“Take a few seconds to listen.” Jenna stopped under a tall pine. “We heard the distinct sound of a motor running on the video.”
“It’ll be hard to hear anything now the wind is picking up.” Kane moved to her side, sliding his Glock from the holster, and they crept closer using the tree line for cover, then stopped a few yards from the house to listen. A crisp fresh breeze brushed his face, stirring the long grass and bringing with it the unique smell of wilderness. The scent of fresh pine and wildflowers filled the air with no odor of inhabitation. High above a golden eagle circled then dived down to pluck a small critter from the ground before soaring into the air but no sound of a motor broke the silence.
“I can’t hear anything.” Jenna gave him an enquiring look. “You?”
“Nope.” He shrugged. “That means nothing. He could turn off the air conditioning but I’m not sure this place has power. It must be over a hundred years old.” He stared back at the road. “There are power lines but they don’t come to this site.”
“There are industrial machinery plants in this area, and potteries. I’d say they’ve had power here for a long time.” Jenna slid into the shadows of the trees. “I hear there’re plans to set up wind farms in the grasslands on this side of town. It would be a lucrative investment in land useless for cattle grazing.” She stopped walking and pushed a lock of raven hair behind one ear. “There’s the barn, we can slip around back and use it for cover.”
“Roger that.” Kane followed close behind.
He admired how Jenna took the lead, moving forward into danger boots and all. She’d good reason to use him as a shield; many times in the past she’d become the target of a deranged lunatic. He had to admit he’d willingly take a bullet for her and, after coming close to death recently, she’d proved to be of the same mind when it came to his safety. Ahead, long shadows extended from the trees to the barn and without making a sound, Jenna dashed across the open space. With her back flat against the wall of the barn, she waved him forward. He did a visual scan of the house and blended into the bushes to get a better look. Darkness bathed the front porch but he could make out movement at the front door.
With every muscle on alert, he held up a hand to Jenna and indicated he’d seen something. She followed protocol and slipped into the shadows. He pulled out his binoculars and scoped the house and front porch. The door stood slightly ajar then moved again before closing. No one appeared at the windows, not one sound came from the house. He waited a beat, then took a deep breath and sprinted to her side.
“What did you see?” Jenna’s eyes looked huge in the dim light as she peered up at him.
He lowered his voice to just above a whisper. “The front door opened a few inches then closed. I didn’t see anything else, no face at the window, nothing. It could have been the wind.”
“I hope the place isn’t haunted but since I’ve lived in Black Rock Falls I guess anything is possible.” Jenna shuddered. “I can deal with the living and the dead but ghosts are a whole different ballgame.”
“Ghosts, huh? Nah, if they existed they’d be hounding me for sure.” Kane pulled the evidence bag from his pocket. “I’ll see if Duke can pick up a scent.” He called the bloodhound to his side and pressed the pair of Lindy’s socks to his nose. “Seek.”
When Duke sniffed around, then came back and sat at Kane’s feet, he looked at Jenna and shook his head. “Nothing. She’s not been here.”
“Maybe the kidnapper carried her from his vehicle to the house.” Jenna stared down at Duke. “Or Duke’s scared of ghosts.” She patted the dog on the head. “Trust me. I don’t want to go inside that creepy place either.”
Kane hadn’t seen this side of Jenna before and if not for the urgent need to find Lindy, he’d take time to discuss her fears. “There’s a side door just ahead.” He glanced at his watch. “Three hours to deadline, we need to move along.”
Jenna gave him a curt nod and moved swiftly
along the side of the barn, hardly making a sound. He followed close behind, ears straining for any sound of movement inside, but heard nothing. They reached the door and squatted down, one on each side. “See if it will open. I’ll cover you.”
“Roger that.” Jenna turned the doorknob and the old wooden door creaked open, making enough noise to alert the entire neighborhood. “Shit.”
Kane turkey-peeked around the door. Inside, a thick coating of dust covered the floor and rats scattered away from the light, disappearing into dark holes. It was empty apart from a dilapidated saddle hanging over the gate to a stall. No one had been inside for a very long time. “I’d say it’s just the rats and us.” He straightened and holstered his weapon.
“No root cellar here either.” Jenna stood and peered inside. “We’ll do a quick recon of the house. It might have one in the pantry.” She indicated to the barn doors. “I guess we can get to the house through there.”
A sense of foreboding washed over Kane. His gut instinct never let him down and walking onto the porch after seeing the door open and close could be suicide. He touched Jenna’s arm. “Not so fast. It could be a trap. I figure it would be safer to go around back.” He turned to Duke. “Stay.”
“Sure.” Jenna walked back out the door, and then sprinted along the side of the barn. She stopped and looked back at him and pointed to her ear, then placed a finger to her lips.
Kane fell into combat mode. He pulled his weapon and dashed to her side, taking in his surroundings in one quick scan. He stared at her pale face and listened. Faint strains of music carried on the breeze and every hair on his body stood to attention.
Seven
A shiver ran down Jenna’s spine as she peered around the corner at the old ranch house. The weather had long ago stripped the paint from the log building and moss covered what remained of the wooden shingles. Untidy birds’ nests and sprigs of green plants filled the gutters as if nature was claiming the old house back. Shutters covered most of the windows but as they edged their way along the wall of the barn, the back of the house came into view. A window stood open and its torn lace curtains flapped in the wind. Music, very soft, seemed to hover on the breeze. She pressed her back against the wall and turned to Kane. “There’s an open window. The music seems to be coming from there.”
“Could be someone taking advantage of the adverse possession law.” Kane raised an eyebrow. “Although, it sure doesn’t look like someone is making improvements but it would be a perfect place to hide Lindy.” He peered at the house. “Something doesn’t feel right.”
“I know what you mean, this place is spooky.” Jenna met his gaze. “If it wasn’t for Lindy I wouldn’t go near it.”
Torn between hammering on the door and erring on the side of caution, Jenna eased away from the barn and aimed her Glock at the back door. “Sheriff’s department. Show yourselves or we’re coming in.”
They waited.
Nothing.