Promises in the Dark

by D. K. Hood

  Rowley rolled his eyes and took a pen out of Jenna’s chipped mug on the desk. “Okay, give me the address again and I’ll be right there.”

  He took down the details, it would be faster than looking up her file. After making a note in the daybook, he pushed on his Stetson and went to the front counter. “The woman who reported her vehicle missing has just found it in her barn. I’m going to check it out, she figures it smells.”

  “Maybe she left her groceries in the trunk?” Maggie smiled at him. “You check in now, like the sheriff told you. I don’t want to be telling her I don’t know where you are when she comes by later.”

  Grinning, Rowley tipped his hat. “Yes, ma’am.”

  The small ranch was at the mountain end of Stanton Road, on the same side of the highway as the Triple Z Bar and not half a mile from where Harvey Haralson had claimed to have found the Ford sedan in the forest. Rowley took the driveway through the trees. Ahead was the house but he noticed a cutaway through some trees leading to a corral. He pulled up outside the house but before he could call in his arrival to Maggie an elderly woman came down the front steps and headed to his SUV. She was robust with graying once black hair tied into a bun and wore rubber boots and a bright floral apron. He buzzed down his window. “Mrs. Cotterill?”

  “Yes, that’s me and my vehicle is in the barn. If you give me a ride. I’ll show you?” She moved to the passenger door and opened it. “Turn around and go down the road to the barn.”

  “Sure.” Rowley reached for his radio. “I’ll just call in to let dispatch know I’ve arrived.”

  He made the call and then reversed the SUV to the dirt road leading to the barn. The road twisted and turned through a small wooded area, which effectively cut it from view from the house and road. Anyone could have taken the vehicle and returned it without being seen. “When did you notice the vehicle had been returned?”

  “Just before I called you.” Mrs. Cotterill frowned. “I was planning on hosing down the barn before the deliveries arrived. It gets dusty in there and I get asthma.” She pointed. “See, it’s parked right inside, not just inside the door where I usually leave it.”

  The smell of death filtered through Rowley’s window. He turned to her. “Are the keys in the vehicle?”

  “Yes, just as I left them but I didn’t get inside.” She looked at him. “I went straight back to the house and called you.”

  The delicious breakfast Sandy had provided, hotcakes, maple syrup and strips of crispy bacon, solidified in his stomach. A flood of dread washed over him at the thought of finding a dead body in the trunk of the vehicle. The Amber Alert and image of Pamela Stuart flashed through his mind. The latest bulletin had said she hadn’t been found. Was it a coincidence another vehicle had gone missing in the same area as the Ford used to kidnap Sophie Wood? Had the bomber taken Mrs. Cotterill’s vehicle and used it to abduct Pamela Stuart? Or was he being paranoid and someone had left a dead animal inside the trunk?

  He glanced at the woman. “Wait here, I’ll go and look.” He climbed out from behind the wheel and pulling out surgical gloves from his pocket, headed into the barn.

  The smell increased with each step and the wind moving through the trees made soft moaning sounds. Keeping to the shadows, he moved along the perimeter of the trees and pulling his weapon eased into the dim light inside the barn. He glanced around. The vehicle was parked in the open space beside two disused stables and a hayloft. Empty sacks and feed pellets littered the dusty floor but from what he could see the barn was deserted. He holstered his weapon and using his flashlight checked all around and under the sedan, aware if he was dealing with a bomber, he might trip an explosive device if he just went and opened the trunk.

  Convinced the vehicle was clear, he opened the door, peering over the back seat and checking for anything inside. He found nothing. He bent, pulled the keys from the ignition, and walked around to unlock the trunk. It sprung open with a whine. Heart pounding, he peered inside, right into the sightless eyes of Pamela Stuart.

  Forty-Eight

  It was a magnificent day, too beautiful to be working on a murder case. Jenna wished she could be out riding, with the sun on her back and the smell of pine trees in the air. As they headed out the gate to her ranch, her phone chimed and she peered at the caller ID. “Morning Wolfe, we’re just leaving now.”

