Dakota Meltdown

Marian Jensen glared up at her. “I know who you are.”

Brenna suppressed a grimace and forced a smile for her mother. “I love you, Mom.”

“That’s more like it.” Her mother patted the couch cushion next to her. “Come sit by me.”

Brenna scrambled for something to say as she settled on the seat next to the woman who was becoming less her mother and more a stranger every day. “How’ve you been, Mom?”

“When are you going to get married, Brenna?” Ever since her mother had started showing signs of Alzheimer’s, she’d fixated on Brenna’s marital status. She’d forgotten so many things about her past, but it seemed she clung to the dream of seeing her daughter married as her last hold on reality.

“I don’t know, Mom.” Brenna squirmed in her seat, never comfortable talking about marriage or relationships.

Her mother patted her knee. “There are a lot of lonely men out there who can love you despite your scars. You’ve just set your standards too high.”

Alice rolled her eyes while Brenna braced for the lecture.

“That’s what’s the matter with you, Brenna. You can’t expect to have the perfect marriage, like your sister. You’re not perfect, God love you, and you know I love you, too. But the truth is, you’re damaged goods. You have to lower your expectations.”

As her mother went on and on, Brenna tuned out. If she didn’t, she’d go crazy. For the past two years, her mother had presented her with the same argument. Settle, Brenna. Don’t waste your life looking for perfection. Alice has it, but you’re not Alice.

As her mother droned on, Brenna’s jaw tightened until she felt as if she’d ground a quarter inch off her back teeth. When her head reached the explosion point, she stood. “I have to go.”

“You just got here.” The nagging woman disappeared leaving a lonely old lady who relied on her family for her care. Her mother, the woman who’d loved her unconditionally until her mind had begun to fade. “Stay awhile with me. You know how much I love having both my little girls with me.” She reached out to clutch her wrist, her grip surprisingly firm for a woman who might weigh all of ninety pounds dripping wet.

“I love you, Mom, but I have to go to work.” She leaned over and kissed her mother’s cheek. “I’ll be back soon.”

“They feed me cooked carrots. You know I hate carrots.”

“I’ll see what I can do, Mom.” Brenna nodded toward her sister. “Alice, perhaps you and I can go discuss the menu?”

“Of course.” She tucked the crocheted blanket around her mother’s knees. “Mom, I’ll be back in just a minute.”

“Carrots.” The old woman snorted. “Rabbits eat carrots. I want steak and potatoes.”

Brenna stepped out into the hall. Leaning against the wall, she let the stress drain from her pores.

Alice followed, easing the door closed behind her. After the latch clicked gently in place, she reached out and pulled her sister into her arms. “Mom doesn’t know what she’s saying anymore, sweetie. Don’t let her words hurt you.”

“I don’t.” Yeah right. Then why couldn’t she catch her breath or swallow past the lump in her throat? She pressed her eyelids closed. Hell, she was the cop in the family. The one to carry on her father’s legacy. Cops don’t cry.

“Brenna?” Alice gripped her shoulders, forcing her to stare into her eyes. “You’re a beautiful woman and you don’t have to settle for anyone. The right man just hasn’t come along.”

As she stared into her sister’s face, an image of Nick Tarver superimposed over her mind. Nick, standing next to the whiteboard, his black hair a dramatic contrast, those green eyes so intense with dedication to the job at hand. Perfect in every way, except one. He was too perfect. Like her honey-blond-haired sister with flawless skin that showed no sign of wrinkles nor scars to mar the precision of her beauty. Her husband loved her, doted on her and had given her two beautiful little boys and a house in the right neighborhood.

Her mother treated Brenna to endless diatribes on how well Alice had married. Why can’t you be more like your sister? Alice—the all-American cheerleader, top of her class and homecoming queen her senior year.

Too often Brenna had to bite her tongue to keep from screaming, Because I’m not Alice. I don’t have a home, family and husband. And I don’t have a perfect body to attract a man.

Why she let it get to her, Brenna didn’t know. The trip from Bismarck had taken its toll. Exhausted and in need of a shower, she stepped away from her sister.

