Chapter 24
Twenty-Four
Enjoying the afternoon breeze, Jenna leaned against the porch railing on the ranch house, scanning the yard, watching for anything unusual. From the barn, Beth and Styles approached talking up a storm. She looked from one to the other. “Did you get anything from Lovall?”
“He’s hiding something and so nervous he sweat through his shirt.” Beth wrinkled her nose. She gave a brief rundown of the interview. “I taped it, so I’ll upload a copy to the server. Maybe we should all do the same and then we can listen when we get some downtime.”
“The guy is scared of his own shadow.” Styles shook his head. “He’s not the killer.”
Nodding, Jenna looked from one to the other. “Did you come down too heavy on him?”
“Nah.” Styles met her gaze. “He’s scared of someone here or of repercussions if he talks. Maybe Bowman has a hold on him. It’s hard to tell. It’s as if the Lawsons’ death story is rehearsed. Lovall told the same story as Bowman. Well, apart from Cutter finding the bodies and freaking out.”
Jenna lifted her chin and scanned the yard, her attention moving across the cluster of ranch hands pretending not to watch them. “Did he give you anything useful or any clue to who that someone he’s scared of might be?”
“No names, no.” Styles leaned against the wall and followed her gaze to the men hanging around the barn door. “Like I said, I figure he’s too scared to say anything, so whatever was happening back then is happening now.”
“He gave me a ton of information just by watching him.” Beth’s eyes flashed with indignation. “Apart from his evasiveness, I picked up a pattern of lying enough to keep him on the list of potential suspects.”
“Not enough to say he’s a killer, Beth.” Styles rested the heel of one boot against the wall and stared at her. “I got fear, not violence, from him.”
“He’s volatile.” Beth shook her head. “If he didn’t kill Marie, he could be involved somehow.
Maybe he’s the one who buried her body and I believe he was following someone else’s orders—someone he’s terrified of.
” She met Jenna’s eyes. “I’ve read some of Lawson’s diary entries.
It is obvious he was in fear of his life too, so he must have seen something bad enough to send his son away.
I figure he was planning to leave as well—my only concern is why didn’t he tell his lawyer?
He would have known that he could trust him. ”
Considering what Beth had revealed, Jenna chewed on her bottom lip.
“I have the same feeling that there’s a connection between the past and present incidences.
We’ll know more about what else is in the diaries before too long.
If we’re talking about murder and Lawson witnessed something he shouldn’t have, we need to consider the men who’ve worked here since Lawson was alive.
Lovall and a few others fall into this category.
They would know every paddock, every trail, and places a body could be hidden.
All of the longtime workers would also know where everyone is at any given time.
This alone gives them the advantage of moving a body around and disposing of it without anyone seeing them.
It makes sense that if Lawson witnessed either a murder or the disposing of a body and knew the killer saw him, that he’d be in fear of his life.
It’s not like he could just fire the man, is it? ”
“This is exactly why Lovall remains on my list of suspects.” Beth lifted up her hands in exasperation and then dropped them to her sides. “Now he knows we’re watching him, it’s going to make his life very difficult around here.”
Turning to walk inside, Jenna glanced at Beth. “Do you believe we could turn him around to be our confidential informer?”
“Unlikely.” Beth’s mouth turned down. “If this has been going on for over twenty years, he’s too far gone by now—as in brainwashed.
Can you imagine what it would be like knowing that someone close by is mutilating women?
Lovall has a wife and family. The killer has most likely threatened them with the same treatment if he opens his mouth or doesn’t help him. ”
Knowing exactly what it’s like to have her family threatened, Jenna ground her back teeth together and then looked at Styles.
“Okay. Keep an eye on him and make sure he doesn’t sneak off into the night.
Maybe we need a few more surveillance cameras?
If he’s scared, he’ll make a mistake and I want you to be right there when he does.
” She turned her attention back to Beth.
“Do you believe his fear makes him dangerous?”
“Right now, I don’t trust anyone working here.
This monster tortured a woman to death. They enjoy hurting people.
Marie’s body bears witness to their cruelty and if it’s the same person who burned Rhett’s parents to death, there are no depths they won’t sink to.
” Beth met her gaze. “I don’t scare easy but the unpredictability of this killer frightens the heck out of me.
We all need to watch our backs and I’m not going anywhere until we take this maniac down. ”
Jenna nodded slowly. “Good, then we’re on the same page.”