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He gave her a nod and went to the younger man. They spoke briefly, then Bent rejoined Vera. “Let’s go.”

“What did you tell him?” She watched Remington head to the bank of elevators.

“I gave him Baker’s room number. He’s to tell the deputy to call me for confirmation that he’s allowed to see his friend for a few minutes.”

“Thank you.” Vera breathed a sigh of relief. Even Nolan Baker deserved to have the people he cared about close at a time like this.

Boyett FarmGood Hollow Road, Fayetteville, 11:55 p.m.

There was a white van parked at the road when they reached Vera’s house. A reporter who’d figured out the best way to get to her was to wait for her at home.

God, she hated reporters sometimes.

“Stay put. I’ll take care of this,” Bent said, getting out.

Vera was only too happy to let him play the part of hero right now.

She twisted in the seat and watched as he approached the driver’s side of the van. He stood there for a half minute, then turned and walked away. The lights on the van came to life, and the vehicle rolled away.

“Good.” Vera reached for the door and got out. She was on the porch before she realized she didn’t have her bag. She’d left it in the house when she’d gone to the barn. “Damn it.” Then she stalled, stared at her door. She hadn’t locked the house ... she’d been too frustrated and too angry.

“Don’t worry,” Bent said, coming up beside her. “I had Olson come back and keep an eye on the place.” He knocked, and a few seconds later the door opened.

Deputy Olson looked from Vera to the sheriff. “All clear in here.”

“Good. You can go home now,” Bent told him. “I’ve got Price coming to take over for the night.”

“Yes, sir.” Olson nodded to Vera. “Night, ma’am.”

When the door had closed, she said, “I didn’t see his cruiser.”

“I had him park it down by the barn so the house would look empty. I figured if our perp wanted in your house, he might give it a shot while we were at the hospital.”

“That was a good idea. Interesting that he didn’t bother. I guess he had nothing else to say to me at the moment.”

“Guess so,” Bent agreed.

“Who was in the white van?” Vera was almost too exhausted to care.

“An old friend of yours.”

Vera felt her brow furrow. “Who?”

“Patricia Patton.”

She should have expected her to show up. Just another too-familiar element of this new nightmare.

“Thanks again for putting Boggie in her place.” Vera was fading fast. She really needed to get in the shower before she lost the ability to stay vertical.

“I’ll check in with you in the morning. See what we know then.”

“Thanks, Bent.”

He hesitated. “I can stay, you know. If you’d be more comfortable.”

She smiled. “I appreciate the offer, but I need sleep.” What she really needed was time to think.

“Night then.”