by D. K. Hood
Jenna noticed a screwdriver, in his top pocket. It was a different color to the one they’d found at the crime scene. “Do you always carry that particular screwdriver?”
“Yeah.” Hughes looked puzzled. “This one is the right size to fit just about everything in the school, so I keep it handy.”
“Does anyone in your household own a Chrysler sedan?” Kane was gloving up and his voice had become almost conversational.
“Yeah. My mom has one, it’s an old one, she don’t drive it much.” Hughes opened his mouth for Kane to swab.
“Thanks.” Kane sealed the sample and asked Hughes to sign the form. “Is it green by any chance?”
“Yeah, why?” Hughes wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. “She run a red light or something?”
“Not that I’m aware.” Kane sealed the evidence bag. “Does your sister drive the vehicle?”
“Sometimes.” Hughes frowned and shifted from one foot to the other. “But she’s not long gotten her license.”
Jenna took in the change of demeanor. “Why didn’t you inform me about the vehicle at the meeting at the gym? I did ask if anyone knew someone with a green Chrysler sedan. It was right after we spoke about the phone.”
“I guess I didn’t hear you.” Hughes scratched his head. “I’d gone to get Laurie’s phone for you, remember?”
His excuse was plausible and he’d cooperated so far. Jenna nodded. “Yeah, that’s right, you left before I made the announcement.” She thought for a beat and changed tact. “Did Verna get along with Laurie? Verna was on the same cheerleading squad as her, wasn’t she?”
“Yeah they were but they didn’t get along.” Hughes looked defensive. “Now don’t you go thinking anything nasty about Verna. She’s had a bad life. My parents fostered her for a year and then adopted her. People don’t understand her is all.”
“Do you get along?” Kane’s voice had dropped to a whisper. “It would be strange having a teenager move in. I’m not sure I’d like to share my parents with a stranger.”
“It’s not like that at all.” Hughes shook his head. “Darn it, she’s my best friend. I’m glad she’s one of the family now.” He frowned. “I’m glad she’s there. Since Pa walked out, Ma has become a pain and blames me for everything. Like it’s my fault he left her?”
“It’s hard for everyone when folks break up.” Kane grimaced. “We have everything we need, thank you for your time.”
As they climbed back into the Beast, Jenna turned to Kane. “Did you get a vibe from him?”
“He wasn’t acting like a guy who thought Laurie was too young for him, and someone who might cause him to lose his job if he became involved with her. I would expect his reaction from a longtime lover. His words said one thing and his actions another.” Kane started the engine and backed out. “That was overkill. If his mom owns a Chrysler sedan, we only have his word he was driving his truck on Saturday night. If he parks in the same place, it would’ve been out of sight—or Verna was driving it.”
The possible scenario dropped into Jenna’s mind. She could see where Kane was going. “He was working here on Saturday night and could have easily disabled Laurie’s pickup.” She frowned. “But how did he make her drop her phone?”
“Verna.” Kane turned back onto Stanton. “From what everyone was saying there was quite a crowd in the parking lot that night. They were all excited about the festival, making plans and such. Maybe she followed her outside and bumped into her. All the girls of her age are always carrying their phones and talking. They live in their own worlds. Most never know what’s happening around them.”
Jenna thought for a while. “I’m not so sure. It seems to me he could have had Laurie, she fancied him and the attack on her looks too much like something a jealous woman would do and he admitted Verna didn’t like her.” She shook her head. “We might be looking at this the wrong way. The killer might be Verna.”
“Maybe but it would be difficult to murder her and then move her body alone, and men attack women’s faces as well.” Kane grimaced. “I need to speak to Jo. I’ve read something about a killer who attacked the eyes of his victims. In that case, he knew all of them. It might be a trait. If they can’t look at him, he’s not responsible. I’ll need to dig deeper.”
Eighteen
After leaving the school, Kane headed to the home of Wyatt Cooper. There would be a chance he’d be home by now and maybe one of his parents would be there to sign the consent form. As they pulled up outside the rambling ranch-style home, he glanced at Jenna. “Fingers crossed we get this done today. We need answers.”
