Whisper in the Night (Detectives Kane and Alton)

Jenna looked at Matt. “You can go work on Mrs. Rushton’s vehicle but don’t use your cellphone or leave the garage or I’ll arrest you.”

“You’re crazy.” Matt threw his arms up in the air. “This is crap.” He walked back to his bay and glared at the other workers. “What’re you gawking at? Show’s over. Get back to work.”

As he stomped back to his bay, Matt walked through a patch of water and Jenna examined his footprints. A shiver of excitement rushed through her. Had she discovered the Shadow Man? The heel had the exact same circle as the one found at the scene of Amanda’s abduction. She pulled out her cellphone and snapped a few images, then she heard Matt chuckle. She stared at him. “What’s so funny?”

“You, taking photographs of my footprints.” Matt waved a hand at the other men in the garage and grinned. “If you’re planning on using my footprints as evidence, you’d better include my boys here in the warrant. We all wear the same darn boots, ma’am. My dad supplies them and he buys them from Walmart. I figure most of the tradesmen in town wear the same brand.”

The information came as a blow to Jenna. The first clue they’d found was useless and she’d heard nothing from Amanda’s abductor. She nodded at Matt. “I’ll be sure to check with your father about that.”

“See that you do.” Matt bent under the hood of the vehicle.

* * *

Half an hour later, Wolfe arrived and strolled to her side carrying a laptop. She moved out of earshot of Matt but kept him in view. “Did Kane get the warrant?”

“Yeah, he’s waiting on the judge to sign the paperwork.” Wolfe met her gaze. “I’ve compared all the fibers and hair samples you found in the woods with those I collected from Amanda’s bedroom and they’re a match. There’s nothing apart from the heel print and the signs of a struggle to suggest anyone else was there. This guy is good and he must’ve been covered from head to foot to avoid getting snagged in the bushes.” He sighed. “The rain didn’t help. I would’ve liked time to scan the area myself.” He glanced at Matt’s truck. “Maybe I’ll find some trace evidence in there.”

“I hope so.” Jenna pushed her hands into her pockets. “Any news from Rowley or Walters?”

“Nothing we can use.” Wolfe rubbed his chin. “The usual ambiguous sightings but nothing panned out. No calls to the Braxton house, and search and rescue have been sweeping the area since the first report came in and have nothing.” He cleared his throat. “They tailed a white pickup with a logo on the door out to the Pittman ranch north of the Triple Z after someone called in a sighting. Webber went with them in the chopper. It was old Mr. Pittman and his wife returning from the st

ore.”

A ringtone chimed and Matt held up his cellphone.

“I need to get this, ma’am. It’s someone calling the roadside assistance line.” Matt stared at her. “The calls come to me when my sister is on lunch.”

Jenna nodded. “Sure, but you’re not going anywhere. You’ll have to send someone else.”

She watched as he filled in a form on a clipboard then walked over and handed the information to one of the other mechanics. He had his back to her for a few minutes but she kept him in view. The next moment, she heard Kane’s truck heading toward them. He pulled up outside the garage, climbed out and handed her the paperwork. She smiled at him. “Thanks.”

With Wolfe and Kane following close behind, Jenna went to Matt and handed him the warrant. “Your cellphone please and the keys to your truck.”

“Okay, okay, so I was driving around Glacial Heights last night.” Matt gave her a desperate look. “There’s no law against going for a drive, is there?”

Jenna held out her hand. “Keys and cellphone.”

“There’s no law against driving, no.” Kane eyeballed him. “But a vehicle matching the description of your pickup was seen leaving the vicinity of Amanda Braxton’s abduction. If you’ve nothing to hide, why didn’t you allow us to check your GPS?” He stood over the younger man. “Where is she? Tell us now and it’ll save you a whole lot of trouble.”

“I wasn’t anywhere near Amanda last night.” Matt handed Jenna his keys and cellphone, then gave Kane a deadpan look.

“How well do you know Lindy Rosen?” Jenna watched Matt’s face pale. “You do know her, don’t you?”

“I’m not answering any more stupid questions. I want my lawyer.” Matt lifted his chin in defiance. “My dad will give you his details.”

“Very well.” Jenna handed the keys and cellphone to Wolfe. “We’ll check for ourselves.”

It didn’t take long for Wolfe to confirm that Matt had driven to Glacial Heights and stopped a number of times along Stanton Road over a period of two hours before returning home. As Stanton Road bordered Stanton Forest on one side and a number of houses and ranches on the other, Matt had enough time to abduct and hide Amanda. He’d also been in the area at the same time Lindy Rosen went missing and was on Stanton Road near the old schoolhouse in the right timeframe. Jenna read Matt his rights and cuffed him, then turned to Kane. “Go see George Miller and ask him for the lawyer’s details.”

Moments later, George Miller came storming into the garage, face beet red and eyes blazing. Kane was close behind him and gave Jenna an exasperated look. She turned from assisting Matt into the back of Kane’s truck. “Mr. Miller.”

“Why are you arresting my boy?” Miller came up close to her, spittle dripping from his chin like an angry bull. “He ain’t done nothing wrong.”

Jenna placed one hand on her pistol. “Take a step back, Mr. Miller, and I’ll explain.”

“It had better be good.” Miller spat on the ground. “And to think I voted for you in the last election. That’s the thanks I get?”

“You voted for a sheriff who’ll keep the town safe.” Kane towered over the enraged man. “That’s what you have. Sheriff Alton doesn’t pay out favors for votes – that’s corruption. You want that in Black Rock Falls, Mr. Miller?”