Chapter 3 #3
“I’d like to look over the area where you found her.” The thought popped out of his mouth before he could think it through. “If you don’t mind,” he hastily added. “I know it was a gruesome discovery for you. I got a glimpse tonight but couldn’t see much in the dark.”
“It was, but I agree with you. We should check it out tomorrow morning.” She glanced in the rearview mirror to where Bruno was snoozing in the crate area. “We’ll take Bruno with us. He’ll alert us if he scents the gunman.”
“I like that plan.” He managed a smile for the first time since receiving the phone call from Detective Rueger. “Can you think of anywhere else the killer may have left Skye’s car?”
“The paths in the nature preserve aren’t wide enough to drive on.” Evie’s expression turned thoughtful. “But I’ve been wondering about the river. There are some portions of the Grand River that are wide and deep enough to dump a car.”
“That’s true.” He thought about that for a moment. “How much do you want to bet that Rueger has never even considered looking in the river for Skye’s car?”
“He didn’t believe she was still in town, remember?” Evie’s tone was dry. “The way he kept telling us there were no signs of foul play tells me he never bothered looking for her vehicle.”
He frowned. “I believe he issued a BOLO for her car, but that was it. And he probably only did that to cover his bases.” Cam’s pulse jumped at the thought of finding Skye’s car submerged in the Grand River.
The Grand River started from natural springs in Hillsdale County and stretched roughly 260 miles across the state until it reached Grand Haven, emptying into Lake Michigan.
For all they knew, the car could have been driven and left to sink into the depths of Lake Michigan. Anything was possible now that they knew Skye had never left town that day as planned.
Too bad it was going on eleven thirty at night. He was anxious to start investigating the case.
He briefly considered calling Rex and asking for backup. Micah had worked as a private investigator, and his skills might come in handy. Di’s new husband, Jarek, was a cop too. All it would take was a phone call to bring several members of his team running to his side.
Yet calling Rex meant explaining why he needed help, specifically the fact that he was now the prime suspect in Skye Gray’s murder. Just imagining the incredulous expression on Rex’s face made him wince.
No, he couldn’t do it. He didn’t want any of his friends to know he was a murder suspect. There was no reason to drag anyone else into his problems. His job was to keep Evie safe.
That thought made him realize they’d been sitting in her car now for almost twenty minutes. Time to get inside. “Let’s go. We need to get some sleep if we’re going to hike the nature preserve early tomorrow.”
“I’m game.” Evie smiled as she pushed her driver’s side door open and reached down to press the button that would open the back hatch.
For the second time in a matter of hours, a crack of gunfire rang out. Cam ducked and pulled his weapon from the holster as he rolled out of his side of the car, searching for the shooter.
A dark figure darted into the woods. Furious, Cam bolted after him.
“Wait! Cam, don’t! Please come back!” Evie’s voice pleaded with him to stay, but he ignored it. After point-blank being accused of murder, he was determined to find this guy and to hand him over to Rueger as a new suspect.
Running wasn’t a problem; the army had trained him well, and he’d kept up his daily physical routine.
But once Cam hit the woods, he was at a disadvantage.
It had been a long time since he’d been in the area, and he couldn’t remember the exact layout of the woods in reference to the rest of the town.
He should have been better prepared. Stubbornly, he pushed through the foliage, searching for the shooter. It was so dark he couldn’t follow the guy’s path, finding only the occasional broken branch that could have been left weeks ago rather than minutes.
After five minutes, he stopped to listen. There was nothing but silence, which meant either the shooter had already gotten through the woods and was out of the area, or he was hunkered down somewhere waiting and listening too.
Every cell in his body wanted to find this guy. But as the mosquitos started to attack his exposed flesh, he realized it was useless. Turning, he retraced his steps, hoping he wouldn’t have to call Evie for assistance.
Barely two minutes later, he heard the rustling sounds of something moving through the brush. Bringing his weapon up, he peered through the darkness, half expecting the gunman to lunge for him.
Then he relaxed when he saw the flash of Bruno’s white teeth.
“Hey, boy.” He put his hand out. The dog bumped his fingers with his nose, licked his skin, then turned to head back the way they’d come. The dog went about ten feet, then turned to look at him as if to ask, Are you coming?
Saved by a dog, he thought with a grimace. And wouldn’t this story send Rex and the others into gales of laughter.
Cam wasn’t laughing. He’d lost the gunman. And worse, the guy knew exactly where they were staying.
They needed a new plan and fast. No way would he give this guy the chance to try again. He’d keep Evie safe if it killed him.