Page 177 of Rangers Unexpected Return

We rounded the corner in time to see a man climb through a broken window. Smoke covered his face, but he wore a dark jacket and large brown boots.

“Stop!” Trigger shouted.

The man fired.

Trigger and I dove in opposite directions.

The bullet struck the wall behind us.

Max came around the corner at a run.

The man saw him and disappeared into the trees.

“Max!” I pointed. “Get him!”

Max raced after him.

I followed, branches striking my face as I ran. The smoke thickened between the trees, mixing with the fire spreading along the lake.

Ahead of me, Max barked.

A man cursed.

Then I heard an engine.

By the time I broke through the brush, an ATV was racing away along a narrow service trail.

Too far for a safe shot.

Max stopped beside the tracks.

I lowered my weapon.

Trigger came up behind me, breathing hard. “Did you see him?”

“Not his face.”

“Evan?”

“I don’t know.”

The fire reflected against the trees as the ATV disappeared.

Something lay in the mud near Max’s front paws.

A phone.

Not the prepaid phone from the desk.

A different one.

Its screen was cracked, but it was still lit.

An unfinished message filled the display.

ROBERT, THEY FOUND THE LETTER.

TELL DAD WE HAVE TO⁠—