“Yeah. Buried hiker garbage doesn’t mean there’s not something else out here.”
We let the dogs sniff around for a while, but neither of them found anything worth digging up. Max wanted to keep circling back to his hole, but I didn’t want to know what other half-rotted food he’d find there, so I guided him away.
After combing the area for a while, we decided to pack it in. We hiked back to my truck and gave the dogs some water and treats. Then we loaded up and took them back to Josiah and Audrey’s house.
“That was harder than I thought it would be,” Penelope said when we were back in my truck. “I guess I figured we’d be able to tell exactly where to look. Which doesn’t make sense, when I think about it. If he really did hide a body, he would have done his best to make sure it wasn’t easy to find.”
“I thought the dogs would find more than a rotting chicken,” I said with a chuckle. “But I guess cute rescues aren’t quite the same as trained cadaver dogs.”
“Do you think there might be something out there and we just don’t know where to look?”
“Maybe. I keep going back and forth on telling Garrett. I might as well, but I doubt he’ll be able to do anything. It’s a pretty loose theory we have.” I backed out of the driveway and started up the street. “I’ll tell you one thing, though.”
“What?”
“I’m not opposed to going back. And I’m going to keep looking for that cabin.”
“You’re not giving up?” she asked.
“Nope.”
“Good. Me neither.”
She shivered, and I glanced at her. “Still cold?”
“I should have worn more layers. It’s like my bones are cold.”
I turned up the heat and angled the vent to blow the warm air toward her. “Let’s get you home.”
She smiled and, not for the first time, I had a feeling I was in trouble.
CHAPTER 29
Theo
After dropping off the dogs,Pen and I grabbed takeout from the CopperKettle Diner. When we got home, she changed into a sweatshirt and a pair of blue lounge pants, and I ditched my joggers for pajamas.
We settled on the couch with our dinner. Pen sat sideways with her back against the armrest and her feet on the center cushion. I took the other corner and crossed an ankle over my knee.
Apparently the hike had made me hungry and I inhaled my food in no time. Since Pen was still eating, I decided to give Garrett a call. We hadn’t found anything at the creek, but my gut told me he should know about the woman in Raven Falls and how the location matched one of the Morris paintings with a hidden note.
“What’s up, Theo?” he answered.
“Got a minute?”
“Sure.”
“You know how I told you about that note my friend Penelope found hidden in a painting?”
“Rings a bell, yeah.”
“We found more.”
“I probably don’t want to know how, do I?”
“Don’t worry. I’m pretty sure we didn’t do anything illegal.” I winked at Pen.
She giggled behind her hand.
