Page 58 of Scent of Peril

The sound of a gunshot had him reaching for his gun. Doug did, too, and they instinctively turned so that their backs were together, facing any potential oncoming threat.

“Where did it come from?” Logan asked after a long second.

“I’m not sure.” Like him, Doug was sweeping his gaze over the area. “It sounded muffled, like from a silencer.”

“Maybe up on the other side of the ridge?” Even as he offered the suggestion, Logan realized that was impossible. They’d have noticed Jess and Teddy scrambling up the side of the mountain.

He stared at the mountainside, noticing for the first time what seemed to be a crack in the rock that was mostly hidden behind the trees. He quickly moved forward, holding his weapon, ready to examine the area.

Up close, he was shocked to realize the crack was much wider at the base of the mountain. It was more than a crack.

It was a cave!

“Doug!” He used his arm to push the tree branches out of his way to get closer. He swept his gaze over the ground. The opening was too close for snow to have gathered there, exposing potential footprints. Yet, there was no doubt in his mind that Jess and Teddy could have easily gone inside.

Not voluntarily, considering the gunfire. No, he was convinced the gunman must have hidden them away at gunpoint.

“Is that a cave?” Doug sounded surprised as he crossed over to join him.

Logan nodded, putting a finger to his lips. If the bad guys were using it as a hideout, he didn’t want to alert them of their presence. “What do you think?” he whispered.

Doug leaned in, listening intently. Logan did the same. He couldn’t hear voices, but this had to be where the sound of the gunshot had originated. The walls of the cave, the mountain,and the trees surrounding the opening would have muffled the sound.

“We need to go inside,” Logan whispered.

Doug’s brow furrowed as he considered the possibilities. He kept his voice low too. “Okay, but someone needs to wait here for Shane and Bryce.”

“You should stay and wait for the others.” Logan was the least qualified person to go inside, but he refused to stay back. The woman he loved was inside with her K9.

He had to go in.

Logan hovered inside the cave opening, keeping his head down while straining to listen. How far back did this cave go anyway? He felt certain it must have been an abandoned gold or silver mine.

Yet how the gunman and his cohorts had found it was a mystery.

Although it did explain why he hadn’t seen a hunting cabin in the vicinity of the area where he’d landed the plane to let Craig Benton out. A big red flag that he would make sure he never ignored again.

Now he realized it had been a makeshift airstrip that had likely been used by several other small charter plane companies. The thought made him wince. How many pilots had been duped by Benton?

And how many were willing participants, satisfied to take the cash while turning a blind eye to the cargo they were carrying?

Once they made it out of this alive, he’d make sure Doug and the others investigated them all. Every single one.

Logan stepped into the cave. Doug snagged his arm. “Wait. You’re not a cop,” Doug whispered.

Logan shot him a narrow glance and shook free. “Doesn’t matter. You provide backup as soon as the others get here. Maybe have them spread out to search for another way inside.This can’t be the only opening.” He held Doug’s gaze for a long moment. “Trust me, we’ll be counting on you to bring the cavalry as soon as possible.”

Doug clearly wasn’t happy but must have understood there was no changing Logan’s mind because he sighed and reluctantly nodded. “Okay, fine. But be careful. We’ll be right behind you.”

“Thanks.” He stepped farther into the cave, keeping his hand on the wall for guidance. It was dark, which made him wonder how the gunman was navigating through the cavern. Did he have a flashlight? Or had he simply memorized the layout of the tunnels?

Logan walked as silently and quickly as possible, holding the gun in his right hand down at his side. He tried not to imagine the worst-case scenario. That he wouldn’t stumble over Jessica’s dead body after the next turn.

He didn’t want to believe she was dead.

They were wearing vests, so maybe she’d just been injured. Or had somehow avoided being hit at all.

Teddy? He winced, not even wanting to consider the possibility the gunman had shot the dog. Jess would be inconsolable if that happened.

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