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He watched Dylan move to the front door. It was open, which Ted thought strange. He disappeared inside, and Ted held his breath. He reappeared minutes later.
“She’s not here, but she was,” Dylan said. As the words left his mouth, they heard the gunshot. Ted started running, following Dylan.
“It came from the trees!” Dylan roared, heading that way with Ted on his heels. Reaching the trees minutes later, they slowed, then crouched. Fin and the Trainers arrived and dropped down beside them
“If she’s escaped, Mandy would know this terrain well enough to be aware Ryker Falls is on the opposite side of Roxy,” Joe said.
“She’ll hide or try and make her way around. It’s a hell of a distance, but in her state, she’d probably attempt it,” Dylan added.
“Her state?” Ted asked, looking up the mountain through the trees. No way could Mandy make it over that.
“Panic. Flight or fight. She’ll be running, and safety is all she’ll think about. That and reaching you.”
“Tracks are here, and there’s two sets. The first is Mandy’s,” Jack said. “Let’s go.”
“Now you all just hold on here a minute.” Chief Blake arrived. “No one is running into anything without a plan.”
“I am.” Ted got to his feet and ran in the direction Jack had pointed. Behind him, he heard the others following and Chief Blake swearing.
Jack, Joe, and Luke took the lead with Fin. Ted and Dylan stayed on their heels with Chief Blake.
“I’m arresting you fuckers,” he muttered.
The going was hard. There were trees everywhere, and roots. They hadn’t been moving long when Joe raised his hand, then turned and held a finger to his mouth. They moved forward slowly.
“Someone’s coming,” Fin said softly. Dylan motioned for them to hide in the trees. Ted watched, crouched, ready to grab whoever it was.
“I’m strong in here.” The words were a breathless rasp.
“Mandy!” Ted regained his feet as she appeared. She saw him and launched herself at him. He caught her, holding her close in a fierce grip. “Thank God.” He breathed the words into her hair.
She couldn’t speak; her hands were around his neck in a punishing grip as she buried her face in his shoulder.
“I have you.” He lifted her off her feet. “You’re safe now.”
“Someone’s coming,” Fin hissed.
The Trainers, Dylan, and Fin all pulled their guns and stood before Mandy and Ted. Chief Blake joined them with a sigh.
Logan Hall stopped in the middle of the track, shock etched on his face as he saw what waited for him.
“No!”
“Shoot him,” Ted muttered.
“It’s a thought and would certainly save the taxpayers a lot of money,” Fin added.
“No one is shooting anyone!” Chief Blake roared.
Hall was handcuffed and marched back to Chief Blake’s car. Ted kept an arm around Mandy’s shoulders, because she was shaking and he couldn’t contemplate releasing her anytime soon.
“Did he hurt you?”
“No. I’m all right now, Ted.”
“I don’t see how you can be all right, not after what you’ve been through. I’m fairly sure I’ll never recover.”
“M-my aunts?”
