Jessica confirmed that the clothing and blanket were Amy’s. When the rental car arrived, they followed the sheriff to the location. After a long day of investigating, they found out Deanne and Amy had stayed at the hotel near the hot springs for two nights, then caught a bus to Flagstaff, Arizona. Sam called Jake to see if he had anything, and to let him know that it had become a federal case. It was time they officially called in the FBI.
“Did you find anything helpful in her computer?” Sam asked his friend.
Jake answered with his usual arrogant humor. “Isn’t that what you wanted me to do? Of course I found it. She has several e-mail letters from a friend in Phoenix, the last of which mentioned she’s looking forward to meeting her and her daughter.”
Sam sighed with relief and his vision blurred.
“You there? Sam?”
“I’m just so relieved. After looking at the car, I had this sick feeling in the pit of my stomach. I have hope again. Thanks.”
“Glad I could help. I’ll call if I find anything else.” Jake gave Sam the address and name of the friend.
“If you could, leave a message at my precinct number if you don’t reach the cell phone. We’ve been in and out of service areas, and I don’t want you to think I’ve gotten a message that I haven’t.”
“Will do. Take care, Sam.”
Sam plugged his cell phone in to charge while he went across the hall to tell Becky and Jessica the news. He could see the excitement in their faces, too.
After Becky called the Phoenix PD, the three of them went to a steak house for dinner where a live country-western band raised the roof with knee-slapping music. Sam was so happy he even talked Jessica into trying their timing at a Texas two-step.
“We’ll find her,” Sam said, pulling her close while they waited for the next song to start.
“I know. I wish we could get there tonight. Do you really think Deanne is going to meet this person?” The music started and Jessica moved to the beat.
“I’m not really sure, but it’s a step in the right direction. The Phoenix police will keep an eye out for Deanne at the bus stop, and there is a stakeout at the friend’s house.”
She didn’t reply, and Sam decided to just enjoy their time together. He liked the way her hand fit into his and the synchronization they had as dance partners.
“Break?” she said at the end of the next song.
“I’m sorry, you should have said something earlier,” he replied. She squeezed his hand as they returned to the empty table, where they found a note from Becky scribbled on the napkin. Sam read it with a smile. “Becky walked back to the hotel,” he said. “You’ve been pretty quiet today. Are you feeling okay?”
“I didn’t sleep very well last night. I was anxious for the trip today.”
“You should have told me you were claustrophobic.”
She shrugged. “It’s okay. Neither of us had had enough rest to drive safely.”
“No, you shouldn’t be driving at all.” He dropped his fist to the table suddenly. “You missed your checkup, didn’t you? When was the last time anyone looked at your back?”
She shrugged, and Sam looked more closely at her. Her skin was flushed, and her usually bright eyes looked dull and tired. “We should get back to the hotel and get you to bed,” he said as he leaned out of the wood booth to get the waitress’s attention.
She smiled weakly. “Yeah, I’m beat.”
Jessica and Becky were sharing a room at the motel, and Sam had ended up down the hall, thankful for even the tiny rooms that they’d been able to procure at the last minute. He lifted his hand to her forehead, recalling now that her hand had felt unusually warm when they’d danced. He hadn’t thought too much about it, he realized, had just figured it had been a warm day at a high altitude and they’d spent much of it outdoors. “You feel feverish—maybe you should have Becky check your back and make sure it doesn’t look infected.”
The waitress dropped off the bill and Sam checked the figures.
“I just need some rest. I don’t need Becky to check it.” She seemed to melt into the support of her hands.
“Then I will.”
She raised an eyebrow and gave him a slight smile. “Don’t you wish.”
He felt a deep longing inside at her teasing words. “You missed your doctor’s appointment. Someone is going to check it. If it isn’t me, and it isn’t Becky…” He paused as he reached into his hip pocket for his wallet. “I guess we only have one other choice.” He slipped a department-issued credit card into the slot and looked for the waitress.
