PIKEVILLE, Ky. — The federal courthouse and the Pike County courthouse are separated by less than two blocks, however, for one woman it seemed as though the buildings were worlds apart Monday afternoon.

Pamela King, a deputy Pike County court clerk in the marriage license division, was on lunch sometime between 11 and 11:30 a.m. when a message came in from her daughter, Tara Adkins. King said that message was for her not to worry, but Adkins had opened a letter in her office at the federal court clerk’s office claiming to contain anthrax.

“The message said the letter stated, ‘Don’t panic its just anthrax,’” King said. “And, white powder did fall out of the letter.”

Since that time she had not been able to contact her daughter and did not know if she had taken to the hospital and if so were to even locate her at hospital.

“I don’t know what to do. It is just miserable not knowing what’s going on,” she said shifting her weight from one foot to another and wringing her hands as the distance sounds of a siren could be heard. “I was OK until I saw an ambulance go by — just knowing it could be your child.”

The letter forced the closing of several buildings in a section of Main Street between Huffman and Caroline avenues. FBI officials said several such “hoax” letters were received across the commonwealth, but preliminary testing indicated the substance in the letters was not hazardous.

King said she was unable to concentrate on her job at the courthouse. She said she was afraid to leave in case someone tried to contact her.

“Do I call my mother — she’s in her 80s — or do I just wait? Do I need to go pick up her (Adkins) kids?” King questioned trying to fight back tears. “I just don’t know what to do.

I am tore all to pieces,” she said. “The waiting is what is so hard.”