AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Jenna swallowed hard and nodded. Dust and blood covered Kane’s black clothes, he had small cuts on his face that hadn’t been tended and dried tears of blood had run down his cheeks. His concerned expression moved over her and she gripped his arm. “What about you? Are you okay? You look like hell.”
“I’ll do.” Kane smiled at her. “Seeing you awake has taken the edge off the stress level. I didn’t want to leave you, but the casualties out here are overwhelming. Once Wolfe had stopped the bleeding and assured me you’d be okay, I went to help the team. Everyone is out there. I’ve been coming back to check on you every five minutes and I told Duke to watch over you and he did. He barked the moment you were awake.”
Jenna waved a hand behind her, found the dog’s head and scratched his ears. “He is a very good boy.”
“I’ll be close by. Don’t move, you have a nasty head injury that needs attention and other injuries. Wolfe believes there’s no internal bleeding, so please, just for once, do as you’re told. If you get sick, sound the horn.” Kane kissed her and shut the door silently and walked into the swirling smoke.
Outside, the highway was littered with bits and pieces of vehicles, clothes, shoes and other personal items. Bodies lay on the blacktop and the injured were being triaged. The entire team was there: Wolfe, Emily and Julie Wolfe, Colt Webber and her deputies, working alongside paramedics from Black Rock Falls and Louan. She watched Kane go to a blonde woman who was wearing a mask and examination gloves. The woman listened and then nodded, and after attaching a green label on the person sitting alongside other injured people, picked up her bag and turned to look at Jenna. As she came over, Jenna recognized her as Dr. Norrell Larson, the forensic anthropologist who had joined Wolfe’s team. She’d met her at the Halloween Ball, but her occupation meant she was in demand across Montana and was often away. She’d instantly liked her. Warm and friendly, she had slipped straight into the team. Jenna couldn’t miss the way she looked at Wolfe and hoped her dear friend had at last found someone to share his life. Wolfe’s daughters Emily and Julie liked her and Anna thought she was a fairy princess. The door opened and Jenna looked at her. “Hi, Norrell, please tell me I’m okay, so I can help out.”
“No can do, sorry.” Norrell took a small flashlight from her pocket and flicked it over Jenna’s eyes. “You’ve had a significant head injury and you were unconscious for forty minutes. You need an MRI just to make sure you haven’t damaged your skull or neck. Moving around right now could be fatal. Brain swelling, for instance.” She attached a blood pressure cuff to Jenna’s arm and waited for the reading. “We were concerned about internal injuries. You were thrown a long way and ended up on the hood of the Beast. Your blood pressure is okay, so that’s a good sign.” She frowned. “I know as the sheriff you feel duty-bound to be out there with your team but they are very capable. Kane called in assistance from Louan, and as the explosion crossed the country line, the Blackwater sheriff is here with his deputies. They’re detouring traffic around the accident, collecting information and dashcam footage. The Blackwater sheriff is Dirk Nolan. He’s apparently new, so I’m not sure if you’ve met him.” She grimaced. “It was a mess out there for a time, but we had help. The team of auto accident forensic investigators from Helena was in Blackwater and arrived by chopper to evaluate the scene. They worked fast to get the highway cleared. There’s trucks backed up for miles. Just before they gave permission for the wrecks to be removed. This is too much for Wolfe and his team to handle. The victims of the wreck are going to Helena and we’re dealing with the victims of the explosion.” She patted Jenna on the arm. “Just sit tight. We’ve already moved the critical patients and we’re waiting for the ambulances to return to take the others who need medical attention to the ER. We’ve spread out the casualties between three counties.”
Jenna peered out of the window. “How many dead?”
