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Kane handed her a bottle of water from the back of his truck. “We’re a team. Jo, Carter, and I are your eyes. You don’t need to be everywhere at once. You’ll burn out at this rate.”
He’d wanted to remind her how an FBI team worked together, all collaborating but using their expertise, but now wasn’t the time. His knowledge of IEDs had come from experience in the field but he’d seen enough to understand where Carter was coming from. “If anyone has footage of the fire, it will give us a better idea of what happened. The bomber used a drone and that makes me wonder if it’s the same man. It’s a different MO.”
“Not necessarily.” Carter frowned. “Drones have been around for a long time now and it doesn’t take too much knowledge to make them shoot missiles. The domestic ones have extended range now but from what I’m seeing in the wreckage, he’s using military style.”
Kane glanced up as Wolfe came out of the smoke. The visibility was rapidly improving and behind him, the sheriff’s department had set up a command center with halogen lights to replace the dying glow of the fire. “Any other casualties?”
“Minor cuts and bruises from flying glass.” Wolfe moved to his side. “Em is assisting the local doctor. No one needs the paramedics.” He looked at Jenna. “There’s no sign of the girl. The trail went cold after they found her backpack. The search and rescue will start over first light. Jo has collected the phone footage of the fire from the onlookers and has a list of everyone on scene.”
“Did you get inside the house yet?” Jenna stared into the direction of the smoldering embers.
“No, it will take hours before we’ll be able to go inside. The fire chief and one of his men went in to look around before all the evidence is consumed. They have protective clothing and we don’t.” Wolfe’s expression was grim. “I used Carter’s binoculars, and from what I could see the tabletop protected the lower section of one of the victims. I asked the firefighter with Thompson to take a few images for me and then lift the tabletop. The remains of one of the victims, the lower legs, are intact and there is evidence of zip-ties around the ankles.” He pulled out his phone and scrolled through images before handing it to Jenna. “I’ve ordered the local deputies to secure the area until we’re able to remove the bodies. The fire chief reckons it will be cool by noon.”
“Oh, sweet Jesus.” Jenna lifted a sorrow filled gaze to Wolfe. “This seals the deal. It has to be the same man.” She shook her head. “Why is he here? Blackwater isn’t part of his comfort zone.”
“Like you said, it forms a triangle.” Jo seemed to appear from nowhere. “He’s probably living in Black Rock Falls. It’s central to the areas he’s hit so far.”
Kane rubbed his chin considering her theory. “Yeah but nothing could be farther apart than a social worker and a sheriff. What’s his motive?”
“A sheriff is involved with the family court to some degree.” Jo frowned. “He’s the first responder to a call for help or to handle a complaint against anyone. He’d call in social services, so yeah, he’d be involved.” She stared at the gutted building. “Which makes his motive close to the DC bombings, apart from the people killed in the car bomb. What do a sniper and a secretary have in relation to members of the family court?”
The hairs on the back of Kane’s neck stood to attention. He had the answer and would have to bite his tongue. He recalled his wife, Annie, complaining about a young man insisting on seeing the magistrate about a complaint. It had gone on for a few days before Annie had called security. He recalled her frightened voice on the phone. She’d been scared and he’d hurried to meet her to take her home. That was the day of the bombing. He leaned again
st the Beast suddenly dizzy. Annie had been targeted because she’d refused to allow the bomber to speak to the magistrate. She’d died for nothing and the knowledge ripped a chasm in his heart. Now he knew the truth, nothing would stop him taking down this monster.
“There is a link but it’s top secret. I had to pull a few favors to get this information and it’s hearsay at best, so, you didn’t hear it from me.” Carter moved closer. “The secretary, whose name is suppressed, was the magistrate’s secretary. Apparently, the day of the bombing, she had someone removed from the premises. A man had requested an appointment to speak to the magistrate about abusive foster homes. The magistrate instructed his secretary to send the man to the local police to put in a complaint and it would be dealt with through the normal channels.” He shrugged. “He called himself ‘John Doe’ so we found no trace of him.”
Kane could feel Jenna’s eyes boring into him. She could sense his anger and he valued her company and support. She kept him sane and focused. Right now, if he discussed the bombing a moment longer, he’d explode. He needed an excuse and looked straight at Wolfe. He cleared the lump in his throat. “My head is throbbing. Do I have concussion?”
