Be Mine Forever (Detectives Kane and Alton)

She stared out the window, wanting to be part of the organizing happening in town. She often helped out here or there, her deputies saving some of the older townsfolk from the heavy lifting, but she only got a glimpse of Main, as Kane took the backroads. After a few turns they sped along Stanton toward the school. The parking lot was empty but they passed a few kids walking home in groups. “From what Hughes said he parks round back.”

“Okay.’ Kane drove around the main building and parked behind a white pickup.

Jenna wrinkled her nose at the smell coming from the line of dumpsters and buzzed up her window. She scanned the area. “The backdoor is open. Maybe he’s working close by.”

“I hope so. We’ve been away from the office for hours.” Kane climbed out and went to the back of his truck. “I’ll grab a DNA test kit.”

Jenna stared at him. “If you’re worrying about Duke, don’t. Maggie will be feeding him snacks and he’ll probably be sleeping them off.”

“Maybe but he doesn’t know Rio.” Kane pushed surgical gloves into his pocket and shrugged. “With him working next to me, he might think I’ve been replaced. He doesn’t like strangers.” He looked at her. “I figure if he gets worried, he’ll head back to the res. You should see him there, Jenna, he gets so excited. I didn’t think that dogs remembered their mothers but he does. I often wonder if I should have given him to Atohi?”

Jenna ignored the stink of garbage and stared at him in disbelief. “Are you joking? When you spent time in the hospital, he howled at the door and insisted I take him to every room in the cottage to look for you. He slept under the Beast for weeks and refused to eat. I had to drag him out and then give him one of your dirty shirts to sleep on and hand feed him in his basket. He might be excited to see his mom but you are his world.” She looked at him uncomprehending. “You must know that, right?”

“You never told me that before.” Kane’s brow wrinkled into a frown.

Jenna shook her head. “No, because you weren’t you when you came home from the hospital. You didn’t remember me let alone Duke.”

“I did remember Duke.” Kane removed his hat and rubbed the scar on his head. “Selective memory.” He cupped her cheek. “Sorry, I remember everything just fine now. You saved my life and I abandoned you.”

Jenna moved closer. “You came home.” She smiled at him. “Even with no memory, you came home with me. You’re with me now. That’s all that matters.”

“I’m a lucky man.” Kane brushed a kiss over her lips and then stiffened and looked over her shoulder and dropped his hand. “I think it was just a bug in your hair, Sheriff.”

What? Jenna noticed Cory Hughes leaning against the doorframe, grinning like a baboon. It was obvious Kane was trying to conceal a tender moment from prying eyes. She cleared her throat. “What’s so funny, Mr. Hughes?”

“Well, it’s not often I see the sheriff and one of her deputies making out with the trash.” Hughes chuckled. “I?

?ll leave you two love birds alone.”

Annoyed, Jenna marched toward him. The last thing they needed was Hughes spreading rumors all over town. “If asking someone to pull a bug out of my hair is your idea of making out, I think you need professional help.” She followed him inside. “Don’t go anywhere, I’m here to see you.”

“I gave my statement and I have nothing more to add.” He led the way inside the school.

“We are eliminating the last people to see Laurie Turner alive from our investigation.” Kane moved to her side. “We’ll need a DNA swab from inside your mouth. It’s painless and if you’re not involved in her murder, you have no need to be concerned.”

“Murder?” Hughes paled. “Last I heard she went missing. She’s dead? How? What happened to her?” He looked at her wide-eyed.

Either Hughes was in shock or he was great at play acting. She’d witnessed psychopaths act remorseful when they had no empathy whatsoever and usually went by her gut feeling during interviews. “The cause of death is under investigation. There was DNA found on her body and we’re collecting samples from all her friends. We’re not accusing you of anything, this way if you had nothing to do with her death, it takes suspicion away from you.”

“I’d never hurt Laurie.” Hughes rubbed both hands down his face. “I knew she liked me but getting involved with a sixteen-year-old would cost me my job. I told her to go make up with Wyatt when she broke her phone.” He dashed a hand through his hair. “She kissed me on the cheek and ran out the door giggling.”

“Did you follow her?” Kane’s voice was so low, Jenna could hardly hear him. “Sweet young thing like her, no one would know, right?”

Jenna understood Kane’s unsavory comment about Laurie as an interviewing technique used by FBI profilers during questioning. It made the suspect believe the interviewer was of like mind and often prompted a response. Perpetrators often enjoyed talking about their exploits to likeminded people.

“No, I didn’t follow her.” Hughes straightened. “I went home like I told you.” His eyes flashed with anger. “I’d never hurt Laurie. I’ll give a DNA sample to prove it.”

Easily said from a killer who knew he’d covered his tracks. Jenna nodded. “Thank you. I didn’t realize she was a close friend. I’m sorry for your loss.” She motioned toward Kane. “Deputy Kane will take the sample.”

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?”