“It is obvious they live close by to know the area. A stranger wouldn’t have a clue about the root cellar at the Old Mitcham Ranch.” Rowley leaned forward in his chair. “I’m surprised two men are involved and kept it a secret.” He glanced at Kane. “Are you sure you only noticed one person in the pickup?”
“I didn’t see the driver at all.” Kane emptied his cup and placed it on the desk. “Why?”
“Well, it would take a big guy to lift a dead body and force it into a barrel. Maybe one man could do it okay. Getting the barrel onto a truck with the fluid and off again at the landfill would take some doing. I think you can rule out old Mrs. Woodward.”
“Most ranchers would have machinery to lift heavy objects and add the liquid once the barrel was on the pickup.” Kane leaned back in his chair. “It could have been rolled off the back of a pickup or flatbed truck. The problem is forensics have proved we have two people involved in Sarah’s murder and I have two men using each other for alibis. Billy Watts and Dan Beal both said they went to the Larks gym on Monday morning. I’ll give the Larks coach a call as soon as we are finished because if he remembers them, and the other people he mentioned check out, we are back to square one.”
Jenna drummed her fingernails on the desk. “Okay, so I gather you still believe the same people are involved in the murders and the incidents involving me, right?”
“I have from the start. Coincidences are rare, and unless someone has poisoned the Black Rock Falls water supply and we are all slowly going crazy, the chances of two homicidal lunatics in one town at the same time with different agendas would be a million to one.” Kane pushed to his feet and went to the whiteboard. “In my opinion, the Ford pickup I saw belonged to Mrs. Woodward. I’m more than happy to go and check the other vehicles but the chance of finding another with the same torn sticker would be remote.” He made notes on the board. “Mrs. Woodward loved her granddaughter and went missing well before she arrived. I’ve checked her rap sheet and she has no priors.” He turned to face her, and shrugged. “My guess is Mrs. Woodward is another victim and the killers used her pickup to move John Helms’s body, and in an attempt to kill you or send you a warning.”
“So you believe her body is lying around somewhere?” Rowley scraped a hand through his hair. “Maybe we should search all the barrels at the landfill.”
“Brinks has opened every barrel in the place and found nothing, but many are buried under tons of garbage.” Jenna finished her coffee. “If that is their usual method of disposal, why leave Sarah in the root cellar?”
“Maybe they didn’t want to risk the landfill again.” Rowley cleared his throat. “They would know any barrel dumped there would be checked.”
“I agree, and the three incidents involving the sheriff are warnings.” Kane moved back toward the desk and sank his huge frame into a chair then looked at her. “I know you have no recollection of anything unusual occurring in the last few months but I’d bet my last dollar you’ve witnessed something.” He raised a dark eyebrow. “Unless you agree to be hypnotized, we won’t find out, and I guess that’s not going to happen anytime soon.”
The hairs on the back of Jenna’s neck stood to attention. Someone had tried to kill her, but unless someone in her past had found her, she had no idea why. She chewed on her bottom lip, meeting his intense gaze. “Honestly, there is no need to be so dramatic. I’ve told you everything I can remember. Trust me. I haven’t seen anything unusual in Black Rock Falls.”
“Okay, allow me to give you my take on the situation.” Kane leaned back in the chair, making it squeak in protest. “I am convinced you are tied up with these murders, however unwillingly. Some time since Mrs. Woodward arrived in Black Rock Falls, you have interacted with persons unknown and witnessed a crime, or seen something someone wants kept secret. If you didn’t see anything other than animal brutality at Clough’s farm, it must have occurred during your investigation into Mrs. Woodward’s disappearance as that was the only time you did a door-to-door.”
“I can’t believe you think something I supposedly ignored caused two horrific murders.” Jenna shook her head. “I didn’t investigate alone and I’ve retraced my steps. Nothing happened. I’m not some rookie. I’d have noticed anything out of the ordinary.”
“I’m not saying you’re at fault but law enforcers have turned a blind eye many times for locals they like, especially in small towns. People here are like family. Then seemingly out of the blue, you started to crack down on the local louts.” Kane’s blue gaze settled on her. “Next thing you know, someone is running you off the road and shooting at you.” He opened his hands. “The moment you take one step alone, you get a warning to keep your mouth shut.”
“What has that got to do with murder of John Helms and Sarah?”
“Ah, when we found John Helms, they panicked. The shooting was another warning but when I started pulling people in for questioning, they grabbed you at the Cattleman’s Hotel. I guess they thought eventually you’d crumble and inform me.” Kane gave her a long meaningful stare. “You thought you heard two sets of footsteps, didn’t you?”
“Yes, but I don’t know anything. I would tell you if I did, you know that, right?”
“Oh, I believe you.” Kane pushed a hand through his thick hair. “I doubt Mrs. Woodward was their first victim as we have three other missing persons. Up to her murder, they had covered their tracks, then you became sheriff. I guess when I arrived they thought you’d brought in reinforcements, but you ignored their threats, and Sarah’s murder was a stern warning as in, ‘Look what I can do if you tell Kane what you know.’” He leaned forward in his chair. “We’ll go through your daily activity log for the last six months or so, then visit all the ranches again, starting with Stan Clough’s old place, and see if anything triggers a memory, no matter how insignificant.”
Anger welled and Jenna shot to her feet. “We’ll do no such thing. I haven’t seen a damn thing or I would have told you however insignificant as you so eloquently suggested.” She pointed to the door. “Go and check out Watts’ and Beal’s alibis then drive out and inspect the blue Ford pickups so we can eliminate the owners from our list of suspects.” She pushed back her chair. “Do
n’t bother picking me up on the way back. I’ll find my own way home.”
“Jenna—”
“That’s Sheriff Alton to you.” Jenna glared at him. “Shut the door on your way out.”
Kane stood and shook his dark head slowly. “I meant no disrespect, ma’am.” He straightened and headed for the door.
She glanced at Deputy Rowley. His face resembled a crushed flower. She realized Kane was his idol, the epitome of the perfect officer. Too bad, he would have to learn the hard way, if he dared to doubt her word. “Listen to me, I know for a fact Pete Daniels is repeating everything that happens here to his brothers. They in turn no doubt spread the gossip around town and by doing this they forewarn the criminals of our every move. You must not discuss any of our cases with him or Walters. Keep the conversation to traffic violations and minor infringements. Do you understand?”
“Yes, ma’am.” Rowley’s face had turned a deep shade of red. “I do think Deputy Kane has a point. What he said makes sense.” He hugged the coffee she had made him like a life preserver.
“Investigations take time.” Jenna sucked in a deep breath. She liked Rowley and he had a good sense of the job. “I’ll get the paperwork filed for the search warrant for the Clough ranch and we’ll check him out. The forensics team will come up with the brand of footwear used by the killers and find any DNA evidence. Everything will be resolved. Killers make mistakes and we’ll nail who did this but it might take a little more time. Don’t jump to unsubstantiated conclusions like Kane; be patient and work through the clues.” She moved around the desk and patted him on the back. “Solid police work is all we need. Now, go and ask Daniels if he’s matched up the movements of Josh Rockford and Watts with the bank withdrawals from Helms’s and Woodward’s bank statements.”
“Sure.” Rowley indicated toward the whiteboard with his thumb. “Do you want me to hide the board if you’d rather Daniels doesn’t know the details about the current investigation?”
Exhausted and drained, Jenna dropped into her chair. “Good idea.”
“Can I get you another cup of coffee?” Rowley pushed the board up into the wall recess.
“Thank you, I think I need a gallon.”