by D. K. Hood
Kane lifted Duke into the back of his truck and then climbed behind the wheel. In seconds, Carter had Zorro settled and was in the passenger seat. He turned to him. “Jenna called and she’s concerned about a suspect they’re interviewing by the name of Roger Suffolk. She said he was acting strange. They’re heading into his house and I figure we should hightail it over to the Crazy Iron Forge and make sure they’re okay.” He tossed him his phone, started the engine and the Beast roared up the blacktop. “She just sent me his details.”
“I’ll enter the coordinates into the GPS.” Carter scanned the messages. “Got it. It’s on the outskirts of town. Head west.”
Kane accelerated but had only traveled a mile before he caught sight of Jenna’s SUV heading toward them. He flashed his lights and the SUV slowed and pulled onto the grass. He stopped opposite and Jenna climbed out and ran across the road toward him. He buzzed down his window. “Does this mean it’s time to head out to the diner?”
“No.” Jenna thrust a piece of paper toward him. “Suffolk is part of a sect or something that has peculiar ideas about women’s rights.” She pushed the hair from her eyes. “Long story but he has a fifteen-year-old living with him training to be his wife.”
Kane stared at the scrawled message and opened his mouth to say something but she glared at him.
“Let me finish.” Jenna pointed to the note. “She slipped me the note. This is a cry for help, we have FBI Agents with us so there’s no reason we can’t take her under our protection. I wanted to get her out of there without a fight and trust me, taking her from a three-hundred-pound blacksmith wasn’t going to be easy.”
Astonished by her reluctance to just take the girl, Kane nodded. “Okay, so two FBI agents drawing down on him didn’t faze him?” He couldn’t help grinning at her annoyed expression and just had to tease her. “Or did he pull an AK47 on you and tell you to leave?”
“Dave, it’s not funny. He could be the bomber and we don’t know where the girl came from, do we? They call her Dawn but what if she’s the missing girl? They look similar but it was difficult to tell with the cap the girl was wearing.” Jenna met his gaze. “If she isn’t Sophie Wood, I didn’t want to bring in Sheriff Crenshaw and compromise the investigation by tying him up with a case of underage dealing.” She snorted. “Not that it would stick. Crenshaw is a member of his church and already allowed Suffolk to walk after threatening Wood.”
Bemused, Kane scratched his cheek. “Hmm okay, follow us back to the forge, we’ll keep him busy and you go get the girl. He’ll never know who took her.”
“Yeah he will, his mother is there.” Jenna frowned. “There must be some way of getting her out unnoticed.”
“Send Jo to the front door and make up some excuse about dropping an earring or something.” Kane smiled at her. “You go round back and get the girl.”
“I knew you’d figure it out.” Jenna squeezed his arm. “Forget eating here, we’ll head straight to Black Rock Falls and I’ll get her into the Her Broken Wings shelter.”
“Great we’ll get to eat at Aunt Betty’s Café.” Kane waved her away. “We’ll go in first and you hide your ride somewhere.” His stomach growled and he caught her pained expression. “I hope this doesn’t take too long, I’m about ready to eat Duke’s doggy snacks.”
“That desperate huh?” Jenna shook her head. “I can tell time by your stomach. It rumbles every few hours.” She gave him a wave and headed back to her SUV.
He waited for Jenna to turn her vehicle around and then headed back along the highway.
“Here.” Carter handed him an energy bar. “One thing I’ve discovered working with Jo is eating is the last thing on her agenda. I keep a good supply of these in my pockets.”
“Thanks.” Kane grinned at him. “I figure Jenna gives me time to eat because my stomach growls so loud it makes Duke whine.” He unwrapped the energy bar. “But she’ll be discussing the case all through lunch. She never slows down during the day.”
“Are we going in as FBI?” Carter looked at him. “It might make him suspicious.”
Kane shook his head. “Nah, I’ll ask him about gates. I do need some for the corral I’ve been building, and maybe a new fancy door for the cottage.” He headed to the front of the forge and slid out the door leaving the dogs inside, with the windows open.
“I’ll hang at the door while you talk to him.” Carter met him stride for stride. “I’ll remove my hat when Jenna has the girl.”
