Chapter 31
THIRTY-ONE
As Jenna picked her way through the snow and back to the Beast, exhaustion dragged at her.
Cold crept through every crevice in her clothes and her numb fingers ached.
She didn’t ask Kane but could see by his frown that his head throbbed due to the steel plate.
The cold played havoc with him and they’d been out for a long time.
The day dragged on and on, and as she fully intended to go with Kane to the drug distribution takedown, it would be very late before they made it home.
She checked her watch. “We can swing by and see if we can catch Dr. Lionel Graves. He is not a priority and we need to make sure we have time for everyone to get a decent meal and warm up before we head out to the BW Ranch.”
“We?” Kane started the engine and turned to look at her. “I figured you’d be staying at the office and going over the files from the interviews. You didn’t say you wanted to be there. Are you sure you want to go out for hours in the freezing cold, waiting for a delivery truck to arrive—or not?”
Jenna entered Graves’ address into the GPS and then sat back in her seat and shook her head.
“I know you’d like to run these types of things like a military mission and I’m happy for you to take the lead.
This is what you do best and I’m sure you, Carter, and Styles have everything planned right down to the last second, but I’m the sheriff and this is my county, which makes me responsible for any missions going down.
Why don’t you bring me up to date with the plans you have?
I’m happy to slip in anywhere you might need me. ”
“We have everything covered.” Kane raised both eyebrows and then stared at her for a long moment.
“We’re parking Wolfe’s van along the fire road in the forest opposite the ranch.
I’ll have Kalo positioned there. He will be flying a drone overhead to monitor the arrival of the delivery truck and to give us a heads-up of any potential problems ahead of time.
Wolfe is fitting out the van with monitors so he can keep an eye on our bodycam footage during the raid.
I would really appreciate your help as backup for Kalo as we’ll be all out in the field, and honestly, I have no idea what to expect after someone shot at Raven when he collected data from the trail cams.”
Clearly Kane had not wanted to include her in the raid.
Deep down inside she understood his reasoning.
He cared deeply for her and wouldn’t put her in danger, but she had a dangerous job and being sheriff carried a responsibility she refused to ignore.
“We’re not sure if one of Withers’ men shot at Raven.
” She sighed. “Two stray bullets are common at this time of the year, and he was wearing camouflage. I don’t believe anyone from the ranch spotted him up a tree in the forest, but I also don’t want to leave Kalo at risk.
I would never forgive myself if anything happened to that young man. ”
“That’s settled then.” Kane’s relieved expression spoke volumes.
He checked his watch. “I figure we have half an hour to speak to Graves and get back to the office. I would say everyone is freezing by now and we’ll all need time to recharge before we head out.
” He turned the Beast around and headed back to town.
Before Jenna could reply, Rio’s voice came through her earpiece. “Copy. What’s the problem?”
“We’ve been chasing all over town after Ethan Rourke.
We just missed him at the Cattleman’s Hotel, then at a computer supply place in town.
I figure he’s collecting items he needs for his job.
The manager at the Cattleman’s Hotel informed me that he’s usually there before eight each morning and works late, so we could catch up with him then.
As time is getting short, do you want us to keep on searching for him now or head back to the office? ”
Three interviews were better than none and Rourke could wait for the morning. “I figure you should call it a day and meet at Aunt Betty’s Café. If you could contact the others for me, we’ll be along as soon as we’ve interviewed Graves. Can you ask Carter to take Duke with him?”
“Yeah, not a problem.”
Ten minutes later they bumped along a dirt road that led to Dr. Graves’ rundown house.
Weeds had long ago taken over the garden alongside the house, leaving dead sticks protruding through the snow.
Jenna surveyed the front of the house, surprised to see dead vegetation sticking out of the gutters.
From what she could see of the house, the paint on the front door had peeled, leaving the bare wood to the elements.
An old porch swing hung by one chain and the rest of it trailed on the floor.
Animals had gotten into the cushion and torn it up.
She eyed the floor of the front porch with concern.
People that left their property in disrepair created a death trap for anyone visiting.
She touched Kane’s arm. “That doesn’t look very safe. The floorboards could be rotten.”
“You stand to one side and I’ll go and knock on the door.” He grimaced. “We don’t want another incident like what happened to Raven and Jo.”
Jenna noticed a twitch of a curtain at the front window. “They know we’re here and I’m sure they can read the words sheriff’s department all across the front of our windbreakers.”
The sound of footsteps running came clearly from inside the house, echoing as if the place were empty. She glanced at Kane as he crept up the front steps. “Be careful, someone is running toward us.”
“I don’t think so.” Kane jumped down from the front porch and took off around the side of the house.
Tearing after him, Jenna lifted her knees to get through the thick snow alongside the house.
Pain hit her lungs as she rushed forward, sucking in the freezing air.
She struggled through deep snowdrifts as Kane sprinted toward the forest. As they reached the perimeter, Kane stopped and looked back at her, enclosed in a cloud of steam.
“We’re assuming that’s Dr. Graves. What if it isn’t?
He might be back there in need of medical assistance.
The idiot that ran away will be easy enough to follow if there is a problem, as he’s left his footprints in the snow.
I figure we should go back.” He gave her a long look.
“If it’s Graves and he has something to hide, he’s on foot and won’t get far.
When we leave, he’ll come back. I’ll stick a tracker on his truck, and if needs be, we can pick him up later. ”
Nodding, Jenna walked beside him treading in her own footprints.
