Pray for Mercy (Detectives Kane and Alton)

reen array and pulled up image files of the footprints. He changed them through a series of infrared and ultraviolet filters to show them what he’d discovered. “See here under Rio’s footprints. Can you make out another boot mark? Maybe rubber boots? I found traces of burned rubber in the incinerator out back. The killer put on Rio’s boots after the fact and walked in the blood then went about covering their own footprints. It’s ingenious, and without the science we have today to analyze crime scenes, it would have created almost the perfect crime.”

“But not perfect.” Jenna lifted her chin. “The idea to blame Rio didn’t work. They made crucial errors and this is good for us. It means they weren’t close enough to him to know he was left-handed, for a start.”

“Maybe not, but look at the murders as a whole series of events, not individually. They are incredulous.” Carter examined the images. “Someone went to a darn lot of trouble to commit them. Killing, cleaning up, getting a patsy on scene to use as a coverup is remarkable. These crimes are an investigator’s worse nightmare.” He shook his head. “I’m having trouble absorbing all the information.”

Wolfe nodded. “All the details of my findings: the depth and extent of the damage by the sharp forced trauma, are in the detailed notes. The cause of death is heart failure due to loss of blood from sharp forced trauma. The carotid artery was severed and she bled out.” He glanced around at the interested faces. “The facial wounds were inflicted post-mortem and I’d say as an afterthought. The wounds aren’t so deep as the others and almost calculated in their spacing. You’ve seen this before in a previous case, so use what you discovered from that one.”

“They thought she was watching them—or more likely the killer was afraid the victim could see what they’d done?” Jo moved closer to the body. “Do we know how far back these women were friends? What if all of them were involved with the child abuse? These people seem to be able to find each other. We’re seeing more and more of these groups since the internet. If this is so, this quilting circle’s members could be the reason behind these murders. Perhaps they knew about Mrs. Jefferson’s cruelty and stood by and did nothing… or maybe they participated. The killer hated Mrs. Carson so much they couldn’t bear her looking at them.”

Wolfe nodded. “I’ll write up my findings and get them to you ASAP. I’m sorry I didn’t have something more to give you.”

“You’ve given a very clear picture of what happened.” Jenna’s eyes filled with concern. “We’ll concentrate on the list of kids Mrs. Jefferson fostered. This seems like the best motive we have. If any match our suspects or live in Black Rock Falls, we’ll at least have more to go on than we do now.” She turned to look at her team. “Let’s get at it.”

FORTY-FIVE

Deputy Zac Rio listened with interest as Jenna brought him and Rowley up to date. They spent the rest of the afternoon trying to hunt down people all over the state. Bobby Kalo was sending a constant supply of information but it was sketchy at best. Last-known locations offered nothing and phone numbers were nonexistent. He sighed with relief when Jenna told him to head off home to check up on Cade and Piper. His ears still rang from the conversation with Cade. In an attempt to show him Kara Judd was just after his money, he’d informed him about the change in his inheritance. He’d made the only move possible to protect his brother and perhaps show him how people can manipulate others. If Kara dropped Cade, he might be mad for a time, but he’d soon see the way of things.

It was close to six when he arrived home and noticed the white GMC owned by Kara Judd parked opposite. He let out a long sigh, knowing it was going to get ugly. Kara and her sister Amber had Cade twisted around their little fingers. The thought of banning them from visiting had run through his mind, but as he’d taken Cade’s truck away and now delayed his inheritance, he’d sit by and wait for the situation to play out. He made his way to the front door, not missing the movement of the drapes over one of the windows. The kids expected him around this time, so someone was watching out for him. He hoped Piper would take his side. She didn’t like Amber and Kara. They apparently went through her things, which for a seventeen-year-old is an unforgivable crime.

He stepped into the hallway, removed his hat, and hung it on the peg. A clang filled his ears and pain shot through his skull. Vision blurred, he fell forward into a line of coats hanging on pegs, the cold smell of winter still lingering in the material. He pushed himself up and turned as the heavy copper-bottomed frying pan came down again. His weapon was ripped from its holster but Rio shook his head and turned to face his attacker. Dizzy but ready to fight, he moved to defend himself. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”

“Beatin’ the crap out of you.” Kara dropped the pan and it crashed to the wooden floor. “Get your hands up.” She held the M18 pistol in two hands, aiming straight at his heart. “Walk into the family room and join the others. We need to have a little talk.”

Swallowing the metallic taste of blood in his mouth, Rio met her gaze. It was cool and calculated. Her hands didn’t shake. He sucked in a breath. The switch the team had made from their Glocks to M18 pistols had come about in the last few weeks. Watching Kane strip it blind in seconds and go through the pros and cons of carrying a military-issued weapon had been impressive, but he’d never imagined having one pointed at him by an irate woman. “Okay, but lower the weapon. You have no idea how to use it.”

