Bring Me Flowers (Detectives Kane and Alton #2)(9)
“Yes, ma’am.”
Giving herself a mental shake to dispel the horrific images replaying in her mind, she attempted to adopt a natural expression and approached the witnesses. “May I ask your son a few questions? Deputy Walters will speak to Ian, if that’s okay?” She glanced at Mrs. Ridley and raised a brow. At her nod of consent, Jenna squatted in front of the young boy. “How old are you, Jimmy?”
“Ten last March.” The boy with tousled hair rubbed the end of his nose with shaking fingers and peered at her through lashes still wet with tears. “I’d like to go home now.”
I’ll need to arrange counseling for these kids. “Sure, your mom can take you home real soon but first I need to help the person you found. Can you tell me what time you found her?”
“’Bout ten, we ran away and I called my mom.” He dug the cellphone out of his pocket and held it up. “See, I called her at ten fifteen.”
Jenna smiled at him. “That is very helpful. So, you arrived about ten. Do you come here to fish often?”
“Yes, we came yesterday, ’bout ten thirty. We bring sandwiches and sit on the big rock and have lunch.” Jimmy shuddered. “I’m never going back there again.”
She straightened and pulled out her notepad to make a note of the time. “Did you see anyone this morning or any vehicles parked along the road?”
“Yeah, two of the cowboys from the rodeo came out of the forest and took off fast in a red SUV.” Jimmy sniffed, pulled a tissue from his pants pocket, and blew his nose.
“Where did you see them?” Jenna stood and waved a hand toward the perimeter of trees. “Here near this path or somewhere else?”
“We rode right past them. They came out of the trail that goes to the rock pool. They’d been swimming because they had wet hair and only wore their jeans and boots.” He rubbed his nose. “I know they’re from the rodeo, I’ve seen Lucky ride many times.”
Jenna lifted her attention to Jimmy’s mother, Mrs. Ridley. “Do you know Lucky’s last name?”
“That would be Lucky Briggs, and no doubt the other man would be his friend Storm Crawley. Everyone in Black Rock Falls knows Lucky, his family lives here.”
I’ve never heard of him. “I see.” Jenna wished she had time to attend a rodeo. Usually the chaos surrounding the contestants clashing with locals kept her busy. “Where is the rock pool located?”
“About fifty yards away in that direction.” Mrs. Ridley pointed in the direction of town and gave her a strange look as if she was remiss in not knowing. “There is a sign. We don’t let the children go there to fish. It’s not safe. It’s said to be a bottomless pool.”
“Okay, that’s all I need for now.” Jenna took a card out of her pocket and smiled at Jimmy. “If you remember anything at all, even if you think it’s silly, ask your mom to call me. I don’t want you to talk about this to anyone. I need to make sure her family knows what has happened before the story gets out.” She gave Mrs. Ridley a meaningful look and handed her the card. “This wasn’t a bear attack, and I suggest you keep the boys close to home for a while. I can arrange counseling for them, if you like?”
“No need, we have someone we can speak to, and don’t worry, we won’t say a word, not while a maniac is on the loose. He might take it personal like if he finds out my son is a witness.” Mrs. Ridley took the card and patted Jimmy on the back. “You’ll ride home with me. Get your bike and I’ll put it in the trunk.”
Jenna nodded. “Thank you for your help. I’ll be in touch if I need any further information.”
Glad to be in the sunshine and away from the murder scene, Jenna shook her head, trying to dispel the images of horror and the disbelief that anyone was capable of committing such an atrocity against a young woman. It did not take a profiler like Kane to see this murder was different from the cases she had worked in the past, but thank God she had his expertise to figure out the mind of a psychopath. The person or persons who had mutilated the young woman enjoyed the shock value of displaying their victims, which meant they would be close by, absorbing the fear they caused like a sponge. Goosebumps prickled over her skin as if a freezing breeze had brushed her bare flesh, and she glanced around. Are you watching me, asshole?
Five
The roar of an engine caught Jenna’s attention. She sighed with relief at the sight of Kane’s black SUV heading toward her at speed. When Walters moved to her side, she turned to him. “What do you know about Lucky Briggs and Storm Crawley? Right now, they are our prime suspects.”
“They are both regular hell-raisers during the rodeo season but seem to keep out of our way most of the time.” Walters scratched his cheek and stared at his notes. “I spoke to the kids while you were away. Seems like Jimmy led the way into the clearing, and when he saw the body he pushed Ian back along the track, so Ian didn’t see the body at all. He said he just ran for his life. I think both of them are so distraught they can’t recall many details.”
“I’m not surprised.” Jenna tapped her bottom lip with the end of her pen. “I don’t remember any complaints against anyone by the name of Lucky or Storm. I think I would remember.” She caught Walters’ eye-roll and wondered how many good old boys got off with a warning. “How come nobody put in a complaint if these men are as bad as you say?”