  “It’s not about the Blackwater case, Jenna. Change of plans.” Wolfe sounded his usual calm solid self. “Rowley just called. He’s found Pamela Stuart, well he believes it’s her. She’s in the trunk of a stolen sedan in a ranch near the Triple Z Bar. Not far from where the other vehicle was apparently dumped.”

  Stomach clenching, Jenna swallowed hard. She looked at Kane. “Head for the Triple Z Bar.” She turned her attention back to the call. “Okay, we’re on our way. Can you send me the coordinates?”

  “No need, it’s the last driveway before the Triple Z. Rowley said it has a bright blue mailbox, with the name ‘Cotterill’ printed on the side.” Wolfe cleared his throat. “I’ve had deputies on scene since we left Blackwater. The crime scene is secure but we’ll have to be there without delay.”

  Jenna couldn’t hold back a wave of remorse for the Stuart family. She swallowed the lump in her throat. “Okay.” She disconnected and gathered herself. “Rowley’s found a body in the trunk of a car and he believes it’s Pamela Stuart. Wolfe is on the way.”

  “That’s not what I wanted to hear this morning.” Kane’s eyes filled with concern. “Why didn’t he call you? He’s out at a crime scene with no backup.”

  Confident that Rowley could handle himself, Jenna squared her shoulders. “He followed procedure and called in the closest assistance, which in this case was Wolfe. Remember, Rowley runs the office while we’re tied up with the FBI. He did exactly what I would have done, he called Wolfe.”

  “Maybe it’s time to get another deputy.” Jo leaned forward in her seat. “With both of you out on cases, he’s often left to cope on his own. Old Deputy Walters is getting way too old to be his only backup.”

  With her mind on the loss of another girl under her watch, the last thing Jenna wanted to think about was breaking in a new rookie. “Yeah, I guess, but I’d like someone experienced this time rather than a rookie.”

  “Then you have to consider why he needed to leave his last sheriff.” Carter shrugged. “You may be taking on someone else’s problem.”

  Jenna snorted. “What, like Kane and you?” She glanced at Kane. “Both of you seemed to work out just fine.”

  “It’s real bad news about Pamela Stuart.” Kane’s fists tightened on the steering wheel. “I had the crazy idea we were free of murders for a time.” The nerve in his cheek twitched. “I can’t figure this killer out at all.”

  “Dealing with a pyro psychopath is new to me too.” Jo sounded tired. “He’s not following any pattern I’m aware of and is taking on different characteristics as he goes along in his rampage of destruction.” She sighed. “The kidnapping and raping aren’t usual and I can’t imagine what he’ll try next or who will be his target.”

  “I can’t imagine how the families are coping, losing so many family members.” Jenna shook her head. “It was turning out to be such a normal year. I just knew something would come along and spoil a perfectly good summer and toss all our plans to the wind.”

  “Sorry.” Jo’s shoulders slumped. “I shouldn’t have asked you to get involved.”

  Aghast, Jenna turned in her seat to look at her. “Oh, I wasn’t complaining about the work, Jo. It’s the psychopaths who believe this part of the world is a killer’s playground.” She turned back in her seat.

  The forest called to Jenna as they turned onto Stanton. She opened her window and inhaled, taking in the scents of the pines and wildflowers. It was a fresh, delightful smell and cleared away the cobwebs in her troubled mind. The frequent murders had come close to destroying her joy of the forest and mountains. If not for her friend, Atohi Blackhawk, she’d have feared living in
the area but he’d taught her many things about the forest and its healing powers. Now, she respected the majestic mountains and valued the trees and wildflowers. She stared out the window and had a sudden urge to run into the forest and escape. She’d been a DEA agent, dealing in drug trafficking, and although she’d seen her share of cartel murders, hunting down psychopaths who burned, raped, and murdered hadn’t been part of her job description. Being the sheriff of Black Rock Falls had taken her into the depths of criminal minds so twisted they gave her nightmares.

  “You okay, Jenna?” Kane glanced at her. “There’s fresh coffee in the Thermos if you need one.”

  Jenna smiled at him. “I’m fine. I’m trying to figure out how to take this killer down. The social services link is a solid lead to concentrate on. If he’s going to hit again, we need to be one step ahead of him.”

