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“Even if there was, it wouldn’t have been any use to him.” Kalo shrugged. “It takes a ton of power to run a crematorium, and as far as I can see, there hasn’t been any connected here for years.”
Jenna listened with interest to the discussion. “I figure we go and search his house. He lives out at Winding Alley in Black Rock Falls.” She looked at Carter. “We’ll go and pick up the Beast and meet you in town.”
“Sure.” Carter rubbed his belly. “Make it at Aunt Betty’s. Breakfast was a long time ago. We’ll grab something to go.”
After, they walked around the town searching for any disturbed patches of ground and found nothing. Even the old churchyard was dilapidated and neglected. They climbed into the chopper and headed back to the crash site. Jenna walked up to Wolfe to get an update. “What’s happening?”
“The track has been cleared.” Wolfe rubbed the back of his neck. “We’ve collected all the body parts and I’ve cleared the driver and his assistant as healthy. They are both in good shape and I also tested them for alcohol and drugs. They both came up clean for the usual things. I figure they’re good to go. The crash investigation team and all these other people are doing their own thing. I have no idea how long they plan to be here, but sometimes these things can take weeks, so you have to hand over to the person in charge and just walk away. They’ll send you a report when they’re done.” He smiled at Norrell, who was standing beside him looking as fresh as a daisy. “It was great having Norrell with me today. We had a jigsaw puzzle of bone fragments and she managed to fit them together at the speed of light.”
“That’s just what I do.” Norrell smiled at Jenna. “But it’s really great to be appreciated. In my line of work, the cases are usually so cold most of the relatives of the victims are deceased.”
Jenna laughed. “Yeah, well being a forensic anthropologist would be intriguing. I know Wolfe’s daughter Emily is very interested in your specialty.”
“One step at a time.” Wolfe narrowed his gaze at Jenna. “I don’t want Emily to run before she can walk.”
“I’ve just spoken to the coordinator guy and he’ll be here for days.” Kane moved to her side. “We’re meeting Carter and Jo in town and then heading out to search Oakley’s house. Just in case he keeps the victims hidden there.”
“We’ll be right behind you.” Wolfe removed his examination gloves. “Call me if you find anything.”
Jenna stared at the wreck and shook her head. “I still can’t believe Maisy Jones walked out of that alive.”
“Some people are just lucky.” Kane stood beside her shaking his head. “Or maybe, fate stepped in so we had a witness. She wants to save her own skin, so she’ll talk. It will be interesting to see what Jo can get out of her.”
Sighing, Jenna turned toward the Beast. “Yeah, it will, but I hate being on the outside of this one, but then I do trust Jo to get to the truth.” She glanced at Kane. “The thing is, was she telling the truth or does she know where he’s stashed the bodies?”
THIRTY-EIGHT
Carter followed Jo into Jenna’s office to get an update. Maisy Jones was cooling her heels in the interview room and had been given a meal. Bobby Kalo had decided to wait with Rio and Rowley. “Don’t you want to come with us?”
“Not this time.” Kalo grimaced. “Searching houses for dead bodies isn’t in my job description. I’ll wait here until you’re done.”
“I’ll be back to interview Maisy Jones.” Jo looked at Rio. “I’ll need you to sit in as you’re the lead officer on her case now. It would save time if you went in to see her and mirandized her. Turn on the recording device as it’s your word against hers in there. If she wants a lawyer, you’ll be able to arrange one before we get back. If that’s the case, explain the warrant for her arrest in Idaho.” She frowned. “You’re on your own but we’ll be back soon. Rowley can’t go near her or Jenna and Dave. If you can, call in old Deputy Walters, it would be an option.”
“Yes, ma’am. I’ve already informed Idaho she’s in our custody. They mentioned starting on her extradition and I told them she’d be going through our system first. We have her for the abduction of Rowley’s son, and with the sheriff as a witness, she isn’t leaving here anytime soon.” Rio shrugged. “Maisy hasn’t said two words to me. She is very subdued. I wouldn’t like to leave her alone overnight. She might try and take her life.”
“That won’t happen.” Jo snorted. “She used Rowley’s son as a bargaining chip to save her life. Don’t worry. Wolfe has checked her over. She’s fine.”
Carter pushed back his Stetson. “As soon as we’ve charged her, she’ll be heading for county. She’ll be out of your hair by dinnertime. We’ll leave you to it. We’re meeting the sheriff in town.” He looked at Jo. “We’ll walk alongside the park so Zorro can have a run. He’s been sitting to attention all day.”
“When I called the vet, he said to bring him in tomorrow.” Jo rubbed Zorro’s ears. “He asked me the usual questions and from my answers he figures he just doesn’t like the cold weather. He suggested you get him a thicker coat.” She smiled at him. “Duke has a ton of them. We walk right past the general store. You can get him something warmer there. It will only take a minute or so.”
Carter checked his watch. “Okay.” He followed her to the door. “Jenna and Kane will be arriving in town soon. We don’t want to keep them waiting.”
After selecting a thick winter coat for Zorro and two spares, Carter dumped two of them in the cruiser, and replaced the one Zorro was wearing and then hurried across Main to meet up with Jo. She was watching a few of the townsfolks scatter straw over the floor of the pergola they’d transformed into a Nativity scene. He smiled at her. “A little more snow and it will be perfect. He looked skyward. “I don’t think it will be long. It’s been clouding up all day and it’s so darn cold, I can’t feel my feet.”
The moment they walked through the gate to the enclosed area of the park, Zorro quivered in excitement. He loved to stretch his legs and was just waiting for the order to go and have some fun. Carter looked down at him and unclasped his leash. “Playtime.”
The Doberman ran around in circles, his mouth stretched wide open in obvious bliss. As he circled closer toward the people moving a Christmas tree to one side of the pergola, he skidded to a stop and turned toward them, baring his teeth. When the hackles raised around his neck, alarm bells went off for Carter. He placed two fingers in his mouth and whistled. The urgent command usually attracted an immediate response from his dog, but this time Zorro held his ground. Carter took off at a run as terrified townsfolk backed away, eyes wide with shock. One man drew his pistol and took aim. Holding up both hands, Carter raised his voice. “FBI, lower your weapon. FBI K-9, drop your weapon. He won’t attack. He’s warning you to keep away from immediate danger.” He stood between Zorro and the weapon, realizing in his rush to change coats on his dog he’d neglected to include the FBI cover. “Don’t move. Stay where you are and I’ll clear the area.” He sighed with relief as the man holstered his gun.
Zorro’s continuous barking concerned Carter. He touched Zorro’s head. “Stand down.”
The dog sat beside him but his low growl continued through his bared teeth. As Jo ran up beside him, flashing her creds at the startled people, he turned to look at her. “Something is obviously very wrong here. Move the people away from the area. I don’t want to scare everyone, but you know what Zorro’s specialty is, and if someone’s planted a bomb close by, then we’re all in danger.”
“Okay.” Jo held her cred pack in the air and ushered the people to a safe distance. “The dog is trained to detect imminent danger. Move along and we’ll let him do his job.”
Carter crouched down beside Zorro. “What is it boy? What do you smell?” A quiver went down the dog and he barked again and then whined.
Not having seen this type of behavior before, Carter gave him the order to seek but Zorro just walked round in a circle and sat down by his feet. He clipped on his leash and walked with him slowly inside the pergola. The dog’s hackles rose and he barked at the mannequins dressed to resemble a Nativity scene. They all had long flowing robes and headdresses. Carter stared at them, looking for any sign of a suicide vest hidden under the robes, but his dog wasn’t signaling an explosive device. He was acting irrationally. “What the heck is wrong with you?”
