Cross My Heart (Detectives Kane and Alton)

“I was collecting firewood.” Foster raised his eyebrows. “No law against that, now is there? Clearing the forest floor of dead wood is a good thing. You never know when a dry storm will trigger a wildfire.”

“Do you usually take a crossbow with you when you’re collecting firewood?” Kane leaned forward in his chair.

“I sure do.” Foster rubbed his chin. “You’re not from hereabouts, are you, Deputy? No man in his right mind would go into the forest without some type of protection. A crossbow is my weapon of choice.”

Wanting to push Foster a little harder to see how he’d react, Jenna eyeballed him. “So why stalk the couple in the forest? You must have known that after the recent murders they’d be suspicious of strangers?”

“Is that what they said?” Foster bellowed a laugh. “That I stalked them? I tried to get close enough to warn them to get the hell out of Dodge, that Bear Peak wasn’t a safe place to be right now, but they hightailed it like scared rabbits.”

Jenna shook her head. “So, if it was too dangerous for hikers what made you believe you were safe? A killer running in the forest would be just as dangerous for you.”

“Me?” Foster shook his head. “They wouldn’t see me unless I wanted them to, Sheriff. In the forest I’m a ghost.”

Recalling the man in the alleyway, Jenna pushed down an involuntary shiver and scrolled through her iPad. “Where were you last Thursday night through Friday morning, Sunday night and last Tuesday between ten and four?”

“I can’t remember.” Foster scratched his head. “Around. I had a few things to do on Friday but I work at the produce store most days. Loading and unloading trucks. The other times, I went many places: stores, Aunt Betty’s, the new outdoors store to purchase bolts for my crossbow. I got gas at George’s Garage.”

“Okay.” Jenna stood. “I’ve written down what you told me about meeting the Howards and seeing the couple on the trail at Bear Peak. Read it through and if it’s correct, sign it. I’ll be outside.”

She scanned her card and left with Kane close behind her. She leaned against the wall in the hallway. “What do you think?”

“To me he is no more than a witness. Yeah, we could make a case using circumstantial evidence, but with Adams and Long in the mix, it will never fly.” Kane shrugged and joined her, pressing his back to the wall. “We’ll get Rowley to check out his story, but I think we have zip against him.”

Jenna huffed out a sigh. “There’s my gut feeling again. I figure they’re all involved and somehow, by magic, telepathy, or whatever means he used, that James Stone is controlling them.”

“You should trust your gut.” Kane smiled. “Give his photograph to Bobby Kalo to add to the face recognition program he’s currently running to keep tabs on Adams and Long. If he acts suspiciously or any of them meet up, we’ll haul them back in.”

Tired from a long day, Jenna pulled open the door to the interview room. She collected the statement. “Thank you for your cooperation, Mr. Foster.” She waved him out the door.

As they followed him, she turned to Kane. “I could really go for a steak at Antlers tonight.” She glanced at her watch. “If we eat now, it won’t be too late to tend the horses when we get home.”

“They only need to be led from the corral into the barn.” Kane followed her up the stairs to her office. “I fixed up their feed and water before I left this morning.”

Jenna dropped the statement on her desk, collected her coat and weapon before locking her office door and heading downstairs. Rio and his siblings were behind the front counter and Rowley was at his desk. The office was deserted and a heavy mist pressed against the glass front doors. Maggie had finished for the day. Jenna turned to Rowley. “Are you done?”

“Yeah.” Rowley closed his laptop and slid it under one arm. “The files are all up to date.”

Jenna smiled. “I have a statement from Mr. Foster but I’ll file that in the morning and some follow-up work for you. Head off home now. Sandy will be worried about you.”

“I called her earlier, she’s fine.” Rowley laughed. “I won’t be able to get my arms around her soon. The twins are growing really fast.”

“That’s good to know.” She walked to the front counter. The usually disorganized area looked spick and span. “Wow! I’ll have to get you guys to drop by more often. Thank you.”

“Time to go.” Zac waved the twins toward the door and looked at Jenna. “One thing I don’t have to worry about is cooking meals. My housekeeper is a dream come true.”

“Except when she’s polishing floors.” Cade pulled a face. “Then she’s like she’s possessed by a demon.”

Jenna laughed and followed everyone outside. They all moved away, heading for their respective vehicles. She locked up and mist rose up around her, the dampness touching her cheeks in a cold caress. As the trucks pulled away, darkness surrounded her. She hastened her step to Kane’s truck. Main seemed to be deserted apart from the ghoulish Halloween displays. The glow from the street lights poured over the pure white cloud of mist, turning it opaque, and in the distance the only lights spilling onto the sidewalk came from Aunt Betty’s Café. Movement and a churning of mist caught her attention. At the entrance to the alleyway opposite, she made out a figure of a man. Her heart skipped a beat as the cowboy hat and slicker loomed out of the shadows. She pulled her weapon and edged closer to Kane’s truck, not taking her eyes off the man. When Kane buzzed down his window, she spoke to him through her teeth. “The man with the crossbow I saw in the alleyway. He’s right over there.”

“Stay here and use the Beast for cover.” Kane climbed out and peered into the darkness. “Where is he?”

Jenna stared into the shadows. “Right there.” She indicated with her Glock.

Beside her Kane scanned the area, moving his head from right to left. “I don’t see anyone.”

Heart pounding, Jenna stared into the shadows. “He was in the mouth of the alleyway. Where could he go? It’s a dead end down there.”

“Did you see a crossbow? Or any weapon?” Kane’s stare remained fixed on the alleyway.