Page 46 of Once a Hero

“They will ask why we’re here. A plumber’s van just passing through, huh? That’s going to raise more questions—especially when they find out we’re the same people who were in the forest last night.”

Raynelle must’ve stirred from her painkiller-induced nap because she started talking. “What’s happening?”

“I saw a ghost,” Kenichi said.

“No, you didn’t.” Beatrice shook her head. “You saw a dead body.”

“It was dried up.” Kenichi raised his voice. “Mummified.”

“We don’t need details.” Although an old body would mean it wasn’t anyone they were looking for. Beatrice felt better. “Who’s calling 911?”

“I am,” Jake said. “I have a burner phone. They can’t trace me.”

Kenichi laughed. “All phones are traceable.”

Except Earl’s phone. Beatrice didn’t say it aloud. “Ken?”

“Yes, ma’am?”

“Was it a man or a woman?” Beatrice prayed it wasn’t a man—because it could be her dad. A long shot, yes, but there had been no evidence that his body was ever found.

“Woman.”

Whew. “Age-wise?”

“I don’t know.”

“I don’t expect you to know. I was just asking, is all,” Beatrice said. Ahead, the road forked. “Which way should we go?”

“Let me check my laptop,” Kenichi said.

Beatrice slowed down the van.

“Go right,” Kenichi finally said. “I think.”

“That doesn’t sound good.” Beatrice put the blinker on. It was then that she spotted a vehicle in the rearview mirror. “We have company.”

Beatrice heard Jake ask Kenichi if there was a window they could look out the back.

“No, but we have a camera on the back of the van. See here.”

“I don’t think it’s a family on vacation,” Jake said. “Unless it’s a family thing to carry shotguns.”

“What?” Beatrice wished she wasn’t driving.

“Here we go again.” Raynelle’s voice sounded groggy. “Next time we hunt for something more benign than the Amber Room, all right?”

“Charleston, we have a problem,” Kenichi said.

“Should I go faster?” Beatrice asked. “I need some directions too. There’s another fork in the road coming up.”

“Go left. There’s a big road—”

Boom! Boom!

Flap! Flap!

Beatrice lost control of the van. She wanted to slam on the brakes.

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