Page 15 of Their Haunted Hearts (Detectives Kane and Alton #27)

Fourteen

Leaves blew around Jenna’s legs as she climbed from the truck and a dust devil danced along the sidewalk as if playing with the decorations and making the skeletons hanging to the light posts dance.

Rowley stood outside the shattered open door to the haunted house and she made out movement inside.

As she stepped onto the sidewalk, Raven, with Ben bounding beside him, pushed through the gathering crowd and met Kane.

She walked up to Rowley. “What’s it like inside? ”

“I haven’t been in yet.” Rowley pushed back his Stetson and shuffled his feet. “Wolfe wanted us all outside. If you’re going in, he left booties and gloves here for you.” He indicated to the bench. “He wasn’t happy that Raven walked all through a puddle of blood.”

Sighing, Jenna sat on the bench and pulled on booties and gloved up. She looked up when Kane sat beside her. She handed him the protective gear and looked up at Raven. “You were first on scene?”

“Yeah.” He indicated to the door. “I heard screaming and kicked in the door. Someone is on their way to repair it. I didn’t see anyone, no vehicles apart from what you see here now.

Rio took the witnesses back to the office to get their statements.

” He took Duke’s leash from Kane. “I’ll take the dogs to the park.

I’ll be back before you miss me.” He headed across the road.

Jenna smiled. “He looks happy.”

“Emily is working the case.” Kane snapped on gloves. “He likes her and she’s finished her studies but he’s taking it slow.” He chuckled. “He reminds me of me… without the baggage.”

Jenna stood and stared after Raven. “That’s good. Maybe he won’t keep her waiting for four long years.” She chuckled, headed for the door and peered inside. “Can we come in?”

“There y’all are.” Wolfe came toward them.

“The blood patch on the floor isn’t blood.

It’s a synthetic blood used in movies. The victim is female around the same age as the first one, and I’m seeing complete exsanguination.

I couldn’t get a sample of her blood and took one from the liver.

Same stake through the heart. The tip is buried in the table, so I’d say he used a mallet to push it through. ”

“Does she have marks on her neck as well?” Kane peered behind Wolfe.

“Exactly the same as the first victim.” Wolfe looked from one to the other.

“This is without doubt the same killer.” He stepped back to allow them inside.

“We did a sweep for trace evidence and fingerprints and the place is covered with so many different prints, they’ll be impossible to match.

However, we’ll send them to Kalo, along with the victim’s and see if he can speed up the process. ”

Wrinkling her nose at the smell, Jenna swept her gaze over the room.

The scene had been staged—the body laid out, hair draped over the table, and the victim’s long nightgown hanging down one side.

That was it, no clothes. The body was naked under the thin muslin nightgown.

“Seems to me this guy wanted her to remain in the display. He wanted people to see his work.”

“Take a walk-through, and when you’re done, I’ll remove the body.” Wolfe shook his head. “If this is another out-of-towner, this guy is hitting on high-risk women. Catching him will be a nightmare. I’ll send a message to Helena to ask if this has been happening anywhere else in the state.”

“Yeah, this guy is slick. He’s been around the block a few times.” Kane went to examine the body. “I’m assuming there was a mannequin here before?”

“That I don’t know, but the owner is on his way.” Wolfe indicated to the way they’d come in. “He needed to grab supplies to fix the door.” He looked at Jenna. “You’ll likely get a bill.”

Jenna stared at the victim’s sheet-white face and took in the two puncture marks on her neck and then turned to the stake plunged into her heart.

The lack of blood surprised her. She’d seen so many bloody crime scenes this one appeared to be almost peaceful.

“There’s no signs of a struggle.” She looked at Wolfe.

“We’ve checked all the places a person could have obtained a body and found none missing. ”

A man poked his head inside the door and Jenna held up a hand. “Don’t come inside. This is a crime scene.”

“I’m Pastor John Dimock.” His gaze moved over the prone body and he pressed his hand over his nose. “May I come in and say a prayer for her?”

“Absolutely not.” Kane stepped in front of him. “Why are you here?”

“I watched the news about the other young woman. They said she was last seen at the roadhouse on Sunday night.” He turned the Stetson in his hands with his fingers. “I was there and I did notice a young woman. So I figured I’d come and tell you. I was on my way to your office and spotted you here.”

“Go on.” Kane remained in the doorway.

“She was sitting with a man, and when he left, she followed him outside.” The pastor looked at Kane. “I figured you should know.”

“Okay. Wait here.” Kane glanced over his shoulder. “Jenna.”

An eyewitness was just what they needed. Jenna waved him to the door. “I heard. I’ll speak to you outside.” She glanced at Kane. “Do a walk-through and I’ll speak to the pastor.”

Kane held her gaze for a long second and then nodded, but before he turned away, Emily moved to Jenna’s side.

“We’re just about done here.” Emily snapped off her gloves and balled them up before tossing them into the medical examiner’s trash bag.

She pulled on another pair. “I’d like to take a better look around, if you don’t mind?

” She looked from Jenna to Kane and raised an eyebrow. “Can you spare Raven?”

“Yeah, he’s back. I can hear him talking to Rowley.” Kane stuck his head outside the door. “Raven, I need you to do a walk-through with Emily.”

