Kane chuckled. It was good to see he’d amused her. “I’m a pussycat but don’t tell Duke, he’d disown me.” He reached for his coffee.
“Sure, it will be our little secret.” Jenna took a bite of her bagel and sighed. “Okay, back to work. We’ll keep the media statement short and refuse to take questions. How about I just mention we’re searching for a missing girl, give them her description and photograph, then ask people to call in if they’ve seen her?”
Kane made a few notes. “Yeah, but we know she’s been kidnapped and searching for her is probably a waste of time if this is the same man and he has her holed up somewhere. If you leave it as ‘missing’, we’ll have search parties combing the area. I’m worried they might stumble into another booby trap.” He tapped the pen on the table. “Maybe you should rephrase the statement by saying you’d like residents to be on the lookout for Amanda, who may be traveling with a male companion in or around Black Rock Falls. Maybe ask for volunteers to man the crime hotline like before?”
“Yeah, I’ll set up a command station at the office and Maggie will pull in as many people as she can to take calls. I’ll leave Rowley in charge and that will leave us free to chase down the suspects. First on the list is Mathew Miller.” She pushed the last piece of bagel into her mouth and washed it down with coffee. “Let’s do it.”
* * *
As they arrived at the sheriff’s office a swarm of people surrounded Kane’s truck. He gave his siren a couple of blasts and the majority jumped back, startled. He pulled into his parking space and glanced at Jenna. “Wait here. I’ll come around to your side and keep these idiots away from you.”
“I’m sure they’ll leave me be.” Jenna went to push open the door and the crowd of reporters stepped forward as one. She glanced back at him. “Okay, do your stuff.”
Kane rounded the hood, glaring at the excited faces, and waited for Jenna to step from the truck. He raised his voice and gave them his best “back the hell off” stare. “If you want a statement, stand back or Sheriff Alton is going inside.”
The crowd fell quiet and an attractive blonde wearing a tailored suit, stilettoes and makeup applied with a trowel appeared at the front, followed by a man carrying a camera on one shoulder.
“Joanne Daly, Live Now News.” She offered Jenna a smile. “Sheriff Alton, do we have another killer in Black Rock Falls?”
“I have already issued a statement regarding Lindy Rosen. I’m here to speak to you about Amanda Braxton.” Jenna spoke loudly and clearly. “Amanda left her home sometime after midnight last night and was last seen in the company of an unknown male. If anyone has seen Amanda—” Jenna held up the girl’s photograph “—please call the crime hotline number. I’ll issue a further statement when more informat
ion comes to hand.”
A barrage of questions followed and reporters surged forward sticking recording devices in their faces, but Jenna’s face had turned to stone.
“I don’t have any answers for you at this time.” She glanced up at Kane. “I’m done here.”
Kane nodded. “I’ll grab Duke.” He opened the back door, unclipped the dog’s restraint and moved close to Jenna. He waved a hand at the persistent reporters. “Back off or I’ll arrest you for obstruction.”
The people opened up a path and they hustled into the sheriff’s office.
“My, oh, my.” Maggie gave them a huge grin from behind the front counter. “Seems like we have a couple of celebrities in our midst. Does this mean I get a pay rise?”
“I figure we should all get one since the population of Black Rock Falls has doubled since I took over as sheriff.” Jenna ran her hand along the counter. “Anything come in on the BOLO?”
“Not a thing and search and rescue found zip, but I have somethin’ that may be pertinent to the Lindy Rosen case.” Maggie turned to Julie Wolfe, who sat beside her. “Julie will explain what’s been going on at school.”
“Okay, Julie, come into my office. Kane, grab Rowley – he’ll want to be in on this.” Jenna strode into her office.
Kane turned to look at Julie. “Did something happen to you at school?”
“Not me.” Julie blushed scarlet. “It’s something I heard.” She gave him a small smile and followed Jenna.
“Ooookay.” Kane stared after them, then whistled to get Rowley’s attention and pointed to Jenna’s office.
“What’s happened?” Rowley came swiftly to his side.
Kane shrugged. “I don’t have the details; it’s something Julie heard at school. Do you need help setting up the command center for the Braxton case?”
“Nah, I’ve organized the Blackwater deputies to take over in shifts at the house and all the hotline calls will come through to here. Maggie’s organized a team and they’ll be here shortly.”
Kane listened with interest as Julie told Jenna about the number of girls at school having nightmares about men in their rooms. When Julie left the office, he leaned back in his chair. “What do you figure that’s all about?”
“I’m not sure.” Jenna mimicked his stance. “Mass hysteria, maybe?”
Kane rubbed the back of his neck. “Possible, especially as in all the cases Julie mentioned, the parents searched the girls’ bedroom and found no trace of anyone but they weren’t kidnapped.”
“Until you get to Lindy Rosen.” Rowley’s expression was serious. “She saw someone in her room, and then someone abducted and murdered her.”