by D. K. Hood
Duke pressed against her leg and she reached down to pat him, glad of the solid, warm strength of him. He trembled under her fingers, then a rumble went through his chest, his hackles raised, and every muscle became taut and ready to fight. A wave of uncertainty gripped her and she dragged her eyes away from the man to glance down at him. “You see him too, don’t you? Is that the same man that was in my yard, or is he locked up in an interview room back at the office?”
Heart pounding, Jenna rested one hand on her weapon and peered back into the darkness, but the man had vanished, dissipating into the breeze like a puff of smoke. Putting her faith in her Glock, she placed the bag on the ground and moved deeper into the alleyway but stopped when dumpsters at the far end obscured her view. She stood listening, but not a breath of sound came from the darkness. She held her weapon steady in both hands. “This is Sheriff Alton. Come out and show yourself.”
Nothing.
The mist moved, appearing to mimic the swish of a slicker, but the shadows had swallowed the man, imaginary or not. Backing toward the cookie store, she noticed that the owner had turned the sign on the door to Closed. She swallowed the sudden rush of fear tightening her gut. She collected the bag and continued to back down the alleyway. As she stepped back onto Main, laughter, deep and sinister, carried on the night air.
Twenty-Seven
Kane waited patiently in the interview room for Sam Cross to read through the search warrants. The lawyer said nothing, only raised his eyebrows once or twice, gave Kane a nod, and then passed the documents to his client, Riley Adams. Kane took his copies and stepped outside to hand them to Deputy Rio. “Wolfe and his team will do a forensic sweep of the house and vehicle. You’ll need to record the search and update the files before you head home tonight.”
“Sure, I have my equipment in my truck.” Rio took the documents and dangled a set of keys from his fingertips. “I have Adams’ keys. It will be too dark by the time we search the house to work on the vehicle. Wolfe said he’d be taking the truck to his office and he’ll get to it later this evening. Do you want me to remain with him during the vehicle search?”
Kane shook his head. “It’s not necessary. Colt Webber is a badge-holding deputy and he’ll be able to capture the scene. Wolfe was at one time too, but he was a little overqualified for this office.”
“I can imagine.” Rio’s eyebrows met in the middle in a frown. “Why didn’t he get an ME’s job at the time?”
If only he knew. Kane took a casual pose and leaned a shoulder against the wall. “He’s Black Rock Falls’ first medical examiner; we had the undertaker examining the bodies before Wolfe arrived, but then the murders were few and very far between. Wolfe was waiting for his license to be approved. He came from a different state and then of course he had to set up shop. In the meantime, he worked here. That’s why we’re all such a tight knit team—we’ve all known each other from the get-go.”
“I see.” Rio looked at the papers in his hands. “I’d better get going, I’m meeting Wolfe on Stanton, in ten minutes.” He looked at Kane. “Will Jenna be waiting for my report?”
“Yeah.” Kane straightened. “We’ll be here. I have a feeling Adams might be staying overnight, at least for questioning. It seems an open-and-shut case right now.”
“Okay, then I’ll see you later.” Rio hurried down the hallway.
Kane waited outside the interview room. He could watch through the two-way mirror but had no idea how the interview was going. The desk was set to allow lawyers and their clients to have their backs to the mirror. The idea of observing was a safety issue. With the number of serial killers he’d dealt with since arriving in town, standing outside the interview room was a priority. Surprisingly, Sam Cross didn’t take long at all and pressed the button on the table to notify Kane he was ready to either leave or allow him to interview his client.
After scanning his card, Kane opened the door and looked at Cross. “Is your client ready to talk?”
“Yeah.” Cross leaned back in his chair and tipped back his Stetson. “Mr. Adams doesn’t have anything to hide. Ask away.”
Kane picked up his iPad from a hall table and went inside the room. He sat down, pulled a book out of the desk drawer, and then started the recorder. After announcing the date, time, and who was present, he took out his pen and looked at Adams. “From our previous chat at the Sunset Valley nursing home, where you work as a nurse, you mentioned you’d met June and Payton Harris. Could you explain how you met them and how you came to be with them in Stanton Forest the day Payton Harris was murdered.”
