Soul Eater (3 page)

"Okay, what evidence has been compiled against the suspect?"

"Well, what I've told you. A witness seeing the suspect near the abandoned car, and possible tracks on his property."

"That's all?” Jenna asked incredulous. “You'll need something a little harder than that to get a conviction."

"Jenna, the investigation is ongoing.” Gordon paused, taking a tired, rattling breath. “I'm sure more evidence will pile up. Right now we're in the process of getting a search warrant for the suspect's property and residence."

Jenna was angry at the department's incompetence, but her features softened as she remembered that she was talking with her father's best friend.

"I'm sorry Gordon. I would just hate to see this monster walk after all these years because the investigation was bungled."

"I can understand that.” Gordon smiled but the smile faded rapidly at Jenna next words.

"I'll need you to have the body ready for transport to the Medical Examiner's office in Cheyenne by noon."

Gordon was shaking his head. “That's completely unnecessary, I assure you. Besides, it's Sinister's jurisdiction."

Jenna shook her head. “Sorry Gordon, with the fact that the car was found on a Federal Indian Reservation, and that the murder could have possibly taken place there, it is now FBI jurisdiction. We'll be taking over the investigation. I'll need to interview the suspect and I'll also need access to any additional case files that may link the suspect to other crimes."

Mouth agape, Gordon stared at her through hardened eyes.

"If it helps at all, I am sorry. I'm just doing my job,” Jenna said, attempting to sooth him.

Slowly his mouth widened in a grin. “Of course you're. We're just not used to a little sprig of girl coming in here and taking over our cases."

Jenna knew that there was probably a lot of truth to Gordon's words.

The interrogation room was bright with harsh florescent lighting, hardly an atmosphere conducive to relaxing a suspect and taking him off guard. The white clinical walls gave one the impression that they were about to undergo some major surgery.

None of this penetrated Jenna's shocked consciousness at the sight that greeted her when she entered the small room. The man who sat on the other side of the table appeared to be tired, but instinctively alert.

All the hurt, anger, and passion of that long ago night reached its ghostly fingers through the wall of time to wrap around her throat. Jenna had to make a conscious effort to breathe. It was finally the amusement in those dark eyes that broke through.

"Do you find something funny Mr. Silver Wolf?” Jenna's words held a razor sharp edge.

Brody shook his head slowly. “Only that you seem to be following in your father's footsteps. How ironic is it that ten years ago I was staring at
him
from across a table."

"Indeed, Mr. Silver Wolf. Why don't you tell me what
did
my dad arrest you for?"

"Oh, just about anything and everything that went wrong if I was within miles of town. I guess something about me seemed to rub Officer Claremont the wrong way.” Brody gave her a crooked smile.

"I don't believe that.” Jenna's voice held a note of bitterness. Brody knew nothing of her father.

"Relax Agent Claremont.” Brody leaned back in the chair as if relaxing was exactly what he intended to do. “I didn't realize it at the time, but I suspect that he must have guessed his little girl's very grown up interest in me.” The look in his eyes told her much louder than words that he hadn't forgotten their night by the lake and her indiscretions.

Heat flooded Jenna's face, sending a torrent of humiliation through her that was quickly replaced by anger. “That was a very long time ago and has absolutely no bearing on either of our lives at this point.” Jenna's voice was soft, but unyielding. “I would have thought that you have a much more serious matter to occupy your thoughts."

Brody's gaze traveled from her eyes to her mouth and down the curve of her neck. His eyes glazed over as if his thoughts had ventured to a place that Jenna dared not remember.

Her pulse quickened, and she was helpless to calm it. Against her will, she felt herself spiraling back to a time buried in the past. In that instant she was a girl of eighteen again and her whole world revolved around the man who sat in front of her.

It was an era of innocence and golden dreams, a time when she had dared to dream of her father walking her down the aisle and reluctantly placing her into the capable hands of the most handsome man in Wyoming. It lasted for only the briefest of moments before Jenna slammed the door shut with an echoing crack of finality.

