Jenna replaced the book and looked at Kane. “This is creepier than you think. During the background check I did into Dakota Storm, her last big deal was for a book titled Body in a Lake: Frozen in Time.” She paused a beat. “Jedidiah Longfellow’s book is titled: Nailed It and now her book is titled Frizzled. More than a coincidence, don’t you agree?”
“What!” Kane’s eyebrows shot almost to his hairline. “I was joking when I suggested that before. This has to be a first.”
A shiver ran down Jenna’s spine. “Yeah, and we’re trapped in a resort with the killer. Now we must figure out what connects these people, and who will be next on his list.”
Twenty-One
Pulling up his collar, Deputy Jake Rowley left the warmth of the barn and made his way through the blinding snow to his ranch house. It had been a long hard freezing-cold day managing the sheriff’s office alone. He could’ve asked old Deputy Walters to come by but dragging the elderly man out in a blizzard wasn’t his style. He’d eaten at Aunt Betty’s Café after picking up his very pregnant wife from her mother’s. They’d been staying there overnight, mainly because it was closer to the hospital, but Sandy had become restless and hadn’t been sleeping, so they’d decided to stay at home. The driving back and forth to tend the horses had been an extra chore, but in his world, Sandy came first and he’d walk through fire if it kept her happy.
He kicked the snow from his boots and shook his coat before entering the mudroom. After hanging up his clothes, he showered and crept into the bedroom. Sandy’s soft breathing met him as he padded silently across the floor. The warm room carried the scent of her shampoo and he slipped in beside her not making a sound. Sleep called to him and he fell into the blissful warmth. The next moment, something jammed into his ribs. Awake in an instant, his hand went to the Glock on his bedside table.
“Jake, are you awake?” Sandy poked him again. “I think the babies are coming.” She turned on the light.
Blinking away the red spots in his eyes, Rowley put down his weapon with a sigh. They’d had three false alarms in the past two weeks. “Then we do what the doctor said and time the contractions. It might be another false alarm.” He checked his phone for the time. It was a little after midnight.
“I have, they started twenty minutes ago. They came regular at ten minutes apart and now they’re five.” Sandy sat on the side of the bed and then with some effort pushed herself up. She pressed one hand against the wall. “Shoot, my water’s broken.”
Rowley had completed a course for delivering a baby some years ago, but his mind suddenly went blank. “I… err. You need to get dressed. I’ll go get the truck. Thank God, it has the snowplow attachment on the front.”
“Don’t you dare leave me.” Sandy was puffing and blowing through a contraction. “Don’t wake up my folks. I don’t want Mom fussing over me. I don’t think we should risk driving. Call the paramedics. That contraction was really strong. I don’t want to deliver my babies in the truck.”
As Rowley was the 911 emergency operator for Black Rock Falls, he dialed the hospital direct and spoke to the ER nurse, explaining the situation. “How long before the paramedics can get here?”
“Right now, we can’t get through the end of Stanton Road to get to you. The road is blocked. The snowplow broke down and has left this end of town isolated at least until morning. You won’t be able to get through from your side of town. The drifts there are five feet high. Doc Brown is isolated as well. You could try Dr. Wolfe. He’s on your side of the blockage.”
Rolling his eyes, Rowley glanced at Sandy. “Okay, thanks.” He disconnected. With his mind racing, he realized they were in trouble. As Doc Brown was also on the hospital side of Stanton Road, he had no other option than to call Wolfe. How was he going to break the news to her? He smiled at her in an effort to reassure her. “Best you take a shower.”
“A shower? Have you lost your mind?” Sandy gripped the wall.
He had to get her out of earshot. “The warm water will help and you’re soaked through. I’ll check you have everything in your bag, mop up the puddle, and then come and help you dress.” He helped Sandy into the bathroom, said a silent prayer, and called Wolfe. The phone rang three times max before Wolfe answered. Surprisingly he was wide awake. “Sorry to wake you, Shane. Sandy’s in labor, pains are five minutes apart, her water has broken, and the road to the hospital is blocked. I don’t know what to do.”
