Page 8 of Danger in the Wilderness (National Park Protectors #1)

Dekker shuffled through his park station entrance, willing his feeble legs to move.

His physical state matched his emotional one.

After the paramedics wrapped his arm and checked him over, he had refused to go to the hospital.

His sister had to practically haul him out of the forest. They both hated to leave their father behind but had no choice.

Jayla reminded him that if anyone knew how to survive in the wilderness, it was Frank Hoyt.

After all, he had trained them. But even with that knowledge, Dekker struggled with Nicols’s decision to call off the search.

Bryson, Jayla and Herc had left to stay at Dekker’s best friend’s ranch and would be back in the morning, first light.

A flash of lightning illuminated the Clovercross National Park’s station, followed by a deafening crack of thunder, reminding him why they had to vacate the forest. It wasn’t safe. Lord, if You’re listening, please keep Dad safe. I need to tell him I’m sorry and get to know the new Frank.

Dekker had made a decision to follow God as a child, but after Kyle’s death and his father’s betrayal, Dekker had doubted God’s journey for his life. God’s timing is always perfect, son. Even when you think He’s wrong. He’s not. His mother’s words returned, along with another flash of lightning.

He loved his mother deeply, but could he trust her words?

“Penny for your thoughts.”

Dekker had failed to sense Blaire’s approach. Not good. He prided himself on his stealthy intuition, especially in his neck of the woods. He set his backpack on a nearby counter with a thump. “Just thinking of something my mother once said about God. Not sure I believe her.”

“What did she say?”

“That God’s timing was always perfect.” He massaged his neck.

“And you don’t believe that?”

“Well, His timing sure sucks with my dad. He came here to mend fences and look what happened.” He plunked into a chair. “This is all my fault.”

Blaire wiggled out of her backpack and set it beside Dekker’s. “Right. You asked PCK to kidnap your dad.” She squeezed his shoulder. “This is hardly your fault, but your mother is right. I’ve learned over the years that God always does know best. Even when we think He doesn’t.”

“How can you say that after everything you’ve gone through in the past?”

Blaire pulled up a chair and sat. “I once felt the same, but God is showing me He’s there through every circumstance and, in the details, teaching us to lean upon Him.

” She took out the elastic from her long brown hair, fluffing out her waves.

“Don’t get me wrong, it’s hard sometimes trusting in someone you can’t see or touch.

But that’s what faith is all about. Believing without seeing. ”

Dekker had heard it all before from his mother and some of his siblings. While they all grew up under Erica Hoyt’s faith guidance, not every Hoyt’s relationship with God was solid.

Blaire leaned forward. “Dek, what’s holding you back?”

Dekker breathed in Blaire’s lavender scent. Their gazes locked. He could get lost in those beautiful baby blues. How could she look so gorgeous after the day they’d had?

Don’t go there. Remember Eve. Dekker cleared his throat and distanced himself from her luring presence. “Are you heading back to Whitehorse tonight? It’s getting late.” He hated to change the subject, but he wasn’t ready to answer her question. Yet. It would reveal too much, and she’d hate him.

And that scared him the most.

She clicked the button on her smartwatch. “It’s late, but they’re still working, so I want to reconnect with my team. Can we gather our teams and discuss what we know so far?”

“Are you sure you want to do that this late?”

Nicols approached. “Sorry for eavesdropping, but I agree with Ms. Tremblay. We need to go over details while they’re fresh in our minds. I’ll gather Manny and the others. Meet us in the conference room in ten minutes.” He disappeared without waiting for any type of acknowledgement.

Dekker rose. “Well, I guess that answers that question.”

Blaire pointed to Dekker’s face. “You may want to wash the dirt away first.”

His hand flew to his face, grazing Blaire’s fingers. The connection sparked an electricity he hadn’t felt in years.

She snagged her backpack. “I’m heading to the boardroom to contact Kolby and Reed.”

“I’ll join you after I wash up.”

Her lips danced into a smile. “Good idea.” She headed toward the corridor.

Dekker slipped into the men’s bathroom and checked his appearance in the mirror. “Oh, you are a mess. Not the way to impress a lady.” Not that he was really in the mood to do that with his father missing.

His cell phone chimed, announcing a text. Dekker unclipped the device from his belt and swiped the screen.

Don’t worry, my friend Dek. Your dad’s tucked in safe from the storm. For now.

Dekker’s grip on his phone slipped, but he managed to keep from dropping it despite the emotions threatening to cripple all of his strength. Two questions zipped through his mind.

