Page 25

TWENTY-FOUR

Carter, filthy and stinking of smoke, finally arrived in the Beast, and Jenna bombarded him with questions as Duke ran around her legs demanding attention. Of course, with Kane sending him away, the old dog couldn’t understand why he’d ended up in the Beast with Carter. She rested a hand on the dog’s head. He still wore his harness, and her hand came away dirty when she rubbed his ears. The fire must have terrified him. She bent to meet the dog’s eyes. “It’s okay, Dave’s gone for a ride. He’ll be back soon.”

Duke didn’t like the noise of the motorcycle and stopped fussing and leaned against Jenna’s leg, but a tremble went through him. She kept one hand on Duke’s head as she turned her attention back to Carter. “Was anyone hurt? I couldn’t get any details from Dave. He was anxious to get going.”

“We’re all fine.” Carter’s white teeth shone brilliant white in his soot-blackened face. “A bit singed around the edges. I was the lucky one. I went out first with the dogs. Dave was last with Raven, but they’re okay. The paramedics put us on oxygen for a time and then we were able to go.” He frowned. “Wolfe was on lookout and saw nothing. He heard a noise but no more than a creak when someone locked us inside. The place was all boarded up with metal railings on the windows. We figure they used a drone to drop an incendiary device on the roof. Luckily, we had our rifles and blasted our way out.”

Relieved, Jenna nodded. “That’s good to know. Jo brought your bags from the office. You’ll be staying with the guys in the cottage. Why don’t you wash up and come by for something to eat and then you’ll need to get some rest.”

“I’ll take a shower and eat, but I’m good. We slept from dark until the fire. Wolfe will be exhausted and yet he insisted on remaining behind with Dave.”

Thinking on her feet had become normal. “Yeah, well if they’re chasing down serial killers and putting out fires, they’re going to need an extra doctor. Wolfe would never turn his back on the people of Black Rock Falls.”

“Obviously not, but he didn’t ask Raven to remain behind.” Carter gave her a long considering stare before indicating to the dogs. “The dogs need a bath. I’m happy to wash both of them.”

Duke took off so fast his claws scratched the polished floor as he skidded down the passageway and ran into Jenna’s bedroom. Raising both eyebrows she stared after him. “Darn, you only have to mention the word bath and Duke hides under the bed. We’ll have a terrible time getting him out of there. He turns into a solid statue, with hooks on his feet to stop anyone moving him. Dave usually has to lift him out. There’s a tub around the back of the house with running water. Dave had it specially installed so that Duke could have a hot bath.”

“Do you figure if he sees Zorro having a bath, it will help?” Carter rubbed his chin with his filthy hand, leaving streaks of soot behind. “I’ll wash Zorro first, or I’ll get my clean clothes wet.”

“I don’t believe it’s safe for you to go outside.” Jo stood in the middle of the family room with her hands balled on her hips. “There could be snipers out there just waiting to take you down.”

“They’d need to be mighty fine shots to get me around the back of the house. It’s enclosed by trees and they’d need to shoot through the fence.” Carter shrugged. “I’ll get Duke. You open the back door.”

Amazed as Carter maneuvered Duke out from under her bed and then carried him outside, Jenna went to the door to watch. After getting a nice warm flow of water going in the tub, Carter bent to rub Duke’s ears. The poor dog trembled, and Jenna leaned out of the door to hand Carter the dog shampoo. “It’s going to be okay, Duke.”

Attached to the fence, Duke wasn’t going anywhere.

“Wanna take a bath, Zorro?” Carter grinned as Zorro did a happy dance, his backside wiggling and stumpy tail making circles. Then the dog took off and bolted around the house. He came back, mouth stretched in a doggy grin, and put his front legs on the edge of the tub. “Good boy.” Carter shampooed Zorro and the dog stood still, his head held high as Carter rubbed the soap through his coat and then rinsed him.

Handing Carter a towel, Jenna looked at Duke. “See, it’s okay. Nothing bad is going to happen to you.”

She held her breath when Carter slipped off the harness and lifted Duke into the tub. Usually Duke gave a good impression of a bucking bronco at this stage, but he set his big sorrowful eyes on Jenna and whined. “Good boy.”

“Me or him?” Carter chuckled. “I don’t figure he wants to be shamed in front of his friend. You know they think just like us. People don’t believe they understand but they do.”

Watching in astonishment as Carter finished the chore and lifted Duke out of the tub, she passed him another towel. “Just be careful. I’ll get him inside or he’ll find something nasty to roll in. He only does that when he’s wet.”

Her phone rang and Jenna stared at the ID. “It’s Maggie. I hope everything is okay.”

“I’ve just taken the missing prison officer to the hospital. Her name is Amy Clark. She ran into a woman leaving the mountain with her horses and she brought her to the office.”

As Carter pushed Duke through the back door and into the mudroom, she waved him inside to listen to the call. “Has that poor woman been with the serial killers all this time or has she been lost in the forest?”

“They held her prisoner and used her to convince cabin owners to open their doors to her. From her account, they killed at least two of them, and she believes there is a girl alone in the forest. She found clothes belonging to a possible twelve-year-old at one of the cabins where an elderly man was murdered.” Maggie let out a long sigh. “She is not in good shape. From what I can see, she’s been beaten. I gave the hospital as much information as I’m able and asked the doctor to do a rape kit. They will be keeping her in the security wing until further notice. I’m just about to contact her parents. They’re in town waiting for news about her. Will they be allowed to see her or do you want to interview her first?”

