“Okay, I’ll make inquiries with Bowman. He’s the rancher.” Kane removed his coveralls and then peeled off the gloves. “If she worked here, someone must have noticed her missing.”
“They wouldn’t have heard her screaming.” A look of despair crossed Jenna’s face. “Not with gaffer tape wrapped around her mouth.” She shook her head slowly. “What kind of monster does that to a woman?”
“I’d say, one close by.” Carter sat on the edge of his chopper changing his boots. “From what I’m seeing, people are coming and going all the time. This is likely someone passing through. The MO is different to Rhett’s parents’ murders. They’re likely not connected.”
“Really?” Jenna stared at him, hands on hips. “Do you know how many serial killers change their MO? Well, I do. Heaps of them. They’re smart and can spin on a dime if necessary. If they were predictable, we’d catch them before they murdered again.”
“I’m aware.” Carter’s eyelashes dropped over his eyes, hiding his expression. He shook his head as he pulled off his gloves, balled them up, and tossed them into a bag Wolfe had offered for the garbage. He lifted his gaze to her and sorrow etched his face. “I’m just sayin’ that no one has reported finding a badly beaten corpse lately and no one has been reported missing from around these parts. This looks to me like a new type of monster, and hopefully one just passing through.”
“Go easy on him, Jenna.” Emily frowned. “We’re all unsettled by finding that poor woman.”
“I’m so sorry, Ty.” Jenna pressed her fingertips to her temples and blew out a long breath. “I didn’t mean to jump down your throat. It’s just seeing someone beaten to death makes me angry. I’ve seen men do this to women they’re supposed to love. Everyone tells them to leave but most have nowhere to go. It’s a vicious circle that often ends up with something like this happening. Trust me, I know.” A tear ran down Jenna’s cheek. “This shouldn’t be happening in my county.”
“Did something bad happen to you, one time?” Carter moved closer. “Give me his name and I’ll go with Dave and pay him a visit.”
“No need.” Kane put a protective arm around her. “He’s long dead but things like this bring back bad memories.” He pulled her close. “You got this, Jenna. We’ll take him down. You’re not alone now.”
Concerned, Wolfe exchanged a meaningful glance with Kane. He’d been aware Jenna had been placed in witness protection eight years ago but didn’t know why. She’d been the champion of abused people since becoming sheriff and set up a charity to build the Her Broken Wings Foundation, an ever-expanding home to care for and support anyone facing abuse. Now everything became clear. Her fierce independence and reluctance to accept Kane’s protection in the field, something he’d been trained to do, had made life difficult for both of them early on but everything made sense now. He rested a hand on Jenna’s arm. “I’ll need to collect soil samples and clean the body. I’ll do the autopsy in the morning at ten. I can call you with the results.”
“No way.” Jenna straightened and stepped away from Kane. “I need to be there.” She pointed to the body bag and lifted her chin. “She needs us to be there.”
Nodding, Wolfe met her tragic gaze. “Okay. We’ll finish up here. You need to get back to your boys. They’ll be wondering what happened to you.”
He waited for Jenna and Kane to climb into Carter’s chopper and turned to Emily. “Did you know about this?”
“Nope.” Emily held her hat as the chopper lifted into the air and headed back to the ranch. “She’s the strongest woman I’ve known, apart from Mom. Is she going to be okay?”
Nodding, Wolfe gathered evidence bags and handed them to her. “Yeah, Jenna’s seen things hard to forget.” He shook his head. “She’s been in tough situations, and some cases come back to haunt her. This is one of the reasons I’m so tough on all of you when it comes to men. You never want to be in a situation like that poor woman.” He indicated to the grave.
“I know, Dad.” Emily walked beside him back to the mound of dirt. “Now let’s concentrate on how to help Jenna catch this animal.”
Ten
Needing to speak to Kane alone, Jenna hung back as they walked toward the ranch house. Once Carter had headed inside, she lingered in the front yard and turned to Kane. “I feel like an idiot. I almost broke down seeing that poor battered woman. It makes me look weak. Who could do that to another human being?”
“It doesn’t make you look weak. It makes you look human.” Kane rubbed the back of his neck, tipping his Stetson over his eyes. “All of us have seen things we can’t stomach. Most of the aftermath of the crimes we’ve been involved in are horror stories, but it’s not like you to go off at anyone like that. I figured that Ty needed an explanation. Everyone here is your closest friend.”
Jenna chewed on her bottom lip and turned to him. “I had a flashback. I haven’t had one for years. Most of them had faded away before I became sheriff. I believed when I accepted the assignment I was tough and I could handle it, but at the time I was scared. It didn’t matter that I was a DEA agent and could call in backup at any time. I was living it. I know what these women go through.” Sighing, she shook her head. “I don’t want anyone feeling sorry for me. That’s not who I am, Dave. Avril Parker doesn’t exist anymore, and she has no right coming back into my life.” She rested a hand on his arm, feeling the tension in his muscles. “Maggie told me that once I had my own kids I would see things differently and I do. I feel more vulnerable. Before I didn’t think it would matter so much if I died, but once I met you and we had the boys, everything changed.”
“I figure that’s normal.” Kane smiled at her. “I believe we consider our mortality more seriously once we have kids.”
“Hey.” Rhett opened the front door and waved at them. “Lunch is ready. Why don’t you wash up and head into the kitchen?”
Forcing her lips into a smile, Jenna waved back. “Coming.” She turned to Kane. “Do you figure we can convince Julie to watch the boys for a little bit longer while we talk to Bowman again? I need to get the information on the employees’ comings and goings over the last few months. Maybe someone who worked here didn’t make it home.”
When she walked into the kitchen Jenna stared at Jackson sitting at the table. “You have a highchair?” She looked at Rhett and grinned. “Did the boys behave themselves while we were gone?”
“I always behave myself, Mommy.” Tauri looked at her and frowned. “Jackson has been good too. We’ve been playing trains. You should see the train set that Rhett set up in the family room. It’s huge.”
“I found it in the attic—or should I say I found the boxes of unopened tracks and engines.” Rhett grinned. “I imagine my parents were saving it for me for Christmas. We’ve been spending most of the morning setting it up. The boys loved it.”
“That’s wonderful.” Kane ruffled Tauri’s hair and looked at Rhett. “Do you figure you could watch the boys for another hour or so while we interview some of the hands?”
“I’d love to.” Rhett smiled. “They’re so much fun. I feel like a kid again.”
“Me too.” Julie grinned. “I’ve never played trains before.”
“I like trains too.” Jackson waved a slice of bread and honey. “This is sticky.”
