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I woke up lying across a strange bed, still fully clothed. Looking around, I realized I was in a hotel room and the horrible events of the preceding day came back to me. Light edged the sides of the drapes. The clock said it was nine-thirty. "Fudge. If I'm here, Jim's really dead." The tears finally came. I sat up and grabbed one of the pillows from the bed, squeezing it to my chest. I rocked back and forth sobbing into the pillow. My sobs had quieted and my tears were drying up when the phone on the nightstand rang. "Hello."
"Hello, Ms. Mason. This is Agent Driscoll. I'm sorry if I woke you."
"It's fine, Agent Driscoll."
"If you can be ready in an hour, I'll pick you up in front of your hotel. We have several things to go through today."
"That's fine. I'll see you out front." I hung up the phone and took a quick shower, putting back on the only clothes I had. Someone at the DHS office had given me a coat to wear since mine had been tagged as evidence in Jim's murder. That thought brought the tears again. I went downstairs to the hotel's restaurant and ordered a cup of Earl Grey and toast. The tea helped calm me, but I had no appetite for the toast. I left it untouched, ordered a cup of tea to go, and was waiting by the front door when Agent Driscoll drove up in his requisite black SUV.
"Did you get some rest?" he asked, as he opened the door for me.
"Not enough," I said. "Do you think I'll be able to go home today? I would really like some clean clothes."
"I think we'll be able to get what we need today. I'll drive you home myself."
After a couple of hours of answering questions and clarifying parts of the story, we took a break. After going to the restroom and getting another cup of tea, I walked back into the conference room. "Agent Driscoll, I've spent the last two days answering your questions, I think it's time to turn the tables."
"Sure. Ask away. Just remember this is an ongoing investigation with multiple crime scenes involved. There will be some things I can't share."
"Understood. Is Cassie here?" I saw a strange look cross his face. "Is she OK?"
"I'm sorry, Ms. Mason." My stomach lurched before he could finish that statement. "We've haven't found Agent Carter yet."
"What do you mean? Did you call out the Wilkins' Gap Search and Rescue team?"
"No. It's an active crime scene. We have agents scouring the woods."
"Did you find Yellow?"
"Not yet."
"I know DHS has their own way of doing things, but you need people who know those woods. I need to get some gear. Is it possible for me to get my gear bag that was left at Dr. Bellamy's house?"
Agent Driscoll left me in the conference room while he went to make some calls. I grabbed a pad and pen and made a list of what I needed to do.
"Your bag will be at the A-Frame when we get there. I just need to swing by my house and pick up my stuff. You can wait here if you prefer, but my place is on the way out of town. It'll be quicker if you come with me."
"Let's go," I said, standing up and starting for the door.
"Not so fast." He put a folder on the table, opened it, and handed me a pen. "You need to sign this. It's a liability release form saying that you are voluntarily agreeing to assist in a potentially dangerous situation."
"Done," I said, handing him the folder. "Let's get going."
XXX
"I just need a few minutes to pack," he said. "Make yourself comfortable. Sorry, I don't have Earl Grey tea, but I might be able to scare up a tea bag if you want.
"Just pack. I'm anxious to get going. Cassie's been out there a long time. She wasn't feeling that well. Randerran roughed her up."
"Did he get physical with you?" Driscoll asked as he opened a duffel bag on the sofa and walked in and out putting things in the bag.
"No. Thankfully. I think he was tougher on Cassie because she's an agent. Since you packed a bag, are you planning to stay in Wilkins' Gap?"
"I'm coming with you to hunt for Agent Carter."
"No. You're not."
"It's a DHS operation. I go or you don't go."
"You didn't explain that before."
"Would it have stopped you?"
"No."
"Didn't think so. Look I do a lot of hiking. I won't hold you back. There are two of them. You'll need help."
"You're right, but I'm warning you a lot of people that go into the woods with me aren't anxious to repeat the experience."
"Understood."