Jordana

Night of the full moon in August

Jordana arrived at Isabella's house and before she could knock on the door, it opened. "Come in," said Isabella.

"No Ashner tonight?" asked Jordana as she entered the house.

"Not tonight," said Isabella as she closed the door. "I sent him home early. I rather not have him here for this." Isabella led Jordana to her huge living room. "Do you want anything to drink? Wine?"

"I would love some."

Isabella grabbed a bottle of wine she had on her table and poured it into two cups. "Have you been able to figure out who shot at Lucy Baez?"

"Not yet, but I do have some suspects," answered Jordana as she sat down and Isabella handed her a cup of wine.

"Do tell," said Isabella as she sat across from her.

"I'm working with Lucy's daughter and her friends."

"You're what? You shouldn't have involved her."

"She was going to be involved regardless," said Jordana. "That girl is very nosy. I was her original target at first. She didn't trust me."

"What do you mean she was targeting you?"

"She was looking into me. That's a little detective in the making."

"So you turned her on your side. You sure she's not going to tell on you to her mom?"

"She might, eventually, but I do think she'll help before she does. She wants to beat her mother into finding the culprit."

"If there's three people searching for who shot at her, I'm surprised no one has figured it out yet."

"Whoever shot at her hasn't tried anything yet. I think whoever did it, did it by sudden chance. It wasn't planned. They saw an opportunity and took it. More likely tried to just scare her more than anything."

"I think Lucy said something similar," said Isabella. She took a sip of her wine. "It's still a crime, and I need them to pay for it. Who are your suspects?"

"I'll start with the Silva family. They are definitely suspicious, but unless Ken is in on it, it wasn't them."

"At least there's someone else that agrees that the Silva family are suspicious."

"Ashner doesn't think they're suspicious?" asked Jordana, before taking her own sip of the wine.

"It's hard to know what Ashner believes. That man agrees with whatever I say."

"I hope you don't get offended by this, but he is one of my suspects," said Jordana.

"You can remove him from your list," said Isabella. "He would never."

"You're not offended that I put him on the suspect list?"

"Not at all. I know how Ashner comes off. Not the most likable person."

"Why do you keep him around?"

"He's very loyal," answered Isabella, frankly. "And I trust him. I'm actually very grateful to have him."

"Is he more than your assistant?"

"You mean a lover. God no. But he is the best assistant I've ever had."

"Understood, but are you sure I should remove him from my suspect list? Lucy could know something about him that could cause him to go after her."

"I'm positive. I don't think there's any dirt that would compromise Ashner like that."

"Noted," said Jordana. "I'll remove him from the list then."

"Your list contained the Silvas and Ashner. How many more are there?"

"Two. Liam and Mr. Souza."

"Mr. Souza is surprising. What did he do to end up on your list?"

"Did you know he was at the hunt?"

"I did not, and I'm sorry to say, but I'm very disappointed to hear that. I thought he was better than that."

"Maybe he is. Maybe he saw an opportunity to go after Lucy and took it. He wasn't hunting the bear but Lucy that night."

"Doesn't actually sound far-fetched, but he is very respected in the community. You better be able to prove he is guilty."

"Working on it as we speak. Doramis and her friends are spying on him at this very moment."

"You did not just admit you have children spying on their teacher at this time of night."

"They were going to do it regardless. Detective Doramis already had him as a possible suspect. She informed to me her mother has a file on Mr. Souza."

"It's starting to sound like he's the one. What about Liam? Why do you suspect him?"

"He's another person Lucy has a file on and there's something about the guy I don't like. He accused me of being involved with what happened to Ivy and Domingo."

"Why would he do that?" asked Isabella as she put down her empty glass.

"New person in town and I was friendly with both of them." Jordana gulped down the rest of her wine. "I took his accusation personally. He could be going after me to take suspicion away from himself."

"Another believable theory. Do you want more?" She gestured at the empty glass cup.

"Yes, please," said Jordana, pushing the glass cup to her.

Isabella took the glass cups and poured wine into both of them. "Is there anyone you're leaning on?" She brought back the cups of wine and offered one to Jordana.

"To be honest," said Jordana as she took her cup. "It was Ashner, but you told me to remove him from the list."

"I can't imagine Ashner would ever do something like that. He is too loyal to me. Turn your complete attention to Mr. Souza and Liam."

"What does shooting at Lucy and having loyalty to you have anything to do with each other?"

