Page 366 of Rangers Unexpected Return

Still exhausted.

Still carrying Emily, Elizabeth, and eight murdered women in her eyes.

But rested.

It was enough.

Camp Eagle River had changed since the fire.

Yellow crime-scene tape surrounded the office ruins.

State investigators had arrived.

So had federal agents.

Ground-penetrating radar moved slowly across the old playground.

Elizabeth stood near the tree line with Rylie.

She had insisted on coming.

Nobody tried to stop her.

She needed to see the place in daylight.

Needed to watch the ground give back what the Mills family had hidden.

Judy joined them.

I stayed close enough to reach her.

Far enough to let the women have the moment.

An investigator approached Sheriff Tate.

“We found an anomaly beneath the swing area.”

Tate removed his hat.

“How large?”

“Multiple sites.”

Elizabeth closed her eyes.

Rylie took her hand.

The crew began digging.

No one spoke.

The first thing they uncovered wasn’t bone.

It was red canvas.

A backpack.

Elizabeth broke free from Rylie and moved forward.