Kane nodded. “Copy that.”
Twenty
Heart thumping with exhilaration, Jenna crept her SUV along the Crazy Iron Forge driveway. Ahead, Kane had parked the Beast to obscure the entrance to the forge. She smiled to herself; this way if Suffolk popped his head outside, he wouldn’t see her approach or departure. She backed her SUV in behind the stables again nose out ready for a fast getaway, and then turned to Jo. “There’s a path going around the back of the forge to the house, if we go that way we’ll avoid being seen. How are you going to play this?”
“The lost earring ploy.” She pulled out the stud in her ear and slipped it into her pocket. “I’ll find it at the appropriate time. Just make it fast.”
Jenna slipped from behind the wheel. “Try to keep her talking. If Dawn is in the kitchen, I’ll grab her and run but if I head upstairs, you’ll need to shut the kitchen door so I can leave by the front.”
They made their way along an overgrown walkway behind the stables walking in single file and keeping in the cover of the bushes. As they passed the end of the forge, Jenna waved Jo in the direction of the front porch of the ranch house and headed around back. A small gate in a very old fence led into the backyard and Jenna scanned the neat vegetable bed with not a weed in sight. Close to the back of the house, a line with white sheets swung in the breeze. The closed frosted kitchen widows would hide her approach. Adrenalin pumped through her veins as she headed for the open backdoor. At the foot of the steps a small flower garden, lovingly tended, exploded with color and gave her a lump in her throat. Dawn was obviously trying to make this house a home and she wondered how she’d become involved with Roger Suffolk.
Pressed against the wall of the house, Jenna listened. She heard Jo knocking on the front door and slow footsteps along the polished wooden floors. Moving with stealth, she crept up the steps and found herself in a mudroom off the kitchen. She was in full view of the kitchen and was just in time to see Dawn head down the hallway.
“Go to your room.” Mrs. Suffolk’s stern voice seem to echo through the quiet house.
Jenna waited for voices and slipped from the mudroom and headed toward the stairs. She could see the back of Mrs. Suffolk not five yards away from her. If she turned now, and caught her inside the house, all hell would break lose. The next moment, she heard Jo asking about the rose bush and drawing Mrs. Suffolk outside onto the porch. Not wasting a second, Jenna bolted up the stairs, her gaze flicking right to left searching for Dawn. She found her sitting on her bed staring at the wall. She lowered her voice to a whisper not wanting to startle her. “Dawn, if you want to leave, I can help you but we have to go now.”
“Oh, it’s you.” Dawn stood and smiled at her. “I knew you’d come back. I’ve packed a bag but how are we going to get past Ma?” She bent and pulled a backpack from under the bed.
“Don’t worry about her, my friend will keep her occupied in the kitchen but we have to move fast and silently.” Jenna held one finger to her lips. “No talking. We’re going down the stairs and out the front door.”
Pulse thumping in her ears, Jenna listened at the door. She heard voices and footsteps heading for the kitchen. She eased out onto the steps and started as the kitchen door opened. Shit! Ducking back inside the room, she looked around frantically for a hiding place.
“Dawn, get down here and help us search for an earring.” Mrs. Suffolk’s loud voice seemed to fill the room.
“I need to use the bathroom and then I’ll be right down.” Dawn poked her head around the
door. “I can’t wait.”
“Don’t be long.” Mrs. Suffolk’s footsteps shuffled back along the hallway. “Now, where do you figure you lost your earring?”
“Is that it down there behind the door?” Jo’s voice sounded strained. “Let me look.”
The kitchen door closed and Jenna grabbed Dawn’s arm and they moved down the steps. Each creak of the floorboards sounded like a gunshot but they only had seconds to get to the door and out to freedom. She pushed the girl ahead of her and as Dawn brushed past the statue of the cowboy the hanging strap of her backpack snagged it. The statue rocked and toppled. As if she still played on the high school softball team, Jenna scooped it up and extricated it from the backpack. After setting the statue in the middle of the table, she followed Dawn out the door and closed it silently behind her.
Jenna waved Dawn on. “Take the path behind the forge. I’m parked beside the stables. Run!”