“I’m just hoping Laurie’s death is the result of a bad argument and not the first in a line of cheerleader murders.” Jenna pushed open her door. “I feel like the clock is ticking and we’re getting closer to finding another corpse.” She looked at him as she rounded the hood. “I figure we’ll need Verna’s DNA as well. I’m still not discounting her involvement or Hughes in this case.”
After gathering another test kit, Kane followed her to the front of the house. After Jenna pressed the bell, a woman in her late thirties opened the door, and stood staring at them with an astonished expression. He nodded to her. “Mrs. Cooper?”
“Yes.” Mrs. Cooper stood as if guarding the doorway, both hands clutching the doorframe. “Is something wrong?”
“Not at all.” Jenna smiled at the woman. “We’re collecting DNA samples and fingerprints to eliminate suspects in Laurie Turner’s murder. We’d like to get a sample from Wyatt if he’s home.”
“We just heard on the news about her death.” Mrs. Cooper pressed a hand to her chest. “She was such a sweet girl. Wyatt is heartbroken.” She shook her head. “I guess you’d better come inside. I’ll go and get him.”
Kane followed Jenna through the door and they waited in the hallway at the foot of the stairs. The scent of lavender furniture polish filled the house and exploded a wave of memories for him. His mother had always made her own polish using beeswax and lavender oil. He recalled her telling him how it made everything shine, even his boots. Upstairs they could hear mumbled conversations and Wyatt Cooper appeared at the top of the steps.
“Have you found out who killed her?” Wyatt shook his head slowly. “If only I’d waited, she would’ve been okay. I was too pig-headed and figured she’d get jealous seeing me talking to Becky.”
“We wouldn’t be here chasing down DNA samples if we’d found her killer.” Jenna was regarding him closely. “You can’t blame yourself, Wyatt. It’s the killer’s fault, not yours, and we’ll find out who did this to her. You have my word.”
“Thanks.” Wyatt looked at Kane. “I can’t believe the mayor is going ahead with the festival with Laurie dead and all. It doesn’t seem right. We’re expected to show too, like nothing happened.”
The show must go on. Kane nodded. “When something like this happens, it’s sometimes best to allow life to go on as normal. It’s a traumatic event and normality is the best cure.” He met the young man’s troubled gaze. “We need DNA—”
“Yeah, Mom just told me.” Wyatt frowned. “Do you need to take blood?”
“No just a swab.” Jenna smiled at him. “Open your mouth.” She took the sample. “There you go, that was easy.”
After pulling the fingerprint scanner device from his pocket, Kane moved closer. This is painless too. He guided Wyatt through the process. “Thank you for your cooperation.”
“That’s okay.” Wyatt rubbed the back of his neck. “I hope you find who killed Laurie.”
Kane waited for Mrs. Cooper to join them. “I have some paperwork for you to sign.” He rested the documents on a side table and explained the contents. “Thank you.” He sighed. “We’ll get going. We have to get this sample back to the lab.”
“I’m so sorry for your loss.” Jenna headed for the door.
As they drove away, Kane turned to her. “Now that was genuine grief. Blaming himself is normal, he felt responsible for her and wanted her back
. I don’t see him as jealous.”
“He seems like a normal healthy teenager to me.” Jenna shook her head. “But then Ted Bundy was regarded as a really nice guy too and he murdered thirty-six women. He makes the psychopaths we’ve had to deal with in Black Rock Falls look like amateurs.”
After dropping by the ME’s office to give the samples to Wolfe, Kane took the backroads back to the office to avoid the crowds. They arrived a little before five to see Duke’s nose pressed against the door. From the marks spread across the glass, he’d been there for some time. As Kane stepped inside, a bark of excitement greeted him followed by a happy dance of epic proportions. He was used to having an excited dog weighing a little over one hundred pounds charging at him but it was only by his quick reflexes he managed to catch Jenna before she headbutted the front counter. As she hung over his arm, Duke was licking her face with enthusiasm. “Hey, settle down, Duke. We’re happy to see you too but Jenna doesn’t need a bath.”
