Jenna then turned toward Officer Maria Delgado, who was now at the scene.She knew that she needed someone with Maria’s people skills for something else that needed to be done.
"Maria, I need you to go talk to Mrs.Thornfield—break the news about Claudia's death without giving away any details.Do you think you can do that?"
“I’ll do my best,” Maria said.
“I know you’ll be delicate about it,” Jenna said.“And I appreciate that.”
Jenna turned back to Jake.“Let's go see what Keir Kingsley has to say for himself.”
They walked together toward Jenna's cruiser, leaving behind the ordered chaos of the crime scene.As they went, Jenna couldn't shake the feeling that they were stepping deeper into something dangerous, a story that had been crafted long before they arrived—a story where they weren't just investigators, but unwitting characters.
The engine rumbled to life beneath them as Jake fastened his seat belt.“So, what's your read?Grieving husband or murder suspect?”
Jenna pulled onto the narrow road leading back to town.“With any luck, we'll know soon enough.”
CHAPTER FIVE
Jenna’s mind churned through the events of the morning as she drove toward Keir Kingsley's business on the outskirts of town.Finding Claudia's body, the match with Piper's vision—all of it coalesced into a dark certainty that this case would test the limits of both conventional police work and her own unorthodox insights.
She glanced at Jake in the passenger seat.“I guess it’s time for a phone call that I don’t want to make.”
“Mayor Simmons?”he asked.
“That’s the one.Can you get her on speakerphone?”
“She's going to want details,” he said as he used his phone to place the call.
After a couple of rings, Mayor Simmons's crisp voice filled the car.“Deputy Hawkins, pleasant news, I hope.”
“Mayor,” Jenna cut in, keeping her eyes on the road, “it's Sheriff Graves as well.I'm afraid not.”
A brief pause.“I'm listening.”
“There's been another murder in Trentville.Claudia Kingsley was found dead this morning at her home.”
The silence on the other end lasted just long enough for Jenna to know that the mayor was processing the political implications.When she finally replied, Claire's voice had taken on the tone of official concern.
“My God.Details, please, Sheriff.When was she found?How did she die?”
“Claudia was found on her property at the edge of town.Dr.Stark’s preliminary findings indicate that she was killed sometime yesterday evening, probably with the injection of a toxin.The body was posed in a ritualistic manner.”
“Posed how?”Claire pressed.
Jenna took a deep breath, then told her, “Claudia’s body was found inside a large burlap bag, hanging from the branch of a tree.Some effort had been made to make the bag resemble a wolf.”
Clair’s gasp was quite real.
Jenna added tersely, “Mayor, I need your word that this information stays confidential.The last thing we need is panic or sensationalism contaminating the investigation.”
A sharp, humorless laugh came through the speaker.“Sheriff Graves, I appreciate your concern, but I will do and say whatever I think is best for the people of Trentville.That's my job.Just as it's your job to solve this case quickly and discreetly.”
When Jenna made no reply, Claire snapped, “Keep me updated.Hourly, if necessary,” then ended the call.
Jake said, “That went about as well as expected.”
“She's worried about optics,” Jenna muttered.“Always.”
Then Jenna’s phone rang.She handed it to Jake, who checked the screen.“Colonel Spelling,” he said.