How did PCK get his phone number? And more importantly…

How did he know Dekker? He referred to him as Dek and as a friend. Only his family and friends called him that.

PCK knew Dekker. Somehow.

***

Blaire analyzed Dekker’s face. His expression had shifted, contorting his countenance into terror—even more than be fore. She placed her hand on his right arm and leaned closer. “You okay?”

Constable Chase, Park Supervisor Nicols, Warden Boone and two other employees had gathered in the boardroom to discuss today’s events with Blaire’s team.

Dekker swiped his cell phone screen and turned the device in her direction. “Just got this.”

She read PCK’s words. “Oh my. Well, at least we know your dad is safe from the storm.”

“But he called me Dek .”

“Yes. He knows you…somehow. We need—”

“Can we get started?” The annoyance in Reed’s voice boomed through the video call displayed on the monitor. “It’s late, and I want to go home.”

Blaire suppressed her irritation at Reed’s flippant attitude.

She’d be sure to speak to him tomorrow about how to act around other teams. Not setting a good precedent, Reed.

They had to work together to get the profile right and catch the Park Campfire Killer.

“I realize that, Reed, but we need to add the details of today’s events to our files.

Let’s get acquainted with the team here. ”

Blaire introduced Dekker, Constable Chase, Warden Boone and Supervisor Nicols. “Sir, I haven’t met the others.”

Supervisor Nicols pointed to the female. “This is Nadia. She’s our station’s manager.” He slapped the younger male on the back. “This is our new park warden trainee, Huck. They were the only other employees still on duty. I’ll apprise the others and the rest of the parks tomorrow.”

“Nice to meet you both.” She addressed her team. “Kolby, can you enter our discussion into our system?”

“Sure can.”

Blaire shared the day’s events, including Frank Hoyt’s abduction.

“Wait, PCK is changing his timeline,” Reed said. “He only abducted victim number five yesterday morning. So why the change?”

“Good question.” Blaire didn’t miss Dekker’s shift in position beside her. “You know I hate to make guesses, but somehow PCK has made this personal. Frank’s presence spooked him. Frank is a seasoned park warden.”

“That makes no sense.” Reed tapped his pen on the desk. “Unless he just wants to get rid of him and—”

“Let’s not jump to that conclusion.” Blaire swiped her tablet’s screen to her notes app. “Here’s what we have. PCK abducted Clara around 4:00 a.m. yesterday from her tent. Her boyfriend stated he didn’t hear anything.”

“I have another constable bringing Parker Earl into the station. Something about his statement doesn’t fit.” Quinton folded his arms across his chest and leaned back. “I’m going to press him harder tomorrow.”

Manny sipped his coffee. “What makes you think he’s hiding something?”

“His body language didn’t match his story. He’s lying.”

Supervisor Nicols pushed himself upright and walked around the table. “We know PCK takes his victims somewhere, tortures them, then kills them and dumps their body seventy-two hours later. Do you think since this latest abduction changed his timeline, he’ll change when he kills?”

Blaire bit her lip. “We don’t know for sure, so that’s why it’s important we’re all on the same page. PCK left Clara’s picture in our last victim’s hand.” She turned to Quinton. “Has your forensics team found anything unusual about the photo?”

“Nothing.”

Blaire’s heart rate elevated. “We need to find her. Constable Chase, any ideas on where PCK is torturing his victims?”

“None. Speaking of that, any idea on the victimology? How is PCK choosing his victims?”

The victimology had Blaire stumped, and it frustrated her to no end. “So far, we haven’t found any links in the last four victims.”

Manny folded his hands. “So what exactly do you know?” His tone spoke volumes. The park warden was irritated. “Isn’t that your job?”

Dekker pushed back in his chair. “Easy, Manny. Blaire is doing the best she can with little information.”

“Our sergeant calls her the profile whisperer,” Kolby said. “She’s closed all the cases she’s worked on since moving to Whitehorse.”

Reed huffed but didn’t say anything.

This conversation was heading for derailment. Blaire raised her hands. “I think we’re done for tonight. We’re all tired.”

“Sure are.” Reed stood. “I’m outta here.”

“Wait—” Blaire’s cell phone buzzed, and she glanced at the text.

BOOM!

She drew in a ragged breath. “I just got a disturbing one-word text. Boom .”

Kolby’s eyes widened. “What does that mean?”

Quinton stood. “Give me your phone. I’ll get forensics to check it. Everyone, please be safe. We—”

An explosion blasted through the TV’s monitor before the screen flashed and went dark.

Blaire shot to her feet. “No!”