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“Ha.” Jenna shook her head. “He pushes her buttons too but she worked him out way before I did. I doubt it will happen again but if it does, I’m either going to ignore his sexist remarks or punch him on the nose.” She chuckled. “I’m all for equality, and if a guy made a sexist remark to you, you’d do the same, right?”
Not sure if she was joking, Kane shrugged. “Maybe he thinks he’s being funny?”
“Oh no, he knows exactly how to get under my skin.” Jenna stared out the window. “It just took me a while to understand his angle. I thought at first it was because he’d been off the grid for a couple of years, but I see right through him now. He doesn’t know how to act around women and how old is he? Thirty or something and he still acts like a kid.”
Kane had his own ideas about Carter, if she’d listen. “More like he’s trying to cover up any lapses into PTSD episodes by trying to be funny. He was leading a team where kids were killed and it knocked him sideways for a time.” He scratched his cheek, thinking. “He is arrogant, but I think he means well.” He shot her a look. “As a Seal, he was a team player, and it won’t take him too long to fall back into the way of things. It’s a way of life for them and he’s been alone far too long.”
“Maybe.” Jenna snorted. “You don’t need to make excuses for him, Dave.”
“Then what can I do to help?” Kane headed down the main street of Louan. “I figure you’d like to keep some distance between you and Carter for the next couple of hours?”
“Yeah, I sure would. Get him out of my hair for a while and go and hunt down the people who came out to look at the fire. See if they have any footage, and if they noticed anyone else hanging around that’s not on the sheriff’s list.” She chewed on her bottom lip. “I’ll take Jo and we’ll hunt down the victims’ friends and family. Although, I figure everyone in town knows about the explosion by now.” She checked her tablet. “I want to find out who had it in for the Wood family.”
Kane glanced at her. “So where are you going first? The sheriff’s department?”
“Yeah, I want to know why there’s no one out at the scene.” Jenna lifted her chin. “He’ll be surprised to see me. I’m sure he won’t be too happy the FBI chose us as consultants. You don’t have to wait. I’ll update the sheriff and we’ll meet up at the diner at one.” She glanced behind them. “Carter and Jo are right behind us, pull up here and I’ll bring them up to speed.”
“Sure.” Kane pulled into a space outside the Louan Sheriff’s Department and Jenna slid from the seat. “Catch you later.”
He took out his phone to access the files and pulled up the list of people who’d watched the fire. A tap came on his window and he looked up to see Carter and Zorro. He buzzed down the window. “It looks like we’re working together today.”
“Yeah, that bit I know.” Carter removed his toothpick and tossed it into a trash can. “What’s on our list?” He settled Zorro beside Duke and climbed into the passenger seat.
Kane explained and entered the first of the witnesses’ addresses into the GPS. “Going on the theory that if this is a firebug, it’s likely this isn’t his first dance, I figure we dig a little deeper into the witnesses before we speak to them. How fast is Bobby Kalo at hunting down jackets?”
“Fast.” Carter smiled. “I’ll send him the file now.” He pulled out his phone and then chuckled. “Do you know your truck smells like honeysuckle?” He grinned. “Jenna leaves a little ray of sunshine wherever she goes, huh?”
Kane backed out onto Main and headed out of town. He slowed as a group of townsfolk spilled onto the blacktop grappling a banner for an upcoming rodeo that was flapping in a sudden gust of wind, and turned to Carter. “Jenna had to fight for her position as sheriff. She’s a respected member of the community and doesn’t need you smart-mouthing her every time we meet.”
“I was just joshing with her.” Carter tipped up his Stetson and whistled through his teeth. “Okay, who do we have first?” He peered at his phone, just as it buzzed with a message. “It’s Kalo. He’s updated the files already, man that guy is fast. Three of the witnesses to the fire have priors. Two had fines for lighting fires and one of the guys, John Cleaves, who called it in was also fined for stealing C-4 from his workplace. The others are clean but an Audrey Johnstone, has already posted the explosion on social media. She caught the footage on her dashcam driving by, same with John Cleaves, both have dashcam video.”
Kane pulled up to the curb. “Does Kalo have a link?”
“Yeah, he sent the files to you already.” Carter peered at his phone. “I need to see this on a bigger screen.”
“Sure.” Kane went to the mobile digital terminal “I’ll feed it through the MDT.”
They stared as the screen lit up with a huge red mushroom. Against the dark sky it blossomed red, then seconds later another explosion shook the camera and the red cloud shot up again falling in a canopy of destruction. Flames leapt into the air in a rush of bright orange and blue, illuminating the ranch house and all around in a yellow glow. Smoke billowed like an afterthought and as the flames cut electricity wires, sparks danced through the black mass like lightning through storm clouds. Kane reversed and replayed the explosion over and over, going from one recording and then the other. “Two blasts as we thought, seconds apart and then the whoosh as the gas caught fire.”
“Yeah, you got it.” Carter leaned into the screen. “He aimed the main force away from the family as I figured but why if he wanted them dead?”
With his focus on the two vehicles in the video, Kane thought for a beat. “I guess he wanted them to suffer. Revenge maybe.” He pointed to the screen. “I believe that’s the blue Ford I pulled over for speeding and the license plate of the truck is caught in the headlights of the driver with the dashcam. He’s some ways off but Wolfe has a way of enhancing the film.”
“Nah, he’s busy doing forensics and we have Kalo twiddling his thumbs.” Carter called Bobby Kalo. “Great work on the background checks and video. Can you enhance the other vehicles? We need a positive on the license plate of the truck and who was driving the Ford sedan leaving the scene.” He smiled at Kane and nodded. “As soon as you’re able, we’ll be speaking to witnesses so message me with the details. Thanks man.” He disconnected.
Kane pulled back onto Main and followed the directions on the GPS and pulled into the curb ten yards from a neat redbrick with a garden overflowing with flowers. “Okay this is the home of John Cleaves, forty-eight, shift worker with a mine supply plant. He’s the guy with the first dashcam video. He called in the explosion. Let’s hope he’s home.” He climbed out the truck and opened the door for the dogs to stretch their legs.
When Carter joined him, and they walked toward the house, Kane looked at him. “Will Zorro pick up if this guy has been using C-4 lately?”
“That would depend on how fastidious the man is about his personal hygiene.” Carter shrugged. “I’ll give him the command and we’ll see.” He turned to Kane. “If we have any indication from Zorro, we should obtain a search warrant for the girl as well. Do you have the girl’s garment you took from the laundry basket at the fire scene?”
“Sure have.” Kane tapped his pocket. “I took out everything in the basket and bagged it. I don’t think it has been damaged by the smell of the fire. Duke may still be able to track the scent.” He smiled at Carter. “How fast can you obtain a search warrant?” He opened the white iron gate and their boots crunched on the gravel walkway winding its way between fragrant flower gardens to the house.
“A man with priors in explosives and a positive reaction from Zorro? I’d say as long as it takes to fill out the form.” Carter tossed a toothpick into his mouth.
Kane frowned. “Are you trying to give up smoking?”
“Me, nah.” Carter chuckled. “Gum. I was eating so much I was getting an ulcer.” He banged on the front door of the house.
