Page 54 of Ranger Belief
Jonah nodded. “We move together, tight formation. Mitch could be lying in wait, watching for us. Garrett may be working with him, and we still aren’t certain about Brett’s involvement. He could be friend or foe. Stay alert and vigilant.”
He took the lead. Scout followed, then Laney, with Ryker and Tate bringing up the rear. Clouds covered the moon, and a soft drizzle began as they trekked through the woods. A nondescript truck came into view, parked on the dirt road. Laney grabbed Jonah’s arm and whispered, “That’s Brett’s vehicle.”
There were no signs of the man. Jonah eased beyond the shelter of the trees to look inside the cab. Empty. He touched the hood of the truck and found that it was still warm. He slipped back inside the shelter of the woods. “Let’s keep moving.”
Brett was either their killer, lost in the woods, or dead. Adrenaline and hyper-vigilance increased Jonah’s heart rate. He took deep breaths to slow it down and prevent his vision from clouding at the edges. A short distance ahead, the Jeep Cherokee came into view. The license plate number, barely visible in the darkness, confirmed it was Nolan Carlson’s. Stolen from his cabin on the night of his murder. The same vehicle Mitch had driven away in after attacking Papa Earl.
It was parked on their side of the dirt road. Laney wasted no time. She opened the evidence bag containing Alli’s blanket and offered it to Scout. “Scent.”
The lab stuck her nose in the blanket and took several deep breaths before Laney pulled it away. “Find.”
Scout trotted a short distance away, lifting her nose in the air before sniffing various places on the ground. Laney held onto a retractable leash. She let out more of the lead as Scout continuedto hunt for Alli’s scent in the woods. Jonah held his breath. He’d seen the lab work several times, and knew she was amazing, but certain things could prevent her from picking up the smell. The recent rains, wind, certain terrain. If Mitch carried Alli or placed her in another vehicle—like an ATV—that could also interfere.
Suddenly, Scout’s posture changed. Her tail lifted, and she started moving with purpose.
Laney took off after her dog, and Jonah increased his pace as well. His heart thundered against his ribcage. The perpetual drizzle was a constant background noise that made it hard to distinguish other sounds. He was terrified they were walking directly into a trap, but didn’t know how to stop it. Not with Alli’s life at risk.
Scout led them to a small campsite. The tent was flimsy and big enough only for one person. The lab sniffed at the ground near the opening before abandoning it and moving on. Jonah gestured to Tate, who held his rifle at the ready to cover him. Then Jonah unzipped the tent’s opening and pulled it back.
Empty. A sweep of the interior revealed a sleeping bag, a paperback book, and candy wrappers.
“I’ve got something.” Ryker's voice was low, but carried across the distance. He pointed to a tennis shoe on the other side of the camp. It was child-sized, pink with sparkles. “She’s been here.”
Scout was sniffing the borders of the woods. Laney led her to the shoe and ordered her to scent. She did and then shifted to that area of the campsite. Once again, her tail straightened, and she tugged at the leash with determination, plowing back into the trees.
They continued on for half a klick up steeper terrain before reaching the edge of a limestone bluff. The sound of Bear Creek rumbling and tumbling its way toward the lake became louder.Scout stopped near the wooden fence, put in place to prevent people from falling off the bluff, and whined.
Laney removed a small flashlight from her pocket and shone it over the edge. Her eyes widened. “She’s here.”
Jonah joined her at the fence. He caught sight of the little girl hanging from a branch several meters down. She was unconscious, and from this distance, it wasn’t possible to tell if she was breathing. Jonah couldn’t be sure how she'd even gotten there. Had she fallen? Been pushed?
“Here.” Laney handed him the flashlight before stripping off her backpack. She ripped open the main pocket and dug around inside, unearthing a harness and rope. “I’ll rappel down to retrieve her.”
Jonah was tempted to argue with that plan. On the bluff, they were exposed. Ryker and Tate were standing guard, keeping watch, but the hair on the back of his neck rose anyway. He shone the beam down toward Alli. The rain had made the limestone slippery and treacherous. He could envision a thousand ways this could all go sideways quickly.
But he also couldn’t figure out a better alternative.
He needed to trust Laney to do her job. And he needed to do his.
Protect her.
“What do you need me to do?” he asked.
She handed him the end of the rope and a locking carabiner. “Do you remember the knots I taught you?” After he gave a sharp nod, she gestured to a sturdy pine tree. “Secure the rope to that tree as close to the base as you can.”
He slung his rifle over one shoulder and went to do her bidding as Laney removed her bulletproof vest before stepping into her harness. She checked her equipment with practiced efficiency. Her military training was evident in every precise movement.
“I’ll need you to belay me,” she said, pulling on a pair of tactical gloves before handing him the brake end of the rope.
“Got it.”
“Keep it taut, but give me enough slack to maneuver. If I call for more rope, feed it through slowly.”
She moved to the edge, positioning herself with her back to the drop. Scout whined anxiously, trying to follow.
“Stay, Scout,” Laney commanded.
The lab reluctantly obeyed, ears flattened with concern.
