Page 86 of The SEAL and the Sheriff

Hudson eased off the accelerator.

Sarah looked across at him. “You trust Cord?”

“I trust useful information.”

Ignoring them, Cord pointed through the windshield. “The cabin’s over the rise.”

It came into view between the trees, the clearing unnaturally still. No woodsmoke curled from the chimney. No ravens scattered at their approach. Just the cabin sitting in the silence.

Cord’s face was rigid, his cuffed hands fisted in his lap. “If she’s in there...” His voice caught. “Just bring her home.”

Sarah met his eyes. “We’ll do everything we can.”

Hudson brought the car to a stop a hundred yards short, the cruiser concealed by the curve of the track. The instant the engine died, something shifted in him.

He was examining the ground around the cabin before his boots hit the snow. Every movement was economical, every glance deliberate.

He wasn’t looking at the cabin. He was taking it apart.

Sarah had known Hudson was dangerous. Until now she’d thought it was because he carried a gun. But standing beside him in the snow, the gun was the least dangerous thing about him.

The wind cut through her jacket as she got out, finding every gap at her collar and cuffs. The air smelled of spruce and the icy bite of clean snow.

Walter pulled in behind them, his cruiser crunching to a halt. Walter and the two deputies climbed out, rifles already slung, breath steaming.

Sarah moved to Hudson’s side. “Assessment?”

Hudson didn’t look away from the cabin. “Somebody’s been here recently.”

Walter and Statton joined them. Hudson took a knee, his fingers skimming across the snow. She followed the direction of his gaze.

Broken pine needles. Someone had pushed through low branches without bothering to hide it. Hudson’s gaze kept moving, searching for details her eyes hadn’t reached yet.

Walter broke the hush, looking between them. “How do you want us moving?”

Sarah looked at Hudson. “Talk to me.”

“One approach in. Trees are too dense on either side to move quietly, so if anyone’s watching, they’ll have this road covered.” Hudson scanned the cabin's roofline. “No smoke. Windows are curtained from the inside.”

Sarah raised her binoculars, studying the cabin for a moment. “Padlock’s been forced.”

Walter looked across. “Recently?”

“Yeah. Bright metal. Whoever broke it didn’t do it months ago.”

Hudson touched the churned snow. “Two people went in. Only one came back out.”

“Can you tell how recently?” Sarah asked.

“Hard to tell. Wind’s started filling them.” He studied them for another second.

Sarah frowned. “Nora?”

“Mmm.” He looked toward the cabin. “Maybe.”

Walter shifted his rifle. “So we split?”

Hudson shook his head. “No. If there’s a shooter inside, splitting gives him angles.” His attention flicked to the trees, then back to the cabin. “We stay together. Clear the structure. Get Nora out.”