Page 38

CHAPTER

THIRTY-SEVEN

The longest sixty minutes of Logan’s life crawled by as they maintained their positions, watching the killer’s headlamp disappear into the forest. When the time elapsed, Logan and Duke carefully made their way down to the peninsula while Ranger continued scanning for any sign of Andi.

On the rocky outcrop, held down by a small stone, was a white envelope with Logan’s name written on it.

With trembling hands, he opened it.

Inside was a photo of Morgan.

Her eyes looked different in this one. More defiant and less dazed.

Logan’s phone buzzed. A text from an unknown number.

Andi is 200 yards northeast of your current position, at the base of the large pine. She’ll wake up with nothing more than a headache. This time.

They needed to move now.

The beam of Logan’s flashlight swept frantically through the trees as they searched for the pine. Duke and Ranger flanked him, their own lights cutting through the darkness.

“There.” Ranger pointed to a massive pine tree about fifty yards ahead.

They ran toward it, Logan’s heart hammering against his ribs.

What if the killer had lied? What if they were too late? What if?—

“I see her!” Duke called out.

Andi lay crumpled at the base of the tree, her body positioned almost gently against the massive trunk. Her blonde hair had come loose from its ponytail and spilled across her face. Even in the harsh LED light, Logan could see she was breathing—her chest rising and falling in a steady rhythm.

Duke dropped to his knees beside her, his hands shaking as he checked for a pulse.

“Her heartbeat is steady!” He gently brushed the hair from her face, looking for any signs of injury.

No blood. But her skin was pale.

“Andi? Can you hear me?” Duke kept his voice low as if he didn’t want to startle her if she was coming around.

Logan’s flashlight revealed a tiny puncture wound on her neck, barely visible beneath her collar.

Logan scanned the surrounding area with his weapon drawn. “How did this guy get this close without any of us seeing him?”

Duke continued to assess Andi.

Logan noticed her pupils were dilated but responsive to light. Her breathing remained steady. Whatever this guy had used, it seemed designed to incapacitate rather than harm.

“Come on, Andi.” Duke gently patted her cheek. “Wake up.”

Her eyelids fluttered.

“That’s it,” Duke murmured.” Come back to us.”

Andi’s eyes opened slowly, unfocused and confused. She blinked several times, trying to orient herself.

“Duke?” Her voice was barely a whisper, thick and slurred. “What . . . where am I?”

Relief flooded through Logan.

“You’re safe.” Duke pulled her toward him and planted a kiss on her forehead. “You’re at Borealis Lake. Do you remember what happened?”

She tried to sit up, but Duke gently nudged her back down.

“Easy,” he told her. “Take your time.”

“My head . . .” Andi raised a trembling hand to her temple. “It feels like someone filled it with cotton.” She blinked again, her eyes gradually focusing on Duke. “I was . . . I was watching the tree line. Making sure our six was clear.”

“What’s the last thing you remember?” Duke kept his voice gentle.

Andi’s brow furrowed in concentration. “I heard something. A branch breaking, maybe. I turned to check . . .” She paused, her eyes widening with realization. “Someone was there. Right behind me. I started to call out, but then I felt this sharp pain in my neck, and everything went . . .”

She tried to touch the injection site, but Duke caught her hand. “Don’t touch it. We need to document everything.”

“He drugged me,” Andi said.

Logan could hear the anger building in her voice despite her obvious disorientation.

“That monster drugged me and used me as leverage, am I right?”

“That’s exactly what he did. Can you move your fingers?” Ranger asked. “Your toes?”

Andi wiggled her fingers and shifted her feet. “Yeah, everything works. Just feel like I’m moving through molasses.”

Duke helped her sit up slowly, keeping his hand on her back for support. “Any nausea? Dizziness?”

“A little dizzy, but I think I’m okay.” She looked around at the three of them. “Did you get him? Please tell me you got him.”

The silence that followed was answer enough.

“I can’t believe this.” Andi’s voice grew stronger with each word. “This guy played us. Used me as a pawn so he could walk away.”

“We didn’t have a choice,” Logan said. “He threatened to kill you if we pursued.”

“I would have taken that risk,” Andi shot back, then immediately winced as the movement sent pain through her head.

“Well, I wouldn’t have,” Logan replied. “And neither would Duke or Ranger. We don’t leave anyone behind.”

Andi remained quiet a moment, processing what had happened. “How long was I out?”

“At least an hour,” Duke said. “Long enough for him to disappear completely.”

“He’s good,” Andi admitted reluctantly. “I never heard him coming. Never saw him. One second I was alone, the next . . .” She touched her neck gingerly. “Whatever he used, it dropped me instantly.”

Duke helped her to her feet, keeping a steady grip on her arm as she swayed slightly.

“I can walk,” she insisted, though her legs were clearly unsteady.

“We’re not in a hurry,” Ranger said. “Take your time.”

As they began the slow trek back toward their vehicles, Andi looked at Logan. “He left something for you, didn’t he? That’s why you’re not more focused on tracking him.”

Logan’s jaw tightened. “A photo of Morgan. She looked . . . rough. But she was alive.”

“I’m so sorry you had to see her like that.”

“This isn’t over. He made that very clear.” Logan’s voice was heavy with the weight of what they’d discovered.

Andi nodded, her professional composure returning despite the drugs still affecting her system. “Then we need to figure out his next move.”

“First, we’re getting you checked out by a medic,” Duke said firmly.

“Duke, I’m fine?—”

“That’s not a request, Andi,” Duke cut her off. “He could have put anything in that injection. We’re not taking chances.”

As they made their way through the forest, Logan realized the full scope of what they were facing. This wasn’t just a killer. This was someone who had anticipated their every move, turned their own tactics against them, and demonstrated he could reach any of them at any time.

The hunter had become the hunted.