Page 39 of A Song for the Dead

“Okay, I’ll go with Carter to scout out the forest around his cabin and set up the cameras. We’ll discuss a plan of action, if and when Stark makes his move. I’ll have the details by the time we get back. It might mean having two teams on the ground, one in the forest and one in town. We can’t show our hand at any time if you want to catch him in the act.”

As usual, Kane’s field experience was an asset. Being sheriff, Jenna could never hope to have the versatile depth of knowledge of individual team members. Using the expertise of experts was the key to success. “Okay, let’s make this happen. We know he is due out at two, so that gives you a couple of hours to set up the cameras before nightfall. We’ll take a break now, and once we’ve set the cameras, we’ll head for home to wait and see what happens. With Wolfe and Rio in town and Rowley to the north and us to the south, we’ll have the area covered, whichever way he goes. Once he makes a move, we’ll be on him. Time is getting short. He’s going to strike tonight. I feel it in my gut.”

FORTY-FIVE

It’s late afternoon and I’m at Aunt Betty’s Café. I needed a break, and sitting and watching Wendy go about her work was soothing. My hand trembles around my cup, and the distorted refection of my eyes in the rich brew is an insight into my mind right now. I know by my third offering I’m reaching my peak. I’m living on one long adrenaline rush and loving it. Right now, keeping calm and in control as time ticks by so slowly is torture. The sun is dropping low in the sky, the shadows creep across the sidewalk, and the mist rises. I’ll be appeased soon but I wish it were now. The need to smell blood, feel the racing heart like a small bird’s beneath my palms before it slows, jitters, and stops is like craving for an illegal drug. I press my hands around the hot cup. It burns my flesh but turns my mind away from the delicious images flooding my mind.

I stare at the hideous spider over the entrance. The red-eyed babies scattering when anyone walks past and the hissing is annoying. The entire town has gone mad, each store littering the sidewalk with bleeding corpses, skeletons, or other hideous debris, but with everyone’s attention on the decorations, I can move around without one single person registering I was there. Here at Aunt Betty’s, I know where the CCTV cameras are located. They’re aimed at the front counter. At Aunt Betty’s you have choices: order at the counter or sit and wait for a server. I avoid the camera by sitting at a table. It’s not rocket science.

The local kids are out and about taking in the sights. They seem to revel in the freezing temperatures and love the swirling mist. How easy it would be to pluck one from the sidewalk and drag them into an alleyway for some Halloween fun. I’m smiling but if I started killing kids, there wouldn’t be a future generation.

Wendy, Wendy, Wendy, her name has been buzzing around my head for a time now. Last night I dreamed about her, hair wet from the shower, seeing my reflection in the mirror. It was just like being there and I woke with my heart threatening to leap from my chest. Even now, some hours later, I can see Wendy clear in my mind, her eyes pleading for me to stop as her life’s blood pools on the white tile. I can see my reflection in her eyes as she takes her last breath. The vision is tantalizing. It’s like the gift under the Christmas tree. You see it all wrapped in glossy paper with a fine bow on top but can’t quite read the name on the label. You want so much to reach out and tear it apart to enjoy the contents, but a voice tells you it’s not yet time. What is time anyway? A manmade invention to keep everyone at the right place? Like sheep we must all rise and be somewhere because we follow time. Our lives are destined by age, when we all know age is a state of mind. I have no age. I refuse to acknowledge it because I’m going to live forever.

The clock on the wall ticks by another five slow minutes. This is what time does to a person’s mind. Some days it drags along and other times it speeds like an out-of-control locomotive. Why is this? Are we really following the same time or are some of us moving faster than others? I finish my coffee and place the cup down. As if reading my mind, here comes Wendy to refill my cup and bring me a slice of pie. She remembered my favorite and gives me a wide wedge. Her smile lights up the room and I return it. I sigh, but she had her chance. I did ask her to go to the ball with me. If she’d agreed, I would have removed her from my list. It’s a shame that she has someone else in her life… but not for long. Soon she’ll be mine.

FORTY-SIX

“He’s on the move.” Kane stared at his phone and then lifted his gaze to Jenna.

