Searching For Jenna novel Chapter 5

Terry pulled a latex glove out of his front pocket and put it on. He gently took hold of one of Cara's hands and looked at the bruises that were forming. "Then what?"

"He turned and backhanded me, sending me flying across the room and into the door," Cara said, pointing at the open bedroom door.

The indentations of where Cara had landed against the door were visible from where Detective Howard stood. "And Jenna was screaming at you? Telling you to run?"

"Yes, so I did. I knew I couldn't stop him, so I called 911, and ran home to get Mom," Cara said. She turned and looked at the blood on the wall. "He was hitting her so hard. I know he killed her."

Terry took Caroline and Cara down the front stairs and out onto the front porch. His friend, Detective McKenzie Dean, had arrived on the scene and was waiting for them. He'd called her when he got to the scene, and Jenna Matthews was missing. McKenzie specialized in missing persons. Terry wanted her on this right away. If there was any hope of them finding Jenna, McKenzie was it.

"Hey, Terry," McKenzie said.

"Thanks for coming out, McKenzie," Terry said. "This is Cara and Caroline Marshall. Cara was with Jenna Matthews shortly before she went missing." He turned to Cara. "I want you to tell Detective Dean about what happened. She's going to write it all down." Terry looked at Caroline. "After Cara finishes giving the information to Detective Dean, I want you to take her home. I'll send an officer over with you."

"I want to stay here in case Jenna comes back," Cara protested.

Putting his hand gently on Cara's shoulder, Terry said, "Hon, even if she shows up, she's going to need medical attention most likely, plus she'll have a lot of questions to answer. You wouldn't get to talk to her. Go on home and rest. You'll be the first people I call when Jenna turns up."

Cara looked pleadingly at her mother, but Caroline agreed, "He's right Honey. There's nothing more we can do here but be in the police's way. We'll go home and have some tea after you talk to Detective Dean. Hopefully, Detective Howard will call us in a little while and tell us they found Jenna."

"Is there anywhere you can think of that she might have gone?" Detective Dean asked.

"We have a few friends who live close by, but they would have called me if she showed up at their house. I'll call everyone I know and see if anyone has seen her, or talked to her," Cara said, her shoulders drooping and tears running down her face.

"That would be a big help, Cara," Terry said.

Caroline put her arm around her daughter, who was almost the same height as her. "What about Darlene's sister, Ann? I know Darlene and she don't speak, but do you think Jenna might have gone to her?"

Cara shook her head. "I doubt it, but it's worth a try. I don't have her number, but I'm sure Jenna's mom does."

"Does she have any other family in town?" Detective Dean asked.

Terry shook his head. "No. Michael's people are all in central Kentucky. Darlene's parents are gone, and Ann is her only sibling."

McKenzie sighed. "Okay, let's start at the beginning, and then you can start calling your friends."

Terry went back to the house and talked with the crime scene techs while Cara talked to McKenzie. He came back out several minutes later and watched with McKenzie as Caroline led Cara off the property. McKenzie turned to Terry as they walked into the house. "So, what does Matthews say?"

"We don't know, Darlene. We've got officers searching the woods right now. I'm going to call in the K-9 unit and have them try to track her. She couldn't have gone far," Terry said, holding Darlene's shaking body.

"Get your fucking hands off my wife, Howard!" Michael shouted.

Darlene turned and charged toward Michael. "What did you do to her?" she screamed at him.

Michael slapped her, knocking her to the ground. "Don't you fucking talk to me like that, bitch!"

"Somebody cuff him," McKenzie yelled. "I'm charging him with domestic battery."

The three officers that had been holding Matthews earlier pushed him to the ground and put cuffs on him.

"Make sure you read him his rights," McKenzie said as she turned toward Darlene.

Darren Parker rushed to Darlene's side and helped her up. "Are you okay?"

"I'll be okay," Darlene said, allowing Darren to help her up. "It's not the first time he's knocked me down, but it will be the last."