Trenton's hand finds mine. "We wouldn't expect anything less."
The trust in his eyes gives me strength. Six years of waiting, of building a life together, has forged something between us that can't be broken, not even by this.
"Let's go," I say, squaring my shoulders. "Let's find them."
The drive to the state forest takes forty minutes, each mile stretching like taffy in my mind. I sit between Trenton and Matthew in Greyson's truck, Dad following in his own vehicle. The trees thicken as we leave the city behind, the road narrowing to a two-lane blacktop that winds through increasingly dense wilderness.
Ethan meets us at a small pull-off, police tape already cordoning off the area. His face is grim as we approach.
"Bodies were found about a half mile in," he says, gesturing toward a narrow trail. "Medical examiner's still working, but preliminary reports suggest the most recent victim was killed within the last week."
My stomach turns. A week ago, I was still teaching Charlie, still thinking Evan was just an overly attentive father.
"Can we see?" I ask, my voice steadier than I feel.
Ethan hesitates, then nods. "Keep it brief. And don't touch anything."
The trail is rough, barely visible between the trees. I follow Trenton, Matthew close behind me. The forest is unnaturally quiet, as if holding its breath.
The scene opens before us. A small clearing, the ground disturbed in several places. Police officers move with care, their voices low. A woman in a medical examiner's jacket kneels beside what appears to be a shallow grave.
"There," Matthew murmurs, his hand finding my back.
I take a steadying breath. The bodies have been removed, but the evidence of their presence remains. Discolored earth, the lingering scent of death. I force myself to look, to absorb what I'm seeing.
"He didn't bury them deep," I observe, noticing the shallow depressions. "He wanted them to be found."
Trenton's eyes narrow. "Or he was in a hurry."
I move closer, careful to stay behind the police tape. The medical examiner looks up, her expression guarded.
"These women," I say, needing to know. "Were they… Did he…"
The woman shakes her head. "No sexual assault. At least, not that we can tell. This wasn't about that."
The relief is small but real. "What was it about, then?"
"Power," she says simply. "Control."
I look around the clearing, trying to see it through Evan's eyes. This place is remote but accessible. He could bring someone here without being seen, but he could also leave quickly if needed.
"He's comfortable here," I realize aloud. "He's been here before."
Matthew turns to me. "What do you mean?"
"The way he chose this spot. The familiarity of the trail." I gesture at the path we followed. "He knew exactly where he was going."
Ethan joins us, his face grave. "We're widening the search. If he's using this forest regularly, there might be more victims."
"Or Charlie," I add, the name catching in my throat.
The police radio crackles to life, a voice I don't recognize reporting in. Ethan steps away to listen, his posture changing as the message continues.
"What is it?" Trenton asks when Ethan returns.
"Possible sighting," Ethan says, his voice tight. "A man matching Harris's description was seen at a gas station twenty miles east. With a little girl."
My heart hammers against my ribs. "When?"
