He nodded, then he took my hand and pulled me to my feet. He opened the door, and Mr. Knoxley hovered near the entrance. “Did you find—”
“My daughter thinks she remembers seeing some old paths in the woods when she hiked to Brent’s house. We’re gonna take a drive and explore that area.”
“But surely the rangers can—”
“I want to help,” I broke in, aware that I had to be careful. Dad wouldn’t have asked me to do this if he didn’t need me. I was his last resort, and I knew it. “I know what it’s like to be in those woods, and I just—I want to help.” Mostly truth.
And what was Mr. Knoxley going to do? Refuse a teen girl who had tears in her eyes? Cause I even did the tear bit. Plus my dad, with his badge, stood right beside me.
Mr. Knoxley was smart. He simply stepped back.
I saw the other kids in his office then. Jenny. Troy. A couple of girls I didn’t know. They must’ve all been waiting for their turn to talk to the principal—and to tell what they knew about Sissy’s last moments at the party. A watchful deputy waited by them.
My dad nodded to the guy and led me outside. The sunlight hit me, hot and bright, but he didn’t speak until we were in his car.
Same scene…different place.
“Are you sure you’re up for this?”
“I can find her.” Faster than any rangers or dogs or…anything.
“Thank you.”
“Don’t thank me yet." This time, it couldn’t end the same way.
It couldn’t.
The last time I’d found a lost girl for my dad…I’d screamed and screamed until my voice broke—and my dad had killed the man who stood over Caitlin Crenshaw’s broken body.
***
My dad had created a base camp at the Hamilton house. He’d been busy. There were already volunteers around, and I could see the dogs—trackers. I also caught sight of a woman, crying, as she clutched a photo in her hands.
Had to be Sissy’s mom.
“Stay with me,” my dad ordered softly. “It will be over soon.”
I climbed out of the car. I tried not to make eye contact with anyone. I wanted them to forget me as soon as they could.
“Anna?”
Apparently, I wasn’t gonna be that forgettable.
I looked up and found Rafe jogging toward me. “What are you doing here?” He asked, frowning.
My dad stepped in front of me. “Anna’s here to help with the search, same as you, son.”
Rafe was helping?
Then I saw another man walking behind Rafe, an older man, but with Rafe’s same bright, glittering eyes.
“Rafe’s father, Charles Channing, is one of the rangers who patrols this section of the mountain,” my dad said. “And Rafe—”
“He knows the woods like the back of his hand,” the ranger said, giving a firm nod. “I wanted him on the search team.” But the guy frowned at me. “No disrespect, miss…”
Uh, oh. Usually when folks said that, disrespect was coming.
“But you’re not from around these parts,” his drawl was thick. “I don’t really see what help you’ll be providin’.”
“You might be surprised,” I murmured.
One of his dark brows rose. “Maybe.” He motioned behind the house. “We’ve kept the focus primarily between the Peters’ house and the Hamilton land. Once we’ve cleared that track, we’re going to start branching out.”
They could do that. They could search all they wanted between the two properties, but that search would be a total waste of time. Sissy wasn’t there. The pull I felt was leading me in the dead opposite direction. Not between Sissy’s and Brent’s, but toward the thick line of trees on the other side of Sissy’s house.
“Good work, Charles,” my dad said, and I knew that was his cue for Charles to get back to that good work.
Charles nodded and stepped back. “Rafe, come help with the teams.”
Rafe pulled back, but his eyes were on me.
I waited until they were far enough away that I didn’t think they could hear me, then I leaned in close to my dad and said, “They’ll never find her over there.” I pointed to the woods next to the Hamilton driveway. “She’s on the other side.”
“What?” My dad’s voice was whisper quiet, but his head snapped around.
And because I was watching him from the corner of my eye, I saw Rafe’s head whip around, too. His gaze immediately zeroed in on me.
He’d heard me.
I was over twenty feet away from him. I’d barely breathed the words, and yet I knew he’d heard me.
Just like I knew Rafe was too strong and too fast.