“Three from the initial accident, another seven from the explosion.” Norrell frowned. “Three at this end of the highway and four on the Blackwater end. All were outside their vehicles sightseeing when the tanker exploded. If they’d remained in their vehicles, they would still be alive.” She shook her head. “Twenty or more casualties. The Blackwater sheriff has been working his end of the highway, transporting people to Blackwater. He arrived with a team of paramedics and two doctors and around six deputies, so you don’t have to worry. Your team have everything under control on this side. Wolfe will be taking the dead to his morgue for identification. As it’s classed as vehicular fatalities, even the explosion, all of them require autopsies. I’ll be able to assist, and since the new wing was opened for my use, we have double the capacity for bodies.” She pulled a large medical notebook from her bag, opened it and tore off a page. “Here, give this to the ER when you arrive. It’s a request for an MRI. Shane said he’d have taken you to the morgue but it’s too crowded. The moment we have everyone triaged Kane will be driving you to the hospital. It won’t be much longer.” She raised both eyebrows. “Don’t argue. Doctor’s orders.”
Right this moment, Jenna could hardly move. She ached all over and had the headache from hell. Staying in the Beast and allowing her team to take over seemed like a good idea. “Thanks, Norrell. I’ll be good. I promised Dave.”
“Good, and see that he gets his wrist X-rayed. He has the request in his pocket, but that man is more stubborn than you.” Norrell tucked the blanket over her and shut the door.
Jenna frowned. Dave had been hurt and never said a word. He just went straight out to help others. She sat up slowly and peered in the rear view mirror at the bandage on her hairline. Blood matted her hair and she was filthy. Smoke still surrounded the Beast and she scanned the area searching for Kane. She found him, working beside Wolfe, and as if he’d felt her looking at him, he turned and looked over to her. She waved but he didn’t see her behind the tinted windows and turned back to assisting Wolfe, lifting a body bag onto a gurney. He looked exhausted and she knew instinctively his head was hurting. No matter what she tried to do to make him leave, Kane wouldn’t move from the scene until Wolfe no longer needed him. He knew she was safe and would work until he dropped from exhaustion. It appeared that most of the victims had been removed in the last few minutes. A few of the people with minor injuries still waited, sitting along the grass beside the highway. From what she could see, fire and rescue had cleared the highway of debris and tow trucks were removing the damaged vehicles. Foam covered the blacktop around the toppled tanker and the eighteen-wheeler had been dragged onto the side of the road.
All Jenna could do was wait, but she could put this alone time to good use. Although her body ached, her mind was working just fine. She had two people missing, seemingly vanished from her town without a trace. The fact Carter and Jo had a similar case in Blackwater was too much of a coincidence not to believe the cases were linked. Especially when Maisy Jones’ phone and presumably her purse had been found on the connecting highway between the two towns. It could only mean one thing. Whoever was responsible had a very wide comfort zone. If they were looking at multiple homicides, where were the bodies?
SIXTEEN
Blackwater
After checking the weather, Jenell Rickers gathered up the leashes of the four dogs in her care and headed out the door of her doggy daycare center. She’d moved from Indiana to Blackwater the previous year and had quickly established her business. She’d started by dog walking and ended up turning her home into a registered kennel. It wasn’t the usual type of kennel, with pens in rows. Her establishment catered to social dogs. She now employed two people and together they walked, groomed and entertained dogs from near and far.
It was a beautiful day, sunny with a light but freezing breeze, and winter had brought with it a delightful change to the scenery. From a summer of vibrant shades of green, the forest still held tightly to its fall mixture of green, yellow and gold. The colors peeked through the dusting of snow like precious jewels. In the shelter of the trees, late-flowering wildflowers filled the air with bubbles of perfume. As she walked along her usual path with the dogs out in front, their coats changed color as the beams of sunlight from the canopy above washed over them. She walked the half mile to a fenced one-acre block of cleared land she’d purchased. Here the dogs could do as they please, and as they got closer, they pulled hard at their leashes in anticipation of running free. She carried a selection of toys with her to help keep them active. She could toss a ball or Frisbee for them to chase, but most times they enjoyed running in circles until they came back to the water trough to drink. Leaning her back on the gate as the dogs scurried madly in all directions and then chased each other in circles, she heard a muffled cry behind her and turned around. A man came rushing out of the forest in obvious distress. She frowned at him. “Are you okay?”
“It’s my dog.” The man pushed an agitated hand through his hair. “He caught his leg in a trap and every time I go to release him, he tries to bite me. Can you help me, please?”
