Page 27 of Targeted in Silver Creek

“Noah is to stay with Marlene at all times,” Jesse reminded the EMT. “Once she’s at the hospital, a deputy will come over and stand guard. I want her clothes bagged and her fingernails checked for any traces of DNA. I also don’t want anyone other than medical personnel and law enforcement to talk to her, understand? If someone tries, have the deputy intervene.”

“Got it,” the EMT assured him before they ended the call.

Jesse checked his watch, something he’d been doing a lot in the past hour, and it was a reminder that even with all of this happening, he needed to leave soon for his meeting with Bull. He obviously had way too much on his mind, but that didn’t stop him from going to her after he locked the door and reset the security.

He ran his hand down the length of her arm and took hold of her hand, intertwining his fingers with hers. “Since Noah might be tied up with Marlene for a while, Grayson is having Deputy Ava Lawson come here to help keep watch.”

Hanna shook her head. “But she’s supposed to be at the abandoned farm with you and the others.”

“A reserve deputy will take her place,” he explained.

Obviously, Jesse figured an actual deputy would do a better job than a reserve one, which meant he was at greater risk for his meeting with Bull. A risk because he wanted the actual deputy here. Hanna wanted to argue with that, wanted Jesse to have that extra level of security, but she also knew their top priority was to keep Evan safe. Even if that put Jesse, or her, at greater risk.

“Thank you,” she muttered. “Thank you for everything.”

She tried not to show the worry since he was in that “full-plate worry” mode already, but he was well aware of what was on her mind.

“The person who kidnapped Marlene might have tricked her into thinking Isabel was behind this,” Jesse suggested.

Since it was something Hanna had considered just moments earlier, she nodded. But the possibility of her mother’s involvement was still weighing her down like heavy stones. “When do you have to leave?”

“I’ve got a few minutes. I figured I’d pop into the nursery and see Evan. Is he awake?”

“Yes.” She showed him the monitor she still had so he could see his mother holding Evan in the rocking chair while she read to him. Soon, very soon, she’d need to fix him lunch, but since he wasn’t fussing, it could wait until after Jesse had had those few minutes with him.

They started for the nursery but this time it was Hanna’s phone that rang. She let out a breath of relief when she saw it was Dr. Warner.

“I just want you to know that we’re doing everything possible to find your mother,” the doctor said the moment she answered.

Hanna had put the call on speaker so, obviously, Jesse had heard that loud and clear. “What do you mean find her?” he asked just as his own phone rang. He cursed when Theo’s name popped up, and he stepped aside to take the call.

“Dr. Warner, what happened to my mother?” Hanna demanded. She had to speak through the tight grip her muscles now had on her throat.

“She left the facility. She didn’t tell anyone,” he quickly added. “She just left.”

Hanna resisted the urge to curse and forced herself to stay calm. “When did this happen and why? Was she upset with Deputy Sheldon’s interview?”

“The deputy didn’t even see her. When he got here, the nurse called Isabel’s room, and Isabel said she was just getting dressed, to give her a few minutes. After those minutes dragged on, I went to check on her, and she wasn’t there. We went through the footage on the security cameras and we spotted her leaving. She went to the parking lot, got in her car and drove away.”

“Drove away in the car that shouldn’t have been there,” Hanna snarled under her breath. Again, she had to fight to hang on to her composure, and judging from the snippets she was hearing of Jesse’s conversation with Theo, he wasn’t hearing happy news either.

“Is my mother actually capable of driving?” Hanna asked.

“She’s done very well with her exercises and has regained nearly all of the mobility she had before the stroke. Her response times might not be as quick, though, since she hasn’t driven in a while.”

And that was a huge reason for concern. “Has Deputy Sheldon alerted the San Antonio PD?”

“He has, and I’m sure they’ll find her. He’s also sending someone to her house in Silver Creek in case she goes there.”

Good, so Theo was covering all the bases. Still, it was beyond frustrating, especially considering the accusation Marlene had made.

“Has a woman named Marlene Freeman ever visited my mother there at the facility?” Hanna asked.

“The name’s not familiar, but I can check the visitors’ log,” the doctor offered. “You think this woman had something to do with your mother leaving?”

Hanna settled for making a noncommittal sound. She didn’t know how her mother could have found out what Marlene was claiming, but it was possible she had. More likely, though, Isabel had panicked over having an interview with Theo. Now, Hanna needed to find out why her mother would have gone to such lengths to avoid answering a cop’s questions. Because that could mean Isabel had something to hide.

“We’ve had no visitor by that name,” Dr. Warner said after she heard some computer clicks. “You think your mother might go to this woman?”

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