Samantha Sanderson Off the Record Read online

  “I think so. It’s a font specification, including size and color. It keeps popping up in the coding.”

  “That’s good, right?” Sam asked.

  “If it’s truly an identifier, yes. And if the police can trace it as a creator’s MO, even better.” Makayla ejected the drive. “That’s all I could find.” She pulled the drive from the computer.

  The house lights went off. Chewy barked and growled.

  “Mac, what did you do now?” Sam asked.

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  Me? I didn’t do anything.” Makayla’s voice warbled. Dad’s cell dinged. He stared at the message, then frowned. “I need to make a quick phone call.” He headed into the kitchen.

  Sam laughed and nudged Makayla. “I’m teasing you, girl. The electricity just went out.” She pulled out her cell. Using the electric company’s texting system, she reported the outage, then got an immediate confirmation of her report. “In fifteen minutes, I can request a status update of when they estimate power will be restored.” She set the phone on the coffee table and sat beside Makayla.

  Chewy danced around the living room, still growling. “Sit, Chewy,” Sam commanded. The dog lay down on the rug, staring up at Sam with her big, brown eyes.

  Dad stepped back into the living room. His face seemed pale, even in the dimmed lights.

  Sam stood. “Dad, what’s wrong?”

  He didn’t say anything.

  Dad’s silence unnerved her. “If this is about your captain, I’ll be happy to explain it to him myself,” Sam said. “I’ll talk to Doug and see if he can talk to his dad. I can try and get Mrs. Pape to pull my blog down. Just tell me what you want me to do.” Sam had never seen Dad look so serious.

  “It’s not that. Sit down.”

  As she sat down slowly on the couch beside Makayla, Sam’s heart raced. “Dad, you’re scaring me.”

  “I just spoke with an airport representative.”

  Sam swallowed against a dry mouth. Her stomach was in knots. An airport representative? What was wrong?

  “The news is that your mom’s plane had an accident during landing. It hit ice on the runway and slid into a bunker.”

  Nonononono! Sam sucked in air.

  Makayla reached over and grabbed Sam’s hand and squeezed it.

  “I have to go to the airport. I don’t know any more than there was the accident. I’m going to get Mrs. Willis to come stay with you two.”

  Sam jumped to her feet, pulling Makayla up as well. “Dad, I want to come with you. Is Mom okay? Is she hurt?” Is she alive? No, she had to be alive. She had to be okay. She was Mom.

  “I don’t know, and you need to stay here. You can’t come with me.” He put his hands on her shoulders and stared down into her eyes. “Please, Sam, don’t argue about this with me. I have to go.”

  Sam opened her mouth, but Makayla squeezed her hand harder.

  “I’ll call you as soon as I know something.” He gave Sam a quick hug. “I’m going to get Mrs. Willis.” He disappeared down the hall. Chewy followed, her nails tapping on the floor. The door to the garage slammed. Chewy returned to the living room, whining as if she understood something very bad had happened.

  “Mac?” Sam turned to her, unwanted tears blurring her vision. She didn’t even care that she was about to cry. She was so scared. She’d never been so scared before.

  Makayla hugged her. “It’s going to be okay. I started praying as soon as your dad told us.”

  “It’s Mom.”

  “I know.” Makayla helped her back to the couch. “Let’s pray together, okay?”

  Sam nodded, but her nose had started running along with the tears. She bowed her head.

  “Dear God, we ask You to keep Sam’s mother safe. We know You love her so much, and Sam and her dad. We pray You’ll watch over Sam’s dad as he drives on the slippery streets to get to the airport. We ask that You keep everyone safe, God. And I ask that You fill Sam with peace and comfort, knowing You’re keeping her parents safe. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.”

  Sam sniffed. “Thanks.” And while she was still really scared, she didn’t feel as panicky as she had a few minutes ago. She still felt sick to her stomach though.

  Chewy leaned against Sam’s leg and whined. Sam reached down and petted her, letting the dog’s warm fur comfort her.

  The door leading in from the garage door opened. Chewy barked and took off down the hall.

  “Sam?” Mrs. Willis’ voice rang down the hall. “Hi, Chewy. It’s just me.”

  “We’re in here,” Makayla answered.

  Mrs. Willis rounded the corner, Chewy right beside her. “Oh, Sam, sweetheart.” She held open her arms.

