Page 3 of Burn (Crash & Burn Duet 2)

“I’ve called it a million times.” Miss Adeline waved her cell phone. “No answer.”

“Any chance you have tracking enabled for each other?”

She brightened then made an annoyed face. “She made me put that on there in case anything happened. Because I’m an old person.”

I bit my lip to keep from laughing.

“She said I could track her too when I put up a fuss, but I’ve never done that. Is there no privacy in this world anymore?” She continued on with a bit of her snark back, though it seemed as if she was attempting to cover up her worry.

“May I see your phone?” I held out my hand, and she readily dropped her cell into my palm.

After a few swipes and clicks, I had the tracking app open. The blue dot representing Pepper flashed. I zoomed in on the map.

“She’s at the park.”

Chapter Two

Teague

Adrenaline fueled,I raced back to the park.

I’d just left there minutes ago. There’d been no sign of Pepper. But one thing I’d learned as a firefighter was that things could change in an instant.

Miss Adeline stayed behind with the dogs in case Pepper called the rescue or showed back up.

With her phone glued to my hand, I kept one eye on the blue dot and one on the street. It hadn’t moved, but these things weren’t always completely accurate. I was just grateful for any kind of clue so we could be doingsomethinginstead of sitting around worrying.

I stopped the truck in almost the exact same spot as I had earlier. The man who’d been there was gone. I hoped he’d made it to the shelter but was pretty sure there hadn’t been time for that.

“Pepper!” Why hadn’t I called for her before?

“Pepper!”

The only response was the echo of my voice in the cold night. I searched the area frantically. There was no sign of her or her phone.

Her phone.

I stilled and dialed.

It rang on my end. I craned my neck and listened carefully for a ringtone.

Rinnggg.

I ran toward the sound on the edge of the park. The lit screen glowed up ahead. Her cracked phone danced across the sidewalk. I swiped it off the ground and whirled around, frantically searching for her.

“Pepper!”

I looked under charred bushes nearby. Maybe she’d fallen and hit her head. I checked a bench a few yards away. Behind a dumpster.

I swallowed hard as I lifted the lid to the dumpster. I shined a light inside. Just garbage, thank God.

“Damn it.” I threw my hands up.

Anything could’ve happened.

My mind went to the worst-case scenario and instinct backed it up.

I’d buy she simply dropped her phone if the dogs hadn’t showed back up to the rescue without her.

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