Page 64 of Still Afraid

“Then what would they have most likely done?”

“That’s the question.” Chloe turned. “Momentum had them going this way, away from the storm. So let’s go over there.”

Josh followed her as she moved across the street. His support and the way he entertained her imagination gave her the confidence she needed to hold steady in face of all of this—the destruction and mystery of the attack and break-ins.

“If I had run this way from the tornado, I think I would have gone straight for the ditch and these trees. Not great cover, but it’s better than running down the road.”

“Not sure if he would have known which way the tornado was headed.”

“I sure didn’t, My goal was simply to get inside, and my house was the most logical choice.”

“Of course. So if he—“

“Or she.”

“—came this way, they might have …” Josh’s thought fell short.

“What is it?”

Josh lowered himself into the deep ditch a few feet from the edge of the road.

Poirot went headlong in too.

“Careful, boy. Josh?”

“I think I see something.”

She climbed down the embankment as well. It was much deeper than she had ever realized. Quite possibly whoever had taken refuge here had come out perfectly safe, other than being a little windblown. Other than the bruises from the hail. She had bruises showing up all over from those pesky little ice balls.

“Chloe, check this out.” Josh had picked up a stick and lifted a black zip-up hoodie from the ground, but it was stuck in a thorn bush. A black and white bandana floated to the ground. “Look familiar?”

“Could be anyone’s, but the fact that they’re together …”

“Exactly.”

Poirot nosed the sweatshirt and barked.

“Do you have a scent, boy?”

He barked again and headed up the opposite side of the embankment toward the woods.

Josh put the sweatshirt back where he found it. “I’ll call Buck.”

“I’m following Poirot.”

Chapter Twenty-Five

Chloe made it to the top of the embankment and whistled for Poirot who had moved out of view.

He bounded back and barked.

“I see you. Let’s go.”

She followed him through the brush and between trees that had been out of the tornado’s path. It was crazy how a few feet could make such a difference. Her house was gone, but these trees barely looked like a breeze had knocked off a few leaves.

The underbrush was thick and a challenge to get through. She was glad she wore pants, even though it was supposed to be in the mid-eighties today. Poirot would need a bath to make sure he didn’t have any ticks after this.

He waited on the other side of the forest line for her.