Her Broken Wings by D.K. Hood
Forty-Two
Mind in turmoil, Jenna stared blankly out the window of Kane’s truck for several minutes after taking a call from Wolfe. The trace evidence found under Ruby’s fingernails was a viable sample and likely from her killer. Now all she needed was DNA from her suspects for comparison, but her chances of getting samples from lawyered-up Kyler Hall and Cliff Young would be impossible. Although, getting a visual would be better than nothing, and if either of them had scratches on their faces, she’d give their attorney, Sam Cross, the option of them giving a voluntary sample or her getting a court order. She looked over at Kane, who was watching her with interest. “I know Brad Kelly has a scratch on his chin, so we go see him first, and then we pay Kyler Hall and Cliff Young another visit.”
“Whatever Hall and Young say, it won’t be admissible; they’ve already requested a lawyer.” Kane started the engine. “You’ll have to go through Cross.”
Jenna rolled her eyes. “That man drives me crazy.” She fastened her seatbelt. “I just want to look at them and see if they have any injuries. I won’t say a word.”
“Okay.” Kane turned onto Main Street. “I guess you want to speak to Kelly first? I have plenty of DNA collection kits in the back.”
Interested to discover how Brad Kelly would react to her questions, Jenna nodded. “Yeah, let’s see what he has to say. I’ll question him and we’ll watch his reaction. My gut tells me to haul him in for questioning, but everything we have against him is hearsay at best.”
“If he is suffering from dissociative identity disorder, it may depend on which personality he is using today.” Kane glanced at her and then back at the road. “He mentioned not remembering the actual murder when he arrived at the res. It all came back some years later when the cops told him his father had died.”
This puzzled Jenna and it didn’t explain how a person could suddenly have a split personality. “You and Jo believe he has multiple personalities, right?”
“We came to the conclusion the killer may have, that’s why he hasn’t been caught.” Kane pulled over and turned to her. “Brad Kelly isn’t necessarily the killer, but a lot of what happened to him could push a person into multiple personality disorder.”
“How so?”
“When terrible things happen to kids, it’s possible they take on safe personalities.” A nerve twitched in Kane’s cheek. “If a child suffers prolonged abuse, some create a different person in their mind, so the abuse isn’t happening to them. When this happens, it can have a cumulative effect. So every stress that they face growing up is covered by a different personality— a front man, if you like—who can cope with the pressure. For instance, the guy who shows up for the interview may be confident, but the child who remains inside as a personality is withdrawn and can’t speak.” He waved a hand toward the truck parked outside the funeral parlor. “Atohi said Brad was different from when he left, angry, so get-even Brad might be out at the moment. He might be hiding savage-psychopath Brad.”
Amazed by his knowledge, Jenna sucked in a breath. “So how could he be the Chameleon Killer? How do we know if this is the same man?”
“Dissociative identity disorder is categorized by a person displaying two or more distinct personalities. It’s as if they carry different characters inside them and pull out the one best suited to handle the problem. Each personality often has a different name and age because they manifest at different times, so they have the age from when they emerged. They often have different characteristics, like accents and walking styles, they smoke, don’t smoke, drink coffee or only drink tea. Being left- or right-handed is another possibility.” He sighed. “The biggest problem is you never know who you’re speaking to at any given time. Some have a dominant personality but it usually depends on the situation they’re facing.”
“So how many are aware of what the others are doing?” Jenna swallowed hard. “Do they know?”
“Some do and some have missing time, blackouts.” Kane scratched his cheek. “Those who don’t know, it’s a shock because that personality is often a normal person. This isn’t like a psychopath, Jenna. Most of these people are harmless and can be helped.” He sighed. “On the other end of the scale, if the dominant personality is a psychopath, he’ll know what everyone is doing. He controls the team and sometimes refuses to allow the normal ones to emerge.”
Jenna pushed a hand through her hair, considering the implications. “So if Brad Kelly is the killer, we could trigger another episode?”
“Maybe, maybe not.” Kane shrugged. “If we don’t make him defensive, he’d have no reason. Hang on a minute. You’re assuming he’s guilty. If I remember, the other suspects became a little upset when we spoke to them.”
“Okay.” Jenna turned her attention to the truck parked about a hundred yards away. “Let’s do this.”
When Kane pulled in behind Brad Kelly’s truck, Jenna noticed Brad look at them in his mirror. To her surprise, he turned, gave them a wave, and climbed out.
She walked up to him. “Afternoon.”
“Sheriff Alton and Deputy Kane.” Brad looked from one to the other, his strange eyes examining them closely. “Has the undertaker complained about me sitting here all day?”
Jenna shook her head. “No, we haven’t had a complaint. I’m sorry but we have some bad news.” She straightened. “The girl you met in Aunt Betty’s Café, Ruby Evans, she’s dead.”
“Dead?” Brad’s eyebrows crinkled into a deep frown. “When? She was supposed to meet me for a coffee last night and didn’t show.” He stared at Jenna. “What happened to her? Did she have an accident?”
He appeared genuinely shocked and Jenna had a pang of regret for being so blunt with him. “I’m afraid somebody murdered her.”
“Who would murder her?” Brad scrubbed his hands down his face. “This town is cursed. I’m cursed. If she hadn’t agreed to go out with me, she’d be okay.”
