Page 68 of Scent of Death

They’d have to get back to the cabin on their own.

Griff briefly considered tying Jenkins to a tree so he could help Paul but decided against it. He couldn’t bring himself to let the killer out of his sight.

Then he remembered the four-wheeler. He stepped in front of Jenkins. “Where’s the ATV?”

Jenkins ignored him, still staring blankly over Griff’s shoulder. Swallowing against a wave of frustration, Griff turned to scan the area. The darkness made it difficult to see, but he felt certain the four-wheeler wasn’t far. There hadn’t been that much time for Jenkins to hide it and get into position to set up his ambush.

He pulled Jenkins along as he headed toward a thick area of brush. Jenkins stumbled. Griff tightened his grip. “Don’t even think about it,” he warned. “I’ll shoot you again if I have to.”

Jenkins remained silent, still not looking at Griff. The kid was giving him the creeps.

When he reached the thicket, Griff kicked at the brush, grinning with satisfaction when his boot struck something hard. Keeping one hand on Jenkins, he moved the branches away with the other.

And found it.

“Alexis? I have the four-wheeler here.” He glanced over his shoulder to where she was crouched over Paul. “We can use this to get Paul back to the cabin.”

“Okay.” She looked relieved. “Did you hear that, Paul? We’re going to get you out of here.”

Griff leaned over the four-wheeler and checked to make sure the key was in the ignition. It was. But there was no way he’d be able to drive it over to Paul while holding on to Jenkins.

“Alexis? I need you to help get the ATV over to Paul.”

“Coming,” she answered. “Hang on, Paul. I’ll be right back.”

Griff knew the Sullivans had four-wheelers and snow machines at the ranch. Alexis was more than capable of using it, but it still took some maneuvering to free the machine out of the bush.

As she drove to where Paul waited, Griff pulled Jenkins along to join them. The four-wheeler wasn’t big enough for all of them to fit.

“Come on, Paul.” Alexis tried to help the deputy stand. “You need to get on the back.”

“Get on the ground,” he told Tyler. The kid didn’t obey, so he ruthlessly shoved him down. Then he leaned over to grab Paul beneath the arms, lifting him up to his feet. Once he had the deputy standing, he turned his body and set him on the back of the four-wheeler.

“Griff!” Alexis shouted in horror as Tyler staggered to his feet and ran the rest of the way up the incline.

Griff quickly followed. He didn’t think the kid would get far with his wrists cuffed behind his back.

Jenkins reached the top of the incline, then flung himself forward.

“No!” Griff surged forward, trying to snag the kid’s arm. But he was a split second too late. Griff stared in horror as Tyler Jenkins fell headfirst down the steep ravine. With his arms cuffed behind his back, the kid couldn’t break his fall.

And when he landed headfirst, his neck clearly broken, as the rest of his body was at a ninety-degree angle, Griff knew it was too late.

Tyler Jenkins had chosen death over being incarcerated for the rest of his life.

“Oh no,” Alexis breathed, coming up to stand beside him. “I can’t believe he did that.”

Griff shook his head and sighed. “Yeah, I did not see that one coming.” He turned away, knowing there wasn’t anything more he could do. There would be time to retrieve Jenkins’s body later. “Let’s get Paul back to the cabin.”

Alexis drove while Griff sat on the back holding on to Paul who’d passed out. Denali trotted alongside. It was a slow descent, but when they reached the bottom, they found Cameron and another deputy heading toward them.

“Paul’s hit.” Alexis gestured to the back of the ATV. “Griff has him, but we need that ambulance ASAP.”

“I’ll go.” The deputy he didn’t know turned and ran off.

“Where’s Jenkins?” Cam asked, jogging on the opposite side of the ATV.

“Dead,” Griff said. “Jumped down a ravine with his hands cuffed behind his back.”

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