The Crying Season (Detectives Kane and Alton)

Jenna drummed her fingertips on the wooden counter. “Okay, thanks for the information; we’ll speak to Erik.” She pushed her notepad across the desk with the list of names of the backpack owners. “We have reason to believe these missing people could have passed through town. They might be victims of the same killer. Could you check the records, going back a couple of years, and see if they stayed here?”

“If I d

on’t, you’ll get a search warrant, right?” Nigel peered at the list then tapped the names into the computer. “We have information going back seven years or so.” He glanced at Jenna. “This might take a while.” He pulled out four coupons from under the desk and handed them to her. “Complimentary cakes and coffee while you wait?”

“Well, I figure as I’m asking him for a favor, this can’t be considered a bribe.” She grinned at Kane. “I guess I’ll have to force you to eat cake?”

“Well, we do have a good excuse. We need to talk to Erik.” Kane’s stomach growled and he looked sheepish. “I know it’s only been two hours since lunch.” He turned toward the restaurant then spun around and grabbed Jenna by the shoulders.

Jenna glared at him. “What are you doing?”

“Move.” Kane’s broad shoulders blocked her view.

Turned away and almost pushed into a corner, she glared up at him. “What the hell is going on, Kane?”

“Do you have a sister?” Kane’s voice had lowered to just above a whisper. “Any family member that looks like you?”

Jenna shook her head. “No, I’ve told you before. I don’t have any living relatives. Why?”

When Kane moved to one side, Jenna gaped at the woman strolling toward the elevator. After extensive plastic surgery to disguise her, she could resemble anyone. She looked up at him and whispered, “Oh, shit. Now I know where my face came from. I hope she isn’t anyone famous.” She walked back to the counter and Nigel glanced up at her from the computer screen. “That couple looks familiar. Who are they?”

“Paul Benton and Mariah Crane out of Washington for the convention.” Nigel raised an inquiring brow. “Is she a relative?”

Jenna smiled. “I thought so but I don’t recall her name. I might catch up with her later. How long is she staying?”

“I can’t say for sure— the convention winds up on Friday but they do have the after-convention socials through to next Wednesday.”

“Great, thanks!” She turned to Kane. “Let’s go find Erik.”

When Jenna asked the maître d’ if Erik could seat them, he gave them a beaming smile and waved the young waiter forward. The restaurant was practically empty with only a few people lingering over coffee and cake. They took a table at the back of the room and waited for him to bring the cart with an array of delicious cakes and pastries. After making their selection, she brought up the information Nigel had given them. “Do you remember who asked you for a map of the old trails?”

“Yes, it was Mr. Benton and Miss Crane. They have been working so hard at the convention they said they needed a break away from everyone. I suggested the trail that goes way up along the res, then veers off along Bear Peak. They can see the waterfalls if they climb up to the plateau and the views are great.” He served the cake and poured the coffee. “They planned to spend the weekend hiking.” He smiled at them. “I’ll leave the cart. The chef throws out leftovers at four so you might as well eat your fill. I’ll bring you a fresh pot of coffee.”

“Thank you.” Jenna leaned back in her chair, taking in the look of concentration on Kane’s face. “What are you thinking about? Not cake, that’s for sure.”

“I’ve figured out a plan.”

48

Unable to persuade Kane to discuss details of his plan in a public place, the moment they had finished eating, Jenna returned to the front counter to discover if the backpack owners had stayed at the hotel. Nigel confirmed that two of the three missing people had booked a room, and both in the fall of previous years. The coincidences between the victims were stacking up.

After they headed back to the sheriff’s office, Jenna called in Wolfe and her deputies. Once they had taken their seats, she turned her attention to Kane. “Okay, no one can overhear us in here. What is your plan?”

“It would depend on the cooperation of Mr. Benton and Miss Crane.” Kane’s gaze swept the other deputies. “They are a couple staying at the hotel and Miss Crane bears a striking resemblance to the sheriff. Going on the last murders, Miss Crane is the type our murderer likes, and they plan to go hiking at Bear Peak at the weekend.” His attention fixed on Jenna. “I believe there is a good chance they could be the killer’s next target.”

“Okay. So, you want to use them as bait?” Rowley leaned forward in his seat, pen raised above his notebook. “How do you plan to rope them into your scheme?”

Jenna cleared her throat, gaining everyone’s attention. “We are not—I repeat not—using anyone as bait for a serial killer.”

“Not them. I would never risk a civilian’s life.” Kane’s eyes darkened and he turned into the highly trained iceman killer she had glimpsed before. “Us.”

Jenna had spent time undercover during her time with the DEA and had escaped with little to spare, the result of which had landed her in Black Rock Falls with a new face and name. Placing herself in the direct line of fire and risking a lunatic dissecting her alive did not appeal to her in the least. She chewed on her bottom lip and considered the implications then met Kane’s gaze. “I think you’ve lost your ever-loving mind but I’ll listen. Lay it on me.”

“Crane resembles you, and the couple are out of Washington like us, so the accents won’t be a problem. She is the murderer’s type of preferred woman, and from the intel on their movements this coming weekend, I figure we have two choices.” Kane leaned on the desk, folding his huge forearms. “Get the couple the hell out of Dodge or get them to advertise their plans for the weekend far and wide then move them to a safe house and take their places. I’m pretty sure as the killer’s main focus will be on the woman, I’ll be able to pass as Benton at a distance, especially if I wear a Kevlar vest under my jacket to add the extra bulk.” His attention moved over Jenna’s face. “We are trained to take down this son of a bitch and we’ll have backup.”

“If he takes the bait.” Wolfe’s expression was grim. “We are only surmising he picks out couples visiting town then sets a trap once he knows where they’re heading. He isn’t going to be sitting up in the mountains on the off chance someone will stroll by, and not every woman is going to fit the type he prefers.” He sighed. “I bet I could count on one hand the number of couples who venture up the old trails.”

Jenna shook her head. “Not according to Nigel at the counter of the hotel. He informed us it is common for people to hike in the remote areas, and they pick up maps all the time.” She shrugged. “This tells me we have two possible scenarios. The first: The killer could be either Woods or Canavar. As we haven’t found a trace of Canavar, he could be living off the grid somewhere in the forest, and we know Woods was prowling the area at night. If they set up trail cams on the more remote areas around Bear Peak, they could be monitoring the area. It wouldn’t be difficult to get to a suitable target if they placed themselves in a central position. Secondly: If the killer is lurking around town and maybe stalking suitable couples, as Kane suggests, he’ll take the bait.”