Detecting secrets, p.1
Detecting Secrets, page 1
“Man, your dog can run...”
Charlotte chuckled. “He loves it. I have a big fenced-in yard, and he races the cars on the street.”
A crack echoed through the trees.
Dennis yanked his gun from his holster, grabbed Charlotte’s arm and tugged her near a tree. He scanned the woods. Where had the gunshot come from?
“Theo, now!” The dog raced back and fell in beside Charlotte.
Another shot rang out, and a chunk of bark splintered mere inches from his temple. He pushed Charlotte’s head down and grabbed his radio.
“Shots fired. Finding safety.” A specific location wasn’t an option on an open channel. He prayed his deputies knew him well enough to determine where he’d head.
Dennis itched to go after the shooter, but he had no choice but to get Charlotte and Theo out of danger.
He jerked on her sleeve and pulled her with him. “We have to get out of here.”
Two-time Genesis Award winner Sami A. Abrams and her husband live in Northern California, but she’ll always be a Kansas girl at heart. She enjoys visiting her two grown children and spoiling their sweet fur babies. Most evenings, if Sami’s not watching sports, you’ll find her engrossed in a romantic suspense novel. She thinks a crime plus a little romance is the recipe for a great story. Visit her at www.samiaabrams.com.
Books by Sami A. Abrams
Love Inspired Suspense
Deputies of Anderson County
Buried Cold Case Secrets
Twin Murder Mix-Up
Detecting Secrets
Visit the Author Profile page at LoveInspired.com.
Detecting Secrets
Sami A. Abrams
Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
—Proverbs 3:5–6
This book is dedicated to the original Theo, air-scent dog extraordinaire Indiana Bones, and his handler, my sis-in-law Michelle. You two are an amazing team. And to my wonderful Suspense Squad. You ladies rock. I can’t imagine doing this writing life without you.
Contents
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Epilogue
Dear Reader
Excerpt from Perilous Security Detail by Elizabeth Goddard
ONE
Wednesday 1:00 p.m.
Trees towered above her, and dried shrubs threatened to entangle her feet. Marriage and family therapist and part-time search and rescue handler Charlotte Bradley jogged behind her air-scent dog, Theo. She hoped to find the missing girl she counseled at Sadie’s Place, a home for pregnant teens who needed help.
Charlotte admired the girl’s grit and struggled with the idea Hannah Davies had chosen to run away. There had to be more to her disappearance than simply an unhappy pregnant teen.
Theo had picked up Hannah’s scent five minutes ago and had veered off into the woods, darting through the trees and brush. He’d now slowed and weaved back and forth, nose high in the air.
Charlotte’s heart tumbled to her feet. She knew that movement. He’d lost the scent. “Theo, with me.”
The dog plodded to her side and sat. She pulled out a squeeze bottle to offer him a drink. Theo caught the stream of water in his mouth and gulped up the liquid.
When he’d had his fill, she stowed the bottle. “Well, handsome. What do you think?” Theo had caught the girl’s scent and lost it three times now. Not a normal event for him. It was like Hannah had poof disappeared.
Charlotte placed her hand on Theo’s head and scanned the area. What happened to the teen? No way Hannah had vanished into thin air. Charlotte just had to keep looking. That was all. The whole situation bothered her, but she couldn’t put her finger on why. The concealed compact Glock resting at the small of Charlotte’s back gave her a bit of comfort against the unease that stirred in her belly.
The smell of the impending snow drifted in the air, adding to her worry. The weatherman predicted a dumping of several feet of the white stuff. Not great timing. She inhaled and lifted her face to the sky. A prayer for holding off the storm came to mind, but she brushed it away. When was the last time God answered her prayers?
But maybe He’d answer one for Hannah.
A burst of an icy breeze whistled through the trees, halting her thoughts and sending a shiver racing through her body. She zipped her winter coat to her chin and adjusted her stocking hat. With a gloved hand, she patted Theo on the head.
“Come on, boy. She has to be here somewhere. Find.” Charlotte pushed back brush and ducked under bare tree limbs. Her boots crunched on the dried leaves as she followed Theo to a different section. She came across a narrow dirt path that twisted through the woods. Not much of a trail, but she’d take it. It sure beat the underbrush.
Seventeen-year-old Hannah Davies had disappeared twelve hours ago. Not enough time had passed for them to call in a normal search and rescue, but when the SAR coordinator discovered the girl was eight months pregnant, she’d sent Charlotte and Theo out along with three other search teams to hunt for Hannah. The sheriff’s department had assigned men who knew the area, but they had no training in search and rescue other than basic skills. Command had partnered the volunteers with the experienced personnel. Not ideal, but with the short notice, she and her incident commander, Gayle, took what they could get. If only the other teams had scent dogs, they’d increase the likelihood of finding the teen by a lot, but no other SAR canine team was available.
Sunlight filtered through the bare trees and evergreens dotting the narrow trail. Streams of light reflected off the white on Theo’s service-dog vest, giving him a sweet aura. Charlotte increased her pace, not willing to lose sight of him.