With new purpose, Jenna sat in the chair across from Brody and opened the case file in front of her.

"What were you doing in the vicinity of the victim's car, Brody?"

"That's a confidential matter,” he answered without hesitation.

"Did you know Mary Brodrick?” Jenna's curiosity was piqued.

Brody shook his head. “No never saw her before in my life."

"Then I repeat, what were you doing?"

"And I repeat that is a confidential matter,” he said with a smile.

"Brody, do you realize how serious these charges are?"

"Yes, ma'am, I do.” Again he gave her a soft smile. “But Jenna, you're fully aware that I'm not the Eerie Mountain Killer."

Jenna watched him closely, realizing for the first time that he didn't appear to be the least bit agitated over his predicament. It was as if he knew something that the rest of them were completely overlooking.

How could she be sure that it hadn't been him that chased her through the woods on that terrifying night? If she had to testify in a court of law, could she swear that it hadn't been him?

The fact was, if her testimony was based entirely on what happened and what she saw, then she couldn't swear it hadn't been him ... but in her heart she knew then and she knew now that it hadn't been Brody who had assaulted her that night.

"I'll admit that I think it highly unlikely that you're this monstrous serial killer that has plagued Sinister for the past fifteen years, but you and I both know that it isn't my opinion that counts."

"And so you'd let the man that you swore you'd love forever go to death row?"

Jenna couldn't believe that he could speak of such things with so much amusement dancing in his dark eyes. Somehow he knew that he'd never be convicted of this crime.

"Brody, it would be fine with me if you'd stop referring to that naive little girl that I once was, and just take my word that she doesn't exist anymore.” Jenna pasted a hard smile on her lips.

"Are you so sure of that baby doll?” Brody had grown serious.

Jenna leaned over the table, bringing herself close enough to him that she could speak in a hushed tone. ‘I am quite sure, Brody Silver Wolf. That girl is long gone, and I'm also sure that everything we say and do is being caught on camera. So if you don't want to compromise this case, I'd keep it as impersonal as possible. Otherwise you may risk dealing with an agent that doesn't feel you aren't guilty."

Brody gave her a slight nod of affirmation.

Jenna stood up, but before leaving she turned back to Brody and assessed him in a cool, professional manner. “I'll have to get a warrant to search any property or vehicles you might have. If they don't find any further evidence against you, they'll have to let you go."

She left the room, wishing she could walk away from the emotions that were stirring within her as easily as she'd just walked away from Brody Silver Wolf.

The finality of the electronic cell door clanking shut behind him was unnerving. The new cells were constructed of solid steel with one observation window cut in the door. Brody calmed his nerves by reminding himself that they would find nothing when they searched his property.

That was unless they planted it?
The unbidden thought crept its way into his brain like poisonous worms.

He pushed the thought aside, wondering where it had come from. It was true that he had a natural distrust of the Sinister Police Department, but Jenna would play it straight.

Reclining on the small cot that was supposed to pass for a bed, Brody closed his eyes and indulged in thoughts of Jenna. Like so many times over the years, images of her haunted him relentlessly. How often had he regretted not plucking the fruit of her innocence when it had been offered?

Brody groaned inwardly as the memories of her soft lips became so vivid that he could almost taste her sweetness. With his arousal becoming almost painful he attempted to close his mind to the memory, but instead of the blank nothingness that he wanted, he heard her hushed words on that fateful night.

I will love you until the day I take my last breath.

Those innocently spoken words had haunted him for all these years. Had Jenna any idea what she'd done to his life on that night? How she'd turned it inside out, and how it had torn at his soul when she'd gone away?

He had long ago accepted the fact that the little waif had gone from his life forever, but every time he looked at a woman, or yearned for the touch of a female, those bewitching green eyes had been there ... stalking him, pleading with him.

Another unwelcome thought intruded into his peace. Jenna showing up at this point in time wasn't an accident. The Soul Eater's evil had reached out to pull her back within reach of its grasp.

