Whisper in the Night (Detectives Kane and Alton)

Stymied, Jenna spent the next couple of hours with Kane going through the murder books, checking and rechecking every angle in each case. She called the mothers of Lindy and Amanda and asked them to recheck their daughters’ belongings to make sure nothing was missing. She sent Rowley out to visit each of the homes of the other girls from the drama club to check on the homes’ security and offer their parents a warning to be aware the killer was still on the loose.

Jenna glanced up from the files. “Anything?”

“Nope.” Kane lifted his gaze from the murder book. “None of them had anything illegal on their computers either. We have zip.” He sighed. “Maybe we should—”

The door opened and Wolfe barreled inside, his eyes wild. “I can’t find Julie.”

“I gave her a ride back here around two.” Kane pushed to his feet and went to Wolfe’s side. “Have you asked Maggie?”

“Yeah, I called about an hour ago and she said Julie’s been going down to the stalls outside the town hall around two each day to buy candy. She hasn’t returned yet.” Wolfe’s large hands clenched and unclenched. “I closed my office and I’ve been searching with Emily and Webber – we can’t find her and her cell has dropped out.” His face drained of color. “I can’t get an accurate fix on her. Her last location is here. If someone’s using a GPS jammer to block the signal, her tracker won’t work either. Dammit! No one outside our team knows about the trackers.”

“I figure she hasn’t been able to activate it yet.” Jenna picked up the phone. “Maggie, get a BOLO out on Julie and contact the media. I want her found. Do you remember what she was wearing?”

“Oh, my Lord, yes, I remember.” The line went dead.

Heart racing with terror for Julie, Jenna took a beat then moved around her desk. “Kane, coordinate a grid search of town. Is there anywhere she might go? The library?”

“I looked there but she knows the rules – she wouldn’t just wander off without telling someone first. Maggie told me she’s usually gone about fifteen minutes.” Wolfe turned to Kane, his face distraught. “We’re wasting our time searching for her in town. I figure the Shadow Man’s taken her and we need to know which one of the creeps you dragged in for questioning has taken her.”

“Then we’ll split up and find the suspects.” Jenna walked past the deputies and leaned out the door. “Rowley, grab Walters and head out to the school and see if you can get eyes on Lancaster. He could be in the janitor’s office.”

“Yes, ma’am, but you’ve cleared him.” Rowley hustled to the office door. “What’s happened?”

Jenna lowered her voice. “Julie’s gone missing and he could be involved. Get going now.”

She turned back into her office to find Wolfe and Kane on their cellphones getting information on the whereabouts of Anderson and Packer. She grabbed her phone to call the Green Thumb Landscaping Service office and soon had Kittredge’s location. “Kittredge is at Glacial Heights.”

“So is Anderson.” Kane looked at her. “Get your vest on, we’ll hunt down both of them at the same time.”

“Packer is working in the same area too.” Wolfe stared into the distance as if thinking. “I just had a thought. One of Julie’s paintings is in an exhibition at the town hall. They’re holding an art competition and announcing the winner tomorrow. She might have gone inside to take a look at the display.” He dashed a hand through his hair. “There’s plenty of places inside for someone to grab her and it has a basement.”

Fingers shaking from seeing the men’s deep concern, Jenna fumbled into her vest, and then pulled her coat over the top. “Then we start there. Use the com packs, we’ll need to keep in touch.” She headed for the door.

The next moment, Emily and Webber dashed through the front door. Jenna pulled them to one side. “Has anyone seen her?”

“Not since she purchased candy and a drink from a stall outside the town hall.” Webber rubbed the back of his neck. “The woman working on the stall said she didn’t notice where she went afterward.”

“Webber, with me.” Wolfe headed toward the door. “Emily, stay here. Don’t set a foot outside until I return. Call home and tell Mrs. Mills to make sure your sister remains inside the house.” He hurried out the door with Webber on his heels.

Jenna caught the door and ran down the steps. As they climbed into his truck, she glanced up at Kane. “Drive round back of the town hall. If anyone took her from there, they would’ve gotten her out of one of the fire exits.”

“Roger that.” Kane hit the gas, reversing out of the parking space, horn blaring. “She’s probably in the town hall and lost track of time. If someone attacked her, she’d have hit her tracker. She’s smart and I don’t figure she’d walk into danger.”

Jenna swallowed hard, trying to release the fear clutching at her throat. “What if the Shadow Man carries a GPS jammer?”

“Let’s hope not.” Kane had slowed and was rolling his truck slowly into the parking lot behind the town hall. He buzzed down his window and looked outside, then hit the mic on his com pack. “Wolfe, I’m out back. You need to see this.” He pulled the truck to a halt.

Jenna turned in her seat. “What is it?”

“Evidence. I’ll need to take a closer look.” Kane slid out the vehicle, then walked some distance away and crouched down.

Jenna leapt from the seat and ran around the hood to see what Kane had found. Moments later Wolfe came thundering through one of the exits with Webber close behind. She arrived beside Kane and stared down at a spilled bag of candy. “Oh, Jesus, that’s her favorite candy.”

“Don’t touch anything.” Wolfe was beside him, pulling on gloves. “Look over there.” He pointed to an empty paper cup rolling back and forward in the wind. “The contents spilled in an arc, as if she was surprised from behind and swung around, dropping the candy and cup.” He collected the bag and cup and dropped them into an evidence bag, then turned his furious gaze on Jenna. “We need to find this SOB now.” He glanced at his watch. “She’s been missing for almost two hours and it will be dark in less than three.”

Jenna forced her voice not to tremble but she had to follow protocol. “Go home and wait for me to call you. You can’t be involved in the investigation, Shane.”

“Oh no, Jenna. I’m so gonna be involved. That’s my baby out there all alone with a maniac. Not you or Kane can stop me searching for her and if that SOB has hurt her, I’m gonna tear him apart with my bare hands.” He turned to Kane. “You’ll have to shoot me before I’ll stand down.” He swung around to Jenna. “We’re wasting time. I’m gonna find Packer. It has to be him.” He headed back into the town hall.