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“Were there any bystanders?” Carter scanned the area.
“A few and we moved them on.” The sheriff’s cheeks pinked. “I did think to take down their names but I didn’t record the vehicles that passed by.”
Jo rolled her eyes at Carter and climbed into the cruiser. “Have you gotten experience in arson before, or bombings at all, Sheriff?”
“Can’t say that I have.” The sheriff drove over the uneven ground and through the trees toward a still smoking ranch house. “We’ve had fires, car wrecks, and bar fights mostly. All the action happens in Black Rock Falls but that county is huge. Our population is ten thousand give or take, theirs is over a hundred thousand, maybe more with them off the grid in Stanton Forest. I guess that’s why the ME called in their fire chief.”
“So, the answer is ‘no’?” Carter stared at the man. “If we’re taking the lead in this case, we’ll need accommodation in town and transport. Will our chopper be secure?”
“It can’t be seen from the road, and I figure with FBI written all over it, most people would be too scared to go near it.” Crenshaw shrugged. “I’m not sure about your other needs, best you go into Black Rock Falls and bunk down there. They have an airport to stow your chopper and car rentals.”
“What do you say, Jo?” Carter looked over his shoulder at her.
Jo met his gaze. “I guess we speak to Shane and see what he needs from us first.” As they neared the building and parked between a fire department vehicle and the ME’s white van, Jo slid out of the seat and went to the trunk. She grabbed a crime scene kit and opened Carter’s duffle. “Here.” She handed him his explosives gear and mask. “I don’t want to sound like your mother but be careful.”
“I’m always careful, Jo, but thanks for caring.” Carter pulled on his protective gear and grinned at her. “Just keep everyone back. Flying body parts are deadly.”
“I sure will.” Jo made her way to Wolfe who was in deep conversation with a firefighter in his late forties. The men turned as she walked toward them with Carter close behind. “Nice to see you again, Shane.”
“Hey, Jo, Carter. Thanks for coming by so fast.” Wolfe indicated to the firefighter. “This is Chief Matt Thompson, the fire chief out of Black Rock Falls. Once you’ve cleared the area, he’ll do a structural safety assessment before we go inside. Matt, this is Agent Jo Wells, Agent Ty Carter, and Zorro.”
They shook hands and exchanged pleasantries. Jo looked past them to the two deputies, who both looked green, and turned to Carter. “Okay. What do you need, Carter?”
“Nothing unless Zorro finds an explosive device.” Carter unclipped Zorro’s harness and the dog quivered in anticipation. His big brown eyes fixed on Carter. “He’ll tell me if he finds anything and then, I’ll defuse it and we’ll do another sweep to clear the area.” He gave the dog a command by flicking his fingers.
The Doberman ran toward the smoldering house, sneezed once, and then slowed to a cautious hesitant walk, nose to the ground. Jo watched in awe as the dog moved meticulously from one area to the other. When he sat down and barked once, she noticed Carter tense beside her and then walk to Zorro. He pulled on gloves and bent down and examined a small piece of debris.
Jo’s heart pounded. “What is it?”
“Part of a secondary device. Stay back until I give the all-clear.” Carter repeated the signal to the dog and bagged the evidence. “He’s trained to recognize many types of explosives, which I’m told is unusual for a Doberman but he was top of his class and so was I. We’re a perfect match.” His eyes flashed in amusement and he headed toward his dog.
“Maybe you can teach him to cook and clean as well?” Jo ignored his snigger and turned her attention back to Zorro. She noticed the smile on Matt Thompson’s face and put distance between them. One arrogant man per day was enough to cope with, two, no way.
Taking on a case meant she had to make sure everything was considered, even the victim’s animals. She made her way to a corral. No livestock roamed anywhere and she found no signs of any close by.
“How are things working out?” Wolfe moved to her side.
Jo looked at him and shrugged. “Fine, I guess but we’ve only had one case of cattle rustling and another of a possible methamphetamine lab in six months, so we spend a great deal of time, working out and using the rifle range. I haven’t employed a receptionist yet as the phone isn’t exactly ringing off the hook.” She glanced at him. “The FBI should have given us a field office closer to Black Rock Falls. The cattle rustling, we handed over to the rangers and after investigating, found the meth lab was making hand sanitizer.”
“I meant with Ty.” Wolfe had dropped his voice. “All good?”
Jo pushed a hand through her hair and flicked her gaze back to Carter. He was
following close behind Zorro and then when the dog barked, he bent and fiddled with something on the ground. “He’s arrogant, annoying, and he drives me insane but I figure that’s a wall he’s built around himself to hide behind. I know he’s damaged goods but I can handle him.”
“Just don’t regard him as a case.” Wolfe narrowed his gray eyes and looked at her. “He’s an asset and needs to learn how to get close to people again.”
Jo nodded. “This I know.” She gave him a bright smile. “Tell me about the girls.”
“Emily is at the office preparing for the victims’ bodies to arrive. She passed all her exams and is top of her class. She’ll be through her degree in no time flat. My other intern, Colt Webber, came a close second and he is in the van organizing body bags and the gurney.” A softness came over Wolfe’s face. “Julie is doing well, she’s pursuing a career in pediatrics and she loves art, so has a diversion. My little Anna is the light of our lives, smart, funny… She is horse mad and spends so much time with Dave and Jenna riding, I’m seriously thinking of buying a ranch house with stables. All the girls love horses but then I wouldn’t be close to town where I’m needed most.”
“There’s more to life than work.” Jo leaned back on the corral fence, one boot resting on the bottom rail. “There must be places close to town with grazing land?” She had an idea. “Maybe stable Anna’s pony and hire rides for the others, if or when they want to ride.”
“That’s an idea.” Wolfe smiled at her. “Although when I’m busy, having Jenna to babysit for me is a Godsend. My girls have become very attached to their Aunty Jenna.”
“All clear.” Carter gave them a wave.
Jo turned to Wolfe. “Okay, it’s your crime scene, how do you want to play it?”