The dog had come to her four years ago as a gift that had more than likely saved her life. After the heart-wrenching loss of her baby, she’d absorbed Theo’s love and spent the next few years training him as an air-scent canine. He’d learned fast and now ranked among the top SAR dogs in the region.
Theo slowed. His nose high in the air. “Do you have her?” She studied the English shepherd, waiting for him to continue. With air-scent dogs, time mattered. Scents only lasted so long, and if it rained or snowed, his ability to track the person diminished and quickly disappeared.
Theo took off, aiming deeper into the foliage. She jogged behind him, careful of her step. A twisted or broken ankle wouldn’t help matters out here.
She unclipped the radio from her belt, keeping Theo in sight. “Team one to command.”
“Go ahead, Charlotte.”
“Theo has something in grid ten.” Her voice wobbled with the exertion.
“Copy that.”
“Thanks, Gayle.” Since Charlotte had used her radio, the incident commander didn’t need to relay the information to the others since they all used the same channel. Any private conversations came by way of her cell phone, which had spotty service out here. But they used the phones when they could. She clipped the radio back onto her belt and returned her focus to Theo.
The temperatures had dropped another five degrees over the last half an hour, and the clouds possessed an angry look that made Charlotte cringe. Time was not on her side.
Her cell phone dinged. She pulled it from her pocket and glanced at the text message.
Sheriff Monroe is on his way.
She’d met the local sheriff a couple of times and had also heard great things about him. She just hoped the man wouldn’t stop the search due to the weather. They had to find Hannah.
Copy that.
Unsure whether to consider the news good or bad, Charlotte continued her hunt for the girl she’d come to care about over the past four months. As an MFT at Sadie’s Place, she counseled pregnant teens. Her own experience brought a wealth of understanding to the girls. She’d been there, done that, and lost in the most horrible way. Now, she helped others deal with unexpected pregnancies and the decisions they faced.
Theo curved around a bush and dashed ahead. Charlotte picked up her pace to follow her dog around the foliage and came face-to-face with a low-hanging branch. She threw her arm up to protect herself a little too late and received a blow to her cheek that would leave a nice bruise.
The dog slowed, lifted his nose in the air, sat and gave a quick bark.
“What do you have?” She ducked under another branch, avoiding a matching bruise on her other cheek. Her heart sank. A hot-pink scarf dangled from a bush. One like Hannah wore. Charlotte crouched next to it and ran her fingers under the scarf.
She scanned the area. “Where are you, Hannah?”
A lump ten feet away snagged her attention.
“Hannah?” Charlotte pushed to a standing position. The hairs on her neck prickled. She drew her weapon, held it against her leg, and eased her way to the object. The nearer she got, the heavier the rock sat in the pit of her stomach. She glanced at Theo. He continued to sit next to the scarf. Odd. Charlotte steeled her spine and stepped closer. She looked down at her feet and sucked in a breath.
Blood pooled on the ground, and a medallion peeked through the crimson liquid. She raised her gun and forced her gaze to the large object in question.
Blood-covered legs protruded from the bush.
The discovery registered in her brain, and the world tilted, taking her to her knees.
Wednesday 3:00 p.m.
He couldn’t catch a break today. Sheriff Dennis Monroe slammed the door of his department-issued SUV and plodded toward the SAR tent. He’d picked up his five-year-old daughter from school at noon and had planned to spend the rest of the day with her. He’d only met Amelia for the first time six months ago, and he tried to spend as much time as he could with his daughter. Unfortunately, his dispatcher, Annie, had called, and he’d scrambled to find someone to stay with Amelia so he could hurry to the trailhead.
“Afternoon, Gayle.” He retrieved his gloves from his coat pocket and put them on. “Any word yet?”
The woman stood and smoothed the map on the table. “Charlotte called in a while ago. Her dog, Theo, was on to something.”
A faint scream echoed through the woods.
Gayle sucked in a breath. “Charlotte.”
“Where?” He placed his hands on the edge of the table and stared at the map.
Gayle pointed to a highlighted section. “Grid ten.”
After a quick study of the location, he took off in the direction of the scream.
“You and me, channel two,” Gayle yelled after him.
He waved an acknowledgment, adjusted his radio to channel two and settled into a quick jog. From what he remembered, Charlotte was a seasoned SAR volunteer. He’d met her two other times in passing, and the little he knew about Charlotte, he’d pegged her as levelheaded. Her reaction sent worst-case scenarios darting through his mind. Had she run into an animal like a coyote? Or was her response due to danger of the human variety?
His radio crackled. “Sheriff.”
He unclipped the device from his belt. “Go ahead, Gayle.”
“Charlotte found a body.”
Dennis picked up his pace. “Is it Hannah Davies?”
“Unsure. Charlotte’s maintaining her distance so that she doesn’t compromise the scene.”
“Good. I’m on my way.” Dennis glanced at the darkening sky. “Tell the others to bring it in. I don’t want anyone caught out in the storm that’s coming.”
“Copy that, Sheriff.”
“Oh, and give Mel a call. Have her meet me at the scene.”
