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“The tow service is on its way, and we’ll have an accident investigator from the county go over the car at the tow yard. If it’s foul play, he’ll spot it.” Unger tucked his notepad into his front pocket. “Do you want me to wait for the tow truck driver with you?”
“How long is he going to be?” Jim peered at the setting sun. He had some digging to do.
“This rain wreaked havoc with more than a few motorists this afternoon. When I called in, the operator said he’d be out within the hour. I can give you two a ride.”
Scarlett checked her watch. “We’ll wait. I still want to get my purse and phone. Maybe the tow truck driver can help me get it.”
“Suit yourself.”
As Unger drove away, Jim dug his own phone out of his jacket pocket. “I’m calling Harper.”
“Let me, and then I’ll hand the phone over to you.”
He dropped his cell into her open palm.
She tapped in the number and paused. Then she shook her head. “Hello, Agent Harper, Duke. This is Scarlett Easton. Some new information has surfaced regarding the Timberline Trio case and the connection between the Lords of Chaos and...and certain members of the Quileute tribe. Can you give me a call when you get the chance?”
“Do you think he’ll bite?”
“The FBI pulled Harper off the cold case just when he was starting to get somewhere. I think he’d like the chance to see it through.”
She handed the phone back to him and he wrapped his fingers around her wrist and pulled her close. “Are you sure you’re okay? We can take a trip to the emergency room.”
“I’m going to be feeling the pain in my neck and back tomorrow, no doubt, but I’m not injured. Besides, we have someplace to be.”
“Now that your car is out of commission.” He jerked his thumb over his shoulder. “Do you think you can carry a couple of shovels while you’re on the back of the bike?”
“I’m an expert biker bitch now.” She pulled back her shoulders and tossed her head.
“If you say so.” He rolled his eyes. “While we’re waiting for this driver, I’m going to check up on Dax.”
He called the hospital first and left a message with Dax’s doctor. Then he called Belinda.
“How’s Dax doing?”
“He’s the same—no better but no worse. I had to set a couple of people here straight.”
“What do you mean, Belinda?”
“Some nurse tried to kick me out of his room earlier, but I wouldn’t budge. Came to find out that witch doesn’t even work over here.”
“What?” Jim tugged on the sleeve of Scarlett’s jacket and set his phone to speaker. “What nurse?”
“Some little bitch who barged in here and told me Dax couldn’t have any visitors right now.”
“She wasn’t an ICU nurse?”
“Nope.”
“How’d you discover that?”
“When I wouldn’t leave, she took off in a huff and I went to the nurses’ station to complain about her. Those nurses told me it was still visiting hours and asked me about the nurse who told me to get out. I didn’t get her name, but when I described her to them, she told me there was no ICU nurse like that.”
Scarlett grabbed his arm. “Belinda, this is Scarlett. What did the nurse look like, the one who told you to get out?”
“Tall, black hair, big, pretty eyes, but cold as hell.”
“Belinda, do not leave Dax’s side, do you hear me?”
“Oh, I hear you, sister, and you don’t have to tell me twice. I’m watching over him like a hawk.”
When Jim ended the call, Scarlett kicked at the gravel on the shoulder of the road. “It’s Tiana Gokey. It has to be. Danny is telling her to keep an eye on Dax. Who knows what else he’s telling her?”
“My God. Would she go as far as killing him?”
“I don’t know. I don’t know what she owes Danny or thinks she owes him. This has to stop, Jim.”
“As soon as we have some proof for Harper, it will.” He spotted the tow truck and waved his arms in the air.
Forty minutes later, Scarlett had retrieved her belongings from the car and the charred vehicle was sitting on the flatbed of the tow truck.
