Jordana

Jordana looked at herself in the mirror, admiring the purple and black outfit she had on. It was similar to the one she had when she arrived in Pietrofalls, but with long black sweatpants.

She was about to walk to the entrance door when she noticed a shadow approaching. Jordana sneaked up to the window and peaked outside when she saw Deputy Tirado and Sheriff Lawerence at her door. Deputy Tirado knocked.

Jordana got away from the window and made her way to the door in the back of the house. She got outside and jumped the fence leading to the forest. She moved as fast as she could through the forest until she reached the street.

She cleaned herself off then continued to walk down the street when someone pulled up next to her. Jordana let out an exaggerated breath as she thought the police found her anyway.

"Hey," said a familiar voice.

Jordana turned and found it was Lucy Baez who pulled up next to her. "Hey you," she said as she got to her passenger's window. "You wouldn't mind giving me a ride, would you?"

"First tell me what you were doing sneaking out of the forest like that."

"Not a simple answer, but I was trying to stay away from the police. I didn't do anything wrong," she said as she put her hands up. "But I feel like I'm going to be punished anyways."

"Yeah, I'm going to need you to explain that more," said Lucy.

"Mine if I tell you on the way? I'm just trying to get to Allenby's Garage."

"Get in," said Lucy as she unlocked her door.

Jordana got in the car and closed the door. "Thanks. You have no idea how big of a favor you're doing me."

Lucy drove. "Explain yourself."

"I don't know what your daughter has told you, but I was working for Mayor Isabella. She was letting me stay in one of her properties, but now that she is no longer with us, may she rest in peace." Jordana made a cross sign before kissing her hand. "I'm afraid the police are going to kick me out of her place."

"That makes sense."

"That douchebag Ashner already took the vehicle Mayor Isabella had lent me."

"Isabella really gave you a lot of stuff. What did you do to earn her trust like that?"

Jordana stared at Lucy. "She looked me up. I'm kinda good at my job."

"Is that so?"

"Have you not looked me up?"

Lucy pulled over and stared back at Jordana. "After I found out you were working with my daughter, yes, I looked you up. You used to work in the secret service for our state senator. Saved his life on multiple occasions. But you retired after that and became a bounty hunter, a private eye and even a bouncer at a club. Things you all excelled at. I find it very strange you are in our little town now."

"I'm easily bored."

"You're here because you are easily bored?" said Lucy. "That doesn't seem right. The only thing our little town is boring."

"I've been here for over a month now and I will tell you this, it's not boring."

"I'll admit that the last month has been something else, but this isn't normal. And I do find it weird that all these incidents have started after you got here."

Jordana tightened her fist but quickly loosened it, but Lucy didn't miss her discomfort. "I don't know what to say about that. Seems excitement follows me."

"Why do I think you're lying?"

"Don't know, but I'm not. What happened that night with the animal attacks has nothing to do with me." Jordana turned away. "I'm ashamed to say this, but the last time I was scared, I was still a child. That night was something different. I was terrified like never before. That animal frightened me more than anything in my entire life, and people have shot at me."

"What do you think it was?" asked Lucy.

"Aren't they saying it was a bear," said Jordana. "The thing felt like a monster."

"A bear is the only thing that makes sense."

"That thing wasn't a bear. Bears don't move like that thing did. It was fast and agile." Jordana had to hold her arm to stop herself from shaking. "Damn it. The memory still scares me."

"My daughter seems to be handling the attack better than you, even though she actually got injured."

"How is she by the way? I hope she's okay."

"She's okay. Broken arm but it'll heal. She's at home."

"That's good. She's a good kid. She's going to be capable too. I suspect like her mother." Jordana looked at Lucy as she said those words.

"Thanks, but don't ever use her again to help you with your job."

"Wasn't planning to, and sorry for doing that behind your back."

"Alright," said Lucy. "For the real reason I stop you. I need to know everything you know about the person who shot at me. This needs to be dealt with as soon as possible."

"That's why you stopped me? I'm going to be honest, I haven't gotten any concrete evidence of who it could be. I did have three suspects, but one is currently in the hospital, one of the others, Mayor Isabella assured me it couldn't be him, and my final suspect is still under investigation."

"Mr. Souza is the one in the hospital?"

"Correct."

"He's not a suspect. Mr. Souza is a good man. He would never. Who was the second suspect that Isabella said it couldn't be?"

"Ashner. I get a really bad feeling from that guy. Mayor Isabella also told me she wants you to replace her and I can see Ashner taking issue with that. But like I said before, Mayor Isabella was sure it couldn't be him."

"Ashner can be a sleazeball, but I can't actually see him shooting at me. That would take a lot of balls."

"I wouldn't eliminate him from the list. Politicians have a tendency of doing crazy things to stay in power, and if he knew you were next in line to take Mayor Isabella's place, he might have tried to change those plans."

"I agree with you. Ashner is a likely suspect. Who's the third?"

"Liam. He was at the hunt and I heard you have some dirt on him. I've been investigating him for a while and I do believe he is capable of it."

"I agree with you. These are two likely suspects. Thank you. I'll take the investigation from here."

"So you haven't been investigating this the entire time?"

"No. I believe the person who shot at me did it to scare me and only because they found an opportunity to do it. I never thought it would happen again so I didn't care. But now my daughter got hurt and now they have to pay."

"Understood. You'll have my help if you need it."

"You're not leaving town?"

"Not yet. I have some unfinished business here. I just need my vehicle."

