Jenna nodded, glad to get away. She looked at the woman. “I’ll be happy to give out media updates on the search for Laurie Turner but I don’t have time to discuss statistics with you.”
“Okay guys, cut.” Crawford looked at Kane. “How come you’re always there to rescue the sheriff? Don’t you believe she is capable of doing her job?” She gave him a smile, wafting her bad breath all over Jenna. “Or is there a little romance going on between you and you’re being overprotective? You live on the same ranch. How about a little inside story on what happens behind the scenes when you’re off-duty?” She touched his arm. “It would make a great weekend supplement, all glossy color pages.”
“The woman in yellow over there, Sheriff.” Kane ignored Crawford completely and pointed to the back of the hall. “I’ll get back to the others.” He turned his back and walked away.
Jenna nodded. “I’ll be right there as soon as I’ve spoken to a witness.” She moved her attention reluctantly back to Crawford. “You said you wanted a scoop? I have one for you.”
“Great, go ahead.” Crawford pulled out her notebook.
Jenna wrinkled her nose. “There’s a special on mouthwash at the general store.” She walked away, heading in the direction of Cory Hughes.
“Hey.” Kane caught up with her. “What was that all about?”
“I have no idea.” Jenna shrugged. “Someone with delusions of grandeur, I guess. She’s right off the mark if she believes our private life is a hot topic of conversation. Townsfolk have better things to do with their time.”
“I’m not sure I liked her inferring you can’t do your job without me.” Kane frowned. “For a reporter, she is very uninformed.”
Jenna stared at him. “Trust me, I don’t care what she thinks. We have enough egocentric people to deal with, forget about it and keep your mind on the case.”
“Sure.” Kane’s mouth twitched into a smile. “Just give me a wave if you need protecting.” He walked away.
Taking Cory Hughes into a quiet corner, Jenna pulled out her notebook and pen. He was tall and lean, about twenty, with collar-length hair that hung over one eye. “Thank you for coming forward. Can you tell me about seeing Laurie in here after the practice session?”
“Sure.” Hughes leaned against the wall. “I was sweeping up and she came running in the door in a real panic. She’d dropped her phone. It was in pieces, the screen smashed and the battery missing. She asked me to fix it.”
Jenna nodded. “Did you?”
“Nah, it was too far gone and I told her.” Hughes scratched his cheek. “She was close to tears, said her pa would be angry. I told her I’d go see if any unclaimed phones had turned up in lost and found. Maybe she could use her SIM card in one of them.”
Hopeful he still had the remains of the phone, she continued making notes. “And where is the phone now?”
“In my office, well, if you could call the closet where I keep my stuff an office.” He gave her a slow smile. “I haven’t had time to check the lost and found as yet.”
“Great!” Jenna smiled. “Can you get it for me? I have someone who can repair it if necessary and I found the battery.”
“Sure.” Hughes straightened. “I’ll go get it.”
“Before you go…” Jenna moved in front of him. “Then what happened?” She regarded him closely, waiting for any change in body language.
“Nothing, I put the bits of phone into a plastic bag and stuck it on a shelf in my office.” He shrugged. “I locked the front door behind her and went home.”
“Did you see her truck in the parking lot?” Jenna folded her notebook and placed it into her pocket and then pulled out a card and handed it to him.
“Nope.” He stared at the card, turning it over in his hand. “I turn out the lights before I leave and my truck is out back. I drove straight past and onto the road. I didn’t look to see if anyone was hanging around, all I wanted to do was to get out of there.”
Jenna chewed on her pen. “So, she would’ve had to walk back to her truck in the dark?”
“It’s not that far and she had time to get there before I closed up.” Hughes shrugged. “It was getting late, and when I turn out the lights it makes the kids hurry on home. I’m not their nursemaid and they’re not babies.”
Slightly uneasy, Jenna frowned. “Did you see another vehicle on the road?”
“Yeah, I passed an eighteen-wheeler heading out of town but nothing else until I drove down Main.” He shook his head. “I don’t really take much notice of the vehicles I drive past unless they do something stupid.”
“Do you live with anyone?” Jenna lifted her chin. “Anyone who can verify what time you arrived home?”
“I live with my ma and my sister. My pa walked out on us recently.” He frowned. “But by ten Ma was in bed and Verna didn’t come home until later. You’ll just have to take my word for it, Sheriff.”
Jenna nodded. “Okay thanks, go grab the phone and if you think of anything else or hear anyone mentioning Laurie, please call me.”