Twenty-One
Kane had his story straight by the time he paused at the entrance to the Crazy Iron Forge and scanned the building. His attention settled on the blacksmith repairing what looked like a piece of a tractor. Jenna hadn’t been exaggerating about the size of Roger Suffolk, although her estimate of three hundred pounds was light. He walked inside and caught the man’s attention. “Afternoon, I’m looking for a corral gate and a wrought-iron door and frame for my house. I live out of Black Rock Falls and hear tell you’re the best around.”
“You’ll have to be more specific.” Suffolk plunged the ironwork he’d been working on, into the water and waved a hand toward a bench against the wall. “There are different types of gates and even more designs for doors.” He led the way to the bench and pushed a binder toward Kane. “What gauge do you want the door for the cottage? Is it to look pretty or for security?”
Kane peered at the designs. “Both. The cottage is old, over a hundred years, I’d guess, so something suitable.”
“Then something like this?” Suffolk flicked through the designs. “This is old style.”
Kane nodded. “Yeah I like that one.”
They went on to discuss gates and timeframes, with Kane drawing out the conversation for as long as possible. He noticed the way Suffolk kept flicking his attention to Carter, but Carter played his part well, leaning against the doorframe looking suitably bored. After some purposeful dithering, he could see Suffolk getting agitated and pointed to one design that would suit his cottage. “That one will look real good. I’ll go with the basic corral gate. This one here will do. I’ll make a note of the design numbers and call you with the measurements.” He pulled out his notebook and wrote the information down.
“I’ll make a note as well, so I know what you’re talking about when you call.” Suffolk added notes to a large dirty fingerprint marked book and lifted his gaze. “Name?”
“Dave Kane.” He handed him his card and noticed Suffolk’s eyebrows raise when he read it.
“So, you’re the deputy sheriff out of Black Rock Falls?” Suffolk stared at the card. He straightened and his eyes flashed with something close to anger.
Kane ignored the hostility and smiled. “Guilty as charged.” He pushed the notebook into his pocket. “But I still need to order the gates or do you have a problem selling to members of the sheriff’s department?”
“Nope.” Suffolk closed his book. “A sale is a sale and I deliver to Black Rock Falls. In fact, I’ll be heading that way as soon as you leave.” He pulled the machinery part he’d been working on from the water and dumped it on the bench. “I had a rush job.” He removed his apron. “So, are we done here?”
“Ah… Boss.” Carter removed his hat and pulled out the toothpick from the corner of his mouth. “The dogs are getting restless.”
Kane nodded. In his faded jeans, cowboy boots, and untidy blond hair hanging over his collar, Carter slipped into the role of ranch hand without a problem. “Be right there.” He held out his hand to Suffolk, fully aware he may be shaking the hand of the man who killed Annie. The guy was big, sure, but looking into his eyes, a rage like no other threatened to overtake him. He could take him down in seconds and revenge would be sweet but allowing that side of him to take control would make him no better than the psychopaths he hunted. Deep inside, he could hear Annie’s voice pushing him to find justice for her. It had become painful, relentless, and it took an effort to keep his professional mask firmly in place. He ground his teeth and had the urgent need to wash the man’s touch from his hands. “Thanks for your time, I’ll be in touch.”
“Sure.” Suffolk followed Kane to the door and stared at his truck.
Kane gave him a wave, climbed behind the wheel, and headed down the driveway. In the distance, he could hear a woman’s voice calling out. He glanced in his mirror at Suffolk’s annoyed expression as he turned to stomp toward the house. “Time to go.” He accelerated along the trail sending up a great cloud of dust. “They’ve noticed the girl missing already. Are Jenna and Jo clear?”
“Oh yeah, Jenna hightailed it out of here like her cruiser was on fire.” Carter grinned at him. “They work well together. Jenna is a natural leader. Why the hell is she wasting her time in Black Rock Falls?”
Kane flicked him a glance. “Catching a ton of serial killers isn’t what I’d call ‘wasting her time.’”
