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She made the call to Nanny Raya and then, feeling lightheaded, headed downstairs to speak to her deputies. She looked from one to the other. “First up, have you eaten?”
“Nope, apart from energy bars and a gallon of coffee.” Rowley shrugged.
Concerned, Jenna looked from one to the other. “We’ll order a pizza for now. What do you have for me?”
“The main problem is that both women came into contact with a cowboy who has the same description.” Rio leaned back in his chair, his expression grim. “If I said it was Carter, well it would be a close match and not just once. From all the people I called today, the same guy was mentioned each time.” His gaze remained fixed on her face. “We’ve both been hunting down CCTV footage. Most has been deleted over a twenty-four-hour period, but we do have a few other places to check. I put out a media release for anyone with street CCTV footage over the times we know the movement of both victims to call the hotline. We might discover the name of the cowboy.” He rolled his eyes. “It doesn’t help that Carter is MIA. Not only do we need his help, but we need to eliminate him as a suspect. Right now, he is at the top of our list.”
Astounded, Jenna stared at Rio. “Carter? A suspect?” She shook her head. “No way. We’ve worked beside him, spent time with him. He works alongside a behavioral analyst for heaven’s sake. There’s no way he’s murdering women.” She looked at Rowley. “Tell me you have someone else in mind?”
“We do have a couple of other people who the victims may have come in contact with over the last two weeks.” Rowley looked at his screen. “Dallas Strauss and Chase Holden. Both men have blond hair and fit the same approximate build. They were seen around town by locals, so we included them on the list.” He turned to look at her. “That’s all we have apart from a timeline for both women, and they followed the same routine like clockwork.”
Jenna pulled her hair into a ponytail and tied it with a band from around her wrist. “Okay, we know about the guy in the general store. Hunt down CCTV footage from local stores. The bank is opposite and we have a few security cameras in the area.” She looked at Rowley. “Who is the other guy and has he spoken to both women?”
“The guy fits the same description, as we mentioned, like Carter.” Rio blew out an agitated breath. “I know it’s hard to believe but that’s what we have. He was in the market buying supplies and went to the hot food bar. He was seen speaking to Jennifer Kriss three days in a row. I spoke to her workmate, and she mentioned that the guy had asked about a hairstylist in town to get his hair cut.” He snorted. “How many other blond cowboys do you know who get their hair cut at a beauty parlor?”
Nodding, Jenna considered the glaring evidence. “Carter is the only guy I know and he’s been around town. He talks to women, so it might be a coincidence. If there’s two or more men fitting the same description maybe one was him one day and one of the others speaking to Dakota?” She blew out a sigh. “Follow up with the beauty parlor and see if he went there.” She glanced at her watch. “They’ll be open.”
The pizza delivery arrived and she handed them both a box. “Do what you can and we’ll call it a day at six. I’ll have the 911 calls transferred to my phone. I need to know what’s happening.” Jenna opened the pizza box and stared at the pie. Her stomach growled with hunger but she had no appetite. Emptiness surrounded her as her mind fixed on Kane. How could she explain his absence to Tauri? He would sense her worry. Her stomach clenched. Not knowing what had happened to her husband and being unable to do something—anything—to help him was driving her insane. What was happening to him and where was he? Without any other options, she opened up the database to hunt down the biker gang members’ whereabouts. She hoped he hadn’t fallen afoul of them. They were unpredictable and well hidden, and she figured they’d want more than revenge. They followed more of an eye-for-an-eye mentality and Kane might have roughed them up some, but he hadn’t killed any of them. Without a clue, a ransom note, or even a threat, she was hog-tied to do anything but wait for someone to make a move. She pictured Kane’s face and bit back a wave of fear for his safety. It wasn’t easy doing nothing and a lump formed in her throat each time she looked at his empty chair. As Kane’s voice drifted into her mind, reluctantly, she lifted a slice from the box and folded it over. “Yeah, yeah, I know. Eat when you can in a crisis because it might be a long time until you get the chance again.”
SIXTEEN
The smell of sweat and garlic reached Kane before four armed men walked into the room. Keeping his expression neutral and relaxing to ready himself for any situation, he lifted his chin. He slid his gaze over the men and the reason he’d been abducted hit home like a punch to the gut. He recognized one of the men, introduced to him simply as Mateo, during the FBI undercover arms deal. He’d picked him out in a photographic lineup as the cartel’s second in command. If he’d slipped through the net and not been arrested with the others, it meant only one thing: someone in Carter’s team was dirty. This alone ramped up the danger of his situation. A dirty player meant protection for the bad guys, sensitive information passed around, and concealing evidence. Not Carter, Jo, nor Kalo—he’d trust them with his life. The organizing team came to him in a sea of names, random faces he’d never expected to meet again anytime soon. Any one of them could fit the bill and, without doubt, had pointed the finger at him after the bust.
Going against his instincts, he’d gotten involved in an FBI sting. Carter had asked and he’d reluctantly agreed. He’d figured he owed Carter a favor after all the assistance his team had given Jenna. Yeah, it had been dangerous, but acting as a go-between for a buyer of large quantities of US military weapons had come easy enough. During his career he’d handled just about every weapon available to a soldier and then some and could strip them all blind. Having knowledge of missiles, mines, mortars, and anti-tank missiles came with the job. Add his ability to speak many languages fluently, and an adequate disguise, made him appear legitimate and the deal went through without a problem. They’d exchanged the cash and weapons before the FBI took them down. The FBI arrested Kane as well, to cover his involvement. So who knew his identity? With the court case looming and Kane as the star witness, his testimony would ensure the main players in the cartel would serve jailtime. Assured the FBI had arrested everyone involved, he hadn’t been overly worried about payback—until now. The four men standing in front of him proved there were more rats down the drainpipe.