“One moment.” Cross leaned forward and rested his hands on the table. “The time of death of the victim has been established as Thursday night to the early hours of Friday morning. Is that correct?”
Kane scrolled through Wolfe’s findings from Payton Harris’ autopsy and nodded. “Yeah, the TOD is always an estimate. I’m sure you know that?”
“I do indeed, but from the information you gave me about the previous… ah… as you put it ‘chat’ with my client, you would be aware he left Stanton Forest before dark on Thursday night, so he couldn’t have been in the forest at the time Payton Harris was murdered.”
Wanting to roll his eyes, Kane leaned back in his chair and called on his patience. “The question was, ‘How did your client come to be with June and Payton Harris in Stanton Forest the day Payton Harris was murdered?’ I didn’t specify the time.”
“Okay, go on.” Cross turned to Adams. “Just tell him what you told me.”
“Like I told the sheriff. I overheard them saying they were heading for the falls out of Bear Peak and needed a guide. I told them I wasn’t a guide and official guides around these parts are licensed, but I told them I planned to head up that way and would be happy for them to tag along.” He rested his elbows on the arms of the chair and linked his fingers. “I took them the most straightforward way and even gave them a map so they didn’t get lost on the way back.”
The crime scene tumbled through Kane’s mind. They’d searched all over and they never found a map of any description. “What kind of map did you give them? Was it a handwritten one?”
“Yeah, and they followed it just fine on the way to the clearing.” Adams shrugged. “I don’t know what happened to them after I left them in the forest.”
“Do you own a crossbow?” Kane stared at his notes. He expected a pause or something, but Adams owned up immediately.
“Yeah, I own a couple of them and I’m a darn good shot too.” Adams gave him a smug smile. “I like the stealth of it in the forest. It’s great for hunting. Why?”
Kane looked up at him but ignored his question. He wanted to see a reaction. “Do you know or have you heard of James Stone?”
He caught a flicker in Adams’ eyes, but then he steepled his fingers and stared at Kane in a display of overconfidence. He noticed the frown on Cross’ face. He hadn’t missed his client’s action. Like investigators, lawyers used body language to select jurors, and steepling fingers signaled a person was not only overconfident but believed they had the upper hand.
Kane held Adams’ gaze. “Well?”
“Anyone from Black Rock Falls would know the name James Stone. He was the lawyer in town for some years before he went bad.” Adams’ lips twitched into a smirk. “I’m sure if you asked anyone living here at the time, they’d have heard of him, too.”
“Stone is in the county jail and you spent time in the same prison.” Kane eyeballed him. “I hear he has quite a reputation in there.”
“Does he now?” Adams barked a laugh. “Have you ever visited county? They keep the maximum-security inmates in a different building to the general population. Same with the kid killers and the freaks. They have their own space where they can discuss all the nasty details and relive the kills. They love it in there, don’t you know?”
“Really? I’ll have to tell the warden.” After glancing at his notes, Kane took the questioning in a different direction in an effort to un
settle Adams. “Tell me about Jonathan Lamb. How did that incident go down?”
“My client isn’t here to discuss a case that has already been dealt with by the courts.” Cross moved papers around in his file. “Find another question.”
Unable to resist, Kane leaned forward. “It’s a relevant question.” He turned his attention to Adams. “You shot and killed Mr. Lamb with a crossbow. Did you accidently shoot Payton Harris as well?”
“Payton was shot with a crossbow?” Adams opened his hands wide again, demonstrating he had nothing to hide. “I didn’t shoot him accidentally, like I did Johnny. I wasn’t in the forest at the time Payton was killed. I came down before sunset.”
“Yet nobody saw you and you met no one in town, when it’s close to Halloween and the streets are busy. You didn’t drop by the forest warden’s station either.” Kane stared at him. “For a seasoned hunter, you don’t seem to be following the rules. Is your hunting permit up to date?”
“Enough.” Cross pushed to his feet. “My client won an appeal, which reduced his manslaughter conviction to a misdemeanor. He already spent time in jail for a crime he didn’t commit. Are you trying to railroad him, Deputy Kane?”
