Page 36 of In Her Wake
Jake relayed the information to dispatch as Jenna pressed the accelerator harder, gaining ground on the fleeing vehicle.The speedometer crept past sixty in a thirty-five zone as she focused on the silver car ahead.
Rebecca swerved suddenly, cutting across two lanes to make a sharp right turn onto Elm Street.Jenna followed, tires screeching in protest.The Mercedes fishtailed as Rebecca overcorrected, nearly clipping a row of parked cars before straightening out.
“What the hell is she thinking?”Jenna said through gritted teeth.“This isn’t just suspicious anymore—this is the behavior of someone with something to hide.”
“Unit 3 is approaching from the north on Elm,” the dispatcher’s voice announced through the radio.“They should intercept in approximately thirty seconds.”
Then, as they rounded the bend where Elm Street curved east, Jenna saw the black and white cruiser ahead, Officer Donovan at the wheel, positioning his vehicle to block the road.
Rebecca saw it too.The Mercedes swerved hard to the right, mounting the curb in an attempt to bypass the blockade.But Donovan anticipated the move, angling his cruiser to close the gap.The Mercedes skidded to a halt, inches from colliding with the patrol car, engine still racing.
Jenna slammed on the brakes, bringing their cruiser to a stop behind the Mercedes.She was out of the vehicle in seconds, drawing her weapon as Jake did the same.
“Rebecca Ashcroft!”Jenna shouted, advancing cautiously.“Turn off the engine and step out of the vehicle with your hands where I can see them!”
For a moment, Rebecca remained frozen behind the wheel.Then, slowly, the Mercedes’ engine went silent.The driver’s door opened, and Rebecca emerged, hands raised halfway, her designer dress looking rumpled.
“Against the car,” Jake ordered, moving forward to secure her while Jenna maintained cover.
Rebecca complied, pressing herself against the Mercedes’ side as Jake holstered his weapon and moved in to handcuff her.She didn’t resist, her body seeming to deflate as the metal circles closed around her wrists.
“I know it was stupid,” she said, her voice shaking.“I’m sorry.I’m just—I’m going through a crazy spell.I wasn’t thinking straight.”
Jake patted her down efficiently, then turned her to face Jenna, who had holstered her own weapon once Rebecca was secured.
“Rebecca Ashcroft, you’re under arrest for suspicion of murder in the death of Marjory Powell,” Jenna stated, watching Rebecca’s face.
The reaction was immediate and visceral.Rebecca’s eyes widened, her mouth falling open in genuine shock.“Murder?Marjory?What are you talking about?”Her voice pitched higher with each question.“Marjory’s dead?When?How?”
The surprise in her eyes seemed authentic, but Jenna had seen skilled liars before.She kept her expression neutral.“You’re also being charged with reckless endangerment, fleeing from law enforcement, and numerous traffic violations that caused at least two accidents that I witnessed personally.”
“I didn’t kill anybody,” Rebecca insisted, her eyes darting between Jenna and Jake.“I had no idea Marjory was dead.When did this happen?”
“Yesterday afternoon,” Jake replied, watching her closely.“Right around the time you conveniently left town.”
“That’s—that’s—,” Rebecca stammered.“Just a coincidence.I was heading to St.Louis to meet with Cecil’s lawyer.We had a scheduled appointment.”
"Then why run from us just now?"Jenna asked, nodding toward Officer Donovan, who had approached to assist."If you're innocent, why flee when you saw our cruiser?"
Rebecca’s shoulders slumped.“You wouldn’t believe me if I told you.”
“Try me,” Jenna challenged.
“You should call the police in St.Louis,” Rebecca said.“Ask them.They’ll tell you why I ran.”
Jenna exchanged a glance with Jake, who raised an eyebrow slightly.“We’ll do that,” she said to Rebecca.
Together, they guided Rebecca to their cruiser, placing her in the back seat before closing the door.Jenna addressed Donovan, who stood waiting for instructions.
"Nice work cutting her off, Mike," she said."I need you to stay here and document the scene.We had at least two collisions during the pursuit—one at Main and Cedar, another at Main and Pine.I don't think anybody was injured, but check that out, make sure reports are filed, and contact information is exchanged."
“Yes, Sheriff,” Donovan replied.“What about her car?”
“Have it towed to the impound lot.We’ll process it later.”Jenna glanced back at Rebecca, who sat staring straight ahead with mascara-smudged eyes, her expression fearful.“Right now, I want to find out what happened in St.Louis.”
Back in the cruiser, Jenna pulled away from the scene, headed for the Genesius County Jail.
“Call St.Louis PD,” she told Jake.“Let’s see what our friend Rebecca has been up to.”