Wishing she had Kane and Wolfe close by, Jenna chewed on her bottom lip. Conflicted by Kane’s insistence that she remain on the ranch and the overwhelming need to be there for this poor woman, she stared at Carter. “Hang on a minute, Maggie. Carter, will you be able to drive me to the hospital to interview this woman? We’ll take Jo and Beth with us as well. Tauri will be fine here with Nanny Raya.”

“Yeah, sure, as soon as I get cleaned up. Zorro, stay.” Carter took off at a run toward the cottage, zigzagging as he went to avoid a sniper’s bullet.

Jenna stared at Zorro, who stood for a few seconds before sitting down and turning into a statue, his eyes locked on the disappearing figure of his master. “Maggie, how long has it been since the doctors arrived to examine her?”

“They just went in now. I’m standing outside in the hallway of the secure area.” Maggie sounded as strong and dependable as always. “I figure you have some time before they’re through examining her. They’re familiar with the rape protocol and mentioned taking pictures, blood tests, swabs, and CT scans. From previous experience, I would say they’ll take one or two hours. I’ll wait here for as long as it takes. I promised I’d stay with her until her folks arrived.”

Heading back toward the kitchen, Jenna scanned the expectant faces of the women. “Okay, we’ll be right along. Don’t allow the parents into the secured area until I’ve spoken to her. Thanks for helping out, Maggie, I really appreciate you.”

“Thanks, but I’m just doing my job.” She disconnected.

“Tell me you’re not planning on leaving the ranch, are you?” Jo glared at her. “Dave asked you not to leave the ranch because it isn’t safe, and the second his back is turned you want to go into town. Have you lost your mind?”

Leaning her hands on the table, Jenna looked from one to the other. “I’m the sheriff. The team is burned up and we’re the last men standing. Whoever is doing this couldn’t possibly know we’re heading for the hospital. We’ll use the underground parking lot and take the elevator to the secured floor. That means we’ll be going from the Beast into a secure area. We’ll do the same on the way back. Carter will be driving and I’ll sit in the back with Jo. No one could possibly see us behind the blacked-out windows. If anyone is watching us, they’ll see two blond-haired people leaving in a black truck.” She looked from one to the other. “Jo, can you get Carter something to eat? I’ll feed the dogs and then get ready.” She looked at Beth. “There are liquid Kevlar vests in the hall closet. Can you grab one for Carter?”

“Sure.” Beth headed along the passageway.

Pumpkin, Jenna’s black cat, jumped onto the chair, and Jenna ran her hand down the cat’s silken black coat. She smiled at her. “I’m sure you can care for yourself while I’m gone.” She turned as Tauri came running through the door to Nanny Raya’s separate quarters. “There you are.”

“I saw Uncle Ty running toward the cottage. Is Daddy home?” Tauri peered behind her.

Swinging her son into her arms was out of the question now. He’d grown so fast and weighed a ton. She bent to hug him. “He’s out fighting fires and hunting down bad men with Uncle Shane. I’m not sure when he’ll be back but he sent you a hug.”

“Okay.” He held up paint-stained fingers. “I’m very busy painting.” He frowned when Beth dropped Kevlar vests over the back of a chair. “Are you going to work?”

Nodding, Jenna straightened. “For a little while. A lady was hurt and I need to go and see her at the hospital.” She clicked her fingers and Duke came running. “Duke would like to stay with you today.”

“Okay. I’ll go and finish my painting.” Tauri hugged her around the legs. “See you later.” He scampered off through the connecting door. “Come on, Duke.”

“He’s a beautiful boy.” Beth leaned her back against the sofa. “Was he in foster care for a long time before you adopted him?”

The question came from left field as Jenna had pushed the fact that they’d adopted Tauri from her mind. He was her son in every sense of the word. She assumed Beth’s time in the system had influenced the question. “From birth until four and then Blackhawk became his guardian. He lived with him and his mother until he came to us. It was a remarkable day, the moment we arrived, we had a connection to him and he told us he’d been waiting for us. He believes we’re his parents, even though he knows his father was a Native American. I figure his father is dead. We know his mother died soon after giving birth. Blackhawk has this crazy idea their spirits sent us to find him.”

“That’s truly remarkable.” Beth folded her arms across her chest. “Not just for the fact you found each other, but that he came through the system unscathed. He’s one of the lucky ones.”

Jenna searched Beth’s face but the woman hid her emotions as well as Kane. “I’ve run across many serial killers who came out of the system or from abusive parents. There’s no doubt in my mind, the majority of psychopaths are triggered by abuse in one form or another. As long as I draw breath, I’ll fight to keep the children safe.” She met Beth’s cynical gaze. “Abuse of women, men, and kids, and the use of cohesive control, is just another word for prolonged torture . The worst thing is when kids, especially, try and speak out, most times no one believes them, or they blame the child. Women are told their husbands have a right to bash them and tell them what to do. Domestic abuse is out of hand. There’s no place a woman or kid can go for help. The shelters are filled to overflowing, and you don’t want to know my opinion of the foster care system. Here in my county, we introduced stringent rules and frequent visits. This is why we founded the Her Broken Wings Foundation. It started small and now it’s growing by the year. It’s funded by donations both in money, time, and expertise. It’s no good just talking about helping or pretending terrible things don’t happen behind closed doors. People need to face the facts and actually do something.”

“Trust me,” Beth nodded slowly and her lips curled into a small smile, “you’re preaching to the choir.”