“Yeah.I don’t think she’s in a vehicle because she’s not gettin’ far.”
“Shoot those coordinates to Archer’s phone,” Atticus instructed.“We’ll head that way.Maybe we can get to her before she disappears again.”
“Again?”JJ asked, even as she sent the information to Archer’s phone.
“Becs and Evan ran into her at the diner.Tried to talk to her, but she pretended she didn’t know them.”
“I remember seein’ that in the notes.”
“Then she called Reese to meet, but never showed.”
And now her partner was looking for her.What in the hell was this woman up to?
“Should we call Brantley and Reese?”
Atticus kept his attention on the road, relying on Archer to give him directions.“No.You saw them back at that house.Let them process.If we can’t get to her, we’ll call them.”
“Roger that.You’re gonna make a right up here.Half a mile or so.”
He continued to drive.The farther they went, the less populated the area became, and that was saying something considering these small towns had far more trees than people.There were no more streetlights, only his headlights stretching out in front of them to break up the darkness.
“Take a right at the next street,” Archer instructed.
Slowing so he didn’t miss the turn, Atticus watched for the reflective sign.
“JJ says she’s moving again,” Archer noted.“But she still doesn’t think she’s in a car.”
“So what?She’s at a house?Maybe walkin’ around?”
“Could be.”
“How far away are we?”
“A mile or less.”
Atticus slowed, not wanting to come up on her too quickly.Considering how dark it was out this way, there was a good chance he might run over her if she was out for an evening stroll.Then again, he could hear coyotes off in the distance.Probably not the safest place to get your exercise if you were a night owl.
“Pull over here,” Archer said.“And shut off the lights.”
The truck bumped along as he left the road, coming to a stop in the grass.Atticus shut off the lights, pitching them into darkness; the only lights were those in the cab of the truck.He turned off the engine to cut those, too.Then they were left with Archer’s cell phone screen.
Archer spoke softly in the darkness.“I show we’re almost on top of her.”
Since his eyes hadn’t quite adjusted, he couldn’t see much past the hood of his truck.The thought of getting out and wandering through the woods, risking a run-in with a snake or some other creature that lurked out there at night, did not fill him with joy.
But it had to be done.
Unbuckling his seatbelt, Atticus reached into the back seat, retrieving two flashlights.He passed one to Archer.
“You come prepared, huh?”
“I try.Come on.Let’s see what she’s up to out here.”
Rather than be reckless and invite a rattlesnake bite, they kept to the road.Atticus led the way, with Archer right behind him, guiding him with his voice.
“If she’s out here,” Archer whispered, “she’s gonna be here.”
He couldn’t see shit, so Atticus stopped.“Here, where?”
