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“Don’t worry. I’m used to driving in these conditions. My vehicle won’t slide down the mountain, I promise.” He flashed her a white smile. “Well, not on the way up anyway. The way down we might slip a bit.” He chuckled and tapped the GPS screen. “The cabin is just around the next bend.”
She gave him her best sarcastic look. “I’m so thrilled.”
They turned down a wider road that had not seen a grader for a long time. Someone had placed planks of wood over the deep ruts and the dry wood creaked and groaned as they edged forward. The cabin, a small roughly built log structure with a hangover, had a rusty water tank attached to one side. A pile of firewood, complete with ax sticking out of a cutting log, appeared to
have been there since settlement. Jenna gaped in amazement. “People actually live in that hovel?”
“Seems so.” Kane pulled the SUV to a halt. “People like to drop off the grid and live up here, so it’s not fancy.”
She pointed to the roof. “Good Lord, is that a satellite dish? All the perks with none of the comfort.”
“Yeah and now the communications tower is perched on top of the mountain, their phone and Wi-Fi would be better than most are getting in town.” He glanced at her. “Shall I take the lead, ma’am?”
She liked the way he deferred to her seniority on the job. It had taken him some time to adjust to not being in charge. Although he gave her the utmost respect, sometimes she could almost see him chomping at the bit to take the lead. She handed him a pair of gloves then pulled on her own. “Yes, go ahead.”
Standing back to allow Kane to lead the way, she waited for him to hammer on the door and announce their arrival. When no response came, she used the key Wolfe had found with the body and pushed open the door. “Sheriff’s department, is anyone there?”
Jenna heard a sound like the clanking of chains and ducked away from the door, pressing her back to the rough log wall. “What was that?”
“He might have left his dog chained up in there.” Kane did a turkey peek into a window, looked at her, and shook his head. “Is anyone there?”
A slight shuffling sound came from within then silence. The wind howled through the trees making the hair on the back of Jenna’s neck stand on end. She moved closer to Kane. “Be careful, a shotgun blast would go straight through these walls.”
“Roger that.” Kane dropped down low to the ground and eased his way to the door.
The trees creaked and the breeze sent leaves spiraling around their feet. Jenna dropped her voice to a whisper. “I’m sure someone is inside. I can hear floorboards creaking.”
“Unless you want me to open fire, I suggest you call out.” Kane edged closer to the front stoop. “You have three seconds and I’m coming in.”
“Don’t shoot.”
Jenna bit her lip at the sound of a terrified female voice. “It’s okay. We won’t hurt you. Come out with your hands up.”
“I can’t.” A sob followed. “I’m chained to the wall.”
“Holy mother of God.” Kane’s astonished glance met hers. “Let me take this, Jenna.”
Her first instinct was to protest but Kane could shoot the feelers off an ant. She nodded. “Okay.”
“Watch my back.” He moved through the door, Glock in hand. “Are you alone?”
“Yes.”
Jenna kept her back to the wall and Kane’s footsteps thundered through the small cabin as he checked every room.
“Clear.” His voice repeated the word as he moved through each room in the house.
Jenna stepped inside and gaped at the skinny teenage girl, face pale and with black circles under her eyes. The girl wore nothing but a long, tattered T-shirt bearing the name of a local beer manufacturer. In her periphery, she noticed Kane dragging a blanket out of a cupboard and heading her way. She took the blanket from him and walked toward the girl. “I’m Sheriff Jenna Alton from Black Rock Falls and this is Deputy Kane. You’re safe now. What’s your name?” She draped the blanket over the girl’s shoulders.
“Jane Stickler.” She glanced fearfully at the open door. “He’ll be back soon and he don’t like strangers. He won’t be happy you came inside uninvited.”
Adam Stickler’s missing sister. “He won’t be coming back today.” Jenna led the girl to a chair at a scrubbed wooden table. “What’s his name?”
Jane’s shoulders slumped and she shook her head. “I don’t know for sure, he made me call him ‘Daddy’ but he ain’t my father.” She swallowed hard. “I don’t even know if my family is still alive.”
Jenna smiled at her. “Yes, as far as I’m aware they’re fine. And your brother, Adam. He lives in Black Rock Falls. Deputy Kane spoke to him recently.”
“Can you take me home to see my mom? I live in Blackwater.” Jane blinked. “He took me to town to see a doctor and said we could visit my mom but he didn’t get the time.”
