Risk It All by Perrin Anna

Author:Perrin, Anna [Perrin, Anna]
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 12

Brooke’s heart beat faster as Alex parked his truck. His GPS had shown them a road wound down the hill to the base of the ravine. Considering her ankle still ached, she was glad they didn’t have to attempt that treacherous twenty-foot descent again. She would have done it if necessary, because nothing was going to keep her from helping Jared look for his brother.

They exited the truck. Last night, the dark had made it impossible to judge the ravine’s size, but today she could see it encompassed many acres. Acres that could conceal a dead body for a long time, if not forever.

“We’ll cover more ground if we split up,” Alex said, his voice grim.

Jared pointed to a water tower rising above the tops of the trees. “If we head in that direction, we’ll end up near our entry point last night.”

Trust Jared to have made note of a landmark even under the circumstances. She’d been too busy running for her life.

“If you come across anything suspicious,” Jared added, “don’t get too close. We don’t want to contaminate any evidence.”

Good advice, but she wondered how he could keep his emotions in check. If they’d been looking for Savannah’s body, she wouldn’t be showing such restraint. Her anxiety would have been written all over her face.

She set off, with the men fifty yards away on either side. The day was overcast, the threat of rain lurking in the clouds overhead. The raw dampness quickly sliced through her clothes and settled deep in her bones. Within a few minutes, she lost sight of her companions in the woods. Thankfully, their footsteps could still be heard as they forged ahead. Given what she was searching for, it was a comfort knowing she wasn’t alone.

She scanned the ground, her gaze sweeping in a wide arc as she walked. Her ankle throbbed, but she ignored it. Several times she changed direction to look underneath clumps of bushes and peer into dark hollows. Corpses weren’t necessarily dumped in one piece, she reminded herself, and wildlife often tampered with the remains. Those morbid thoughts added to the chill she already felt.

After climbing over a fallen tree, she paused. A rancid odor permeated the air. Feeling queasy, she sniffed until she located its source. A crevice at the intersection of two large branches. She found a stick and gingerly brushed aside fallen leaves. The remains of a squirrel came into view, its belly exposed, its internal organs crawling with maggots. She dropped the stick and turned away in disgust.

If Steve’s body were in the ravine, its condition could be the same or worse, depending on the manner in which he’d been killed. It would be horrible for Jared to find him, horrible to have the memories of a lifetime tainted by a last, grotesque image. She would spare him that, if she could, even if the experience gave her more nightmares.

With renewed determination, she pushed on. If she hurried, she could finish searching her designated area and move into Jared’s.

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