Page 34

Thirty-Three

Black Rock Falls appeared almost sleepy as they glided through town. Jenna turned to Kane. “The livery stable is at the next crossroads. Why don’t we drop by now before we have lunch and at least we’ll have one interview out of the way?”

“That sounds like a plan as long as you’re okay.” Kane gave her a long look. “You’ve been going nonstop since we left this morning. You must be exhausted.”

Exhausted didn’t come close to Jenna’s energy level, but the opportunity to interview a suspect was more important right now.

She shrugged and glanced at him. “It’s normal to be a little tired but it’s not something I can’t deal with.

I’ll be sure to tell you when I need to take a break.

I must admit though that sitting down in Aunt Betty’s Café and eating a nice lunch is something I’m looking forward to. ”

Behind her, Duke gave a short bark. She turned to look at him and rubbed his silky head. “It seems that Duke agrees with me. We haven’t been into Aunt Betty’s Café for almost a week and I figure he’s getting withdrawal symptoms. He’s probably been dreaming about all the leftovers he hasn’t eaten.”

As Kane pulled the Beast into the parking lot outside the livery stable, Jenna glanced at her notes.

“The man we’re looking for is Jim Birch.

From what Kalo told me, he lives in the back room of the stables and works with the horses and repairs saddles.

” She scrolled through the notes on her tablet.

“This guy was arrested for indecent handling of a girl under the age of eleven. He has just finished serving a three-year term. Somehow, he hasn’t shown up on the sex offender registry in this county.

There’s something dreadfully wrong with the system if people like this can slip into town without our knowledge.

I’ve checked all the men on the list that Rio compiled and none of them have been registered as sexual offenders in Black Rock Falls. ”

“This might be something we need to do manually.” Kane turned off the engine and looked at her.

“It’s not difficult to sort through the released prisoners who might cause a problem if they happen to wander into our town.

The way AI is moving so fast at the moment, I reckon Kalo could create a program that can do this for us.

” He smiled at her. “That’s something you could ask him about.

Anything that would make life easier would benefit us. ”

Nodding, Jenna narrowed her gaze as she peered into the darkened stables.

“This gives us a reason for being here and for interviewing any of the others who happen to wander into town. Offenders are required by law to register with local law enforcement agencies in their jurisdiction where they’re living.

I found none of these men on the sex or violent offender registry, so knowing they’re living here, we have every right to question them. ”

“Okay, let’s do this. I’m starving and Aunt Betty’s Café is calling my name.” Kane climbed out of the truck and waited for her.

The smell of warm horses, leather, and hay wafted out through the doors of the stables as they approached.

The mingled aromas had a soothing effect on Jenna.

The stables on her ranch were a place she liked to go just to sit and look at the horses.

She pulled her mind back into the now as their boots clattered across the cobblestones.

Inside was a child sex offender and maybe even a serial killer of the worst kind.

She would need to bring her A game when dealing with him.

She glanced at Kane as they approached the open doors.

Moving from bright sunlight into a dim interior was dangerous.

She nodded to Kane, who placed his back against the wall before turkey-peeking inside the stables.

Heart pounding in her chest like a military tattoo, she waited until he’d slipped inside to clear the area before she followed.

The stables were larger than Jenna imagined.

Rows of stalls faced each other over a center line of concrete flooring.

Horses’ heads hung over doors watching them with interest as they walked toward them.

A few of them snickered a greeting, and then a man came out of a small room on one side.

This obviously wasn’t Jim Birch. His description was six-three and two-seventy pounds with dirty-blond hair and brown eyes.

Birch also had a tattoo of a snake running around his neck.

The man who came out to greet them was in his sixties, with rugged skin tanned like creased leather from years of working outside.

“Sheriff Alton, what brings you here?” The man came toward her, pushing his cowboy hat up at the front. “Are you looking for a mount?”

Keeping alert for any movement, Jenna shook her head. “No, thank you. I’m looking for Jim Birch. I was given reason to believe he works here.”

“I hope there isn’t a problem because I often employ men who’ve done their time.

” The man rubbed the nose of a horse close by and looked at her with piercing black eyes.

“Jim is a good worker and I needed an experienced saddler. Most people who stable their mounts here often need a quick tack repair and having someone on site makes it cheaper and easier for my clients.”

Wondering why he was giving her a rundown of his business, when all she needed was to speak to Jim Birch, surprised Jenna.

It was as if he was making excuses for him already.

She nodded, hoping to appear agreeable and no threat.

“I’m not here to question the reason why you employed Jim Birch.

I need a quiet word with him if he is available to speak with us. Is he here?”

“Yeah, I’m here.” A man wearing a plaid shirt, blue jeans, cowboy boots, and an old black Stetson stepped out from the room, wiping his hands on a rag.

He gave Jenna the once-up-and-down look as if appraising her, and then his gaze fixed on Kane briefly before looking away.

“What is it you need to speak to me about?” He indicated to the man beside him.

“We can talk in front of Mr. Cotton. He knows everything about me. I’ve done my time and want to move forward with my life.

Having you come here to question me makes it look as if I’ve been breaking the law again. ”

“That’s because you have broken the law, Mr. Birch.” Kane rested the palm of his hand on the butt of his pistol. “You are a sexual offender and it’s required by law for you to report to us when entering our town. It came to our attention that you have not been put on the list.”

“I haven’t had time to go to the office.” Birch shrugged nonchalantly. “It’s been pretty hectic since I arrived, being a tourist season and all. We have horses going in and out all day.”

