CHAPTER 16
Panic racedthrough Kori as she registered Wyatt’s words. “But what about my sister?”
Wyatt took her arm and led her away. “Now that we found her pack, we can confirm she’s in a precarious position and she didn’t simply decide to take a longer hike than she planned. We’ll organize a larger scale search for her.”
“But—”
Wyatt paused and their gazes met. “It’s not safe out here. We need to move. You’ve got to trust me.”
Her knees nearly gave way at his words, but she managed to hold herself upright and nod.
He was right. Walking into danger wouldn’t do anyone any good.
But her heart ached at the thought of turning around now. What if Mackenzie was close? What if she was hurt?
Dear Lord . . . please help me! Help Mackenzie!
Wyatt continued to lead her down the trail, away from the place where Mackenzie’s backpack had been found. Fear continued to pulse through her veins.
Someone was out here with them—someone who didn’t want to be seen.
Every motive she could think of for someone wanting that wasn’t good. No, each one was dangerous.
The tracks they’d made on the way in were still visible—two sets of boot prints and Thunder’s paw marks. The imprints cut through the snow ahead of her like a road map back to the world. She focused on them and not on the possible danger around them.
She had to remain calm—despite the fact that her pulse had quickened.
They moved steadily for close to forty-five minutes. Finally, Wyatt must have thought it was safe because he slowed.
He stopped at a slight widening in the path where two large rocks broke the tree line and offered a partial view of the slope below. From here the forest dropped away for several yards before rising again.
Wyatt scanned the woods once more before unslinging his pack and setting it on the closest rock. “If someone’s following us, they’d have to cross open ground to get close. This is about the best place we’re going to find for a quick break.”
“Got it.”
He kept his eyes on their surroundings. “We should be okay here for a few minutes. Drink some water. Here’s another protein bar.”
“Thank you.” Kori nodded. She hadn’t wanted to admit how hungry she was.
She took the protein bar from him and opened it. As she did, she couldn’t ignore how her hands trembled. She turned away, hoping Wyatt hadn’t seen.
“Let’s see what’s inside that backpack,” Wyatt said.
He set Mackenzie’s pack on the log. As he did, Kori stared at it. The yellow sun patch. The cheerful flowers. A state park patch from Shenandoah, another from the Smoky Mountains, and a third from New River Gorge in West Virginia.
Mackenzie had always collected things like that. Experiences. Evidence that she’d been somewhere and done something.
Wyatt unzipped the main compartment and began pulling items out quickly. Medical supplies were on top—gauze, a small suture kit, and two blister packs of antibiotics.
He set them aside.
Next he pulled out a burner phone wrapped in a Ziploc bag. He hit a button.
It was dead.
“Do you think we can get anything off that?” Kori asked.
“Possibly. Micah has someone who can try.”
