Page 5 of Venom's Sting

I bring my hand up and use one finger to make an X on my chest. “Cross my heart, Sergeant Pike. I wouldn’t joke about something like this.”

He motions for me to sit down at his desk and pulls out a reporting form. Most of the other officers type it into their computers, but David Pike is not only old, he’s old school.

He sighs, pen poised, “What do you have for me today, girl?”

I launch into the whole spiel about how the pharmacist just verified this morning that my mom’s meds had been redirected to my grandfather’s farm for the last seven months, and why would he do that unless she was there and needed those meds to stay alive.

I can tell I’ve captured his attention. That glassy, bored, dead-eyed look he normally gives me has been replaced with genuine interest.

“What medication is she on, exactly? One of his farmhands might have done that in order to sell the pills.”

I reach into my purse and pull out a copy of her med list. It’s the one we were given the last time she saw her doctor. “This is everything she’s on. I don’t know the costs of anything.”

I wait while his eyes scan over the list. He drops it onto his desk. “She’s not on any medication that would have street value. That makes your theory that she’s at Grayson’s place more likely, than fraud.”

“That’s what I thought. I went out this morning and confronted him.”

“You shouldn’t have done that, Amy Beth. You know your grandfather’s a cantankerous old fool who is far too used to getting his own way. He’s not been right since your grandma died.”

“You ain’t wrong about that, sir. When I told him I was going to report this new bit of information to the police, he set his hunting dogs on me.”

Sergeant Pike went ramrod straight in his chair. “Those dogs of his are practically feral. I tried to get an order to have them put down a couple of years ago, but the judge wouldn’t sign off on it.”

“Do you think all this is enough to get a search warrant?”

He nods. “Yeah, but if what you’re saying is the truth, time is of the essence. Rufus might move her since he knows we’re coming.”

My stomach twists in knots as I realize that he’s right. I never should have gone out there myself. I might have messed up our only chance to get to her before he moves her.

Before I can apologize, he speaks up, “Instead of taking the time to get a search warrant, I’d be willing to go out on a limb and make a wellness check based on this information. A family member or concerned citizen has to request one though.”

Hope blooms in my chest because this might be the day I finally find my mom. “Alright, I’m my mother’s power of attorney and I want you to do a wellness check because I believe she’s at my grandfather’s house because that’s where her meds were redirected to after she went missing.”

The sergeant’s hand comes out to rest on mine, and he gives it a little squeeze. “I know this thought has probably never entered your mind, but on the off-chance that we find her there and she doesn’t want to leave, we can’t make her.”

I snatch my hand away and shake my head vehemently. “My mother never wanted to set foot back on that farm, she’s been estranged from my grandfather for years. Trust me, we’re not gonna find any happy ending at that farm today.”

“No, we’re not, because you aren’t going back there. You’ve done your part by requesting the wellness check. Now let us do our part by going out there and checking up on your mother.”

“I’ve got to get back there. Those vicious dogs of his kept me from getting to my car. I need to get it back because it’s the only ride I’ve got.”

He sighs, “I simply don’t trust you not to turn the wellness check into a screaming match with your grandfather. I know you, Amy Beth.”

I throw both hands up. “This time, I’ll get straight into my car and drive away.”

“Fine. But if you start any mess at all, I’m gonna give one of my men permission to tase you and throw your ass into the back of your own vehicle and drive you outta harm’s way. And I better not hear a peep out of you afterwards.”

I stick out my hand for him to shake. “I’ll take that deal.”

Sergeant Pike reaches out to shake my hand. “I wasn’t making a deal, so much as alerting you what is going to happen if you can’t keep control of your temper.”

“Roger that. I won’t cause any trouble whatsoever.”

Chapter 3

Venom

It’s been a month since we started our surveillance. We’re still no closer to finding out what’s going on, and I didn’t find anything more about the mystery woman I saw. Since the morning I got distracted and let that van escape, out-of-state vans have become a rare occurrence and hardly ever use that exit. So it’s with a heavy heart that I arrive at one of the local coffee shops to meet up with Rage.

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