Free The Chase by Jan Neuharth Page B

Hortons’, where she can play with Emma. That might help keep her from worrying. But thanks for offering, Kendall. I may take you up on it later. I guess I just have to take this one day at a time.”
    “Sure thing. I’ll do anything I can to help. I hope you know that.”
    “I do. Thank you.” Kendall heard Anne draw a deep breath. “There’s something else I need to tell you.”
    “What’s that?”
    “I had a visit from two sheriff’s deputies. They think someone tampered with Doug’s car and that’s why he went off the road.”
    “
What?”
    “I reacted the same way. They have no leads yet as to who might have done it, or why, but they are pretty confident that it wasn’t an accident.”
    Kendall felt sick to her stomach. “I just can’t believe it, Anne. Who would do that?”
    “I don’t know. But I’m worried that if someone tried to harm Doug, he might try to do something to Samantha. I’ve already spoken with Deb about it, but I’d appreciate it if when you’re there you’d reiterate to Deb the importance of keeping the doors locked and not letting the girls play outside alone.”
    “Of course.”
    Neither one of them spoke for a moment; then Kendall broke the silence. “Anne, I don’t want to upset you, but I’ve got to wonder whether this could have something to do with Zeb McGraw.”
    Jake made a choking sound, and when Kendall looked at him, he pounded his chest and coughed a couple of times. She frowned and mouthed, “You okay?” He nodded and coughed into his fist once more.
    “The deputy asked me the same question,” Anne said. “Zeb McGraw obviously has a grudge against Doug. But he’s in jail.”
    Kendall chewed the inside of her lip as she thought it over. “Just because he’s in jail doesn’t mean he couldn’t have set something up. He might have an accomplice.”
    There was a long pause. “I know.”
    Anne’s voice was strained, and Kendall regretted having said anything. “Look, why don’t you get back to Doug, and I’ll head on over to the Hortons’ to see Samantha. Is there a way I can reach you after I see her?”
    “I can’t use my cell phone in the hospital. I had to step outside to make this call to you. And there isn’t a phone in Doug’s room. When I go back in, I can check and see if I can get the phone number for the nurses’ station.”
    “No, don’t bother with that now. If there’s any need for me to get in touch with you after I see Samantha, I’ll figure out a way. Let’s just leave it that if you don’t hear from me, everything’s fine. And if you want to reach me, just call me on my cell. I’ll keep it next to the bed, so I’ll hear it if you call after I go to sleep. Please, call me whenever you want to. Don’t worry about the time.”
    “Thanks, Kendall.”
    Kendall snapped her cell phone shut and placed it on the middle console.
    “Everything all right?” Jake asked.
    She looked at him. “Far from it.”
    “Anything I can do to help?”
    “Actually, there is. Do you mind if I make a stop before taking you to your truck?”
    “Sure, I’m in no hurry.”
    “Great,” Kendall said, putting the Jeep in gear.
    Jake held on to the dash as she stepped on the accelerator. “Any chance you’re going to tell me what’s going on?”
    “I don’t even know where to begin.”
    “How about at the beginning?” Jake said with a grin, which made Kendall smile in spite of herself.
    She sighed. “Anne Cummings just told me that the authorities think Doug’s car was tampered with and that’s what caused him to go off the road.”
    “Tampered with? In what way?”
    “I don’t know. Anne didn’t go into detail. But she’s worried that someone might try to harm their daughter, Samantha. That’s where we’re going now. To check on Samantha.”
    Jake frowned. “That’s a pretty big leap, isn’t it? From car tampering to harming a child?”
    “You wouldn’t think that if you knew their history.”
    “Tell me.”
    Kendall