lights still off.
Once in the woods, the dirt road stayed straight for a while, so driving slowly and using only the moonlight glowing on the path did the trick. But once the path started winding, I flicked on the low beams.
“There’s only one road this way with a few short deviations,” I said. “We’ll find whoever is in the van.”
Daciana simply nodded and rolled down her window, allowing a rush of freezing air into the car. She leaned against the door and stared into the darkened woods for a long while. I swore she sniffed the air. In that split second, I almost burst out laughing. She reminded me of a bloodhound trying to pick up the van’s tracks. Nah. Must be my lust-addled brain making me delusional.
We jostled around in the car along the bumpy track. When we passed the institute, there was no sign of the van. The dirt road was often used by hikers because several parking lots were farther up ahead. We passed them. Still no sign of the van.
“The road splits into two,” Daciana said. “Turn right.”
“How do you know where the van’s gone?” She obviously knew this track better than me, but then again, I rarely traveled beyond the institute.
She didn’t look my way as she spoke but stared out of her window. “I thought I glimpsed taillights through the woods in that direction.”
Concentrating on the path to keep the car steady, I didn’t ask questions.
Half an hour later, we hit a T-intersection and no sign of the van. Shit. Had we lost them? But there weren’t many places for them to go up here. The dense forest wouldn’t allow the van to leave the road. Up ahead, several deer sprinted back into the woods along with a wild boar.
“I think the van went right,” I suggested. “The road looks worn in that direction.”
“Turning right will bring us to a dead end at the forest ranger’s post. Nothing else in that direction. I think there’s some old shack to the left I saw ages ago when I was in this part of the woods.” Daciana glanced over her shoulder at me with a strange expression on her face, as if ready to jump into an argument if I disagreed.
“I’m sure the forest ranger won’t want to be disturbed in the middle of the night, anyway,” she added. “Let’s go left.”
“Well, if we don’t find anything, we might need to pay the ranger a visit. I guess I can always question him tomorrow. We go left.”
We drove up the next slope and spotted an old wooden shack shrouded by trees. The white van was parked outside. Killing the low lights, I let the car crawl closer before turning the engine off.
What was this place?
I kept my voice low. “Stay in the car while I scan the place. Lock the doors once I’ve left. If you see anyone, duck down. If anyone tries anything or I’m not back in ten, use my radio to call for help.”
She didn’t say a word at first but kept her gaze locked on the house. “This place is perfect for hiding cubs. No one would hear them cry.”
“If this is the right place, then we’ll get those responsible. But don’t get your hopes up. It might simply be a holiday home for someone working at the store.”
Neither of us spoke further. We both stared at the shack in the distance with a faint glow of light from the side window. Despite my words to comfort Daciana, I couldn’t help but wonder about the coincidence of the white van just like the one on the zoo video footage.
Even without a warrant, I had enough reasonable doubt from the white van to check out the place. I grabbed my gun and badge and opened the door. “Don’t go anywhere.”
I shut the door and hurried forward, keeping to the shadows with my gun in hand. The hairs on the back of my neck rose with an instinct that told me something wasn’t right. Or perhaps I’d let Daciana’s suspicions taint my thoughts.
We’d know soon enough.
CHAPTER SEVEN
DACIANA
Once Connell slipped out of sight, I opened the car door and got out, nudging it shut with my hip. The wind hissed
Once in the woods, the dirt road stayed straight for a while, so driving slowly and using only the moonlight glowing on the path did the trick. But once the path started winding, I flicked on the low beams.
“There’s only one road this way with a few short deviations,” I said. “We’ll find whoever is in the van.”
Daciana simply nodded and rolled down her window, allowing a rush of freezing air into the car. She leaned against the door and stared into the darkened woods for a long while. I swore she sniffed the air. In that split second, I almost burst out laughing. She reminded me of a bloodhound trying to pick up the van’s tracks. Nah. Must be my lust-addled brain making me delusional.
We jostled around in the car along the bumpy track. When we passed the institute, there was no sign of the van. The dirt road was often used by hikers because several parking lots were farther up ahead. We passed them. Still no sign of the van.
“The road splits into two,” Daciana said. “Turn right.”
“How do you know where the van’s gone?” She obviously knew this track better than me, but then again, I rarely traveled beyond the institute.
She didn’t look my way as she spoke but stared out of her window. “I thought I glimpsed taillights through the woods in that direction.”
Concentrating on the path to keep the car steady, I didn’t ask questions.
Half an hour later, we hit a T-intersection and no sign of the van. Shit. Had we lost them? But there weren’t many places for them to go up here. The dense forest wouldn’t allow the van to leave the road. Up ahead, several deer sprinted back into the woods along with a wild boar.
“I think the van went right,” I suggested. “The road looks worn in that direction.”
“Turning right will bring us to a dead end at the forest ranger’s post. Nothing else in that direction. I think there’s some old shack to the left I saw ages ago when I was in this part of the woods.” Daciana glanced over her shoulder at me with a strange expression on her face, as if ready to jump into an argument if I disagreed.
“I’m sure the forest ranger won’t want to be disturbed in the middle of the night, anyway,” she added. “Let’s go left.”
“Well, if we don’t find anything, we might need to pay the ranger a visit. I guess I can always question him tomorrow. We go left.”
We drove up the next slope and spotted an old wooden shack shrouded by trees. The white van was parked outside. Killing the low lights, I let the car crawl closer before turning the engine off.
What was this place?
I kept my voice low. “Stay in the car while I scan the place. Lock the doors once I’ve left. If you see anyone, duck down. If anyone tries anything or I’m not back in ten, use my radio to call for help.”
She didn’t say a word at first but kept her gaze locked on the house. “This place is perfect for hiding cubs. No one would hear them cry.”
“If this is the right place, then we’ll get those responsible. But don’t get your hopes up. It might simply be a holiday home for someone working at the store.”
Neither of us spoke further. We both stared at the shack in the distance with a faint glow of light from the side window. Despite my words to comfort Daciana, I couldn’t help but wonder about the coincidence of the white van just like the one on the zoo video footage.
Even without a warrant, I had enough reasonable doubt from the white van to check out the place. I grabbed my gun and badge and opened the door. “Don’t go anywhere.”
I shut the door and hurried forward, keeping to the shadows with my gun in hand. The hairs on the back of my neck rose with an instinct that told me something wasn’t right. Or perhaps I’d let Daciana’s suspicions taint my thoughts.
We’d know soon enough.
CHAPTER SEVEN
DACIANA
Once Connell slipped out of sight, I opened the car door and got out, nudging it shut with my hip. The wind hissed
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