As they reached the back of the house, the door stood wide open and in the short while they had been away snow had formed a wet puddle inside the door.
They pulled their weapons and Kane went high and she went low as they moved slowly inside the house.
Heart pounding, she edged forward. “Sheriff’s department.
Dr. Graves, are you in there? Call out.”
Keeping her back to the wall, Jenna moved slowly along the hallway checking each room as they went.
The house seemed more like a cabin with two bedrooms, a family room, and kitchen all on one floor.
As they reached what Jenna imagined to be the third bedroom, Kane held up his hand.
Gripping the handle of her weapon, she waited in the hallway, as keeping low, he in moved inside.
Moments later, his head came around the door and he beckoned her toward him. “Did you find him?”
“Nope.” A nerve in Kane’s cheek twitched and anger flashed in his eyes. “I figure Dr. Graves has a ton of things to answer to.” He indicated to a computer screen alive on the desk. “Child porn.”
Sickened by the site, but knowing they couldn’t touch anything or the evidence would be inadmissible in court, she pulled out her phone and called the judge.
Luckily, he’d finished court for the day and his secretary put her through to his office.
“We came to interview Dr. Lionel Graves regarding the deaths of Ellie McBride and Laney Prescott. When we arrived, we heard someone inside the house. I called out but they ran out the back door. We gave chase but lost them in the forest. Concerned for Graves’ wellbeing, we went back to the house to find the back door open and entered to do a welfare check.
We didn’t find him inside the house and when we went into his office, the computer displayed child porn.
I need to arrest this guy and can’t leave this evidence.
I would like to request an immediate search warrant for the premises. ”
“Send me an image of what you’ve discovered. I’ll only need the one. If it’s as you say, I’ll issue a search warrant immediately and text it to you. You can send one of your deputies to collect the original from my office.”
“I’ll do it.” Kane took the photograph and sent it directly to the judge. He pulled a thumb drive from his pocket and pushed it into the computer to download the files. He shrugged. “Don’t worry, we’ll get the warrant.”
Moments later Jenna’s phone chimed. She followed the link and downloaded the file to her phone. “Should we take the computer?”
“In normal circumstances I would say yes, but Graves is out in the forest playing catch me if you can.” Kane scratched his cheek.
“I’m wondering if it would be better to leave everything as is.
If he doesn’t know we’ve been inside the house, it’s likely he’ll come back and carry on as usual.
I’ll look at what’s on his computer. By the time I’ve finished, I’ll have downloaded a copy of his entire hard drive.
We take that to the DA, and the next time we come by it will be with an arrest warrant and backup. ”
Liking his style, Jenna smiled. “That sounds like a good plan. Make sure you check his emails. Get copies of his address book and any suspicious emails. While you’re busy, I’ll search the rest of the house. Make sure everything is back in its place when you’re done.”
“Not a problem.” Kane wiggled his gloved fingers. “He’ll never know I’ve been here.”
Nodding, Jenna pulled on examination gloves and slowly went through the office drawers.
She discovered files mostly on children the doctor had as clients.
As she flicked through the files, she noticed some of names had small red hearts beside them.
A sick feeling curled in her stomach. This man had been in a position of trust. If these files lined up with some of the sickening photographs, it would mean he’d been abusing his patients.
Leaving Kane, she went along the hallway and found the doctor’s bedroom.
She meticulously searched through the drawers and went to the closet, pulling a shoebox from one of the shelves.
She stepped back in disgust at finding the trophies that the sick freak had collected over the years.
She took photographs and tipped half of the box into an evidence bag and then sealed and labeled it.
As Kane had a complete copy of the hard drive, physical evidence like this might be important and she didn’t plan on leaving it all behind.
Evidence collecting would come later, but for now this would do especially if they could link the items or DNA to any of the photographs on the computer.
Leaving the room exactly as she’d found it, she headed back to the office.
“I’m done here. We’ll drop the evidence into the DA’s office and then head to Aunt Betty’s.
Time is getting away from us.” Kane removed the thumb drive, pushed it into his pocket, and then indicated for them to leave.
“We’ll leave by the front door. It’s snowing heavily now, and by the time he gets back, our footsteps out back will be covered.
I couldn’t see more than a dark shape running through the trees.
He obviously knows his way through the forest, and for all we know, has a vehicle parked on a fire road somewhere.
I doubt he even noticed we were following him. ”
Distaste for Graves crawled over Jenna like a rash.
She couldn’t wait to get outside the house.
From the notes she’d read about Graves, for many years he’d maintained his office inside his house.
The thought of him abusing kids right where she’d been standing made her sick to her stomach.
She watched as Kane collected a tracker from the Beast and attached it to the underside of Graves’ truck.
“You know I don’t care what anyone says, but I’m not leaving our kids alone with anyone.
If they need counseling, I’m gonna be right there.
After what we have seen over the years, I don’t trust anyone anymore. ”
“Same.” Kane swung inside the Beast. “Let’s get this over with and go and get something to eat.
I’m tired and cold. I figure this day has forty-eight hours in it.
Worst of all, we have to deal with criminals instead of eating dinner with our children.
I know they understand but I always feel like I’m letting them down when I’m not there. ”
Jenna squeezed his arm. “Me too. Don’t worry, this will be over soon. We have at least three solid suspects. With a little more digging, we’ll be able to narrow it down and maybe this case will be solved by Christmas. It will be good to spend some time at home with the boys.”
“You can say that again.” Kane turned onto the highway.