Chapter 9 Forest
Forest
Fraiser’s laptop was open on the hood of Max’s truck, the screen glowing in the late afternoon sun. Max leaned beside me, arms crossed, watching as if he expected the computer to suddenly reveal where Jarod Kennedy was hiding.
“Got something,” Fraiser said finally, his fingers flying over the keyboard. “Pulled phone records, property deeds, bank transactions—this guy covered his tracks better than most politicians, but…” He tapped the screen, eyes narrowing. “He screwed up.”
I leaned in. “Where?”
“Rental cabin. Out near Black Ridge. Paid cash through a buddy of his on the force, but the power bill hit his real name two months ago. It’s been steady ever since.”
Max frowned. “So, he’s living there?”
“Or using it as a base,” Fraiser said. “Either way, it’s our best lead.”
I studied the map pinned to the screen. Black Ridge was remote. One way in. One way out. Plenty of woods for someone like Jarod to vanish into if he spotted trouble coming.
I didn’t like it.
Didn’t like any of this, honestly.
Not the way Jenny’s hands had been shaking before she left. Not the look in Poppy’s eyes when she told Liam what she saw.
And definitely not the thought of that girl’s father walking free while she was out there somewhere, waiting for him to find her.