Page 87 of High Density

He grumbles some more under his breath, but ends up tucking his phone away.

The rest of the relatively short drive to Foxy’s is silent, but when I pull into the parking lot, Jonas pipes up.

“I want you to man the command post.”

I pull into a spot next to one of the sheriff’s cruisers and glance over at him.

“Like hell I will.”

He turns to face me. “You already found two of the victims, you don’t need to find another one. Especially not a friend.”

I want to launch an objection, but the steel look he shoots me has me hesitate and think. I can’t forget Agent Kramer listed the fact I found two of the three victims as highly suspect. Probably better if I didn’t add a third. I already can’t get the images of those two women out of my head, and I didn’t know them. Finding Britt in a similar condition would seriously mess me up, and I feel in my gut she’s already dead.

I hope to God I’m wrong.

“We’re going in with the original team. Fletch, Sully, Bo, and myself. Dan’s sticking around the ranch because of Sloane, Wolff is coming in with Jillian but he’s helping search with the dogs,” Jonas continues. “And I want you and Jackson to fly the Matrice and direct us from above. You’re familiar with this area, so you know what you’re looking at and are best equipped to navigate for us, even if we were to split up.”

I nod. I don’t necessarily like it, but what he says makes sense.

I get out of the truck and head around the back to grab the equipment we loaded up, just as Sully pulls up with the large horse trailer.

The bar is closed for business, but some of the staff are in the building with a few deputies, so we set up outside on the covered patio in the back. I much prefer being out here—for one thing, it’s easier flying the Matrice drone—and I like the fresh air. It’s pretty dark in the bar. Under the overhang we still don’t need toset up a tent or even unload the generator, because we can tap into the bar’s electrical to run the computers.

While Jonas goes to talk with Deputy Bastian—who was left in charge—Jackson and I set up the equipment. It only takes about fifteen minutes and by the time we’re up and ready, the others have the horses ready and are mounting up to head out.

Four tough, aging cowboys, still looking pretty imposing as a group. Everything us younger guys know about search and rescue, about tracking, we learned from these guys. I catch Pa looking at me, sending me the slightest of nods. His way of assuring me they’ve got this, but I already knew that.

I watch as they ride off before turning my attention to the monitors. The Matrice is already up in the air, scoping out the lay of the land.

“They’re still poking around your trailer,” Jackson points out.

On the screen I can see two cruisers parked in front of my place and a couple of uniforms standing off to the side. I recognize one of them as Junior Ewing. He must’ve gone straight there from Janey’s house.

Thinking of Janey, I grab my phone and type out a quick message.

Everything okay there?

I don’t haveto wait too long for a response.

Sort of. Vial of ketamine missing from my kit.

Probably taken at rodeo. Sick over it.

Shit.I was afraid that might be a possibility when she so quickly identified the vial found at my place as ketamine. Looks like an overinflated sense of responsibility is something we both suffer from.

Don’t take that on.

Sage adviceI should probably take myself.

Right. Lumber delivery is here, gotta go. You be careful.

I forgot about the fencing.Well, hopefully it’s something that’ll help to keep her mind off things.

You too, Angel.

“Angel?”

I turn to Jackson, who is peeking at my phone, grinning wide.

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