Desperate to identify the victim, Jenna leaned on her desk and stared at the photographs of the crime scene, trying to concentrate on the clues. Old Joey had corroborated Lucky’s story about the injury but the weather-beaten old man had informed her he was sure the two men had left the fairgrounds before eight, which gave them plenty of time to commit murder, wash, and return to their vehicle.

Kane’s anger toward her at the fairgrounds and his stony silence on the ride back to the sheriff’s office disturbed her concentration. Of course, he had a point and was only watching her back. She would try to smooth things over with him later after he returned from attending the autopsy. Good luck with that.

Dragging her mind back to the case, she stared at the girl’s face. Deputy Wolfe had taken the image after removing the makeup at the post-mortem. No permission was required for an autopsy in the case of an evident homicide, and Mr. Weems, the mortician and acting M.E., had agreed to perform the official examination immediately. The victim looked so young and innocent without the smeared red lipstick, yet it was after five and no one had reported her missing. After instructing Deputy Rowley to contact the local hospital and ask them to call her if anyone called looking for their daughter, she had hit a brick wall.

She turned to her computer, accessed the local high school’s yearbook photographs, and scrolled through the sophomore images. Not three pages into the file, she found the cheerleader squad, and there in the front row was her victim. She zoomed in on the image and compared the smiling face staring back at her to the blank staring eyes of the victim. With trembling fingers, she scrolled to the bottom of the photograph and read the list of names. Not trusting the accuracy of the printer or photographer to have the correct names corresponding to the people, she copied the identities into her notebook. She would start with the three girls on the front row, but Felicity Parker, wearing her hair tied up in a ponytail and a cheerleader uniform, was most likely her victim.

The last name rang a bell and she called out to Rowley. When the young deputy stepped inside her office, she lifted her gaze. “The librarian, isn’t her name Parker?”

“Might be, I haven’t been to the library since Google.” Rowley grinned. “I’ll ask Maggie, she reads all the time.” He strolled from the office and returned a few moments later with Maggie close behind.

“Why are you asking about Jill Parker? She isn’t in trouble, is she?” Maggie’s eyes rounded. “Oh Lord, the body isn’t her, is it?”

Jenna cleared her throat and gestured for Rowley to close the door. “No, I’m looking for Felicity Parker—is she related, do you know?”

“That would be her daughter.” Maggie’s brown gaze slid to the images spread out on Jenna’s desk and one hand went to her mouth. “Oh no, not Felicity.” She dropped into the chair and covered her face with both hands.

Selecting one image and turning over the pile to hide the contents, Jenna cleared her throat. “If you know this girl, I’ll need you to take a closer look. Is this Felicity?” She stood, poured a glass of water from the cooler, and handed it to her. “Maggie, can you look at the photograph?”

Maggie lifted her tear-streaked face and took a deep breath then glanced at the image. She turned her head away and sobbed. “It’s Felicity. I’ve known her since she was a baby.”

“I’m so sorry. Can you tell me where Mrs. Parker lives?”

“Number six, Elm Street. Down near Stanton Forest.” Maggie took a tissue from her sleeve and mopped her eyes.

“Is her husband at home?” Jenna wanted to hug her but had to ask questions. “She’ll need someone with her when we inform her. Does she have any family or friends nearby?”

“Yes, Sean gets home about five thirty and her sister lives in town. I know her number, I’ll write it down for you.” Maggie blew her nose then took Jenna’s pen and wrote down a name and number.

“Thank you.” Jenna sighed. “Go home, I can handle things here.”

“I’m sorry for your loss.” Rowley helped her to her feet. “I’ll give you a ride home. Don’t worry about anything. I’ll come back and help Sheriff Alton lock up.”

Jenna nodded. “Yes, thank you. Can you send in Kane and Wolfe before you leave?”

“Yes, ma’am.” Rowley slid one muscular arm around Maggie’s shoulder and led her away.

A waft of aftershave preceded Kane and Wolfe’s entrance. Both men had attended the autopsy then showered and changed before returning to the office. She glanced at them. “Do you have anything we can use?”

“I have a copy of the recording I made at the scene and will have an initial report for you first thing in the morning. The M.E.’s official report will take longer—I insisted on a full blood screen and DNA samples.”

“Was she raped?”

“Yeah.” Wolfe’s forehead crinkled into a deep frown and he cleared his throat. “I’m afraid so. No evidence of semen. Right now, we have zip to find this guy.”