Oh, he’d said the “B” word and Duke stopped moving and hightailed it under Maggie’s desk. Kane straightened and tried not to laugh at the saliva dripping from Jenna’s chin. “Sorry. He was just being loving.”
“Yuk.” She shuddered. “I told you he’d be frantic.” She headed for the bathroom. “I need to wash up.”
“There’s someone here to see you.” Maggie was grinning from ear to ear. “Those FBI agents and their dogs.” She glanced down beside her. “But best you settle Duke. He’s shaking so much, if I put my feet on him, I’d get a foot massage.”
Kane nodded. “Sure.” He smiled and pulled a bag of cookies from his jacket pocket. “Duke, I have cookies.” He coaxed him out and rubbed his ears. “I’m sorry we took so long. We’ll go by Aunt Betty’s on the way home. Okay?”
It seemed the cure for all that ailed Duke was covered by cookies and the mention of Aunt Betty’s Café. Kane leaned on the counter. “Any idea why Jo and Carter are here?”
“They didn’t say.” Maggie shrugged. “They arrived about five minutes ago and they’re not wearing their FBI jackets.”
Kane nodded. “Where are Rowley and Rio?”
“In the communications room.” She smiled. “They work well together. They had people lining up to give statements in the Law case and had them all filed in no time at all. The county picked up Law and now they’re searching through CCTV footage for the vehicle you’re trying to hunt down.”
“Thanks.” He glanced up as Jenna came through the main office and headed his way. “Jo and Carter are waiting in your office, Rowley and Rio are scanning CCTV files.”
“Okay.” Jenna headed for her office door. “I wonder what they want?” She bent to rub Duke’s ears. “He seems fine now.”
Kane chuckled. “Yeah, he’s much like me. Give him a cookie and he’ll forgive anything.”
“I’ll try and remember that jewel of information.” Jenna laughed and pushed the door open to her office.
Nineteen
“Jo, Ty. How good to see you again and who is this beautiful young lady?” Jenna smiled at the young girl clutching a Boston Terrier on her lap.
“This is Jaime and Beau.” Jo smiled warmly at Jenna. “We’re staying at The Cattleman’s Hotel for the Fall Festival.”
“Nice to meet you, Jaime. I’m Jenna and this is Dave Kane.” Jenna smiled at the little girl. “I’ve been looking forward to meeting you. Did you come in the chopper? I bet that was fun.”
“I liked it fine but Beau was shaking all over.” Jaime frowned. “He seems okay now. What happened to your face?”
Jenna touched her sore cheek. “Oh, I just bumped it is all.”
“When I hurt myself, Mommy kisses it better for me, but adults don’t do that, do they?” Jaime gave her a wide-eyed stare.
“Well, Kane’s dog gave my face a good lick before so I’m good to go now.” Jenna glanced at Ty Carter sprawled in a chair, his trusty Doberman, Zorro, sitting beside him. The pair of them were a complete contrast: Carter gave the impression of a lazy cowboy, chewing on a toothpick, untidy blond hair at his collar, wearing cowboy boots and a battered Stetson, while his dog sat upright, ears pricked, coat glossy, and ready for action. “Ty, nice to see you. Are you all here for the festival?”
“Nope, I’m here for some recreational pursuits: eating, playing cards, or pool and drinking. I might find time to go fishing as well.” He looked at Kane. “Do you have any vacation time due? I’d appreciate your company.”
“Unfortunately, we have a homicide to investigate.” Kane shrugged. “We had planned to call you.”
“Ah, no way.” Carter held up his hands. “I’m off-duty but Kalo is in the office if you need him to hunt down anything for you.”
“I’ll be happy to help.” Jo leaned back in her chair. “But I promised Jaime she could watch the parade.”
Jenna went to the counter and filled the coffee machine. “We’ll have time to run a few things past you later when Jaime is asleep.”
“Sure.” Jo smiled. “I was hoping to introduce Jaime to Shane’s daughters. I think she’d get along with Anna but I guess he’ll be busy too?”
Jenna pulled out cups and the fixings. “He will but Julie will be taking Anna to the festival. She’s very responsible and they have a housekeeper who never misses a parade. Maybe you can tag along with them?”