"Ashner knows how I feel about Lucy. She is one of the only people I respect in this town and I would consider her a friend. Ashner would never go after someone I trust like that."

"I'm sorry, Isabella, but I think you could be wrong here. But if you wish me to back off from Ashner, I will."

"I do."

"Then I will. Ashner is officially off of my list."

There was a crash somewhere inside of the house, causing Isabella and Jordana to jump out of their seats.

"What was that?" asked Jordana.

"I have no idea. A window breaking?"

"It sounded like it came from upstairs."

"You think someone broke in?" whispered Isabella.

"I don't know," whispered back Jordana as she moved slowly towards the stairs. "Do you have a gun?" she asked as she looked up the stairs.

"No. I'm not a fan of guns." Isabella went to the kitchen and returned with a large knife. "Take this."

Jordana took the kitchen knife. "Wait for me here." Isabella gave her a nod and Jordana went upstairs. She moved slowly as she listened for any sound. She reached what looked like Isabella's bedroom. Her window was broken and there was glass on the floor. Jordana stayed at the doorway as she looked around the room. She spotted what looked like blood on the floor.

Jordana quickly made her way back downstairs and found Isabella at the kitchen doorway with another knife. "We need to go," said Jordana as she grabbed her hand.

"What did you see?"

"I think there's someone inside the house." Jordana and Isabella went out the front door and as soon as they walked outside, they heard howls in the close distance. "Wolves?"

"Sounds like it," said Isabella.

"They sound crazy. Like there's something wrong."

"Is there someone inside of my house?"

Jordana snapped out of her distraction. "Yes. There was a broken window and I saw blood on the floor."

"I should call the cops," said Isabella as she pulled out her cellphone.

Jordana stared at the house, looking through all of its windows for any sign of someone inside. The howls were getting closer and Jordana couldn't help but get a little scared. "I think we should go," she said as she turned to Isabella.

"The police aren't picking up," said Isabella as she brought down her cellphone.

"Let's take your car? Just go straight to the police station."

"But if there's someone inside the house, they're going to get away."

A chill went over Jordana's body and she went over to Isabella and grabbed her by the arm. "I don't care. We need to get out of here right now." Jordana pulled her along when they heard a loud rustle come from the forest.

Jordana stopped long enough to look back and see what looked like a large bear come out from the woods. Jordana noticed it wasn't exactly a bear and more like a wolf. The animal looked at Jordana and growled at her.

"Run!" yelled Jordana as she and Isabella ran towards the car.

The animal moved fast and swatted Jordana away. Jordana flew across the yard as Isabella reached her car. Isabella quickly got inside her vehicle as Jordana tried to get back on her feet. The animal was between Jordana and the car. Jordana looked at her options and decided trying to get back inside the house was her best chance.

She took off running and the animal went after her. The animal leaped towards Jordana who slid just in time to see it go over her head. Jordana took off running as fast as she could towards the car as the animal tried to regain its footing.

Isabella turned the car on and pushed the passenger's seat open. Jordana was almost at the car when she felt the animal about to get her again. Jordana ducked down with her arms over her head as the animal flew over her. It swung its large paw with all its force, but missed Jordana by an inch. The paw struck the passenger's door and sent it flying.

Isabella screamed as she was eye to eye with the beast. If the animal wanted to get Isabella, it had the opportunity. Isabella pressed on the gas and drove right towards Jordana. Jordana jumped on the hood of the vehicle as Isabella drove towards the house. Isabella drove close enough to the house that Jordana jumped on top of the roof of the second floor.

Isabella drove circles around the yard and the animal did its best to avoid her.

"Just go!" yelled Jordana. "Get the police."

With the sound of Jordana's voice, the animal's attention returned to her. Jordana took off running towards the broken window as the animal went after her. Within seconds, the animal was on top of the roof. It struggled to get its footing and Jordana slid inside the house through the broken window. She got cut with the glass, but that didn't stop her as she went to the door. She slammed the door shut as she heard the animal crash inside the room.

Jordana ran down the hall then into the first room she saw with an open door. She slammed the door close as the animal smashed its way into the hall. Jordana put a hand over her mouth and held the door's knob with the other. Her heart felt like it was going to beat out of her chest as she felt the animal walking around the hall. It stopped at her door and Jordana knew this was it for her. She could hear it growling.

Then there was an howl outside.

The animal rushed out of the house and Jordana let out her breath followed by tears. She had never been so scared in her entire life as she dropped to her knees.