Page 36 of In Her Shadow

“Will do, Sheriff,” came the prompt reply.

Jenna watched as the guard escorted Garth away.Martin Greer, Garth’s counsel, lingered by the door, his sharp gaze fixed on Jenna.

“Remember, Sheriff Graves,” Greer said, his voice echoing slightly off the sterile walls of the corridor, “you’ve promised my client reduced charges for his cooperation.And protection.He’s held up his side of the bargain.”

“Your client’s cooperation will be reflected in my report,” Jenna assured him, meeting his stare unflinchingly.“The department appreciates Mr.Fields’ willingness to come forward.”

The lawyer nodded, satisfied with her response.The door clicked behind him as he left, probably to consult with his client again.

Jenna felt a familiar frustration.Deals like this went against her grain, offering leniency to those who skirted the edge of the law.But she needed Garth.His testimony could unravel Holbrook’s plans and lead to the answers that had eluded them.

“We need to move fast,” she said to Jake, her voice low but edged with urgency.“But we’ll have to get a warrant before we move out, so let’s get that request on the fast track.”

“I’m on it,” Jake replied confidently as his thumb moved over the screen of his phone.“I have a feeling Judge Lindsay will help us out.”

Jake spent a few minutes talking and listening on his phone as Jenna considered their upcoming moves.She was already picturing the sprawling Verdigris Ranch in her mind’s eye, the potential hideaways and escape routes Ethan Holbrook might exploit.

As he ended the call.Jake said, “We’ve got it.”

Jenna expressed another concern, “If Holbrook gets wind of this, he might try to run.”

“We’ll need a team to secure the ranch right away,” Jake replied.“I’ll call for backup.Colonel Spelling should be able to get his team out there in a hurry.”

“Good,” Jenna replied, her own hand reaching for the radio at her hip.“Let our guys know we’re on high alert.Full tactical gear.I don’t want any surprises.”

As Jake coordinated with the highway patrol and the police dispatcher, a puzzle piece nagged at the back of her mind, refusing to slot into the emerging picture of corruption and coercion.“Jake, what about the brand?The tree symbol?How does that fit into all this?”

Jake’s brow creased as he mulled it over.“I don’t know,” he admitted, shaking his head.“Maybe it’s Holbrook’s way of marking his territory?I guess we’ll have to ask him.”His tone suggested he was reaching for answers in the dark, hoping to grasp something solid.

Jenna considered the brand design found on the victims’ bodies—the sinister tree-like mark with deep-delving roots.It was a dark signature, one that whispered of legacy and possession.She was sure it had specific meaning to this killer.

“Marking his territory...”she considered, tasting the words.The idea made sense in a primal, disturbing way.The brand was a statement, a declaration that this land, these people, were his.But there was also more to it, something deeper.Jenna could feel it.

Soon the warrant arrived, and the Colonel called in to say that the highway patrol was on it’s way.

“Let’s hope that Holbrook’s in a talkative mood,” Jenna muttered as she and Jake rushed out to the parking lot.But she knew it was a faint hope; men like Holbrook were skilled in the art of concealment, their weaknesses buried deep beneath layers of deception and power.

The cruiser’s door closed with a thud, the sound final and resolute.Jenna inhaled deeply, the air filling her lungs with a surge of determination.Each breath was a silent incantation, bolstering her resolve as she prepared to face whatever twisted paths lay ahead.As they pulled away from the jail, Jenna allowed herself a fleeting glance at the fading structure, its bricks holding the secrets of those who came before, and those who would inevitably follow.

“Ready?”Jake’s voice pierced her thoughts, his presence beside her both a comfort and a reminder of the shared burden they carried.

“Ready,” she responded.“Let’s go get this bastard.”

CHAPTER NINETEEN

The cruiser sped through the winding roads leading out of Trentville, its blue lights flashing with urgency.Jenna knew that this could be the break they needed, or it could unravel into further chaos.In truth, it still felt like she was trying to piece together a puzzle with half the pieces missing.

“Jenna,” Jake said, his voice cutting through her thoughts.“You okay?”

She glanced at him briefly.“Just staying focused,” she replied,

“Think he’ll be at the ranch?”Jake asked.

“Either way, we’re turning over every stone until we find what we need,” she stated.

A procession of police and highway patrol vehicles were converging on Ethan Holbrook’s property.As they passed the ivy-clad entrance to Verdigris Ranch, Colonel Spelling’s unmarked sedan glided in with authority, pulling up behind Jenna’s cruiser with precision timing.The colonel’s presence here wasn’t just protocol—it was a testament to how serious the allegations against Holbrook were.

As they drove down the long driveway, Jenna took in every detail: the idyllic setting of the ranch, the cattle dotting the pastures in blissful ignorance, the immaculate farmhouse.It all seemed so perfect, but Jenna’s instincts screamed that this was an illusion masking something far more sinister.

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