Chapter 26
Twenty-Six
Seeing Raven on the security screen at the front gate surprised Jenna.
After a bad night with her shoulder, she had planned to head into work to run the investigation, but as Jackson was running a temperature, she’d called Rio and informed him she’d be working from home.
Sitting up most of the night, she’d already planned her day and delegated work to Rowley and Rio.
They’d be going to interview two of the suspects: locksmith Rodney Wallace and past group attendee Jade Ellison.
She had intended to leave Raven to run the office but sighed with relief at seeing a doctor on her front porch after Jackson woke at four screaming and holding his head.
She was unsure what had happened, but he’d calmed when Kane held him.
At first, they’d expected a bad dream as her son had received all his shots, but then when he went limp, quiet alarm bells sounded.
Something was wrong. She wanted to take him to the hospital but Kane insisted on calling Wolfe.
Had Raven been sent in his stead? She couldn’t imagine Wolfe doing such a thing without telling them.
She pressed the gate lock and Raven’s department SUV headed toward the house.
She headed back to the kitchen. Kane had laid Jackson over one shoulder and was rubbing his back like an infant.
Her youngest son had his eyes closed and his crimson cheeks glowed.
Just before Tauri had left with Nanny Raya to go to the res, Jenna had refused at first, wanting him safe at home during the bad weather, but when Kane discovered that the way to the highway and the road to the res were clear of floodwater, she’d agreed.
In the last hour the rain had cleared at last. The weather report forecast occasional showers, so they’d be safe on the way home as well.
She looked at Kane. “Raven is on his way.”
“He must have something important to discuss.” Kane checked his watch. “There’s no sign of Wolfe. He’ll need to go ahead with the autopsy without us.”
Jenna touched her son’s burning forehead and frowned. “Raven can go, and once Jackson settles, maybe we can organize a video link and watch it from here.”
“I can go.” Kane frowned. “Although with your shoulder, lifting Jackson will be difficult.”
Jenna shook her head. “No, I can’t lift him, and if I could, leaving me here without transport isn’t an option. What if something happens?” She turned at the knocking on the front door. “That will be Raven.”
She hurried to the door and flung it open. “Come in. Did Wolfe send you?”
“Nope.” Raven’s brow wrinkled. “Is there a problem?”
Jenna nodded. “Yeah. Jackson is burning up.”
“I’ll grab my bag.” Raven turned on his heel and ran to his truck. Moments later, he hurried into the mudroom. He put down his bag and shrugged out of his coat. “When did it start?”
Jenna led the way to the kitchen. “This morning, he woke hot and it’s getting worse.” She sighed. “We called Wolfe and he said he’d be along right away. I guess he’ll be here soon.”
“Maybe he got held up.” Raven followed her into the kitchen. “The going is slow out there, with the water over the road and all.” He placed his bag on the table and pulled out a few items.
Jenna chewed on her bottom lip as Raven checked Jackson’s temperature and then pressed a stethoscope to his chest. When he gently pressed the otoscope to the baby’s ear, Jackson reacted at once with a shrill scream. Horrified she stared at him. “What’s wrong?”
“He has an ear infection.” He pulled out his phone.
“Hey, Shane, I’m at the sheriff’s ranch, Jackson has an ear infection.
Can you bring meds?” He listened for a few seconds.
“Great. No, I dropped by to discuss a suspect. I’ll be here for a time.
” He nodded. “Yeah, that was my next step. Catch you later.”
“An ear infection will need antibiotics.” Kane frowned. “What are the next steps?”
“Wolfe is stopping to get the medication. You’ll need to get him into a warm bath.
Not hot but the same as when he was an infant.
We don’t want to see goosebumps or his temperature will go up.
A bath will cool him down and if you have infant Tylenol, you can give him a dose now and follow the instructions to keep the fever and pain down.
The ear is causing him considerable discomfort. ”
Concerned, Jenna rushed into the bathroom for the Tylenol she’d purchased when Jackson was teething. The bottle was almost full. She turned as Kane walked into the bathroom. “I’ll give him this and then run his bath.”
“I’ll bathe him.” Kane roused his son so he could take the meds. “You’d better find out what made Raven rush here.” He squeezed her arm. “Don’t worry, Jackson will be fine, but I figure we need to be here until he turns the corner. The office can come to us.”
Running her hand down Jackson’s back and seeing his troubled gaze stabbed at her heart.
They’d planned for situations like this and the boys came first. “I agree. I’ll make some calls once I’ve spoken to Raven.
” She looked at Jackson. “You’ll feel better soon and Mommy and Daddy will be right here. ” She bent to turn on the faucet.
“Ouchy.” Jackson touched his ear and his bottom lip quivered. “Uncle Raven is a baddie man.”
His sad expression tugged at her heart. “Uncle Raven didn’t mean to hurt you. He needed to look in your ear to see what was wrong. He’s a nice man and is getting medicine to make you better.”
“No!” Jackson turned back into Kane’s arms. “Baddie man.” He pointed at Jenna. “Bad Mommy. Go away.”
“Hey.” Kane gently undressed his son. “Remember when Uncle Shane gave you the shots? It hurt some, but they’re to keep you safe.
He’s a doctor and doctors like to keep kids safe.
He’s not a baddie man, is he?” He lowered Jackson into the warm water.
“Uncle Raven is a doctor too. He didn’t mean to hurt you. ”
Her little boy looked exhausted as Kane splashed him with water. Jenna turned away and went back to the kitchen. She looked at Raven and shrugged. “Sorry about that. He doesn’t feel well.”
“In the field, I’ve had grown men call me a whole lot worse.” Raven smiled. “He’ll forget all about it in a few days. I came by to speak to you about a common suspect I figure we need to look at without delay. When I heard about Jackson, I came here rather than head to the office.”
Jenna nodded and went to pour coffee and put bread in the toaster. Kane had made breakfast for Tauri, but with Jackson so upset, they hadn’t eaten. “Coffee? I make a mean burned toast if you’re hungry.”
“Why don’t you sit down and I’ll get it for you.” Raven walked to the counter. “The next few days won’t be easy caring for Jackson with your shoulder injury. Rest when you can.”
Dropping into a chair, Jenna nodded. “Thanks, now what new suspect?”
“I found a link between this guy and our victims.” Raven turned to look at her. “It will break the case wide open.”