Page 11 of One Final Target

“I happened to be at the right place at the right time.”

“You’ve been assigned to the investigation?”

“Yes, I was supposed to start Monday morning. Guess I’m getting an early start.”

“Will Smiley be coming?”

“No, he had a family emergency. He asked me to record Jodie’s statement for him to hear. So can I have a few minutes with her before you leave? I should have pinned her down earlier. I’m still getting back in the swing of things.”

“I understand.” King reached out and touched his niece’s hand, gesturing toward his car. “I’ll be waiting just over there. You can follow me down the road. Sound okay?”

“It does.” Jodie nodded.

Mike left for his car, shaking snowflakes off his head as he went.

Sam returned his attention to Jodie. “Let’s sit in your car. I’ll record your statement on my phone. I’m sure I’ve got most of it anyway.”

“You do. But recordings often help.”

She unlocked the SUV and he climbed into the passenger seat. Once they were out of the elements, Jodie told him everything about the day, for the record. He let her talk without interruption, and then he asked a couple of questions to clarify and fill in some holes.

“Who knew you were coming here today?” Sam asked.

She seemed taken aback by the question. “Uh, no one. I only made the decision myself this morning. I...”

“What?”

“I’m trying to remember if I made an offhand comment to anyone.” She shook her head. “No. I’ve been thinking about it for a couple of weeks. Jonah offered to come with me.”

“Who?”

“Jonah Bennett. He’s a friend of the family, a Realtor. He bought the lot to make a memorial to my team. He asked me to come with him to check it out a few weeks ago. I said no. I didn’ttell him I was coming today. I didn’t tell anyone. Maybe a couple of days ago I mentioned to the department psych I’d been considering a visit...” She stopped.

Sam got the feeling she didn’t want to finish the thought.

“I think I sent Jonah an email insinuating I might come here today, but I don’t remember how I worded it exactly. Honestly, until I got in the car, I wasn’t certain where I was going,” she finished.

“Hmm... Someone knew you were headed this way. That guy up there was waiting for you for at least a couple of hours, I’d bet. Someone is watching you, Jodie. Take this day as a warning to watch your back. For some reason, this guy is still after you. I’m just glad I pulled up when I did and stopped him. Now we’ll catch him and get you your answers.”

Sam held her gaze. Her striking blue eyes were clouded with pain and loss. Sam wished he could chase the clouds away. He wanted to reach forward, hold her hand, and tell her it would be okay. But only one resolution would make the situation okay—crime solved, bad guys caught.

It was time to go. Sam thanked her, then climbed out of her car, closed the door, and stepped back to watch her drive away, Jodie following her uncle carefully down the hill.

The day had started out so peacefully, with so much promise, then exploded into the attempted murder of Jodie King and the shooting of a deputy. A massive manhunt had turned up nothing. The suspect fled after shooting the officer, disappearing off the mountain. Last Sam had heard, Chad was hanging on after being shot in the face.

When Sam had done everything he could do at the site, and his shot-up Jeep was towed down the hill, George gave him a ride home.

“Sergeant King is in a lot of pain. It’s still simmering,” George commented as they neared Green Valley Lake.

“I thought so too,” Sam said.

“I’ll add her to the prayer chain.”

“Thanks, George.”

“I know you’re still simmering as well.”

Sam looked at George, a little surprised. “Hey, I’m back on my own two feet.”

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