Bring Me Flowers (Detectives Kane and Alton #2)(29)
After obtaining the required permission to allow Mrs. Fox to be a proxy, Jenna followed Mrs. Fox into the family room. She gaped at the impressive display of Civil War rifles and other collectables displayed on one wall. “That is an amazing collection.”
“Yes, my husband spends a fortune at auctions. He loves weapons of all description.” Mrs. Fox sat between the two girls sitting on the edge of the sofa. “Turn off your cellphones. Sheriff Alton wants a word with you.” She patted a girl with tawny hair on the knee. “This is my Aimee.”
Jenna left Deputy Walters standing beside the door and sat in a comfortable leather chair opposite. She smiled at the girls. Both had dressed the same in short skirts and T-shirts with cowboy boots. The makeup on the girls surprised her and it made them look older than their sixteen years. Lucky’s words echoed in her mind. I seem to attract the young ones. With Kane’s interview notes running through her mind, she decided to ease the information from the girls rather than reveal Felicity had died. “Can you tell me what you usually do with Felicity over a typical week of summer vacation?”
“That depends if the rodeo is coming to town.” Aimee grinned. “Sometimes we like to ride around town and hope to get a glimpse of some of the riders. This year we are going to the dance.”
“You have a car?” Jenna jotted down notes.
“Yeah, Dad gave it to me for my birthday.” Aimee patted her hair and yawned. “I have my license.”
The girl, bored by her questions, constantly fiddled with her cellphone.
“What else do you do? Where do you go, who do you usually speak to?”
“We go all over. Sometimes to the library, Aunt Betty’s Café, but yesterday we planned to hang out at the computer store in town. It sells games, computers, cellphones, and all types of gadgets. It has free Wi-Fi.” Kate Bright grinned. “The guy behind the counter is a real nerd but if we are nice to him he helps us with the games.”
The hairs on the back of her neck prickled. “Define ‘nice’ and why do you need help with a game?”
“Oh, we pick up his lunch and do other stuff.” Aimee sighed. “Or he has to kick us out and lock up the store.”
“Does he give you games?”
“Nah. Don’t be silly.” Kate giggled and looked at her as if she was crazy. “We download them onto our smartphones. You are just like my mom. She can’t even send a text message. Games are free from the internet. Lionel knows how to cheat at most of the games and shows us how to get up the levels faster is all.”
“Do you know Lionel’s last name?”
“Provine, I think.” Aimee fiddled with the cushion on the chair. “Why are you asking questions about Felicity? Has something happened to her?”
“I’m afraid Felicity was involved in a serious incident yesterday.”
“What kind of incident?” Aimee leaned forward in her seat. “Did someone hurt her?”
Jenna sighed. “I’m not able to disclose that information just yet but I must caution you to be very careful and don’t go out alone. Keep away from the forest right now it’s not safe.”
“That’s awful.” Aimee looked at her friend. “We’ll go and see her.”
“No, she isn’t at home.” Jenna glanced at Mrs. Fox. “I’ll explain everything to your mother when I’m able.” Jenna turned her attention back to the girls. “I need all the information you can give me. When did you last see Felicity?”
“Sunday at church but I spoke to her yesterday morning before breakfast.” Aimee met her gaze. “She said she would drop in here before nine. We planned to go into town. Lionel sent all of us a bonus card for one of the new games and I guess she got engrossed in the game because she didn’t show. She is totally addicted to games, so I wasn’t really surprised. We all are and sometimes I get so involved I’d rather play than go out with my boyfriend.” She shrugged. “I did call and leave a message but she didn’t get back to me.” She sighed. “Then Lionel closed the store for almost two hours and we had to cool our heels in Aunt Betty’s.”
This is way over my head. Jenna blinked and wrote down as much of the girls’ ramblings as she could remember. “Okay, so I gather these ‘bonus cards’ are ways to move up levels in the game faster? I’m afraid I’ve never had time to be a gamer.”
“Yes, and they are like gold. They can be awarded as you complete the tasks or missions and you can share or swap doubles of them too.” She let out a long sigh. “I know old people don’t understand but these days most teenagers play games or talk online.”
Jenna flicked a glance at Mrs. Fox, who gave her a non-judgmental stare, then moved her attention back to the girls. “So, where did you go yesterday around nine?”
“I picked up Kate and we went into town.” Aimee chewed on her bottom lip. “We spent most of the day in the computer store with Chad and Lucas but I didn’t give them a ride. They always catch the seven-thirty bus into town. Dad doesn’t like me having boys in the car.”
“May I have their full names please?”
“Yeah, Lucas Summerville and Chadwick Johnson.” Kate twirled a strand of blonde hair around her finger.
“Did you speak to anyone other than them and Lionel or see anyone on the way?”