Page 52 of Cold Case Discovery

“So, what was in it?” Jack asked.

“It was black-and-white pictures. Old people. Ranches. Homesteader stuff with plat maps. Boring. Pointless.” He glanced at Chloe again. And even though she could see suspicion in his gaze, she couldn’t get mad at a man with a bloody face who couldn’t even walk without help right now.

“I figured if it connected to what’s going on, you’d lead us to whatever connection once you had it.”

Then she realized what Hart’s plan hadreallybeen. “You were going to follow me.” It shouldn’t make her angry. It was decent enough police work.

But it was barking up the wrong tree, so she couldn’t quite ignore the feelings of frustration bubbling up inside her.

“I was going to investigate,” Hart said coolly.

By following me. But she supposed she didn’t need to argue with an injured man. It didn’t change anything. He’d been hurt, the scrapbook had been taken and she didn’t have the first clue as towhy.

“Did you ever see the woman who called for help? Stranger? Maybe someone familiar?” Jack pressed.

Hart took some time to think about it. “I’m not really sure. I think... There had to have been two of them, right? If I went to help the woman, someone had to jump me from behind.” He gestured at the bloody portion of his head.

True. And either one could have been the person in the hoodie who’d come back and taken the scrapbook. But there also could have been a third. Too many people involved now. What kind of sense did that make?

The ambulance finally came and so did Detective Delaney-Carson, relief etched in every line of her face. She explained that she’d called his family, asked him a few questions and then instructed the ambulance to take him away.

Laurel watched the ambulance go, then turned to face them both. Her expression was grim, her words all warning.

“We’re dealing with two attackers—that we know of, there could have been more. These could be our murderers, or there could be more. I’m going to go to the hospital in a bit so I can ask him some more questions once he’s been fully checked out. I know you guys want answers just as much as I do, but I wouldn’t recommend heading out into this isolated place just the two of you. That’s begging for trouble.”

When neither Jack nor Chloe said anything, she sighed. Then she opened the bag she was carrying. She pulled out a couple of granola bars and two water bottles.

“This won’t do much, and I’d recommend a full meal and some sleep, but you’re not going to listen, so...” she said as they took the offered sustenance. “I have to focus on my investigation, my guys. Understand the risks before you go wading into it.”

Chloe nodded and glanced at Jack, who was doing the same.

“I’ll leave you to it then. Watch your backs. I’ll try to contact you when we get some answers, but if you go out there, it’ll be hard to reach you.”

Again, silence seemed to be the best response, so Chloe kept her mouth shut and so did Jack.

Laurel shook her head. “It’s a bad idea, guys.”

But she turned and left them to it without any further warnings.

Chloe wasn’t sure what their next move was going to be, but she’d search every inch of this forest preserve to find Ry. And she couldn’t possibly go home and rest or eat before she did.

“She’s right,” Jack said once Laurel was gone.

Chloe turned to face him, her stomach sinking. Because she couldn’t go back to the ranch and just wait. Shecouldn’t. She knew he wouldn’t leave her to handle this alone, but she couldn’t possibly let him bulldoze her into going back to the ranch. “Jack—”

“Just the two of usisbegging for trouble,” he said firmly. Then his gaze moved from the horizon to meet hers. “So let’s call in reinforcements.”

Chapter Seventeen

A little over an hour later, they had a group of Hudsons and Daniels huddled together in the morning sun at the center of the forest preserve. Zeke, Carlyle, Grant, Hawk, Anna and Palmer had all come out. Louisa would join them later, after she was done working at her parents’ orchard, if it took that long.

Because this was what family did. Jack had spent a lot of years considering himself the solitary, lone leader. The person who had to keep it all together without leaning too hard on anyone else for help. He’d spent a lot of time and energy trying to protect his siblings from pain, danger, risk.

Of course, he’d always had help, particularly from Mary and Grant in those early years, but he’d also made sure most of the responsibility lay on his shoulders. Or tried to.

If there was anything the past few years had taught him, it was that he didn’t need to do that anymore. It had been hard to let go of all the responsibility he felt had defined him, but he thought he was finally really getting there. His siblings’ lives the past few years certainly hadn’t given him much choice.

Still, he hated asking for help. But for Chloe? He’d ask anyone. Because she was part of it too. She’d given him some hope for a future, even if he worried how well he’d be able to give her what she deserved.

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