Page 3 of Shadow Sabotage
She said it casually, but it hit me like a gut punch.
Cheyenne and I had always worked SAR together—it had been that way for over ten years, even with Rhett now on the team too. But that would be over if she started a canine unit.
I didn’t have a dog that would qualify. Frankly, I didn’t have time to learn to be a handler even if I did. Our team already cross-trained. Claire and I specialized in horses, but we could also run ATV searches, rope rescues, air evacuations, swift water rescues, and more. But canine units were different. A canine and a handler were a team of their own, and they trained constantly on those skills. Between my normal SAR responsibilities, working full-time, and helping the family on the ranch, I barely had time to think. There was no way I could add something like that to the list.
I’d already lost my place as her best friend. But to no longer be her SAR partner? It would be the end of an era.
I swallowed hard. “Well. You’re right about one thing. We could use a canine unit here.”
“I know,” Cheyenne said, apparently missing the way my voice had come out all strained. “We’ve needed one so many times lately, and having one in our county would significantly decrease our response times to those calls. Besides, it’s really fascinating work. I’ve been chatting with Deborah, the head of the canine unit over in Park County. She evaluated Ash and agreed we’re good candidates. She offered to let us come train with her.”
“That’s great.” My words were hollow, but she didn’t seem to notice.
She frowned and pulled a flashlight out of her pocket, shining it on the path ahead. “Speaking of Ash, she’s really onto something right now.”
“She is,” I said, realizing how far away from the site we were. We were heading down a steep incline, completely out of sight from Rhett and the rest of the campground. The woods had grown dark. Cold air stung my exposed skin. I added my flashlight to the mix and stuck my other hand into my pocket, following as Ash picked up speed.
At the bottom of the hill, the dog started digging frantically.
“What on earth has she found?” Cheyenne stepped forward.
I swung my flashlight in their direction. My heart nearly stopped when I saw what she was doing.
“Pull her back,” I commanded.
Cheyenne’s head jerked at my sharp tone, but she did what I’d said.
I stepped forward and swung my light over the area, my heart sinking as I did.
“What is it?” Cheyenne crouched, holding Ash back.
Nearly hidden by the brush and pine needles was a pile of bones. That wasn’t an uncommon sight in the wilderness. The Bighorns were full of predator animals, and I’d seen my fair share of both fresh kills and old bones that had been stripped of meat and left scattered on the forest floor.
But this felt different. Maybe it was gut instinct, or maybe I’d just seen enough animal remains to realize something was off. Whatever it was, my alarm bells were going haywire.
I grabbed a stick and poked at the pine needles covering the area.
Out rolled a human skull.
Chapter Two
Claire
While Cheyenne stoodguard over the area, I raced back up the hill. The incline had me out of breath by the time I reached the campsite. As soon as Rhett saw me, he jumped up from his chair, fear in his eyes.
“Where’s Cheyenne? What happened?”
“She’s fine,” I said, holding up a hand as I fought to catch my breath. “But Ash found something out there. I need to call the sheriff.”
“The sheriff?” Rhett blanched. He wasn’t a big fan of law enforcement, having been on the wrong side of it too many times as a teen.
I ignored him, walking toward the road to get a better signal. When my cell phone had three bars, I hit the number for the station. Andrea, our administrative assistant, answered.
“You’re supposed to be on vacation,” she said, humor in her voice.
“Yeah, well, looks like the universe has other plans for me.”
Her voice changed instantly. “What’s wrong?”
