“Parker, there’s something strange about this case. I’m telling you, somehow, the Callahans are involved. It’s the only thing that makes sense!”
“Maybe in that case, but right now, we’re going into town to look for a little girl.”
“Parker—”
“Blake, don’t make this so fucking difficult,” I argued, getting really pissed off. “Listen, I have a job to do, and this isn’t Reed Security. There are protocols I have to follow. I can’t just throw the book out the window when I’m working for the department.”
Her nostrils flared in indignation, but she didn’t argue further.
Sighing, I pressed my lips to hers. “Let’s just go into town and join the search party. Okay?”
“Yeah.”
But by the look in her eyes, I knew this was far from over.
32
BLAKE
We were right backin the same location where Dakota went missing. That couldn’t be a coincidence, and Parker knew it. His eyes kept flicking to mine, and I could tell he was thinking the same thing as me.
The difference was that he couldn’t act on it. He had procedures to follow. I was just a civilian. There was nothing holding me back from searching wherever the hell I wanted.
And right now, the only thing on my mind was following my instincts and going in the opposite direction as everyone else.
My eyes flicked further down the road to the house that was now situated where only woods used to be. Beyond that was the dirt road that led all the way back to the Callahan property. Even after all this time, it was still just a maintenance road. I doubted it was even used that often, considering the fact that the Callahan ranch was doing just as poorly as Murky Falls.
As Maverick finished announcing how they would break up the search party, I started making my way toward the woods.
“Where are you going?” Wes asked, jogging to catch up to me.
“To check something out. Stay here.”
“But—”
“Wes, you’re needed with the search party,” I said, giving him a pointed look to which he immediately rolled his eyes at me. “I won’t be gone long.”
The truth was, I didn’t think I’d be returning anytime soon, and since I was playing a hunch, I needed to leave Wes where he was most likely to behelpful. Besides, I was going to be tracking footprints in the dark. I didn’t need to worry about losing a second kid while I was at it.
I sent a quick text to Parker, letting him know my plan. I wasn’t stupid enough to wander off without letting anyone know where I was. I’d already been in that situation once, though I hadn’t wandered into that makeshift prison. I’d been taken there to be interrogated.
After stopping at the house and asking if they’d seen anything suspicious, I moved on, walking into their backyard. There were footprints everywhere in the mud from kids playing outside, none of which led in any single direction.
As I entered the woods, I took a moment to shine the flashlight in every direction, searching for any sign someone was hiding in the woods. I wouldn’t be that lucky, though. If someone did kidnap that little girl, they would be long gone with her by now.
The ground was frozen solid out here, with little light to soften the ground. With branches and leaves coating the forest floor, it made it nearly impossible to find anything that would lead me in the right direction.
Nearly impossible.
Though there were no definitive footprints, twigs were broken on the forest floor, and leaves were scattered, and they all led in one direction. I shone my flashlight up ahead, then took off at a quick pace. I knew I was onto something.
I ran about a mile through the woods before I finally came out on the maintenance road. Breathing hard, I looked at the ground in all directions. There were distinct tire tracks leading in the direction of the ranch, but no other signs of the girl. If I called Parker now, he would tell me it wasn’t enough to go on, and he’d be right.
Just as I was kicking myself for not having a vehicle, headlights flashed behind me. Spinning around, I stepped off the road, waiting for the vehicle to come to a stop in front of me.
Anger ripped through me as Wes stared at me behind the wheel of the farm truck. “What are you doing?” I asked, yanking the door open. “You’re not old enough to drive!”
“Did you want me to take the truck back?”