Without hesitation, Jenell nodded. She hung the leashes over the top of the fence and, glancing at the dogs tearing around behind her, opened the gate and walked through. “Where in the forest is it?”
“About one hundred yards along the trail.” He pointed to the leashes hanging over the fence. “You might want to grab one of those to tie around his muzzle. He is only a small dog, but he has a nasty bite.”
Jenell patted the fanny pack at her waist. “I have a first aid kit in here. I’ll be able to dress the wound, but you’ll have to take him to the vet.” She grabbed one of the leashes. “Let’s go.”
She followed the man along the trail at a run. When they reached a small clearing, he stopped and scanned the forest. She stared at him. “How much farther?”
“I’ve gotten turned around. I think it’s through there.” He pointed into the trees. “He isn’t whining now. I hope he’s still alive.” He gave her a horrified look. “Can you help me find him?” He cast his gaze around. “Maybe if we split up?”
Concerned for the poor dog, Jenell peered into the forest. “Can you recall which direction he went?”
“Yes, he ran off to the left of this clearing.” The man was staring at her. “I ran in about ten or so yards when I hurt him yelping.” He wiped a hand down his face. “He likes to run through the trees and always comes back. It’s like a game to him. I bring him here all the time and no one has laid traps here before.”
Angry that someone could do such a thing, Jenell shook her head. “No, they don’t. It’s illegal and irresponsible as kids play in this part of the forest too.” She stared through the trees but saw nothing. “I didn’t see you ahead of me on the trail when I arrived. Which way did you come in?”
“I parked on the fire road over yonder. I come here every day to walk my dog.” He was looking all around. “I heard your dogs barking, so I knew someone was close by. I was so glad to find you. I rarely see anyone around these parts.” He stared behind her. “I heard something. Over there.” He pointed into the forest and ushered her forward. “If you give me the leash, I’ll stop him biting and you can try to release the trap?”
After listening, Jenell did hear a noise behind her, but it could have been anything. She turned and headed in the direction he’d pointed. She’d walked about ten yards through the trees but heard nothing other than the usual sounds in the forest, birds singing and the wind rustling through the pines. Behind her, the man was breathing heavily, sending clouds of steam into the air. A sudden wave of fear gripped her. Being alone in the forest with a stranger didn’t feel safe. “I can’t see your dog. I’m sorry. My clients’ dogs are in my care and if anything happens to them while I’m away, I’m responsible. I’m heading back.”
The next moment the leather leash fell over her head and landed heavily on her shoulders. “Hey, there’s no need to do that. You could have just handed it to me.”
One end had been slipped through the loop handle and before she could get her hands up to grab it, the noose tightened around her neck. Gagging, she clawed at the leather leash digging into her throat. Why was he doing this? She had to get away from him. Lifting up one booted foot she dragged the heel down the man’s shin. When he yelped in pain, the noose slackened and she grabbed hold of the end of the leash and bolted. Running blindly through the trees, she plowed through bushes and dead vegetation. In fear of her life, she tried to pull the leash free but only managed to loosen it a little. He was crashing through the brush behind her, his footsteps pounding only a few yards away. She needed help now and dragging air into her lungs, she screamed but no one would hear her. The sound wasn’t loud enough. Something had happened to her throat.
Desperate to escape the swearing man crashing along behind her, she zigzagged between trees. Snow slipped from branches and slapped at her face, but she kept running, slipping and sliding on the icy patches underfoot. She couldn’t hear him behind her and risked a look over one shoulder. Her feet tangled in dead vines and she tripped falling hard to her knees. Winded, she crawled to a tree and, hugging the rough bark, dragged herself up by the sheer will to live and kept running. Breathing was so painful. Each breath sucked freezing air into her lungs. It was like having a heart attack, but she forced her legs to keep pumping and ignored the brambles and low branches tearing at her clothes and dragging at her like quicksand. Footsteps came closer and the next second, her head jerked back and she crashed to the dirt. He’d caught hold of the end of the leash and was wrapping it around his hand. Panic gripped her and she lowered her chin as the noose tightened. He was reeling her in like a fish on a hook. Forcing out her words as she struggled to breathe, she glared at him. “Please, stop. What do you want?”