Even over the twang of music, a loud crash of dishes and silverware made him drop the bill valet to the floor. He turned to find Jessica’s head smack-dab in the middle of Becky’s plate of leftover chicken-fried steak and mashed potatoes.
Sam lifted her face out of the plate and shook her gently. “Waitress!” He yelled as he checked Jessica’s pulse and breathing. “Jessi!”
The waitress and manager rushed across the room to make sure no one was hurt. “Should we call an ambulance?”
“Yeah, would you? I’m not familiar with town, and I think we’d better get her checked out.”
One waitress ran to the phone, and another took her place, offering a stack of napkins, then a clean, cold, wet dishcloth. Sam washed her face while the staff cleaned the table and took care of the bill. A few minutes later, Sam heard the warble of the ambulance sirens. The music stopped when the uniformed men rolled the gurney through the restaurant. While Sam held her steady, the EMT took her blood pressure. The female medic cleared the mattress and pulled a small ammonia inhalant capsule from a huge bag, popped it open and waved it under Jessica’s nose, making her cough.
As he recited the blood pressure, the man reached for her other arm. “Let’s lift her on three, and lay her on the gurney. Where are you from?”
“Colorado Springs. Jessica had back surgery a week ago. She’s been under tremendous stress. Her daughter was kidnapped, and we’re here following a lead on the case.”
Both EMTs looked at him as if he’d lost his mind. “You gotta be kidding us.”
“I wish I were. I’m a detective with the Colorado Springs Police Department.” Sam showed his badge and then clipped it back to his belt.
After a quick discussion about whether to lay her on her back or side, Jessica woke up enough to voice her preference, and they were on the way to the hospital.
As Sam followed the ambulance, he called Becky with an explanation. “Why’d you leave the restaurant without telling us?” he asked.
“I thought Jessica was so quiet because she was uncomfortable around me,” she said over the scratchy connection.
“Why would she be uncomfortable?” Sam was trying to keep up with the ambulance, thankful that he hadn’t tried to find the hospital himself. The mountain town seemed to be full of narrow one-way roads that led to nowhere.
Becky gave her usual guffaw and Sam could imagine her eyes rolling. “I get the very strong feeling that she has figured out that we dated.”
“Yeah, so?”
This time she laughed. “You aren’t exactly the kind of man a woman wants to share, Sam. Especially with an ex-girlfriend.”
Sam shook his head. “Thanks for the flattery, Becky, but I think it’s more physiological than psychological. Hey, we’re at the hospital. I’ll call you with an update.”
“Take care. I’ll keep making phone calls. Nothing new yet.”
He waited in the lobby while the staff got her into a gown to examine her, then they called him into the room.
“The doctor’s on the phone with her surgeon. She’ll be right with you,” said a nurse.
They waited another hour, with Jessica dozing off and on. Due to the high altitude, they were also giving her oxygen. Her bangs were plastered back from the cleaning solution and he noticed butterfly bandages over a small cut on her forehead. The automated blood pressure monitor hissed itself full and slowly deflated every fifteen minutes
.
Finally the doctor returned. “Good evening, Detective Vance. Sorry for the delay, her surgeon had an emergency.” She smiled and leaned against the counter. “I’d like to put Jessica on IV antibiotics to fight the infection, and on fluids because she may be dehydrated. Did she drink much water while you were out in the sun today?”
“Some, but probably not enough. So what happened? Is it the infection, or the altitude, or what? Is she okay?”
“She’ll be fine. As you said, she’s had a stressful week. With the lack of sleep that you indicated, combined with the sudden elevation difference and an emotional day in strong sunshine, I suspect it’s all of the above.”
“Did she have an emotional breakdown?”
The doctor looked surprised. “Not from what you’ve told me. I’m sure that she’s been emotional and distraught, but under the circumstances, those are very normal reactions. I believe this is physiologically induced.”
“How long does she need to stay here?” he asked.
“The nurse will be in soon to start the IV, then I’d like to wait a couple of hours after it’s through dripping to see if she’s feeling better. Would you like something to drink?”
“Sounds like a glass of water wouldn’t be a bad idea. Thanks.”
