Page 108 of Caught in the Crossfire

“Talk to me,” Ethan said to Mason.

He updated the policemen and showed them the shoe prints.

The police chief crouched and studied the prints. “They were moving fast. The men were in a hurry, the women stumbling here and here.” He pointed as he spoke. “Work boots on the men, like the ones I’ve seen you wear.”

“Nicole and Dawn are wearing running shoes.”

Ethan stood. “Anything else I need to know before I start tracking?”

“Dean’s wife, Leah, obtained security footage from the library computer area. Linc froze the frames at the time the emails were supposedly sent by Nicole. You need to see them.”

“Show me.”

Linc showed the side-by-side photos on his computer screen. The police chief and detective studied the screen.

“The gray-haired brigade isn’t behind the emails,” Rod said. “I know those women, and they each have dogs that are customers of Nicole’s. I’ve heard them bragging about how Nicole and Dawn spoil their pets.”

“The girl is doing research for a botany paper,” Ethan said, pointing to the computer screen in front of the teen. “That leaves the man. Do you recognize him, Rod?”

The detective studied the screen a moment, then shook his head. “I feel like I should, though.”

“You and Josh canvass the cookout attendees still here. I want a timeline and names of those who last saw the women, including the people who left before we arrived.”

“Patton and Fisher left,” Linc said. “Talk to Emily Elliott, Rod. Dawn and Nicole were helping her right before they disappeared.”

“You sure you don’t need me, Ethan?” Rod asked.

“If I run into our perps, Linc and Mason will give me a hand. Go.” Ethan motioned for Mason and Linc to follow him. “Walk where I walk.”

“Yes, sir.” Mason fell in behind Ethan with Linc bringing up the rear.

Although he mentally urged the police chief to hurry, he didn’t want Ethan to miss a clue. As far as Mason could tell, the trail was nonexistent.

Ethan stopped at one point and held up his fist. Mason and Linc froze as Ethan shifted to the left and bent to examine prints near a tree. Whatever he saw caused a thunderous expression.

“What is it?” Mason asked.

“From the prints, one of the men shoved a woman against this tree.”

Linc growled.

Mason’s blood sizzled, his hands clenching. He had a pretty good idea who the woman was. Nicole had probably tried to reason with the men or asked them to leave Dawn behind. If they hurt Nicole, the men would regret it.

Ethan stood. “She walked from here, propelled by the man. But she was mobile.”

Although he appreciated Ethan’s information, the news was small comfort. The knowledge that Nicole was hurt and Mason was unable to protect her made his gut clench. “Hurry, Ethan.”

The police chief set off again. He didn’t stop until they emerged from tree cover at the side of a dirt road. Ethan signaled for Mason and Linc to wait, and continued forward, gaze focused on the dirt. A few minutes later, he returned. “They’re in a heavy-duty truck based on the tire tracks.” He inclined his head toward the right. “They drove that direction.”

“Where does this road lead?” Linc asked.

“This area is filled with back roads. They could have gone in any direction from here. I can follow the tracks to the next crossroads, but most of the crossroads are paved. I won’t be able to tell which direction they drove once the truck hit asphalt.”

“We have to find Nicole and Dawn.” Mason shoved a shaking hand through his hair.

“We’re doing everything we can at the moment.” He looked at Linc. “Did you send the photos to Fortress?”

A nod.

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