Page 102 of Silent Bones

Bill closed his eyes.

Noah said nothing. He could see it, Calder’s hands shaking. His lips pressing together to hold in whatever scream was building behind his teeth.

Finally, he spoke again, barely audible.

“It’s him. I know it.”

Noah stepped forward. “Who?”

Calder looked at him. Really looked at him. The last of his strength finally peeled away.

“Dale,” he said. “It’s Dale.”

The yard had quieted again.

Bill Calder stood near the treeline, arms crossed over his chest like he was holding himself together by force alone. The cruiser lights flickered behind him, casting his shadow long and ragged across the lawn.

Noah and Callie stepped up beside him. Neither spoke. Not yet.

But Calder did.

“I think I knew,” he said softly. “Some part of me did.”

Callie looked over. “Knew what?”

“That Dale was watching us. He kept... showing up at outreach events, trail briefings. Always had a reason to be around even after he retired.”

“Why didn’t you say something?” Noah asked, barely masking the edge in his voice.

“Because I didn’t have proof,” Calder snapped, then immediately softened. “Because I didn’t believe he could do this. Sure, he was angry about the past, but… He was one of my rangers. DEC trained him. The community trusted him.”

Noah stared at him. “And now he has your daughter.”

Bill dropped his chin.

A phone buzzed in Callie’s pocket, breaking the silence. She answered, turning slightly away. “Go ahead.”

It was Rishi.

She listened for a few seconds, eyes narrowing.

Then she turned back to them. “Avery’s phone just pinged. One tower hit, then nothing.”

“Where?” Noah asked.

Callie’s brow furrowed.

“Wallface. Just west of the floodplain trailhead. Then silence.”

“He’s taking her back there,” Bill said before swearing under his breath. “To where this all began.”

Noah felt his stomach twist. “That’s not far from here.”

“Will take about 45 minutes to get there, another 10 to hike in,” Callie said. “Maybe more, depending on trail conditions.” she said aloud, already pulling out her keys.

They didn’t wait.

Officers scrambled as orders flew. Maps unfolded on hoods. Radios crackled to life. Calder barked commands with a hollow edge to his voice, and Callie moved toward the cruiser, adrenaline already in her stride.