by D. K. Hood
Kane followed Jenna to their reserved table and sat down. “It sure is nice to have this table and fast service for the department.”
“Yeah, we’d never find time to eat otherwise.” Jenna smiled as Susie filled two cups with coffee then left the pot and fixings. “Thanks, Susie.”
“Your order will be right out.” Susie frowned at Jenna. “You feeling okay, Sheriff? You look a might pale today.”
“We’ve come from an autopsy.” Jenna lifted her cup. “It wasn’t pleasant.”
“Oh, I see.” Susie looked mortified. “I’ll be back before you know it.” She hurried away.
Kane sat back in his seat, running the case through his mind. “We need to find Jacobs’ pinky ring.” He glanced at Jenna over the rim of his cup. “If it’s bulky, like the impression Wolfe found on Chrissie’s arm, it places him at the scene of the rape and gives Phillip Stein a motive.”
“How would he know Jacobs was involved?” Jenna gave him an inquisitive stare.
“Jacobs and Lyons were like this.” Kane crossed his fingers and held them up. “They’re roommates and Stein knows Chrissie went on a date with Lyons the night of the rape. It’s also likely Lyons was in the vehicle that gave her a ride to the party. From what we know about Chrissie, it’s unlikely she’d have gotten a ride from a stranger, which tells me the rapists planned to use the janitor’s car.”
“Hmm.” Jenna stared into the distance. “Do you figure Stein would kill on a hunch?”
Kane shrugged. “He knew Chrissie; for all we know he could’ve followed her to the house.” He sipped his coffee. “He might be able to provide the missing link we need to prove Chrissie was there. If he hung around until she left, he’d have a pretty good idea what happened to her.”
“Yeah, but murder?” Jenna shook her head. “If he was a friend and saw her dumped on the lawn outside her dorm, he’d help her… maybe call the paramedics, not leave her alone.”
Kane placed his cup on the table. “Maybe she didn’t want his help—she’d been drugged and raped. I figure the last thing a woman would need would be a man around.”
“Maybe, but then she had her roommate.” Jenna frowned. “We still don’t know for sure if she killed herself. Someone could’ve taken her into her room and staged the suicide. The idea she killed herself doesn’t fit her outgoing profile. Women are speaking out now, and the support network is there. If we consider Lyons’ father might have offered her compensation to keep her mouth shut, it makes less sense. It had to be something or someone else.”
Kane rubbed his chin. “Like I’ve said before, the men who pack-rape a woman and get away with it usually have some way of intimidating her to keep her silence.”
“I guess so. But whether or not she committed suicide isn’t the issue right now, it’s who killed Jacobs.” She sighed. “It ties in; two deaths happening so close together is more than a coincidence. When you looked around Lyons and Jacobs’ room, did you notice a ring?”
Kane shook his head. “I wasn’t looking for one, but even if he wore it regularly, it would make sense for him to remove it to lift weights. I’d say it’s in his locker at the gym.” He sighed. “We’d need a warrant to search it.”
“Not if we asked the parents if we could collect his things. I’ll call Wolfe and find out if they’ve arrived to view the body yet.” Jenna pulled out her cellphone and made the call. “Has Jacobs’ family arrived yet?”
“Yeah, they’re waiting in my office to view the body.” Wolfe cleared his throat. “What do you need?”
“Permission to go through his locker at the gym.” Jenna exchange a glance with Kane. “We’re chasing down his pinky ring. If it matches the mark on Chrissie Lowe’s arm, it will place him at the scene during the rape.”
“Sure, I’ll ask them to sign a statement to the fact, and I guess you’ll want to include his bedroom?”
“Yeah, and we’ll need you there as well, but I figure Lyons is too smart to leave any evidence.” Jenna glanced up as Susie delivered their meals and paused until she walked away. “Do you have time this afternoon?”
“I’ll make time.” Wolfe’s voice lowered. “If this is a group of predators, we need to take them down and soon.”
