Page 28 of Chasing Creed

The puncture wounds were impressive and certainly deep enough to bleed. Even the places that still had thorns embedded were oozing. How could there be so many fresh, sharp thorns on an old overgrowth thicket?

Simply put, it wasn’t the worst shape she’d ever been in, but yes, Hank was right. She was a bloody mess.

18

Creed waited under his Jeep’s liftgate. He dragged a towel over his face then rubbed down Grace. Then he put her inside for a snack and water. He’d pulled out a protein bar but tossed it back inside the daypack. His stomach was still tightening in a tangle of knots. It didn’t help matters that the fog was bringing nightfall about two hours early.

He didn’t like the idea of staying behind. He wanted to be the one to take care of Brodie. Oh sure, he knew Jason was more than capable. Trained by the Army as a sharpshooter and a medic, Jason had experience digging shrapnel out of arms and legs. He’d do a good job.

It didn’t matter. Creed still wanted to be there.

His stomach twisted thinking about Brodie and all those thorns. She was strong to survive what she’d survived. She was better at being brave than he was. And yet, he caught a glimpse of her pain, a flutter of panic that he’d never seen before. And that alone felt like a gut-punch. Because he should have seen the danger. He should have prevented it. He should never have let Brodie and Hank go ahead of them.

Hannah was constantly telling him that he needed to “ease up, stop stressing out and let Brodie be.” He wanted to call Hannah right now and tell her, “This is what happens when I ease up.”

Instead, he checked his diver watch and tamped down the knee-jerk instinct to call Hannah or to text Jason. He needed to focus. He promised Norwich he’d be here when she arrived. Breaking another promise wouldn’t fix the first one. And although Norwich was yet another very capable, strong woman, he didn’t dare leave her alone with Daniels and Perry. It wasn’t just because he didn’t like these two. He didn’t trust them.

This crime scene continued to get stranger by the minute. Something weird was going on here. Creed wasn’t sure if the pair were not interested, incompetent, or worse. Was it possible they were covering for someone? Their lack of curiosity didn’t line up with any other law enforcement officials Creed had worked with before.

He had watched Daniels and his deputy walk through the woods and return from the rubbish heap to the sheriff’s SUV. The fog made their movement even slower. The two moseyed along without any sense of purpose or urgency. He wondered if they had moved a single thing off the pile, taken any photos, or at least looked for blood. Instead, they appeared content to wait for Norwich. Like they were biding their time. Did they expect her to just come and take over?

Creed confirmed that suspicion when the men suddenly turned toward the road. Sheriff Daniels seemed to stand straighter. For the first time, the men looked alert and interested. Creed couldn’t help thinking they also looked relieved at the sight of the Santa Rosa Sheriff’s SUV appearing through the fog. Daniels put his hands on hips, watching the vehicle pull into the driveway as if this was what he had been waiting for all day.

Creed waited at his Jeep with Grace. They were far enough away he couldn’t make out their words, but he saw Sheriff Daniels and Deputy Perry exchange greetings and introductions with Norwich. Their handshakes were stiff but professional. Evidence that the three didn’t know each other well. Perhaps even meeting for the first time. Daniels did all the talking, pointing toward the woods and then the buildings. He made no overt gestures toward Creed, as if he and his deputy had figured it all out on their own. Norwich asked some questions, garnering a couple of head shakes and a nod or two. Even a smile from Perry.

After about ten minutes, she waved at Creed and made her way to his Jeep. She put out her hand to shake his, a formality he knew was meant for the men behind her. He and Norwich had been through a lot together. Not just late-night searches, but devastating discoveries. The sort of things that forged a special bond.

“You’re a sight for sore eyes,” he told her. The greeting was one she often used on him. Relief washed over him, and only now did he realize how much he meant it.

She smiled at him then offered her hand to Grace for a sniff and a lick.

“How are you two doing?”

“It’s been a long day.”

“Sounds like it. Where’s Jason and Brodie?”

“We had a bit of a mishap. Brodie tripped and fell into a thicket.”

“Oh no! Is she okay?”

“I think she is.” He’d already checked his phone three times waiting for an update and had to stop himself from checking again. “Lots of thorns.”

“Ouch! That doesn’t sound good.”

“To be honest, she looked a bloody mess, but I think she’s okay. She required more cleanup and attention than what we could give her out here in the field. I sent them to our hotel.”

He glanced back at the men. They were talking. Waiting. “How well do you know this sheriff?”

“Met him for the first time just now. From what I hear, he’s new to the job.”

“Both Scout and Grace alerted to the same spot.”

“That’s what the sheriff said. A garbage pile? But he said there wasn’t anything there.”

“That’s what he said?”

She nodded. She was being careful in case the men could hear.