Jenna’s phone signaled a message. “Rio’s on it.” She looked at Kane. “I just knew something was going down tonight.”

They’d eaten dinner and, with Tauri sound asleep, had retreated to the family room to drink coffee. No one wanted to retire early. Everyone’s nerves were on edge.

“His schedule doesn’t have him leaving town until five in the morning.” Carter scrolled through his phone. “I wish we could have placed a tracker on his van. It would’ve made life easier.”

Glancing toward the bedroom, Jenna’s stomach gave a roll. She didn’t want to wake Tauri and drag him over to Nanny Raya’s at night, but if something went down, it would take valuable time to move him. She looked at Kane. “We’ll need to take Tauri to Nanny Raya’s before this explodes in our faces.”

“Okay.” Kane nodded and squeezed her arm. “We knew this would happen from time to time and so does he. Look at Jo’s daughter. She accepts her mom is away for days at a time. Kids are adaptable.”

“I’ll stay and care for him.” Jo looked from one to the other. “My expertise is in profiling criminals; yours is taking them down. The five of you will cope just fine without me. I’ll act as the command center.” She smiled.

Relieved, Jenna nodded. “That would really ease my mind. I want Tauri to have a stable upbringing. If I could have Nanny Raya living with us, I would, but it’s impossible.”

“How so?” Carter raised one eyebrow. “This place is like Fort Knox. She’d be safe living here.”

“First up, we’d need to build her a separate dwelling. We can’t use the cottage because we need that for visiting FBI agents. Since they’ve expanded the Rattlesnake Creek field office, we never know who will be dropping by.” Kane shrugged. “Secondly, we didn’t discover anything nasty when we did background checks, but sometimes we talk about cases at home, and you know darn well I have military information that’s need-to-know, same as you. She doesn’t have that level of clearance, so she remains in town. The house we bought for her is secure. It’s just inconvenient when we need to be away on a case.”

“I actually know a couple of FBI agents who retired without having kids. They missed having a family and became nannies.” Jo nodded to Kane. “Maybe you need someone like that, who has clearance?”

Jenna’s phone chimed a message, she swiped her phone and looked at it. “Rio said Stark is heading toward Stanton. We need to go.” She looked at Jo. “He sleeps right through, so you won’t have a problem. We’ll leave Duke here.” She looked at Carter. “Is Zorro staying here?”

“Yeah, he’ll be fine with Duke.” Carter looked at Kane. “I’ll ride with you and Jenna. We’ll need to leave a vehicle for Jo, for emergencies.”

“Well, that’s a relief but I could always try my hand at riding a Harley.” She winked at Kane. “You wouldn’t mind, right?”

“Well… maybe.” Kane pulled on a liquid Kevlar vest from the pile he’d just dropped on the sofa and handed one to Jenna. “Need ammo?” His gaze moved to Carter as he went to the gun safe and unlocked it before filling his pockets. “Help yourself.” He tossed a clip to Jenna.

Jenna pulled on her jacket. “We need to move it. Go, go, go.” She waved the men toward the door and looked over one shoulder at Jo. “I’ll call you if anything goes down.” She hurried after Kane.

As the Beast roared along the highway, Jenna call Rio. “What’s your position?”

“I’m not far from my house, tucked in the shadows facing Stanton. He hasn’t passed me yet and he was heading this way.”Rio sighed.“The fog is really bad here, but I figure he’ll spot my vehicle the moment I pull onto the road. What do you want me to do?”

A message chimed and Jenna cleared her throat. “Wait up, I have a call from Rowley.”

She took the call and listened. “Okay, Rio is heading your way and we’ll be there in five. Use your comm from now on, so everyone hears what’s going down.” She disconnected Rowley and switched her phone back to Rio. “Rowley is on Main. He’s driving Sandy’s gray pickup. He’s parked between the pizzeria and Aunt Betty’s Café. Stay back and allow a few vehicles to go past before following Stark. Maybe take Maple and travel parallel with him. We’re coming in hot. We’ve just made the highway into town now. Use your comm. We’ll need hands-free communication if we’re going to take this guy down.”

“You got it.”Rio disconnected.

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