  Sam rushed into them and accepted the hug.

  “It’s going to be okay, dear. I was listening to my police scanner and heard about it, not knowing your momma was on that plane. I’d already started praying for the people as soon as it came over the scanner.”

  “We’ve prayed too,” Makayla added.

  “Hello, Makayla, dear. So nice that you’re here with Sam.” Mrs. Willis made her way to sit in Dad’s recliner, careful to step around Chewy who couldn’t seem to sit still. “Your father said he’d call as soon as he knew anything.”

  Sam hated waiting. She began pacing. The only sound thumping in her ears was the sound of her footfalls. Earlier, the popping from the fireplace had been such a comforting sound. Now, it mocked her with the silence. “Mrs. Willis, can we listen to your scanner?”

  “That’s probably not a good idea, dear.”

  Yeah, because if something went seriously wrong . . . no, she couldn’t think like that. But she couldn’t stand not knowing either. “It’d make me feel a whole lot better. Please?”

  “I suppose I could go get it.” The older lady made rocking motions as if to propel herself out of the recliner.

  “No. I’ll get it.” Sam headed to the laundry room and slipped on her winter wear.

  “It’s unlocked, and you know where the scanner is.”

  “I’ll be right back.” Sam let Chewy out into the backyard, then rushed herself into the bitter cold. Sleet pelted her, but she welcomed the beating. Her imagination wouldn’t stop replaying every single plane crash scene she’d ever seen on the news or in a movie, which was illogical, since Dad hadn’t said there’d been a crash at all. A slick landing, that’s what he’d said. Slid into a bunker. But her mind kept seeing a fiery mess that made her heart stop.

  God, please keep Mom safe.

  Sam shook her head to clear her thoughts as she let herself into Mrs. Willis’ house. In just the short time they’d been without power, her neighbor’s normally overly warm and stuffy house had taken on a chill. She grabbed the police scanner from the kitchen table where Mrs. Willis always kept it, then headed back out into the cold and sleet. As she rounded Mrs. Willis’s carport, she heard a faint little sound.

  Sam stopped and listened carefully. Sleet pinged against metal and vinyl siding. Maybe she’d imagined hearing something. Her boots crunched on the snow and ice.

  Rahr.

  What was that? It sounded so feeble. An animal? Out here in this nasty weather? Maybe she was just imagining things.

  Rowr.

  Closer, but sounding fainter. A cat? Sam set the police scanner inside her open garage, then stepped back into the yard. She held her breath to listen better.

  Meow. Meow.

  There, from the little side swatch of lawn between her house and Mrs. Willis’. Sam walked toward the sound. “Here, kitty kitty.”

  Chewy barked from the fenced back yard. “Shh, Chewy,” Sam said, stopping to listen for sounds of the cat.

  Meow.

  From the right. Sam took three more steps and then she saw it, barely. It was a little white kitten, so white that it blended with the snow. Its little pink nose and ears were soaked. “Shh, it’s okay.” She slowly bent down to pick up the kitten.

  Meow.

  The poor little thing was soaking wet and shivering.
It couldn’t be more than a month old and its fur wasn’t very thick. Not enough to keep it warm.

  Chewy started barking again.

  “Shh, Chewy. Be quiet.” Sam unzipped her coat and snuggled the kitten next to her chest. She zipped her coat again, then rushed to the garage. She grabbed the scanner, stomped her feet, then went inside. The kitten purred against her.

  “Makayla!”

  “What? What is it?” Makayla stepped into the laundry room.

  Sam set the scanner on top of the dryer. “Look what I found outside.” She unzipped her coat and pulled out the kitten, who immediately began crying.

  “Oh my goodness. You poor thing.” Makayla took the soaked kitten and tucked it under her chin. “Where’d you find it?”

  “Hovering next to Mrs. Willis’ house.” Sam hung her coat on the hook and threw her gloves, scarf, and cap into the dryer. She pulled off her boots, then pulled off a beach towel from the shelf over the washer and dryer. She gently took the kitten from Makayla and wrapped it in the towel.

  “Girls, is everything okay?” Mrs. Willis called from the living room.

  “Yes, ma’am.” Sam nodded at the scanner and asked Makayla, “Can you grab that?”

