“I’ll get you a refill as soon as I’ve dealt with the press.” Kane straightened. “What’s your plan for the interviews?”
“I figured I’ll go in alone and have you outside observing through the window.” Her lips twitched up at the corners. “I don’t want them to believe they’ve scared me, and you’ll be outside decoding their body language.”
No way. Before Kane could object, a sharp knock came on the door. It opened slowly. Agent Martin stood in the doorway.
“I’ve some information on the items found at the scene.” Martin stepped inside, closing the door behind him. “Both items are listed as missing from the bodies of two women murdered last year. Christine Pullman and Joy Coran. The strange thing is, the women were both out of different counties and there’s been no connection between the murders until now.”
Mind reeling from the information, Kane cleared his throat. “Time of year the same?”
“Yeah.” Martin frowned. “How did you figure that out?”
Kane shrugged. “The distance between the crime scenes suggests the killer moves around, so he’s either a truck driver and it’s a coincidence, but most likely he likes to spend his vacations on killing sprees.”
“What age are the victims?” Jenna stared at Martin.
“Thirty-five and forty-one.” Martin frowned. “I’ve downloaded the case files into the current murder book.”
“Do they resemble me?” Jenna turned to her computer as if unconcerned.
“No, they’re both different.” Martin raised an eyebrow at Kane. “Where’s this heading?”
Kane explained. “What were their occupations?”
“A psychiatrist and a social worker. They tick the boxes.” Jenna looked at Kane and sighed. “My day is just getting better by the second.”
Forty-Four
After watching Kane’s live press conference through the window, Jenna waited for him to return, and then made her way to the interview room. She sat down opposite Paul Kittredge and placed a legal pad, folder and pen on the table. Although both she and Kane had revisited the files of the four men, they’d found nothing to add. It would take her skill as an interviewer to pry some more details from the potential suspects. She stared at the man leaning back nonchalantly in the seat opposite her. “I just have a few more questions.”
“Wanting to see me three times in one week, isn’t that somethin’?” He glanced at his watch. “Can’t be more than twelve hours since we last spoke. Did you miss me?” He grinned.
“And I’ll keep hauling you in until I’ve gotten the answers I need.” Jenna took the remote control from a drawer in the desk. “Do you have an objection to me taping the interview, Mr. Kittredge?”
“Nope.” He leaned forward and stared into her eyes. “Want a little somethin’ to drool over later, Sheriff?”
Ignoring him, she pressed the record button on the remote and stated her name, then asked Kittredge to do the same. “I appreciate you coming in. You’re not under arrest but if you’d like an attorney present for this interview, you’re within your rights to do so.”
“I know my rights.” Kittredge smiled at her. “I don’t have anything to hide from you, Sheriff. Ask your questions so I can get back to work.”
Jenna stared at her notes. Dear Lord, the smell of stale beer, cigarettes and sweat reeked out of him. She figured he hadn’t bathed or changed his clothes in a week or so. Deciding to start with a few general questions, she picked up her pen. “How long have you worked for the Green Thumb Landscaping Service?”
“Since I came out of jail.” Kittredge stretched. “I completed a landscaping course in prison.”
“I see.” Jenna made notes as if every word he said was important. “You live at the Triple Z. Didn’t you have a family to go to when you came out of jail?”
“Nope.” Kittredge moved around in his seat. “My ma died young and I never knew my daddy.”
Jenna frowned. “That must have been hard. How old were you?”
“Why all the questions, you plannin’ on askin’ me to marry you?” He chuckled.
Not in this life. Jenna cleared her throat. “We’ve already established you know Lindy Rosen and Amanda Braxton. As you’re probably aware, both girls have died.”
“I didn’t kill them.” He barked out a laugh. “I prefer my girls breathin’.” He gave her a long hard stare. “You know darn well I used to like them young, but six years of therapy cured me of that inclination. Now my interest lies in a more mature woman.”
“Ah, I see.” Jenna smiled at him. “So you’d have no objection to giving us permission to search your room and truck?” She wrote a few lines on a statement pad and pushed it across the table to him with a pen. “So we can prove your innocence?”
“Sure, why not.” Kittredge signed and slid the notepad and pen back to her. “Can I go now?”