The spicy smell of barbecued ribs, fried onions, and beer smacked Jenna in the face the moment she stepped from the SUV. People flowed into the fairgrounds from every direction wearing brightly colored clothes and cowboy hats, but the way they dressed did not disguise the air of unease rippling through the crowd. The threat of a killer in their midst hung over the carnival like a wet blanket. Parents kept their children close to their sides and she could not help noticing the way people bunched together, their worried expressions darting in all directions. Every stranger was a potential threat.

The uneasy chatter rose and fell over the loud country and western music blaring out of the huge hall. Flashing fairy lights lined the pathway leading to the entrance and they joined the line to the hall. Apprehension of allowing the dance to proceed flowed through her but the mayor had insisted the event take place as usual. His idea to flush out the killer might cost another girl her life. With the threat of a serial killer on the loose, she intended to keep everyone on high alert for the evening.

The Blackwater deputies moved around the entrance and she had spotted a couple near the parking lot; no doubt, Duke Walters would be inside. She decided to use her new communication toy and went through the names of all the deputies, asking each one to check in. Glad to find Deputy Rowley had Provine in his sight, and in fact had been speaking to him earlier, she relaxed a little. “This communication device is fantastic.” Turning off her mic, she grinned at Kane. “I’m surprised with all this noise I could still hear everyone reasonably well.”

“Yeah, Wolfe knows his gadgets.” Kane gave her an appreciative glance. “I know you don’t dance but will you have a go around the floor with me? It would be a good excuse to scope the room and see who is here.”

“Yeah but don’t make it too obvious, we are meant to be enjoying ourselves.”

“I think the people here would expect us to be watching out for their safety.” He sighed. “Come on, Jenna, taking the first step is the hardest.”

Suddenly concerned she would make a complete fool of herself, she glanced at him. “I’ll give it a try but don’t expect too much.”

“You’ll learn the moves in no time.” Kane’s wide back turned toward her for a second as he handed in their tickets, then he smiled at her. “You pick up new moves in hand-to-hand combat fast. Dancing will be a breeze.”

Hoping her self-taught skills would pass muster, she nodded. “Okay.”

As they walked inside the brightly lit hall, she eyed the twirling couples on the dance floor. She caught sight of Jake Rowley dressed to the nines leaning casually against the bar, his gaze moving around the room. Since Kane’s arrival more than six months previously, he had worked with Rowley to improve his skills, and in fact, Rowley’s input in investigations had been invaluable. He seemed to notice the small important things people overlooked. She trusted him to watch Lionel Provine, and if he made one move toward a girl, she would know. Her gaze drifted over the dancers and she noticed Lucky Briggs and Storm Crawley spinning around the floor with a couple of women, all smiles and laughter as if oblivious to the lingering threat. Although they had given her a scare, she discounted both men as possible killers from the evidence, and their alibis for Kate’s murder checked out.

She stood in the jostling crowd at the edge of the dance floor, nodding greetings at the townsfolk. In her periphery, she noticed Susie Hartwig making a beeline for Kane. “Told you the women would be falling all over you.” She laughed as she continued scanning the room.

“Save me.” Kane held out one large hand and his blue eyes sparkled. “Come on, show me your moves, we can watch everything from the dance floor.”

Jenna stepped into his arms and they moved together with ease. Although Kane’s eyes never left the crowd, he kept up an easy conversation with her. After the third song, she discovered the Texas two-step might well be her favorite dance. She smiled up at him. “I’m beat and I’m not attempting the boot-scooting. I need to take a look around.”

“Sure.” Kane closed his long fingers around her hand and led her toward the tables set around the hall. “There’s Wolfe. I’ll go get some drinks and see who is at the bar.”

She took a seat at the table and smiled at Wolfe. “Everything okay? Where’s Emily?”

“On the dance floor.” Wolfe gave her a look of despair. “You have no idea how difficult it is raising three daughters without their mother.”

“You are doing a great job.”

“Nah, I mess up more times than you imagine.” Wolfe huffed out a miserable sigh. “For instance, Emily asks my opinion on what she is wearing. She wants a man’s opinion. Now, I see her as my little girl, so I put my foot down on allowing her to wear short shorts and have a bare midriff.” He shook his head slowly. “She is growing up way too fast.” His attention had not left the dance floor.

Jenna followed his gaze to see Emily dancing with a young man. All smiles but respectfully dressed in blue jeans and a western shirt with sparkles. “She looks great, what are you worrying about?”

“She is impulsive and I’m sure she lacks the fear gene.” His mouth flattened to a thin line. “I’m frankly scared to buy her a car, although she has her license. She is too much like me. The other girls take after their mother.”

Feeling sorry for Emily, she patted him on the arm. “Lighten up, she’s been through a hard time, she needs a night to have some fun.”

“I’m trying.”

Not long after Kane came back with a pitcher of cola and glasses, Emily came to the table with Julia, one of Aimee’s friends. Jenna smiled at her. “Having fun?”

“Well not really but I’m glad Emily dragged me out, I couldn’t stop crying. My parents are here as well for extra safety. Have you noticed the ring of men standing around the dance floor? It looks like the townsfolk are on full alert waiting for someone to make the wrong move.”

“It’s safe, there are deputies everywhere.” Emily tossed her long blonde hair over one shoulder and turned to her father. “I’m going to the bathroom with Julia and then getting a hot dog. We’ll be back soon.”

“I’ll walk over with you.” Wolfe’s cheek twitched.

“Dad, please. I’m seventeen not seven.” Emily’s eyes flashed with anger. “I’ll be fine. I’ll be a few feet away and make sure I’m in a crowd. Okay? Watch my things. I’ll be back in five.” She pulled a bill out of her wallet then dropped it with her cellphone on the table.

“Don’t you think you should take your phone?”

“I’m hardly going to be making calls while I’m peeing and I have my brooch as a backup if anything happens. Stop worrying.” Emily flounced off with her friend and disappeared into the throng of noisy people.

They sat in awkward silence for some time and Jenna noticed the way Wolfe checked his watch then his cellphone every few minutes. She cleared her throat. “Why don’t you ask Rowley if he can see her? He is at the bar to watching Provine. He should be able to see the refreshments stand from there.”

She waited, listening to the conversation in her earbud. Apparently, Rowley had not seen Emily buying hot dogs at all but there was a long line. Her attention fixed on Wolfe, who was drumming his fingers on the table in agitation. “Can’t you locate her via her tracker?”

“Yeah.” Wolfe’s brow furrowed as he held up his cellphone to display the screen. “It gives her location as the fairgrounds. As this area isn’t in the maps, it comes up as a single location. It doesn’t tell me exactly where she is in the area at this moment.”

“Would you like me to check the ladies’ room? No doubt there will be quite a wait there as well.”

“Yeah, thanks. I wish she had taken her phone with her.” Wolfe offered her a weak smile. “I know I’m overprotective but after what’s happened this week, I have cause.”

“Not a problem.” Jenna strolled toward the door.