Part 57 (2/2)
Travis grabbed a cloth arm protector from a side chair, held it over his mouth and nose and jogged toward the smoke. ”Dani! For G.o.d's sake, are you here? Dani!”
Carter was already racing up the stairs. ”Get out of the house, Jenna. Now!”
”No way.”
”They're probably already outside!”
If only she dared believe it. Screaming her daughter's name, she threw open the door to the coat closet. Empty. She rushed into the living room. The dining room and butler's pantry. Nothing! She heard the crackle of flames and Carter's boots ringing overhead.
Travis, backing out of the kitchen, a fire extinguisher spraying, called over his shoulder, ”No one in the kitchen. Just a grease fire.”
The house was empty.
As the police and fire crews arrived, a crowd gathered, and Shane shepherded Jenna outside to the Jeep. The cell phone! She climbed into the rig, found her phone and was about to dial when she noticed that she had two new messages. Both from Allie.
Insides churning, she listened and tears of relief flowed from her eyes at the sound of her daughter's voice. She blinked and swiped at her nose as she said to Travis, ”She's at the school waiting for us there. Dani told her she'd gotten a call from Blanche. Piano lessons had been cancelled.”
”So they're all right,” Travis said, relief evident in the lines of his face. He pulled out his phone and dialed. Waited and frowned, then said, ”Dani, this is Dad. Call me back.” He clicked the phone shut. Stared at Shane. ”She's not answering.”
Jenna was already calling Allie and her daughter picked up immediately. ”h.e.l.lo?”
”Hi, honey.” Relief flooded through her.
”Where are you?” Allie was angry. ”I've been waiting forever!”
”I'm at Mrs. Johnson's. We must've gotten our wires crossed. I thought you were at your lesson, but stay put, I'm on my way to pick you up right now. I'll be there in five minutes. Is Dani with you?”
”No.”
”No?” Jenna froze. Dread crystalized through her brain. Her eyes met Travis's. ”Where is she?”
”I don't know,” Allie grumbled. ”She ditched me out.”
”Ditched you out?” Jenna repeated. ”That doesn't sound like Dani. What happened?”
”I said 'I don't know.' At lunch she told me that the piano lessons had been cancelled and that she'd meet me after last period and she's not here. No one's here.” Jenna's heart nose-dived. ”Are you coming?”
”On my way. Wait near the office. Don't go anywhere. Do you hear me?”
”Yes! Geez.”
A newfound worry clutching at her, Jenna looked into Travis Settler's eyes. ”Dani's not with her,” she said as the fire trucks, sirens screaming, rolled onto the street. Two police cruisers slid to a stop, spraying gravel. ”I'm going to get Allie,” she said to Shane. ”We'll be right back.”
”I'll come with you,” Shane said.
”Don't you think you should tell them what's going on?” She hitched her chin toward the cops getting out of their cars. ”I'll come back. With Allie.”
Impatiently, Travis said, ”Let's go. I'm right behind you.”
Jenna sped away from the curb and noticed Travis's truck on her b.u.mper. Three and a half minutes later, they pulled into the school's lot in tandem.
Allie, backpack slung over one slim shoulder, was waiting near the front doors of Harrington Junior High. Leaning on a post, arms crossed over her chest, she looked angry as all get out. Jenna didn't care. She threw herself out of the Jeep as Allie started walking to her.
The door to Travis's pickup burst open and slammed with a thud behind him as he crossed the parking lot.
”Where's Dani?” he asked, his expression military-hard.
”I already told Mom I don't have any idea,” Allie said, some of her bravado slipping. ”I haven't seen her since lunch.”
”Has anyone?”
Allie shrugged and shook her head.
”Wait here,” he ordered, then his tone softened. ”Please.”
Jenna's arms had surrounded her daughter. ”We will,” she promised as Travis left them standing outside and she, though it was over eighty degrees, s.h.i.+vered. Dear G.o.d, what was happening? Where was Dani? And Blanche? Why would anyone murder Blanche? Payback Time? What the h.e.l.l did that mean?
Her cell phone chirped and seeing Shane's name on caller ID, she forced a smile. ”Hi,” she said, glancing around the deserted parking lot.
”Hi. Look, I thought you should know, my gut tells me this doesn't have anything to do with you or Allie. Whatever happened here is about Blanche.”
”Then why is Dani missing?”
”Don't know yet. Maybe a coincidence, but-”
”But you don't believe in coincidence.”
”Right. Listen, we'll figure it out,” he a.s.sured her. ”I already called the house. Ca.s.sie answered. She's fine.”
”I was just about to do that.” Jenna felt a new wave of relief that was tempered by her thoughts of Travis and his daughter. What the devil was going on with Dani. She's all right. She's all right. She has to be. Calm down. This is all just a big mistake.
Except that Blanche Johnson is dead.
Jenna squeezed Allie more tightly and was thankful for Shane. For his strength. For his love.
”Are you okay?” Worry edged his voice.
”Fine,” she said, her throat thick with emotion.
”Good. Then, I'll see you at home. I'm going to be tied up for a couple of hours, so I'll catch a ride with someone.”
”Or call me and I'll come get you.” She was eager to be with him again. To feel him close.
”Either way,” he said, then added, ”I love you, you know.”
”Yeah, I know. Me, too.”
<script>