Page 337 of Rangers Unexpected Return

He pointed.

“Blood came from the other side.”

I followed the trail through the backyard.

A section of wooden fence had splintered beneath someone’s weight.

There was blood on the top rail.

Max sniffed the ground.

Then the fence.

His body changed.

Focused.

Ready.

Mace clipped on the lead.

“Find her.”

Max pulled toward the alley.

We followed him through the rain.

He stopped at the entrance to a storm drain.

Dark water rushed through the concrete channel.

A smear of blood marked the wall.

“She came this way,” Mace said.

Detective Avery handed us flashlights.

“The tunnel splits fifty yards in.”

Wolf checked his weapon.

“Then we split too.”

“No,” Mace said.

Everyone looked at him.

“Elizabeth is frightened.”

“She hears several people coming; she may keep running.”

He looked at me.

“Judy and I go with Max.”

Wolf frowned.

“I don’t like that.”