  “Sure.” Makayla took the scanner, carried it into the living room, and set it on the coffee table.

  Sam followed, hugging the poor little kitten.

  “What’s that you have?” Mrs. Willis asked.

  “A kitten I found next to your house.” Sam knelt beside the chair and showed Mrs. Willis. “Do you know who it belongs to?”

  “No idea. Poor little thing looks like it’s been abandoned.”

  Sam snuggled the kitten. “It’s almost frozen.” She looked at Makayla. “Turn the scanner on. Maybe we can get an update about Mom.”

  Makayla turned on the scanner. Chewy barked outside. “I’ll let her back in.” She headed into the kitchen. Chewy beat her back to the living room, shaking and sending pellets of sleet all over the couch.

  “Chewy!” Sam said.

  The dog ignored any reprimand, nosing toward the kitten Sam held. Chewy put her nose against the kitten’s wet head. The kitten wobbled to standing. Chewy sniffed at the kitten, who hissed and popped Chewy on the nose. The dog jumped back.

  Sam laughed. “Even scrawny and freezing, she’s got guts.” She nuzzled the kitten. Chewy laid on the rug, staring at Sam and the kitten with cautious eyes. At least the kitten had helped stop her over-active imagination.

  “Listen,” Mrs. Willis said, leaning over to turn up the volume on the scanner.

  “All passengers are accounted for,” a female voice came from the scanner.

  “Copy that. Twelve are en route to hospital. Twenty-two receiving EMT care onsite,” a male’s voice responded.

  “Fire is contained.”

  “Affirmative. No casualties,” the man’s voice boomed.

  No casualties! That meant Mom was . . . the tight hold around Sam’s heart released. She could breathe normally again.

  “Woohoo!” Makayla hugged Sam.

  Chewy barked.

  “Thank you, Jesus,” Mrs. Willis whispered.

  Sam snuggled the kitten. Mom might be one of the ones hurt, but she was alive!

  Thanks, God.

  Mrs. Willis turned down the scanner. “Now, what are we going to do about this kitten?”

  “We can’t put her back outside.” Sam let the kitten go. On wobbly legs, she stepped off the beach towel.

  Chewy approached slowly, then lay down right in front of the kitten. The kitten sniffed Chewy, then plopped down right beside the dog.

  “I think she likes you, Chewy.” Sam reached out and ran her fingers over her dog’s smooth muzzle. “Sweet girl, Chewy.”

  “I guess the kitten will stay put until your parents get home, Sam.” Mrs. Willis sat back on the recliner. “I think that fire needs stirring, and maybe another log.”

  “Yes, ma’am. I’ll get it.” Sam headed out to the garage to grab a log from the rack Dad had just filled last weekend.

  Even though she now knew Mom was safe, she still had a funny taste in her mouth. And, now that she thought about it, taking into consideration the fear she’d just felt, some things didn’t feel as incredibly important as they had before. Like the virus. And Felicia’s expulsion.

  Although, Sam did wonder again how Aubrey found out about Felicia’s expulsion.

  Sam lifted two logs and headed back into the house, still mulling things over. Captain York sure noticed Sam’s article pretty quickly after she posted it. Almost like he’d been waiting for it. But why? He was a boss with the Little Rock Police Department, which meant he had a lot more important things to do.

  “Oh, thank you, dear.” Mrs. Willis hoisted herself from the recliner. “I’m going to the ladies’ room.”

  Sam poked the fire, then put one of the logs on top. She closed the protective screen and stood in front of it, letting the heat seep into her bones.

  “It’s okay to still be worrying about your mom, you know.” Makayla lay on her stomach, wiggling her fingers to play with the kitten.

  “I know. I hope she’s not one of the injured ones, but I know she’s safe. I’m all right.”

  “Then what are you tossing around in that mind of yours?” Makayla sat up, leaning her back against the arm of the couch. “I can almost see the wheels turning from down here.”

  Sam grinned, but plopped down on the rug and rubbed Chewy’s belly. “I’m trying to figure out how Captain York knew about my article going up so quickly after I posted it. I mean, it was only — what? Maybe ten or fifteen minutes at the most? Was he sitting on the site, watching? He’s a cop and it’s a busy time with the weather. It doesn’t add up.”