“I’ll call and ask Shane later.” Jo looked at Kane. “Was it something in my field of expertise you needed to discuss?”
“Yeah, it’s complicated.” Kane dropped into a seat and removed his hat. “Like most things that happen around here.”
“Well…” Carter straightened and tossed the toothpick into the trash. He looked at Jaime. “I have a hankering for a slice of Aunt Betty’s peach pie. She has every flavor of ice cream. If your mom says it’s okay, would you like to come with me and try some?”
“Can I, Mommy?” Jaime grinned. “Please, please, please?”
“Sure, but don’t be too long.” Jo turned to Carter. “You’d better grab a slice of that pie for me as well.” She looked at Jenna. “It’s the best in town, right?
Jenna laughed. “It sure is.”
“Let’s go.” Carter offered his hand to the little girl. “We’ll walk, it’s not far and the dogs need a run.” They headed out the door.
“Okay.” Jo leaned forward in her seat. “What’s happened?”
Jenna poured three cups of coffee and placed them on the table. She sat down and brought Jo up to speed with the Laurie Turner case. “Like Kane said, it’s complicated.”
“Hmm.” Jo drummed her fingertips on the desk. “The cause of death confuses things, strangulation from behind isn’t upfront and personal, which appears to contradict the post-mortem stabbing.”
“Then we have the delay.” Kane indicated to the whiteboard, which had been brought up to date by Rio in their absence. “She was strangled and left in a sitting position for some hours, wrapped in plastic, and moved to the lowlands. We know she was stabbed in that location by the spatter pattern over the metal door to the old mine.”
Jenna chewed on her bottom lip. “It doesn’t fit any crime of passion I’ve seen before.”
“That’s because it’s not.” Jo sipped her coffee and thought for a beat. “I’m wondering if this is a White Knight murder.”
“In what context?” Kane looked puzzled.
“This type is the next step up from a man coming to a woman’s need. This subject is really a subordinate to a dominant personality. He would see her as a goddess, someone he admires. He craves her favor and will do anything to please her including being an accessory or committing murder for her. So, we could have two killers working together. I have no doubt it’s two people involved, likely a male and female but it could be two females. It’s not unusual for two jealous females to hunt down women they hate.” Jo stood and stared at the whiteboard. “So, are you assuming she was strangled by the subordinate and stabbed by the dominant?”
Jenna nodded. “Yes, I think it�
�s possible. We have a witness to say she took a ride in a car, and we’re assuming from the time of death it happened sometime after that. Kane believes she was strangled inside the vehicle but we can’t ignore the fact she may have been attacked leaving the vehicle by a taller person. From the position of the marks on her neck either is possible so I can’t discount the subordinate male.”
“I’d say inside the vehicle but I disagree with the idea the subordinate strangled her.” Jo stared at the autopsy photographs. “If a person isn’t a killer and is ordered to take a life, the first kill would be clumsy. It takes four minutes to strangle someone to death, sustained pressure is required or the victim regains consciousness. In that time, someone in this category would reduce the pressure, the cord would slip as they tried again. This isn’t evident here.” She looked at Kane. “You’ve seen this before, surely?”
“Yeah, sometimes the victim wakes up and they have to strangle them again.” Kane was on his feet staring at the images. “The marks on Laurie’s neck are from sustained pressure, so this was the dominant of the two and I figure the attack was committed by the same person.”
“Exactly.” Jo stared at the post-mortem wounds and nodded slowly. “This is a frenzied attack but what triggered it?” She stared at the board. “Any clues at the scene?”
“Nothing.” Kane sighed. “As you can see the entire area was swept clean.”
“Okay. Let’s wind it back to the actual murder.” Jo turned to look at them. “So, why take her from the vehicle and sit her on a plastic sheet. Why sit her up? It would have been easier to lie her down. They obviously planned to move her and a sitting body in rigor would have been difficult to move.”
“Maybe that’s why they waited overnight.” Kane pointed to the images of the scene at the mine. “They left very little trace evidence. They must know about forensics to some degree.”
“You’re missing my point.” Jo leaned one hip against the desk. “Why sit her up in the first place?”