“Sure.” Hughes walked into the crowd.
“Ah-hem.” The sound came from behind Jenna.
She turned to see an elderly woman in a yellow dress peering at her over her spectacles. “Ah, sorry to keep you waiting. You saw Laurie last night?”
“Yes, I did indeed.” The woman fiddled with her purse. “She was wearing her cheerleader outfit and carrying a backpack. Imagine a young woman walking out in the middle of the night dressed like that? Then I see a vehicle slow down beside her, just like you see the men chasing after streetwalkers on TV shows. She jumped straight in and the car drove away in the other direction toward Stanton. Now I know Laurie lives out of Ravens Way, I can’t figure why she’d climb into a car when she was so close to home.”
Heart pounding, Jenna took out her notebook again. “Your name, ma’am, and address?”
“Mrs. York.” She rattled off her details.
A breakthrough and so early in the case would be incredible. Jenna needed all the details. She waved Kane over, as he seemed to be able to identify every vehicle on the planet. “What time was this, do you recall?”
“Close to nine-thirty.” Mrs. York nodded as if to herself. “There was a storm coming, so I gave my dog a run in the yard and was heading back inside when she came running out of the alleyway.”
Holding up a hand,
Jenna stared at her. “Running? Was someone chasing her?”
“Not that I could see. I was looking through tree branches but I know it was Laurie.” Mrs. York turned her attention to Kane and then moved it back to Jenna. “She moved under the streetlight, looked behind her, and then hurried along the sidewalk. Next minute, headlights came round the corner and the vehicle stopped, she jumped in. They drove off and I went back inside. It was none of my business what she was doing.”
Jenna pushed on. “Did you see who was driving or notice anyone else in the vehicle?”
“No, I’m afraid not.” Mrs. York screwed up her eyes. “No, just a dark shape is all I remember. You see, Laurie was bending over looking in the window. She obscured my view.”
“This is Deputy Kane.” Jenna indicated to Kane. “Can you describe the vehicle to him for me please?”
“I can. It wasn’t one of those trucks the young people usually drive, it was a Chrysler sedan, maybe green or gray.” Mrs. York smiled up at Kane. “I know it was a Chrysler because we have one and it was similar.”
“I’ll find some images.” Kane pulled out his phone. “We’ll see if one of them looks familiar.”
Jenna returned to the lectern. “Could I have your attention, please?” She waited for the buzz of conversation to die down. “Does anyone here know anyone who drives a Chrysler sedan, green or gray?”
The silence was deafening. “Okay, there is a stack of my cards on the table beside the entrance. Please take one, and if you see anyone driving a similar vehicle, take down the plate number and call the hotline on my card. Thank you.”
Jenna scanned the hall. Hughes was heading her way carrying a plastic bag. She stepped down from the lectern and went to Kane’s side. “Excuse me, Dave. Did you get the statements from the people who spoke to Laurie in the parking lot?”
“Wolfe took over, so I could rescue you from the reporters.” Kane gave her a lopsided smile. “He’s almost through by the look of things.”
“Okay.” Jenna handed Mrs. York her card. “I’ll leave you with Deputy Kane. If you think of anything else, call me. Anything at all.” She glanced at Kane. “Finish up here. I’ll talk to Hughes again and do the rounds of the hall. We’ll drop by the command center and then we’ll head home. We have an early start in the morning.”
Nine
Monday
Mist still curled through the lowlands when Jenna and Kane arrived at the control center at daybreak. The fall morning had a crispness in the air with the distinct tangy, earthy smell that came from dead leaves. In the distance the snowcapped mountains dominated the landscape. It had been a cold night and if Laurie was out there alone and injured, her chances of survival would be minimal. The search parties had insisted on going long into the night before it became too dangerous to be moving around the forest. As they rounded the building Jenna stared at the crowd. People had gathered at the back of the sheriff’s department and spilled onto the sidewalk. She recognized some of the deputies from Louan and Blackwater but not the man standing beside Rowley. She eased her way through the crowd toward him. It seemed Rowley had completed the organization at some ungodly hour and groups were leaving with forest wardens and deputies all carrying maps.
“Morning.” Rowley nodded in her direction and handed a deputy a pile of maps. “No sightings of Laurie at all overnight but we’re doing a grid search of the forest two miles alongside Stanton. Atohi will be back by noon. He worked until late into the night with his team, checking all the trails wide enough to drive a vehicle. I’ll move the command center to the front desk now everyone is organized.”
“So, you have everything under control?” Jenna smiled at him.
“Yes, ma’am.” Rowley collected his things. “Maggie will be in at nine and same with Walters to give me a break so I can go have breakfast.”
“I can watch the desk.” Emily Wolfe was leaning against her silver Colorado and straightened to come toward them. “I don’t have classes today. You go eat.”
“Thanks.” Rowley looked tired. “I won’t take long.”
Jenna frowned. “Take your time, you look exhausted. We’ll manage just fine.”