“Sure.” Raven peered inside. “I’ll grab some booties.”

“No need.” Emily met his gaze. “We’ve processed the scene, the mark on the floor isn’t blood. I want to take a better look around. I figure there’s false doors or built-in spaces where a killer might hide.”

As they walked away, Jenna went to the man waiting outside. She pulled out her notebook. “First, I’ll need your details.”

“I’m Pastor John Dimock.” The tall man opened his arms wide. His face held a pleasant expression as his wide set eyes moved over her face. “I’m working with Father Derry at the shelter.”

Jenna made a few notes as Kane moved to her side. “So, what took you to the Triple Z Roadhouse?”

“I do rounds, usually late in the evening. I go to the Triple Z Bar, the roadhouse, and the bus stations.” He gave a sympathetic smile.

“I look for those needing assistance. You’d be surprised how many people arrive here and have nowhere to go.

They believe this town can offer them a new life.

I usually direct them to the shelter or buy them a meal.

Father Derry makes sure they get back on their feet. ”

Biting back the need to laugh hysterically at the idea of anyone willingly deciding to move to Serial Killer Central, she exchanged a meaningful look with Kane and then lifted her chin. “That’s very noble of you, Pastor. Now can you tell me what you witnessed on Sunday evening?”

“I’d been to the Triple Z Bar. Many young women end up there trying to make a few bucks.

They’re desperate. I went from there to the roadhouse.

I noticed the young woman being hassled by some men, and I was going to help her when a man stepped in and took her to a booth.

She didn’t complain. I figured she knew him.

I spoke to the men. They’d been drinking.

I offered to give them a ride home but they refused. ”

“What do you mean by hassled?” Kane stared at him. “What did they actually say?”

“They wanted her to join them.” The pastor frowned.

“They offered her money to go to the motel with them.” His neck flushed and filled his cheeks.

“They wanted to party with her. Their words, not mine.” He cleared his throat.

“I sat with them for a time and made sure they consumed a few cups of coffee. I don’t believe they were bad men.

They believed the woman was a sex worker. ” He scratched his cheek.

Noticing his rough hands, Jenna wondered if coming to Black Rock Falls was a pilgrimage or similar to prove his faith. He resembled the many penniless pastors she’d encountered in this part of the state. “Did you see where the woman went when she left?”

“No, but the men left soon after.” The pastor nodded slowly. “I didn’t see where they went and when I left, they’d gone.”

“What can you tell me about them?” Kane moved closer. “Did you hear any names?”

“No, I’m afraid not.” The pastor smiled. “I do recall the man with the woman. I’m sure I’ve met him at the Triple Z Bar. He’s my size and coloring. I didn’t catch his name.”

“Did you hear any of the men using names at all?” Kane rested his hand on the butt of his weapon. He stared into space.

“Let me see, one of them called the other Joker.” He looked at Jenna. “You don’t believe they were involved in her murder, do you?”

Straightening, Jenna stared at him. “I didn’t say she was murdered.”

“Really? I’m sorry.” The pastor shook his head.

“The entire town is talking about vampires. The women who found her have told everyone who will listen what they found.” He moved dark eyes to Jenna’s face.

“Fang marks in the neck and a stake through the heart. I figure that means someone murdered her.”

Wondering why Rio hadn’t cautioned the witnesses to keep the murder to themselves until they’d identified the victim, Jenna cleared her throat.

“That’s for the medical examiner to decide.

I’m not qualified to make that decision.

” She handed him a card. “Please head down to my office and ask Chief Deputy Rio to take your statement. You’ve been a great help.

Thanks for coming forward. If you do recall anything else about that evening or see the man who was with the victim, call me. ”

“No trouble at all.” The pastor smiled at Jenna. “I’m glad to be of assistance.” He took the card and headed toward a pickup.

Jenna turned to Kane. “I’m glad he came forward. His information ties in with what we know so far.”

“It looks like we’ll need to look for suspects who frequent anywhere high-risk people hang out.

” Kane stared at the crowd gathered around the entrance.

“This guy must blend in with the locals or someone would have spotted him. The townsfolk are more aware than most after all the murders we’ve had here.

If they spot a stranger or someone who doesn’t fit, they usually come forward. ”

Jenna nodded. “I agree. Let’s wrap it up here and then grab Raven and Rowley and head to Aunt Betty’s for a bite to eat. We can organize the team to hunt down suspects.”

“Ah, that looks like the owner with the carpenter.” Kane indicated to a truck parking alongside the Beast. “I guess we clear the crowd and then wait until he’s finished.

Wolfe will need to give him the all-clear before they can continue working on the exhibit.

” He glanced behind him. “They’re bringing the body out now.

” He looked at Jenna. “I’ll go and speak to the owner. ”

Jenna sat down on the bench as Rowley pushed his way through the onlookers.

She smiled at him. “There you are. We’re almost done here.

We’ll need to wait for Wolfe, and Raven is doing a walk-through with Emily.

I just need to make some notes and then we’ll head to Aunt Betty’s and I’ll bring you all up to date.

This case is moving faster than I imagined and we have work to do. ”