Page 79 of Forever Gone

Connor took the flashlight and stepped outside.

His hand rested near his holster as he crossed the clearing. The beam traveled over broken boards, a rusted hinge, and weeds growing through an old feeding trough. The barn doors had been pulled together but not secured.

At the gap, Connor stopped.

He directed the light inside.

A white car sat near the rear wall.

The beam caught the rear passenger door first. A long scrape marked the paint. The right rear wheel was bare, missing its hubcap.

Linda Mercer’s Toyota Corolla.

Connor stepped back and reached for the radio on his shoulder.

“Dispatch, this is Sheriff Chase.”

Static answered, then Dana’s voice came through.

“Go ahead, Sheriff.”

“I’ve found Linda Mercer’s vehicle off Talon Road at an old barn, approximately two miles from the highway. I came in through an unmarked track north of the final phone coordinates.”

Keys clicked faintly at Dana’s end. “Do you need assistance?”

Connor held the flashlight on the gap. He knew he should wait for help, but he couldn’t risk Linda being either hurt inside or a hostage of the killer.

“Send the nearest unit, I need backup, Dana.”

He drew his weapon and pushed one barn door sideways.

The rollers protested above him. Metal scraped against metal, and the door moved less than two feet before sticking. Connor slipped through the opening.

The odor reached him first.

Oil. Old hay. Rotting timber.

Something else rested beneath it, faint but wrong.

His flashlight crossed the interior.

Broken farm equipment leaned against one wall. A ladder lay across the floor. The Corolla stood with its nose toward the rear boards, driver’s side facing him. Mud coated the lower panels. The windows reflected his light, hiding the interior.

Connor advanced along the left side.

“Sheriff’s department,” he called. “Anyone inside?”

No answer.

The flashlight passed over the windshield.

A shape occupied the driver’s seat.

Connor stopped.

“Linda Mercer?”

The figure did not move.