Chapter 16
Sixteen
Jenna went back to the family room and Kane went outside to the Beast to collect evidence bags.
Everything would be tagged and bagged before leaving.
They would drop by to see Wolfe and he’d forensically check everything for fingerprints and DNA before the investigation continued.
It would be a time-consuming examination.
With luck, Norrell’s team might be able to get involved, unless they were all tied up with working on the mud from the pigpens.
Jenna tugged at her bottom lip. It seemed that with each hour that went by on Rhett’s ranch, life became more complicated.
She had limited manpower and would take up Carter’s offer of assistance from Agents Katz and Styles.
They were friends and had offered to help numerous times in the past. As they were working close by, they might enjoy a couple of weeks on Rhett’s ranch.
He had plenty of room and a housekeeper to care for everyone.
She looked at her boys playing happily with the trains with Carter and Julie.
Tauri looked up and grinned from under Carter’s hat, which was hanging over his ears.
Jackson stared, mesmerized as the train sped past him, clapping his hands in excitement.
Julie, with the patience of a saint, crawled around the carpet with them.
To one side sat Zorro, looking like a statue with only his eyes moving from side to side.
Turning as Rhett walked in behind her, she smiled at him.
“I’m going to need more manpower to cover both investigations.
Rio and Rowley will be able to work from the office and read the journals.
I don’t know if you’re aware, but Rio has a retentive memory and is an excellent person for correlating information especially from a large number of documents.
I will make sure he has your number and be able to keep in touch with you about what he’s discovered.
I’m sure it will remove some of the stress you’re going through right now. ”
“I would appreciate that, thank you, and what about the current case?” Rhett’s troubled eyes rested on her. “Is there anything I can do to make it easier? I have an entire house here with plenty of rooms we can use for office space or accommodation if you want anyone else to stay over.”
Nodding, Jenna led him into the hallway so they could talk in private.
“Beth Katz and Dax Styles are finishing up a case in Blackwater. They have vacation time and I believe Carter can talk them into coming by and lending us a hand. If it turns into a workable case, they’ll be able to contact their director and inform him that they have become involved.
They live in Rattlesnake Creek, so they are very much country folk and will fit in here just fine.
They are both extremely good agents. Beth is a cybercrime expert and worth her weight in gold on a job like this, also Kalo is arriving tomorrow.
You’ll have two of the best cybercrime experts in the country working in your ranch house.
If they can’t help us get to the bottom of all this, no one will. ”
“Yeah, for sure.” Rhett smiled at her. “Let me know when they’re expected to arrive and I’ll tell the housekeeper to make up their rooms. They’ll need a room to work in as well.
There is a huge dining room at the end of the hallway.
I assume it was used for dinner parties.
We can change that into a command post. What else do you need? ”
The conference room at the sheriff’s office was set up as a command center most of the time and she recalled what she needed. “Power outlets. They’ll need to set up their gear. They’ll use their own phones. They drink a ton of coffee, and the guys need to be fed almost constantly.”
“Not a problem.” Rhett rubbed his hands together. “I’ll head into town first thing in the morning and get things organized. My housekeeper will be able to keep them in food, but I’ll pick up some extra supplies.”
Glad to see him so enthusiastic and not so concerned, Jenna smiled. “Of course, my office will reimburse you for any out-of-pocket expenses.”
“No need.” Rhett laughed and shook his head.
“My inheritance would last me two lifetimes, and I have income coming in from the ranch. I just want to get to the bottom of all this so I can live a peaceful life here. This place is so beautiful. I would like to make it my home. It’s what my parents wanted and I’d like to fulfill their wishes. ”
Nodding, Jenna met his gaze. “That’s good to know.
We’ll take the boys home now. I need to drop by Wolfe’s office on the way to give him everything from the safe.
Once Wolfe’s gone through it, I can give it to Rio and Rowley to begin the investigation.
” She chewed on her bottom lip. “There’s an autopsy in the morning at ten.
Once we’re through there, we’ll come back to continue interviewing people. ”
“I don’t know how you keep it all in your head.” Rhett rubbed the back of his neck and eyed her with admiration. “Three cases on the go at the same time, it must be a nightmare.”
Laughing, Jenna met Kane’s gaze as he came back into the house carrying evidence bags.
“It’s a juggling act, that’s for sure. Most times it’s just following procedure and designating jobs to the right people.
When we all work together, we usually solve the cases.
” She indicated toward Kane heading up the stairs.
“I’ll go and help Dave bag the evidence and then we’ll get out of your hair.
Thanks for allowing my boys to play with your train set. It looks brand-new.”
“I found it in the attic.” He lowered his gaze. “I guess he was going to give it to me the Christmas he died. I’ve gotten a ton of enjoyment out of watching your boys playing with it. I hope one day I’ll have kids who can play with it too.”
Eyes stinging with unshed tears, Jenna nodded. “I’m sure you will. I gotta go. It’s getting late.” She turned away and ran up the stairs.
She found Kane meticulously turning each page of the journals and taking photographs. “I was going to suggest you do that. You must have read my mind.”
“I’ve taken photographs of everything in the tin and made copies of the small notebook.
” Kane indicated toward the pile of bags, each with a description printed on the front.
“There are only a few pages left. I haven’t had time to read them.
I just figured I couldn’t wait to find out what’s been going on here.
Now we have copies, Rio and Rowley can start the investigation right away. ”
Jenna still wore the gloves she’d put on earlier and held the pages open for Kane to capture.
In no time at all they had copies of everything that had been in the safe.
She bagged the gun and the clip Kane had removed.
“You know, from the small number of pages I’ve glanced over, I figure Rhett’s father was in fear of his life for a time.
I wonder why he didn’t go to speak to the sheriff about his concerns. ”
“There must be a reason.” Kane put his phone in his pocket and took the bag containing the gun and wrote on the label.
“I’ll be looking for any link between the employees back twenty years ago and the local sheriff.
Maybe they were related or close friends.
That being the case, Rhett’s father wouldn’t feel safe going to the sheriff about one of his relatives, would he? ”
Understanding completely, Jenna sighed. “I feel as if I’m being torn in two directions.
Discovering these journals and seeing the frantic writing inside, I feel we need to follow up on this case as soon as possible.
It feels almost raw, doesn’t it, as if Rhett’s dad is reaching out from the grave and begging us to help.
” She pushed her hand through her hair and looked at him.
“Then we have that poor young woman, who may have been buried alive. We can’t turn our backs on her either, can we?
Both cases are important and need our attention.
I just can’t stop the notion that there’s a connection between both of them.
It’s not impossible to believe that one man has been killing over all this time.
Many serial killers murder until they’re caught and have been killing for twenty years.
The urge to kill never goes away and they all have to live their fantasies.
Sometimes they can keep it under control for a short period of time, but with the number of women coming and going in a place like this, it’s like a serial killer’s smorgasbord. ”