“Come with me.” Wolfe led him to his van. “Take some deep breaths, you know the drill. I know all this is bringing back painful memories and wanting to get revenge is normal but acting on it is not. You know that, right?”
Kane said nothing.
“You owe it to Annie to keep it together.” Wolfe’s expression was grim. “She wouldn’t want you in jail, she’d want you to have a long and happy life. Find the bomber and let the courts deal with him. Find the evidence and make the case. That’s what she’d want you to do.”
Kane tried to ignore the pain crushing his heart at the mention of her name and nodded, forcing words from his dry throat. “She understood my work and I made her promise to go on with her life if I died, she made me promise the same. At the time, I thought it would be me.”
“When her killer is behind bars, you’ll have to keep your promise.” Wolfe laid a hand on his shoulder. “Start living again, Dave, before it’s too late.”
After Wolfe examined his eyes and gave him the all clear, he searched his pockets for the pills he carried in an emergency and took a couple. They worked fast restoring his equilibrium and the headaches usually faded away. He noticed Wolfe looking at him. “Did you find anything else?”
“Not yet.” Wolfe ran a hand down his face and removed his smoke covered mask. “The local deputies are with Webber. They’re photographing the explosion scene and marking evidence. The entire area will need to be cordoned off so we can come back in the morning.” His shoulders sagged. “I’ll have six people to assist me. I’ll work the scene as soon as Carter has cleared around the house for explosives.” He turned to Jenna. “There’s nothing else you can do here.”
“Okay.” Jenna looked at Carter. “You go and clear the area around the ranch house if it’s safe. I know it’s late but I’d really like to stop by and see if our suspects have been tucked up in bed tonight.”
Forty-Three
Anger had replaced the glow of satisfaction at the direct hit on the deputy’s cruiser. He punched the door of his truck. How had anyone survived the explosion? He’d gaped in astonishment when the drone’s camera had picked up the two FBI agents through the smoke, one aiming a weapon at his drone. It was as if the gun was pointed directly at him and he’d used every evasive maneuver in the book to avoid being shot down but the man aiming the weapon was good. The first shot had the drone spinning out of control and the second obliterated his camera. Detonating the explosive and destroying his prized possession was his only way to conceal his identity. The explosion had been spectacular, one of his best, and lit up the sky like a firework and spread his drone all over the ground in a thousand pieces. Nothing would remain to trace the drone back to him and if necessary, he could build another.
Seeing the orange flames jump high in the sky had energized him. The danger he’d faced to complete another part of his plan had been worth the risk. Sheriff Buzz Stuart was already a distant memory, as was Pamela. He chuckled. To think, the sheriff’s granddaughter had been twenty yards away from his house all the time he’d been inside. The drive to Black Rock Falls to return the old sedan had been necessary, but the fire had called him back to Blackwater. Following the firetrucks into town behind the usual group of sightseers had been exhilarating. The crackle and roar of the fire, the clouds of thick smoke and the smell had thrilled him.
He leaned back in his seat to watch the firefighters soak the last dying embers. The team of firefighters from Black Rock Falls had already headed for home. He glanced toward the group of FBI agents, all huddled around. Shaken but uninjured unfortunately. It would seem even a near death experience wouldn’t slow them down.
He took one last look at the smoldering blackened shell of the sheriff’s house, catching the image and setting it deep in his mind. He often recalled his memories of destruction, and could call on them at any time, day or night. He wouldn’t forget the satisfaction of telling the sheriff and his wife he’d killed their granddaughter. Sending the explosives inside the house and then watching the couple burn had triggered an emotion in him, he’d thought long gone. He’d found pleasure in destroying the happy families on his list and making them suffer mental and physical pain. It had been a long time since he’d experienced any emotion other than anger but now, he understood how to turn his anger into an actual feeling. He craved more, needed more and deep down inside he’d come to realize his craving would never be satisfied.
He opened his social media page and thought for a time about what to say. He smiled into the darkness.
I enjoyed an eventful night with old acquaintances. There’s nothing better than sitting around a kitchen table and chatting about family.
