Page 30 of Danger in the Wilderness (National Park Protectors #1)

“Because his child was taken away from him, and park wardens didn’t save her, so he’s making their loved ones suffer.”

“Why wait three years to take your revenge?”

“Good question.” Blaire racked her brain to figure out what may have caused PCK to strike now. “You said the Moores didn’t have any children, right? I wonder if they tried again to have a baby?”

“Kari might know. They’re friends and go to the same church.” Dekker hit the Talk button on his console. “Call Justin.”

Seconds later, his buddy answered. “Hey, Dek. You on your way back? It’s just after eleven.”

“Yes, we’ll be there soon. Sorry for calling so late, but I know you are both night owls. Can you put Kari on the line? Blaire and I have a question for her.”

“Sure, just a sec.” Steps shuffling on hardwood sailed through the Bluetooth. “Okay, you’re on speakerphone. Kari is here.”

“What’s up, Dekker?”

“Kari, you know Wendy Moore well, right?”

“Yes, why?”

“Did Wendy try to have another child since their little girl died?” Blaire hated to ask such a personal question, but it was important information for their profile.

“They did about nine months ago, but she miscarried. They both took it extremely hard. As anyone would.”

Blaire’s gaze flicked to Dekker’s. “Okay, thanks for the information.”

“Why do you ask?”

“Just looking into some things,” Dekker said. “Appreciate your help.”

“Wendy and Travis are amazing people. Wendy does so much for the community. Losing their daughter was devastating, but they’re turning that tragedy around to help others.”

“Sounds like God is using them. See you soon.” Blaire hit the button to end the call. “That’s the trigger. Her miscarriage.”

“Man, if Travis is indeed PCK, this will crush Kari.”

“And Wendy.” Blaire hated to think Travis had resorted to killing innocent people to get back at park wardens for failing to save his daughter.

Dekker turned onto a secondary road. “Do you really feel Travis may be PCK?”

“He certainly fits our profile.”

“I just find it so hard to fathom. He’s so nice and a churchgoing man.”

“Well, look at other serial killers. They fall into that category too. Remember, the kindest people, when struck with a tragedy, can snap.” Blaire gripped the middle console. “Especially when they feel betrayed.” She failed to suppress the anger in her tone.

“You sound like you’re speaking from experience on that one. Care to share? We have time before we get to Justin’s.”

Did she? He had told her his secret from the past. Perhaps it was time.

She hissed out a breath. “You remember me telling you about the relationship I was in when we first met?”

“Yes. What was his name again? Liam? Luke?”

“Luca.” Just the mention of his name sent shards of glass slicing through her already wounded heart.

Blaire leaned her head back and closed her eyes.

“Luca was everything I wanted in a man. Kind, ambitious, faith-orientated, nice smile and, yes, handsome. He checked off all my boxes.” She gritted her teeth. “At least, that’s what I thought.”

“What happened?”

“He knew exactly which buttons to push and how to win me over, so I fell in love fast. Too fast. Promised myself I would never do that again.” She paused. “Anyway, to make a long story short, I found out through my sister that Luca was married with kids.”

“What?”

“Yup, he lied to me. I didn’t believe Izzy at first and acted like a child.

I was so gullible. All that time, he was married.

” She harrumphed. “Some profiler I am. Can’t even see past a man’s lies.

” It was part of the reason she drove herself to perfection.

She had failed in the past and wanted to right a wrong.

Dekker squeezed her shoulder. “Don’t say that. Sometimes love has a way of blinding our normal receptors.”

“And that’s why I promised myself never to fall in love again.” She studied his profile.

But you’re breaking through the walls I built. You tick off the right boxes too.

Blaire turned her head and watched the trees zip by. She hit the button to open her window. She required fresh air to clear her thoughts.

No, she wouldn’t let another man break her heart, and Dekker said he wouldn’t love again.

A call rang through Dekker’s Bluetooth. He hit the button. “Dekker here.”

Blaire checked the dashboard to see who was calling.

Supervisor Nicols.

“Dekker, just wanted to give you a final report of today’s search. We’ve covered a lot of ground, but—”

“But my father is still missing.” Dekker’s tone shifted to one of remorse.

“Son, tomorrow is a new day. We’re going to concentrate on the park’s northern region. Send all the teams in that direction.”

“Why there?” Blaire asked.

“A rockslide had blocked the area, so we haven’t been able to get there before now.”

Dekker turned to her. “And there’s also an abandoned warden station and cabins in that region. Maybe Dad is being held there.”

Blaire didn’t miss the shred of hope lacing Dekker’s words.

“Exactly. See you in the morning.” Supervisor Nichols ended the call.

“That’s encouraging.”

Dekker banged the wheel. “It is, but I’ve failed my father. He taught me everything I know, and I should be able to use that to find him.”

“Dek, stop being so hard on yourself. You are good at what you do. PCK is clever and knows—”

A high-pitched whirling noise like a swarm of bees penetrated the dusk hour moments before a drone hovered low in the middle of the road.

Blaire gasped.

Two objects dropped from the drone directly in their path.

She leaned closer to the windshield for a better look. “What was—”

“Grenade! Hold on.” Dekker swerved the wheel moments before an explosion buckled the pavement, creating a crater.

Dekker slammed on the brakes, but it was too late.

The tires hit the crater and sent them careening sideways into the hole.

Blaire’s head pummeled into the windshield. Spots flickered in her vision as the blackness encroached, begging her to come. No! Save us, Lord!

But the darkness won, shoving Blaire into its murky embrace.