Jenna glanced at the clock in her office; in less than fifteen minutes Steve Rogers’ lawyer would be walking into her office and demanding an interview. Kane was MIA and Wolfe had flashed past her door ushering Emily before him, face in a permanent frown and looking like a Viking berserker. What the hell is happening now? She closed the open file on her computer then pushed to her feet. The smell of coffee brewing was driving her crazy and if she snuck out to the kitchenette now, she had time to grab a cup of Joe before the interview. In the hallway, she could hear the rumble of Wolfe’s deep voice; not loud but if her father had spoken to her in such a way, she would have shriveled up and died on the spot. Feeling a little sorry for Emily, she reached for the freshly brewed pot of coffee.

“Pour one for me, will you?”

As usual, Kane had walked up behind her without making a sound. She turned her head a little to watch him drop a large box of donuts on the counter then turn away and stash something in his desk drawer. “Been on a shopping spree? You do remember Rogers’ lawyer is due in about ten minutes?”

“Yeah and I haven’t been shopping.” He raised one dark eyebrow and piled his coffee with sugar and cream. “I was undercover, so to speak, keeping an eye on Emily. The baker had the strange idea I was staring so long in his window because I couldn’t afford to purchase a cake. He came out, thrust the donuts into my hands, and gave me the best ‘get lost’ look I’ve seen in ages. I guess having me hanging around outside his shop was bad for business.” He grinned. “The cookies I stashed are mine. A guy my size needs a lot of cookies, especially chocolate chip ones made by his boss.”

Jenna grinned at him. “I’ll bake some more this weekend.” She waved her cup toward the control room. “Wolfe is in there with Emily, and from his face, she is in trouble with a capital T. What happened and why did you have to watch her? I thought she was at the Foxes’ place.” She reached for a sugar donut.

“You have no idea.” Kane cocked one dark eyebrow. “Let’s say the situation was more than tense. You had two deputies ready to throw law out the window and throttle the little weasel.”

Amazed Wolfe had agreed to Emily’s plan to discover Lionel Provine’s secret dealings, she gaped at him as he explained. Her mind went into freefall at the revelation Steve Rogers’ doctor could prove he was innocent of the girls’ murders. She stared at Kane, trying to process the fact Rogers could have killed his wife. She shook her head slowly, realizing the magnitude of the problem she faced. “Oh my God. The arrest warrant for Rogers was specific to the girls’ murders and is useless. We can’t hold him on suspicion of murdering his wife; as far as we know, she isn’t missing.” She leaned back on the counter and sipped her coffee. “We are in deep shit.” She glanced at him. “I hope you can help me figure a way out of this mess?”

“I’ll do my best.” Kane’s blue eyes moved toward the front door. “I’ll need to think quickly, here is the lawyer now.”

“Dammit.” She flicked a look at the door. “Rogers is going to walk, and if we’ve made a mistake, he’ll kill again.”

“Someone will kill again. The clock is ticking.” Kane rolled his wide shoulders. “All we can do is stretch our resources and watch these suspects.”

Jenna sighed. “Take Mr. Jenkins down to the interview room then get Rogers. I’ll ask Wolfe to place trackers on our suspects’ vehicles. I doubt we’ll be able to use any evidence gathered in court but between you and me, I wouldn’t mind knowing if either of our suspects leaves home tonight.”

“Neither would I.”

She strolled toward the lawyer and fixed a smile on her face. “Right on time. If you will go with Deputy Kane, we’ll have your client in the interview room in a few minutes.”

“Interview room?” Jenkins adjusted his tie, his buffed, manicured nails glistening as he moved his soft hands. “Why was I forced to speak to Mr. Rogers in his cell last time?”

“Because we didn’t have a room available and now we do. Deputy Kane will be conducting the interview and he will bring your client.”

After speaking to Wolfe, she strolled across the main floor, down the passageway, and through the door to the steps leading down to the cells. To her delight, Wolfe had made a few changes in the days since his arrival. He had changed a storage area into an interview room. It had an electronic lock complete with card entry, turning it into a secure area. She flashed her ID card over the scanner and held the door open.

She glanced at the lawyer seated at the large wooden table and sat opposite. “Before we begin, how open do you believe Mr. Rogers would be to waive the doctor–patient privilege?”

“It is not something we have discussed but from my dealings with Mr. Rogers, I can assure you he is of sound mind.” Jenkins’ thin lips turned down as he fussed with his leather briefcase. “This trumped-up charge is just that—pure fabrication and indication of more harassment from your deputy.”

The door opened and Kane’s blue gaze rested on Jenna for a few seconds before he ushered the handcuffed Rogers into the room.

She took in the prisoner’s disheveled appearance and the smell of unwashed sweat filled her nostrils. Her attention moved to the lawyer. “I would like to make it very clear, it is a prisoner’s choice to use the facilities or not. Mr. Rogers was offered a shower this morning but he refused.”

“After four days, we usually hose them down.” Kane dropped his huge frame into the chair beside her and his mouth quirked into a slight grin. “Health reasons, you understand?” He placed a folder on the table.

Jenna glared at him then cleared her throat. “I am switching on the recorder now; the interview will be sound- and video-taped. The time is five past three. In the room is Sheriff Jenna Alton, Deputy David Kane, attorney for the prisoner, Mr. Samuel Jenkins, and the prisoner, Mr. Steve Rogers. Deputy Kane will start proceedings.”