  “Right. I guess I didn’t think about it.” Makayla laughed as the kitten tripped over her own feet and rolled on the rug.

  A thought occurred to Sam. “You know, I just thought of a way I might be able to find out who told Aubrey about Felicia.”

  “Yeah?”

  “Nikki Cole. She might be willing to clue me in. Because you know Aubrey bragged to Nikki how she was able to scoop me.”

  “Good thinking.” Makayla nodded. “She’s been much nicer to you since you helped her with the bullying thing.”

  “It’s worth a try.”

  “I’d say so.”

  “Girls, can I get you anything?” Mrs. Willis came back into the living room.

  “No, ma’am,” Sam said.

  Sam’s cell phone rang. She noticed from the caller-ID that it was her father and quickly snatched it up. “Dad?”

  “Hey, my girl.” Mom’s voice never sounded so sweet.

  “Mom!”

  “Now, I’m sure you were scared, but don’t you worry, I’m fine. Just got a little bump on my head. They want Dad to take me to the emergency room just to make sure I don’t have a concussion. I’m certain I don’t, but you know how Dad can be.”

  Sam smiled even though tears wet her cheeks. “Yeah, I know how he can be.” She sniffed.

  “I’m okay, Sam. Really. Dad’s going to take me to the hospital, then we’ll be home.”

  “Okay.”

  “All right, my sweet girl, here’s Dad. I love you.”

  “I love you too, Mom.”

  “Sam?” Dad’s voice sounded relieved.

  She sniffed again. “Hey, Dad.”

  “I’m just going to take her to get checked out, but with the weather, it might take us a while. Are you okay?”

  “We’re fine.” The kitten pushed Sam’s hand with her nose. “We’ll keep the fire going.”

  “That’s my girl. Let me talk to Mrs. Willis.”

  “Okay. Hey, Dad?”

  “Yeah, pumpkin?”

  “I love you.”

  “I love you too.” The smile was in his voice.

  “Here’s Mrs. Willis.” She handed the phone to her neighbor, then whispered to Makayla what the other side of the conversation had been.

  “You just
take your time, Charles. Me and the girls are just fine.” Mrs. Willis handed Sam back her iPhone. “I don’t know how to turn it off.”

  Sam laughed. “It’s okay. It turns off when the call is ended.”

  “It’s wonderful about your mother being okay.”

  “Yes, ma’am, it is.” Sam couldn’t stop smiling.

  Sam’s message alert sounded. She glanced at the message. “Hey, they say power should be restored within the hour.” She glanced at the kitten curled up by Chewy. “I need to find some kitty litter and a box for her.”

  “I believe I have some in my garage,” Mrs. Willis said.

  “You have a litter box and litter in your garage?” Sam blurted out. “You don’t have a cat.”

  Mrs. Willis chuckled. “No, I don’t, but I cat-sit for the Hardens from time to time, so I keep a litter box and litter. It’s in the cabinet by the door if you want to use it.”

  “Thank you. I’ll get it right now.” Sam bundled up and ran next door, returning with the items. She set them up in the laundry room. “Thank you, Mrs. Willis. Once Mom and Dad get home and we decide what to do with Baby Kitty, I’ll clean it out and return it.”

  “No rush, dear.” She let out a long sigh. “I think I’m going to lay back here in this comfy recliner and rest my eyes a bit, if you girls don’t mind.”

  “You know what, Mrs. Willis . . . a friend of ours lives just a few blocks over and I’d love to go visit her. Why don’t I put the kitten in the laundry room and take Chewy with us? That way, you can rest a bit.”

  “Sure, dear. That’s so thoughtful.”

  Sam quickly put the kitten in the laundry room, set out a bowl of water and a bowl of milk, then found Chewy’s leash. She was already bundled up and waiting on Makayla. “Hurry up.” She was ready to go to see Nikki Cole.

  She was ready for answers.

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  Hi Jefferson. Is Nikki here?” Sam stood on the front porch while Makayla stood in the driveway, holding Chewy’s leash. Maybe she should have called first to make sure Nikki was home. It’d just be her luck for Nikki to be gone. Like at Aubrey’s or something.

  At least it wasn’t sleeting any more, but it’d gotten colder. The sun would be down soon, and then it’d really get cold. Sam had promised Mrs. Willis they’d be back before it got dark.