Page 58 of Scent of Death

She drove in silence for a few minutes. The sun hadn’t set, but it was far enough on the horizon that the light was muted by the trees around them. Would Griff find her before darkness fell?

She wasn’t sure she would last that long.

“Turn here.” Tyler’s voice again breached her thoughts.

The two-track road wasn’t marked in any way. If someone didn’t know it was there, they’d drive right past.

She slowed and made the right-hand turn, her left arm swinging up and over the steering wheel with the movement. At least right turns didn’t hurt as much as going to the left.

The Ram truck bumped along the two-track road for more than a hundred yards before the small log cabin came into view. The exterior brown logs with dark-green trim painted around the windows and doorway helped camouflage the building from view against the backdrop of the woods. In the darkness, the cabin would be even more difficult to see unless there were lights coming from inside.

There were no visible lights now. She swallowed hard, fearing he’d already killed Maureen.

“Go around to the back of the cabin and park there.”

“Okay.” She made the loop around the cabin and found an open area to park. She shifted into park, then sat waiting for his instructions.

Would he kill her here? Or force her to walk into the woods?

Would she eventually end up in the burial field where they’d found the other victims? They had put up the cameras, but getting Tyler on film would be too little, too late.

No, she told herself.Not too late. All that really mattered was for Tyler to be caught and arrested and thrown in jail for the rest of his life.

She drew a deep calming breath, lowered her chin, and silently prayed

Lord Jesus, please keep Griff, Denali, and Maureen safe in Your care. If my life is to be sacrificed for the others, then so be it. Let Thy will be done. Amen.

Griff calledDeputy Paul Holland as he led Denali to the SUV. He wasn’t sure why Alexis had set her gun and key fob aside, unless she’d been planning to change clothes?

A more likely scenario was that Jenkins had told her to leave the gun behind, and she’d subtly pulled the key fob out too.

He had no idea how the killer had gotten to her, but he felt certain he knew where she was. The cabin that was owned by Tyler Jenkins’s maternal grandmother.

The title should have been switched after the old woman’s death but hadn’t been. Maybe an oversight as the woman had passed away earlier that year. The title wouldn’t become an issue until it was time to pay property taxes.

Before Paul answered his call, a tall woman stepped in front of him. “Are you Agent Flannery?”

“Yes. I’m sorry, but I don’t have time to talk.” He moved to step past her, but the woman grabbed his arm.

“I’m Agent Cheri Aztec. You need to make time to talk.” Her haughty tone had him grinding his teeth.

“The killer has abducted Alexis Sullivan.” He wrenched free from her grasp. “I know who the killer is, so your services are no longer needed. Head inside and I’ll keep you updated on the investigation.”

She reared back. “You know him?”

He seriously did not have time for this. “Go.” He gestured toward the hotel. “We’ll talk later.”

“What’s going on, Griff?” Paul asked, finally answering the call.

He turned his back on Cheri. “I need you and as many other law enforcement officers you can get to meet me at the cabin.” Griff opened the back hatch for Denali. She jumped in as if understanding they were heading out to find her handler. “But no lights and sirens. We’ll need to meet at some point well away from the cabin to plan our approach. This guy has killed at least three women, maybe more. We can’t risk him shooting and killing Alexis if we rush in.”

“Understood,” Paul agreed. “Text me the address.”

Griff took a moment to do that, forcing himself to remain calm. Thankfully, Cheri must have taken his advice because he didn’t see her. Good riddance. He wasn’t as familiar with the area as the local deputies were. He’d need to let them take the lead on where to set up their rendezvous.

And he needed to stay sharply focused on the plan if he was to rescue Alexis alive and unharmed.

Please Lord?He took a moment to lift his head to the sky, opening his heart to prayer. He needed God now more than ever. And he knew in that moment he never should have turned his back on his faith after losing Grace.Please keep Alexis safe!

---