Chapter 36
Thirty-Six
Thursday
Overnight the wind had blown the clouds away and a few rays of sunshine peeked through, although the temperature was still low, and Jenna wrapped her coat around her as she climbed into the Beast. Kalo had discovered the coordinates to where he believed Caleb Durnell was living in Stanton Forest. From what Jenna could tell, his cabin was in easy distance of every crime scene.
Surprisingly, Kalo had discovered Durnell also had a webpage where he advertised firewood for sale.
It seemed he had established a business in town complete with a page where clients could order a delivery and add it to his online calendar.
Thursdays and Tuesdays, he left open for him to go into the forest to collect dead trees, which he purchased from the forestry for a set amount of money per load.
Using the GPS on the vehicle, they soon found his cabin.
As Kane drove alongside the cabin, she could see Durnell, splitting wood out back.
His white pickup was parked at an angle to the small garage nearby, with the truck bed filled high with split timber.
“He is certainly capable of decapitating a man in one blow.” Kane raised both eyebrows and shot a glance at Jenna. “Keep well back. If he makes a move toward you, I’ll take him down. Don’t trust him for a second.”
Meeting his gaze, Jenna nodded and climbed out of the truck.
The scent of fresh-cut pine wafted toward her.
She inhaled, enjoying the smell, and caught a whiff of male sweat.
She took in Caleb Durnell. He stood at least six-two, with broad shoulders and bulging muscles.
He wore only a T-shirt damp with sweat and a pair of jeans.
He turned to look at them and visibly stiffened before embedding his ax in a stump.
Heart pounding, Jenna held her hands out to the sides, showing that she wasn’t a threat to him.
“Caleb Durnell? I’m Sheriff Alton and this is my deputy, Dave Kane.
Do you mind if we talk to you for a minute? ”
“What for? I didn’t do anything.” Durnell wiped his hands on his jeans, and straightened slowly, his eyes darting back and forth between them.
Noticing the slight tremor in his voice, Jenna remained perfectly still. It was always difficult to know if a psychopath was going to try to charm her or escalate into violence. “We’re not here to accuse you of anything. We’d like to clear up a possible misunderstanding.”
“Your truck was identified hanging around the school at pickup time on more than one occasion.” Kane rested his hand on the butt of his pistol. “When we get a complaint, we need to follow through. Why were you hanging around the school at pickup time?”
“I was waiting for my niece. My sister is out of town for a few days, is all.” Durnell pulled a red bandana from his back pocket and wiped his face and the back of his neck.
“Both times she took the bus and went to her pa’s place, instead of her aunt’s place.
They’re divorced and no one told me she’d made other arrangements, but I watched until she caught the bus. My sister’s back now. You can ask her.”
Pulling out her notebook and pen, Jenna nodded.
“Okay, if you can give me your sister’s details, I’ll call her.
I’m sure if what you are telling me is the truth, we won’t have a problem.
” She took down the details. “There is one other small thing that I need to speak to you about. It came to our attention that you have been charged with interfering with a minor and yet you haven’t come into my office since you moved to Black Rock Falls and notified us. ”
“Those charges were dropped and I didn’t believe I needed to notify anyone.” Durnell folded his arms across his chest, making his muscles bulge. He had a defiant look in his eyes.
“I’m sure we’ll find out that in your records.” Kane straightened and took the woman’s details from Jenna. “I’ll call her now so we can get this sorted.” He stepped away but kept his attention on Durnell.
As Kane made the call, Jenna could see the agitation flowing over Durnell.
His gaze kept flicking between them and she could see that he was grinding his teeth.
“There is another reason that we need to speak to you. We’ve had reports of white pickups near several crime scenes. They fit the description of yours.”
“Plenty of folks drive white pickups.” Durnell snorted and shook his head. “You sure have got it in for me, ma’am.”
Jenna flicked a glance at Kane as he came to stand beside her. He gave her a short nod telling her that the sister had come through for her brother. “I haven’t got it in for you, Mr. Durnell. It’s just three of our suspects drive the same beat-up old white pickups as you do.”