“We sure do.” Jenna frowned. “Let me know when you have the doc signed. We’re heading over to the college to interview Owen Jones.”
“Oh, I’ll get it signed.” Wolfe disconnected.
Fifteen
There was something special about sitting in Aunt Betty’s Café watching the world go by. The tourists invading Black Rock Falls amused him, and now with a string of psychopathic killer novels on the market, the place was humming. It was as if people flocked here on the off chance they’d be involved in a brutal murder. He shook his head. It didn’t work that way; most killers had a darn good reason to snuff out the life of a stranger. He’d always been an observer of life, from the strangest of insects to the biggest predator of all: man. He liked being a dominant male. A predator.
People needed to face facts. Nothing law enforcement could do would stop a psychopath hell-bent on killing. They’d walk over hot coals to reach their target, and no amount of sweet-talking would make them stop. When the urge came along, the control vanished like water vapor. He wouldn’t consider himself a psychopath because he only killed people who deserved it.
He took another bite of his burger and chewed slowly. His attention moved to the sheriff. A woman of average height in her thirties, attractive with raven-black hair that hung like wet silk to her shoulders. The bare arms protruding from her regulation shirt showed a muscular definition from working out regularly, which made him believe she preferred to handle situations herself rather than rely on her deputies. His attention slid down to her small hands with neat nails. She wore only one ring, no wedding band, and he wondered why she’d remained single in a town dominated by men. Although, he’d never seen her without the big deputy at her side, and the way they leaned toward each other, they acted like friends.
He wished they’d sat closer to him, so he could listen in on their animated conversation. He craved information, but after watching the news and listening to the scuttlebutt around campus, he’d discovered little about the investigation into Jacobs’ death. He’d done his job well and people wouldn’t be wary if the sheriff believed his death had been an accident. Suspicious people caused problems by noticing things they normally missed.
The day was dragging, each hour moving so slow it was as if the hands on the clock had stopped then suddenly decided to move again fifteen minutes later. He stared at his empty coffee cup and sighed. After planning his next move to the second, he had little to do but wait until dark.
The waitress left the sheriff’s table and headed his way to refill his cup. She gave him a bright smile and he felt his mouth curling up to return it. “Why thank you, ma’am.”
“Is everything okay?” Her smile lingered.
“Yeah, thanks.” He waited for her to sashay away and finished his meal, leaving a generous tip.
As he left, he cast another glance at the sheriff. Some part of him felt sorry for her. If, by chance, she discovered someone had murdered Jacobs, she’d never pin it on anyone no matter how hard she tried. He smiled to himself. No evidence, no witnesses, no case.
Sixteen
The young woman at the counter of the college office tossed back her long blonde hair and looked up at Kane with an interested expression, and then looked over at Jenna. She smiled at her.
“We’re looking for Owen Jones. He’s a junior.”
“Oh, everyone knows Owen; he was on the football team and he’s back this semester. We have a new system here. We issue students with a swipe card and they scan them as they enter each lecture hall or the library. It’s so we know who is inside each building should there be an emergency of some kind.” She pointed down the hallway. “If you go down to security, they’ll look him up on the computer and find his location, and then they’ll escort you to him.”
>
“Okay.” Jenna turned and headed down the hallway.
“Weird security system.” Kane fell into step beside her. “The students log in and out of lectures or whatever but there’s no security to stop anyone wandering in.”
“It’s not a prison, and it’s normal for students to have free access to common areas.” Jenna chuckled. “I guess you’d have them all frisked before they passed through the gate?”
“I’d have airport-type security scanners on every darn gate at all schools if I had my way.” Kane narrowed his gaze. “Carry weapons all you want but don’t take them into schools.”
“I’m sure that’s every parent’s dream, but do you know how long it would take to scan every student in a school?” Jenna slowed her pace as they reached the security office. “It will never happen.”
After discovering Jones was in the library, they followed a security guard through the building.
