Bring Me Flowers (Detectives Kane and Alton #2)(83)
“Well then, it’s just as well I was with you most of the time. Let me see, I was at the office until six, at Aunt Betty’s Café having dinner with you until about seven thirty then we drove home, had coffee at your place, and I walked back to my cottage around eight. You called me at eight thirty and told me Chad had found Kate’s body. I’d have to have superpowers to commit a murder somewhere in between.” He turned the SUV into the parking lot at the fairgrounds and headed for the area allotted for the sheriff’s department vehicles. “I’m glad you told Wolfe someone was setting me up. I need to know you trust me and I’ll appreciate someone on my side if this evidence hits the courts.”
“There will be plenty of people who remember seeing us at Aunt Betty’s.”
“I’m sure, especially Susie Hartwig. She must have mentioned going to the dance ten times. I wonder when she’ll give up the chase.” He gave her an eye-roll then rubbed his chin. “Okay, what else did Wolfe say?”
Relief flooded over her and she swallowed the lump in her throat. “He found your DNA on Kate’s palms and on fibers consistent with the comparison samples taken from our crime scene coveralls. He believes the killer took them from the garbage and rubbed them on Kate’s hands.” She looked into his closed expression. He had become the detached professional again. “Likely he’ll find the same result on Aimee’s body.”
“The murdering son of a bitch is trying to set me up. Dammit, I dumped ours in the trashcan outside the station. I mean, who the hell takes the risk to touch contaminated material?” Kane snorted in disgust. “Well, I’m sure you remember where I was last night.”
She cleared her throat. “I remember. Come on.” She pushed open the door. “Earbuds in, mics attached. Let’s get this guy.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Forty-Nine
The spicy smell of barbecued ribs, fried onions, and beer smacked Jenna in the face the moment she stepped from the SUV. People flowed into the fairgrounds from every direction wearing brightly colored clothes and cowboy hats, but the way they dressed did not disguise the air of unease rippling through the crowd. The threat of a killer in their midst hung over the carnival like a wet blanket. Parents kept their children close to their sides and she could not help noticing the way people bunched together, their worried expressions darting in all directions. Every stranger was a potential threat.
The uneasy chatter rose and fell over the loud country and western music blaring out of the huge hall. Flashing fairy lights lined the pathway leading to the entrance and they joined the line to the hall. Apprehension of allowing the dance to proceed flowed through her but the mayor had insisted the event take place as usual. His idea to flush out the killer might cost another girl her life. With the threat of a serial killer on the loose, she intended to keep everyone on high alert for the evening.
The Blackwater deputies moved around the entrance and she had spotted a couple near the parking lot; no doubt, Duke Walters would be inside. She decided to use her new communication toy and went through the names of all the deputies, asking each one to check in. Glad to find Deputy Rowley had Provine in his sight, and in fact had been speaking to him earlier, she relaxed a little. “This communication device is fantastic.” Turning off her mic, she grinned at Kane. “I’m surprised with all this noise I could still hear everyone reasonably well.”
“Yeah, Wolfe knows his gadgets.” Kane gave her an appreciative glance. “I know you don’t dance but will you have a go around the floor with me? It would be a good excuse to scope the room and see who is here.”
“Yeah but don’t make it too obvious, we are meant to be enjoying ourselves.”
“I think the people here would expect us to be watching out for their safety.” He sighed. “Come on, Jenna, taking the first step is the hardest.”
Suddenly concerned she would make a complete fool of herself, she glanced at him. “I’ll give it a try but don’t expect too much.”
“You’ll learn the moves in no time.” Kane’s wide back turned toward her for a second as he handed in their tickets, then he smiled at her. “You pick up new moves in hand-to-hand combat fast. Dancing will be a breeze.”
Hoping her self-taught skills would pass muster, she nodded. “Okay.”
As they walked inside the brightly lit hall, she eyed the twirling couples on the dance floor. She caught sight of Jake Rowley dressed to the nines leaning casually against the bar, his gaze moving around the room. Since Kane’s arrival more than six months previously, he had worked with Rowley to improve his skills, and in fact, Rowley’s input in investigations had been invaluable. He seemed to notice the small important things people overlooked. She trusted him to watch Lionel Provine, and if he made one move toward a girl, she would know. Her gaze drifted over the dancers and she noticed Lucky Briggs and Storm Crawley spinning around the floor with a couple of women, all smiles and laughter as if oblivious to the lingering threat. Although they had given her a scare, she discounted both men as possible killers from the evidence, and their alibis for Kate’s murder checked out.
She stood in the jostling crowd at the edge of the dance floor, nodding greetings at the townsfolk. In her periphery, she noticed Susie Hartwig making a beeline for Kane. “Told you the women would be falling all over you.” She laughed as she continued scanning the room.