CHAPTER 2
The skyover Blue Ridge Hollow looked like a bruise hovering in the air.
Kori Hutchins had noticed the clouds from the moment she crossed the mountain pass. That heavy gray-yellow color meant serious weather.
She’d checked the forecast at the last gas station. The snowstorm was approaching faster than predicted. Twelve inches, possibly more, starting tonight.
Conditions were going to get bad. Really bad.
Which only meant she needed to move faster.
She pulled into the gravel lot beside the ranger district office and cut the engine.
The building sat at the edge of town where the main road bent toward the forest—a low, brown-sided structure. A flagpole stood out front, and a bulletin board beside the entrance held notices curling at the corners from the cold. A faded Forest Service sign guarded the parking area.
She grabbed her purse and climbed out of the car.
The cold immediately hit her. She’d left Falls Church this morning in a wool blazer and sensible heels perfect forcourthouse floors—but not for gravel parking lots. She hadn’t stopped to change.
She hadn’t really stopped at all.
Mackenzie, where are you?Finding her sister was all she cared about.
Something was wrong. She felt it in her bones.
She pushed inside and saw a ranger at the front desk.
The man, in his late fifties, wore a bored, weary expression as he looked up at her. “Can I help you?”
She crossed the room and stopped in front of him, ready to plead her case.
“My name is Kori Hutchins.” She kept her voice level and professional, the same tone she used in courtrooms. “My sister went hiking alone five days ago and was supposed to be back yesterday. No one has seen her. I tried to call several times on my way here, but I kept getting cut off by the automated system.”
“I’m sorry to hear that. Must be a glitch. I’ll have someone look into it.”
“Her name is Mackenzie Hutchins,” Kori continued. “She’s twenty-six years old. And as you probably know, there’s a blizzard moving in tonight.”
“Was she an experienced hiker?”
Was she? Kori asked herself. The truth was, she wasn’t sure. Two years ago, when she’d last spoken to her sister, Mackenzie hadn’t enjoyed hiking. But had things changed since then?
“I . . . I don’t know,” Kori finally answered.
“Any idea if she took the proper safety gear with her? An emergency beacon?”
Kori hesitated before shaking her head. Her anxiety continued to ramp up. “I’m not sure if she would’ve thought of that.”
The ranger’s expression didn’t change. “Ms. Hutchins, hikers tend to go off trail out here more than you’d think. Most folkswho run a little long turn up just fine.” He reached for a form. “If she hasn’t turned up in another day or two?—”
She placed her hands on his desk and waited until his eyes darted up to meet hers. “She doesn’t have another day or two. She’s been out there five days. What if she got injured or lost on her first day? And twelve inches of snow starts falling tonight.”
The ranger—his nameplate read Durbin—nodded slowly as if still unconvinced. “I understand your concerns.”
“Do you?”
He flinched as if he didn’t appreciate her insinuation.
Kori took in a breath. She hadn’t meant to sound harsh. Being curt with the man wouldn’t help matters.
