Page 38 of Their Haunted Hearts
Black Rock Falls
Jenna stared out of the office window at the turbulent sky wondering what was happening with the weather this year. Last night when they’d been out in the corn maze, she’d been sure it would be snowing by the morning, but the heavy black clouds rumbling across the tops of the mountain told a different story. The weather pattern had changed in the last couple of years. Violent storms, earth tremors, and flooding had become a regular occurrence rather than a once-in-a-century weather event. She turned to look at Kane, who was working at his desk. “It looks like there’s a nasty storm coming. The dark clouds have been building up all day.”
“I guess then I better keep Duke close by or he’ll be a shivering pile of Jell-O.” Kane leaned back in his chair and stretched his long legs. “I figured we would have heard something from Wolfe by now. Do you want me to call him?”
Jenna shook her head and walked over to the hooks behind the door to grab her coat. “No, he’ll call when he wants us. As the murders are identical, there’s not really anything different for us to observe. Right now, I want to take a walk through town and then stop by Aunt Betty’s for lunch. The townsfolk are on edge and maybe seeing us on patrol might calm them down a little. Although, if there’s a bad storm coming, it’s going to wreak havoc with the Halloween decorations—and so close to Halloween too. I hope it blows through and doesn’t do any damage.”
“Yeah, so many kids are waiting patiently for Sunday night. It seems a long time coming this year with the murders spoiling everything.” Kane stood and took his coat from Jenna. “When you called Jo this morning, did she give you any insight into the killer that we haven’t already discussed?”
Shaking her head, Jenna pulled on gloves. “Not yet. She’s looking at the recent case and working with Wolfe today and then she’ll give us her recommendations.” She sighed. “It’s good to have a special agent who is a top behavioral analyst on speed dial when we need her. I’m at the overthinking stage with this case. Nothing is coming together.”
“Rio, Raven, and Rowley are trying to piece together the victims’ last hours and reasons for being in town and more on the suspects’ whereabouts before arriving in Black Rock Falls. With that information, we might be able to sync it with one or more of the suspects or murders in other states or counties. Then I figure we lean on them, follow them, or whatever to make sure they know we’re watching them. Maybe after Halloween, the killings will stop. The one responsible will most likely leave town and we’ll have him.”
Jenna shook her head. “You’re optimistic today, Dave.” She swung open the door and Duke dashed to her side, his thick tail wagging. “I figure he’s saving his best until last. The Halloween night murder would be the ultimate in his twisted mind. He could scare the entire town and he’d do it just to prove his point—that vampires exist. We need to catch him before he has a chance to kill again.” She gave him a long look. “Somehow.”
The threatening sky had turned Black Rock Falls into dusk, making the bright decorations cheerful in the gloom. On the way to Aunt Betty’s, they stopped to chat with the townsfolk and examined the displays outside every store along the sidewalk. With terrible murder scenes replaying in her mind, the craziness of Halloween and the laughable displays lifted Jenna’s spirits. Whenever she found it difficult to catch a killer, she blamed herself. As sheriff, it was her responsibility to bring murderers to justice. Young women should be safe in her town, even if climbing from buses or walking home. She worked very hard to catch the killers but they always seemed to slip through and kill one more time. These monsters destroyed families and added another memory she’d rather forget. She glanced around the town, searching for anything unusual or out of place, but no one lurked in the alleyways or watched from trucks parked alongside the road.
“Don’t let it get you down, Jenna.” Kane brushed against her. “We have the best minds working on this case. We’ll get a break soon. I’m sure of it. I’ve told you many times before, one day the killer will make a mistake. The last kill was almost identical but the marks on the neck appeared rushed to me. Maybe he’s getting sloppy?”
Jenna pushed open the door to Aunt Betty’s Café and ducked beneath the legs of a giant spider, which had become a Halloween favorite along with its many babies scattered in cobwebs all over the diner. She glanced at the sheriff’s table at the back and smiled to see Raven in deep conversation with Emily. She turned to Kane. “That’s a good sign. I hope they get together. It’s a match made in heaven.”
