Page 95 of The Woman Who Couldn't Scream
Shelookedat him.
“I know. Paperwork. I’m going to go sleep on the love seat in the break room. It’s uncomfortable enough that I can’t sleep long.”
“I’ll wake you if we need you.”
“I know you will.” He staggered a little as he left.
She had been asleep long enough for her screen saver to be activated, but not long enough for everything to automatically shut down. She watched the series of cute baby animals roll across the screen—after today, sheneededto see cute baby animals—and contemplated the interview she had done for theVirtue Falls Herald.It probably needed a final read before she pressed Send. She probably needed to add some warm fuzzy assurances to the frightened public. She would have already done it, but right now, she didn’t have any warm fuzzy assurances in her arsenal. She was as frightened as anybody; Virtue Falls had a monster in their midst and if—when—he killed again, it would be her fault. She was in charge. The buck stopped only one place. Here.
She located the cursor and typed a few words, deleted, typed, deleted. She needed to figure this out…
She wasn’t surprised when she dreamed. After today, she expected one nightmare after another. Not to find herself in Rainbow’s hospital room.
***
Dr. Watchman was a friend, a veterinarian, a Native American, a wise woman. She stood beside the bed, eyes closed, breathing deeply, holding Rainbow’s hand. In a faraway voice, she said, “Her soul is wandering in a far, cold place, and the further she goes, the harder it is for her to find her way back.”
Kateri moved to the side of the bed. “Maybe she doesn’t want to come back.”
Dr. Watchman’s eyes snapped open. “If she didn’t want to come back, Kateri Kwinault, she would already be gone from the home that has nurtured her.”
Kateri picked up Rainbow’s other hand and cradled it in both of hers. “She’s gone so far I can’t see her.”
“I can.”
“I don’t know what to do, how to bring her back.”
“Yes, you do. You’re afraid.”
Now Kateri closed her eyes.
“What do you want to live with your whole life, Kateri Kwinault? Your failure to rescue your friend or your cowardice and failure to try?”
Kateri gave a dry, hard sob.
“Make up your mind. And take action now. Time is running out.”
***
Kateri’s eyes snapped open. She lifted her head from her desk. She stood and walked into the break room.
Bergen woke with that wide-eyed,I’m alert!expression. “What’s happening?”
“Nothing.”
“Damn it.”
“That being the case, do you think law enforcement can do without me tonight?”
It took a moment for him to assimilate her question, work himself into an upright position and examine her as if she’d lost her mind. “Sleep deprivation getting to you?”
“Even worse. I’m going to talk to the frog god.”
A startled moment of silence, then Bergen laughed aloud. “I wish you wouldn’t joke about that. It scares the hell out of us Scandinavian boys.”
If you only knew…“You scare easy. So you’ll cover for me?”
Bergen’s voice sobered. “The only thing that we’ll call you for is if we spot John Terrance or… or whoever is killing the women.”
