Chapter 18

Fifteen minutes later, I stepped away from the scene again as fear renewed itself within my heart, and I needed a few seconds to myself. My team was good, and I trusted their work, so I left them to it, and pulling out a cigarette, I carried it to my mouth. I was digging for my lighter when my cell went off and praying it was Ashley, I tossed the unlit cigarette into the grass, jerking the phone out of my pocket.

I didn’t recognize the number and disappointment washed through me, but pushing the button anyway, I took the call. At first, I heard nothing, but then I heard a sob. “Brice?”

My heart slammed against my chest at the sound of her voice. “Oh, God, Ash. Are you okay? Where are you?”

More sobs reached my ears, but she said nothing else. Then, I heard a man cursing in the background before what sounded like the sound of the phone being dropped.

I panicked. “Ashley? Dammit, Ash, answer me! Where are you?”

Suddenly the voice of the man I had heard laughing in the background greeted me. “Hello, Brice.”

“Who the fuck are you? And what have you done to my sister?” I shouted.

“Why, nothing yet…” The voice trailed off, then picked back up. “I tell you what, if you want Ashley back—alive—you and Rylee need to follow the clues. Now Clue number one. Bigfoot was here. Better start searching, Sir Galahad, for time is counting. I’ll phone you with the next clue in twenty-four hours. I’ll give you a clue every twenty-four hours for the next seven days, but, if you haven’t found Ashley by the eighth day, I’ll let Rylee watch me kill her. Happy hunting.”

Snapping my phone closed, I let out a roar that had Rylee and Courtney sprinting in my direction. When they came skidding to a stop before me, I was already shoving my way through them. A deep growl erupted from my lips at each one that got in my way as I advanced toward Ashley’s car.

Ethan Blair stood from where he’d been squatted down, dusting the seat of Ashley’s car for fingerprints, and looking at me as stalked toward him, he raised an eyebrow. “What’s up, Rowland?”

“The motherfucker who has her just called me, and as of this minute, I’m taking over here. I need you to find all the fucking Bigfoot shit you can,” I ordered.

Rick, Rylee, and Courtney had come over to Ethan and I as I was telling Ethan what I wanted, and at my words, they all whipped their heads in my direction, then in unison all four of them exclaimed, “What?”

The words had barely left my lips before I was calling the bureau. “Jolene, I need this number traced.” I gave her the digits and barked, “I want it yesterday!”

As what had happened sank in, I felt my limbs tremble. Oh, sweet mother of God, Ashley’’s life depended on what I did next, and I had a measly twenty-four hours to figure out the Bigfoot clue before he called with the next fucked up mind-twister.

I looked at Rylee and Tanner, then my gaze focused on Rylee, and I muttered, “The bastard giving you the visions just called me—gave me a fucked up clue. ‘Bigfoot was here?”

Rick gaped at me, then questioned, “What the hell does that even mean?”

I shrugged. “Shit if I know, but my guess is he’s taken her somewhere known for Bigfoot sightings.”

So, are we supposed to hunt this mythical creature? I mean, I believe, but…really?”

I shook my head. “No, I don’t believe so. We have twenty-four hours before he calls with the next clue, now let’s get to work.”

Rick gazed at me, before nodding and drawing my attention to the blood on the ground, “The pattern shows she was dragged from the pickup. I know this is a moot point since we now know that she’s been abducted, however, let’s work this out, anyway.”

As he was talking an officer came trotting in our direction and glancing at Rick, he nodded his apology for interrupting him, before looking at me.

“I’ve been talking with someone who claims to be a witness.” He pointed toward a scruffy, unkempt man who looked as if he feared being hauled off to jail.

I’d heard all I needed, and before the officer had even finished his words. I was turning, trotting toward the man he’d pointed out. The derelict, seeing me coming in his direction, took on a hunted look, beginning to shift around, as though searching for a place to hide.

I came to a stop before him, keeping my hands down at my sides, showing him I meant him no harm. “You’re not in any trouble. I’m going to ask you a few questions, okay? Just answer them as truthfully as you can.”

Pulling out my pack of cigarettes, I offered him one, and his hand shot out, snatching a cigarette from the pack as I took in his torn and dirty clothing.

Dirt and God only knew what else I didn’t even want to consider, caked his fingers and nails. Stains and tears dotted his clothing, and the stench wafting up from him made it obvious he had been nowhere close to a shower in quite some time.

Flicking my lighter toward the tip of the cigarette as the man placed it between his lips, I waited as he drew in a deep draw of the tobacco. Slowly he exhaled it out between cracked lips.

Finally, with no coaxing, the man began to talk, “I was over there,” he stated, pointing toward the only wall that offered any shade, “That’s when I saw the lady pull in. She stopped, and then this pickup came rip-roaring in after her. Slammed right into her car.”

I offered another cigarette as the man tossed the smoked one to the ground. With a happy grin, he pulled out another, a little slower this time, trusting the prize wouldn’t be snatched away before he could get it.

“Can you describe the pickup to me?” I watched him as he bent toward the flame of my lighter.

Raising his head back up, he nodded, and after another draw on the cigarette, he spoke again. “Sure. It was dark green but don’t know the year or make.”

I nodded. “Did you get a look at the driver?”

I prayed that he had and felt my hopes deflate when he answered. “No, he had his face covered.”

“Is there anything—anything else you can think of which could help us find the lady?” I questioned.

The man once again shook his head. “Wish I could give more. But that’s all I got.”

I slid the pack of cigarettes and lighter into the man’s palm. “You did fine. I appreciate all you could give us.”

Turning, I made my way over to where Rick and Rylee were taking photos of the broken tail lens and gathering the broken pieces. As I neared, they glanced in my direction. “Not much more we can do here. Forensics will take the car and go through it. If we’re lucky, they’ll find something. Was the old man able to give you anything?” Rylee questioned.

I released a low grunt. “Not really.”

“Fuck,” Rick exclaimed. Then after a few seconds, he continued, “What about the call? Could you make out any background sounds?”

I shook my head. “No, not really.”

Rylee placed a hand on my shoulder. “We’ll find her.”

I nodded. “I just hope to God, it’s not too late when we do.”

“Hey, fuck man, don’t think like that. We’ll find her,” Rick uttered, his frame slumping a little.

I inhaled deeply, letting it out on a shaky breath. “I’m afraid, guys, for the first time in a long time, I’m scared shitless.”