An hour passed and then another and there was no sign of her. Carl retreated to his bedroom to send an e-mail to Kyoto while Kit wore a worried path in the Native carpet. She looked up to check the time just as the sound of car wheels crunching gravel was heard outside. Peering out the front window, she saw the Mustang trolling to an uneasy stop inside Carl’s front gate. The engine turned off, but the headlights remained on high beam. Kit watched as a lone figure emerged from the driver’s seat, then disappeared behind the Mustang. She grabbed the warmest coat she could find on Carl’s front pegs and walked outside. A biting wind swept across the front yard. Kit pulled the coat around her frame and squinted into the darkness. There was raw silence. “Jane?” Kit’s voice was full of apprehension. No response. “Jane!” Now there was more aggravation. Nothing. Kit’s ears perked up as she heard the distinct sound of metal clicking.
