Joel jogged through the vegetation along the river. An elderly couple in the woods had called for help two hours ago. Signal had cut out and Joel’s team had lost contact, but Ethan had used phone towers to triangulate a rough search area. They also had the drone out scanning the forest.
The steady thumps of his steps competed with the whoosh of wind through trees.
Even though he was looking for the couple, he was also distracted by the phone call he’d received that morning. One to tell him that, after a week of holding Jonah, he’d been released on bail. Not today though…yesterday. Ward hadn’t thought to share the news with him or his team.
Asshole.
He still wasn’t convinced Jonah was the killer. But this would affect both Polly and her mother. Joel hadn’t spoken to Polly about it yet but was pretty certain Ward hadn’t shared the news with her or her mom either.
Jonah being released meant they didn’t have the proof they needed that he was the killer, and there was likely no previouscriminal record. Then a judge had deemed him not to be a danger to society or a flight risk.
If it wasn’t Jonah, why would the killer leave the gun in that particular area? Apparently, Jonah walked that section of the forest a lot. Was he being framed? Did the killer know his habits and set him up?
They needed some damn answers.
The best thing to come out of this last week was Polly. They were back to where they’d been before Bronte had come to town. He hadn’t heard from his parents in days. It was almost starting to feel like his life in Houston was finallystayingin Houston.
“Search and rescue,” Joel called out as he rounded a tree, forcing himself to focus on the job at hand. “Is anyone out here?”
Silence.
He jogged deeper into the trees and tried again. “Search and rescue, can anyone hear me?”
“Hello?”
His gaze swung toward the distant voice. He pulled out his radio. “I have something.”
The radio crackled before Ryan spoke. “Is it them?”
“Hopefully.”
He sped up his pace and passed by more trees. Then he saw them—an elderly man and woman huddled by the river, backpack beside them. Their heads snapped up.
Joel lifted his radio again. “It’s them.”
He didn’t share his location. Ethan would be able to track him through the GPS on his watch. The guys would come.
“Thank God you’re here,” the elderly man said, when Joel stopped beside them. “We tried to follow the river, but then Dorothy rolled her ankle.”
Joel lowered beside the woman. “I’m Joel.”
“Dorothy.” She offered a small smile. “And this is my husband, Clyde.”
“It’s nice to meet you both.” He glanced at her ankle. The shoe and sock had already been removed. “Can I take a look?”
She nodded. “I rolled it on a rock.”
It was swollen and already a deep shade of purple. “Are you in pain?”
“It’s manageable.”
Joel took off his pack and pulled out a bandage and an instant cold pack. “Did you park far?”
“The trailhead.”
“It’s a tough trek out here.” Joel got to work bandaging her ankle. “But the good news is, we’re about a mile from a trail. I can carry you, Dorothy. And Clyde, we can move as slow or as fast as you need. Then it’s an easy walk back.”
The couple nodded, relief evident on their features.
