Page 69 of Smoky Mountain K-9

“She told us where she is. If we send the drone up, it’ll give us a better idea of what we’re up against.”

“Explosives won’t show up on thermal,” Carter argued.

“No, but we’ll learn the lay of the cabin and the thermal scan will show us where both women are located.”

“Can you do it in the time allotted?” Ben asked.

“So long as it doesn’t take us too long to get there. I’m not familiar with where that is.”

“It’s about a forty-minute drive. Thirty if we push it,” Tristan said.

“Why did she give us so much time if that’s all the longer it takes?” Carter’s mind cycled through possible reasons. None of them were good. All of them involved some sort of ambush.

“I don’t know, but I’m not looking a gift-horse in the mouth. Jake, go get the drone. Meet us in the parking lot. Tristan, go get the comm equipment.” Ben barked orders as he came around his desk. “Carter, let’s go arm ourselves.” He led the charge out the door, where they all split in different directions.

Carter followed him to the armory, but before they walked in, he turned into the room where they kept the SWAT equipment.

“What are you looking for?”

“Bomb defusing stuff.” He knew there wasn’t much, but SWAT carried some tools he could repurpose.

Ben nodded. “I’m going to get the rifles.” He was gone from view before Carter could acknowledge him.

Digging into the lockers, Carter rooted through the equipment. They kept some basic stuff on hand, but he wished he had the full kit he used to carry.

His hands paused on the crate he’d just tipped forward to look into. He still had most of his old gear. It was in the closet with the pictures Mara found.

A quick glance at his watch made him grimace. They’d already wasted five minutes. His house was on the right side of town for where they needed to go, but it was a couple of minutes off the main drag. With the time it would take him to get inside and get all the gear, they’d be pushing it.

But the gear he had was better than anything he’d find here. He wanted to be prepared, even if he didn’t use any of it.

Shoving the crate back onto the shelf, he shut the locker. It was worth the risk. He opened another locker and took out the flexible camera SWAT used. This, though, he didn’t have.

“Ben.” Jogging down the hall, he stopped as the sheriff emerged from the armory holding two rifles and a small duffel, which Carter presumed was full of ammo.

“What’s up?”

“We need to stop at my house. I have all my old gear still stored away. I need my kit.”

“You’re sure you know where it is? We don’t have much time.”

“I’m sure.”

Ben gave a short nod. “Go. One of us will drop you a pin to the location.” His expression hardened. “If you beat us there, you wait, or so help me, I’ll throw your ass in jail for obstruction when this is all over.”

Carter knew he was serious, but he didn’t care. If he got there and discovered an imminent threat to Mara’s life, he was going in whether he had backup or not. But he nodded anyway. “Will do. See you there.” Spinning on his heel, he called for Maverick and dashed out of the station. Stowing his dog in the back, he climbed into the car and pulled out of the lot, lights and sirens going.

At his house, he hit the end of the driveway hard, rocking the car. Maverick’s nails scrabbled on the metal kennel flooring. “Sorry, bud.” Braking hard, he stopped in the middle of the drive and got out. The dog barked, clearly confused, but Carter just locked the doors and ran for the house. Letting himself inside, he made a beeline for the closet where he’d hidden all his old gear in a box at the back. He yanked open the doors and pulled everything out. His hands shook as he opened the flaps and reached inside for the backpack he hadn’t touched in almost seven years.

Knowing it contained everything he needed, he didn’t open it. Just stood and ran back to his cruiser. Maverick continued to bark as he buckled up. “I know. Hold on. We’ll get moving again soon.” He picked up his phone, checking for the pin Ben said they’d drop. Finding it, he enabled the directions and backed out of the driveway.

Miles ticked by, the scenery flashing blue and red as he made his way through the mountains to Nine Mile Road. When he turned onto it, it was nothing more than a dirt track.

Cutting his lights, he slowed. Headlights appeared in his rearview mirror, and he pulled off to the side. As the vehicle approached, he realized it was another county cruiser. The car drove up next to him, and he rolled down his window. It was Ben.

“Tristan and Jake are right behind me.” He hooked a thumb over his shoulder.

Carter glanced in his rearview mirror and saw more headlights.