Page 66 of Landon (In Safe Hands)
Ordestroyed. Tossed in a river or shallow grave with him.A few deepbreaths help me get a grip on the panic lurking just under the surface of mycalm demeanor. I can’t think that way. I shouldn’t jump to those conclusions,but I can’t help it. Other than Ethan, Landon is the only person to ever loveme. We planned to spend the rest of our lives together, and now I don’t think Icould function without him by my side.
Jeremygives up trying to track Landon and calls Mason Reed, the same man who Landoncalled when Colin needed help. After a curt conversation, he hangs up and goesback to trying to get the tracking app to show Landon’s whereabouts.
“Itshows him traveling through Rockville, then taking a left on County Road Five.That road circles Cowler Lake. There’s nothing out there but campsites andsummer cabins,” Jeremy tells Dare.
“Someonehas him and is taking him to a deserted lake,” I clarify, my voice barely abovea whisper.
Jeremyand Dare’s eyes meet for a moment before Dare looks at me in the rearviewmirror. “Or he took care of whoever attacked him and needs to hide theevidence.”
“Idon’t care what he did. I don’t care if he’s leaving a trail of bodies behindhim, I want to see him. I have to know he’s okay.” My eyes scan the skyline asthe sun breaks over the horizon. If he’s outside, our time is running out.
Thelake isn’t exactly massive, but when it comes into view, some of my hopedrains. It will take hours to search this area. The woods are dense and onlybroken here and there by cleared trails leading to nearby cabins and campsites.“We have to call the cops. They can get a search party. Find him quicker,” Iplead.
“Andtake him to jail if he’s burying a body,” Jeremy grumbles.
Dareshoots him a warning look before parking alongside the lake. “We’ll find him.And we have more help coming. Mason is friends with an officer and can makesure only the right people show up.”
“Let’scircle the lake first,” Jeremy suggests. “You take right and I’ll go left. Ifhe’s in the woods, he’s better protected from the sun. If he’s exposed, we needto find him quick.”
Darenods and tosses me a knitted hat. “You stay with me.”
Despitethe damage the sun could be wreaking on Landon, it sure as hell isn’t making itany warmer. It’s probably the coldest it’s been this year, with the highspredicted to be around twenty degrees, and while I’m too emotionally numb tofeel it, I know it adds to the danger of the whole situation. We don’t know howlong he’s been out here, if he’s here at all. They could’ve just shut the phoneoff here to throw us off and kept driving. He could be anywhere.
Dareand I make our way along the tree line, calling Landon’s name into the still,icy air. We pick our way through sticker bushes and climb over fallen logs,scaring scores of small animals from their early morning sleep. My face isfrozen and wet from the silent tears I can’t control.
Afew minutes after we start the search, I hear an unfamiliar voice callingLandon’s name as well, and Dare turns to me. “Mason has arranged for some ofhis security and bodyguards to help.”
Themore the better, but I can’t help but wonder. “What does he do that he has menlike that at his disposal?”
“Heruns a shelter for victims of domestic abuse. Houses them and protects themfrom disgruntled exes.”
Itfinally comes clear why he was able to help Colin so quickly. “But not with thelaw’s blessing?”
“Notalways. Mason is a powerful guy with a lot of people in high places on hisside.”
“I’mglad he’s on Landon’s side, then.”
Thelongest hour of my life passes and my stomach is one giant knot. The sun hasbeen up for nearly two hours. I hope Landon is in the woods, in the shadesomewhere, but even then, if he’s hurt and unable to move, hypothermia is apossibility.
Dare’sphone rings and he pounces on it, listening for a second before barking, “We’reon our way!”
Hisfingers wrap around my arm. “They found him. He’s alive.”
“Thankfuck!” I exclaim, my legs working overtime to keep up with Dare’s speedystrides. It occurs to me he said “he’s alive” not “he’s okay”. “Is he okay?Where is he? What happened?”
Dareshakes his head at my rapid fire questioning. “All I know is what I told you.He’s on the other side of the lake.”
Whenwe make it back to Dare’s SUV, he floors it back onto the road, circling thelake at breakneck speed. There’s a small crowd gathered around a large cedartree. I recognize Justus and Jeremy, but two more men and a woman block my viewof what they’re looking at.
I’mout of the SUV before it comes to a complete stop, and Dare’s command to stopfalls on deaf ears. Whatever happened, I need to know. I need to see him.Nothing could’ve prepared me for the view I’m presented with when Jeremy takesa step back.
Arolled up tarp lies at the base of the tree, the outline of a body clearlydiscernible. Landon’s dark hair is visible at one end, standing out in alldirections. My legs go weak at the sight, and I see his face in my mind,laughing when I told him he needed a haircut. That was two days ago. How thehell did we get here?
Ifall on my knees beside him, in full panic mode and pull back the tarp. “Don’tdo that!” Justus exclaims, and grabs me by the waist, pulling me back a fewfeet. Jeremy throws the tarp back over him, but I’ve seen enough.
“Wehave to keep the sun off him, Zo,” Justus explains in a soft voice while Istruggle to free myself. “Don’t move the tarp, okay?”
“Iwon’t, but it’s too late! You saw him! We’re too late!” I sob.