"Right," said Lucy as she began to drive again. "I need to get you to Allenby's Garage."

"Thanks."

"What's this unfinished business you have going on?"

"I'd rather keep that to myself," said Jordana as they pulled up in front of Allenby's Garage. "What's going on here?" Jordana and Lucy got out of the car as they saw two people fighting in front of Allenby's garage.

"Stop it!" yelled Allenby as Liam and Mattias rolled around the ground.

Liam got on top of Mattias and began to wail on him. He punched him three times in the face and was about to give him another punch when someone kicked him in the chest and he fell back hard.

"That'll be enough of that," said Jordana, who was the one who kicked him.

Liam quickly stood up and raised his fist, ready to strike Jordana but stopped himself right before connecting with her face. He noticed she didn't flinch as she glared at him. "I'm sorry." He took a step away from her. "I lost my cool there. I would never strike a woman."

Mattias groaned as Lucy went to check on him.

"And you need to stay away from my girl," said Liam as he pointed a finger at Mattias.

"I am not your girl," said Allenby. "And you need to leave."

Liam had a hurt look on his face and noticed how all the women were scowling at him. "I'm sorry," he said. He went to his car and drove off.

"What was that about?" asked Lucy as she helped Mattias up.

"That's between Allenby and I," said Mattias as he went to Allenby.

"You should go too," said Allenby as she turned her back on him.

"But," said Mattias, but he turned away. "Fine, I'll go." He went to his car and drove away as well.

"Nice kick," said Lucy to Jordana.

"Are you impressed?" asked Jordana. "I thought you looked me up?"

"It's one thing reading about it, another seeing it."

Allenby was clearly upset but tried to shake it off. "Are you two friends now?"

Lucy was about to answer but Jordana beat her to it. "Natural friends," said Jordana as she went to Allenby. "It was like we were born to be friends."

"More like we are friendly," said Lucy. "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine," answered Allenby. "Just boys being boys. I wish they would choose another place to do it but that's just my kind of luck nowadays."

"Were they fighting over you?" asked Jordana.

"I rather not talk about it." Allenby turned her attention to Lucy. "And please don't start investigating me. I want to keep my life to myself."

"I wasn't planning to," said Lucy. "Plus, I'm retired. Kinda."

"Kinda," repeated Allenby. "Who are you investigating then?"

"Personal matter. Also rather not talk about it."

"You respect my privacy and I'll respect yours."

"Don't worry about me," said Lucy. "I have no reason to ever investigate you and if I did, I would just up front ask you."

"Thank you for the bluntness. People make it sound like you're unreasonable."

"That's because they gave me a reason to be unreasonable."

"Are you here for your truck?" Allenby asked Jordana.

"I am," said Jordana. "Is it almost done?"

"Actually, I was going to call you today," said Allenby as she walked to her garage. Jordana followed. "I should be finished with it by the end of the day." Allenby opened the garage to reveal Jordana's truck with its hood open. "Missing part came in this morning."

"Now that is good news."

"Does that mean you'll be leaving town tonight?" asked Allenby.

"Not just yet," said Jordana. "There's a couple of things I have to do before I leave."

"What would that be?" asked Allenby as police sirens went off and everyone turned around to see Sheriff Lawrence and Deputy Tirado arrive.

"Great," said Jordana, sarcastically.

The police officers got out of their vehicles and approached the garage. "Ladies," said Sheriff Lawrence with a tip of his hat.

"Is there something wrong?" asked Lucy.

"Nothing you need to worry about. I just need to speak to Jordana. Mine coming with me," he gestured towards his vehicle.

Jordana followed him to his car. "Is this about the place I'm staying at?" The others were no longer at earshot. Deputy Tirado stayed with Lucy and Allenby.

"Why do you ask that?" asked Sheriff Lawrence.

"Because when Ivy passed, I was kicked out of her place," answered Jordana. "Isabella has now died as well and I'm assuming I'm going to be kicked out of the place she was providing for me."

"It's strange that the two people who were helping you are now dead," said Sheriff Lawrence, but you could tell he instantly regretted it. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean anything by that. I know their deaths had nothing to do with you. Just thinking out loud."

"It sounded like an accusation."

"It wasn't, but you are correct that we have to remove you from Isabella's property."

"Let me guess, it's considered a crime scene."

"No, the new owner wants you out actually."

"New owner?"

"Ashner now owns all of Mayor Isabella's properties."

"How fortunate for him," said Jordana, her tone strong with sarcasm.

"Don't say that to him. He is very devastated by her death. Don't doubt that that man loved Mayor Isabella."

"I was just thinking out loud, and I'll watch what I say around him." The two stared at each other as if trying to intimidate one another. "Is that all?"

"If you'll be out of the property by the end of the day, yes, that'll be all."

"I'll be out before the sun goes down," she said with a salute. "Thank you, Mr. Sheriff sir."

Sheriff Lawrence rolled his eyes. "Let's go, Deputy," he called. "We're done here." Sheriff Lawrence and Deputy Tirado got in their vehicles and drove away.

Lucy approached Jordana. "Everything alright?" she asked.

"Just fine," said Jordana. "Getting kicked out of Isabella's property like I thought." She turned to Lucy and Allenby. "Did the Deputy say anything interesting?"

"Actually yes," said Lucy. "There's going to be a hunt tonight. I would like for you to join me."

"Sure, I'll accompany you on tonight's hunt."