Chapter 5

FIVE

Smothering gut-wrenching grief, Jenna kept the conversation general as they traveled to Wolfe's house. She needed to chat about anything but what lay ahead. She glanced at Kane and raised both eyebrows. "Is it true that you will be replacing the Beast in the new year?"

Kane's tricked-out black truck had been supplied to him by POTUS and was literally bombproof. It had so many gadgets and other paraphernalia she couldn't imagine it being replaced by anything else. It had saved their lives so many times.

"I didn't plan on replacing the Beast. The decision was out of my hands and it's being replaced by something far superior. It wasn't my choice, it was an order." Kane turned slowly onto the highway. The Beast had a snowplow attachment on the front and towed a snowmobile trailer, hitched carrying their two vehicles and supplies. "It will still be my Beast and this one we've come to love will be returned to whence it came."

Frowning, Jenna appreciated just how much Kane loved his vehicle. "You've worked on this truck for years, making it better each time. Why would they want to replace it now?"

"It's over five years old." Kane flicked her a glance and shrugged. "There have been many improvements in motor vehicles in the last five years, Jenna. If we're going to constantly put ourselves in danger, we need an upgrade. The new one will have everything we have now but with more technology. I was asked for what certain specifications I require and everything will be included. I'm looking forward to it."

Trying to keep her mind on anything but the plane crash, Jenna nodded. "When I lived in DC, I had a hankering for a Mustang." She sighed. "I'm not too sure it would go very well out here."

"In summertime it would be great to be tearing along the great stretches of highway we have in this state." Kane suddenly gave her a smile. "I figure you should have one. After all, I do have my motorcycles. You should have something for yourself that you will enjoy too. Everyone needs something nice in their lives. What is the point of working all our lives and not enjoying the fruits of our labor? We have more money than we need. Maybe it's about time we spent some of it on ourselves rather than constantly giving it away to charity. Surely one indulgence won't hurt?"

"I'm getting a mustang after Christmas." Tauri scratched Duke's ears. "Uncle Atohi told me it would be very gentle and we could all go riding together. We gave her the name Firebird. She is a mustang, and she's going to be mine."

Jenna bit back a grin. "The Mustang I was speaking about is a vehicle. A fast car."

"What would it look like, Mommy?" Tauri rubbed the end of his nose.

Jenna thought for a beat. "Oh, shiny black with silver stripes, tinted windows, maybe."

"That sounds like a plan." Kane nodded slowly. "Maybe a spoiler as well?"

Looking ahead at the recently cleared highway and the gray snow piled up along each side, her stomach dropped and grief filled her again. She nodded, trying to keep it together. "Yeah, that sounds wonderful."

"We'll find her." Kane took her hand and squeezed. "I'm sure as heck not giving up on her until I see her body. I know Julie and she is tough and resourceful. Wolfe, I, and Blackhawk have all trained the girls on how to protect themselves in the forest in all weathers. She knows we'll be searching for her." He scanned the landscape. "It's bad, I know that, but we have crews here that deal with rescues in this weather all the time. We need to trust in the system. Someone will find the aircraft and call it in."

Jenna pulled a tissue from her pocket and blew her nose. As sheriff, she had to act as an example to everyone on her team. She understood that her hormones were raging at the moment, but that was no excuse for falling to pieces on the job or upsetting her son. She nodded to him and sucked in deep breaths. Wolfe would be shattered and she needed to be strong. "I'm glad I have you, Dave. You put everything into perspective."

They blew through town with comparative ease. Not many people had ventured out into the blizzard and the snowplows had been working since sunup clearing the snow and keeping the roads open for emergency vehicles. As they turned into Wolfe's driveway, she spotted Rio's and Rowley's trucks parked outside. They headed for the door and at once Wolfe's housekeeper appeared and ushered Anna and Tauri into the kitchen to make cookies. Jenna watched him scamper away, glad he had someone to play with after being cooped up in the house with Nanny Raya for the past week. He loved being with his nanny, but he missed kindergarten and it had closed for the duration of the holidays. She headed into the family room and pulled off her coat. A log fire heated the room and everyone was in deep conversation. She went to Wolfe and hugged him and Emily. Norrell gave her arm a squeeze and the conversation stopped as all eyes went to her. "Okay, bring me up to date."

"We have a general idea of where the aircraft went down." Rio had taken charge. "Going on Blackhawk's sighting and a man driving into town from Bison Hump Bridge, we have triangulated a possible crash site. This being the case, search and rescue are on standby. Carter and Styles will be here the moment they have visibility. The snowmobile enthusiasts club is already heading in that direction. They are all carrying satellite phones. We have five snowmobiles and Blackhawk will be heading toward the coordinates from his side of the mountain. He'll meet with us at the area north of Bison Hump Bridge. The snowplows have cleared the way from town to Bison Hump Bridge and will continue to keep the road open for us."

"So what's the catch?" Kane tossed his coat over the back of a chair and removed his gloves. "If the roads are clear, why aren't we heading that way now?"

"The coordinates suggest the aircraft went down in a remote area. There are no fire roads or any way we can find to make it easier to get there." Rio's expression was like stone. "We're the most experienced team, so we're taking the most dangerous route." He looked at Jenna. "It might be better if you man the control center."

"Oh, for goodness sake." Norrell glared at him. "She'll be fine. I'm sure Jenna would appreciate it if you all stopped treating her as if she'll break. Being pregnant when a woman is strong and healthy isn't a problem at this stage. I might be concerned if she was in her last trimester, but right now this overprotectiveness is getting me down, so heaven knows how you're making her feel right now."

Looking at her team, Jenna smiled. "I know you care about me but I'm fine. I do appreciate your concern but right now we have Julie and the other people on that aircraft to consider. They are our priority, so let's move out."

"Does anyone need any supplies?" Wolfe looked around the room. "Are your winter survival packs complete? It's darn cold out there. Is everyone bundled up?"

"Yeah, we make sure we have the backpacks fully stocked and the snowmobiles maintained well before the first snow." Kane picked up his coat. "The visibility isn't too bad right now. We should move out."

Jenna nodded. "Okay. Let's go."