Page 87 of High Intensity

“I should’ve taken her last night. She’s my niece, and since I’m paying your bill, I’m coming.” he states firmly, completely disregarding my boundaries.

“I don’t know anything about last night, but no one is paying me, and I work alone.” I can already tell he’s going to try and wear me down, wasting valuable time, so I add, “Your presence could throw off my dog’s scent trail, and if you decide to follow me anyway, I will make sure the world knows you are responsible if we don’t find your niece in time.”

I watch Vallard’s eyes dart toward Agent Kramer, who has been listening in on the conversation, gauging if he can count on her support. The look she spears him with speaks volumes, and he wisely chooses to let the subject drop.

“Walk me out the back?” I ask the agent, wanting a word with her in private.

I’d barely had a chance to speak with her alone, since Vallard had been hovering from the moment I got here.

The first thing I’d asked was to see Hayley’s bedroom. Stephanie took me upstairs and told me how they’d found the window open and her sheets together and used as a rope to lower herself to the ground below. The sheets hadn’t quite made it all the way, but the drop wouldn’t have been that far. Bellinger had insisted the sheets be removed. When I noticed the comforter that had been on the bed last night was missing as well, Stephanie suggested Hayley may have taken it. She had also apparently taken most of the clothes the FBI provided her with.

But when I asked about the note I left the girl, the agent said she hadn’t seen any note. That’s when I first had a hunch Hayley may have gone south, following the creek.

The agent had mentioned Bellinger was convinced Hayley would be running scared and end up heading for town, looking for populated areas where should could find help, or at least shelter. I disagree with the man’s assessment. I think he grossly underestimates what that girl is capable of. I’ve seen firsthand how smart and resourceful and courageous she is.

Stephanie follows me out on the deck and slides the doors shut before joining me at the railing.

“Okay, so you’re sure they’re focusing the search north of here, toward town?” I confirm with her, keeping an eye on the house.

“Positive.”

“Have any efforts been made to pull in more resources for the search?”

The woman winces, clearly feeling uncomfortable as she shakes her head. I put a hand on her arm.

“For now, it’s probably better. You know there is nothing worse than an unorganized search, and this already has FUBAR written all over it.”

“I know,” she agrees.

“Okay, just soyouknow, I’m coordinating my search for Hayley with your former colleague, Lucas Wolff. He is pulling together his search and rescue team, and our focus is going to be south of here.”

She nods her understanding and I turn to Hunter.

“Okay, girl. Are you ready to work?”

I open the Ziploc bag and let her sniff Hayley’s pillowcase, then I lead her to the shrubs under Hayley’s window. She sniffs around the bushes and the patch of grass immediately in front of it. Then she sticks her nose in the air, and takes off toward the back of the yard. I turn and give a thumbs-up to Stephanie before following my dog into the tree line.

As soon as I’m out of sight, I pull out the two-way radio Wolff handed me and put in a call.

“Wolff, come in.”

Within a few seconds the radio crackles to life.

“Go ahead, Jilly.”

His nickname for me puts a smile on my face. Call me a sap, but I like he is the only one who calls me that.

“Remember that note I told you I left Hayley?”

“I remember.”

“She took it. Bellinger is convinced she headed toward town, but I don’t think so.”

“You think she’s trying to find you,”he clues in right away.

“I could be wrong, but I have this gut feeling.”

“Good enough for me. Where do you want us to go?”

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