’m paying for my sins every day of my life.”
“It’s not a sin to protect your country or to save a life.” Astonished her iceman had vented his innermost feelings, she gaped at him. “I thought you liked living in Black Rock Falls?”
“Like is a pretty strong word.” Kane snorted in derision and his lips turned down. “A new life maybe, and having you as my boss is a bonus, but I watched my wife die and I live in pain. I’ll probably be stuck here for the rest of my life.”
“Oh my God.” Jenna punched him hard in the bicep and pain shot up her arm. Dammit, she had got close to breaking her knuckles, and Kane only looked at her with one raised black eyebrow. He had not moved an inch. “What the hell is wrong with you? Poor boy, are you feeling sorry for yourself? Want me to buy you a pacifier?” She glared at him. “Pull yourself together.”
When Kane flashed her a brilliant white smile, she gaped at him, speechless, rubbing her throbbing hand.
“That’s the Jenna I know.” He mussed up her hair with one big hand and chuckled. “I thought you had checked out on me for a while before—and next time, punch me in a soft area, or knee me in the groin if you want to get my attention, or you’ll hurt yourself.” He sauntered toward the car.