He frowned and instinctively hit the brake when he saw an oncoming car fly past him at a high rate of speed. It took him a moment to realize it was the same black sedan he’d noticed the other day.
The assailant? When he saw Autumn’s SUV parked at an angle at the side of the road, he cranked the wheel to execute a tight U-turn. He pulled up alongside Autumn, who was opening the back hatch of her vehicle.
“Are you okay?” He jumped out to join her. Cutie sat in the front seat with her paws on the edge of the window, peering out at them.
“I’m fine. I think Bear is, too.” Her voice was tight with anger as she ran her hands over her dog. “I can’t believe he tried to run me off the road.”
“He seems to be getting desperate.” Jordan willed his racing pulse to return to normal. “I’m just glad you’re okay.”
“Me, too.” She inspected the dent in her rear bumper. “There might be some paint transfer here. I doubt it’s enough to help us ID the vehicle, but I’ll check with the crime scene techs to make sure.”
“Is the car drivable?”
“I think so.” She turned to look at him. “What are you doing here?”
“I need dog food for Cutie and groceries.” That she’d come so close to being hurt—or worse—shook him. He tucked his hands in his pockets to keep from reaching out to haul her into his arms. “I’m glad I was here.”
She sighed and ran her fingers through her hair. “I don’t understand how this guy keeps finding me.”
He didn’t like that, either. “Maybe I should follow you out to the search location.”
“There’s no need,” she said quickly. “I’m fine. River will be meeting me there with his dog.”
“Please, Autumn. Just let me follow you out to wherever it is you’re going. What if the driver of the black car is waiting somewhere along the highway for you to pass by?”
“And what are you going to do about it if he is?” she countered.
“Back you up.” He patted his father’s sidearm on his belt. He’d found the weapon and a box of ammo after she’d left. “Two against one. Strength in numbers.”
She sighed. “Okay, fine. But you can’t interfere with the search in any way.”
He wanted to point out he’d never done that in the short time they’d been together, but simply nodded. “Understood.”
She closed the back hatch and slid behind the wheel. He jogged to his truck to do the same. Cutie looked disappointed that it wasn’t time to play with Bear but settled down soon enough.
He followed Autumn, glancing around frequently for signs of the black car. It had taken some guts for the driver of the black car to take on the much larger SUV.
Then he frowned when it occurred to him that the gunman may have tried to eliminate Bear from the equation. Without Bear, the guy would have an easier time sneaking up on Autumn.
And without Bear, the gunman couldn’t be tracked.
Fifteen minutes later, he trailed behind Autumn on a small dirt road jutting off from the highway. In the distance, acres of desolate land stretched as far as the eye could see. This was the Colorado he loved. Fields, mountains and the forest.
His expression turned somber when he realized Autumn and Bear were here to search for graves.
He pushed himself out of his truck, then paused to let Cutie out. The puppy made a beeline for Bear. The older dog nosed the puppy and batted at her playfully.
“Sorry, Cutie, but Bear is going to work,” Autumn said, filling a collapsible bowl with water.
“Don’t worry, I’ll keep her from bothering Bear,” he hastened to reassure her.
“Thanks.” She smiled briefly before turning her attention to the dog. “Are you ready to search? Are you?” She offered the water to Bear, who lapped at it. “Search napoo! Napoo!”
Bear’s nose went up to the air for a long moment, then began sweeping along the ground. He remembered her using that term before, although it sounded odd. What did napoo mean, anyway?
“Stay here, Cutie.” He snagged the puppy before she could take off after Bear. “Your boyfriend has work to do.”
Cutie looked dejected as Autumn and Bear moved slowly into the field.
