chapter 105
MORGAN WATCHED THE West Point police chief and two uniformed officers walk to their patrol cars. They had been at her house for almost two hours. She had given them all the information about Jake she could think of. One of the officers said he was going to spend the night parked in front of her house. Morgan was very grateful. The police chief put out a statewide alert for Jake Crosby and his vehicle.
The officer who was going to pull guard duty turned around and said, “Mrs. Crosby, please leave all of your outside lights on.” He said something to the two officers she couldn’t understand and then turned back to her and said, “I promise I’ll call if I see or hear anything. Go ahead and lock up now.”
As soon as Morgan closed the door, the house telephone rang. It was one of Jake’s coworkers. He was just one of several who had called. Jake’s boss had called twice to check on her and Katy and to see if Jake had made it home. Their friends and family were concerned because it was very uncharacteristic of Jake to leave without telling Morgan or someone else. Every law enforcement agency in the Golden Triangle area was looking for Jake and his truck.
When Morgan hung up the call, she could hear Katy crying. She went straight to her and tried to console her. Katy had heard everything she and the police had discussed. Katy’s memories of that terrifying night in the swamp came flooding back. The fear. The screams. The gunshots. Katy Crosby was scared for her daddy, and nothing her mother said or did could help that.
When Katy had finally cried herself to sleep, Morgan quietly left her side. It was heartbreaking to see her little girl so upset. Morgan knew she had to be strong for Katy and that if she also cried, Katy would fall to pieces. Morgan shut Katy’s bedroom door and then walked to the front of the house and stood with her arms folded, staring out at the dark, cold night. She could feel in her bones that something bad had happened to Jake. He would never leave work without telling her, and he most certainly would never stay out this late without calling. He’d call if he could. If he could. The thought of it sent a chill down her spine.
Morgan touched her belly and wished she could feel the tiny baby inside—Jake’s baby. Her lip trembled at the notion of raising the baby without him. Lord, I want my baby to know its father. It’s a simple request.
She was frightened but was also getting angry—at everybody, including Jake. This was not the life she had envisioned. She wanted normal.
The headlights of the approaching car gave her a flash of hope, but when she saw that it was the police chief, her chest tightened. She just knew it had to be bad news. She could not fight back the tears anymore. The chief parked his sedan and gave a quick wave to the young officer in the patrol car. He trotted toward the house. Morgan felt like she was living a movie, watching herself on-screen—like it wasn’t really happening to her. She saw herself open the front door.
“Morgan, you heard anything?” he asked.
Thank God—he’s not here to tell me Jake’s dead, she thought, but she just said, “No, nothing. Have y’all?”
“No ma’am, not yet, but I’ve got everybody lookin’.”
Morgan smiled weakly to show her thanks and folded her arms again. The police chief could see she’d been crying, but he needed to clarify some things. People under stress often forgot the simplest things, and talking could jog their memories.
“May I trouble you for a cup of coffee?” he asked.
Morgan looked at him gratefully. She really liked him. He was a pillar in the community, a deacon in their church, and a friend of Jake’s. She could see that he, too, was upset. He just hid his feelings better than she did.
“Yeah, sure, come on in, please,” she said, realizing she was glad to have something to do.
“Thank you. Morgan, have you thought of anything else since I left that might help us? Anything?”
“No, and he still isn’t answering his cell.”
“We’ve still not been able to locate Ethan Daniels.”
Morgan stopped pouring the coffee when she heard that. It sounded serious to her that they couldn’t find him.
“Do you actually know this guy?”
“I arrested him once…years ago. He’s probably the best poacher around. He’s gotten into drug running for the money. Kinda took over the business, so to speak, from that first guy Jake had to kill over in Alabama.”
Morgan finished pouring the coffee and handed the cup to the chief.
“Thank you. He was picked up over the weekend on an unrelated charge but got out Monday morning. The Columbus PD is all over his lawyer and his known associates right now. We’ll find him.”
“I feel like I need to be out lookin’ for Jake—that I need to be doin’ something to help.” Morgan bit her bottom lip to keep from crying.
“Morgan, listen to me. You’re doin’ exactly what you need to be doin’. I need you here, by the phone; and Katy needs you to be here with her.”
“I know, but—”
“Listen, we have every available officer riding roads right now. We’re tryin’ to cover as much ground as possible because the weather’s about to get really bad. They’re callin’ for several inches of rain.”
“That’s not good.”
“No, it’s not. It’s gonna hinder the off-road searches when it gets daylight. I need to go back and help the boys.” The chief stood, looked directly into Morgan’s eyes, and said, “Please, Morgan, just stay here…and call me if anything happens. Okay?”
“I will.”
The chief took a big sip of coffee and then gently set down the mug.
“We’re gonna have another baby,” she blurted, smiling tearfully.
“I didn’t know that. Congratulations.”
“We haven’t told anyone, and I…I just thought you ought to know. Jake wouldn’t just leave me.”
“I know that, Morgan, and we’re gonna find him. I promise you.”