Close To Danger (Westen #4)(29)

“How are we going to do that if the power’s out, boss?” Cleetus asked. “A lot of the old folks still have land lines. Won’t the snow have knocked them down, too? And how will we know who to call?”

“I bet Libby can get us a list of the senior citizens from the Senior Center, since she’s the county social worker and on the board of the center,” Bobby said, already getting her phone out. Libby was also the wife of Gage’s best friend and the town’s fire chief, Deke Reynolds.

“My mom knows a lot of the folks who are elderly in her church congregation over at First Baptist,” Jason said. “She and the pastor’s wife, Mrs. Miller, are good friends with Mrs. White, the Presbyterian minister’s wife and Father Kowalski from St. Anthony’s. The four of them are on several local church charity committees together. I bet they’d be willing to help.”

Gage nodded. “Give her a call. Tell them to coordinate with Bobby and Libby. Anyone we can’t get a hold of, those are who we send someone out to check on.” He pointed a finger at the young man who’d been up all night. “Then you get home and get some sleep. We may have more accidents later today as people start trying to get out and about. I may need you to come in early tonight.”

“Will do, sir,” Jason said, pulling out his phone.

“I could take some or the phone list over to the Dye Right,” Cleetus volunteered. “I know Sylvie and Ms. Twylla would be happy to help. Give them a chance to check up on their clients.”

“Good idea, Cletus,” Bobby said. “I’ll give you half the list that Libby sends me.”

Gage’s cell phone rang. He noted the caller ID before answering, then rubbed his forehead right between his eyes. “Morning, Tobias.”

Bobby tried not to laugh. Tobias Rawlins was Westen’s Mayor. He’d been in school with Gage, Deke and Cleetus. For some reason he tended to get on Gage’s nerves, but Bobby knew that despite his occasional misstep into professional politician-mode, the mayor did have the welfare of Westen’s citizens at heart. Besides, he was one of the men who helped dig Gage out of the cave-in last year. That fact alone won her loyal support forever.

“Jason was on duty last night. No, he’s already gone home,” Gage said, motioning for the deputy to get out the door. Jason, tossed on his coat as he was still talking to his mother on the phone and headed out the back of the office, a grin on his face. “I can be over at your office in a few minutes. I’ll bring the reports with me. Actually, my staff is already on top of that. I’ll give you details when I meet with you.”

He hung up and gave Bobby a bland expression, lips pressed tightly and exhaling through his nose.

She struggled and failed at hiding her smile at his discomfiture. “What did Tobias want?”

“He wants a condition assessment report. His exact words. Apparently, the governor is calling a state of emergency for the entire state and wants information about things here.” He reached for his coat and hat. “He asked about the elderly in the outlying areas. I told him we were working on that. Deke and Harold Russett are meeting with us. André gave Harold a report of the roads this morning.”

As the county engineer, Harold was in charge of all road maintenance and repairs in the area.

“Anything I can do?” she asked, coming over to give him a hug.

“First. Stay here. I don’t want to worry about you falling on the ice,” he said, kissing her quickly. “Cleetus can be your gopher if you need anything. Call Daniel, too. I know he’s on the evening shift, but if he can come in a little early. I think we’re all going to be on overtime, until things are back to normal. And if you can get ahold of the power companies that feed the area, I need an idea of how many are without power and when they might have it back on.”

“Aye-aye, boss,” she said with a quick salute.

“I mean it, Bobby.” He gave her the I’m-in-charge look. “You stay here.”

“I promise. I’ll make your calls, then I’m going to try Chloe again.” First thing this morning she’d talked to Dylan, who’d slept at the hospital since the sleet had hit Cincinnati about the time she got off shift. The snow that blew in overnight had her stranded, leaving her to cover a shift on her day off. But when she’d tried Chloe’s cell it had gone straight to voice mail. “It’s not like her to not have her phone close by.”

Gage gave her another hug, then started for the door. “Try not to worry about her. She’s a grown woman and can take care of herself. You raised her that way, remember? Besides, I’m sure she’s safe, wherever she is.”



*



“If I knew who was stalking me, I’d have gone to the police already,” Chloe said, not even trying to hide her frustration.

“I didn’t ask who was stalking you. I asked who you thought a was likely candidate,” Wes said with a practiced patience that made Chloe’s teeth grind. Then he laid his hand on her knee, the warmth of his touch seeping through her jeans and dousing some of her building irritation. Too quickly he moved his hand and settled them back on his keyboard. “Just give me a starting place to begin searching.”

Unfolding her arms, she rubbed the palms of her hands together back and forth slowly as she pondered his question. “Last night I was asking myself the same question.”