Stomach clenching, Jenna swallowed hard. She looked at Kane. “Head for the Triple Z Bar.” She turned her attention back to the call. “Okay, we’re on our way. Can you send me the coordinates?”
“No need, it’s the last driveway before the Triple Z. Rowley said it has a bright blue mailbox, with the name ‘Cotterill’ printed on the side.” Wolfe cleared his throat. “I’ve had deputies on scene since we left Blackwater. The crime scene is secure but we’ll have to be there without delay.”
Jenna couldn’t hold back a wave of remorse for the Stuart family. She swallowed the lump in her throat. “Okay.” She disconnected and gathered herself. “Rowley’s found a body in the trunk of a car and he believes it’s Pamela Stuart. Wolfe is on the way.”
“That’s not what I wanted to hear this morning.” Kane’s eyes filled with concern. “Why didn’t he call you? He’s out at a crime scene with no backup.”
Confident that Rowley could handle himself, Jenna squared her shoulders. “He followed procedure and called in the closest assistance, which in this case was Wolfe. Remember, Rowley runs the office while we’re tied up with the FBI. He did exactly what I would have done, he called Wolfe.”
“Maybe it’s time to get another deputy.” Jo leaned forward in her seat. “With both of you out on cases, he’s often left to cope on his own. Old Deputy Walters is getting way too old to be his only backup.”
With her mind on the loss of another girl under her watch, the last thing Jenna wanted to think about was breaking in a new rookie. “Yeah, I guess, but I’d like someone experienced this time rather than a rookie.”
“Then you have to consider why he needed to leave his last sheriff.” Carter shrugged. “You may be taking on someone else’s problem.”
Jenna snorted. “What, like Kane and you?” She glanced at Kane. “Both of you seemed to work out just fine.”
“It’s real bad news about Pamela Stuart.” Kane’s fists tightened on the steering wheel. “I had the crazy idea we were free of murders for a time.” The nerve in his cheek twitched. “I can’t figure this killer out at all.”
“Dealing with a pyro psychopath is new to me too.” Jo sounded tired. “He’s not following any pattern I’m aware of and is taking on different characteristics as he goes along in his rampage of destruction.” She sighed. “The kidnapping and raping aren’t usual and I can’t imagine what he’ll try next or who will be his target.”
“I can’t imagine how the families are coping, losing so many family members.” Jenna shook her head. “It was turning out to be such a normal year. I just knew something would come along and spoil a perfectly good summer and toss all our plans to the wind.”
“Sorry.” Jo’s shoulders slumped. “I shouldn’t have asked you to get involved.”
Aghast, Jenna turned in her seat to look at her. “Oh, I wasn’t complaining about the work, Jo. It’s the psychopaths who believe this part of the world is a killer’s playground.” She turned back in her seat.
The forest called to Jenna as they turned onto Stanton. She opened her window and inhaled, taking in the scents of the pines and wildflowers. It was a fresh, delightful smell and cleared away the cobwebs in her troubled mind. The frequent murders had come close to destroying her joy of the forest and mountains. If not for her friend, Atohi Blackhawk, she’d have feared living in the area but he’d taught her many things about the forest and its healing powers. Now, she respected the majestic mountains and valued the trees and wildflowers. She stared out the window and had a sudden urge to run into the forest and escape. She’d been a DEA agent, dealing in drug trafficking, and although she’d seen her share of cartel murders, hunting down psychopaths who burned, raped, and murdered hadn’t been part of her job description. Being the sheriff of Black Rock Falls had taken her into the depths of criminal minds so twisted they gave her nightmares.
“You okay, Jenna?” Kane glanced at her. “There’s fresh coffee in the Thermos if you need one.”
Jenna smiled at him. “I’m fine. I’m trying to figure out how to take this killer down. The social services link is a solid lead to concentrate on. If he’s going to hit again, we need to be one step ahead of him.”
“They all make mistakes sooner or later.” Kane concentrated on the road. “We’re getting closer, and it’s only a matter of time.” He turned onto a dirt driveway. “This looks like the place.”
Wolfe’s white van came into view and then Rowley’s marked SUV. As Kane headed toward them, Jenna scanned the area. Trees gave good cover to the old red brick barn. It looked as if it had been built last century, the bricks had moss growing over damp patches on the outside, and someone had patched the roof with unmatched tiles. From what she could see, it was a typical style inside—hay loft, a couple of stables and raised areas to store grain or feed. Before she had the chance to open the door, the stench of decomposition reached her. She buzzed up the window and coughed. “Don’t get too close, the truck will stink.”
“The smell might work to our advantage.” Kane pulled up some ways away from Wolfe’s van. “Whoever returned the vehicle had to go somewhere. Maybe Duke will pick up a scent?”
Jenna pushed open her door. “It’s worth a try.” She climbed out, pulling a mask from her pocket, and pushed it on her face. “Have at it.”
She led the way to Wolfe and Rowley and nodded at Emily and Webber, standing to one side. “What have we got? Is it Pamela Stuart?”
“It sure looks like her.” Rowley’s expression was grim. “Poor kid.”
“I’ll need a formal ID from her parents before confirming.” Wolfe led her to the trunk of the sedan. “I’ve photographed and videoed the scene. I don’t want to touch the vehicle or body here.” He narrowed his gaze. “I’d rather tow it to the mortuary with the body in situ. I know it’s unconventional but I have a sterile area, and I don’t want to risk losing any trace evidence by removing the body here.”
“Okay but we can’t leave the bodies in situ at the fire scene either. I gather it’s cool enough for us to get inside now?” Jenna pulled on surgical gloves as she walked.
“Yeah, it’s cooling but unsafe.” Wolfe grimaced. “There’ll only be carbonized remains and I doubt we’ll find anything of interest. A fire reaching such high temperatures destroys everything.”
“So how do you want to proceed? Kane wanted to see if Duke could pick up a scent trail of the killer.”
“He could try but there’s something else.” Wolfe’s brow wrinkled. “I found residue of a substance on the body. I believe he sprayed her with a chemical, maybe he tried to destroy trace DNA evidence.”
Jenna nodded. “Okay let me take a look.”
She heard Jo’s sharp intake of breath as they stepped forward. A body in the first stages of decomposition was never a pleasant sight. The eyes of victims remained in Jenna’s memory most of all and compelled her to catch their killer. Filled with the need to cover the girl’s nakedness, she gathered her professional cloak around her and examined the body, not touching but observing, seeking any clue. She could sense Kane and Carter doing the same.