It had been a long time since he had spooned, and the thoughts of Annie, his wife, hammered his mind. They had discussed the fact he might not survive a tour of duty and he insisted she should move on with her life. He could still feel her hands cupping his face as she made him promise he would do the same. I’m trying, Annie, but I’ll never forget you. He touched the scar covering the metal plate in his head then allowed sleep to claim him.
Since his first tour of duty, he could not fall into a deep sleep. His mind remained on constant alert and woke him at the slightest threat. He opened his eyes a crack, remembering with a rush of apprehension he had taken Jenna to his bed. Under his arm, her muscles tensed but she kept her breathing steady. She is pretending to be asleep. He let out a long sigh, abstained from farting, and rolled onto his back. “I know you’re awake. I woke up about two this morning and carried you in here because you were freezing. That’s all that happened.”
He heard her snort of derision and rolled out of bed then headed for the bathroom. “It’s too late for a workout this morning. I’m taking a shower and heading for Aunt Betty’s Café. I’m famished. I’ll see you at work, ma’am.”
As he reached the bathroom door, he heard swearing he would regard as classic with a touch of the macabre. Heavy footsteps followed by the front door slamming hard enough to loosen it from its hinges. Not a happy camper this morning? He grimaced at his reflection, pulled out his shaving gear, and started to get ready for work.
* * *
After a hearty breakfast at Aunt Betty’s Café, Kane drove to the sheriff’s office and parked in his usual spot beside Jenna’s new SUV, the replacement for the old cruiser she had been driving since her car wreck last winter. When she had a bone to pick with him, she usually arrived well ahead of time, and he gathered his day at the office would be one he would remember for some time to come. He pushed through the glass doors and into the sheriff’s department, surprised to see a young blonde-haired girl at the front desk with Magnolia. He strolled toward them and smiled. “Good morning. Lovely weather today.”
“Well, aren’t you all sunshine and roses, and the sheriff rolled in here like a thunderstorm with threatening hail.” Magnolia’s brown eyes flitted over him. “Know what’s going on?”
He shrugged and kept his expression blank. “I have no idea. She hasn’t spoken to me this morning. The cases we’re dealing with are complex and she is under a lot of pressure right now.”
“Dreadful is the word I would use.” Maggie’s expression changed to sadness. “Is there anything I can do to help?”
He frowned. “Did the sheriff ask you about the janitor at the college campus? We need his name and address.”
“Hmm, she stormed in here without a word but you won’t find anyone up at the campus for the first two weeks of the summer break. That’s when all the staff, cleaners and the like, take their vacation, then they all come back and the maintenance crew comes in to fix up the place for the new semester. The janitor is back by then. I’ll get his name and address for you and I’ll give his house a quick call just to see if he is at home.” Maggie raised both dark eyebrows. “Oh, have you met our intern for the summer? This fine young lady is Emily Wolfe.” She waved the young girl forward. “Meet Deputy Dave Kane.”
“Nice to meet you. My dad mentioned you called last night.” Ice-gray eyes an exact replica of Shane Wolfe’s gave him a once-over.
He shook her hand and smiled at her haughty air. “Yes, Shane has mentioned you too but I wasn’t aware we were getting an intern. Are you planning on becoming a deputy or are you here for the administrative experience?”
“Neither.” She tossed a lock of white-blonde hair over one shoulder. “I’m planning on studying forensic science like my dad then I can work with him. The school likes seniors to do some type of internship during the break, so here I am. It will be interesting to watch the process of the law in a small town. Of course, I’ll need to be aware of such things if I plan to work beside my dad.”
The idea the young girl had Wolfe’s almost ghoulish predilection for examining the cause of death in murder victims surprised him. “I’m sure you’ll be a great asset to the team.” He noticed Jenna’s door swing open and, wanting to avoid her fury, turned toward his desk. “I’d better get to work. It’s fifty lashes if I’m late.” He grinned at her astonished expression and strode to his cubicle. Of her tongue.
Thirty-Three
Jenna read the horrific details of Kate’s death from Wolfe’s autopsy report and reached for her coffee. Exhausted, she needed the caffeine to keep on her toes. Breaking down in front of Kane was unforgivable, and waking up in his bed a total disaster. All her years of training to withstand torture had vanished and she had fallen to pieces in front of him. Everyone has a breaking point but she had woken up angry with herself—in Kane’s arms. Worst of all, Kane felt sorry for her. Sorry. Holy shit, he had held her all night. She had to pull herself together before he lost confidence in her leadership.
Her rudeness after waking was inexcusable, especially as she had forced her problems on him. She had seen a different side to him, a gentle, caring side he kept well-hidden. He had treated her with the utmost respect and tried to help her rationalize the situation. In the last six months, he had become a close friend but she needed to remain in control at work. She had to think about how best to handle the situation. Later. I have murders to solve. She pushed to her feet and strode to the office door. “Wolfe, Kane, in my office now!”
Dragging down the whiteboard, she stared at the notes she had listed under each photograph. When the deputies entered the office and the door clicked shut behind them, she turned slowly and regarded them down her nose. With the two massive men in the room, the area appeared filled to capacity. She cleared her throat and moved her attention to Wolfe. “Are you 100 percent sure there are only two sets of prints on the pool padlock?”
“Yes, it was wiped clean but I found Kate’s and I collected Chad’s this morning on the way here and they are a match.” His blond eyebrows rose. “The gate must have been open when Kate arrived, and Chad admitted trying to open the padlock to get to her.” He rubbed the stubble on his chin, the sound like sandpaper. “I don’t think Chad can be classed as a suspect. When I went to his house this morning, I asked what time he left and his father confirmed the time as eight fifteen. What the killer did to Kate took, I would say, fifteen to twenty minutes but I would say he took his time and made it last as long as possible. Add the fact Chad was clean and wearing the same clothes his father described him as wearing when he left home puts him in the clear.”
“I agree.” Jenna sucked in a deep breath. “You are certain Kate was alive most of the time?”
“Affirmative. The injuries inflicted to her eyes prevented her from closing them. The killer wanted her to see what he did to her. She died from blood loss and shock.”
“So, different from both the other murders?”
“Only in a few instances.” Wolfe’s gaze narrowed. “He planned Felicity’s and Kate’s murders. They were calculated and he took his time. Joanne’s murder was different, rushed. It was a quick thrill-kill and messy, proving he didn’t have his tools of the trade with him. If we had released Felicity’s murder to the media, I would have considered Joanne’s murder a copycat.”
She moved her attention to Kane, who had his secret-agent blank expression in place. “In your opinion as an expert on psychopathic behavior, when do you believe he will strike again?”
“He is escalating and could strike again anytime.” Kane rolled his wide shoulders and his blue gaze rested on her. “If he is still in the area. So far there have only been two murders of the same type in each town, and he has done three here. He might think it’s time to move on.”