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He dropped the pack and sat beside her. “This definitely isn’t the best time of the year to be out here without supplies.”
“Finding small mammals might even be hard.”
“We don’t exactly have the best tools for trapping either.”
She put her hand in the air. “Enough food talk.”
Josh fiddled with a twig he’d snatched off the ground. “Can I ask you a more personal question than normal?”
With all her blood now in her cheeks, she shivered. “And I think that’s the cue to keep walking.” She stood and strapped on the pack to give Josh a break.
He stepped in front of her and clutched the pack’s straps. “Wow, I didn’t expect that closed an answer.” He helped her adjust the straps.
“Sorry, Josh. It’s just that . . . well, frankly if we get personal while sitting here, we’ll sit here too long.”
He pulled a hat out of his pocket and slid it on her head. “So you aren’t avoiding tough stuff with me?”
“Thanks.” She touched the hat. “Depends on your definition of avoiding.”
They hiked on. But Josh didn’t ask his question. Part of her wanted to know what it was, but asking might require answering. And she didn’t dare.
About five minutes later, Josh tapped her arm with the back of his hand. “You know it’s safe to talk to me, right? No judgment, no lectures, just friendship and support.”
She stopped and waited for him to meet her eyes. There was nothing but kindness and longing in his eyes. “I know. I really do.”
“Good.” He turned and walked on. No more questions.
She smiled.
They hiked on and on, but she couldn’t bring herself to tell him about Owen. She would, but not here. Talking about him would require too much of her focus, focus she couldn’t give while hiking and watching her back.
Another hour passed, and the sun dipped lower and lower, inching toward the horizon.
Ahead of them the rocks gave way to a gorgeous little waterfall.
And a way up!
She and Josh looked at each other.
“Even I can climb that—wait.” She grabbed Josh’s arm. “Ihaveclimbed that before—down, not up, though.”
“Really? Does that answer who?”
“Dax was lost in the Park . . . when was I here?” She searched her memory, but it wasn’t coming.
“Was Poirot with you?”
She walked over to the water and jumped the creek. After climbing a few rocks, she turned around. “No, Miss Marple was though.”
Josh tilted his head to the side. “Really? So this is connected to a rescue that is at least three years old?”
Chloe nodded. But what case? Not Dax. Who else would have such animosity toward the two of them?
Rain fell in large drops against the police-station window where Gabe rested his head in his hand and leaned on the table. In the last hour and a half, they’d made no progress in identifying who had taken Josh. Gabe had watched Josh walk out with the person over and over again, but while he seemed willing, something was off. Like Josh wasn’t all there and in control. Only thing Gabe could figure was that he’d been drugged. If there had simply been a threat, Josh’s body would have been stiffer and more on alert. But it was neither.
Now Gabe sat at the table, going through Chloe’s phone records for the night before the note was left at the house.
Aliza walked up behind him and rubbed his shoulders. “Can I talk to you for a minute?”
