Shadow whined, turning his head toward the east slope. His body grew rigid. Ava recognized the gesture too well. Shadow was onto something.
She followed his line of sight. There, half-buried in snow near a cluster of pine roots, she saw it. “It looks like a small wooden box.”
Everyone gathered around her as she knelt and brushed the frost away. Ava opened it. Inside lay two gold rings, similar to wedding rings. One smaller, clearly a woman’s. The second appeared to be a man’s. Etched on the inside both bands were interlocking letters—H and L—and beside it, a strip of blue cloth tied in a bow.
Caleb’s voice dropped low beside her. “Any idea what he’s trying to tell us?”
Ava shook her head. “We’ve ruled out Hidden Lake, and we can’t confirm a name. What if this is another location?”
Caleb thought for a moment then snapped his finger. “Hunter’s Lodge. It’s an old hunter’s camp east of here.”
Ava’s throat tightened. “Let’s move on it. We don’t have long.”
Deputy Vaughn’s voice came through the headset. “Ava, dispatch just reported an explosion and smoke near Hunter’s Lodge. The dispatcher said she heard screams in the caller’s background before the line went dead.”
Ava lifted her gaze to Caleb’s. Their eyes met. Years of loss, love, and unfinished promises collided in that silent exchange.
“He’s waiting for us,” she said softly.
Caleb reached out and touched her cheek. “But this time, he isn’t going to win.”
Chapter Fifteen
The Whisper in the Pines
“Hold up,” Devlin said after Ava told him about the lodge. “We need to make sure you’re both alright, before you go anywhere.”
Caleb shook his head. “There’s no time. We’re fine. Finding Agent Pierce is critical.”
Devlin disagreed with the decision. However, he raised his hands in defeat and stepped away.
“How far is the lodge from here?” Ava asked while the team of searchers gathered around. Those who had gone through the collapse were covered in soot, yet no one opted out of the search for one of their own.
“Half an hour’s hike.” Caleb spotted the smoke plume rising on the ridge above them. “But it won’t be an easy hike. That’s a hard climb for experienced climbers and the snow up there will be deep and almost impossible to traverse.”
Ava pinched the bridge of her nose. “We need choppers right away.” She found Agent Novak and gave the order. Novak appeared in shock that his partner was missing.
“Novak, I know this is hard,” Ava said gently. “But I need you to focus.”
He snapped out of it and retrieved his phone. “I’ll make it happen. We’ll make better time by air.”
Ava smiled. “Thank you, Dominic.”
Caleb glanced at the sky and realized they had maybe an hour before darkness made the search even more difficult.
“Two choppers are on their way here now,” Novak assured Ava. “Ten minutes out.”
Ava nodded. “Great. That’s good news.”
Yet ten minutes of wait time felt like an eternity in Caleb’s mind.
Devlin came over to where they waited. “We’re searching the last known location for Rachel that Grace pointed out. If she’s trapped inside, we’ll find her.”
“Thank you.” Ava’s smile appeared forced. “Let me know what you find.”
When it was just her, the dog, and Caleb, he did his best to assure her they’d find Rachel, but he felt anything but positive.
“I can’t believe this is happening,” Ava said in a whisper. “I can’t tell Rachel’s family she’s dead at the hands of this monster.”
