Page 71 of Smokescreen

“My job isn’t for the faint of heart, for sure.” Reid paused and nodded ahead of them. “There it is.”

Olive looked at the old, dilapidated cabin sitting on the edge of the creek. Only the light of the full moon above allowed her to see it through the darkness.

Was that where Tevin was?

They were about to find out.

Olive pushed herself in front of Reid.

He might be all alpha male, but she was in charge of security right now.

“It might feel counter-intuitive to you, but I can’t let anything happen to you under my watch,” she whispered. “Let me go first.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

She crept toward the cabin, anxious about what she might find inside.

As the beam of her flashlight hit the wooden step leading toward the front door, she paused.

“A footprint,” she whispered to Reid.

“Does it match Tevin’s?”

She shook her head. “No, it’s too big. But it looks fresh.”

Reid bristled beside her. He clearly didn’t like it when someone messed with his property.

“I’m going to open the door,” she whispered. “You have your gun?”

He raised it, weapon already in hand.

“We need to be on guard, just in case,” she told him.

“I’ve got your back.”

Olive liked the sound of that.

She tried the knob, but it wouldn’t twist.

She counted to three and then kicked. The wood cracked and splintered as the door flew open.

She shone her flashlight around, anxious about what she might see.

Her light came to a stop on a figure sitting in the corner.

Her breath caught, and she whispered, “Tevin.”

He’d been tied up and gagged. But his eyes were open, and he stared at her.

She wanted to run to him. To make sure he was okay.

But first she had to make sure this place was clear.

Olive shone her light around the main room, which still had miscellaneous furniture scattered and turned over.

She didn’t see anyone except Tevin.

The kitchen stood on the other side of the cabin. She checked around the counter and under the table.

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