My stomach clenched.
Mrs. Pendelton had come to clean her husband’s office out today, and I’d stood back the entire time as she cried her eyes out.
I gave her a hug before she left, which fuckin’ sucked because I hated giving hugs to anyone that wasn’t Wendy or Constance, and she said…
“She said something cryptic as she left,” I admitted. “She cleaned out Pendelton’s office today. As she was leaving, she kept muttering to herself about taking care of it.”
“Fuckin’ great,” he said. “Perfect. Dandy.”
I didn’t bother to say anything more about the subject.
“I have to go. Constance went on a hike today and hasn’t come back yet.”
Black hissed out a breath. “Do you need the SAR—search and rescue—team?”
“Yes.” I answered.
I gave Janet a nod and headed to the truck where I went to the house to change my shoes.
The only thing I had going for me was that Peanut wasn’t at the house when I got there.
At least she had some sort of protection.
I got my rifle, my boots, and my SAT phone before looking up Constance’s location and heading out.
She was over an hour away, which made me sick to my stomach to think about.
If she needed help…
I made the usual hour drive in forty.
When I pulled into the trailhead, her car was there, but she was nowhere in sight.
Grabbing my rifle, coat, and phone, I sprinted up the trailhead, praying that she was okay.
It was about a half a mile down the trailhead that the baying of a dog—my dog—started.
I pushed myself faster, knowing in my gut that Constance was in trouble.
I rounded the bend of the switchback as I finally got close enough to see what was going on.
Eustace was standing over my girl with a gun.
She was on the ground, cradling her hand to her chest and crying uncontrollably.
Eustace had that gun in his hands, and he was trembling.
Then, as if Possum and Peanut were waiting for me to arrive, they both acted at once.
Possum swooped down and sank his claws into Eustace. Peanut lurched forward and bit.
And I sprinted toward the kid and Spartan-kicked him right off the cliff ledge.
It took three seconds max.
A deafening crash and a feminine scream sounded.
Constance flipped over onto her belly and yelled, “Mrs. Pendelton!”