When she returned with the water she added, “I understand she’s going to want to leave the hospital as soon as possible. I prescribed medicine that will help her moods and help her sleep a little more. I did discuss it with her doctor. We feel her current medication isn’t quite strong enough. Here’s some ointment for her incision. I’m not sure how you’re traveling, but I’d recommend she get a lot of rest, whether it be in the car or wherever.” She gave him complete instructions on her medicines and reminded him to examine her forehead and the incision from her back surgery every day.
“Thanks for understanding,” Sam said, offering his hand.
“I hope you find her daughter safe and healthy.”
Sam didn’t even want to consider the alternatives. He wouldn’t. They would find Amy, and soon.
Six hours later, Sam helped Jessica into the hotel and knocked on Becky’s door. “Sorry to bother you.”
“How’s she doing?”
“Much better,” he said, as Becky pulled down the covers for Jessica, who sat down as soon as she saw the bed.
“What happened to her forehead?” Becky asked while Jessica reclined, pulling the covers over her.
“She fell into your plate when she passed out, and cut her head on your fork.”
Becky covered her mouth to keep from laughing. “This can’t all be happening to one person.”
“Sometimes life just isn’t fair,” he said as he gave Jessica a good-night kiss.
She rolled over and snuggled the extra pillow without a word.
Sam walked into the hall with Becky following. “What’s new?”
“I hoped you’d forget to ask,” she said, brushing her hair off her face. “Deanne never got back onto the bus in Flagstaff.”
Sam dropped back against the wall. “You’re kidding me.”
“Nope. She tried to rent a car—but without a credit card, they wouldn’t rent her one. The rental company called the number on their system’s message alert. He didn’t tell her why her card was denied, but the Flagstaff police couldn’t get there in time. I don’t know if she’s hiding out until her friend can pick her up, or if she’ll resort to stealing a car…” Becky let out a deep breath.
Sam raked his hands through his hair and rubbed his face. “Did you call Jake? Maybe he can find new information.”
“He doesn’t have anything more.”
Sam jammed his hands into his pockets and whispered a prayer. “What now? She won’t panic and hurt Amy, will she?”
Becky shrugged. “Not likely if she loves her, but fear can make sick people do unpredictable things. Why don’t we get some sleep? Whoever wakes first wakes the other. If you get a call, let me know.”
“If Jessica wakes up, let me know.”
“Is she up to the trip home, however long that takes?”
Sam updated her on the doctor’s instructions and they both agreed to stay there one more day or until they had another lead on Deanne.
They didn’t have long to wait, as the phone in Becky’s room rang. Sam followed her back in, expecting the shrill noise to wake Jessica.
When Becky hung up, she said to Sam, “Deanne was last seen getting into a white sedan with a businessman wearing a suit.”
“Traveling salesman?” Sam suggested.
Becky stepped toward her bed. “I hope he knows who his passengers are. Let’s get a few hours of sleep and set a plan in the morning. Maybe we’ll have another lead by then.”
Chapter Twenty
Jessica had about worn herself out trying to understand Sam. When he’d investigated Tim’s accident, there had been no doubt that Sam disliked her. Now he was staying here, claiming he cared for her in a personal way. The way she had grown to care for him.
“You must be losing your mind,” she whispered to herself, pacing the length of the small motel room, waiting for Becky to get back from the sheriff’s office. She looked out the window at the green mountains and blue sky. Barely a wisp of white clouds rolled over the jagged peaks. There’s no way Sam and I could be in love, she told herself. Especially not in a matter of a few weeks.
“Jessica, are you okay?”
She looked at Sam with wide eyes, imagining again that she heard something personal in his question. “I’m okay, considering. Why do you ask?”
He motioned at the bed. “You’re not resting. What’s wrong?”
She shrugged and turned away. “It’s too quiet in here.”
“Too quiet…as in, you want the television on?” He picked up the remote control.
“Don’t!” She took it away and set it on the nightstand and looked into his eyes. “I guess that’s not it, exactly. I can’t stand to chance seeing another Amber Alert with Amy’s picture on it.”
