Page 50 of Pretty Broken Dolls

“Yep.”

A couple of photos dropped from the back of the journal. Katie bent down and picked them up. They were of Jeanine during her time in the military, pictured with some of the dogs. Bright-eyed, smiling, she appeared to be loving her job. “It looks like Jeanine was very happy training dogs in the military.”

“I wonder what happened? Why didn’t she stay?”

“I don’t know. Sergeant Serrano didn’t give any indication,” she said. She slid the photos back into the journal. “See if you can find any photographs or memory disks.” She thought she should have pressed him harder.

“On it.”

Katie and McGaven searched for anything that might prove useful, but didn’t find anything other than the journal.

After returning everything to the storage space and securing the lock, they left the facility.

Katie was now behind the wheel as McGaven skimmed through Jeanine’s journal.

“Listen to this,” he said and read out loud: “‘I love working at the CHA, but I don’t know how much longer I can take the hostile environment. No matter what I do, tackling them head-on or ignoring them, it’s always the same. Lately it’s been aggressive and I’m afraid that they might try to harass me at my house.’”

“That sounds serious,” she said.

“It does,” he agreed. “And her handwriting starts out neat and then gets messier as if she was struggling to write that particular entry.”

“Interesting. I’m glad that we’re on our way to the health center now.”

“Let’s see what shakes out.”

Chapter Eighteen

Friday 1530 hours

The Community Health Alliance building was in the older part of Pine Valley and it helped people who were on assistance and social security. It covered all areas of care, including health screenings, family planning, and child health services. The building had been occupied by many businesses until the health care facility took over eight years ago.

“Listen to this,” said McGaven as he read from Jeanine Trenton’s journal. “‘I can usually take the crap from some of my co-workers, but today was the last straw. I’ve decided to give my resignation first thing Monday to Angela Norton. I have a few prospects and I really need…’”

“Really need what?”

“That’s it. That’s the end of the entry. And it’s dated two days before her death.”

“She never got the chance to give her notice,” said Katie.

Katie drove into the area and was able to find a parking place. The parking lot was in desperate need of a fresh paving. Stubborn cracks and various potholes littered the area. It was a sterile building that needed some type of landscaping to soften the sharp lines of the construction and to help make it more inviting.

Katie cut the engine and remained seated, staring out.

“What?” said McGaven drinking a large iced tea. They had stopped for a quick bite before taking on the challenge of talking with employees at the facility.

“Not everyone still works here since Jeanine Trenton was murdered.”

“No problem. There’s many ways we can go. Track them down or just go by the previous interviews—unless of course something stands out. Then…we’ll take it from there.” He looked at his partner. “What’s really going on?”

“Do you actually think we’re going to find anything new? There’ve been so many investigators working on these cases.”

“We can always find out something new. And we’re going to do it our way. I think something will surface.”

“You’re right. That entire command center with Agent Campbell just makes me wonder.”

“You mean the command center or the agent?” He noisily finished his drink, sliding the empty cup into the holder.

“What’s that supposed to mean?”