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With reluctance, he closed the page, scanned the area, and inhaled the exotic flavor of wet blackened wood. The lights would be extinguished soon once the medical examiner removed the bodies, if anything remained of the sheriff and his wife. His gaze followed the dog and FBI handler as they moved around the perimeter of the house. He hadn’t set any devices in the yard. He’d noticed dogs running loose in the area and didn’t want them tripping an IED and spoiling everything. His attention drifted to the other agents, standing close together in animated conversation. They would be leaving soon and he didn’t plan on being on the highway when they headed home. He’d had his fun and now it was time for him to vanish in the wind with the smoke.
Forty-Four
It was getting close to daylight by the time they arrived at the Crazy Iron Forge in Louan to speak to Roger Suffolk. The adrenalin rush from the explosion had gone leaving Jenna exhausted, but she had to act now before a suspect slipped through their fingers. When Kane killed the Beast’s headlights, they rolled along the driveway and the truck became invisible in the darkness. Ahead, a light set above the forge, illuminated Suffolk’s truck. Jenna hadn’t noticed any CCTV cameras but instructed Kane to park in the shadows and douse the interior lights. She planned to look through the windows of Suffolk’s truck for anything incriminating. Easing her way out of the door as quietly as possible, she walked around the Beast but behind her Carter cleared his throat. She spun around to look at him. “What?”
“It’s the middle of the night and we’re poking around a place of business.” Carter had removed his helmet like the others and his hair stood up in all directions. “Don’t you think it would be safer if we went to the front door and left Kane and Jo to do a quick recon of the area? I’ll take Zorro with me, and he’ll give me a sign if there are any explosives in the house.”
Seeing the wisdom in his idea, Jenna nodded. “Okay. As far as I’m aware, Suffolk doesn’t have a dog, so we’ll be able to surprise him.”
“Before you go.” Kane moved to her side. “If this is the bomber and he built the drone, it’s likely he has created some type of security around the house. He could already know we’re here. He has some expensive equipment inside the forge and that light is not a deterrent.” He glanced over toward Jo. “Take Jo with you, she’ll pick up any change in his mannerisms or mood. I’ll do the recon.”
“Are you okay with that, Jo?” Jenna looked at her in the dim light.
“Yeah, let’s go. We have two more suspects to visit.” Jo pushed her fingers through her hair. “We’ll need to be on scene tomorrow to follow up on the girl’s disappearance and check out the sheriff’s house. We need a couple of hours’ sleep or we’ll be no good to anyone.”
“Okay let’s go.” Glad Carter had found her flashlight unbroken in the field, Jenna switched it on and led the way past the forge to the garden path. They congregated on his porch. “He’s not going to be happy being woken up at this hour.”
“Too bad.” Carter hammered on the front door. “FBI, open up, Suffolk, we’d like a word with you.” He hammered again. “FBI.”
Jenna could see a glow through one of the windows, and then the porch light came on in a blinding flash of white. She blinked as the door opened an inch or two and a young woman poked her head out.
“Roger is in the shower. I’ll go and tell him you’re here.”
The door shut and Jenna raised her eyebrows at Jo. “It didn’t take him long to replace Dawn. I wonder if he knows we took her? I doubt the Louan Sheriff would keep it to himself.”
“We’ll ask Suffolk how old she is, seems he likes them underage.” Jo had dark circles under her eyes and yawned. “Sorry, I’m beat.”
Heavy footsteps came down the stairs and the door flew open. Suffolk glared at them wide-eyed. “It’s late, why are you here? Someone die or something?”
“Who is the girl?” Jo squared her shoulders and lifted her chin.
“None of your business.” Suffolk moved close to Jo and stood menacingly over her. “This one is seventeen, so you can back off, lady.”
Jenna pulled her weapon and beside her Ca
rter did the same. A low growl came from Zorro. The dog’s lips had pulled back from his teeth forming a brilliant white line of threat. She straightened. “Step back, Mr. Suffolk. We’re not here about her. We need to ask you a few questions and they won’t wait until morning.”
“Get on with it.” Suffolk glared at her. “But I’m never too cooperative when someone is pointing a gun at my chest.
Jenna holstered her weapon but Carter only stepped back a pace out of the light, his Glock raised in both hands. She nodded. “Where were you around nine tonight?”
“Blackwater.” Suffolk stared down at her, with his eyes boring through her. “I was stuck on one side of a housefire. I couldn’t get through, so had to wait until the fire department cleared out.”
A tingle crawled up Jenna’s spine. “What took you out there so late?”
“I work all day and make deliveries after five most times.” Suffolk shrugged and his immense shoulders seemed to heave. “My last delivery was out at a ranch. The man I spoke to was Dan Springer, his ranch is south of town. I’m sure he’ll verify I was there. I’d gotten caught up in traffic so I parked and waited. After an hour or so, I discovered the road was closed ahead. I walked to the local café and spent my time there and when the smoke cleared, I went back to my truck and waited for the road to reopen. I haven’t been home long.”
“Did you see the explosion?” Carter moved out of the shadows with his weapon holstered. “It was Sheriff Stuart’s home.”
“I heard them. I figure the entire town heard them.” Suffolk narrowed his eyes and peered at them. “Is this why you’re here? Someone saw me in town and you figure I had something to do with the explosions?”
“We’re interviewing everyone on scene, yes.” Jenna refused to be intimidated by him. If he believed someone had seen him in town that would work in her favor. “So, what did you see?”
“Nothing.” Suffolk thought for a beat. “Three explosions close together and then two more a long time after, maybe an hour or more. When I came out the café the sky glowed red and the smoke was thick.”
“So, you just sat in your truck surrounded by thick smoke and waited?” Jo raised one eyebrow in question.
“No, I waited in the café.” Suffolk looked down his long nose at her. “I had my laptop with me and it’s free Wi-Fi in the café. I watched some shows and played some games to pass the time.”