She was one smart woman. He doubted that she would miss much. What if she got too close to the truth as a few others had? What would happen to her? He had no doubt that it wanted her. The other victims had been mere appetizers. It is Jenna that it wanted.

Fear wrapped around his heart, squeezing painfully. Brody got to his feet to impatiently pace the confines of the cell like a caged panther.

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Outside, the sun had finally made it over the mountain to bathe the town in light. Jenna made her way to the red car that she'd gotten from the rental company in Cheyenne. Once she was in the driver's seat she leaned back on the headrest and closed her eyes.

Brody was the last person she had expected to see. It would've been useless to deny that a part of her had wanted to see him, but she had never really thought about what she'd do if she did.

Was it possible that she was still in love with him?

What had he called her that night that she'd brazenly thrown herself at him ... a distraction? Well, now he would be the distraction if she let her emotions get away with her. She was here for one thing only, and that was to catch a killer, a killer who she felt sure was behind the disappearance of her family.

Jenna turned the key and the car came to life. Her stomach growled, reminding her that she hadn't eaten since yesterday. Pulling out on Main Street, Jenna turned in the direction of the Red Rock Café. Before her nightmare had begun, her family often ate at the Red Rock.

The owner of the café, Rita Lawson, was a good family friend. Rita had been the town gossip and would surely have some idea about what had been going on in Sinister. That was one thing Rita was good at, coming up with her own theories.

The parking lot was empty, save for an old black pickup truck with a rusty tailgate. Parking next to the truck, Jenna locked her car and went inside. At the far end of the bar, John Hessler sat sipping a cup of coffee. Behind the counter a tall thin woman was busy straightening the salt and pepper.

Rita hadn't weathered the past ten years well. Her once golden blond hair was laced with gray and her face was deeply lined. The woman still wore the same, light blue waitress uniform that she always had. Jenna thought it looked like something she'd bought from a 1950s retro catalogue.

Jenna took a seat at the counter and Rita walked over to her. “What can I get ya?” she asked in a colorless voice that Jenna thought was very unlike Rita.

"An omelet and orange juice."

At the sound of Jenna's voice, Rita looked up from her pad and paper, studying her through watery, blue eyes.

"Why ... Jenna Claremont, I never.... “A hint of a smile played on the woman's lips.

"How have you been Mrs. Lawson?"

"Same as always, just working too hard. What are you doing back in Sinister? I was sure you'd never want to see this place again."

"I'm here on official business."

"One omelet!” Rita called out the order loud enough for the cook back in the kitchen to hear. She then poured a glass of orange juice and set it in front of Jenna.

"I did hear you worked for some government agency now. This wouldn't have something to do with that senator's daughter would it?"

"The FBI, and, yes, I'm here investigating that homicide."

"What a terrible business that was.” Rita shook her head.

"Yes, it was unfortunate that she chose to come through Sinister,” Jenna said, eyeing Rita to see if there was any hint that the woman was bursting to get something off her chest. To Jenna's amazement, Rita was acting almost the opposite, somewhat closed mouth.

A few minutes later, Rita brought out her breakfast. Jenna thanked her and began to eat. She'd almost forgotten how good the Red Rock's food was.

Rita lingered. “I never did get a chance to tell you how sorry I was about what happened to your folks."

Jenna looked up from her plate. “What did happen to them, I wonder?"

Rita shrugged her shoulders. “Could have had something to do with someone your dad arrested at some point or another."

This surprised Jenna since it was almost certain that the disappearances were connected to the case her father had been working on at the time. Even if no one else in town had put that together, she was sure Rita would have.

They had caught the attention of old man Hessler, who was now studying them over the rim of his glasses.

"What a bunch of horse crap. Everyone knows it was that killer that got to ‘em.” His hoarse voice brimmed with irritation.

"We don't know that for sure, John.” Rita frowned at him.

"Like hell we don't. Nobody wants to talk about it because the cowards in this town are afraid they'll be next."