The Crying Season: An edge-of-your-seat crime thriller
Page 25
As the aircraft made its descent to the runway, Jenna shuddered at the memory of watching James Stone’s interview. He had divulged his many kills with obvious glee but implicated no one. It was as if he enjoying reliving the macabre tale from killing his foster parents to a list of murders going back years, but hearing James Stone’s final statement chilled her to the bone. He said she was his reason to kill the dark-haired women, and the men were collateral damage. His words ran through her mind in an endless loop.
“It was Jenna’s fault; she made me do it. I tried to be nice to her but she treated me like a lowlife. She was no better than all the others. I was not good enough for the high and mighty sheriff. All I wanted was a relationship with her.” Stone had turned and stared into the one-way glass as if he could see her. “I had to make you pay for disrespecting me, Jenna. I had to make them all pay.”
The incident had happened a year ago, and no matter how many times she refused him, Stone had become a pest and when Kane arrived in town, she had asked him to warn Stone off. Stone had finally got the message and left her alone and she figured his fixation on her was finally over. She had no idea his hostility toward her had gone on for so long. The thought that women had died because they resembled her made her sick to her stomach.
After taking a cab to the hospital, a nurse directed her to a sterile, cold waiting room. Worried beyond reason, Jenna paced up and down. Kane had been under the knife for hours. She let out a sigh of relief when the double doors to the operating area swished open and a man wearing surgical scrubs strolled toward her. He held out his hand.
“Sheriff Alton, I believe? I have Mr. Kane’s permission to give you an update.”
Jenna shook his hand and nodded, fighting for words. “Is Dave okay?”
“It took three surgeries to repair his injuries and he’ll need rehabilitation but he’ll be okay.” The doctor narrowed his gaze. “The plate in his head saved his life but it was extensively damaged and we replaced that when he arrived. The knee required two surgeries and he’ll be on crutches for a time but he is tough; this won’t hold him up for long.”
She swallowed hard, fighting back tears of relief. “What about his memory?”
“He has blank spots but they’ll return in good time.” The doctor smiled at her. “Do you want to see him? He is out of intensive care and back in his room now.”
Jenna nodded and her stomach squeezed. Perhaps this would be the last time she would see Dave Kane. The government would whisk him away and give him a job in another state. She followed the doctor along a corridor and he indicated to a room with a secret service agent posted outside. She showed the man her ID then stepped inside and held her breath. Kane was flat on his back with machines attached everywhere, and a large frame covered his knee. He looked pale and a large, red scar ran down one side of his shaved head. She edged to his bedside and touched his hand. “Dave, it’s me, Jenna.”
“Jenna?” His eyes opened and he stared at her. “You came all this way to see me?”
She sat on the edge of his bed and touched his arm. “They wouldn’t let me to come earlier. It seems you are pretty special around here.”
“You’ve been busy. Wolfe called before I went into surgery and brought me up to date.”
Jenna wet her lips. She wanted to find out everything that had happened to him but he was in no shape to talk right now. “I’m glad you recognized Wolfe when I sent him down to help you in the canyon.”
“I would have shot him but he used his codename and mine.” Kane gave her a sleepy stare. “He was my handler when I was in the service. Ah, I guess you didn’t know that, did you? Darn, now I’ll have to kill you.” He chuckled deep in his chest then groaned. “Oh, Lord, Jenna, don’t make me laugh, it hurts.”
She frowned. “Wow, the drugs are really messing with your head. You know, I’m sworn to secrecy, same as you, or have you forgotten?”
“I remember you fine. I was just lightening the mood. You look so worried.” Their gazes met and Kane cleared his throat. “My timeline is muddled, is all, and the doc says in time, it will all fall back into place.”
Jenna looked down at his bruised and battered face. “I’m so glad you’re going to be okay.”
“Enough about me. You caught the killer, James Stone, the super lawyer. Who would have picked him?” Kane frowned as if he had something difficult to say. “You are one hell of a sheriff. It took guts to take on that maniac alone.”
Jenna’s chest constricted. He was going to tell her he was not returning to Black Rock Falls. She swallowed hard. “I couldn’t have done it without you.”
“You did just that.” Kane sounded as if he was fighting to stay awake.
Jenna cleared her throat. “Duke misses you. He sits by your rig and howls. I had to drag him into Rowley’s house before I left. His eyes were so sad. I did tell him I’d be back soon.”
“I miss him too.” Kane shut his eyes. “Thanks for looking after him and the horses for me.” He turned his head away as if not able to meet her gaze.
“It was no trouble. Duke is like family now.” She could not prevent a tear from running down her cheek. “Something is worrying you, Dave. Just say it and get it over with.”
“Okay. I do need to ask you something.” He turned his head to peer at her through his lashes and his voice lowered. “Come closer, the meds are kicking in again.”
As she leaned over him, Kane’s voice came out in a sleepy whisper. “When are we going home?”
Don't want to miss what's next for Detectives Kane and Alton? Sign up to D.K. Hood’s mailing list to be first to know when the next book is out!
Sign up here!
Hear More From D. K. Hood
If you’d like to keep up to date with my latest releases, just sign up at the link below. We’ll never share your email address and you can unsubscribe at any time.
* * *
Sign up here!
Also by D.K. Hood
Don’t Tell A Soul
Bring Me Flowers
Follow Me Home
The Crying Season
A letter from D.K. Hood
Dear Reader,
* * *
I am delighted you chose my novel and joined me once again in the exciting world of Jenna Alton and Dave Kane in The Crying Season.
