Page 16 of A Mile of Ocean (Pelican Pointe #19)

T rent and Eastlyn spent the morning examining the drone footage frame by frame, looking for any telltale signs of human activity or anything that didn’t look natural in the setting. They found nothing. No sign of a secondary campsite or so much as a single tent. They went over it another five times, studying the terrain for anything that might have been missed.

“He’s not there,” Eastlyn concluded. “He’s gone.”

“Savannah and I just found his footprints last night all along the hillside until we lost him in the rocks,” Trent argued. “If he’s not using the foothills for cover, he has to be here on the ranch somewhere.”

“Where?” Eastlyn asked. “Tell me, and that’s where I’ll look. Again. I’m telling you we have hours of video that show no sign of him anywhere. He must’ve grown tired of this game he’s playing and moved on.”

“Why now?”

“Because you brought in some heavy-duty firepower,” Eastlyn snapped. “Birk and Beckett mean business. And those other guys—Hawk, Drum, and Lincoln—aren’t slouching around either. That’s five sharpshooters added to your team versus one guy. Plus, the night patrols show him you refuse to give in.”

Trent nodded reluctantly, knowing she had a point. The increased security measures clearly meant they were not backing down.

Eastlyn sighed, the weight of uncertainty pressing heavily on her mind. “Maybe he’s hiding somewhere we haven’t considered, somewhere off the property. Are there still places on this ranch you haven’t searched thoroughly? And when I say search, I’m talking about all the times Theo and Colt have been out here, too.”

“We thought we’d covered every nook and cranny, checked every shadow and corner of this place,” Trent said, his tone resolute. “I suppose we could’ve overlooked something.”

“What’s east of the foothills?”

“The mountains and San Sebastian. Could he have hiked into San Sebastian? Doubtful and unrealistic. It would take two days over rough terrain. That mountain range is thirty-five hundred feet high and another five miles into San Sebastian.”

“I agree the logistics of making that trip doesn’t make sense. So what’s next? Point me in the right direction, and I’ll aim the drone there.”

“Shouldn’t you be getting sleep?”

“Look, Cooper is involved in this now. By looking into your family tree, he might trigger a response from this nutcase. I want this guy caught as much as you do. And I won’t sleep until he’s in handcuffs.”

“How long will it take one drone to cover the entire two thousand acres, though? Could it be done before nightfall tonight?”

“I’d say maybe ten hours. But three or more could get the job done in half that time. We chop up the ranch into grids and cover more ground, checking every location you deem as an area where he could hide. I’ll make the call and get it approved. Theo and Colt love any excuse to use drones.”

The next few hours were spent in Barrett’s study, mapping out unexplored areas and targeting dense woods, preparing for an exhaustive drone search. Once Colt and Theo joined the effort, they input the waypoints into a 3D software program, uploaded the mission to the drone, and generated three diagrams to follow.

The ranch was vast, but their resolve was unwavering.

The whirring sound of the drones filled the air as they ascended from the ground, their rotors slicing through the stillness of the afternoon. The drones were equipped with high-resolution cameras and thermal imaging sensors, perfect for the meticulous job. They moved in precise, systematic patterns, sweeping over the vast expanse of the property with methodical precision.

The drone feed streamed live into Barrett’s study, where Trent and Tate monitored the screens. Each drone was assigned to a specific sector, creating a patchwork of aerial views. The images captured every detail, from a pile of leaves in the dense woods to the jagged contours of the rocky slopes. The drones swooped low over areas particularly thick with underbrush, their cameras penetrating deep into the shadows where the human eye might miss important details.

As they moved across the terrain, each operator adjusted their flight paths, ensuring no stone was left unturned, no crevice unexplored. The dense woods required slow, deliberate movements to avoid missing anything. The rocky slopes demanded careful navigation to maintain stability and clarity in the images. Every nook and cranny was scrutinized, every potential hiding spot given attention.

Occasionally, Trent and Tate would exchange tense glances, their faces illuminated by the glow of the monitors. The clock ticked on. The hours slipped away as the drones continued their relentless search. The sheer size of the ranch was daunting, but their determination unflagging.

