AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I do recall filing the reports.” His dark eyes narrowed. “I didn’t handle the investigations. If I recall, I took my vacation around that time. I gather the people showed up as nothing was mentioned to me when I returned.”
“Maybe, but there’s nothing reflecting the outcome in the files. If they turned up safe and well, someone should have closed the cases.” Kane leaned one hip on his desk. “Who else worked here at the time, maybe I can follow up with them?”
“No one alive, I’m afraid.” Walters let out a long sigh. “Sheriff Mitcham passed three months before Sheriff Alton took over and Deputy Andy Bristow was killed in a boating accident on his vacation summer before last.”
How convenient. The link between the current cases was too significant to ignore. He shook his head. “Okay, thanks. Another thing—do you recall a man by the name of Stan Clough? He was involved in an animal cruelty case.”
“Sure do.” The old man shook his head slowly. “Sick bastard. Come to think about it, I saw him in town the other day.” He scratched his graying hair. “Let me see. The day before you arrived, he was in Aunt Betty’s Café. I guess he comes into town to pick up supplies for his stock.”
“He is allowed to keep animals after serving time for animal cruelty?”
“Seems so. I heard he was looking to buy a piggery.” Walters peered at him over the top of his glasses. “He put his ranch on the market to pay for his lawyer but he only spent six months in jail. Got time off for good behavior. The sheriff should know where he is living, they send a notice when prisoners are released.”
“She doesn’t have a current address. Can you find out where he is living? I need to pay him a visit.”
“Sure thing.” Walters made notes then lifted his gray head to look at him. “I’m collating the bank and phone information on the Helms case and will have it for you this afternoon.”
Kane straightened. “Great.” He strolled back to his desk and sat down.
He would need to make enquiries about the previous missing persons. If the people had turned up, fine, but if not, he might have a bigger problem on his hands. He reached for the phone. A few quick calls would put his mind at rest but before he dialed the first number, he glanced at Alton’s office door and disconnected. He strolled into Alton’s office. “Is it okay if I check out the old missing persons’ files?”
“Delegate.” Jenna pushed a lock of black hair behind one ear and frowned at him. “I want you to concentrate on identifying the body in the barrel then what Stan Clough has been doing since he left prison.”
“Yes, ma’am.” He strolled back to his alcove.
Okay, I’ll delegate. He waved Daniels over to his desk. “There are open missing persons’ files, from three years ago. Make a few calls and find out if the cases are current. It could be an oversight but I need to know. If they are closed, sign off on them, okay?” He jotted down the file numbers. “If they are still listed as missing, let me and Sheriff Alton know.”
“Sure thing. I’ll get onto it as soon as Maggie gets back. I’m on front desk duty at the moment.” Daniels took the note and strolled to the front desk.
Kane glanced up to see Rowley hovering by his booth. “Yeah?”
“We were scheduled to take lunch over one hour ago. I’m waiting for Sarah Woodward to return my call, so I can slip out now. You coming?”
Kane turned off his computer and stood. “Sure. I’m hitting brick walls with the priest as well.” He motioned with his chin toward an elderly woman at the reception desk holding a dog dressed in a tartan coat. “I guess we should wait and deal with her complaint? She looks like she’s giving Daniels a hard time.”
“Walters usually handles her problems. Mrs. Gilly doesn’t like speaking to young whippersnappers.” Rowley chuckled. “I’m sure Pete needs the experience.”
* * *
After lunch, Kane picked up the telephone and tried to reach Father Maguire again without success. He left his name and contact number with a brief message to contact him urgently, then spent the next hour doing background checks and creating files on Jenna’s list of suspects. He sent copies to himself and Alton. As he had nothing else to occupy his time in the evenings, he could work on them at home. The heat in the office made him drowsy and he stretched out his legs and yawned. He waited for the files to upload and noticed Rowley leaning back in his chair, staring at his phone. “Did you hear back from Miss Woodward?”
“Nope, the call went straight to voicemail.” Rowley stood and ambled over to his booth. “I rang the motel where she is staying and asked them to put me through to her room. They refused and said she has a ‘Do Not Disturb’ sign on her door. They said her vehicle drove out this morning and the sign went up sometime after, so they assume she left the car somewhere and returned on foot.” He rubbed his chin. “Do you think I should drop by and see if she’s okay?”
A prickle of warning raced up Kane’s spine. “Her car broke down on Saturday night and she did mention having her vehicle serviced today. Maybe someone from the garage picked it up.” He pushed to his feet. “Since people seem to have a habit of going
missing of late, we’d better haul ass over there and check. I’m worried about her.”
Thirty
Kane headed for the door, snatching his coat from the peg on the way out. “We’ll go in your cruiser.” He led the way out the door and down the street to Rowley’s police vehicle. The comfortable warm glow he enjoyed from the office vanished with the first blast of arctic wind. He pulled on his woolen cap and tried to stop his teeth chattering. He flicked Rowley a glance. “Do you know the owner of the motel?”
“Yeah, it’s been owned by the Ricker family for as long as I remember.” Rowley slid into the driver’s seat then gave him a worried look. “Oh, sorry, sir. Do you mind if I drive?”
“No, it will be good to ride shotgun for a change.” Kane climbed into the car and leaned back in the seat. “Talking of weapons… I noticed Sheriff Alton wasn’t carrying a rifle in her vehicle at the time of the incident. You carry a backup weapon, I assume, and vests?”
“No weapons in the cruisers, no.” Rowley shot him a glance. “They’re locked up in the sheriff’s office. The metal cupboard at the back of the room.”
I’m going to have to take this up with Jenna tonight.
