2. Lucy
2
LUCY
I spread out along the bank, scanning the area as I go for any signs a human passed this way. Guilt and fear gnaw at my gut, but I tamp them down. The best thing I can do for Olivia is stay calm and help the search.
It all happened so quickly. The kids were in their groups eating their afternoon snacks. There was a parent assigned to each group of five kids, and we had two teachers overseeing the entire trip.
But during break time, there was a sudden rainstorm. The kids went from sitting in their groups on the ground to grabbing their stuff and running for the trees.
We sheltered under the thick canopies for ten minutes while the rain passed, and when we regrouped Olivia was missing.
I try to remember when I last saw her. The mother who was looking after that group claims she ran under the trees with the rest of them. But there had been a disagreement with one of her friends. Some girls can get catty at a young age, and one of Olivia’s friends claims they had a fight because Olivia didn’t want to share the chocolate square her mom had packed for her.
I work with her mom, Cassie. She’s a teacher at the school and one of my closest friends. She’s Olivia’s stepmom and has been in her life since a few years after Olivia’s mom passed away from cancer. One of the things they’ve bonded over is baking. I can see why Olivia didn’t want to share her slice. It’s more than a chocolate slice to her. It’s a connection to her stepmom and a normal family life.
We’re working on the hypothesis that she went off to be on her own during the rainstorm, but where she went or what happened after that isn’t clear. It’s been two hours, and she hasn’t been found.
Ahead of me, the man stops by the riverbank and crouches next to something. His shoulders are broad under his coat, and I bet there are tight muscles hidden under there. I knew he was ex-military by the way he carried himself, straight up and confident. His hair’s cut short, and his square jaw is coated with the first hint of a five o’clock shadow.
If I saw him on a dating app, I’d definitely swipe right.
But I’m not on a dating app. I’m trying to find one of my students, my best friend’s little girl. This is no time to be checking out the hot Search and Rescue guy and wondering if he’s got a Valentine’s Day date.
I come up and crouch beside him to see what he’s looking at. It’s another print. And this time there’s no mistaking the marks of a cat paw.
My heart clenches. I don’t want to think about what might happen if she’s being stalked by a bobcat.
I glance at the man, and his face is set in a grim expression. This time he doesn’t try to reassure me. “There’s a place to cross a bit further down.”
“You think the cat crossed? Aren’t they scared of water?”
He shakes his head. “Not bobcats. They don’t fear the water like other cats, especially…”
He breaks off what he’s saying and stands up abruptly. But I finish the sentence in my head … especially if they’re stalking prey.
I shiver, and the man glances at me with concern. “You’re cold. You should go back.”
“No.” I straighten up. “I’m coming with you.”
He sighs, but nods. “My name’s Ethan, by the way. I’m the head of Search and Rescue, so you can be sure if Olivia is out here, I’ll find her.”
He can’t promise me that, but I appreciate that he’s trying to reassure me.
“I’m Lucy.”
He nods and keeps moving down the riverbank.
In a few minutes we come to a pile of rocks that have been placed across the river. They’re not quite stepping stones, but with some scrambling a person or child could get across.
Ethan stops to survey the area. “You think Olivia would have ventured across a river?”
I think about the headstrong Olivia. She lost her mom at a young age which made her resilient. Cassie, her stepmom, is half wild, always laughing, and her passion is motorbikes, the same as Olivia’s dad.
Most days Olivia rides to school on the back of a Harley. She’s fearless, but she’s not stupid.
“I don’t know,” I say honestly. “I think she’s capable of getting across here by herself, but if she wandered off because she had a fight with her friends, I don’t know why she would have come this far.”
Ethan nods. “It’s what I’m thinking too and why most of the team are looking elsewhere. It’s a slim possibility she came this way, but we have to rule it out.”
He closes his mouth quickly, like he was about to say something else. And I guess he’s thinking about the bobcat and what it might be stalking.
“Then let’s cross the river,” I say with more conviction than I feel.
He gives me a onceover, and as his gaze sweeps over me, heat floods my body. I tense at the strange feeling.
“You up for this?”
I sag in relief or disappointment, I’m not sure. He’s only checking me out to access if the prim schoolteacher can handle a scramble over rocks.
“Of course,” I say too harshly.
Ethan only has to take a big step to get to the first rock, but for me it’s a jump. He gets halfway across and turns to reach a hand out to help me. The last thing I want to appear is helpless. I may be a chunky girl, but I can handle myself. I ignore his hand and pull myself up to the next rock.
He takes the hint and leaves me to it. Soon we’re both on the other side of the river.
There’s no path whatsoever on this side of the river and Ethan moves slowly, his eyes on the ground.
He tenses and crouches before indicating a new direction. “This way.”
I peer at what he’s looking at. Another paw print. I’m not sure if we’re tracking a girl or a bobcat, but I’m glad I’m with Ethan.