“Coroner Melanie Hutton-Cooper. Got it.”
“Thanks.” He clipped the radio back on his belt and increased his speed another notch.
Fifteen minutes later, sweat beading on his forehead and breathing heavily, he rounded the corner and spotted Charlotte perched on a large rock. The woman sat snuggling what looked like a sixty-pound English shepherd.
He halted his progress, not wanting to startle her. “Ms. Bradley?”
She lifted her tearstained face and blinked. A purple bruise on her cheek stood out on her fair skin.
Dennis rushed to her side. “What happened? Do you need a medic?”
“No, no. I ran into a branch earlier, but I’m okay.” She swiped the tears from her cheeks. “You’re Sheriff Monroe, right?”
“Dennis. Please.” He held out his hand, and she accepted the gesture.
“Nice to meet you. I’m Charlotte, and this is Theo.” She ruffled the dog’s fur. Her gaze drifted to an area less than ten feet away. “She’s over there.”
His heart dropped to his toes. Had Charlotte found the missing girl? “Is it Hannah?”
“I’m not sure. I saw bloody legs sticking out. I didn’t want to get any closer, so I backtracked and stayed over here.” Charlotte tightened her grip on Theo.
“I’m sorry you’re the one who found her, but I appreciate you keeping the scene uncontaminated.” Dennis peeled off his glove, extracted his phone from his pocket and snapped pictures before moving closer.
“Theo found Hannah’s scarf over there.” Charlotte pointed to the pink piece of cloth hanging from a bush.
Confusion swirled in Dennis’s brain. Had he missed something? “Theo didn’t alert to the body?”
She shook her head. “No. He’s an air-scent dog, not a cadaver dog. He was searching for Hannah and alerted to her scent on the scarf. I just happened to find the body when I scanned the surroundings. Although, it’s odd that he alerted to the scarf and not her. If it is her.”
Dennis nodded, then crouched beside the dead woman. The air left his lungs, and the contents of his stomach almost followed. He swallowed the bile creeping up his throat.
“What is it?”
He glanced over his shoulder. Charlotte had stood but remained in her spot, hugging her waist.
He closed his eyes. How could he tell her about the gruesome scene in front of him? When he leveled his gaze on her, his heart ached at her defeated expression. “I’m not sure if it’s the girl you’re looking for, but I can tell you she was pregnant.”
Her eyes widened. “Was?”
There were no words to cushion the blow. “Someone performed a crude C-section, and the baby is missing.”
Of all the horrible things he’d seen in his career, this topped them all. He took a few more pictures for evidence and strode over to Charlotte. “Our county coroner, Dr. Melanie Hutton-Cooper, will be here in a little bit. Unfortunately, she volunteered to watch my daughter for me when I got the call-out. I’m sure she’s making arrangements for another babysitter and will be here soon.”
Charlotte worried her bottom lip. “You have a little girl?” she whispered.
“Yes.” Her reaction struck him as peculiar. He tilted his head and studied her for a moment. “She keeps me busy, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.” The conversation was heading in a personal direction, and he didn’t like it. Time to switch the focus. “Let me give Mel a call and get an ETA.”
He stepped away and dialed Melanie’s number.
“Hey, Sheriff.” Mel’s teasing tone made him smile. Her husband, Jason, was one of his four detectives and a good friend. In fact, all his detectives were in the same early to mid-thirty age range, which made being their boss challenging at times. And other times, they all gave him grief in a fun way, and Mel fit right in with the bunch.
“Did you find someone to stay with the princess?”
“Sure did. Amy and Keith are with her now. I’m on my way.”
He relaxed a bit, knowing people he trusted were watching over his daughter. The transition from bachelor to single dad hadn’t been easy, but he managed with the help of his church family and friends. “Good to know. Thanks for taking care of that. And, uh, Mel?”
“Yeah?”
“Be prepared.” Melanie had seen worse, but the sight was shocking even for the most seasoned investigator.
Mel hesitated. “Understood. See you in about fifteen.” The call disconnected.
Dennis stared at his phone for a long minute, then stuffed it into his pocket. He might as well see if the victim had ID on her while they waited. He slipped off his other snow glove and snapped on nitrile gloves.
“Please, stay right here, Ms. Bradley. I’ll be back in a minute.” He strode to the edge of the crime scene.
Careful not to disturb any evidence, he retraced his steps. He examined the victim’s clothing for pockets and found none. With a trained eye, he assessed the area around the girl. No purse, phone or wallet. Maybe underneath her? But he’d let Mel move the body.
For now, all he could do was wait.
An arctic breeze chose that moment to zip through the trees and whip down his collar. He shivered and adjusted his coat.
The storm hovered on the outskirts of town and had caused darkness to descend early. It would be a race against the clock to collect evidence and retrieve the body before the weather destroyed all hope of finding anything that could help their investigation.
* * *
Dark clouds inched closer to Myers State Park. Charlotte’s nerves danced on edge. She stared at the narrow dirt path, keeping her gaze away from the body she’d discovered.