“What do you mean by that?” Jenna watched him closely. “Did you have anything to do with her death?”
“Me? No!” Brad’s eyes flashed with anger. “It’s just everyone around me seems to die.”
Another strange response. Jenna waited a beat for him to collect himself. “How did you get that scratch on your face?”
“This?” Brad touched his chin. “In the forest, why?”
“Ruby has skin under her fingernails.”
“It isn’t mine.” Brad straightened. “You’d need to prove it with a DNA test, wouldn’t you?”
Jenna nodded. “Yeah, that’s the usual way.”
“Well, she didn’t scratch me.” Brad’s eyes bore into her. “I’ll take a test.”
Relieved, Jenna nodded to Kane, and he went to collect a sample kit from his truck. “It’s the best thing to do, then there is no doubt.”
“I can walk with my head held high, Sheriff.” Brad stared at his boots then slowly looked at her. “Do you think after seeing my pa beat my mom to death with a shovel, I could hurt anyone?”
Jenna swallowed hard. “I don’t have an opinion on this murder, Brad. I’m hunting down a list of people who last saw Ruby alive. If everyone is as helpful as you, we’ll soon catch her killer.” She pulled out her notebook. “Where were you Thursday night?”
“Here.” Brad glanced back at the funeral parlor. “I’m making sure my mom remains here and she isn’t hauled off as some exhibition for a forensic anthropology class.”
“Can anyone verify that?” Jenna looked up at him. “Did you make any calls? Talk to anyone?”
“I picked up Chinese takeout around eight, I guess.” Brad rubbed his chin. “I used the restrooms in the park, changed my clothes, and then came back here.”
“Okay.” Jenna made notes. “What about Monday night and Wednesday morning?”
“Hunting down my mother’s remains or staying with them in the forest, I guess. I camped in the forest most times, and apart from Atohi dropping by, I can’t prove I was there.” He looked back at Kane. “Do you need to take blood for the test?”
She glanced around as Kane walked back wearing surgical gloves and carrying a DNA test kit. Turning back to Brad, she smiled. “No. It’s pretty simple, just a swab from the inside of your mouth.”
“How long before you know?” Brad opened his mouth for Kane to take the swab.
Jenna shrugged. “Not long. Wolfe has a superfast lab in the ME’s office, with all the latest equipment.”
“That’s good. I don’t like being a suspect.” Brad wiped the back of his hand over his lips. “Is that all?”
“Not really.” Kane looked at him. “Did you know about the plans for the Old Mitcham Ranch?”
“Yeah, Atohi mentioned some clown is turning it into an amusement park or something.” Brad shrugged. “It might be okay for tourists, but no one in his right mind from around here will go there.”
“So you know the history of the place?” Kane wasn’t looking at him but writing out the paperwork for the swab.
“Yeah, everyone does, and I heard on the news about the murders. The place should be burned to the ground.” Brad frowned. “Why?”
Jenna glanced at Kane, hoping her expression would prevent him from questioning Brad. She needed his signature on the paperwork.
“Ah, can you sign the consent form?” Kane rested it on the hood of Brad’s truck.
As Brad scribbled his name and the date, Jenna pushed a little harder. “Have you been by there lately?”
“The Old Mitcham Ranch? No, not since I came home.” Brad straightened. “I did go there once with a bunch of kids in high school one Halloween—never again. Why?”
Jenna rested one hand on her weapon in a casual stance. “That’s where we found Ruby.”
“Well, the test will prove I had nothing to do with hurting her.” Brad glared at them. “I gotta go.” He turned away and went to sit in his vehicle.
Jenna followed Kane back to his truck and they climbed inside. “What do you think?”
“He signed the paperwork with his right hand, which is a problem as we’re looking for a left-handed killer.” Kane stared out the window. “Dammit, he fits the profile in so many ways.” He turned slowly to look at her. “Unless he has dissociative personality disorder and if so, he’s hiding it well. We’d have to see the personality change to be sure.”
“It’s only a possibility the killer is left-handed. We’re going on a hunch, based on Mrs. Robinson’s statement. She could have been wrong about the time it took to kill her husband, and if you think about it, Ruby would’ve been dead and not struggling.” Jenna shrugged. “The killer could’ve grabbed her by the hair with his right hand and cut with the left. If he’s as smart as you think, he might have done that on purpose to confuse the investigation.”
“Maybe, and if he is involved, he knows darn well, Ruby didn’t scratch him.” Kane started the engine. “We should drop the sample by Wolfe’s office and then go see the other suspects.”
“Sure.” Jenna leaned back in her seat. “You know, we’re only assuming the killer took Ruby to the Old Mitcham Ranch to use as bait. We haven’t considered that maybe one of the guys working there met Ruby at Aunt Betty’s and took her out there. Do we know if any of them have scratches?” She glanced at Kane. “Had she been sexually active? Maybe it was a rape gone wrong?”
“Then there would’ve been five men involved.” Kane parked outside the ME’s office. “Someone had to tie them up and shoot them.” He shrugged. “I didn’t see any evidence of a fifth man living in the trailers.”
Jenna nodded. “I’ll ask Wolfe about the scratches while we’re here, and we’ll look at the bodies of the men again.” She sighed. “Right now, I feel like whoever is doing this is slipping through our fingers.”