“The evidence against him is substantial and I’ll be holding him here until the completion of the search warrants.” Kane stood. “June Harris is still missing and Mr. Adams is the last person to have seen the couple alive. Then we have the invasion of Sheriff Alton’s ranch. A man fitting his description was seen at the premises, a man with size-twelve shoes, same as your client. Mr. Adams has admitted meeting June and Payton Harris at Aunt Betty’s Café, and we have him on CCTV wearing the same outfit. Your client cannot sufficiently account for his whereabouts at the time of both crimes; he has no alibis.” He kept his gaze on Cross. “I’ll be presenting all our evidence to the DA and will be seeking an arrest warrant.” He turned to Adams. “Is there anything you have to say on record before I conclude this interview?”
“Nope.” Adams shrugged. “You won’t find anything in my truck or home. June and Payton never went near them. You’re wasting your time. I’m innocent.”
Kane nodded. “Very well. The interview is concluded.” He gave the time and date, switched off the recording device, and turned to Cross. “Do you want more time with your client?”
“No.” Cross looked at Adams. “Deputy Kane is within his rights to hold you for questioning. I’ll do whatever I can to have you released. Hang in there.”
After swiping his card to let Sam Cross from the interview room. Kane dropped his iPad and notebook on the table in the hallway and held the door open for Adams. “I’ll take you down to the cells. I’ll arrange a meal for you. Do you have any food allergies?”
“Nope. How long is this going to take?” Adams wasn’t backing down. “I have a job. I’ll need to call in and have them find a replacement for my shift.”
“I’ll call the nursing home and tell them you’ve been detained.” Kane waved him down a set of stairs leading to the cells. “Do you have any livestock that needs tending?”
“Nope.” Adams moved into the cell and turned and looked at Kane. “I admire your tenacity, Deputy, and I know you and the sheriff have this big reputation for hunting down the bad guys, but if you try and pin this on me, you won’t win. You see, I never lose.”
Kane snorted. “Really, that’s funny coming from a guy who spent time in county.”
“Yeah, but I’m out now.” Adams sneered at him. “Things usually turn around in my favor.”
As the gate slid shut, Kane stared at him. “Not this time.”
Twenty-Eight
Nerves on edge and holding her weapon high, Jenna backed out of the alleyway, relieved to be under the street lights. As she turned, an elderly couple stopped and raised their hands. She stared at their alarmed expressions and quickly holstered her weapon. “I’m so sorry to alarm you. I thought I heard something, but everything is fine.” She waved them past her and they hurried on their way.
She glanced down at Duke, who was still staring down the alleyway. “So, it wasn’t my imagination, you saw him too.”
Her phone chimed, startling her already shattered nerves, but it was Kane’s ringtone and she juggled the bags and accepted his call. “Yeah, Dave, what’s up?”
“Nothing to worry about. We’re keeping Adams overnight. I’ve ordered a meal for him from Aunt Betty’s. If you’re close by, can you grab it on your way home?” He paused a beat. “You sound a little uptight, is everything okay?”
“Not really.” Jenna sucked in a deep breath to steady her nerves. “There was a man in the alleyway dressed the same as the intruder on my ranch. I know you think I get this way around Halloween, but Duke was whining and he had his hackles up. He must have seen him too.”
“Maybe.” Kane didn’t sound convinced. “Duke would be on alert if you’re spooked too. I figure he’d bark if he could see a threat. Did you do a search?”
A cold chill spilled over Jenna the second she glanced back down the dark alleyway. It would seem the decorative gaslight was little more than a prop. “I didn’t have a flashlight. I left my duty belt in the office.” She needed to explain what had spooked her. “I had no idea what I was facing, Dave, and with only Duke for backup, I called out and walked some way down the alleyway pointing my weapon. I didn’t see anyone. It was as if the man had vanished like smoke.”
“Could you ID him if you saw him again?”