“Don’t meddle.” Kane narrowed his gaze at her and guided her to the counter to order. “It’s a slow burn and they last the longest, just like us.”
They ordered the specials and headed to the table. Jenna smiled. “It’s good to see you, Em. Have you any news on the autopsy?”
“We drop by here to get a break from the murders most days.” Emily smiled up at her. “It’s nice to clear your mind and start afresh in the afternoon. We’ve been discussing our costumes for the Halloween Ball on Sunday night. Have you decided what to wear?”
“We might be chasing down a serial killer.” Kane removed his jacket and dropped into a chair. “But I’m going as the Grim Reaper this year, if we go. I know it’s in bad taste after all the murders but that’s all they had left in the store in my size—and I got a skull mask thrown in.”
Jenna smiled at her. “I have a witch costume and Tauri is going as a ghost. He’s been moaning and dragging chains around the house all week.” She chuckled. “Jackson is mystified but he has an amazing sense of humor for his age, so we hope he won’t find anything disturbing, but we’ll keep them both well away from anything graphic.”
“I’ve told them none of it is true.” Kane’s hand closed around his empty coffee cup and he waved to Wendy as she went by carrying a pot. “They understand dress-up, so it should be fine.”
“I’m so looking forward to going this year.” Emily lowered her lashes and her cheeks pinked. “We selected our costumes together.”
“I’m Thor, and Emily is an ice princess.” Raven leaned back in his chair. “I hope the ball goes ahead. It brings everyone together in the town.”
Loving seeing Emily and Raven finally dating, Jenna nodded as Wendy came by to pour coffee. “Oh, it will go ahead, with or without us. It takes more than a serial killer to stop the ball. Same as the trick-or-treating. If we’re held up, we have Raya and your family to watch over our boys.”
“Ah, there’s nothing better than a full rack of ribs with all the trimmings on a cold day.” Kane smiled at Wendy as she came back to the table and emptied her tray. “I could eat these every day.”
“They’re a favorite and we have them twice a week as specials now.” Wendy stood to one side as another server placed plates in front of Emily and Raven. She looked at Jenna. “I’ll be right back with your meal, Jenna.”
Nodding, Jenna stared at the array of side dishes Kane had ordered with his huge meal. “So, the fall didn’t affect your appetite?”
“Never.” Kane grinned at her and tucked a napkin under his chin. “I figure my appetite increases when I’ve been injured. I need the energy to regenerate after the damage.”
Blinking, Jenna looked at him. Whoever said they need to regenerate? He always sounded like some type of lab experiment. She’d seen him shot in the head, electrocuted, and buried alive and yet he came back. He might be sore now, but in a week or so he’d be stronger and fitter than before, mainly because after any injury he worked hard on getting back in shape. After Jackson was born, he’d encouraged her to get back into their workout routine, and because of it, she figured she coped with the stress of being a new mother. Her meal arrived, and everyone fell silent, all enjoying the ribs. She’d just wiped her hands and mouth when her phone chimed. It was Wolfe. “Hey, Shane, we’re at Aunt Betty’s. Do you have anything for me?”
“Yeah, small things but significant.” Wolfe yawned. “Sorry, it’s been a long couple of days. If you schedule a conference call this afternoon, along with Jo, I’ll bring you up to date. What’s the special at Aunt Betty’s today?”
Jenna pushed her plate away and sipped a glass of water. “Ribs, and do you want all the team involved?”
“It would save time.” Wolfe tapped away on his keyboard. “If Emily is there, ask her to bring me some takeout. Three specials, Norrell and Webber as well.”
Leaning back in her chair, Jenna sighed in contentment. “Not a problem. I’ll set that meeting up for two-thirty. It will give you time to eat.” She disconnected, gave Emily the message, and waited for Kane to finish the last bite. “I believe Wolfe has found something. We’re having a conference call at two-thirty.” She turned to Raven. “The entire team.”
“Sure.” Raven stood. “I’ll drop Em back to the morgue and be right there.” He patted his leg and Ben, his K-9, crawled out from under the table alert and ready to work.
