Be Mine Forever (Detectives Kane and Alton)

Jenna waited for him to slip behind the wheel. “Susie is always so nice to everyone. I wonder why she isn’t married? You’d think she’d meet everyone eligible in town working at Aunt Betty’s. They do say a way to a man’s heart and all that.”

“Hmm.” Kane rubbed his chin and thought for a beat and then gave her a wink. “Nah. Nice as she is, I wouldn’t trade her bacon and eggs for your toast.” He grinned. “I think it’s cute the way you try to cover up the burned bits with extra butter.”

Jenna chuckled. It was good to break the horror of the morning with a little light teasing. “Aw shucks, Dave, now I’m blushing.” She fluttered her eyelashes and pressed one hand to her heart.

“That doesn’t mean I expect you to cook me breakfast.” Kane’s smile flashed white. “I’m happy to take my turn. You know that, right?”

“Yeah, Dave, I do.” Jenna sighed. “I hate to break this mood but we have a job to do and a very unpleasant one. This will be the second time I’ve had to give bad news to someone in the beauty parlor, they’ll be refusing me entry soon.”

“I know what you mean. This part of the job stinks.” Kane turned the Beast around and they headed for the highway. “I’m hoping this is a one-off but if this guy hits again, I figure we need to search for a killing ground. A barn or perhaps a garage.”

Jenna stared at a vista of wheatgrass. As the wind moved over it, creating ripples, the lowlands turned into a golden ocean, and she wished she was far away on a beach somewhere. She had to drag her mind away from the idea of splashing through waves and feeling sand between her bare toes and listen to him. She nodded. “Yeah, the screwdriver was a strange weapon of choice. With so many people carrying hunting knifes, it seems strange to bring a screwdriver out here.” She blinked at Kane as an image flashed across her mind. “I’ve often seen carpenters or handymen carrying screwdrivers in back pockets or hanging from a utility belt.” She thought back. “In fact, I’m sure I saw the handle of one poking out of the top pocket of Cory Hughes’ work shirt.”

“We’ll check it out after the autopsy.” Kane shrugged. “Wolfe might have found prints or trace evidence.”

“I hope so, but Hughes doesn’t drive a Chrysler sedan. So, I guess he’s off the list.” Jenna leaned back trying to compose the words in her mind she needed to say to Laurie’s mother.

It took tact and a calm demeanor to deliver devastating news. She thought it through and satisfied, she glanced at Kane. “First impressions on Rio?”

“Smart and up to date.” Kane turned onto Stanton and headed toward town. “He’s somewhere between Rowley and Ty Carter, I figure. Ty has experience and can take in the whole picture at a crime scene as if he’s reliving it in his head. That comes from working across many crimes. Rowley is still a little green. He’s good but needs direction—but he doesn’t need to prove anything to me, he is solid.”

Jenna took out her notebook and flicked through the pages. “It will be interesting to see if Rio’s memory is as good as he says. I’ve read about people like him and instant recall is amazing. He does seem on the ball and I liked his take on the crime scene. He is right, this attack on Laurie Turner seemed very personal. It has to be someone she knows.”

“Yeah it seems so.” Kane pulled up outside the beauty parlor and stared at her. “You gonna be okay? You’ve gone sheet-white.”

Jenna unclipped her seatbelt and moistened her lips. “Yeah, I’ll be fine but come in with me. You have a calming influence in most situations and you can catch her if she faints.”

“There goes my reputation again.” Kane removed his Stetson and ran a hand through his hair before replacing it. “Now all the guys in town will think I have a stylist cut my hair. I’ll never live it down.”

Knowing Kane was trying to make light of an awful job, she squeezed his arm and then slid out the truck. She found Mrs. Turner in the break room sipping coffee. A slim woman, with red lips and fingernails, and her long hair tied up in an elaborate weave, lifted her head from a magazine to stare at her as if she’d grown two heads. “We’re here about your daughter, Laurie.”

“Did you locate her?” Mrs. Turner stubbed out a cigarette in an ashtray on the table and looked at Jenna.

Jenna shook her head. “We’re not sure. We found the body of a female earlier today. It could be Laurie. She hasn’t been identified.”

“A body? What happened to her?” Mrs. Turner’s voice rose to a panicked shriek. “Take me to her. I want to see her.”

“We haven’t determined the cause of death.” Kane moved into the room and closed the door behind him. “She is with the medical examiner. I’m afraid you won’t be able to view the body.”

“Then how will you know if it’s my Laurie?” Mrs. Turner’s eyes filled with tears that spilled down her cheeks. “This can’t be happening.”

Jenna sat beside her. “I need a DNA sample from you. A swab from inside your cheek is all. I’ll know in less than an hour.”

“Okay.” Mrs. Turner dragged in a shuddering breath. “It’s his fault. Her father refused to allow her to move in with me. He said if I made a fuss, he’d have me declared as an unfit mother. He tells people I’m dead, you know.” She shook her head. “He’s violent. I couldn’t live with him a moment longer. I tried to take Laurie and run with her but he obtained a court order and dragged her back. I’

ve had no visitation rights. I’ve had to sneak time with her.” She opened her mouth for Jenna to take the swab.

Jenna placed the sample inside the tube and sealed the bag. She stood. “You did the right thing leaving an abusive relationship. His position as a school counselor would have made him believable to the courts, I’m afraid. Not so much now. We support victims of spousal abuse in Black Rock Falls. If this had happened now, you could have come to me for help.”

“Thank you and yes, I’ve seen the flyers.” Mrs. Turner stood and collected her purse from a bench. “I can’t stay here doing nothing, I’m going to the ME’s office. I’ll wait there for the result.”

“Do you have someone we can call to go with you?” Kane had removed his Stetson and was rolling the edge with his fingers. “A minister? Close friend?”

“Yeah, Father Derry.” Mrs. Turner pulled a bunch of tissues from a box and wiped her eyes. “He’s been very helpful through all my troubles with Bob.”

Jenna pulled out a card and handed it to her. “I’ll call him. Here are my details if you need to contact me.” She looked at Mrs. Turner and the poor woman’s grief surrounded her like a heavy weight. “Wait a while before you go, it will take a couple of hours before the ME has the results. Do you want me to ask Father Derry to meet you here? I don’t think you should be driving.”

“Okay.” Mrs. Turner sniffed. “Have you informed Bob?”