“She ticks all the boxes.”
She pulled out the earbud and sighed. “Yeah, I agree, and her mood swings almost like a split personality, but she is tiny, maybe five two, and doesn’t look capable of killing anyone let alone a man the size of Ely Dorsey.”
“Says the woman who just took down a lunatic with a gun, who weighed at least two hundred pounds.” Kane flicked her an amused glance.
She welcomed his ego stroke. Kane did not hand out compliments often. “We’ll head back to the office. Wolfe will be doing Jane’s autopsy by now. Once we update the case files and include an incident report on what happened today—” she let out a long sigh “—we should be able to leave by five for a change.”
“Hallelujah.”
41
That evening, in her bedroom, she laughed to herself as she turned on her computer. The latest news bulletin stated the sheriff had made no further statements about the mysterious deaths of Amos Price and Ely Dorsey, or the death of Jane Stickler. She had the Black Rock Falls Sheriff’s Department running all over the state, and one phone call to Deputy Kane tomorrow from a payphone would have them all scampering up the mountain to look for graves. Everything was going to plan.
She entered the chat room and signed in as Needy Girl then waited. After a few moments, she noticed his username, Eighteen and Lonely, in a list, and a message box opened up moments later.
She ran her fingers over the hunting knife and smiled. Her time spent running the blade over a whetstone had been worth the effort. The edge glistened under the overhead lights, reflecting patterns around the room. She took a firm grip on the handle and practiced an upward thrusting motion. The knife fit snugly in her palm. The guard at one end would stop her hand slipping in the blood and onto the blade.
There would be a lot of blood.
She would need to strike fast and hard because if she missed, he would kill her without a second thought.
I will not miss.
Allowing each potential scenario to percolate through her mind, she wet her lips, confident she had a plan to kill a monster. A message popped up on her screen.
Hey, Needy Girl, do you like clowns?
42
Tuesday, week two
Jenna stepped out on her porch and blinked into the sunshine. She slipped on her sunglasses and surveyed her domain. The rain overnight had refreshed the lush vegetation surrounding her land in various shades of green. The air had the fresh-cut hay smell she loved, and inhaling deeply, she strolled down the steps and headed to the corral. She had not had time to breathe let alone enjoy the two horses Kane had purchased, but she found them groomed and glossy, munching the overgrown grass. She wondered what would happen when they ate all the grass, because Kane had not mentioned using any of the other paddocks.
“Hey, Jenna, admiring the horses?”
Jenna turned at Kane’s voice. I have to admit they are beautiful creatures but a lot of extra work for you.”
“I don’t mind; it doesn’t take that long to groom them and muck them out.” Kane leaned his tanned forearms on the top rail of the corral and smiled. “I feel peaceful when I’m with them and I can get my mind straight.” His attention followed the moving horses. “There are so many angles to consider with these new cases, I need time to reflect.”
“I agree but I do my best figuring in bed.” She took a position beside him. “I’m looking forward to having the time to take a ride. You do know all the surrounding paddocks up to the line of trees are on my land so if you need it for the horses, go right ahead.”
“Thanks.” He looked down at her. “I’m done here—are you ready to go?”
“Yeah, I just have to lock up.” She met his gaze. “I’ll follow you into town.”
“Sure.” His mouth twitched at the corners and he touched his hat before ambling to his vehicle.
She stared after him. Their workout this morning had been brutal and she had staggered into the shower with her legs shaking. Often Kane would return after he had showered and eat breakfast or drink coffee with her and mull over the caseload, but this morning he was a no-show. His mind worked on cases differently to her own; he often kept silent until he had digested all the facts then spit them out in a long monologue. She barked her ideas at everyone expecting them to collect the evidence she required.
After setting her house alarm and picking up a travel cup of coffee to drink on the way, she climbed into her vehicle and followed Kane’s black SUV to the office.
She pulled up in her usual space, noting Wolfe had arrived. She hoped he would have the findings from the autopsy on Jane Stickler. Her stomach gave a little twist as she slipped out from behind the wheel and headed for the front door. The bright sunny day had suddenly turned ominous. Hearing about the last moments in a young girl’s life was not on her list of favorite things to do.
She greeted Maggie with a wave. It was unusual seeing a line of people waiting at the front desk. To her surprise, her deputies—with the exception of Walters, who was now working part-time—appeared to be hard at work in their cubicles. She glanced at her watch, wondering if she was late, then noticed Rowley waiting by her office door with a perturbed expression. Has everyone arrived before me this morning? “Morning, did you want to speak to me?”
“Yes, ma’am, if you have a moment?”
She removed her weapon and slipped it into the desk drawer with her keys then sat down and looked up at him. “What can I do for you?”