Lenora Worth - Deadly Holiday Reunion

FIVE

Jake and Ella both drew their firearms and headed into the woods. An old walking trail veered off to the right. Ella motioned to Jake and they hurried up the trail.

Ella could hear footsteps hitting the solid dirt around the next curve. She jogged to get a closer look, all the while doing a visual of the surrounding woods.

Jake trotted up behind her. “Slow down. Don’t get yourself killed.”

She shot him a quick over-the-shoulder glance then motioned to a woman running away. “I’m going after her.”

The woman was slender and tall and in good shape by the way she’d sprinted up the path. She wore a light gray jogging suit and had a lightweight scarf wrapped around her neck.

“I’m with you.” Jake whirled around Ella. “Let’s follow her and see where she goes.”

The woman whirled around, her breath coming in gulps, her eyes going wide. When she saw Jake’s gun, she panicked and looked around as if searching for a way to escape. She had red hair and a freckled face that showed she was older than they’d realized.

She hurried toward them. “Did you see him?”

“See who?” Ella called as she met up with the woman.

“A man.” The woman pointed behind them. “He...he knocked me down and then he ran away.” She brushed at her jogging pants.

Jake saw a tear in her dark pants and blood running from her leg. “Are you hurt?”

“Just a skinned knee. He came out of the woods and scared me to death.” She eyed their guns, her green eyes going dark. “Are you after him?”

Jake tapped his shirt pocket with a finger on his badge. “Texas Ranger. We heard a scream.” Without elaborating, he started running backward. “I’ll check the immediate area.”

Ella watched him hurrying away, a prayer for his safety moving through her own fears. “Did you get a good look at him?” Ella asked the woman, her gun down now.

The buff woman looked frightened and skeptical, her gaze darting toward Ella. She pushed a hand through her short, damp hair. “I... Uh...” Then she let out a breath. “Oh, my, I only saw him running away and he was wearing all black, with a hoodie covering his face. He came charging out onto the path in front of me, pushed me down and ran. Scared me so badly, I let out a scream.” She shivered, her hands tight against her stomach. “He went one way and I went another. I just wanted to get back home.”

Ella made sure she kept checking the woods in all directions. Even in stark winter, these woods were still dense. “So you’re out here alone a lot?” she asked the frightened woman. She watched the woman for signs of lying but the lady seemed genuinely surprised and scared.

The jogger nodded, her eyes full of questions, her expression earnest and curious. “I’ve been walking and jogging this trail since we moved here about five years ago. Never had a problem before.”

Five years ago. Had this woman moved in right after Ella had been found? Maybe she had no idea what had happened in these woods or maybe she knew everything.

Ella glanced around, hoping to see Jake, and then looked back at the woman. “It’s a mighty isolated area.”

The woman gulped another breath. “Yes, but I’m careful. I live not far up the path. On the lake.” She patted the pocket of her lightweight jacket. “I have pepper spray but he came out of nowhere. Didn’t have time to grab it.”

Wishing the lady had been able to spray the man in the face, Ella nodded and stepped closer. “We’re looking for someone. The man who ran past you could be a very dangerous criminal. Are you sure you didn’t get a look at his face?”

“I’m sorry, but no.” The woman shivered as the biting wind picked up. “I usually don’t see that many people out here, but today I’m glad you two came along. He could have come back and chased me or worse.”

“Can you describe the man’s clothing again?” Ella asked, her throat tightening. “His height maybe?”

The woman squinted and pursed her lips. “He was tall, medium build, and like I said before, he was wearing black sweats and a black hoodie pulled up over his head. He ran right past me with a grunt but he had his head down.” She blew air up toward her damp bangs. “Should I be concerned?”

“You should be cautious,” Ella replied. “You might want to cut back on your jogging schedule for the next week or so.”

“Not a problem,” the woman said. “I like my solitude but I don’t want to be in the woods with anyone dangerous.” She stared out into the trees. “This place is usually so peaceful and quiet, not much happens out here.”

Ella tried to focus on getting information but she worried about Jake with each breath. Why wasn’t he back?

“Have you seen anything else unusual along the trail in the last few days?” she asked.

The woman shook her head and did a slow march in place. “No, but I’ll sure be on the lookout from now on. I’ll get my exercise at home for a while.”

After a few more questions, Ella took down the woman’s name and phone number and gave her Jake’s name as a contact. “Thank you, Mrs. Parsons. We’ll file this report for now. If you notice anything out of the ordinary, will you give us a call?”

“Of course. Thanks for the warning.” The woman pivoted back the way she’d been running. “Am I safe to get home? It’s only about a quarter of a mile.”

Ella eyeballed the woods. “Maybe we can give you a lift.”

She pulled out her cell and called Jake, hoping he’d silenced his phone at least.

Before she heard a ring, he came around the curve, his face set in a grim line that told her nothing. She didn’t ask if he’d found anything. The less Mrs. Parsons heard or saw the better off she’d be.

“Everyone okay here?” he asked, his tone calm, his face a blank wall.

“We’re fine. This is Maria Parsons. She lives up around the curve.”

Jake slanted his gaze toward the slim woman. “Thanks for your help. I didn’t find anyone.”

“It’s the strangest thing,” Maria Parsons said. “Just popped up outta the blue.”

Jake gave Ella a scowl and a stare. “Let’s get Mrs. Parsons home safely.”

He wanted them out of these woods, Ella realized. And he probably wanted to get a look at where this woman lived.

Because she might have just seen the Dead Drop Killer.

* * *

Jake’s heart seemed to be stuck against his ribs. He couldn’t say anything in front of their witness but he’d come across another note in the woods near the spot where he’d found Ella on that night five years ago.

“Is there something you’re not telling me?” Mrs. Parsons asked from the passenger’s-side seat. “If we’re in danger around here, we need to know.”

“No danger yet,” Ella said from her perch in the jump seat behind the woman. “We just have to follow every lead. You know how it is with the Rangers. They track people all over the state and they check every angle.”

“I get that,” the other woman replied. “But y’all are scaring me. What did this person do?”

“You don’t need to be scared,” Ella replied after Jake shot her a warning scowl through the rearview mirror. “But you do need to be aware. Carry pepper spray and always be alert by checking your surroundings. And stay off the trail for a few days.”

“I doubt I’ll ever feel safe here again,” Mrs. Parsons replied. “I love this place, though.”

“I love it, too,” Ella said. “You probably have nothing to worry about. I’ll make it a point to call you after we’ve checked around.”

“I’d appreciate that,” the woman said as she pointed to a long driveway. “This is my house.”

Jake pulled the truck up the lane to the simple brick structure. Had Ella passed this house the night she was taken?