Page 2 of Scent of Evil
“Marshal Whitman? This is Justin Sullivan. I understand you need help.”
“Yes.” That was one way of putting it. “Please call me Raine. How quickly can you get to Buffalo, Wyoming?”
“I happened to be in Greybull when Griff called, so I’m heading that way now. I can be there in twenty minutes, maybe a little longer as I’m pulling two horses in a trailer, which will slow me down.”
“Okay, we should get there about the same time, then.” Raine was glad she wouldn’t have to wait too long. “I’m giving you my sister Camille’s address. She’s working, but on a Saturday, my niece should be around. I called but had to leave a message. I want you to get there as soon as possible.”
“Got it,” Justin said, after she’d provided the information. “Did you notify the police?”
“Yes, Griff was going to send a request to the local sheriff’s department to head over.” Knowing police and Justin were on their way helped her feel better. It bothered her that Ginny hadn’t answered her call, then she belatedly remembered Cami telling her that Ginny had a part-time job working at a local horse farm, mucking stalls and other chores. “If Ginny isn’t at my sister’s, she could be at the Lucky Charm horse farm.”
“Okay, why don’t you call them?” Justin suggested. “That way they can keep an eye on her too.”
“I will.” She hesitated, then added, “I hope I’m not dragging you out to Buffalo for no good reason. My boss doesn’t think my hunch is correct.”
“Don’t worry about it.” Justin didn’t sound upset or annoyed by the possibility. “I’d rather be safe than sorry.”
“Me too. Thanks.” She ended the call and quickly asked her phone to call the Lucky Charm. Unfortunately, her call went straight to voice mail.
Why wasn’t anyone answering their phone?
Raine left a message, then focused her attention on driving. She’d lost some time while making her calls and hit the gas to make up for it. A few minutes later, Nancy Drago, co-owner of the Lucky Charm, returned her call. “Raine? I just listened to your message. Ginny isn’t working here this weekend. She has a project due for school.”
“Okay, thanks.” Raine hesitated, then decided against going into the whole story. “If you see Ginny, please have her call me right away.”
“I will.” Nancy ended the call.
If Ginny wasn’t working, then why hadn’t she answered her phone? The thought nagged at her for the next several miles.
She was ten miles outside of Buffalo when her phone rang again. Seeing Ginny’s name on the screen had her quickly punching the button to answer. “Hey, Ginny. Thanks for returning my call.”
“Auntie Raine? He’s here.” Ginny’s voice was barely a whisper. “I’m hiding, but he’s outside, trying to get in.”
An icy wave of terror washed over her. “Who, Decker? Are you sure?”
“Yes!” There was no mistaking the panic in Ginny’s hushed voice. “What if he finds me?”
“I’m on my way and so are the police.” Raine wasn’t sure why the sheriff’s deputies weren’t there already. “Did you call 911?”
“Yes, but please hurry.” Ginny sounded desperate. Then Raine heard a crashing sound in the background. Had Decker kicked in a door or a window?
“Ginny? Can you hear me? Stay on the line?—”
But it was too late.
The other end of the call had gone dead.
* * *
Justin Sullivan madegood time along the back roads to Buffalo despite hauling the horse trailer. He had taken the pair of geldings to be seen by a blacksmith for new shoes. As the third youngest of nine siblings, he had often sought solace in the barn with the horses when he was young, and now he was their primary caretaker.
He could do just about anything with the animals, except replace their shoes.
And if he were honest, he preferred animals over people most of the time.
Justin eyed his yellow lab, Stone, stretched out in the back crate area of his specially designed SUV. His K9 was a great tracker, yet he couldn’t deny feeling a bit apprehensive about his upcoming mission. He’d done hundreds of search and rescue missions over the six years he and his family had been running the ranch, but he had never gone after an escaped convict.
Not just any convict. A sexual predator with a nasty habit of attacking young girls. The thought of that man getting his hands on another young victim made him sick.