Jenna chewed on her bottom lip. “The mist has rolled in off the river and I couldn’t see him clearly, but he sure looked like Adams, the same hat and slicker.” She took a deep breath and started toward Aunt Betty’s cheerful fluorescent lights. “Then as I got to the end of the alley, I swear I heard someone laughing.”
“How far are you from Aunt Betty’s?” The sound of footsteps on tile came through the speaker. Kane was on the move.
Jenna crossed the road at the end of the block. Main Street looked strangely empty and the mist only added to the eeriness of the macabre decorations. It was so quiet, not a vehicle in sight, and apart from the old couple, the sidewalk was empty. It had become full dark since she left the alleyway. “I’m passing the gun store now.”
“Wait outside Aunt Betty’s. I’ll be there in five.” Kane disconnected before she could reply.
People spilled out of Aunt Betty’s chatting, and it seemed as if the sound had been turned back on. They hurried to parked vehicles and their headlights cut through the mist as they headed down Main. As she reached the entrance, she could hear the roar of the Beast’s engine and she couldn’t push down the surge of relief at seeing Kane’s truck appear out of the gloom and pull in to the curb outside Aunt Betty’s Café. She quickened her pace and pulled open the door to dump her bags inside. “You didn’t have to rush out. I’m fine.”
“I know you are.” Kane smiled at her. “I figured someone else walking down that alleyway might not be so fine if someone is hanging out down there. It might just be a Halloween prank but I think we should go look.”
Jenna bundled Duke into the back of the truck, attached his harness, and then climbed in the front. “Sure. I didn’t think it could be a prank. After the break-in, my nerves are on edge.”
“Well, all the better if we put your mind at rest.” Kane turned the Beast away from the curb and drove to the entrance of the alleyway. “This one?”
Jenna nodded. “Yeah.” She climbed out and drew her weapon.
“Okay, let’s see if anyone is down here.” Kane aimed his flashlight down the alleyway. “That street light is out.” He pointed the light at the glass. “It’s broken. So, it’s been vandalized on purpose.” He headed into the darkness, his light illuminating the line of three dumpsters ahead.
“I saw him down there near the dumpsters.” Jenna followed close behind. “The mist and the shafts of sunlight made it difficult to see him.”
“There’s no one here now.” Kane lowered the flashlight to the ground. “There are a ton of footprints.
No doubt people from the stores are in and out all day dumping their garbage. There’s nothing here we can use to identify anyone.” He turned to look at her. “This doesn’t mean someone wasn’t here trying to frighten you, but if it was the same person who broke into your house, how would they know you were here?”
Suddenly cold, Jenna looked at him. “They’re watching me, or followed me from the office and slipped by when I was in the store.” She shook her head. “I saw him, Dave. I’m not going crazy.”
“I believe you.” He took her hand. “You’re freezing. We’re going to be stuck in town for a while. I’ve called in the night shift you arranged to stay with Adams but we’ll be late getting home. Maggie is staying back, so we might as well grab a bite to eat as we have to stop by Aunt Betty’s to collect Adams’ meal.” He led her back to Main and they climbed into the truck. “I want to discuss the interview with Adams. I’m convinced he killed Payton Harris. He has the overconfident attitude of so many serial killers we’ve interviewed. The only problem I have is he is admitting to everything.”
Astonished, Jenna turned to him. “He admitted to killing Harris?”
“Nope, but everything else. Including meeting the couple in Aunt Betty’s and taking them into the forest. He took them to an isolated area and supposedly left them there to find their way home in the morning.” Kane raised an eyebrow. “What sensible person does that to an out-of-towner? He uses a crossbow and admits to being a good shot. He knows about James Stone and was in the same jail for a time. He didn’t admit to meeting him, though; he said he was in a different part of the jail. We don’t know if Stone’s story influenced him or if he found out how Stone killed his victims through prison scuttlebutt.” He pulled to the curb outside Aunt Betty’s. “It’s as if he admitted being with the couple all the time but just left out killing Payton Harris. Then we have his conviction of the supposedly accidental shooting of another man. I’ll check that out when we get to Aunt Betty’s. If Adams shot him in the head with a crossbow, I think we have enough circumstantial evidence for the DA to charge him with murder.”