“Mr. Rogers, we have determined your whereabouts during the murders of Felicity Parker and Kate Bright.” As he slid three graphic crime scene photographs of the victims across the table, his expression turned to granite. “We have signed statements from witnesses who can place you in the area at the time of death of both these girls.”

“I didn’t do that. My God, do you think I am some kind of animal?” Rogers’ eyes bulged and a blue vein throbbed in his temple. “I know those two girls, they are my students. I’m a teacher at the high school, for God’s sake.” He pointed at Joanne’s image. “I’ve never seen her in my life.”

“The girls were savagely raped.” Kane’s hard gaze did not leave his face. “Then displayed to make them look like prostitutes. Animals might tear a person to shreds but I’ve never heard of one raping their victims first.”

“I couldn’t rape anyone.” Rogers’ cheeks pinked.

Jenna wanted to interject and ask about his potency; it seemed the perfect time but as she opened her mouth to speak, she caught Kane’s disapproving stare and leaned back to observe. He was using his skills to lead Rogers into confessing his virility.

“Really?” Kane’s large fists clenched on the table. “What is your opinion on prostitution, Mr. Rogers?”

“That question is totally irrelevant.” Jenkins’ dark eyes flashed in anger.

“Is it?” Kane moved his dark head slowly toward the lawyer then back to Rogers. “In my opinion, the killer has had dealings with prostitutes, perhaps suffered abuse as a child. Did you suffer abuse as a child, Mr. Rogers, is that why you killed these girls as revenge against your mother?”

“I want to answer the question.” Rogers’ face paled but he lifted his chin. “I don’t have an opinion on prostitutes. I wouldn’t go to one but how they live is their business.” He let out a long sigh. “As to my childhood. My mother is a compassionate, gentle, God-fearing woman.”

“So, nothing like your wife?”

“My wife?” Rogers scratched his head, making his hair stick up in all directions. “My wife could shred a man’s dignity with one lash of her tongue.”

“You mentioned you ‘couldn’t’ rape anyone and that’s normal, but most people would find a beautiful young woman attractive. Of course, the majority would not dream of touching an underage woman but to deny the victims were attractive has to be unusual.” Kane’s cold stare moved over Rogers’ face and Jenna could almost see the prisoner squirm in his seat. “Are you impotent?”

Jenna moved her attention toward Jenkins and waited for him to halt the interview but to her surprise, he was regarding his client with interest. Perhaps he had gleaned the notion if Rogers could prove he was impotent then he was innocent of murdering the girls.

“Why would you ask such a personal question?” Rogers’ cheeks glowed. “That is none of your business.”

“Ah, but it is a very relevant question.” Kane’s blue gaze narrowed. “Did you rape these young women?”

“Good Lord, no.” Rogers’ eyes filled with tears that ran down his cheeks. “I would never do such a thing.”

“Wouldn’t or couldn’t?”

“Both, okay?” Rogers wiped at his red-rimmed eyes. “I’ve been seeing specialists for years. Since moving here my records are with Doctors Littleman and Peters at Black Rock Falls General Hospital. I had an appointment two weeks ago. I had a skiing accident three years ago, damaged my lower back, and since then zip. My wife insisted there was nothing wrong with me and I was ignoring her and having sex with every woman in town.”

“If you will give permission for your doctors to verify the condition, we will be willing to drop the charges.” Kane leaned his wide shoulders back in the chair, making it creak alarmingly.

“I would advise you to comply and I can get you out of here this afternoon.” Samuel Jenkins gave his client a look of pity. “I’ll collect the information personally so nobody else need know.”

Jenna leaned forward. “I’m afraid the DA will need to be notified of the reason we are withdrawing the charges against Mr. Rogers.”

“Very well, draw up the papers and I’ll sign them.” Rogers dabbed at his tear-glossed cheeks with the end of his shirt.

“Just one more thing before I return you to your cell.” Kane leaned his muscular forearms on the table and stared at Rogers with near violent intensity. “Where is your wife?”

“I hope she is rotting in hell.” Rogers’ Adam’s apple bobbed. “After all I’ve been through she refused to believe I wasn’t seeing other women. Stupid me was faithful to her for four long ugly years, and trust me, I had plenty of offers. She threatened to leave me on a daily basis. Now she’s gone and I’m free of the witch.”

“That’s all I have for now. Sheriff, do you want to question the suspect?”

“No, I have nothing to add.” Jenna turned her attention to the lawyer. “Is there anything you would like to say?”

“No.”

“Very well, the interview is terminated at three-ten” She turned off the recording device. “I have the paperwork ready for signature.” She removed documents from Kane’s manila folder and passed them to Mr. Jenkins. “If you’ll check these, ask Mr. Rogers to sign all copies, we can obtain the information without delay.”

“I will take the documents personally and return them as soon as possible. I have some sway and will go directly to the hospital.” Jenkins gathered up his copies with a flourish and stood. “If you’ll open the door, I’ll be on my way.” He patted Rogers on the shoulder. “I’ll have you out of here soon.”

Jenna looked up into Kane’s worried expression and chewed on her bottom lip. In a few hours, a potential murderer would be walking the streets of Black Rock Falls and there was not a damn thing she could do about it.