“About fifty yards away in that direction.” Mrs. Ridley pointed in the direction of town and gave her a strange look as if she was remiss in not knowing. “There is a sign. We don’t let the children go there to fish. It’s not safe. It’s said to be a bottomless pool.”
“Okay, that’s all I need for now.” Jenna took a card out of her pocket and smiled at Jimmy. “If you remember anything at all, even if you think it’s silly, ask your mom to call me. I don’t want you to talk about this to anyone. I need to make sure her family knows what has happened before the story gets out.” She gave Mrs. Ridley a meaningful look and handed her the card. “This wasn’t a bear attack, and I suggest you keep the boys close to home for a while. I can arrange counseling for them, if you like?”
“No need, we have someone we can speak to, and don’t worry, we won’t say a word, not while a maniac is on the loose. He might take it personal like if he finds out my son is a witness.” Mrs. Ridley took the card and patted Jimmy on the back. “You’ll ride home with me. Get your bike and I’ll put it in the trunk.”
Jenna nodded. “Thank you for your help. I’ll be in touch if I need any further information.”
Glad to be in the sunshine and away from the murder scene, Jenna shook her head, trying to dispel the images of horror and the disbelief that anyone was capable of committing such an atrocity against a young woman. It did not take a profiler like Kane to see this murder was different from the cases she had worked in the past, but thank God she had his expertise to figure out the mind of a psychopath. The person or persons who had mutilated the young woman enjoyed the shock value of displaying their victims, which meant they would be close by, absorbing the fear they caused like a sponge. Goosebumps prickled over her skin as if a freezing breeze had brushed her bare flesh, and she glanced around. Are you watching me, asshole?
Five
The roar of an engine caught Jenna’s attention. She sighed with relief at the sight of Kane’s black SUV heading toward her at speed. When Walters moved to her side, she turned to him. “What do you know about Lucky Briggs and Storm Crawley? Right now, they are our prime suspects.”
“They are both regular hell-raisers during the rodeo season but seem to keep out of our way most of the time.” Walters scratched his cheek and stared at his notes. “I spoke to the kids while you were away. Seems like Jimmy led the way into the clearing, and when he saw the body he pushed Ian back along the track, so Ian didn’t see the body at all. He said he just ran for his life. I think both of them are so distraught they can’t recall many details.”
“I’m not surprised.” Jenna tapped her bottom lip with the end of her pen. “I don’t remember any complaints against anyone by the name of Lucky or Storm. I think I would remember.” She caught Walters’ eye-roll and wondered how many good old boys got off with a warning. “How come nobody put in a complaint if these men are as bad as you say?”
“They’re not that bad. It’s just the young bucks get a bit loud when they’re strutting their stuff.” Walters barked out a laugh. “They stick to the bar at the fairgrounds and butt heads. Over the years it’s been better to leave them be.”
Really? “No complaints from the local women? I gather they flock to them for attention.”
“For some reason women around these parts like a cowboy.” Walters tipped back his hat and grinned. “Those lucky enough to spend some time with one don’t usually complain.”
Jenna shuddered. “Count me out. Men stinking of horse shit and sweat don’t attract me one bit.”
“But you’re a city girl.” He grinned at her. “Most here would think it’s part of the charm.”
She gave him her best frozen expression and waved to Kane as he parked behind her cruiser. “Let’s hope their charm doesn’t include murder. Where do they usually stay?”
“They’ll be at the Black Rock Falls Motel, and with the stakes as high as they are this year, they won’t be going anywhere until after the rodeo.”
Jenna pushed a strand of hair from her face. “If they murdered the girl they could be hightailing it out of town by now.”
“They would know the kids saw them here so they wouldn’t get too far. They are known statewide and would stick out like sore thumbs in any town.” Walters tipped back his cowboy hat. “More likely they would stay around and compete as usual rather than leave all of a sudden like and appear guilty. This time of day, cowboys competing at the rodeo are likely to be at the fairgrounds preparing for the weekend and checking out the competition.”
Jenna considered what he said and it made sense. She glanced up at Walters and frowned. “You sure?”
“I am, ma’am. I know those boys and they won’t be going anywhere.” He frowned. “I can’t see them doing this to a girl. You want me to go check them out, ma’am?”
“No. If they are still there, I’ll wait for backup to arrive then talk to them myself.” She pulled out her cellphone and called the fairgrounds.
The event manager informed her, he had seen both men not five minutes ago and both were heading for the main arena. After receiving his assurance he would call her if he noticed them leaving, she disconnected and turned back to Walters. “They are at the fairgrounds and being watched, so we have time to process the scene then I’ll take Kane and speak with them.” She sucked in a deep breath. She had to secure the area. “Go get the tape out of my car and rope off the trail for me.”
She turned to see Wolfe marching toward her carrying a large bag and walked to meet him.
“What have we got, ma’am?”
Jenna grimaced. “I’ve never seen anything like this before, it’s brutal. The killer posed her and laid flowers at her feet.”
“No murder is pretty, ma’am.” Wolfe dropped the bag on the ground, removed his hat, and scratched his sweaty head before pushing the Stetson back onto his head. “Did the kids or their mothers identify the victim?”
Jenna sighed. “No, I’m afraid not. I’m sure she’ll be missed soon enough.”
“Do you think it would be better to keep a tight lid on the murder until we identify the victim, ma’am?”
Jenna bristled. “I know the protocol, Wolfe. The last thing I need is reporters contaminating the scene. I’ve already asked the witnesses not to say anything.”
Kane strolled to her side, his face grim. “Do you have any suspects?”
She turned her attention to him. “Two. The kids who found the victim saw two local rodeo cowboys they recognized as Lucky Briggs and Storm Crawley coming out the forest. I want to speak to them the moment we’ve secured the crime scene.” She glanced at Wolfe. “I wish you had your license already. Relying on a mortician to act as M.E. is not in our best interest. I’ll give you the keys to my car; follow the mortician back to the funeral home and get me an autopsy completed ASAP. I explained who you are when I called him.” She pulled out her car keys and handed them to Wolfe.
“Yes, ma’am.” Wolfe pushed the keys into his pants pocket.
She glanced at Kane. “We’ll interview the cowboys first, and when we get back to the office, I’ll go through the high school yearbooks and see if I can come up with the name of our victim. I doubt anyone has missed her yet; from what I could see, the body appears pretty fresh.” She frowned. “I’m sure Wolfe will be able to give me an interim report.”
“Do you know if anyone has disturbed the scene?” Kane dropped the crime scene bag he was holding onto the ground.
“The two boys, their mother, and me as far as I know.” She chewed on her bottom lip. “Do you have everything you need with you?”
“I never leave home without my kit, and as luck would have it, Wolfe had his box of tricks in his vehicle and we picked it up on the way.” Kane gave her a concerned look. “Do you want us to go ahead and secure the scene and do a sweep of the area for clues?”