Page 6 of In Her Sights

“Bea,” she began gently, her gaze softening as she addressed the young woman. “You couldn’t have known she wouldn’t return. You did the right thing coming here as soon as you realized something was wrong.”

Bea blinked back tears, her breath hitching slightly. “I just… I should’ve noticed sooner.”

“Listen,” Jenna continued. “When my sister disappeared, I spent years torturing myself over what I could’ve donedifferently. But the truth is, we can’t predict these things. We can’t blame ourselves for not seeing the signs when there weren’t any to see.”

“Let’s focus on finding Sarah,” Jake contributed. “Can you think of anything else that might be relevant?”

Bea shook her head silently.

“What about family?” Jake asked.

“Her parents live out on a farm near Gildner. That’s where she grew up. I can give you the address.”

After jotting down the address, Jenna stood.

“We’ll find her,” she said, “and we’ll bring her home.”

Bea’s eyes, red-rimmed and anxious, searched theirs for hope. A tiny nod, almost imperceptible, was her silent thank-you.

“If you think of anything else or hear from Sarah, call us right away,” Jenna instructed.

“I’ll do that,” Bea replied. Then she got to her feet, thanked them, and left.

Jenna glanced at Jake. “Let’s gear up,” she said tersely.

Exiting the building, Jenna squinted under the glare of the midday sun high above Trentville. They moved quickly to their patrol car, the black-and-white vehicle stark against the backdrop of the town’s modest architecture. Jenna slid behind the wheel while Jake settled into the passenger seat.

Soon they were driving the main road through Whispering Pines, dense with evergreens and deciduous trees. Sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting a dappled pattern on the underbrush that grew thick in places. Through the open car windows, Jenna heard the sounds of a forest alive with nature—rustling foliage, bird calls, and the distant murmur of a creek hidden from view.

“Sarah’s car could be anywhere along these trails,” Jake commented as the patrol car maneuvered along a narrow road,passing trailheads marked with wooden signs. They both had hiked the trails, knew their quirks and hiding spots.

The ranger’s station loomed ahead, a modest, weather-beaten structure that seemed to have grown organically from the forest floor. Jenna parked the patrol car, and they stepped out. The air was thick with the scent of pine and earth, and the cicadas sang a relentless chorus that vibrated through the stillness of midday.

As Jenna approached the front door of the station, it swung open, and Ranger Billy Schmitt emerged. He was a sturdy man with a ruddy complexion and hands as rough as the bark on the trees he protected. A faded baseball cap with an official logo sat atop his head, shading a face marked by years spent squinting against the sun. His eyes held a glint of concern.

“Jenna, Jake,” Billy greeted. “What brings you out here?”

“A woman named Sarah Thompson is missing,” Jenna stated plainly. “A schoolteacher at Trentville Elementary. She went hiking yesterday and hasn’t returned. Her roommate, Bea Carter, came to us.”

“Let’s not waste any time then,” Billy said. “Let’s go looking for her.”

He led them to a mud-splattered SUV with the forest service emblem on the side. They all climbed into the vehicle, its interior smelling of leather and the faint, lingering presence of wet dog. Billy turned the key in the ignition, and the engine rumbled to life. Jenna took the passenger seat, her gaze fixed on the tree line as they began to roll down the narrow dirt road that carved through Whispering Pines.

“Any particular trail she might’ve taken?” Billy asked.

“Her roommate didn’t know,” Jenna replied. “She said Sarah had mentioned Old Man’s Creek and Eagle’s Perch, but she didn’t know where she went this time.”

They continued the search, the forest giving nothing away. Ahead, the road forked, and Billy steered them left toward the heart of Whispering Pines, where the underbrush grew thicker, and the terrain became more treacherous. The forest seemed to close in around them. Vines crawled across the ground, ensnaring rocks and fallen branches in their embrace. Ancient trees stood, their knotted roots breaking through the soil like the fingers of giants grasping at the world above.

“Stop the car,” Jenna suddenly said, her eyes locked on a break in the foliage where a small clearing opened up. She couldn’t explain it, but something about the place called to her. She didn’t need to share her intuition with the men; she’d already felt that tug in her gut when they rounded the bend and saw the vehicle.

Billy obliged, bringing his SUV to a gentle halt. They stepped out, the forest enveloping them.

“Looks like we might’ve found her car,” Jake observed, his voice tight with concern.

“Give me a second,” Jenna said, pulling out her phone as she walked toward the car. Quickly, she keyed in the details needed to access the motor vehicle database, tapping in the license plate number.

“Confirmed,” she announced after a moment. “This is Sarah Thompson’s car.”

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