Page 42 of Special Agent Raven
Winona stood holding Bonnie. “Let’s get this baby something to fill her tummy. Poor child needs food to give her strength to fight off the fever. Val what does she particularly like?”
“Well, she loves bananas and toast with peanut butter. And one of her favorites is oatmeal with blueberries.”
“All good food. Raven do you and Val want to round up some of that from the kitchen? Meanwhile, I’ll find her a light pair of jammies from the other room and organize some medicine for her to take. Once Precious is fed, she’ll begin to feel better and maybe she’ll sleep peacefully.” Winona kissed the cradled child’s forehead and added, “Won’t you little darling?”
Just as they had Bonnie settled, and her eyes closing in a restful sleep, Noah approached. Raven introduced them. “Val,this is Sheriff Noah Williams. He’d like for us to go back to the station so he can take your statement.”
Noah graciously held out his hand, his eyes seeming to evaluate the woman standing so tall, her shoulders stiff as if she knew what he might be thinking of her and daring him to sneer.
Except he didn’t. In fact, his voice turned gentle, and his reaching hand showed a respect that seemed to shock. “Glad to meet you, Val. I’m very sorry for what you’ve had to suffer. Thanks for agreeing to talk with me. I’ll be as brief as I can.”
Winona spoke up, “Don’t worry about Bonnie. I can take care of her while you go and get done what you need to, Val.”
Relief written in her surprised expression, Val nodded and smiled. “Thank you. I’ll be back as soon as possible.”
***
Meanwhile, back at the station, Cane fought off his guilt at having shied away from spending alone time with Raven. He couldn’t continue to ignore what happened between them the night before, yet the thought of asking her if the sex had been real made him squirm.
While he chewed over his situation, he took numerous calls, most of them demanding information and only one seeming to provide any news about Dale. He was writing the name and address just as three people entered the office. “Thanks for calling. We’ll send someone out there this morning.”
While Raven helped Val get a cup of coffee, Noah sensed that Cane had something to share. “What’s up?”
“A Mrs. Tener called in to say her store had been broken into during the night, and she didn’t think it was looters or kids. Seems like the robber only took a couple packets of cigarettes, a few beers, a box of pain medication, and some jerky. She figures whoever robbed her place might have been on foot.”
“So, the bastard’s on the move. Must have walked from there to Winona’s place and found the jeep.”
“My thoughts exactly. Look, we only have a short time to grab this son of a bitch before the road gets reopened, and he sneaks out of the vicinity.”
“Fuck, tell me about it. But we don’t have near enough cops to cover the whole district. Could you and Raven maybe go and get the report from Mrs. Tener?”
Quick thinking made him reply, “Sure. But it might be better to send Raven alone. I can stay here in case something else comes up while you’re talking to Val.”
“Right. Okay, let’s do that.”
Cane shrugged off the exploding guilt once again at having gotten out of being with Raven and possibly facing the consequences of the night before.
***
Raven, using Winona’s van, headed to Mrs. Tener’s store. Since its location was closer to Winona’s than any of the others in the area, while growing up she’d visited the place often. When she arrived, she slipped in behind another customer and took a look around spying the overhead cameras.
Once they had the store to themselves, she hugged the older woman. Then keeping her fingers crossed, she pointed to the object near the ceiling. “Elvira, do those camera’s work?”
“As far as I know, they sure do. Noah talked me into having them installed last month.” The plump native woman who wore her long black hair in a bun behind her neck and ancient-looking turquoise earrings that pulled on her earlobes since the day Raven first met her, was incensed. “Little suckers around here are getting worse than ever, breaking and entering. Been puttingup with that nonsense since you were one of them naughty kids back in the day.”
Teasing, Raven had a come-back. “I only did it once, you know that. Darn Winona made me return the cigarettes and apologize. If I remember correctly, I also had to stock shelves and sweep out the place for the rest of the summer.”
Laughing, Elvira admitted, “you did a good job for me too. But lately, it’s gotten much worse. The young don’t just steal a few things now and again; they break stuff and vandalize the joint. No respect for their elders anymore. It breaks my heart to say they’ve become… well, plain, uncaring juvenile brats.” Her voice hardened over the last words, and Raven had a feeling she’d bitten off cuss words.
“I’m sorry, Elvira. People are angrier nowadays and that rubs off on their kids. I see it in my job all the time.”
Recovering from her aggravation, Elvira grinned, “You’re one of the good ones, made a life for yourself. Always knew you’d turn out right.”
Laughing, Raven admitted, “Did Winona give me a choice?”
Becoming serious, Elvira said, “She did. I remember those days when you’d decided getting fostered was better than staying with family. Broke her heart, it did. But you came back, and all was forgiven. Our Winona can be a hard task master, but she loves like no one else I know.”
“So true. You know, she’s taking in the sheriff and his kids. And another woman with a young child, Val and her daughter Bonnie.”