If you would like to join a mailing list for alerts on my books, please sign up here. You can unsubscribe at any time, and your email address will never be shared.
Sign up here!
Writing this story has been a thrilling adventure for me. Delving into the lives of ex-secret agents and serial killers was a dream come true. I enjoyed researching every aspect of the crime scenes.
If you enjoyed my story, I would be very grateful if you could leave a review and recommend my book to your friends and family.
I would love to hear from you, so please get in touch on my Facebook page or Twitter or through my website.
* * *
Thank you so much for your support.
* * *
D.K. Hood
* * *
www.dkhood.com
www.dkhood-author.blogspot.com.au
Don’t Tell a Soul
Detectives Kane and Alton Book 1
The floor was stone cold on her bare skin. Her heart pounded in her chest. ‘Not a soul knows where I am,’ she thought as she took in the darkness around her. And then she heard his footsteps…
* * *
When a body is found stuffed into a barrel at the local dump, covered in long red cuts, Detective Jenna Alton and her new deputy, David Kane, rush to the scene.
* * *
Nothing ever happens in the small town of Black Rock Falls, so Jenna believes the victim must be one of two recent missing persons, and she fears for the life of the other.
* * *
Both were strangers to the town, but there’s nothing else to link them. Jenna knows someone must have seen something, but no one’s talking; how well does she really kno
w the people around her?
* * *
Then a disturbing clue makes Jenna suspect a connection with other disappearances in the town’s history. Just when she begins asking the right questions, she realises she’s being followed. Is she next on the killer’s list?
* * *
In a race against time, Jenna and David must unlock the dark secret at the heart of the town, before it’s too late…
* * *
A completely addictive detective thriller that will have you guessing right to the end. If you love Robert Dugoni, Karin Slaughter and Rachel Abbott, you’ll love Don’t Tell a Soul.
* * *
Get it here!
Bring Me Flowers
Detectives Kane and Alton Book 2
Get it here!
* * *
She didn’t know he was watching. Until it was too late.
* * *
She’d walked this way hundreds of times before. She knew every twist and turn. She didn’t know this was the last time she’d ever walk this path.
* * *
Hidden deep in the forest, schoolgirl Felicity Parker is found carefully laid out on a rock with nothing but a freshly picked bunch of flowers next to her. The body lies just off a popular hiking route, and Detective Jenna Alton thinks the killer might be a visitor to the town, until another girl’s body is found at the local swimming pool, once again posed with a bunch of flowers.
* * *
Jenna recognizes the signs of a serial killer, and thinks it could be a local. As the town is gripped with fear, Jenna must examine each person the girls knew, and trust between neighbors starts to crumble.
* * *
Both girls went out on their own, and were found where they shouldn’t be. Were they taken by chance, or did they know their killer? How were they lured so far from safety? And can Jenna and her team find the killer before another life is lost?
* * *
An absolutely nail-biting thriller that will keep you up all night. If you enjoy Robert Dugoni, Karin Slaughter and Rachel Abbott, you’ll love this!
* * *
Bring Me Flowers is available now!
Follow Me Home
Detectives Kane and Alton Book 3
Get it here!
* * *
‘Don’t you agree Detective? That some people deserve to die? I’ve killed the first. I’ve killed the second. Now will you catch the others, or do I have to kill them too?’
* * *
The body of Amos Price lies in a pool of blood on the polished floor of an otherwise empty house. With no signs of a break in, and no clues left at the scene, Detective Jenna Alton is at a loss.
* * *
But as the team begins to unpick the life of the reclusive victim, they discover a disturbing link between Amos and the disappearance of several young girls in the county going back years.
* * *
Days later, another brutally murdered body is found, in a remote motel on the outskirts of town. Ely Dorsey was killed in a frenzied attack and Jenna fears not only that the murders are connected to the missing girls, but that the killer hasn’t finished yet.
* * *
As Jenna tries to work out who will be next, the killer suddenly starts sending her deputy, David Kane, messages. Is she being taunted? Or does the murderer want to be caught? And will Jenna discover who’s behind these killings before more people die?
* * *
An absolutely nail-biting thriller with plenty of twists, Follow Me Home is perfect for fans of Robert Dugoni, Karin Slaughter and Rachel Abbott.
Acknowledgements
I spend a good deal of time doing research before and during the writing of a novel. I want to make sure my stories are “real.” In The Crying Season, I required some hands-on expert advice. My go-to person was Daniel Brown. I really appreciate his patience dealing with my constant questions. His explanations and suggestions have been priceless.
I must acknowledge the amazing team at Bookouture, who work so hard to make my books as good as they can be. Helen Jenner is incredible to work with and guides me along the right path. My stories pass through many very experienced hands before publishing. The editing, the fantastic covers, the audiobooks, and the promotion. Many thanks to everyone involved.
Published by Bookouture in 2018
* * *
An imprint of StoryFire Ltd.
Carmelite House
50 Victoria Embankment
London EC4Y 0DZ
* * *
www.bookouture.com
Copyright © D. K. Hood, 2018
* * *
D. K. Hood has asserted her right to be identified as the author of this work.
* * *
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in any retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publishers.
* * *
eBook ISBN: 978-1-78681-542-2
* * *
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, organizations, places and events other than those clearly in the public domain, are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or locales is entirely coincidental.