Sam nodded. “You need to think of something besides Amy.”
“I tried that, and this other topic brought up even more questions.” Her gaze settled on Sam’s whiskered jaw. They both looked a little ragged from hanging out in a motel waiting for the phone to ring.
Sam seemed to sense that she needed a hug, and he offered it generously. “I know this isn’t easy. And I’m sorry we couldn’t make it home last night. I didn’t think we should drive until necessary. The doctor said…”
Jessica rested her head on his chest, comforted by his embrace. “I’m confused, Sam. And I’m ashamed of myself for even thinking of anything but Amy right now…” She looked at the heavily wooded forest just beyond the city limits and felt as if she were lost in the thick of it.
“It’s okay, Jessi. She’s one part of your life, but even now, you need to try to keep a balance. What are you confused about? Maybe I can help.” He loosened the embrace and eased her away.
Jessica remembered the kiss he’d given her at the Broadmoor Hotel. And the few they had shared in the last week. Were they really in love, or was the attraction simply a distraction from the fear? An attempt to comfort each other? “I hope you can, because it’s about you. Is this…” What a stupid question, she thought as she stepped away from his embrace. Cops didn’t just go around hugging victims to make them feel better. They didn’t stay on cases that were assigned to someone else.
“Is this what?”
“Between us… I’m confused. After Tim’s accident, it was clear that you hated me.”
“I didn’t hate you.” Sam furrowed his brow.
“You kept trying to blame me.”
Sam edged away. “I felt you were trying to hide his drinking that night. I came down harder on you than I should have, probably, because Travis’s wife and daughter were killed by a drunk boater. I admit, I have little patience for women who make excuses and stay in abusive relationships.”
“So now, that leaves us…where?”<
br />
“What do you mean?”
“I was that woman, Sam. I won’t deny it anymore.” She took a deep breath, trying to regain her courage. She trusted Sam. Cared for him, more than she dared admit. “If I tell you everything, where will that leave our relationship?”
Sam’s expression shifted from hopeful to somber. “Probably right where it’s at right now. I think I’ve already figured out what happened, but I would like to know you trust me enough to tell me straight out.”
Jessica couldn’t believe that Sam had suspected anything near the truth and still thought he could love her. “Should we sit down?”
“If you want, go ahead. I’m fine.”
Jessica wasn’t about to trap herself in a chair if he wasn’t. “I already told you about hiding money from him. It wasn’t totally unjustified of him to restrict the bank account.” She saw him roll his eyes. “I’m not making excuses for Tim. I’d started school without telling him. That wasn’t right. But I knew I didn’t want to leave Colorado Springs, even if he was stationed anywhere else. And I knew that we couldn’t afford two residences. So I wanted to finish my degree and be ready to find a job. He found out, and wanted me to stay home with Amy and just be a mother.”
She wondered if Sam would comment, but he simply waited for her to continue. “He wasn’t abusive unless he’d been drinking. Otherwise, he was a good father. We had been trying for another child, even though our marriage wasn’t wonderful. I don’t believe divorce should be an easy answer to problems between husband and wife. I was trying to do what I thought would keep him home more, as much as is possible in the military, anyway. Tim had one beer that night, early, before dinner.”
“Wait,” Sam said, pacing the room. “What exactly were you doing to try to make him happy? Just being together wasn’t enough?”
She shrugged. She knew he could never understand. Jessica couldn’t look at Sam and tell him this part. “We hadn’t been as close since Amy was born. I’d gained a lot of weight, and felt like if I could just do something different… And he’d been so attentive to me when I was pregnant, I suggested we have another baby. And things got better for a while. He didn’t drink as much, stayed home more. I’d just found out I was pregnant before he came home from that last assignment. He wanted to go out, I wanted to stay home and tell him. He wasn’t drunk. Drinking wasn’t the reason he had the accident. I was. I made him leave the party before he had a chance to get drunk, and that made him mad. When we got in the car and headed home he was yelling. I told him to make a choice—drinking…or Amy and me.”
Finding Amy Page 17