Not having time to listen to his excuses, Jenna took out her notebook and pen.

“Well then, I suggest we take down some details so that I can enter you on the list, but first I need to know when you arrived in town and exactly what you’ve been doing.

So start off with the day you arrived and I want details of everything between then and now. ”

“That is absolute nonsense.” Cotton’s fists balled on his waist. “This is a free man; you’re not permitted to hassle him in this manner.”

Slightly annoyed, Jenna met his gaze. “I could have sent my deputies to pick him up and bring him down to the office, but I chose to come by and see him personally. I can leave now and send them to arrest him for breaking the law, which will probably send him back to jail. He knows full well that he is required to make his presence known to law enforcement when arriving in town.” She looked directly at Birch.

“The choice is yours, Mr. Birch. Answer my questions or we’ll take a ride down to my office. ”

“I’ll make it easy for you.” Kane moved closer to her side. “When did you arrive in town?”

“A week ago Friday last.” Birch shuffled his feet.

“I saw a flyer in the diner in Blackwater looking for a saddler. I called Mr. Cotton and he offered me the job and a room out back.” He pulled a face.

“You don’t understand, I was framed. The woman I was living with became jealous of a waitress at the saloon.

I was getting sick of her accusations and decided to leave.

The next thing I knew I had the cops on my doorstep accusing me of touching her eleven-year-old daughter.

Trust me, I didn’t lay one hand on her, but one of my ex’s friends testified they saw the kid sitting on my lap watching TV. That was enough to make me do time.”

“I would arrest you too if I’d seen you with an eleven-year-old on your lap.” Kane’s mouth turned down. “Isn’t appropriate behavior for a man of your age.” He drew himself up to his full height. “The sheriff has more questions for you. I suggest you answer them so we can be on our way.”

Jenna lifted her chin and stared at him. “Let’s start with last Friday night. What were you doing between the hours of seven and ten?”

“I went to Aunt Betty’s Café for supper and after that I walked around town checking out the local saloons.

There isn’t too many to choose from in this town, is there?

” Birch removed his hat and scratched his head.

“I came back here and went to sleep—unfortunately alone.” He sighed.

“Don’t ask me for people’s names to give me an alibi.

I don’t know anyone in town by name, apart from Mr. Cotton here. ”

After making a few notes, Jenna looked at him again. “Do you recall seeing a white limo driving through town on Friday night during those hours we mentioned?”

“I can’t say that I do.” Birch smoothed his hair and replaced his Stetson.

“Were you in the vicinity of the Glacial Heights Ski Resort on Saturday?” Kane’s gaze hadn’t moved from Birch’s face.

“During the rockslides?” Birch barked a laugh. “I’m not that stupid.”

Noting that he knew exactly where the rockslides were located, Jenna lifted her gaze to him. “Did you happen to be anywhere in Stanton Forest between Friday and today?”

“Nope.” Birch shifted his feet again and cast a glance at his boss.

“And what about this morning? Where were you?” Kane let out a long sigh. “Anywhere near the old library on Stanton?”

“You mean during the explosion?” Birch shook his head. “Do I look as if I’ve been in an explosion?”

“You appear to know the area. Have you lived in Black Rock Falls before?” Kane met his gaze.

“I spent some time here with my pa as a kid.” Birch shrugged. “I lived in Butte for about seven years.”

Jenna thought for a beat. “Have you ever owned a bow or a crossbow?”

“Yeah, I used one for hunting some years ago.” Birch sighed.

“Apart from my vehicle, I lost all my things when I went to jail. Everything I owned was at the house where I was living with the woman who accused me of touching her daughter. I’ve never returned there to collect anything.

My truck was outside the bar in Blackwater.

The sheriff towed it to an impound yard and lucky for me it was still there when I got out.

It was still legally in my name and so I was able to claim it for the price of storage.

It took me a time to get it running again. ”

“What else do you drive?” Kane swung his gaze to Mr. Cotton. “Does he have access to vehicles on the premises?”

“Yeah, we have a flatbed and a van, plus a couple of horse trailers.” Cotton wiped a hand down his face, clearly annoyed with the interrogation.

“Look, Sheriff, I have no problems with Jim. He comes to work on time and does his job well. Why can’t you just leave him alone to live his life? He ain’t hurting anyone.”

Folding her notebook, Jenna put it slowly back inside her pocket with her pen and turned to Birch.

“That’s all for today. I want you to make time to come into the sheriff’s office before the end of the week to officially enter your name on the sex offender registry.

Folks in Black Rock Falls have the right to know who they’re dealing with.

If you don’t show, I’ll be back personally to arrest you.

” She gave Kane a nod and walked out of the stables.

Inside the Beast she turned to him. “I find it very strange that a guy who’s just arrived in town knows about the rockslides in the Glacial Heights Ski Resort and about the explosion. He seems a little too slick for me. I don’t trust him.”

“We will talk to Susie and Wendy at Aunt Betty’s Café and see if they recall him.

” Kane started the engine and backed out of the parking lot.

“He would blend into the local population but the snake tattoo on his neck would be something noticeable.” He sighed and headed along Main.

“I agree, things don’t add up with him as a stranger.

He knows too much about the town. I don’t believe he got all his information from spending some time here with his pa.

When he was a kid the ski resort didn’t exist, and the rockslides are all over not just in that area.

The problem is, we need a little more than gut instinct to stop this guy. ”