“So, did you use your profiling magic and read anything about Suffolk?” Carter tossed another toothpick into his mouth. “He doesn’t suffer fools too well and you having a hard time making up your mind was riling him.” He sighed. “If he’s like that at home, it’s not too difficult to understand why the girl needed help. Do you figure he’s mistreating her?”
“He’s training her to be his wife… training her.” Kane shook his head. “What is happening in the world? If he’s the bomber, and I discover he’s been abusing that girl, I’ll have more than one reason to take him down. I can’t abide men who raise a hand to a woman and pedophiles, well, they’re the scum of the earth.”
“Amen to that.” Carter smiled as they turned onto the straight highway and headed for home. “That would be Jenna up ahead breaking the land speed record, lights flashing and pedal to the metal.”
Kane looked at the clear highway ahead and accelerated. As the lowlands flashed by in a sea of green, dotted with ranches set back from the road, he allowed the impressions of Roger Suffolk to settle in his mind. He glanced at Carter. “I don’t have too much to go on with Suffolk yet to create a profile. After we get an update from Jo and Jenna it will be easier. A couple of things come to mind. He’s big enough to overpower most men and Wood was only a small guy. The other thing is, he likes fifteen-year-old girls.”
“Hmm and a blacksmith knows about fire.” Carter reached for the radio at the sound of Jo’s voice and Kane’s call number. “Carter here. Is the package secure?”
“Yeah, we’ll be taking her straight to Black Rock Falls General for the usual tests.”
“Keep her out of sight, Suffolk is heading your way.” Carter flicked a glance at Kane.
“Copy that.” Jo sounded calm but there was an unmistakable edge to her voice. “Jenna tells me they have a secure ward there and we’ll get a statement. The girl isn’t Sophie Wood, her name is Dawn Richardson and she doesn’t want to be returned to her family. She said they’ll just send her back. Her father entered into some type of agreement with Suffolk.” She huffed out an exasperated sigh. “It’s what they do. I’ve placed her in protective custody and Jenna will have her settled in Her Broken Wings shelter until we can find her a place to live.”
“I hear they have suitable foster families in Black Rock Falls.” Carter shot a glance at Kane.
Kane nodded. “Yeah, there’s not many but what we have are solid.”
“No, it’s too close to home. I’ll find her a place in Snakeskin Gully. I know a couple of families there who would give her a good home. They’re in the foster home system and ended up adopting their kids. Nice folks.” She cleared her throat. “Ah this may take a whi
le, Jenna said you should head straight to Aunt Betty’s, we’ll catch up with you later.”
“Okay, sure. Carter out.” Carter looked at Kane. “Good, it will give us time to upload our notes. Jo will have her case files updated by now, she works in the truck between interviews.”
Kane smiled. “Jenna is the same. It looks like we’re going to be taking a long lunchbreak.”
“Now that sounds like a plan.” Carter chuckled.
Twenty-Two
Rowley leaned back in his chair and read through the report that Matt Thompson, the fire chief, had delivered to the office. Curious why he hadn’t emailed the file straight to Jenna, he glanced over to the man sitting across the desk and cleared his throat. “I’m not sure why you brought this to me. This is an FBI investigation.”
“Yeah, I’m fully aware of the FBI throwing accusations at my department.” Thompson leaned forward and dug his index finger into the desk. “I wanted to speak to Sheriff Alton personally. She took it upon herself to blame me for not inspecting the upstairs of the Woods’ ranch.”
“Well—” Rowley opened his hands wide “—you can see she’s not here.” His hackles rose at the unwarranted complaints against Jenna. “I haven’t heard her complaining about you and I’m sure she would’ve taken into account the report you gave her was only the preliminary, after all you wouldn’t have had time to speak to the firefighters at Louan when you examined the scene.” He gave him a long stare. “Really, you need to talk to the sheriff. This isn’t my case.”
“Just make sure she reads the complete report.” Thompson snorted. “The Louan chief did send men to the second floor. His verbal report to me was it was clear and only smoke damaged. I had no need to go up there, my concern was on the bombing and subsequent fire. I also had to report on the structural integrity of the building.” He pushed his finger into the table again. “She shouldn’t jump to conclusions and make like I’m not doing my job.”