Vinnie shook his head. “Naw. Opal has, though.”
The information sent a ribbon of dread slicing through Maren, confirming why Shadow wanted her sister dead. She could identify him.
“That would definitely motivate Shadow to want her gone before she talks to the authorities,” Colt said.
“We have to find her before he does.” But where would her sister go?
“Please save her,” Vinnie whispered.
With her heart in her throat, Maren left with Colt, the dogs close at their heels. Once they were in the Tahoe and driving away, Maren said, “I want to see where Opal went into the water. Maybe the investigators missed something. Maybe I missed something.” Maybe her sister would return to the river. “And the dogs could use a bit of free time.” She considered and then added, “I need some fresh air as well.”
Just a few moments to regroup and reassess her next moves.
Colt nodded. “It’s worth a shot.”
* * *
Colt drove out of town toward the Arkansas River. The city falling away to reveal more rugged landscape. He found the dirt road leading to the spot along the river where Opal had supposedly gone in. His heart hurt for Maren. It must’ve been hard to hear that her sister hadn’t wanted to contact her or ask her for help. It didn’t make sense. But he’d learned long ago that life rarely went as expected or hoped.
Even though he knew the dogs needed the downtime, as well as he and Maren, the river always made him nervous. It was rough and wild. The rapids sweeping down the rocky bottom were a sight to behold. A dangerous sight. Anyone going into the water without lifesaving protection was asking for trouble. And even then, serious injury was more common than not.
From the moment he’d heard that Opal had gone into the water and not resurfaced, his stomach had been twisted in knots.
He knew the damage the river could cause. He’d once worked a case where drug smugglers were using the rapids to move their product. When one of their rafts had flipped, the two occupants didn’t survive. Their bodies, battered and busted, had been found miles downstream.
He supposed that was one of the reasons he hadn’t bought that Opal had died in the river. Her body had never been found. Authorities had searched these riverbanks. But now that he knew it was all a hoax, he gritted his teeth against the frustration of law enforcement wasting so much time. Bringing the SUV to a halt at the end of a long dirt road, he climbed out with Maren and they released the dogs.
“There doesn’t seem to be anyone around,” Maren said. “I’m leaving Haven unleashed to let her just be a dog for a bit.”
Nodding, Colt stuffed Rusk’s leash into one of the pockets of his new cargo pants. “Will Haven know to stay out of the water?”
“She might venture to the edge,” Maren said. “But I’ll bring her back before she can go much farther.”
“These rapids are no joke,” he said. “Rusk knows the rules.”
Maren stared off into the distance at the rising Rocky Mountains. “Do you think Vinnie will reach my sister?”
Colt followed her gaze, taking in the rugged landscape, the distinct peaks and valleys that made up the mountain range.
“I pray so,” he said. “For your sake, as well as for the investigation.”
She slanted him a glance. “I appreciate that.”
His phone buzzed. Looking at the caller ID, he hesitated.
“Who is it?” Concern laced her words. “Vinnie?”
Quick to reassure her, he said, “Just my mom. I’ll call her back.”
Maren blew out a breath. There was no need for her to say she was disappointed it wasn’t news of her sister.
“No, you should answer,” she said. “It’s family. Family’s important. You never know when you’ll have another chance.”
Gut twisting at the dire truth in her words, he nodded. “I’ll be just a moment.”
He strode away from Maren and the sound of the water crashing over the rocky riverbed. Rusk, seeing his handler moving, hurried to his side.
“Mom? Is everything okay?” he asked while plugging one ear to hear.
