Kenhardt - Secrets 36

‘But you know there’s a chance it could not be,’ Jordan said, finishing his thought for him.

He nodded.

She sighed and rolled closer to him. ‘What do you think happened, Joe? No biases or other opinions. No pressure from Frank or Kennedy. What do you believe happened to those girls?’

He thought for a moment, then looked at Jordan. ‘There’s evidence suggesting ---’

‘Joe,’ she said. ‘Forget the evidence. What do you think?’

‘I think they were pushed.’

‘Good,’ she rolled onto her back. ‘Then go from there.’

‘I have been. I’ve talked to everyone. Everyone. And Kenhardt’s not that big. If those girls were murdered, I’ve most likely spoken to the culprit by now. But there’s also evidence indicating that one of the girls was depressed. The other girl might have had a likely reason to jump. But that leaves the third girl, and unless I can find a reason as to why Kiera would jump off the roof of her school with the other two, then I can’t close this case. I can’t call it a suicide until I’ve ruled out all other possibilities’

‘Then it looks to me like you’re on the right track’ Jordan said.

‘Yeah, it’s harder than it seems.’

‘Maybe it was a dare,’ Jordan said suddenly.

‘Maybe they were playing a game like RISK. You know how kids do that thing where they run across the freeway?’

‘Yeah.’

‘Kids are always doing stupid things, risking their lives. What if they were up there and something like that happened? They were standing at the Edge of the roof, and then they fell?’

‘All three of them?’

‘I don’t know,’ Jordan said. ‘Maybe. Or maybe you were right - one of them did jump. Did you think of that?’

‘Anya,’ Joe said. ‘Then what would cause the other two?’

Maybe they were trying to help her, and they fell off too. Or maybe one of them slipped, and the other two were trying to help her, and they all got pulled down as well.’

‘I don’t know,’ Joe said. ‘Kennedy was saying from day one that it could have been an accident, but I wasn’t buying it. You Don’t know what it’s like at that school. There were so many Secrets. So many lies.’

‘Okay. So we’re back to murder then. Who would want them dead?’

‘That’s the thing,’ Joe said. ‘The only suspects I brought in for questioning that would have likely motive had an alibi during the time. Everyone was in class - It happened right before lunch. So everyone is accounted for.’

‘Then who does that Leave?’

‘A faculty member. A parent.’

Jordan was quiet a moment. Then she said,

‘Go back there. Interrogate all of the adults. Grill them hard, Joe. Get to the bottom of this. If someone did push those girls, you’re going to find out who.’

He nodded his head in silence, taking everything Jordan said with caution. It was easy for her to spew out advice, harder for him to actually follow through with it. ‘I made a big breakthrough on the other case,’ he told her.

‘The one from the 60’s?’

‘Yeah, The SAD Killer.’

‘Oh God,’ Jordan rolled her eyes. ‘You’re still on that?’

‘I figured it out today. The killer was a vigilante.’

‘Is this Big News?’

‘Yes,’ Joe said. ‘We’re one step closer to finding this guy. Once the motive is figured out, the rest could come just as easily.’

‘You don’t know that,’ Jordan said. ‘Listen, Joe, I think it’s great that you’re so interested in this case. And sure, it can be thrilling to be on the tail of a famous serial killer. But it was fifty years ago. You’re chasing a guy who might not even be alive anymore.’

‘But what if he is?’

‘And what if he isn’t?’

She had a point. What if he continued down this road, only to reach a dead end, yet again, like he did with Steve Webber. Deceased, unable to make a statement or tell his side of the story.

‘Even if the killer is dead,’ Joe said. ‘Even if I can just find out who it was, it would be ground - breaking.’

She turned towards him and smiled through the darkness of the room. ‘ I just think you need to focus on one case at a time, not get swept up in the past. Because the past is great, but it’s not the present. And those girls, Joe - they’re in the present. And they need you.’

It was Friday morning and the weather was dreary. Dark clouds covered the sky and rain was pouring down onto his windshield. Joe arrived at the Kenhardt station expecting to find it vacant of his team since Kennedy had told him they were called back to Riverton. But lo and behold - Frank was there, awaiting Joe’s arrival.

‘Updates?’ he said as Joe walked through the doors, shaking the rain off his umbrella.

‘Nothing concrete, Sir,’ Joe said.

‘What did you do yesterday?’ Frank asked.

Joe hesitated, ‘I was going over the case files, looking over the interview transcripts …’

‘Don’t Bullshit me, O’Reily. You’ve been looking into that other case.’

Joe didn’t know how to respond.

‘Do you want me to take you off this case?’ Frank said. ‘Because I can find another detective just as willing and able.’

‘No…’ Joe said quickly. ‘No, I will solve this. I will. I just need more Time.’

‘Time is the one thing we don’t have,’ Frank said, ‘Kennedy tells me it’s suicide, but she say you won’t comply with this.’

‘Because, Sir, I do not believe that Officer Cross is correct….’