TWENTY-SEVEN
Waiting for a judge to consider the probable cause evidence to issue a search warrant was like watching paint dry. Jenna spent the time updating her files. When Susie Hardwick arrived with the takeout that Kane had ordered they sat around the conference room eating and discussing the case. She listened with interest to Rowley and Rio’s report on the two suspects they’d interviewed. She agreed that Big John Oates was unlikely to be the killer and they removed him from the list. The Salmon interview interested her and the idea of checking out Millers’ Garage in town to discover if Salmon had taken his vehicle in for service crossed her mind. Salmon’s cooperation went against him. Previous experience told her that most psychopaths were often pliable during questioning and few of them acted aggressively. Many asked questions often to gain information about the progression of a case. Having two experienced profilers on her team was a great advantage when solving crimes, and she played to her strengths. Jo being an icon in the field of behavioral analysis would usually be her go-to person if she was on the case, but as she was cooling her heels at the courthouse waiting for the search warrant, she turned to Kane. “What’s your opinion of Salmon?”
“He was in the right place at the right time. He lives alone and doesn’t have an alibi for any of the mentioned times the bodies were dumped. He works on the kill floor at the meat-processing plant, so would be used to cleaning up blood and excrement. What happened to our victims would take a strong stomach, that’s for darn sure.” Kane sipped his coffee and eyed her over the rim. “He could’ve easily dumped the last victim’s body on the way to work and still signed in on time. We’re only surmising that the oil leak belongs to the killer. I believe we should keep him on the list and follow up.”
The phone buzzed and Jenna reached for it. It was Wolfe. “I was just thinking about you. Do you have anything for us?”
“Yeah, we have some interesting developments in the most recent Jane Doe case. I’ll be conducting an autopsy at two. I found DNA in her ear, and I’m running it through the DNA sequencer now. We should have some results over the next couple of hours. I was also able to lift latent fingerprints from the body, and I’m running them through the database, I figure this is the break we’ve been waiting for. I’ll see you at two.”
Wanting to punch the air, Jenna smiled at the expectant faces around the table. “Good news! Wolfe might have discovered some evidence. He’s running tests now. The autopsy is at two.”
“You can’t split yourself into two, Jenna.” Carter moved the toothpick across his lips and shrugged. “I know Jo will want to attend the autopsy, so I’ll go with Rio and Rowley to toss Bright’s house.”
More than happy to allow Carter to take the lead on the search, Jenna nodded. “Sure, thanks. My first priority is the autopsy. Although, it will be interesting to see what you find at the Bright cousins’ house. I hope the judge gets a move on with the search warrant. I can’t keep the Bright cousins here for much longer without reading them their rights.”
“They’re happy enough. Maggie fed them and it’s not as if they’re in the cells, although the interview rooms are uncomfortable. We had no choice. We had to keep them apart in case they concocted a story.” Kane drummed his fingers on the table. “They could be telling the truth. If the old lady did have a collection of clothes in her cellar, she might have been a hoarder. They see a value in useless garbage and take it home. She could have been picking the clothes up from anywhere. Having formaldehyde on the premises and burning rubbish isn’t conclusive evidence these men are killers.”
“When the search warrant arrives, we’ll go over the place with a fine-tooth comb. I’m counting on finding something we can use.” Carter met Jenna’s gaze. “Seems to me the evidence is stacking up against them. Don’t allow them to slip through your grasp.” He looked at Kane and shrugged. “We’ll agree to disagree. Call it gut instinct. From what you told me, I figure those guys are more than in the ballpark for the murders.”
“I’m not discounting them yet.” Kane lifted one shoulder. “I just want more evidence. I had one hostile and one cooperative. It didn’t feel right to me. Killers like this one are smart and try to outwit cops. Derek Bright was darn right hostile.”
“There’s still one more person we haven’t interviewed.” Rio glanced up from his iPad and looked at Jenna. “Lucas Davies. As far as I could ascertain, he is out of town until tomorrow but he was in contact with this office from Thursday through to today, so we shouldn’t discount him as a suspect.”
Jenna’s stared at the whiteboard and sighed. “Okay give me a rundown of his information again, please.”
“Lucas Davies was convicted of arson after setting fire to a neighbor’s vehicle. He’d discovered his wife was having an affair with the owner of the vehicle. He’s a merchandiser out of Green Tree Lane, Black Rock Falls.” Rio met Jenna’s eyes with a frown. “He fled to Blackwater and was taken down by one of the female deputies. From the deputy’s statement of the arrest, it seems that Davies has a problem with women law enforcement officers. Witnesses’ statements say he was violent and abusive.”
Not planning on leaving any stone unturned, Jenna made notes in her daybook. “Okay, as soon as he shows in town, I want you and Rowley to interview him before he’s off on another job.” She looked from one deputy to the other. “Keep me updated on his status. I don’t want him slipping through the net either. Right now, I’ll consider as many suspects as you can throw at me. Sooner or later, we’ll have enough evidence to charge one of them.”
The door opened and Jo walked in waving a handful of papers.
“I have the search warrant.” Jo was grinning widely. “We got the whole nine yards. The house, outbuildings, and even their vehicles.”
Thrilled, Jenna stood and high-fived her. “Great!” She turned to Carter. “Grab extra forensics kits from the storeroom and you’re good to go.”
“I’m on it.” Carter stood and waved Rowley and Rio toward the door. “Let’s go.”