Chapter 7
Chapter 7 - THE SHADOW OF MONTANAThe peace of the autumn afternoon was shattered three days later.Wren was in the main clinic, organizing medical supplies, when she heard the crunch of gravel outside. A sleek, black Cadillac Escalade with tinted windows pulled slowly through the front gate of the rescue center, its engine idling like a quiet beast.
Wren’s heart stopped. Her breath caught in her throat, her body turning entirely cold.
The driver’s door opened, and a man in a dark suit stepped out—Miller. He looked around the facility with a clinical, evaluating stare.
Wren shrank back behind the wooden counter, her hands shaking violently as she reached for her backpack. She pulled out the golden ceramic shards from the pocket, clutching them so tightly the sharp edges pressed into her palm.
Jaxson walked out of the medical barn, his eyes narrowing as he saw the black vehicle. He walked slowly over to Miller, his posture defensive.
"Can I help you?" Jaxson asked, his voice cold and unwelcoming.
"I’m looking for a woman," Miller said, pulling a photograph from his jacket pocket and showing it to Jaxson. It was a photo of Iris from a Chicago gallery opening—elegant, wearing a silk dress, her hair long and styled. "She goes by the name of Wren here, I believe. Have you seen her?"
Jaxson looked at the photograph, his face remaining entirely expressionless. "Never seen her. This is a wildlife rescue center, buddy. We don't have many runway models volunteering here."
Miller’s eyes drifted toward the clinic window, where Wren was hiding. "Are you sure, Mr. Vance? My source says she’s been working here for three months. Sponsoring a runaway federal fugitive is a serious crime. I suggest you cooperate."
"I don't care what your source says," Jaxson said, stepping closer to Miller, his massive frame towering over the investigator. "Get off my property. Now. Before I call the county sheriff and have you arrested for trespassing."
Miller stared at Jaxson for a long, tense second. He knew he couldn't take the vet in a physical confrontation without drawing attention. He slowly tucked the photograph back into his pocket.
"We’ll be around, Mr. Vance," Miller said, a cold smile on his face. "You can’t hide a bird in the forest forever. Eventually, she has to come down to eat."
He got back into the vehicle and reversed slowly out of the gate.
The moment the car disappeared down the dirt road, Wren ran out of the clinic, her face pale as snow. "Jaxson! It’s him! He’s here! Arthur is in Pine Crest!"
Jaxson grabbed her by her shoulders, his eyes steady. "I know, Wren. I saw him in the back of the car. He’s not going to stop."
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"I have to run," Wren cried, trying to pull away. "I have to leave tonight! I can't let him hurt you!"
"You’re not running anymore, Wren," Jaxson said, his voice ringing with absolute authority and love. "We are going to end this. Tonight. He thinks he’s the hunter in this forest? He’s about to find out what happens when you anger the locals."