“Really? This is an M18 pistol military issue, not to be confused with the M18 rifle. This was the beauty they replaced the M11 with, right? I know my weapons and I can shoot this just fine.” Kara smiled and nodded toward the door. “Move! Everyone is waiting.”

Head throbbing so bad he thought his eyeballs might fall out, Rio kept his hands up and walked into the family room and stopped dead. His sister Piper and their housekeeper, Mrs. Jacobs, sat tied to kitchen chairs with gaffer tape. The tape wound over their mouths and Piper flashed him a terrified look. Behind them holding a sharp kitchen knife, stood Kara’s sister Amber. He met the girl’s eyes and she stared at him defiantly. His gaze moved over Piper and Mrs. Jacobs. “Are you hurt?”

Piper lifted her shoulders and Mrs. Jacobs just stared into space. “Put down the knife, Amber. Don’t make things worse than they are right now. How about we all calm down and one of you tells me what’s going on here?” He turned to look at Kara over one shoulder. “It’s not too late to turn things around.” He peered around the room. “Where’s Cade?”

“He’s waiting for me up in the mountains.” Kara poked him in the back with the pistol. “I promised him I’d make you see reason. Taking his inheritance away was mean. He’s not coming home until you change things back the way they were before.” She nudged him toward another kitchen chair. “Sit down.”

Rio dropped into the chair. “I can’t do that. It’s signed and sealed. Cade isn’t acting responsible right now and it’s in his best interest to wait until he’s twenty-one to inherit. You see, as his guardian and executor of my parents’ will, I get to make all the decisions.”

“Then you can change them around again.” As Kara dug the pistol into his ribs, she didn’t take her eyes off him. “Amber, tie him up good and tight.” She gave him a slow smile. “We ain’t goin’ nowhere until you agree to give Cade his money.”

Hostage situations had been commonplace in LA, and Rio had handled a few but never as one of the hostages. “I could agree but that wouldn’t get him his money. We’re talking about a legal document. I need to see a lawyer and an accountant before anything can be changed. It’s not that easy to do.” He shrugged, making it difficult for Amber to secure his hands. “Not until the morning at least.” He sighed. “I’d have to make an appointment and then go see them. Nothing can be done tonight, so untie us and go home.”

“That is so not goin’ to happen.” Kara glared at him. She checked his bindings and then padded up and down with the M18 pistol hanging from her fingers. “We’ll stay here until morning and then you’ll go and see the lawyer.”

Rio didn’t want to mention the lawyers would be closed until Monday and nodded. He needed all his powers of persuasion to bring this situation to a close without anyone being hurt. “Okay fine, but I can smell my supper on the stove. We all need to eat and use the bathroom. You can keep us all here in the family room, but that’s the deal. I’ll make the calls first thing in the morning if you cooperate.” He shrugged. “You have my weapon and Amber has a knife. No one is going to do anything stupid.”

“Okay but I’m going with you to the lawyer’s office and I’ll be carrying.” Kara raised the pistol to Piper’s head. “One wrong move and two things will happen: you’ll never see Cade again and Piper’s face will be scarred for life. Amber will remain here with my rifle, and I’ll have your phones. The landline is already cut.”

Trying to push down the anger, Rio lifted his head and looked at her. “If you hurt Piper, you know darn well I’ll hunt you down.”

“You’ll never find us.” Kara giggled. “You couldn’t find us before, could you?” She aimed the pistol at him. “It’s a wilderness out there. We could be living anywhere. Maybe in a cave, or in a cabin, or just sleeping rough and moving every night. We could leave the state. You’ll never find us but if you do what I want, we won’t hurt anything but your pride.”

As Kara wasn’t threatening to kill anyone, Rio would play her game. He’d make a phony call first up in the morning and hope like hell Kane would understand. He nodded. “That’s fine by me. Now untie Mrs. Jacobs. We’re not going anywhere.” He looked at his housekeeper who blinked back at him. “Just go along with what they say, Mrs. Jacobs. Don’t do anything foolish. Make the supper and we’ll come into the kitchen one at a time to eat.” He looked at Piper. “Same with you, sis. Don’t be a hero. I’ll give them what they want and they’ll go.” He glared at Kara. He needed to up the ante and make it a sweeter deal. He recognized her for the money-grubbing woman she was. “If you give me your word not to hurt Piper, I’ll have the money released immediately into Cade’s account. I won’t hunt you down, but I want you to give him a message from me.”

“Sure.” Kara was almost bouncing with excitement. “What’s the message?”

Rio gave her a disgusted expres

sion. “You’re dead to me.”

FORTY-SIX