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"His business?" Fiona frowned, trying to make sense of it all. "So he hunts animals illegally to... what? Feed his supply of insects?"
"Seems like it." Jake nodded, his brow furrowed in concentration. "If he needs a constant supply of fresh carcasses for those insects he sells, then hunting in protected areas might give him easier access to prey."
Fiona felt a cold shiver run down her spine as she considered the possibility. The idea that someone would go to such lengths to obtain food for their creepy-crawlies was unsettling, to say the least. But it also raised a bigger question: Was Darrell Sloane just an unscrupulous businessman, or was he capable of something far worse?
Fiona watched Jake's expression change as he scrolled down the screen, his brows furrowing and his eyes widening in surprise. The tension in the room seemed to thicken, making it difficult for her to breathe. She leaned closer, curiosity getting the better of her.
"Jake, what is it? What did you find?" she asked, her voice laced with urgency.
He looked up at her, his eyes filled with disbelief. "This protected area where Darrell was caught hunting... it's the same forest where Nadine and Harry were found dead."
Fiona felt a chill run down her spine, as if an icy finger had traced a path along her vertebrae. She bit her lip, trying to suppress the surge of fear that threatened to overwhelm her.
This couldn't be a coincidence, could it?
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
The morning chill sent a shiver down Lacy's spine as she trudged through the damp underbrush, her breath visible in the cool air. She glanced around at Chris's friends from the force, noting the determined expressions on their faces. Though she knew them well, they'd never seemed more like strangers than at this moment. Her heart raced with each step, fear and worry gnawing at her insides.
"Chris said he got a call last night," Lacy murmured to herself, remembering the hurried conversation they'd had before he left. "He said it was something about the woods... But why would he come out here alone?"
"Hey Lacy," called out Officer Jenkins, one of Chris's closest friends. "You holding up okay?"
"Y-yeah," she hesitated, wiping a stray tear from her cheek. "I just don't understand what could have happened. He's never been gone this long without checking in."
"Off the books..." muttered Officer Ramirez, shaking his head. "That ain't like Chris at all. He's always been by the book."
"Something's wrong," Lacy whispered, her voice wavering. "I know it."
"Alright, let's split up," suggested Jenkins. "We'll cover more ground that way. Just make sure to stay within earshot, alright?"
Lacy nodded, her chest tightening with each passing second. As they spread out, she couldn't help but feel an overwhelming sense of dread wash over her. The woods had never felt so ominous; the shadows cast by the trees seemed to stretch on for miles, swallowing any trace of warmth or hope.
"Chris!" she called out, her voice barely audible amidst the rustling leaves and creaking branches. "Where are you?"
She paused, straining her ears for any hint of a response, but all that greeted her was silence. The weight of her concern threatened to suffocate her, but she forced herself to push onward, determined to find her husband and bring him home. No matter what it took.
"Chris!" she called again, her voice cracking with desperation. "Please... answer me."
As Lacy continued deeper into the woods, her thoughts raced back to their life together - the laughter, the love, the countless memories they'd shared. She couldn't fathom a world without Chris in it, and the prospect of facing that reality terrified her more than anything else.
A gust of wind rustled the leaves, causing Lacy to shiver as she trudged deeper into the woods. She tried to keep pace with Officer Jenkins, her eyes scanning the forest floor for any sign of Chris. The trees seemed to close in around them, their twisted limbs reaching out like gnarled fingers.
"Chris!" Officer Jenkins called out, his voice echoing through the dense foliage. He shot Lacy a concerned glance. "Don't worry, we'll find him."
"Thanks," Lacy muttered, wiping away a tear that threatened to fall. She knew Chris wasn't an outdoorsy person - he preferred the comfort of their home and the warmth of her embrace. The thought of him alone in these woods sent a chill down her spine.
"Hey, Lacy," Officer Thompson interjected, sidling up beside her. "I don't want to sound insensitive, but... do you think it's possible Chris was just having an affair? Maybe he snuck off with another woman and hasn't realized we're all looking for him."
Lacy clenched her fists, anger boiling inside her. "No. Chris loves me, and I trust him completely. Something is wrong." She turned away from Thompson, her jaw set in determination.
"Alright, alright," Thompson conceded, raising his hands defensively. "Just a thought."
As they continued their search, Lacy's mind swirled with images of Chris - his warm smile, the way he held her close on cold nights. If only he were here now, she thought, her heart aching with longing.
"Wait!" Lacy suddenly shouted, spotting something in the distance. Her pulse quickened as she sprinted towards the object, her fear momentarily forgotten.
"Slow down!" Officer Davis yelled after her, worry etched across his face as he followed closely behind.
