The bouquet had been the sign. The girl was his for the taking.
The sight of her smiling and waving at him flashed through his mind. He had not met her before, which somehow made the anticipation of having her more thrilling. Jerking himself back to the now, he started his car and headed home, but the memories of the stranger flashed through his mind in an endless parade of desire.
He preferred to plan his kills and made sure he gained the ultimate pleasure by savoring each one. His pretty stranger had surprised him. In fact, the stimulation of catching her mid-flight had been incredible, powerful. His muscles twitched, reliving the feel of her squirming beneath him. He loved the way she fought like a wild animal. Who would believe someone so small and pretty like her could fight like a cat?
He had killed his cat.
He had enjoyed killing her more.
Twelve
Breaking the news to a family of a murdered child had to be the worst job Kane had ever encountered. His training had been nonexistent but he had suffered the pain of loss and understood the need to keep the facts clear and concise. He stared at the inquisitive faces of Mr. and Mrs. Parker. “I’m sorry to inform you, we found a body in Stanton Forest we believe to be Felicity. Your friend Magnolia Brewster identified her photograph.”
“Oh my God. I’ve been calling her for an hour.” Mrs. Parker fell against her husband. “This can’t be happening.”
“What happened to Felicity, was it an accident?” Mr. Parker hugged his sobbing wife.
Kane took out his notepad and pen. “The cause of death is undetermined until the results of the autopsy but we believe it was a homicide.”
“Murder! Who would kill our little girl?” Mr. Parker’s face paled and his hand shook as he held his wife. “I can’t believe anyone would do such a thing. Are you sure it’s Felicity?”
“I’m afraid so.” Kane watched the couple gaped at him in shocked disbelief. “Would you like to sit down? Is there anyone I could call, a family member perhaps?”
“No!” Mr. Parker’s voice trembled. “Why aren’t you out looking for her killer?”
“We have every man on the case but we need your help and I really need to ask you some questions?”
“Ask your damn questions but I don’t know how we can help.”
He hated intruding on the family’s grief. “When did you last see Felicity?”
“At breakfast.” Mr. Parker gazed at him with unseeing eyes as reality set in. “She mentioned she would be meeting up with some of her friends later.”
“Did she say what friends? Does she have a boyfriend?”
“Yes, Derick Smith, but they fell out over the upcoming rodeo dance. I’m not sure if they made up or not.” He gave him a tragic look. “You don’t think he killed her do you? Dear God, I allowed him to date her.”
“We don’t have him as a suspect but we’ll be checking everyone Felicity knows. Do you have his address and cellphone number?” Kane looked at Mr. Parker. The man was trying to keep control of his emotions but now anger had replaced the shock and disbelief. “Anything else you can tell me about Derick?”
“Yes.” Mr. Parker took out his cellphone and scrolled through his contacts. “I made sure I had his contact details before I allowed her to go out with him.” He rattled off the information. “Derick has a part-time job at Miller’s Garage on Saturdays and during summer break.”
“Thank you.” Kane kept his notes brief and pushed the questions, hoping they would elaborate a little more. “Do you think she might have paid him a visit this morning?”
“No, she wouldn’t go and see him without telling me.” Mrs. Parker choked back a sob. “To be honest, I’m not sure what she was talking about this morning, I wasn’t listening to her. It’s my fault.”
Kane sucked in a deep breath. “You’re not to blame but you can help me catch the person who hurt Felicity. Do you remember anything at all about her movements this morning? Had she spoken on her cellphone or mentioned doing anything specific?”
“I heard her talking to Aimee before breakfast.” Mr. Parker absently rubbed his sobbing wife’s back. “She mentioned walking to her house. Aimee has a car and they go into town and hang out there or at Aunt Betty’s Café. I’m sure Aimee will tell you everything they planned to do.”
Kane could feel the emotion flowing from the couple. “Do you know who else Felicity could have been meeting?”
“Dear Lord, how many more questions? Can’t you see my wife is close to collapse?”
Kane pushed on, aware the couple were crumbling before him but he needed the information. “Anything you can tell me might help, Mr. Parker.”
“You know girls, they have cliques and I’ve lost count of who is in and out these days.” Mr. Parker frowned then lifted tear-filled eyes to Kane. “Although, Felicity wouldn’t need to cut through Stanton Forest, Aimee lives on School Road.”
Kane made notes. “Do you know Aimee’s last name?”
“Aimee F-fox.” Mr. Parker stumbled over his words. “The family are close friends.”
“Thank you.” Kane scribbled in his notebook. “What time did she leave this morning?”
“Early, before eight.” Mr. Parker blinked away tears.
“Can you remember anything else at all?” Kane leaned forward in his chair. “What kind of mood was she in—happy?”
“She was excited at breakfast. I remember her asking us if she could go to the dance at the fairgrounds on Friday night with her friends.” Mr. Parker sighed. “I said I would discuss it with her mother but if she went, we would drop her there then pick her up at ten.”
“She is a good girl, Deputy.” Mrs. Parker rubbed her eyes. “She did all her chores and stopped playing games at the dinner table. She deserved to go to the dance this year. Now she’s dead—Oh God, this has to be a mistake.” She sunk back into her husband’s arms.
As their devastation washed over him, Kane ground his teeth, trying to keep a professional persona and get through the interview. “Does she have a computer? I’ll need to take it back to the sheriff’s office.”
“Yes, a laptop. She uses it for schoolwork. I’ll get it for you.” Mr. Parker turned away and climbed unsteadily up the stairs.
Kane waited for him to return, unfolded a large evidence bag, and pushed the laptop inside then asked Mr. Parker to sign the seal. He hated distressing Felicity’s parents any further but had to keep going while details remained fresh in their minds. “Do you remember what she was wearing when she left home and did she have a cellphone with her?”
“Wearing?” Mrs. Parker lifted her tear-stained blotchy face and glared at him. “Don’t you know?” She let out a wail, broke away from her husband and fell against the wall. “Oh my God, what did he do to her?” She threw herself at Kane grasping the front of his shirt. “You have to tell me. I must know what happened to her.”
The woman’s long fingernails pierced his skin but he kept his voice, calm and professional. How the hell can I tell her what happened? He gently pushed her away and sucked in a deep breath. “I am asking routine questions, ma’am. I don’t have a list of her personal effects.” Kane swallowed the lump in his throat at seeing her distress. “I want to make sure nothing is missing, no article of clothing overlooked or any personal possessions.”
“He is only doing his job.” Mr. Parker, close to collapse, took a shuddering breath in an obvious attempt to remain strong and gripped his wife’s shoulder. “She had on a pale blue top with a butterfly on the front and a denim skirt.” He rubbed his chin. “Pink cowboy boots. She wears a gold cross around her neck.” Mr. Parker raised both dark eyebrows. “She received it as a birthday present when she turned thirteen and never takes it off.” He gave his wife a little shake. “Is there anything I’ve missed?”