“I’ll do the talking.” Jenna looked up at Kane and smiled. “We don’t want him running for the hills, and he will if you lean on him.”
“I was going to take the sports angle to ease him into spilling his guts.” Kane frowned. “Leaning on him would work too.”
“Like I said.” Jenna narrowed her eyes at him. “I’ll do the talking.”
The security guard asked them to wait in the hallway and he went inside the library to collect Jones. The hallway led out to a landscaped garden with benches set under trees. A couple of students sat on the lawn chatting. When Jones came out with the security guard, Jenna took in the muscular young man, tall and strong with chiseled features. She pulled out her notebook and looked up at him then introduced herself and Kane. “We understand you had a fight with Alex Jacobs and a few of his friends; can you tell us what happened?”
“The fight was ages ago, why drag it up now?” Jones gave her a disinterested stare. “I did my time and I’m back now. Why? Is someone causing trouble again?”
Jenna shook her head. “No, but the ME has left his cause of death open on Jacobs, and we’re speaking to anyone who may have had a reason to cause him harm.”
“He don’t hurt that easy.” Jones snorted. “I busted a finger punching him, and he didn’t go down.” He gave her a direct stare. “Do I care he died? No, I don’t. He and Seth Lyons are both liars like the rest of those animals. Lyons’ daddy buys him out of trouble, and trust me, he’s gotten in more trouble than any man I know.”
“Maybe you should explain what happened to cause the fight?” Jenna led the way outside to a secluded bench. She sat down and he dropped reluctantly onto the seat beside her.
“Lyons and Jacobs wanted me off the team.” Jones shrugged as if reluctant to talk about it.
“Why?” Kane dropped onto the grass and raised one eyebrow. “They must have had a reason.”
“I can’t go into it. Let’s just say I didn’t want to move out of the student halls and into their house.” Jones pushed both hands through his unruly hair. “So they went to Coach and told him I tried to sell them drugs. The dean organized a search and they found a pipe in my room. I wanted them to test me but that didn’t happen.” He stared into the distance and anger flashed in his eyes. “They set me up, and Coach told me I had a choice: sit on the bench for the season or he’d call the cops and have me charged, which would mean the end of my scholarship.” He looked at Jenna. “I took the penalty but went postal on Seth; Alex was never far away, and after he got involved, things got nasty. I was suspended for the rest of the semester.” He gave her a wry smile. “I’m still on the bench.”
Jenna scanned his expression and the flash of annoyance. “So, you went on the coaching trip on Sunday. What did you do on Monday night after you got off the bus?”
“I didn’t go on the bus but I like to run and usually try and fit a session in each afternoon.” Jones rubbed the back of his neck. “I worked in the library all day and needed to loosen up, so I ran some and then I went back to my room and slept.”
“What time was that?” Kane’s voice was conversational.
“Darned if I know.” Jones shrugged. “Around ten maybe.”
Jenna made a few notes. “Did you see anyone during this walk, or stop and talk to anyone?”
“There were people, yeah, but I don’t remember anyone specific.” Jones looked into the distance then shook his head. “Nah, I didn’t talk to anyone. I was listening to some tunes.” He pulled a phone out of his pocket with earbuds attached. “Why? You think I killed Alex?” He chuckled. “How?”
“Maybe you spotted for him in the gym and dropped the bar on his neck.” Kane had dropped into his dangerous mode. “You had a motive to kill him. He had the coach bench you and that led to your suspension. If you take him out, a spot on the team becomes available.”
“I didn’t kill him. He’s not worth my time.” Jones grimaced and looked away with a disgusted expression. “And I play wide receiver, Alex played left tackle. You really think after what happened, I’d put my body on the line to protect Seth Lyons in a game?” He shook his head. “I hope the SOB gets what’s coming to him.”
Jenna leaned forward, noting the agitation in the young man. “Because he planted the pipe, or is there something else you’re not telling us?”
