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“You brought me flowers. How nice.” He moved closer, blocking her path. “Put down your clothes, you’re not going anywhere today.”
Terror made her legs like lead but her mind was working fine. She threw her clothes and the flowers at him and dashed into the dense forest, running hard. Tree branches whipped her cheeks and bracken tangled around her legs. She could find another path if she could just run another twenty feet. Lungs bursting, she pushed through the trees searching in every direction for the elusive path and safety. Heavy footsteps thundered behind her and moments later heavy breathing. Pulled to a stop by her hair, she screamed at the pain tearing through her scalp. “Let go of me!”
Blinding agony and white flashing lights shattered her vision. She had not seen the punch. Her legs gave way and she staggered, falling against him. The smell of him made her gag but she used the chance to knee him. Like a professional street fighter, he sidestepped and she caught him on the outer thigh. She went for his face but he spun her around and punched her hard in the belly. Retching, she doubled over, but the moment she tried to stand he hit her again. She looked through tears at his ginning face. “Oh God.”
“God won’t help you now.” He pulled her hard against his stinking body then licked her cheek. “I’m going to have so much fun with you.”
Ten
Desperate to identify the victim, Jenna leaned on her desk and stared at the photographs of the crime scene, trying to concentrate on the clues. Old Joey had corroborated Lucky’s story about the injury but the weather-beaten old man had informed her he was sure the two men had left the fairgrounds before eight, which gave them plenty of time to commit murder, wash, and return to their vehicle.
Kane’s anger toward her at the fairgrounds and his stony silence on the ride back to the sheriff’s office disturbed her concentration. Of course, he had a point and was only watching her back. She would try to smooth things over with him later after he returned from attending the autopsy. Good luck with that.
Dragging her mind back to the case, she stared at the girl’s face. Deputy Wolfe had taken the image after removing the makeup at the post-mortem. No permission was required for an autopsy in the case of an evident homicide, and Mr. Weems, the mortician and acting M.E., had agreed to perform the official examination immediately. The victim looked so young and innocent without the smeared red lipstick, yet it was after five and no one had reported her missing. After instructing Deputy Rowley to contact the local hospital and ask them to call her if anyone called looking for their daughter, she had hit a brick wall.
She turned to her computer, accessed the local high school’s yearbook photographs, and scrolled through the sophomore images. Not three pages into the file, she found the cheerleader squad, and there in the front row was her victim. She zoomed in on the image and compared the smiling face staring back at her to the blank staring eyes of the victim. With trembling fingers, she scrolled to the bottom of the photograph and read the list of names. Not trusting the accuracy of the printer or photographer to have the correct names corresponding to the people, she copied the identities into her notebook. She would start with the three girls on the front row, but Felicity Parker, wearing her hair tied up in a ponytail and a cheerleader uniform, was most likely her victim.
The last name rang a bell and she called out to Rowley. When the young deputy stepped inside her office, she lifted her gaze. “The librarian, isn’t her name Parker?”
“Might be, I haven’t been to the library since Google.” Rowley grinned. “I’ll ask Maggie, she reads all the time.” He strolled from the office and returned a few moments later with Maggie close behind.
“Why are you asking about Jill Parker? She isn’t in trouble, is she?” Maggie’s eyes rounded. “Oh Lord, the body isn’t her, is it?”
Jenna cleared her throat and gestured for Rowley to close the door. “No, I’m looking for Felicity Parker—is she related, do you know?”
“That would be her daughter.” Maggie’s brown gaze slid to the images spread out on Jenna’s desk and one hand went to her mouth. “Oh no, not Felicity.” She dropped into the chair and covered her face with both hands.
Selecting one image and turning over the pile to hide the contents, Jenna cleared her throat. “If you know this girl, I’ll need you to take a closer look. Is this Felicity?” She stood, poured a glass of water from the cooler, and handed it to her. “Maggie, can you look at the photograph?”
Maggie lifted her tear-streaked face and took a deep breath then glanced at the image. She turned her head away and sobbed. “It’s Felicity. I’ve known her since she was a baby.”
“I’m so sorry. Can you tell me where Mrs. Parker lives?”
“Number six, Elm Street. Down near Stanton Forest.” Maggie took a tissue from her sleeve and mopped her eyes.
“Is her husband at home?” Jenna wanted to hug her but had to ask questions. “She’ll need someone with her when we inform her. Does she have any family or friends nearby?”
“Yes, Sean gets home about five thirty and her sister lives in town. I know her number, I’ll write it down for you.” Maggie blew her nose then took Jenna’s pen and wrote down a name and number.
“Thank you.” Jenna sighed. “Go home, I can handle things here.”
“I’m sorry for your loss.” Rowley helped her to her feet. “I’ll give you a ride home. Don’t worry about anything. I’ll come back and help Sheriff Alton lock up.”
Jenna nodded. “Yes, thank you. Can you send in Kane and Wolfe before you leave?”
“Yes, ma’am.” Rowley slid one muscular arm around Maggie’s shoulder and led her away.
A waft of aftershave preceded Kane and Wolfe’s entrance. Both men had attended the autopsy then showered and changed before returning to the office. She glanced at them. “Do you have anything we can use?”
“I have a copy of the recording I made at the scene and will have an initial report for you first thing in the morning. The M.E.’s official report will take longer—I insisted on a full blood screen and DNA samples.”
“Was she raped?”
“Yeah.” Wolfe’s forehead crinkled into a deep frown and he cleared his throat. “I’m afraid so. No evidence of semen. Right now, we have zip to find this guy.”
She tried in vain to push the dead girl’s face from her mind and tucked a lock of hair behind one ear. “Maggie identified our victim as Felicity Parker and is really upset, poor woman. I would like you to go and break the news to her parents. They should be home by five thirty.” She handed Kane the address. “I would come with you but I’ll need to remain here until Rowley returns. He has taken Maggie home.” She turned her attention to Wolfe. “I know you wish to speak to me about a confidential matter but I understand if you need to get home to your girls.”
“I’ve arranged to interview the housekeepers this evening. I have three coming over from seven thirty. All can start straight away and one is prepared to live in, which will be the best option, especially since the house has a separate apartment over the garage.” Wolfe smiled but it did not reach his eyes. “I really appreciate the trouble you took finding these women for me and making sure they are suitable candidates.”
