Chapter 72
EMMA
Igo to the spot my dad marked, on the north ridge—same bend in the road, same tree line.
Nothing is out here but an old, abandoned barn. No trucks, no people, just mucky dirt and silence.
It’s clear I’m truly alone. Leaving my headlights on so I can see, I grab my camera and get out of my SUV to look around.
But the ground had been chewed up recently—deep tire ruts in the mud, like something heavy had passed through more than once. I crouch and take some shots from different angles. I’m no expert, but they look like semi tracks to me.
What would a semi be doing out here? Not that having a semi on this stretch of land is illegal.
What’s inside it could be, though. Not that I have a way of knowing if the truck—trucks?—transported anything.
Off to the side, by the barn, I find a length of plastic strapping and a scrap of paper with a barcode. I take photos of it all. I don’t know what any of it means, but it doesn’t feel good. In fact, it feels really creepy out here, and it’s not just the gloaming.
I push myself to search a bit more, but I don’t find anything.
Camera in one hand and the other hand on my hip, I survey the area. I’m missing something.
Frustrated, I stomp back to my car. I need to calm down. I need to go meet Lily anyway. I’m on the verge of arriving late as it is.
As I hurry to town, I tell myself that now that I’ve been here, maybe something in my dad’s notes will make sense. I’ll go over them again—maybe something will click.
Biting my lip, I clutch the steering wheel. Hopefully before Jake decides to take action himself.