She tried in vain to push the dead girl’s face from her mind and tucked a lock of hair behind one ear. “Maggie identified our victim as Felicity Parker and is really upset, poor woman. I would like you to go and break the news to her parents. They should be home by five thirty.” She handed Kane the address. “I would come with you but I’ll need to remain here until Rowley returns. He has taken Maggie home.” She turned her attention to Wolfe. “I know you wish to speak to me about a confidential matter but I understand if you need to get home to your girls.”

“I’ve arranged to interview the housekeepers this evening. I have three coming over from seven thirty. All can start straight away and one is prepared to live in, which will be the best option, especially since the house has a separate apartment over the garage.” Wolfe smiled but it did not reach his eyes. “I really appreciate the trouble you took finding these women for me and making sure they are suitable candidates.”

Perturbed by his complete lack of emotion, she wondered if working with dead bodies gave him the skill to turn off his feelings. She cleared her throat. “I don’t take chances where kids are concerned. The references checked out and Mrs. Mills I know personally. She is a very kind lady and took care of Duke’s grandkids for two years. He gave her a glowing reference and will give you any information you need to know about her. She is a widow in her fifties and I think you’ll like her.”

“Thanks. I have a nanny cam as well. I don’t trust anyone with my kids.” Wolfe straightened to his full impressive height. “I’ll head home after we’ve spoken to the Parkers. You’ll want one of them to do an official identification?”

“I’ll handle that part of the business. You go home to your kids.” Kane nodded at him then turned his deep blue gaze on her. “I know you have a lot on your plate right now, ma’am, but we would appreciate twenty minutes of your time to speak to you in private. My house would probably be best. If the housekeeper works out, we could go to my house when convenient. It’s safe from prying eyes and ears.” He rubbed the back of his neck, clearly uncomfortable. “I know you’re upset with me right now but it’s important.”

Here they go again. Jenna’s heart picked up the pace and she lifted her chin. “I’m not annoyed with you at all. Okay, if it is as urgent as you say, I’ll speak with you tomorrow morning at seven at your cottage. Rowley can open up in the morning.” She flicked a stare at Wolfe. “Kane will give you directions.”

“I’ll drop the Felicity Parker case paperwork in here before I go home.” Kane gave her a long, considering stare. “You look tired. Will you meet me for dinner at Aunt Betty’s café? After delivering the bad news, I’d rather not eat alone tonight.”

She shook her head. “Thanks, but not tonight. It’s been a long day and I’m going to spend the evening going over what evidence we have so far, then I need to get some rest to get my head straight. I’ll speak with you in the morning.”

“You have to eat and I’ll be back within the hour if you change your mind.” Kane let out a long, exasperated sigh. “I would really value your company.”

After staring at the paperwork on her desk for some moments, she lifted her head slowly and met his gaze. “I’ll think about it.” She returned to her paperwork, glad at the sound of the door shutting behind him.

The one thing Jenna hated above all else was untrustworthy people. She believed her friendship with Kane was rock solid, but the comfortable feeling she experienced with him was evaporating fast. Sure, she knew he’d come straight from a branch of the special forces, more likely special ops or marines, but they had come to a sort of truce, agreeing not to pry into each other’s past, then the moment a new deputy walks into town, Kane acts as if he wants everything out in the open.

Right now, she had so many bells and whistles going off in her head she could not think straight. After three years of perceived safety off the grid, hidden in Black Rock Falls in wonderful obscurity, the rug had been well and truly pulled out from under her feet. There was no way Shane Wolfe recognized her as Special Agent Avril Parker. After intensive facial reconstruction, the agents she had worked with would not know her. Yet it was obvious Wolfe had discussed something of great importance with Kane.

A secret bond had grown between them in milliseconds; in fact, about the same time as her intolerable unease had returned. If Kane and Wolfe were both ex government agents, had something she said triggered Wolfe’s memory about her case? If he had discovered her new identity, would he discuss the matter with Kane? Almost four years ago, after the government had recruited her for a special undercover mission due to her lack of family ties, she had testified against international underworld kingpin Viktor Carlos. The trial received extensive media coverage, with her face plastered all over world news. The moment the verdict came down as per her agreement with the Department of Homeland Security, she had vanished. No doubt, after Carlos threatened her in court, he would have offered considerable bribes for information of her whereabouts.

She chewed on her bottom lip. God help her if Wolfe being here had compromised her security after over two years of obscurity. Dammit, she had just started to feel safe again. She had one option: to divide and conquer. Wolfe seemed a hard nut to crack but Kane had at least offered her dinner. As three years of hiding unraveled in seconds, she pulled out her Glock and placed it on the desk then reached in the drawer for her backup Sig. Cleaning the weapons helped her to think, and if Kane had joined forces with Wolfe, she would need to up her game—and fast.