Hours passed, and the search was painstakingly slow but thorough. Yet they found no trace of their elusive quarry.

When Savannah joined them, she noticed both siblings were fixed on the monitors. She saw the stress on their faces. “Did you two get any sleep at all?”

“Too much to do,” he replied, his mind racing, considering every possibility, every angle. He couldn’t shake the feeling that there was something they were missing, some clue that lay just beyond their grasp.

Tate shook her head. “After my blowup with Duchess, I couldn’t close my eyes.”

“Are you seriously considering returning to patrol tonight with no sleep? I slept for four hours, and I’m still exhausted.”

Without looking away from the monitor, Tate nodded. “I’m not sure what else we can do.”

“Have they found anything yet?”

“Not a trace of him,” Trent muttered.

Savannah skirted the desk, standing behind them to peer over their shoulders. “It is fascinating to watch the drone coverage. Where could he have gone?”

Finally, just before six o’clock, Eastlyn announced that they had finished. “There’s no sign of him anywhere.”

Colt backed her up. “We can take the footage and review it at the station. But you saw what we saw in real time. Nothing.”

“There’s no indication he returned to his original campsite,” Theo concluded. “There’s no sign of him setting up another one, either. He’s not hiding in the foothills. I think he’s taken off.”

“Maybe he did hike out of the foothills, used a trail over the mountains, and took off toward San Sebastian,” Eastlyn proposed.

“Maybe. We need to figure out if we should still keep the patrols in place. I don’t feel the timing is right yet for disbanding them,” Trent said to Tate. “Any comments or concerns?”

Tate rubbed her temples, the fatigue evident in her eyes. “We need to cover all possibilities. I’d feel better if we kept the patrols in place for tonight, but we should also consider other options.”

“Like what?”

“What if he tricked us into thinking he’s gone?” Tate explained. “Birk and Beckett offered to stay until Thursday. I think they should.”

Eastlyn gathered the maps spread across the table. “Hawk still insists his team isn’t leaving, either.”

Tate and Trent exchanged a glance, both understanding the gravity of the situation.

“There’s something about not trusting the results,” Trent indicated. “What if he knows we’re out looking for him? He could be using tactics to avoid detection. We should probably continue the patrols at least through Thursday, keep Birk and Beckett on until then, and God willing, Hawk and his men will remain on the job.”

Savannah reached out to Trent and cupped his chin. “If the patrols are ongoing, then you need a few hours of sleep.”

“She’s right,” Tate told him. “We need to stay sharp. This guy isn’t smarter than we are. We have a couple of hours to regroup and get back out there. Make the most of it.”

“I’ll send out texts to everyone with an update.” He took out his phone and notified them to be ready by eight-forty-five. Turning to Savannah, he took her hand and gently steered her outside onto the back porch. “If we only have two hours, I want to spend them with you. By ourselves. Alone. Shut out the chaos for a while and pretend it’s just us. Too soon?”

“Not at all,” Savannah managed.

He led the way to his house through the garden pathway lined with hibiscus and sunflowers swaying in the evening breeze.

They retreated inside, closing the door behind them, shutting out the world’s madness. It was then and only then that Trent finally allowed himself to relax. He led her across the room to the oversized sofa. “We’re just going to sit here, hopefully, catch a nap here. But even if that’s all we do, I want you beside me.”

Still dressed—without taking off his boots—he plopped down and tugged her with him. He stretched out his long legs, Savannah curling up beside him, and closed his eyes, willing sleep to come quickly. He kissed the top of her head, inhaling her scent before he dozed off.

A sense of calm settled over him, shielded from the chaos that awaited outside. It was a precious moment of respite, a brief escape from the heavy weight of responsibility.

In his dreams, Trent found himself back in the rugged terrain of the ranch, chasing shadows that danced just out of reach. The landscape shifted and twisted, becoming a labyrinth of uncertainty and doubt. He felt the weight of the manhunt, a relentless pursuit with no end in sight.