“You know, Sheriff, there are just some things a guy doesn’t discuss in the presence of women.” Jones stared at his hands. “Let’s leave it at that?”
A number of things ran through Jenna’s mind but she stood and exchanged a knowing look with Kane. “I’ll wait inside.” She headed for the door then leaned against the wall and watched as Kane asked questions.
Moments later, she noticed Seth Lyons heading her way and moved toward him in an effort to stop him seeing Kane talking to Jones. She searched her mind for a few questions she could ask him, anything to delay his movement along the hallway. “Ah, Mr. Lyons. Just the person I wanted to speak to.”
“Yeah?” Lyons gave her an insolent look. “What now?”
Jenna took her time taking out her notebook and flipping through the pages. “When did you last call Chrissie Lowe? I assume you called her to arrange a ride to the party. We know she climbed into a gray sedan.”
“I didn’t call and I don’t have her number.” Lyons huffed out a sigh. “I spoke to her in the cafeteria. I guess she made her own arrangements for a ride.” He moved into her personal space. “It’s all over, some guy raped her. Look at me, Sheriff. Do you honestly think I need to rape girls?”
Unfazed by his bravado, Jenna leaned in slightly and lowered her voice. “You’ve a bad reputation with women on campus, but no one has made any complaints against you. I’m starting to believe you have someone on the faculty protecting you.”
“I don’t need protection.” Lyons clamped his hand around her arm and glared down at her. “But maybe you do. My dad is a very powerful man with friends in high places. Everyone has secrets, Sheriff, and if you keep harassing me, I’ll find out yours, and come next election you won’t get any votes.”
Straightening, Jenna met his smug expression. His grip on her arm painfully ground the bones together. He was enjoying intimidating her, and with no one in the hallway to witness his behavior, it would be her word against his. She slid her Glock from the holster and pressed it against the zipper of his jeans. “Didn’t your daddy ever tell you not to threaten a woman with a gun? Take your hand off me, turn around, and walk away before I arrest you for assault.”
“Okay, okay. Jesus. I’m sorry.” Lyons dropped his hand and backed away, hands held up in surrender.
Jenna holstered her weapon. “I’ll be watching you, Lyons.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Lyons hurried toward the library.
Jenna turned to see Kane walking toward her. She stared at him. “Well?”
“What was going on with Lyons?” Kane turned to stare after him.
“I wanted to stop him from seeing you with Jones and asked him a few questions he didn’t like. He grabbed my arm and tried to threaten me—”
/> “He did what?” Kane gaped at her with an expression of disbelief. “What did he say?”
Jenna shrugged. “It was nothing and I handled it. What did Jones say?”
“His girlfriend, a freshman, left mid-semester after she was dragged into a car and raped.” Kane’s expression looked like the sky before a thunderstorm. “Jones tried to make her report it but she refused to say who’d raped her. Not long after, Lyons made a comment about Jones’s girlfriend, saying she was ‘tasty.’ When Jones confronted his girlfriend about it, she packed up and left college.”
Jenna swallowed hard. She’d just experienced the evil side of Lyons. “Did he give you the girl’s name?”
“Nope.” Kane pushed his hands into his pockets. “He said she’d been hurt enough and he’d deny he told me.” He looked at her. “It would be reaching to get Lyons charged with rape after so long. If he’s been doing this for some time, we might be able to get a group of women to come forward, but one on one without a shred of evidence will be hearsay at best.”
“Uh-huh.” Jenna chewed on her bottom lip. “Nothing Jones said convinced me he isn’t responsible for Jacobs’ death.”
“There is one thing.” Kane’s brow furrowed, making his eyebrows join in the center. “If Jones and Jacobs were enemies, it isn’t likely Jacobs would allow him to spot him. I don’t figure Jacobs would put himself in such a vulnerable position.”
“Hmm, that’s a point.” Jenna’s cellphone chimed and she glanced at the screen. “It’s Wolfe.”