“I can’t believe a simple small-town deputy got involved in our business.” Mateo stared at Kane. “Didn’t you believe we’d find you? Now you plan to give evidence against us. That will never happen.”
Keeping his expression neutral, Kane stared at him. “I have no idea what you’re talking about. You’ve got the wrong man.”
“Oh, I don’t think so. It has taken us some time to hunt you down, but luckily for us, someone recognized your face. After discovering Agent Carter was involved, finding you was easy enough. He would have chosen someone he could trust outside the organization, someone unknown to us but in law enforcement, and where does he spend all his downtime? In Black Rock Falls.” Mateo’s highly accented English echoed in the small room. “I must give you credit for fooling me. For a local deputy, you speak our language like a native. I imagine you spent many years in my country, but I digress.” He cracked his knuckles. “You have quite a reputation around these parts.” He smiled and stared at him as if finding the situation amusing. “I’m going to tell you how this is going to go down.”
Wondering where this conversation was leading, this time Kane remained silent. Mateo knew too much to deny his part in the bust. Likely he had a deal to offer. He leaned back against the wall and returned the man’s gaze, listening.
“You are going to recant your testimony and refuse to give evidence for the prosecution in the case against my family.” Mateo shrugged. “A simple request.”
Amused by the idea he’d refuse to give evidence, Kane shook his head. “Request denied.”
“Oh, that’s too bad.” Mateo shook his head slowly. “You could make life so much easier if you complied. Now I’ll need to get my hands dirty but it’s your choice. Walk into court and tell the judge it’s all a lie and we all walk away, no harm, no foul.”
Confused but not overly concerned, Kane straightened and looked along the line of men and back to Mateo. If they came at him, he could defend himself to some degree. They didn’t plan on killing him, if they wanted him to recant his statement. If he died, his written evidence and the recording would be used as evidence. They’d go to jail with or without his testimony. “Do you believe if I arrive in court all messed up and then say I’m refusing to testify, the judge will just send me home?” He shook his head. “They’ll know you’re behind it and I’ll be thrown in jail for contempt of court until I give evidence.”
“Ah, well you see, I’m not going to torture you.” Mateo shrugged. “That would get me nowhere, and like you say, seeing you battered and bruised would be counterproductive. Although, I’m sure you’d do anything to prevent your son being tortured, wouldn’t you?” He chuckled. “You’re chained to a wall and there’s plenty of room in here to bring your son and beat him to the edge of death.” His expression changed and his eyes turned to dark pieces of granite. “I can almost hear him pleading with you now.” He pulled a sad face. “Make them stop, Daddy.”
The need to tear out the bolts and wrap the chain around Mateo’s scrawny neck rose up like a tsunami of rage, but reacting now would be suicide. Kane dropped deeper into the zone and just stared at him. He’d dealt with men like Mateo before, and thugs like him would have already paraded Tauri before him as leverage. He inhaled slowly. Jenna would keep their son safe, and he would deal with Mateo.
“I’ve seen men dig out their eyes to stop their sons from being tortured.” Mateo shook his head. “Americans have no loyalty to family. You’re all scum.”
Rolling his shoulders, Kane met his gaze. He had nothing to lose, they’d already admitted they needed him alive. “The feeling is mutual.”
“Tough guy. I’ll see just how tough you are when we bring Tauri here. Yes, I know his name and where he is right now, but first thing in the morning when your lovely wife is tending the horses, he’ll be all alone, asleep in his bed on your ranch.” He shrugged. “I’ll give you some time to think it over, huh?” He indicated to one of his men, who left the room and returned with a carton and stood looking at him.
Shaking his head, Kane moved his attention back to Mateo. “I don’t make deals with criminals.”
“Well, we have a week or so, and by then you’ll come around to my way of thinking.” Mateo chuckled. “Just how long can a five-year-old last? I guess that’s up to you. When you decide to comply, I’ll care for the boy until you do your part and then release him.” He waved the man with the carton forward. “Don’t move. I want you to appear fit and well when you arrive in court.” Mateo pulled out a pistol and aimed it at Kane. “The chains will give you enough room to eat, drink, and use the bucket, but my aim is good and I will shoot you in the leg or arm if you cause me any problems. Everyone knows you wrecked your motorcycle by now, so a few scrapes and bruises will be acceptable. Don’t make me pull the trigger, because when I start, I can’t stop.”
Mind reeling but refusing to ask questions or appear concerned, Kane remained emotionless as the man pushed the carton toward him and then backed away.
“I’ll give you until noon tomorrow to think this over before I bring the boy here.” Mateo nodded slowly. “Ah, I see you doubt me.” He stared at Kane. “Don’t for a second believe your fortress is secure. Like most places, there is always a way inside. Like you, the ranch has a weakness I can exploit.” He waved a hand, encompassing the room. “This may look amateurish, but we have a network of people feeding us information via satellites. This is how I knew where you’d be this morning and how I know the movements of your family. Comply and you won’t see us again.”