  “They all make mistakes sooner or later.” Kane concentrated on the road. “We’re getting closer, and it’s only a matter of time.” He turned onto a dirt driveway. “This looks like the place.”

  Wolfe’s white van came into view and then Rowley’s marked SUV. As Kane headed toward them, Jenna scanned the area. Trees gave good cover to the old red brick barn. It looked as if it had been built last century, the bricks had moss growing over damp patches on the outside, and someone had patched the roof with unmatched tiles. From what she could see, it was a typical style inside—hay loft, a couple of stables and raised areas to store grain or feed. Before she had the chance to open the door, the stench of decomposition reached her. She buzzed up the window and coughed. “Don’t get too close, the truck will stink.”

  “The smell might work to our advantage.” Kane pulled up some ways away from Wolfe’s van. “Whoever returned the vehicle had to go somewhere. Maybe Duke will pick up a scent?”

  Jenna pushed open her door. “It’s worth a try.” She climbed out, pulling a mask from her pocket, and pushed it on her face. “Have at it.”

  She led the way to Wolfe and Rowley and nodded at Emily and Webber, standing to one side. “What have we got? Is it Pamela Stuart?”

  “It sure looks like her.” Rowley’s expression was grim. “Poor kid.”

  “I’ll need a formal ID from her parents before confirming.” Wolfe led her to the trunk of the sedan. “I’ve photographed and videoed the scene. I don’t want to touch the vehicle or body here.” He narrowed his gaze. “I’d rather tow it to the mortuary with the body in situ. I know it’s unconventional but I have a sterile area, and I don’t want to risk losing any trace evidence by removing the body here.”

  “Okay but we can’t leave the bodies in situ at the fire scene either. I gather it’s cool enough for us to get inside now?” Jenna pulled on surgical gloves as she walked.

  “Yeah, it’s cooling but unsafe.” Wolfe grimaced. “There’ll only be carbonized remains and I doubt we’ll find anything of interest. A fire reaching such high temperatures destroys everything.”

  “So how do you want to proceed? Kane wanted to see if Duke could pick up a scent trail of the killer.”

  “He could try but there’s something else.” Wolfe’s brow wrinkled. “I found residue of a substance on the body. I believe he sprayed her with a chemical, maybe he tried to destroy trace DNA evidence.”

  Jenna nodded. “Okay let me take a look.”

  She heard Jo’s sharp intake of breath as they stepped forward. A body in the first stages of decomposition was never a pleasant sight. The eyes of victims remained in Jenna’s memory most of all and compelled her to catch their killer. Filled with the need to cover the girl’s nakedness, she gathered her professional cloak around her and examined the body, not touching but observing, seeking any clue. She could sense Kane and Carter doing the same.

  “I’ll wait in the truck.” Jo turned away and walked back to the Beast.

  Moving away from the disturbing scene, Jenna walked around the vehicle, peering inside the windows. It was clean, too clean and she’d seen a wiped down vehicle many a time. Walking back to Kane and Carter, she removed her gloves. “Okay Kane, see if Duke can find anything.”

  “I’ll see if the killer left a scent inside the car.” Kane opened the driver’s door and took Duke close. “Seek.”

  When Duke sniffed the ground and then took off through the trees, Jenna stared after him in disbelief. She looked at Kane. “Give me the keys, he’s heading in the direction of the Triple Z Bar.”

  She caught the keys he tossed her and she watched him dash into the woods with Carter on his heels and Zorro bounding along behind. She turned to Wolfe. “I doubt the killer is hanging around close by. Do you want us to meet you at the crime scene in Blackwater?”

  “Yeah, I’ll tow the sedan back to my office, get the body on ice, and leave.” Wolfe shut the trunk. “I’ll work on her when we get back. I’ll ask Emily to contact the Blackwater Sheriff’s department to contact the next of kin and they’ll organize a time for her parents to do a viewing.”

  Jenna nodded and headed to the Beast. She opened the door and adjusted the seat; the way Kane had it set, she couldn’t reach the pedals. Throwing a look at Jo, she smiled. “Duke picked up a scent, Kane and Carter are on it, and we’ll meet them on the other side of the woods.” With some degree of concern, she started the engine, turned the truck around. Not that she had any problem driving, but piloting Kane’s pride and joy did make her a little apprehensive. By the time they headed along Stanton, she made out Kane and Carter standing in the Triple Z parking lot. She pulled up beside them and leaving the engine running, pushed the seat right back and then climbed out from behind the wheel. “How did he go?”