“Suspects?” The color drained from Durnell’s face. “You mean in the murders that happened recently? You figure I killed them? No, ma’am. I wouldn’t hurt anybody.” He stepped forward and gripped the ax handle.
“Put the ax down.” Kane had drawn his weapon in a split second. “Nice and easy now.”
“I’m sorry.” Durnell stared at the muzzle of Kane’s weapon, dropped the ax immediately, and raised his hands. “I wasn’t going to—oh shit—I didn’t mean anything.”
“Where did you go after delivering wood to the Haunted House?” Kane moved closer, his hand closed around his weapon. “The night we were there.”
“Why?” Durnell’s shoulders hunched, defensive.
“Just answer the question.” Kane slowly holstered his weapon. “Or do you have something to hide?”
“I came home.” Durnell lifted his gaze to Kane, eyes blazing. “I live alone and I don’t go out often. So, I can’t prove it.”
A shiver slid down Jenna’s back. She’d seen the sudden change in the man’s eyes.
He’d dropped his shoulders in an attempt to act nonchalant, but it hadn’t worked.
He’d made a mistake by touching the ax, and seeing how fast Kane could draw his weapon had likely surprised him.
Right now, he was calculating his next move.
Needing to keep him occupied, she cleared her throat and his attention whipped back to her so fast it took all her willpower not to step back.
“Did you see anyone else on the way back home that night? Any other white pickups?”
“Yeah, I did.” Durnell scratched his cheek thinking.
“I was wondering why it was driving along my access road because not many people do. It was heading toward me along the fire road. Yeah, it was white but not the same as mine. The headlights were different, higher and much brighter, like the new vehicles.”
“Did it have lifted suspension?” Kane’s eyes narrowed.
“Yeah, and it rattled as it drove past, like something was lose in the back or maybe the engine.” Durnell stared into the distance, as if thinking. “I didn’t see the driver. The headlights blinded me.”
“How well do you know Mason Kitteridge and Jonah Pike?” Kane hadn’t taken his attention off Durnell.
“I know them.” Durnell pushed his hands into the pockets of his jeans, his sweat-soaked T-shirt was drying in the wind. “I deliver wood to where they work and they help me unload and stack it. We get to talking.”
“So, you would know they both drive white pickups.” Kane gave him a long look. “They’re both handy with an ax, like you. Have you met them in competition at any time?”
“Not that I recall, but then I didn’t live here when I competed.” Durnell waved a hand to the piles of split wood. “I don’t really get the time to compete anymore.”
“I heard that you helped set up some of the displays at the Haunted House.” Kane didn’t look at Jenna. “Is that a hobby? People make a ton of money from the FX and frightening folks these days.”
Surprised Kane had told the man a deliberate lie, Jenna sucked in a breath waiting for Durnell’s reply. If he had any type of involvement in special effects or image projection, it would place him at the top of their list.
“Yeah, I helped.” Durnell’s fingers drummed restlessly on his thigh as if this was something he didn’t want to discuss. “It was extra money. They needed help and I’ve set up a few Halloween displays over the years. It’s no big deal.”
Jenna smiled. They had him. “It would be a more lucrative career and easier than chopping wood. Have you considered it?”
“Nope.” Durnell looked her up and down with a sweep of his dark gaze as if assessing her. “It takes a time in college and I didn’t finish high school. Now if we’re done discussing my career, I need to get back to work. I have orders to fill.”
The way he looked at her was a warning to step back.
Jenna could feel it right through to her bones.
They’d cornered him, upset his game, and likely placed themselves on his victims’ list. She glanced at Kane.
He had seen the look too and moved into combat mode, his face granite and his eyes cold and unfeeling.
If she didn’t understand him, she might just believe she lived with a psychopath.
“Okay, thanks for your help. That information is very useful.” She turned to go and the ax came down behind her splitting a log.
If that was a warning, it had come through loud and clear.