Part 27 (1/2)
”Angela Mark.u.m. Please tell me she's still in prison?”
Silence.
”Sam?”
”I'm sorry, man. She got out about six months back.”
”She had a ten-year sentence. It's only been four.”
”What can I say . . . good behavior.”
”She gave her husband a false alibi and helped him bury the poor girl's body. She helped her sicko husband cover up murder.” Not to mention helping him cover up the hit-and-run on Becca. Again, she'd provided an alibi and no doubt covered for him.
”She was a model prisoner. And without you at the parole hearing to speak against her . . .”
”Surely Candace's parents were there.” The co-ed's folks had been vehement about Angela's culpability in it all.
”Yes. The mom was. Apparently the Banners have split up, and Fred's living somewhere out west. Regardless, the judge ruled that Ms. Mark.u.m had served enough time and was no longer a threat to society.”
”No longer a threat? Then what's she doing out here in Alaska?”
”Alaska? Is that where you are?”
”What's important is that Angela's here, too, and I think she's already begun enacting the revenge she swore she'd get.”
”What happened?”
”It's a long story. I better go, Sam, but I'll be in touch.” He needed to inform Landon and all the McKennas. If Angela Mark.u.m was in Yancey, no one close to him was safe.
He should have paid closer attention to Angela's status. Why had he stayed in one place for so long? He knew exactly why. She was lying in a hospital bed.
He exhaled. How far was Angela prepared to go? ”Wait. Do me a favor?”
”Yeah?”
”Send me copies of my case files.”
”Sure. What for?”
”I need to remind myself exactly who Angela Mark.u.m is and what she's capable of.”
After giving Sam delivery details and promising again that he would stay in touch, Jake threw on some clothes and raced outside. But he stopped short at the fist-sized rock perched on the hood of his truck. Swallowing, he stepped closer. Pulling a handkerchief from his pocket, he lifted it and read Nice to see you again scrolled across the surface in black paint.
Angela had caused the rockslide and probably had been the one leaving the creepy messages all along.
How long had she been watching, plotting out her revenge? Fear racked through him.
Please, Father, not again.
31.
”Knock, knock,” Kirra said at the door to Kayden's hospital room. Carol stood beside her with a beautiful bouquet of cypress flowers in hand.
Kayden smiled. ”Hey, guys, what are you doing here?”
”We heard about your accident,” Kirra said. ”You know how fast news travels in Yancey.”
”Yes, I do.”
Carol set the bouquet of vibrant red flowers on Kayden's bedside table. ”We wanted to make sure you were okay.”
”Reef.” Kirra nodded at Kayden's brother in the chair.
He stood. ”Kirra. How are you?”
”Better than your sister.”
”Here.” He gestured to the seat he'd just vacated. ”Please.”
”Thanks, but I'll stand.”
”So what happened?” Carol asked, gesturing to Kayden's leg. ”We heard you were climbing. . . .”
Kayden shook her head and then winced slightly. She had to remember to make slow movements or the dizzy spells returned, and then Doc Graham would never agree to let her go home this afternoon, like she was hoping. ”Rockslide.”
Kirra took a sharp intake of breath. ”Oh, Kayden, that could have been serious.”
”Thankfully Jake was there, or who knows how long I'd have been out on that ledge beneath a pile of rocks.”
”Yes. You are a fortunate young lady,” Carol said, arranging the flowers.
Jake raced into the hospital, needing to make certain Kayden was safe. Well, as safe as someone with a broken leg and head wound could be.
He rushed past Peggy Wilson, waving at her in greeting but not bothering to stop. He pushed into Kayden's room to find Reef sitting in the chair beside Kayden's empty bed.
Panic surged through him.
”Where is she?” He nearly ripped Reef from the chair.
”In the bathroom.” Reef's eyes widened. ”What's wrong?”
How did he explain? ”She's okay? She's safe?”
”She's fine. A little cranky because she's ready to go home, but otherwise fine.”
The pent-up tension released, the adrenaline dissipating with a surge. Thank you, Lord.