“How is the road from your ranch to town?” Wolfe sounded as if being woken in the middle of the night was usual.
Rowley rubbed a hole in the frozen condensation on the windowpane and peered outside. “No worse than when we drove in. My snowplow attachment cut through it okay, and once I hit town, Main will be clear. Why? I can’t get through to the hospital the road is impassable.”
“Yeah, but you can make it to the morgue, right?” Wolfe sounded serious. “I can get there too. I’ll meet you there. Drive around back and I’ll open the door. It will be easier for Sandy than taking the front steps. I’ll head out now and get things ready.”
Shocked, Rowley swallowed hard. “You planning on delivering my babies in the morgue? No way. That will traumatize Sandy for life.”
“I’ll need medical equipment and I keep drugs on site for my med kit. I’m still an MD after all. Unless you plan to deliver them yourself?” Wolfe sounded amused. “I won’t take Sandy into the morgue. It’s way too cold. I’ll wheel a gurney into the visitors’ waiting room. It’s nice and warm in there.”
Unconvinced but without options, Rowley rubbed the back of his neck, wondering how to explain all this to his wife. “She won’t be happy.”
“I’m sure she’ll understand when you explain. She has no choice. I’ll need your help too. Emily is at the resort with Jenna. Are you up to delivering babies?” Wolfe chuckled. “I wouldn’t take too long making up your mind. Babies have a will of their own sometimes.”
A wail came from the bathroom. Rowley cringed. “Okay, we’re on our way.”
Twenty-Two
It’s amusing listening to the hushed whispers as people try to discover what’s happening. I know what caused the blackout. My escape down the stairs was a nightmare but nobody saw me emerge into the foyer. As candles appear all around the room, casting a soft glow on anxious faces, I mingle with the crowd and listen to the eloquent voice of Deputy Zac Rio. What a charming man he is and how clever to sidestep the many questions by both the guests and the horde of media, all trying to speak at once. It’s like being at the Spanish Inquisition, and the young man is handling it with such smooth efficiency. Now that he’s finished, we all sit, crammed into a restaurant waiting for the manager to allow us to go to our rooms. Of course, those who had taken cabins had left once the power had been restored to them, but the rest of us, mere mortals, wait for the elevators to come back online.
Today I took the opportunity to listen to a few publishers’ presentations. It has been a delight hearing how they work with their authors. It was refreshing to see. I’ve never received such kindness, and if I had, maybe things would be different. My mind wanders as I cast my gaze around—and there she is again. The red nails draw my attention at once. The way she plays with her hair makes my anger rise and my hands shake.
The rage at seeing her again is already too strong and overclouds my mission. I need to have my hands around her neck to cool my anger, but for now, I’ll just imagine squeezing the life from her. I’ve done it so many times. It’s like eating a special treat. The first touch sends quivers all through me, and as I tighten my grip, they claw at my hands, but I’m always prepared to protect myself. The terror in their eyes feeds me as I press deep with my thumbs. Did you know, they rarely close their eyes? They offer me the delight of watching as tiny blood vessels burst like red stars on a white sky. All too soon comes the vacant stare as life leaves them.
I’m soaked in sweat and force myself to listen as the deputy speaks again, his baritone voice easily heard over the low buzz of conversation. He’s asking for a show of hands per floor. Ah, now I know Julie’s room is on the fifth floor. Hmm, the top floor holds the better rooms. She must be a spoiled rich kid. The deputy is ordering people to the fifth floor, ten to each cab. I see the blonde sisters head for the elevator and I hurry along to join them. I find myself smiling. Soon I’ll know their room number and I have a passkey. My heart picks up a beat as I squeeze into the elevator with them so close. I can smell Julie’s freshly washed hair. I wish I could kill both of them right now in front of everyone. The shock on their faces would be incredible. Would anyone try and stop me? How many would try? I nod and smile as my fingers close around the passkey in my pocket. Not now, my pretty—but your turn will come.
Twenty-Three