The deputy’s hands rested on his gun belt. “A whole lot of nothing. Vehicle’s locked. No signs of struggle. It’s like she just went for a stroll.”
My jaw worked. “She didn’t.”
Walker squeezed my shoulder. “We’re going in. Tell SWAT we have our sat phones whenever they get here.”
The officer’s eyes flared just a bit. “You’re not waiting for the rest of your team?”
That muscle in my cheek began to tick. “There isn’t time.” I turned back to my truck, making quick work of grabbing my pack and checking the gun at my hip. I was ready.
I glanced over at Walker to see him tightening the straps of his own pack. “Let’s go.” I inclined my head towards the trail.
We began walking in total silence. I took the lead, my gaze constantly scanning, looking for any signs that someone had ventured off the trail. There was nothing.
“Walk me through the plan.”
My eyes continued scanning. I fought the urge to move quicker, but I couldn’t afford to miss a single sign. “First, we hit the first cabin. Then, we split up. I’ll head for the overhang.” I blew out a breath. “You know the signs to look for.”
“I don’t have the gift you do. But I’m good, Tuck. I know what to look for.” There was frustration and just a touch of hurt in Walker’s tone.
“Fuck. I’m sorry, man. I know you got this.” I paused in my progress, crouching to examine a broken branch and check for footprints off the trail. Nothing. I kept going.
“No apology needed. We’re both fucking stressed.”
Understatement of the century. The forest thinned a bit as we reached the cabin. I unholstered my gun as I caught sight of a truck parked outside.
Walker and I worked in silence, needing only a few hand gestures to communicate the plan. That was the thing about working with someone you’d known from birth, they knew the way you thought, how you would react, and they always had your back.
We crept towards either side of the door. I gave a swift nod, and Walker kicked it in. “Sutter Lake PD. Oh, fuck.”
There was a tearing sensation in my chest at the sight of all the pooling blood.No. Fucking no.Walker stepped to the side, and a body appeared. A male body.Not Jensen. It’s not Jensen.
Walker quickly cleared the only other room, but I could do nothing but stand there, staring.It could’ve been Jensen.I shook myself from the fog. After a shot to the head, the man was unrecognizable.
I strode back outside, quickly circling the cabin, looking for any signs of life. There was nothing. I made my way back to the truck to find Walker on his phone, calling in the license plate.
Walker hit a button on the phone and shoved it back into his pack. “Tom Woodward.”
My brow furrowed as I tried to place the name. “He works at Double J Ranch, right?”
“He does. Was pretty outspoken about the mustangs, too.”
I muttered a curse. “He’s not in this alone. Someone was with him, and that someone obviously doesn’t care much about the loss of human life.”
Walker tapped the side of the sat phone. “I’m trying to get some additional information, and crime scene techs are on the way.”
“Right now, it doesn’t matterwho,” I growled. “It matterswhere. I’m heading for the overhang. You head for the other cabin. We can’t wait around here doing nothing.”
“You’re right.” Walker stuffed the phone into his pack, then met my gaze. “Don’t get killed, okay?”
I shot him a cocky grin. “Bullets have nothing on me.” I held his gaze for one second longer, then took off.
I wasn’t following a marked trail, it was more a worn path that led to the edge of a ravine I’d be able to follow to the overhang. This land was like a second home, but there were still too many unfamiliar places. I needed to rely on landmarks.
My steps faltered, and I retreated a few paces. Crouched. Examined the underbrush. “Sonofabitch.” Lying on one of the brambles was a cluster of blue threads. The same shade as the sweater Jensen had been wearing earlier today.
I pushed to my feet, fighting the urge to run. I kept my progress measured, my eyes scanning the space around me. Another cluster of threads. My girl was so fucking smart. She knew I’d come looking for her, and she was leaving me a trail.
I pulled out my phone and dialed Walker. He answered on the second ring. “I’ve got signs of her.” I relayed my position.
