Page 21 of Whisper Through the Pines

Kane turned to Jenna. “It’s getting late.”

“Okay, that’s all for today.” Jenna glanced around the table. “Anything else before we call it a day?”

“Yeah.” Rio checked his watch. “The media release is going out on tonight’s news. I’ve set up the hotline to a recorded service and have two deputies from Louan dropping by first thing to take the load.” He sighed. “Nothing else from Wolfe.”

Kane looked at Jenna. “We’ll drop by and speak to him before we head home. I need to see him anyway.” When Jenna gave him an inquiring look, he shrugged. “Let’s go.” He looked at Carter. “We’ll see you guys at home. I’ve steaks in the refrigerator. It won’t take long to prepare dinner.”

“I’ll help.” Jo smiled at him. “I can peel potatoes and make the salad.”

He grinned. “Thanks, that would be neat.”

Twenty-Two

The wind bit into Jenna’s face as they hurried to the Beast. The chill of winter rushed down from the mountains and snuck into every crack in her clothing. She wrapped her coat around her and pulled up the zipper. “It’s so cold tonight. Do you figure snow is coming early?”

“Anything is possible.” Kane pushed Duke into the back seat and then slid behind the wheel. “Duke will need his coat. I hadn’t expected a sudden drop in temperature. It’s been mild today.” He backed out of the parking space and headed toward the medical examiner’s office.

Jenna turned to look at him. “What’s so urgent you need to see Wolfe this late in the day?”

“Well, my shoulder is stiff.” He flicked her a glance. “Nothing for you to worry about, but I don’t need to be hampered by injuries with a killer on the loose. So, I’ll ask him to give me a shot.”

For Kane to admit to an injury, his shoulder must be extremely painful. She nodded and glanced at the way the wind made the jack-o’-lanterns dance between the street lights. The lights inside them sent an orange glow across the mist swirling over the blacktop. She glanced across at him, his face shadowed. “Will I get to meet MARA? Or is it top secret?”

“No, it’s an experimental model, so the same degree of secrecy any other piece of equipment that the government sends to Wolfe as part of their testing. It’s not something they’d want a foreign power to get their hands on, same as other equipment he has in his lab.” He turned into Elm and then headed for the back entrance to the morgue. “I’ll park here in case it decides to snow. From the clouds over the mountain, I wouldn’t like to be camping up high tonight.”

With her mind so fixated on the job, she hadn’t noticed any change in Kane’s movements but noticed him wince when he lifted Duke from the back seat. She frowned. She’d seen Kane badly injured and he seemed to breeze through the injuries. He could recover really fast and he told her it was because he kept his body in peak condition and ate the right food. It appeared to her he hadn’t eaten well or slept for days at a time since he’d been away. He must be totally exhausted and yet he never complained. The falling asleep before calling her was a tell he’d been close to his limit. She followed him inside the morgue. The usual cold air greeted her, along with the smells that told her the examination rooms had been recently used. Although Wolfe went to great lengths to disguise the odor of death, it permeated even the most concentrated disinfectants. She glanced at Kane as they walked along the hallway. “Maybe we should have been here for the autopsy. We haven’t heard a word from Wolfe.”

“He likely needed a little time to recuperate.” Kane rubbed his chin and looked at her. “He was awake all the time too. In truth I’m never alone out there.” He headed for Wolfe’s office but before they got there an examination door opened and a humanoid robot with a blue screen across its forehead stepped out blocking their way.

“Step aside, MARA.” Kane stepped in front of Jenna. “Wolfe is expecting us.”

“David Kane, you are required in examination room three.” MARA opened its arms and stepped forward, ushering Kane back along the hallway. “Examination room three.” It looked at Duke. “Dogs are not allowed.”

“This one is.” Kane stood his ground. “He can wait in the office. Let me pass.”

“Examination room three.” The robot stepped closer. “You have your orders.”

“You are not in my chain of command.” Kane stood his ground. “I don’t take orders from you. I am the superior officer here. Get Wolfe now.”

The robot didn’t respond but the blue lights beneath its black mask flashed.

“Go and tell Wolfe that we are here.” Kane waved a hand behind him, indicating to Jenna to move away.

“I am to remain here.” The robot stood toe-to-toe with Kane.

Unnerved by the tone of the robot’s commands and recalling what Kane had told her of its strength, Jenna ran down the passageway and scanned her card outside room three. The door whooshed open and she fell inside but Wolfe wasn’t there. She turned around, panic gripping her. Where was everyone? Had this robot killed them all? She pressed her hand on the door release to keep it open and peered into the passageway. Beside Kane, Duke growled deep in his chest, his lips stretched to show his canines.

“Where is Wolfe?” Kane hadn’t moved.

“He is with Emily in the viewing room.” The robot indicated behind it in an almost human gesture. “The people there are grieving.”

“What were his instructions to you?” Kane stared at the robot.

“I must escort you to examination room three.” The robot’s head moved up and down. “You are injured. Do you want me to help you?”

“No. Tell me, who is the superior officer here?” Kane lifted his chin. “You know who I am—right?”

“Sheriff Alton is the superior officer on the floor. You are Deputy Sheriff Kane.” The robot waved a hand toward Jenna and then looked back at him. “Dr. Wolfe, the medical examiner, is the superior officer in the building.”