Page 67 of Protecting What Is Mine

When we hit the woods, I stop and Jack shows Sam how to cover the beam with her other hand to limit the visible light. We continue on, single file for a while. When we approach a clearing, Sam stops and motions for us to huddle up.

“The cabin should be just ahead, probably twenty-five yards, give or take.”

“How do you know?” Gabe pops his head up and strains his eyes. “I don’t see anything.”

Sam motions all around. “Look, I may have been too young to pay attention during a boring car ride, but I’ve played in these woods enough times to know how far it is from the tree line to the house.”

As Sam finishes speaking, there’s a faint sound of someone in the distance. We go quiet and my heart jumps into my throat. I don’t like what I thought I heard. Not at all.

I look around the group. “Did you hear that too?”

Everyone nods.

“Is it just me, or did it sound like someone being choked?”

Jack punches my arm. “Take it down a notch, Columbo. I doubt it’s anything that sinister.”

To show my support for his service, I give Jack the one finger salute. “I so wish you could see the gesture I’m making at you right now.”

Gabe, as he likes to do, interrupts in an effort to boss everyone around. “Ladies. If you’re finished, how about the three of us go check it out?”

“Wait?” Sam steps forward. “Three of you? What about me?”

“You said the cabin is that way, right?” Gabe asks. “And it’s about twenty to twenty-five yards?”

“Yeah.”

“Well then, I say your job is done and we’ll take it from here.”

Jack and I nod in agreement. “Honestly Sam, we don’t know what we’re walking into here. What if it’s not your dad up there? What if a couple of junkies are making meth, or something?”

“What makes you think making meth wouldn’t still involve my dad?” she quips.

I look to Jack and Gabe. “What do you think? Maybe send Jack and Sam back down to wait for the sheriff?”

“Hey, what the hell?” Jack complains. “Why me? Of all of us, I have the most experience in this kind of thing, what with my Army training and all.”

Gabe puts a hand on Jack’s shoulder. “Which is exactly why you need to stay out of this. If things go wrong, you’re looking at a court-martial or dishonorable discharge. We’re not.”

“Gabe has a point. Besides, we can’t leave Sam alone out here, can we?”

Jack shakes his head. He sees the logic of the argument, even if he doesn’t like it. “Obviously not.” Reluctantly, he and Sam turn back, taking the light with them.

I step in close to Gabe. “Remember when we were kids? That prank you and I used to play on Jack and Leo in the barn?”

Gabe thinks back for a minute. “Yeah, I guess so.”

“Well, I say we do like that. I’ll go around front and make a big ruckus. Scream fire, or something. You cover the back. If anybody in there is doing anything they don’t want known, they’ll probably make a break for it.”

Gabe nods and we begin to move forward like we do when we’re hunting. Mindful of each step, careful not to snap a twig or disturb anything that might spook our prey.

Fingers crossed that Mollie’s in there.

And that she’s okay.

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