“No, none of the above.” Alton waved Rowley into the room and took the tray of steaming coffee mugs from his hand with a smile. “Thanks.”
“It all comes down to budget.” Wolfe ran a hand over his blond buzz cut and shrugged. “I can write you a new program to run the nitty-gritty, but the other stuff you want costs money.” He pulled out his cellphone and checked the bars. “Here in town the reception is good but not so on the way here, so you have blackspots. If you all have smartphones, I can create an app so you can access all areas of the mainframe direct.”
“That would be wonderful.” Alton sipped her coffee and eyed him over the rim. “Perhaps we have a good reason to ask Petersham to up our budget this year. After all, he has allowed me to employ another two deputies.” She looked at Kane. “Although, we haven’t had one application for the positions I’ve posted.”
“I guess we could keep looking or manage for another year and use the funding to update the office?” Kane leaned his wide shoulders into the chair.
“Thank you, Kane, I’ll give that idea some thought.”
Wolfe looked as if he was carrying the world on his shoulders.
Jenna met his gray gaze. “I guess you’d like to get some lunch after your long journey? I’ll let you go and leave Kane to explain how I do things around here.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Kane rubbed his chin and turned to Wolfe. “I’ll introduce you around then we’ll head down to Aunt Betty’s Café; I’m due for a break and I can bring you up to speed. As you need to get your kids settled and hire a housekeeper, I’m happy to cover for you for a couple of days.”
“You don’t need to.” Wolfe emptied his cup and stood. “I’m used to coping under pressure, and my daughter Emily is seventeen and old enough to care for her sisters in my absence until school starts again.”
“Maybe so, but I want my deputies to have their minds on the job, not worrying if their kids are okay.” Jenna stared at him, allowing no retort, and leaned back in her seat. “The cowboys are drifting into town for the start of the rodeo season and I’ll need all hands on deck by the weekend. At the moment, my biggest concern is a domestic disturbance over a cat peeing on a neighbor’s car.” She waved them toward the door. “Go… I’ll contact you if a riot breaks out.”
“Okay.” Wolfe smiled. “I do appreciate your concern. I’ll work on the program at home to make up the time.” He strolled out the door.
Kane stared after him then swung around to look at Jenna and raised one dark eyebrow. “Hmm.”
“Oh, man.” She grinned at him. “I could cut the testosterone in this room with a knife. I think you’ve met your match with him.”
“Moi?” Kane wiggled his eyebrows and flashed a white grin. “Never.”
* * *
An hour later, Jenna had finished updating her daybook when the phone rang and Maggie asked her to hold for a call. A woman came on the line.
“Sheriff Alton, this is Prue Ridley.”
“Yes, Mrs. Ridley, what can I do for you?”
“I think there’s been a bear attack. My son and his friend found a girl in Stanton Forest. I checked her. She is dead and cut up real bad.”
Horrified, Jenna swallowed the bile creeping up her throat and reached for a pen. “Can you give me the exact location?”
“The northern end of Stanton Forest, near the river. We are waiting by the road.”
“Are you in a safe location?”
“Yes, I could see no signs of the bear in the area, but if we see one we’ll get in the car.”
“Okay, good. Wait there, we are on our way.” She hung up the phone and massaged her temples.
Bear attacks were scarce this close to town. It could be another homicide. Indecision plagued her of late, but she refused to allow the flashbacks of her kidnapping six months earlier to affect her work. She considered calling Kane then dismissed the idea. Rowley could give him the details. She lifted the phone and called the mortician to attend the scene then explained why her new deputy would be attending the autopsy. Standing, she strode out of her office. “Rowley and Walters, with me.”
“Yes ma’am?” Rowley jogged to her side with Walters close behind.
“We have a possible bear attack. Someone found a body with multiple injuries at the northern end of Stanton Forest.” She looked at Deputy Rowley. “I want you to take charge until Kane gets back, but first, run down to Aunt Betty’s Café and inform him. Tell him to wait for my call, and grab something for lunch while you’re there. I’m not sure how long this will take. I’ll need to examine the scene and speak to the kids who found the body.” She glanced at Deputy Walters. “You’re with me. Let’s go.” She headed for the door.
Three
Walking in the sunshine, Kane found it hard to believe the ice-packed snow of winter had vanished. Spring had been a relief, but the first week of June arrived with a rush of color across the landscape and filled the gardens with flowers. A carnival atmosphere replaced the usual lazy-first-day-of-the-week attitude of the townsfolk. Bunting decorated shopfronts on the main road, and a series of signs hung between the streetlights, celebrating the first rodeo in Black Rock Falls on the circuit the coming weekend.
Wolfe strolled beside him, blond head erect, his attention moving from one group of people to another. He said little, obviously taking in the ambience of the town.
Kane glanced at Wolfe, trying to rid himself of a strange feeling he had met him before. Something about him was very familiar and he just could not put his finger on it. He cleared his throat. “I haven’t seen this many people on the streets since the last Larks game. This will be my first experience of the Black Rock Falls County rodeo crowd. Sheriff Alton tells me the crime rate goes up by ninety percent over the rodeo circuit weekends.”
“Looking at the number of deputies you have, I’m not surprised.” Wolfe stood to one side to allow two women pushing strollers to pass. “Why is everyone looking at me as if I have two heads?”
“You’re new in town.” Kane grinned at his dour expression. “They’ll have your picture up on the wall of Aunt Betty’s Café before you know it. It’s a friendly town.”
“Really?” Wolfe curled his lips. “I can deal with friendly.” A glistening black SUV screeched to a halt at the curb and he rolled his shoulders. “Now there is another thing I detest.” He indicated with his chin toward the vehicle. “Dangerous drivers. Men like him need to have their vehicles impounded and crushed. It’s the only way to teach them a lesson.”
Kane rubbed his chin and grinned. “It certainly would slow them down, but right now we need a new law passed.” He strolled toward Aunt Betty’s Café. “This is the best place to eat unless you want to go fancy, then it’s the restaurant at the Cattleman’s Hotel.”
“Who is the guy in the black SUV?”
“Dan Beal, the new captain of the Larks, the local hockey team.” Kane snorted. “Don’t worry, he doesn’t receive any special privileges.”
“Nice to know.”
Before Kane had time to pull open the door, it opened and Reverend Jones stepped out, giving him a beaming smile.
“Good morning.” He turned his attention to Wolfe. “I see we have a new deputy in town.”
Kane nodded. “Yeah, Reverend Jones, this is Shane Wolfe.” He noticed Wolfe’s expression harden but he gave the man a curt nod.
“Nice to meet you.” Jones’s lips quivered and he dropped his offered hand, but he lifted his chin and met Wolfe’s unfriendly gaze with a sunny smile. “I hope I’ll see you and your family at Sunday services. You too, Deputy Kane. All are welcome.”
“Thanks for the invitation.” Wolfe’s lips formed a thin line. “Maybe after we get settled.”