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Nineteen
The issuing of a media statement was a double-edged sword. Unlike a BOLO, the “be on the lo
okout” order issued by law enforcement to find or apprehend lost people or suspects, the media release hotline opened up a Pandora’s box of useless information, all of which had to be sifted through just on the off-chance someone had actually seen something useful. After a couple of hours’ searching, Jenna had discovered one small lead but it could wait until she refilled her coffee cup. The persistent cough had eased but her head still ached and the illness had weakened her more than she would care to admit. She pushed to her feet and, hands on hips, leaned back stretching her back.
The snow brought with it an eerie silence and although the sky was heavy with cloud cover, a bright white light streamed through the windows. The condensation from the heating had frozen in a leafy design on the windowpanes and she rubbed a hole in the frost to peer outside. Across the driveway, Kane’s cottage appeared surreal, coated with snow and decorated with foot-long icicles hanging from the gutters and windowsills. The boughs of surrounding pines hung down under the burden of snow appearing strangely green amidst the barren black sticks of the maple trees and brown and gray brush. Cold seeped through the windows cooling her skin. The ranch house was over one hundred years old and every winter she promised to finish the double glazing to keep out the bitter wind but something always came up to stop her. Time it seemed was her enemy, she rarely had enough time to go to the beauty parlor for a haircut let alone make improvements on the place.
The silent alarm flashed on the wall panel and her cellphone vibrated. As if she had waited for this moment, a calm descended on her. She might be alone but she could defend her home. In three strides, she went to the gun safe and moments later had a rifle loaded and within easy reach. She strapped her backup weapon to her ankle. The ringtone on her cellphone informed her Kane had received the same alert. She scanned the array of screens and the vehicle heading toward the house then accepted his call. “I have a visitor driving an old Dodge Durango maybe a 2000 model, could be silver, it has a deal of snow on it.”
“Doctor Weaver was driving a silver truck, most likely it’s her.” She could hear the roar of Kane’s vehicle. “I’m out at the industrial area a mile or so past where Sky was abducted. Rowley is with me. Wolfe can be there in twenty. I’ll call him.”
Jenna chewed on her bottom lip, watching the vehicle make steady progress down her driveway. “No, don’t bother him just yet. If she came alone, I’ll be able to handle her. I’d pretend I’m not home, although the smoke coming from the chimney is a dead giveaway.” She sighed. “I’ll be fine. The alarm just spooked me after what Wolfe told me about the blood tests Doctor Weaver ordered. It makes her an unknown threat.”
“Roger that. I’m on my way back to the office. Don’t hang up. I’ll hand you over to Rowley in a minute and put you on speaker. Just don’t allow her to jab you with a needle.”
“No way. I’m not sure how we’ll explain this situation to him.” Jenna pressed her back to the wall and watched the bundled up figure climb from the vehicle and head for the front porch. “We can’t tell him the truth.” She grabbed her coat from the peg and shrugged it on. No way was she allowing the woman inside.
“I’ll figure something out.” Kane’s voice sounded serious. “Is she alone?”
Jenna peered inside the frosted windows of the doctor’s car. “Unless someone is lying down inside her truck, she seems to be. Radio silence now, I’m opening the door.” She slipped the cellphone into her pocket and turned the handle. “What brings you out in the cold, Doctor?”
“I was passing and thought I’d drop by to see how you’re recovering.” Dr. Weaver looked up at her from the bottom of the steps.
“I’m much better, thank you.” Jenna stepped out onto the porch but kept her distance.
A tingle of worry lifted the hairs on the back of her neck at the way the doctor kept her hands in her pockets. As the woman moved closer, Jenna caught an unnerving expression crossing the woman’s face. Apprehension, or was it indecision she caught in her small beady eyes? She couldn’t put her finger on it but when a nerve in the doctor’s cheek twitched, it alarmed her. She didn’t trust this woman and wanted her off her ranch.
“You still look very pale.” Dr. Weaver’s expression was determined now. “I’ll check you over, no charge.”
“No need. I’m fine.” Jenna allowed her coat to fall open just long enough for the doctor to notice the weapon, sitting snug in its shoulder holster.
“You should be inside out of the cold.” Dr. Weaver’s attention moved to the pistol. She frowned and the foot she’d raised as if to mount the steps fell back to the packed snow at the foot of the stairs. “Your blood tests came back and apart from a slightly elevated white cell count you are fine. The higher white blood count is most likely due to the infection. You should take another blood test in a few weeks just to be sure.”
Jenna forced a smile. “That’s great news. Wolfe will do one for me. You shouldn’t have come all the way out here to tell me. You could have called me. It’s dangerous on the roads at this time of year.” She glanced behind her and cleared her throat. “I have to go, I have a visitor.”
“Oh.” The doctor gave her a confused stare. “I thought you were alone. I drove past Deputies Kane and Rowley out on the back highway.”
“I’m not sure I remember how being alone feels anymore.” Jenna laughed and hoped she didn’t sound hysterical. “Since I’ve been ill, I’ve had streams of visitors daily. I’ll get more rest when I’ve gotten back to work.” Shivering dramatically, she pushed open the door. “It’s cold out here. I’d better let you get back to work.” She gave her a wave. “Thanks for dropping by.”
Jenna shut the door and turned the lock but Dr. Weaver just stood there staring at her with the same expression. The sight of her just standing there unnerved her. She pulled out her cellphone. “Rowley put Kane on.”
“She gone?”
A shiver went up Jenna’s spine. “Nope, she’s just standing there staring at the door.” She walked onto the family room and wiped a hole in the frosted window to look outside. “She has a strange expression on her face and said she thought I was alone.”
“That’s not good. I’m dropping Rowley at the office and coming home.” Kane cleared his throat. “What’s she doing now?”
Jenna had not taken her eyes off the doctor. “She’s leaning on her truck and talking on her cellphone. Do you know if Wolfe has gotten any information on her yet?”
“Nope. I’m sure he’ll let you know when the FBI have finished looking into her background.”
Heart pounding, Jenna gaped at the woman in disbelief. “Holy crap she is heading back to the house.” She swapped the cellphone into her left hand and pulled her weapon, surprised at the shake in her grip. “What does this woman want with me?”
“Old memories are hard to shift, Jenna. It’s normal to go on alert if you feel threatened.” As usual, Kane’s voice was calm. “Look, if she believes someone is in the house with you she would be stupid to try anything. If she comes to the door again, speak to her through the window.”
Jenna holstered her weapon with some reluctance, pushed open the family room window and looked at the doctor. “Is anything wrong?”
“I think I dropped my keys.” Dr. Weaver moved her boot through the snow at the foot of the steps and stared at the frozen ground.
