Page 28 of In Her Grasp

“Mayor Simmons,” Jenna acknowledged evenly as the woman bore down on her like a gale force wind. “I apologize for the oversight. We had to act quickly based on new information—”

The mayor’s hand shot up, slicing through the cool air with authority. “New information? And what might that be? Another one of your hunches?” There was a withering scorn in her tone, an all too familiar challenge to Jenna’s methods.

Jenna held the mayor’s steely gaze, her own eyes betraying none of the turmoil that churned within her. “We’ve recovered another body from the reservoir,” she stated, the gravity of thesituation grounding her voice in somber reality. “And there’s reason to believe we may find a third.”

“Three?” the mayor snapped. Her eyes narrowed, searching Jenna’s face for any hint of doubt, any crack in the facade that she could leverage.

“Potentially,” Jenna confirmed.

“Three suicides?” Claire Simmons’ voice held a touch of fear that cracked her usual composed facade.

“Three murders,” Jenna corrected without hesitation.

The tension was palpable, an electric charge that seemed to spark off the surface of Sablewood Reservoir. The floodlights cast a harsh glare on the scene, blotting out the stars with their artificial day. Jenna could feel every eye on her, on them, as the stand-off continued.

Then Colonel Chadwick “Chad” Spelling, in his pristine uniform, stepped decisively forward. “Mayor, I authorized this operation,” pronounced Colonel Spelling with a voice that brooked no argument. “And this reservoir is my jurisdiction, not yours.”

Jenna exhaled slowly, her breath visible in the chill night air, grateful for Spelling’s involvement. She sensed, rather than saw, the ripple of relief that moved through the gathered law enforcement personnel. Her own eyes now reflected a depth of gratitude. Despite her authority as Sheriff, it felt oddly comforting to have the weight of the Colonel’s rank behind her.

Simmons’ response was instantaneous. Her eyes, sharp and calculating, darted between Spelling and Jenna, assessing, judging. The mayor’s manicured nails seemed to tap an impatient rhythm against the fabric of her sleeve.

“And the potential media circus this could create? The panic it could incite in our community? Did either of you consider that?” The words were precise, a calculated strike meant toundermine and reclaim control. “You couldn’t have waited? Giving me time to prepare a statement?”

Jenna took in a deep breath, letting it fuel her resolve. She steeled herself, turning to face Simmons squarely. “A killer has gotten away with his crimes long enough, we can’t waste any more time. Once the word is out that we’ve found these bodies, the culprit is likely to vanish forever. I don’t think you’d like how the media would deal with a case that goes cold once and for all. We’ve got to catch the killer, and it’s now or never.”

The mayor crossed her arms and said, “Be that as it may, I’m not happy with how you’re handling this, Sheriff.”

In that moment, Jenna felt her supernatural intuition mingling with years of law enforcement instincts. The stakes were higher than any PR concerns or political maneuvering. Lives had been lost, victims submerged beneath the dark waters, waiting for justice.

When the mayor continued to glare at her in silence, Jenna said, her voice resonant with the authority of her office and the urgency of their mission. “With all due respect, Mayor, my job isn’t to keep you happy. Our primary concern is finding the truth and potentially solving multiple homicides. The community’s safety comes first. And not letting a killer go free, possibly to kill again—if not right here, then somewhere else.”

Tension crackled in the air, the kind you could almost hear over the hum of the floodlights and the murmur of officers preparing their gear. Jenna stood her ground, watching Mayor Simmons with a steadiness that belied the turmoil within. The mayor’s eyes, usually so sharp and commanding, wavered; her shoulders, always squared with authority, dipped ever so slightly.

“Very well,” Mayor Simmons conceded, her voice tight, betraying the strain of the moment. “But I want to be kept inthe loop from now on. Is that clear?” The demand was less an assertion of power than a grudging acceptance of the situation.

Jenna nodded once, decisively. “Crystal clear, Mayor.” There was no gloating in her victory, just the quiet satisfaction that they could proceed without further hindrance. She watched as Mayor Simmons turned away, leaving Jenna to get back to the task.

“Thanks for backing me up, Colonel,” Jenna said to Spelling.

“Let’s hope this search bears fruit,” Spelling said. “Otherwise, we could both wind up with mud on our faces.”

Jenna turned back to the reservoir, its waters dark and still, holding secrets beneath its surface. She felt a familiar pull, the weight of unseen currents drawing her thoughts to Piper, her missing twin. But she pushed aside personal ghosts; tonight was about seeking justice for others, not for herself.

The night air carried a chill that had nothing to do with the temperature. As Mayor Simmons departed, Jake materialized beside Jenna, his presence a sudden warmth at her side.

“That could have gone worse,” he murmured, his voice low enough that only she could hear. His gaze flickered to her, a silent question hovering in the space between them.

Jenna allowed herself a brief smile, wry and edged with fatigue. “The night’s still young. Come on, we’ve got work to do.”

They moved together toward the water’s edge, where the search team was assembling. The divers, suited in black neoprene, looked like phantoms ready to descend into the abyss. Jenna’s eyes traced the outline of the willows, branches swaying gently in the night breeze like mournful sentinels.

Jake’s presence was a reminder of what grounded her—partnership, shared resolve, the unspoken understanding that stretched beyond the boundaries of duty. Jenna took a steadying breath, feeling the pull of the water, of the mysteries it held. Somewhere down there lay another piece of a puzzle thatspanned years and lives and losses. It was time to bring it up into the light.

For a time there was only the droning of the boats broken only by the occasional bark of orders from the team leaders. Jenna stood on the shore, patiently waiting as Jake stood silently at her side. Then a shout shattered the night’s silence.

“Over here! There’s something!”

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

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