With a final look, he spun on his heel and loped away.
CHAPTER 38
Luke
Walter’s idea to switch bags had been a good one. With the smaller, lighter backpack, I could move much more easily over the rocky ground.
I was thankful it was summer. It meant long days, so even though it was late, the sun hadn’t quite set yet. I had enough light to keep up a decent pace. According to the GPS, from where we stopped, I had about four miles to go. A mile-and-a-half through the woods and two-and-a-half miles on the trail. My goal was two hours. Provided I didn’t fall or encounter a bear or a moose, that was a more than reasonable amount of time.
But I still felt the pressure to move faster. Mina needed help, and Ellis needed to be warned.
With careful but quick steps, I picked my way over the rocks and deadfall. Three-quarters of a mile into my journey, the sun dipped behind the mountains, and I had to slow down, even with the powerful flashlight I pulled out of my bag.
Darkness continued to gather as I descended toward the trail. A steady prayer that I wouldn’t encounter a large predator played in my head like a broken record. When I finally broke through the tree line and onto the trail, it took me several steps before the loop stopped, and I realized where I was.
I let out a quick whoop and turned toward town.
The light bobbed as I ran. My legs already ached from the six miles I’d walked this afternoon and evening, but I pushed it away, keeping Mina’s pained face in my thoughts and letting it drive me forward.
Listening to my even breathing, I ran. When lights blinked through the pine boughs as I approached the parking lot for the trailhead, I quickened my pace, sprinting the last quarter mile.
As I broke through the trees, I whipped off Walter’s backpack, eyes locked on my truck.
“Luke?”
I skidded to a halt and turned. Across the lot, Ozzie stood next to his cruiser.
“Oh, thank God!” Reversing direction, I jogged over. “We weren’t sure if you got any of our messages.”
“The last one came through just a little while ago, and I came straight here. Claire and I were on a plane; that’s why we didn’t answer. What’s going on?” He looked past me, up the trail. “Where’s Mina?”
Wiping sweat from my face, I frowned. “Your damn puppy slipped her harness. Mina fell onto a rock trying to catch her and broke some ribs. I left her and the dogs in the woods with Walter Shuman.”
“Wait. You found Walter?” Ozzie held up his hands. “Back up. Start from the beginning. Your last message was pretty vague. I alerted search and rescue, and they’re gearing up, but that’s it. I just came down here to scope things out.”
Relief punched me square in the gut. Hopefully, soon, Mina would be back in town, getting the medical attention she needed.
I took a deep breath and let it out. “Sorry about that. Character space is limited on the GPS unit. Have you called Ellis?”
“Yes. He’s at my house with Claire now.”
“Without backup?”
Ozzie’s frown deepened, and a touch of confusion entered his dark gaze. “Yeah. Claire has weapons in the house, so they’re armed. We figured that was enough until we knew more.”
“You need to send a unit over there. I don’t know what she’s got planned.”
A small frown marred Ozzie’s forehead. “She? Who are you talking about? Explain.”
I huffed and forced myself to start at the beginning. “Mina and I went hiking.” I held up my hands. “Just a normal hike. We weren’t looking for trouble or poking into anything. Our goal was to wear Pebbles and Betty out, so they’d sleep better tonight.”
Letting my hands fall, I continued. “We made it to Dupont Beach, and they still weren’t tired, so we decided to go another half mile up the trail. We heard a boat coming into shore, which we thought was strange since the beach was so close. Thinking, maybe, someone needed help, we ventured over in time to hear Walter and Miranda Benning bickering.”
“They drove a boat into shore south of Dupont Beach?”
“Yep.”
“Why?”
