“I got home from work and found the box in front of my back door. I picked it up, brought it into the kitchen, and set it down. That’s when I noticed the blood on me. I opened the box, and I didn’t know … I didn’t know what it was at first until I saw the collar and some of the fur.”
“The thing is, the person would have had to break into my house and grab her. She didn’t like going outside.”
“She would have gone to them?” Johnson asked.
She nodded and had to bite her lip to keep from sobbing.
“Richards, call in a few more cars and get some detectives here.”
Richards walked off and pulled out his phone.
“Miss Hudson, is there anyone you could think of that was angry enough to do this?”
She thought about it for a moment and shook her head. “No. I make some people angry in the ER, but I’ve never had threats.”
She watched the officer write things down as he asked questions. Within thirty minutes, her house was full of men—some in uniform and some in suits. There was also one in overalls trying to get fingerprints.
They asked so many questions, but she knew it was to help. The ones they asked again and again were making her anxious.
The box was bagged and taken away.
“I’ll get her back, won’t I? I want to bury her in the backyard,” she said.
Richards nodded. “I’ll make sure you get her back.”
Jana nodded. “Thank you.”
She tried to wash off the blood, but there were still smudges and stains on her clothing. She knew from experience that she’d have to shower and scrub herself. Now, she just concentrated on keeping calm and patient because the people seemed to want to stay and ask more questions.
She had no idea how much more she could take.
Chapter Five
Gunner relaxed in a chair before a fire, drinking and talking to his brothers. He was laughing at something one of the men said when his phone rang.
He pulled it out. “Yeah.”
“Uncle Gunner, It’s me, Cody.”
Gunner straightened immediately. “What’s wrong?” He’d never heard that tone of voice from the boy before.
“It’s Jana. My next-door neighbor.”
“What about her?” Gunner asked.
“There are a bunch of cops at her house.”
“Why?”
“I don’t know. I tried listening, but I couldn’t make out a lot of words. Do you think I should go over there?”
“No. I’m headed that way. I’ll see what’s going on.”
He heard the boy sigh in relief.
“Thank you.”
Gunner immediately walked toward his bike.