“Alice, it’s good to see you. Since I’m on assignment, I don’t know when I’ll get by to visit Stan and the boys. Will you say hi for me?”

“Sure.” Alice laid a hand on her arm. “You will be careful, won’t you?”

“Yes.” Brenna lifted her sister’s hand. “And the same goes for you. Make sure you lock your house and don’t let anyone in. So far, the kidnapper is targeting single women. But we don’t know if he’ll go after married ones as well.”

“I heard Dr. Drummond was one of the missing persons. I’m so sorry. I know you used to see her.” Alice’s forehead creased in a frown. “Do you think he’s killing them?”

Brenna inhaled and let the air out slowly. “We don’t have proof and we may not find them until spring, but my gut tells me it’s not good.”

Alice’s face blanched. “Wow. Here in Riverton? A killer in our midst.” She gave a mirthless laugh. “Makes me want to go pick up my kids from school and keep them inside.”

“You do that. And lock your windows. If you have a security system, make sure it’s on.”

“Seems strange taking orders from my baby sister. But you were always the strong one.” Alice squeezed her hand. “Just like Dad. Mom and I leaned heavily on you when he died. Must have been hard for you. You and Dad were so close.”

“I didn’t mind.” Liar. She’d missed her father so much after his death, but she couldn’t fall apart. Her mother and sister needed her to be strong. So she was. “Besides, I have to keep it together. The kidnapper sent me a note after the first woman disappeared.”

“No!” Alice’s eyes widened and her face paled. “He could be after you next. Do you think it’s someone you know? Oh, Brenna, you’re a single woman. Are you safe walking around on the streets? You should come stay with Stan and me. Speak of the devil…” Alice directed a smile over Brenna’s shoulder. “There’s Stan now.”

As Stanley Klaus stepped through the front door, Brenna turned to face him, a friendly smile of greeting pasted on her face. The man was every bit as tall as Nick, but not quite as broad in the shoulders. His sandy-blond hair was pleasantly ruffled by the wind. Brenna understood what Alice had seen in Stan. He was a good-looking man.

The right side of his mouth quirked up in a half smile. “Brenna, good to see you.” He reached out and engulfed her in a hug. “What’s it been—a month since you were here last?”

Brenna endured the embrace for her sister. No matter how hard she tried, she never felt as though Stan was family and she didn’t like being hugged by anyone but family and very close friends. Somehow, Stan didn’t fit into either category.

“I’d stay and catch up, but I just stopped for a bill I left on my computer.” Stan left the women standing in the hallway, an awkward silence stretching between them until he walked back through the house with a paper in his hand. “Got it! I might be late for dinner.” With that parting comment, he sailed through the door and was gone.

Alice’s gaze followed him until his car left the driveway, a small frown crinkling the middle of her forehead. “Nice to see you, too, dear,” she said softly. When she finally faced Brenna, her lips twisted into a wistful smile. “That’s the life of an old married woman.”

“You’re not old.” Brenna wrapped her arms around her sister and hugged her briefly before stepping away. “I know this is crazy but I always get the feeling he’s never forgiven me for trying to talk you out of marrying him.”

Her sister snorted. “At my wedding! You have to admit that was pretty poor timing on your part.”

“I’m sorry. I had no right.”

“Yes, you did.” Alice smiled, only her smile didn’t quite reach her eyes. “You did what any sister would do. You tried to give me one last chance to change my mind. But it’s been seven years, I’m sure he’s forgotten all about it.”

Brenna shrugged into her coat. “Well, you know where I’ll be and I’ll have my cell phone if you need to contact me.”

“You sure you won’t stay with us? We’d love to have you.”

“Yeah, I’m sure. I’ll be in and out at odd hours and I only need a place to shower and sleep.”

Alice crossed her arms over her chest and gave Brenna her best big-sister scowl. “Let me guess, you’ll be at the police station the rest of the time.”

“Or out searching for clues.”

“And you couldn’t have crummier weather.”