Page 156 of Unruly

“His maps and routes for this run. They’re packed away in the desk at the brownstone. He had Google Maps up, too, so he could look at photos of the area from an aerial view.”

“Okay, but again, he has a million backup plans, Catherine. And besides the ones he sketches out, he keeps ones in mind that he doesn’t even put down on paper. Do you know what there is to see in Canada?”

“No.”

“Fucking trees and fields!”

Catherine bristled. “Don’t shout at me.”

“Listen, I’m sorry, but—”

“It’s cold as hell. It’s March. By the looks of the video, it’s raining down there and they still have some snow on the ground. He’s going to freeze to death in those woods, Zeke.”

“Cross is smart. I’m sure he’ll be okay until I figure something out.”

“Find him.”

“I am trying, Catherine.”

“Find my husband!”

Cross could not remember a time in his life when he had been wetter or colder than he was in that moment. Soaked to the fucking bone with cold March rain. His fingertips and feet were numb, and when they did give sensation, it was only pain.

He didn’t know how many miles he had walked, ran, and jogged by now. Thirty? Forty? Far more, likely. He had a good idea of where he was, and he knew where he had gotten out of his truck. That gave him a basic idea of how many miles it would have been on the road.

But in the woods?

On foot?

Trying not to get fucking lost?

Circling the same tree three times twice?

He had no clue.

Still, he kept moving.

That track of water he thought was a goddamn creek?

Neck deep and fast moving.

He supposed it probably helped him to lose the dogs, though.

Unfortunately, jumping into it without looking had fucked him in another way. The phone he had taken from the truck?

Worthless, now.

Entirely ruined.

Cross tried to turn it on and make a call only for the screen to splutter with life, and then blacken with death.

Coldly appropriate, considering.

He pushed on through that shitty circumstance, too. He didn’t have the first clue how he was going to get himself out of this mess. He only knew that for now he had to keep moving.

One step in front of the other.

Cross couldn’t stop.