He ended the call and looked at Max.
“Kenny’s phone just pinged,” Micah said. “We’ve got a location.”
Max straightened. “Is it local?”
“About twenty miles from here, out in the national forest. I’m heading there now.” Micah hesitated just a fraction before adding, “I know it’s unconventional, but do you want to come?”
Max glanced at Hadley.
She met his gaze, understanding exactly what he was asking without him saying it. “You should go. I’ll be fine here. A deputy will be here to keep an eye on things.”
He still hesitated.
“Max, if this helps find Lyndee, you need to be there,” she said. “As soon as Kenny is locked up, I’ll feel better.”
His expression softened as he seemed to realize the truth of her words. “Okay.”
Just then, Micah’s deputy arrived. He introduced him as Deputy Aaron Vaughn.
“Go with Dr. Chase as she checks her medications. Where she is, I want you there too,” Micah told him. Then he looked at Max and nodded toward his SUV. “Let’s move.”
Max turned back to Hadley and lightly touched her hand. “Call me if anything feels off. Anything at all.”
“I will.” Her throat burned when she heard the concern in his voice.
He gave a small nod before turning and following Micah.
Hadley watched them go, the weight of everything pressing in again as they pulled away.
Deputy Vaughn was here with her to keep an eye on things.
She wouldn’t be alone.
And yet, as she turned back toward the clinic, she couldn’t shake the feeling that whoever was behind this had every intention of escalating.
Max braced his hand against the dash as Sheriff Sutherland took the turn faster than usual. The SUV jolted as the pavement gave way to a narrow dirt road.
“Dispatch said the ping is within a hundred yards.” Sheriff Sutherland scanned the road ahead. “His phone is still active.”
Max’s attention had already shifted to the woods around them. The road narrowed until it felt more like a trail. There were no houses around them, only trees and mountains.
Sheriff Sutherland slowed then brought the vehicle to a stop. “This should be the area.”
He parked, and they stepped out into the cold.
The sheriff checked his phone again, turning as he followed the signal. “This way.”
They walked from the road into the trees. Several feet later, the ground dipped before opening into a small clearing.
Max spotted the cell phone first. “There.”
A device lay half-buried in the snow near the base of a tree.
Sheriff Sutherland scanned the area before crouching by it. Putting gloves on, he picked it up and tapped the screen. Kenny and Lyndee’s picture filled the screen.
“Probably Kenny’s,” the sheriff murmured.
“Probably.” Max nodded, but his focus had already shifted past it. Something else had disturbed the snow a few feet away.