  “He came straight here and sat down.” Kane stared down at the ground. “There’s nothing here, not even a tire track but at least we know how he did it. He left his vehicle here, hidden in plain sight and found himself another ride. When he’d finished with the vehicle, he dumped it close by and walked here.”

  Jenna waited for Kane to get the dogs settled in the back, climbed inside with the others, and fastened her seatbelt. “I didn’t see any cause of death on the body. Her neck looked untouched, no visible puncture wounds or blood.”

  “The broken blood vessels in her eyes would make me think suffocation.” Kane headed toward Blackwater. “She was wearing her shoes and they were muddy, scratches on her legs. I’d say she’d been walking through the forest.”

  “Something else.” Carter leaned forward. “Wolfe will be all over the mark on her cheek. I figure someone had his hand over her face. With any luck she’ll have picked up some DNA inside her mouth on her teeth maybe.” His eyes flashed with anger. “The government trained me to kill the bad guys without thinking about it. I carried out my orders no questions asked but being a cop is a completely different ballgame. I’ve had to change my attitude.” He dragged in a breath. “As a man, I want to take the killer down but as a cop I want to see him thrown in jail for the rest of his life.”

  Jenna nodded. “The reason that keeps me focused is something Kane told me. He said it was easy to kill a person but you can’t give back a life if you make a mistake.”

  “Mistakes happen all the time.” Kane glanced at her. “We’ve made mistakes, built up a case to find it was someone else.” He looked back to the highway. “Carter has the right attitude, a lifetime behind bars is at least some compensation to the families.”

  Jenna hoped so because the memory of Kane’s anger when he’d found out the man who’d killed his wife walked free was still fresh in her mind. He’d wanted to tear him apart with his bare hands and yet she’d seen his cool detached combat face in times of great danger. When the time came, when they had absolute proof the man was the DC bomber and the perpetrator of the horrific crimes in the surrounding counties, which Kane would she be dealing with—the cool professional or the revengeful husband?

  Forty-Nine

  Wolfe towed the vehicle into his drive-through inspection area and once his van was unhitched, closed the doors at both ends. The removal of
the body took no time at all. Pamela was small for her age and after taking the normal precautions against contamination, he lifted her out onto a gurney and took her straight to the examination room. Conducting a preliminary examination at this time was crucial as trace evidence was easily lost by delaying. He’d taken the temperature of the body at the crime scene. With Emily and Carter watching on, he checked her body. He noticed the slight bruising on her cheek and immediately swabbed her tongue, lips, and front teeth for DNA evidence. He took samples from under her fingernails, while Emily bagged the girl’s sneakers and socks.

  “Dad there’s a ligature mark on her ankle, not a zip-tie this time. It looks wider and it’s bruised her ankle.” Emily pulled down the magnifying lens and turned on the bright light. “It’s scraped the skin too.”

  Wolfe moved closer. “She was shackled. I’ve seen the same damage from prisoners.”

  “Are those burns on her thighs?” Webber frowned. “She has them on her lower torso as well.”

  Wolfe peered at the marks and then rolled her over. “I’ll have to look closer at these but I don’t believe they’re burns in the true sense of the word. I’ve seen similar marks when clothes are torn off a victim and they present more like a rope burn.” He looked at Webber. “There’s no sign of any apparent injury, my initial guess would be suffocation. We’ll find out in the autopsy. The body temperature was the same as the trunk and going on rigor, she likely died twelve to twenty-four hours ago. As she was heated inside the trunk, it’s difficult to determine a closer TOD.”

  “So, he took her somewhere overnight and killed her the following morning?” Emily looked at the corpse with compassion. “She must have been terrified.”

  Wolfe covered the body with a sheet and gave the signal to Webber to slide the gurney into a drawer in the wall of the mortuary. He pulled off his gloves and turned to Emily. “We have to go and pull the bodies out of the housefire now. Do either of you need a break?”