CHAPTER ELEVEN

It was early morning. Jennifer could sleep no longer. She had been awake before the sunrise and now the sunlight dappled the blankets on her bed. It had been two weeks...two whole weeks now since she had seen her love, heard his voice...she was beginning to die inside, she missed him so...

BUT, she would make yet another trip to town to see the commissioner today...she was NOT giving up. She knew he was tired of seeing her. On the last trip he had tried to avoid her. She was a nice woman, Mrs. Hart, but he just had nothing new to say to her...no hope to give her...she needed to go home and get on with her life.

Mr. Talbot no longer made the trips to town with Jennifer. When she wanted to go, he would lend her his jeep. She was beginning to become very familiar with the area.

Today, after her usual trip to the police station, Jennifer decided to drive around Bettles. It was a small town, but she hadn't seen everything. It would give her something to do...maybe kill some time out of her long day.

She drove carefully, watching her surroundings so she would be able to find her road back to the lodge. After a while she noticed a truck that seemed to be following her. Everywhere she turned, the truck was not far behind. She couldn't see the driver...the truck kept a distance...but it seemed to be following her. Jennifer decided to speed up and try to lose the truck. It stayed back at a safe distance, but continued following. Finally she decided to go back to the police station. If someone was up to something, surely they wouldn't follow her there. She was right. As she parked in front of the station, she saw the truck turn a corner in the distance. Strange, the thought, before she pulled away from the curb and headed back to the Lodge.


Two days later, Jennifer entered the lodge after a late morning walk. The smell of hot coffee and breakfast wafted through the air. The coffee sounded good, but Jennifer couldn't eat the breakfast. Her appetite was waning. Bessie Talbot was constantly trying to make fine meals and goodies to entice her...she just couldn't eat.

She couldn't get to sleep at night either, and didn't really want to crawl out of bed in the morning. The last words on her lips at night would be, I miss you, darling... and in the morning, God, please just let me sleep. She was battling the onset of depression. She knew this to be so as she had once researched and done a story on the subject...and she refused to succumb to it. If she did, Jonathan would never be found...she would NOT give up. So, with this renewed mental state, she would force herself out of the bed each morning.

As she entered the lodge, she noticed a man at the counter wearing a cap. He must be another new guest at the lodge. She passed him as she headed to her room. As she passed, he turned to watch her. It was Tom...he was entering closer into her domain.

The day passed by slowly. Jennifer took yet another trip to town to talk to authorities...to find out what, if anything, they were doing to find Jonathan. The answers were always the same..."no trace of him has been found...we're sorry."

Yet today, they did have news of another kind...a frightening kind. Authorities had found the Tikaani in a fjord. Upon going aboard, the crew and guests were found...all dead...in the walk-in freezer. Jennifer gasped at this news. A list of names identifying the victims was presented to her, and she was asked if there were any names unaccounted for on the list.

"Only my husband's" came her curt reply.

Again, they shifted and looked away uncomfortably. "Ma'am, we are doing everything we can, I assure you..." began the Commissioner.

"Well, it isn't enough, is it?" said Jennifer, "and I will be on your doorstep until I have news of my husband's whereabouts. I am NOT leaving." With these firm words, Jennifer walked out of the precinct yet again with all the dignity she could muster. The news about the Tikaani had shaken her to the core...only one person could be responsible for all of this...Tom.


Jennifer returned to the Lodge. The rest of the afternoon passed slowly. Jennifer had purchased a writing tablet while in town and decided to write...just write all of her feelings down. She had kept journals in the past... had always found it therapeutic just to pour everything out on a clean page. She always felt renewed when she finished. Today was different though. Although she wrote, nothing was changed or accomplished when she finished. Because her burdens were out of her hands...nothing that she could change...they still glared at her from the page when she was done. She tossed the pencil down and grabbed her parka. Time for some fresh air...perhaps another walk would help.

As she passed through the lobby, a handful of guests were waiting there. She passed them by without an upward glance and left to the jingling of bells on the door. The wind was brisk. She headed to the lighthouse.

Behind her, a generous distance off, was Tom...he followed, watching, taking cover behind trees as he went. She was so beautiful, Tom thought, if only...

His mind thought of all the things he would like to do to her...with her. He wanted her. But...just like the others, she wouldn't want him! No, he could never get a woman like her...not without force...but, he HAD to have her! He fingered the knife he held in his pocket as he followed Jennifer discreetly to the lighthouse...

To be continued...