Page 236 of Cold Case, Warm Hearts

“He tortured me when we were kids.”

The second trooper approached and held out his hand. “I’m Trooper Green.”

“Green, huh?” Austin grinned. “We’d prefer a trooper with experience, but we’ll take what we can get.”

“Funny. Haven’t heard that before.” The man’s voice dripped with sarcasm, but his eyes lit with humor. “Our crime-scene investigators are right behind us.”

“Austin can take you to the skull,” Emily said. “I’ll wait for your CSIs and show them where to go.”

“I’ll be back.” Austin touched the brim of his hat and headed down the trail with the troopers.

Another SUV pulled in and two men hopped out. They opened the back and each of them grabbed a kit. She felt sorry for them since they’d have to lug their cases through the dense woods. “Do you need a hand?”

The taller man shook his head. “We’ll be fine.”

“After I replace the barricade, I’ll show you which path you’ll need to take.”

“Sounds good,” the shorter man said. “CSI Stephens, by the way.” He turned to his friend. “This is CSI Keller.”

“I’m Ranger Davis.” She tugged on her ponytail. “I’ll be back in a jiffy.” Had she honestly used those words? Heaven help her. She was turning into her grandmother.

She dragged the barricade back into place and led them to the deer trail. “You’ll find Troopers Green and Cunningham down this trail with Ranger Crowley.”

“You’re not joining us?”

“No, if you don’t need help, I’ll stay behind. I found the skull, and I’ve spent more than enough time with it.” She gestured at the surrounding woods. “Besides, we have a hiker lost somewhere out here, so I need to rejoin the search for her.”

CSI Stephens nodded his understanding and took off down the narrow path while his colleague lagged behind.

Small branches,brush, and thorns clawed at Emily’s arms and snagged her slacks as she scoured the deer trails near Boulder Field. Leaves and twigs rustled underfoot leaving a loamy scent in her wake. She stopped to wipe sweat off her brow and leaned against a towering spruce. Her ankle ached, but she was able to use it normally.

She gnawed on her bottom lip. Her trepidation about their missing hiker’s wellbeing grew by the hour. If they didn’t find her soon her circumstances would grow dire. The distraction of finding human remains had cost precious time.

She tried to ignore the rumbling in her stomach but needed calories if she was going to keep up her search. After a quick prayer for the woman’s safe return, she hiked out to her SUV.

The drive back to the visitor center to pick up her packed lunch was uneventful. It was eleven by the time she pulled up to the park office. As she was lifting the radio to ask dispatch to put together a search team with dogs, Pete strolled through the front door with a scraggly-looking woman trailing behind him.

“Meet Sue. She spent the night in a tree to keep out of reach of coyotes.”

“I’ll call an ambulance.”

“I offered.” Pete shook his head. “She refused medical attention.”

“Let me talk to her.”

Pete shrugged and stalked off.

Emily inspected the woman from a distance. Wild bloodshot eyes met hers. Her bare knees were scraped, and her hands were rubbed raw, presumably from clinging to a tree all night.

“Sue, you need medical care. I’m sure you want to get back to your group, but you’re more than likely dehydrated, and your wounds need to be treated to avoid infection.”

The woman nodded her agreement, so Emily had dispatch put out the call. Once their hiker was safely on her way to the hospital, Emily grabbed her lunch from the refrigerator. She would take a few bites of her sandwich on her way back to Boulder Field.

Emily stoodbeside Austin and lifted her hand in greeting when a Crown Vic entered the lot. A man exited the vehicle and strode toward them. There was something familiar about his walk. She studied him as he made his way across the macadam. He wasn’t wearing a suit jacket, and she couldn’t help but notice how his white dress shirt hugged his broad shoulders. He’d loosened his tie and left his top button undone. His dark hair brushed the top of his collar and curled at the ends. Unkempt, but attractive.

When his startlingly blue eyes met hers, she took a step back and wrapped her arms around her body. Eleven years melted away in an instant, and a familiar vice grip took hold on her heart. She didn’t break eye contact with the man responsible for her pain.

“Em. I didn’t know you were a DCNR ranger.”