Savannah drifted off to Trent’s rhythmic breathing. Her dreams carried her to a place of serenity, where the world faded away, leaving only her and Trent in a tranquil oasis. In this peaceful realm, the worries and fears of reality melted into the background, replaced by a profound sense of contentment.

As the minutes ticked by, their breathing fell into sync, their bodies finding solace in each other’s presence. The brief rest was bittersweet and over too soon.

At exactly eight-thirty, his phone’s alarm roused him, returning him to the pressing reality. He had to shower and change out of the clothes he’d been wearing for almost twenty-four hours. He tried to get up without disturbing her but ended up gently nudging her awake. “I’m sorry, but I need to get ready before we head out. I need to shower. You can go first if you want.”

“I showered and napped earlier, remember?” she said, yawning and stretching. “I’ll make coffee for the road.”

“Good idea.” Trent quickly headed to the bathroom to freshen up, the hot water rejuvenating him only slightly. After putting on a clean shirt and jeans, he checked his gear, tossing in a razor he used on the trail. He shook off the feeling of unease that kept trying to creep in, knowing the hunt for the elusive figure was taking its toll on everyone.

When he returned to the living room with his gear, Savannah stood at the kitchen counter pouring coffee into a Thermos. Her eyes showed a mix of determination and weariness, mirroring his own emotions. They shared a silent moment as he leaned in to kiss her neck. “Once this is all over, I want us to spend a proper night in bed.”

“Absolutely. But right now, we’re late and need to get moving.”

“Ever since I met you, my timing has been off. I wonder why that is?”

“Unhinged gunman on the loose?”

He chuckled. “There is that. Do you have your gear?”

“If by gear you mean my shotgun, it’s in the barn with Giselle,” Savannah said with a smile. “But FYI, from now on, I’m not going anywhere without it.”

“Sounds like you don’t think he’s gone either.”

“It seems unlikely. But Eastlyn and Colt seemed convinced, even Theo.” She tucked the Thermos under her arm. “I woke up hungry.”

“Come on, I’ll feed you. We’ll grab whatever’s left from the kitchen on the way to the stables.”

She rolled her eyes. “You really do know how to treat a girl right, don’t you?”

Grinning, he cupped her chin, looked into her gray eyes, and vowed, “One day, our life will get back to normal. When it does, watch out because I promise I’ll make up for lost time.”

The dim twilight glow greeted them as they stepped out into the crisp night air. It spread across the ranch in shadowy mystery as if nature held its breath in anticipation of what would come.

The stables loomed ahead, and the teams from the night before were already assembling. Birk and Beckett had already stationed themselves on the roof. Tate and Blake had handed out radios after finalizing their strategy for the night. The tension was unmistakable, but so was the camaraderie.

Hawk greeted him with a handshake. “I’m all for staying however long we’re needed. Lincoln and Drum are in this until we finish it.”

“That’s good to hear. You have no idea how much I appreciate it,” Trent said as he raised his voice to address the others. “Same teams paired up as last night, same schedule to check in with—who’s monitoring communications tonight?”

“Trish is back,” Tate replied. “And for all those wondering, she was out tracking down leads on her own. She checked in an hour ago. So we’re all set on that end. Now, let’s gear up and move out. Remember to stay in pairs, keep your eyes peeled, and immediately report anything unusual.”

Tate spotted Savannah and handed her the reins to Giselle, who was already saddled.

“Thanks. You didn’t need to do that.”

Tate grinned. “I don’t mind. I didn’t take a two-hour nap. I needed to stay busy. So that you know, I’ve never seen my nerdy brother so taken with a pretty face. And you definitely fit that bill.”

Red-haired Savannah’s cheeks turned a rosy pink at the compliment. “I’m fond of him, too.”

“I know. Your being out here says it all. I admire you for it. You didn’t have to volunteer to be a part of this craziness, but you did. I believe you’re here for Trent. He’s a good person. I’m not just saying that because he’s my brother. Just take care of each other out there on the trail. Watch his back.”

“Count on it. You watch yours. He’d be devastated if this all goes south and something bad happens to anyone else.”

“We’re not going to let that happen.”