Unsettled by the call, Jenna squeezed his arm. “Even if you had a copy it would have been useless.”
“Not really. Wolfe has the equipment to decode the voiceprint.” Kane moved his blue gaze around the area. “We’d better get out of the open just in case there is a shooter watching us.”
Jenna climbed into the car. “I doubt the caller will stop at one call. I think we should all download the app in case something like this happens again.”
“Roger that.” Kane glanced around. “We need to get out of here.”
Jenna fastened her seatbelt. “What do you make of it—the call, the threats? Who would do that?”
“They know I’m interviewing the victims.” A nerve in his cheek twitched. “So they are either following me or they are acquainted with one or more of them.” He started the car and headed out of the parking lot. “One thing that comes to mind is the caller almost paraphrased what Pattie McCarthy, the schoolteacher, said to me today. She became angry when Bradford interviewed her and accused me of not dating women because she believes I prefer young girls.” He cleared his throat. “She is very astute and knew I was communicating with Bradford through the earbud and listening to their conversation.”
Jenna chewed on her bottom lip, trying to evaluate everything he had said. She turned in her seat to look at him. “We have not considered the victims might know each other. There is every chance they could be in the same support group, for instance. I don’t know of any here but then I haven’t been involved with any cases of child abuse in Black Rock Falls. It’s something we need to look into.”
“Yeah, but so far most of the ones we’ve discovered occurred in Blackwater.” He spun the wheel as they turned into Jenna’s driveway. “I completed most of my interviews today, and come to think of it I only spoke to two victims of abuse: Pattie McCarthy and Lizzy Harper.” He pulled into his garage and turned to her. “I asked the Booval brothers if they could arrange for us to speak to their sister, Angelique. They mentioned she was in town today.” He blinked then scratched his cheek. “Pattie McCarthy said she had an appointment in town and Lizzy Harper was on the way back from town when we arrived at the house they were cleaning today.”
The hairs on the back of Jenna’s neck rose. “That puts the three suspects in the same place at the same time. They could have easily met somewhere. It’s too much of a coincidence to ignore.” She stared at him. “They could be working together to confuse us.”
“If they are, we’ll have one hell of a time catching the killer.” Kane’s dark eyebrows rose. “There is strength in numbers.”
“I can’t imagine three women capable of murdering together. Men maybe, but not many women have a pack mentality.”
“Oh, yes they do.” Kane’s gaze hardened. “It depends on how well their leader influences them. Don’t forget Manson’s girls.”
He had a good point and Jenna nodded in agreement. “True. How did Lizzy Harper act toward you during questioning?”
“Hostile.” He met her gaze and his narrowed. “In fact, I would say pre-warned would come close.” He pulled out his notepad and put on the interior light. “She thought I was asking her questions because it turned me on, so she ties in as well.”
Mortified, she gaped at him. “What did she say?”
“Something along the lines of I wanted her to tell me all the dirty little details, and men like me are all the same. Similar phrasing to Pattie McCarthy’s.” He gave her a dejected look, pocketed his notebook then turned off the light. “Coming inside, or do you just want me to find you a movie to take home? I sure could do with some company and I want to check out the local support groups.”
“I’ll stay for a while.” She squeez
ed his arm. “It’s not you, Dave. After what those women have been through, trusting men would be difficult, and I guess your questions opened up old wounds.”
“I know, but if we don’t ask the difficult questions, we’ll never catch the animals who did this to them.” He sighed and scrubbed both hands over his face. “They don’t seem to understand we want to bring the men responsible to justice, not protect them.” He shook his head slowly. “I can’t imagine why they think I would find hurting little girls stimulating. I’ve seen some terrible crimes but child abuse makes me sick to my stomach.”
Jenna looked into his eyes and sighed. “Me too but there is nothing more we can do tonight. Check out the support groups. I’ll dash home and change then let’s watch a movie.”
“I’d like that, thanks.” Kane flashed her a grin and headed for the front door.
Jenna dashed to her house and changed. As she walked into Kane’s cottage, the old manager’s residence on her ranch, she found him staring at his cellphone. “Any luck?”
“I’m still looking.” Kane lifted his gaze and smiled at her. “Could you make the coffee?”
Jenna strolled into the kitchen and filled the coffee maker. “I haven’t heard of any support groups. We have the breastfeeding mothers’ group in town, and a few others, but nothing like abused kids.”
“I can’t find anything at all.” Kane wandered into the room with his dark head bent over the screen. “I’ll call a social worker on Monday and see if they can help. It’s possible they’re not listed for privacy reasons.”
“If there’s a link between Lizzy Harper and Pattie McCarthy, it would make sense they met in a support group.” Jenna leaned against the counter as the coffee pot sent out the tempting aroma of freshly ground beans. “I’d bet they know our murder victims and were abused by them. One of those women could be our killer.”
Kane lifted his head from his cellphone and his dark gaze met hers.
“Or both.”
23
Halfway through the movie, the silent alarm set into the wall flashed violently. An intruder had breached the perimeter of the property. Automatically reaching for his Glock, Kane jerked upright and switched off the TV. He turned to Jenna. “Someone is outside. I’ll go and check.”