Bring Me Flowers (Detectives Kane and Alton)

Kane took the crime scene tape from his bag, tossed one end to Jenna, and walked into the forest, looping the tape around trees until he had made a full circle. He emerged to see her tying her end securely around a pine tree on the edge of the trail. He twined the tape around the opposite tree then pulled it across the trail entrance and fastened it beside Jenna’s tape. “That will keep everyone out but we’ve done a thorough search of the scene.” He smiled at her, glad to see her rigid stance relax a little. “What next, ma’am?”

“I think we should pay Lionel Provine a visit. I wouldn’t mind seeing what his demeanor is like and we have an excuse to drop by now.” Jenna’s dark gaze searched his face. “I’ll ask him if he is going to the dance tonight. If he is going, we’ll park outside Aunt Betty’s Café and wait for him to leave then follow him to the fairgrounds.”

“We’ll be able to keep a close eye on him.” He gathered up his bag and headed for his SUV. “How did you like driving my ride?”

“I’m not sure what you did to the engine but it takes off so fast it should be illegal.” Jenna dangled his keys between her long fingers. “Handles well. I’m jealous.”

He gave her a sideways look, glad she had coped with the murder scene better than the last time. “I can make your vehicle faster and beef up the suspension, if you like? I’ll look at it the next time we get some downtime.” He threw his bag into the back of his SUV then climbed behind the wheel. His body ached with weariness and he had to attend a dance. Tonight is going to be a long night.

Forty-Eight

Standing in front of a full-length mirror, Jenna stared at her reflection, wondering if the fringed sequined shirt she purchased was a bit over the top. Since arriving in Black Rock Falls, she had spent the rodeo carnival weekends on duty and in her uniform. She pirouetted in her soft leather cowboy boots, checking how her butt looked in the tight blue jeans. The hat had cost her a fortune; black and made from beaver, it fit her head perfectly. She looked the part and hoped the “Learn the Texas two-step” DVD she purchased online would at least make her moves on the dance floor acceptable.

With Rogers still on the run and Lionel Provine attending the dance, she had everything under control. Kane had monitored Provine’s store all afternoon and Rowley had taken turns with Walters to keep him under surveillance until he showed up at the dance. With all eyes watching Provine, he would have to be a fool to attempt anything tonight.

A horn beeped outside and she headed for the door, making sure to engage the alarm system on the way. She picked up a tiny purse, stuffed her keys and cellphone in her pockets. Closing the door, she turned to see Kane leaning casually on his black SUV, dressed all in black with a leather vest over a shirt embroidered with six-shooters. He resembled a gunslinger from the Old West. She slid inside and noticed his Glock sitting in the console.

“Do you think you’ll need a weapon at the dance?”

“Uh-huh, never leave home without it.” Kane’s mouth twitched. “I have a holster in the small of my back but it digs in a bit when I’m driving.”

“I couldn’t fit my Sig in my purse.” Jenna shrugged. “It would have looked a bit obvious if I’d worn a shoulder holster with this outfit considering we are supposed to be undercover.”

“Don’t worry; I have a backup strapped to my ankle. If you need a weapon.”

Jenna smiled. “I somehow knew you would.”

“You look spectacular tonight, ma’am.” His long lashes dropped over his eyes. “Am I allowed to say that or is it stepping out of the bounds of our professional relationship?”

“You may.” Jenna’s cheeks grew hot at his frank appraisal but deep inside it felt good to have a compliment. “You look like you just walked out of an old western movie.”

“Oh, shit. The shirt is new.” His mortified expression made her giggle like a teenager.

“No, no… you look great.” She grinned at him. “You’ll be fighting off the women tonight.”

“Nah.” He started the engine and headed down the driveway. He flashed her a perfect white smile. “Tonight, I’m undercover. Oh, by the way, in the glove compartment you’ll find our earbuds and wireless transmitters. The microphone attaches to your shirt and the reception is amazing. We’ll be able to keep in touch with Wolfe and Rowley just in case anything happens but with the four extra deputies and Walters on duty at the fairgrounds, we should have a quiet evening.”

She reached into the glove compartment and pulled out two plastic bags. “This is different to what I’m used to. How do I turn off the microphone? I don’t want all my deputies listening to everything I say.”

“Press it—it’s like an on and off button.”

She turned the device over in her hands. “So how do I speak to each one individually?”

“Once you turn it on, you’ll be speaking to everyone, so use names. Just remember to turn it off when you’ve finished.” Kane’s full lips turned up at the corners. “I remember one time we had this guy on the team who’d forgotten to turn off his mic and went into the bathroom. Let’s say his time in there was explosive to say the least, and he sounded like a pig in labor.” He chuckled. “I was standing next to another agent each side of the president of the United States in front of a press gallery, and it took every bit of my willpower not to burst out laughing. That guy never lived it down.”

“Oh my God. That’s the funniest thing I’ve ever heard.” She could not believe he had met the president. “I didn’t know you worked that close to POTUS.”

“Yeah, after my last mission, HQ was worried I’d been compromised so I was moved to the White House.” He slanted her a blue gaze. “It should have been safer but it seems there are no safe places anymore.”

Her cellphone belted out a ringtone and she glanced at Kane. “That’s Wolfe. I wonder what couldn’t wait until the dance.”

She pressed the phone to her ear. “Alton.”

“If you’re with Kane, don’t put me on speaker.”

Flicking a glance at Kane, she shrugged. “Sure.”

“The DNA trace I found on Kate Bright is a match for Dave. As she was in the water, this has to be a secondary transfer. The problem is, he was covered from head to foot like me when we found her, and I had bagged the hands before I asked him to help me lift her into a body bag.” Wolfe cleared his throat. “I don’t believe for a second Dave killed anyone, and the only explanation is the killer rubbed the body with something belonging to him, like a sweaty T-shirt or even a sock.” She heard Wolfe’s sharp intake of breath. “Do